Proverbs 23:33-35 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. 

Proverbs 23:29-35 is far more than a warning against drinking. It is a vivid illustration of how temptation works. Sin first appears attractive, then becomes destructive, and finally seeks to enslave.

The chapter began with the appeal, “My son, give me thine heart” (v. 26). That is the true safeguard against every destructive appetite. A heart surrendered to God, guided by His wisdom, and filled with His Word is far less likely to be mastered by intoxicating influences.

The New Testament echoes this principle: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)

Rather than seeking escape, confidence, or comfort through alcohol or any other controlling influence, believers are called to find their satisfaction, strength, and joy in the Lord. Wisdom looks beyond the fleeting pleasure of sin to its ultimate end and chooses the path that leads to life, freedom, and fellowship with God.

Proverbs 23:33-35 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. 

Addiction is not determined solely by how often a person uses a substance or engages in a behaviour, but by how much control that substance or behaviour has over them. A person can be addicted even if they drink, gamble, view pornography, or use drugs only once or twice a week if they feel compelled to do it, struggle to stop, continually make excuses for it, or repeatedly return to it despite harmful consequences.

An addiction develops when a person becomes dependent on something for pleasure, comfort, escape, stress relief, or emotional coping instead of relying on healthy solutions or, spiritually, on God. It gradually gains control over a person’s thoughts, desires, and choices.

From a biblical perspective, addiction is a form of bondage. Scripture teaches that believers are not to be mastered by anything other than God (1Corinthians 6:12). Anything that begins to control our behaviour, dominate our thinking, or replace our dependence on the Lord can become an idol and a form of slavery.

To be continued…

Proverbs 23:33-35 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. 

‘Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.’ Scripture now describes the physical instability caused by drunkenness. The drunkard feels like a man lying in the middle of a stormy sea, or attempting to sleep on the top of a ship’s mast. Both pictures portray dizziness, instability, danger, helplessness, and loss of control.

The drunkard becomes physically, mentally, and spiritually unstable. Life itself begins to resemble a ship tossed by violent waves.

‘They have stricken me… they have beaten me… I will seek it yet again.’ The passage ends with one of Scripture’s most tragic descriptions of addiction. The drunkard admits, “They beat me,” and “I felt it not.” Alcohol has dulled his senses so completely that he no longer recognises the seriousness of his condition. Yet the final words reveal the deepest tragedy: “I will seek it yet again.”

Despite pain, shame, injury, broken relationships, and repeated consequences, he returns to the very thing that destroyed him. This is the nature of addiction. The substance that promises freedom eventually becomes a master. The person who once chose to drink now feels compelled to drink.

To be continued…

Proverbs 23:33-35 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. 

‘Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.’ Alcohol affects both what a person desires and what a person says.

‘Thine eyes shall behold strange women.’ Here, the Hebrew word differs from verse 27 and refers to one who is outside the path of covenant faithfulness, an immoral or seductive woman. Drunkenness weakens moral restraint. Many sins that sober judgment would reject become acceptable to the intoxicated mind. This explains why Scripture repeatedly links drunkenness with sexual immorality.

‘Thine heart shall utter perverse things.’ The heart controls the mouth. When the mind is clouded by alcohol, hidden thoughts are often expressed openly. Speech becomes reckless, vulgar, deceitful, angry, boastful, or blasphemous. The tongue reveals the condition of the heart.

Sixteen characteristics of a wicked heart. The book of Proverbs describes the wicked heart as one that: Despises correction (5:12). Devises continual evil and sows discord (6:14). Imagines wicked schemes (6:18). Lusts after forbidden pleasures (6:25). Is subtle and deceptive (7:10). Is filled with deceit (12:20). Speaks foolishness (12:23). Is proud and arrogant (16:5; 21:4; 28:25). Becomes haughty (18:12). Blames God for its troubles (19:3). Speaks perversely (23:33). Plots harm against others (24:2). Rejoices when others fall (24:17). Conceals evil intentions beneath outward appearances (26:25). Grows increasingly hardened against God (28:14). Trusts in itself rather than in the Lord (28:26).

Alcohol does not create an evil heart, but it removes restraints and often exposes what lies within.

To be continued…