Proverbs Chapter 23
Words of the Wise
A. Wisdom in the “Do Not” Warnings
Proverbs 23:1–3 – Do Not Be Deceived at the Ruler’s Table
“When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.”
When invited to dine with powerful people, wisdom demands self-control and discernment. The table of a ruler may be rich with delicacies and fine presentation, yet it is often a setting of subtle manipulation. One should be cautious of the motives behind such hospitality. The allure of luxury and favor can easily blind a man’s judgment. As the text warns, consider carefully what is before you, for it is not only food but an opportunity for compromise. The imagery of “putting a knife to your throat” is a vivid call to restraint, meaning one must control their appetite and desires lest they fall prey to temptation.
This warning reveals the reality that worldly generosity often carries an expectation of repayment or allegiance. As Garrett notes, “The rich do not give away their favors for free; they want something in return, and it is generally much more than what they have invested.” In the same spirit, Trapp reminds that “it is a shame for a saint to be a slave to his palate.” Self-control is a mark of the wise, not only in food but in all appetites. As Jesus taught, “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell” (Matthew 5:29).
To sit at the ruler’s table and surrender moral or spiritual integrity for favor is to trade the eternal for the temporary. The delicacies are “deceptive food,” appealing to the senses but dangerous to the soul. As Ross observes, “The ruler wants something from you or is observing you.” Morgan adds a fitting admonition: “Let every young man desirous of walking in the ways of wisdom, keep his eye illuminated by the fear of the Lord, lest those who put before him their material dainties rob him of his spiritual excellencies.”
Proverbs 23:4–5 – Do Not Make an Idol of Wealth
“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.”
Proverbs consistently praises diligence and condemns laziness, yet it warns equally against the idolatry of work and wealth. The counsel to not overwork to be rich is not an invitation to idleness, but a call to proper priorities. Hard work is honorable, but when it becomes an obsession—when wealth becomes the measure of one’s worth—it transforms into idolatry. The wise man knows when to cease striving, for he understands the fleeting nature of riches.
Riches are transient and unreliable. The text pictures wealth as a bird that takes flight, escaping the grasp of even the most industrious man. “Will you set your eyes on that which is not?” Solomon asks. The pursuit of wealth apart from God’s wisdom is chasing shadows. As Paul warned, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Timothy 6:9).
Waltke notes that “the metaphor of the swift and powerful eagle outstripping all attempts to capture him” emphasizes the speed with which riches vanish. The wise therefore invest their labor in eternal things, not in treasures that perish. As Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19–20).
Proverbs 23:6–8 – Do Not Eat at the Table of a Stingy Man
“Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.”
The table of the miser is as dangerous as that of the ruler. The “evil eye” refers to the man of greed and covetousness, one who begrudges every morsel given. His outward hospitality masks an inward hostility. While his words may sound welcoming—“Eat and drink”—his heart remains closed, watching every bite with resentment. His generosity is counterfeit, motivated by pride or expectation of return.
Poole defines this man as “the envious or covetous man, who secretly grudgeth thee the meat which he sets before thee.” Trapp colorfully calls him “a miserly muckworm, that wisheth thee choked for so doing.” The guest who eats freely at such a table will soon regret it, for what was sweet will turn sour. The proverb warns that “the morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up.” The experience of false friendship and hypocritical generosity leaves bitterness, not satisfaction.
This passage also points to a contrast between earthly and heavenly tables. The invitations of the world are often laced with deceit, but the invitation of God is pure. As Bridges observed, “There are no such dangers linked to the invitations of the Gospel. The table is ready, and the invitations have been sent out.” Jesus Himself declared, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
In all these warnings, Solomon’s wisdom teaches the believer to discern motive and guard the heart. Whether dining with rulers, pursuing wealth, or accepting generosity, the standard of wisdom is to live with contentment, integrity, and the fear of the Lord.
Proverbs 23:9 – Do Not Waste Your Words on the Fool
“Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.”
The wise man is instructed not to waste his words on a fool. This assumes that the speaker himself is wise and discerning, for it takes wisdom to know when not to speak. The fool is not merely ignorant but hardened against truth. To speak to him is fruitless, for he will not listen or learn, but instead will scorn and reject the wisdom offered. This proverb reveals that the ability to discern one’s audience is part of true wisdom.
The phrase in the ears shows that Solomon is referring to direct address, not words overheard in passing. It is a deliberate attempt to teach or advise, yet in such a case, instruction will only provoke contempt. As Jesus warned, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7:6). There are moments when silence is wiser than speech, when withholding truth from the obstinate is an act of prudence, not cowardice. Wisdom requires the discernment to know when the soil is too hard for the seed to take root.
Proverbs 23:10–11 – Do Not Steal from Others
“Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.”
The removal of the ancient landmark was both a literal and moral crime. In ancient Israel, boundary stones marked the inheritance allotted by God to each tribe and family. To move such a landmark was to encroach upon another’s inheritance, stealing by deceit. Deuteronomy 19:14 gives the same warning: “Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance.” Thus, this commandment protects both property and justice, teaching that dishonesty in business or land dealings is a violation of God’s moral law.
The second warning forbids entering the fields of the fatherless. The orphan’s field was sacred under God’s care, and to exploit such vulnerability was to invite divine retribution. The Lord declares Himself the defender of the fatherless, the widow, and the oppressed. “For their Redeemer is mighty,” Solomon writes, referring to God as the goel—the kinsman-redeemer. This same term is used in Ruth 3:12, where Boaz redeems Ruth’s family inheritance, and in Job 19:25, where Job declares, “For I know that my redeemer liveth.”
The goel had the legal responsibility to avenge wrongs or redeem property on behalf of the defenseless, but where no human redeemer existed, God Himself assumes the role. He is both the Avenger and Protector. Those who prey upon the weak trespass upon the Lord’s jurisdiction, and He promises to plead their cause against you. The warning is severe—no earthly power can stand against the plea of the Almighty. This proverb therefore calls for righteousness, compassion, and reverence for divine justice.
Proverbs 23:12 – Do Not Neglect Wisdom
“Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.”
Here Solomon turns from warning against evil to exhorting the pursuit of wisdom. To apply the heart means to make a conscious and deliberate effort toward learning. Wisdom does not come by accident or inheritance but by disciplined attention and humility. Instruction must be received with eagerness, not resistance. The wise man welcomes correction, for he knows it is the path to understanding.
Garrett notes that this imperative highlights the lifelong importance of education. The believer must cultivate both heart and ear—the heart to desire truth and the ear to receive it. The phrase words of knowledge points to revealed truth, particularly God’s Word, which gives understanding beyond human reasoning. As Paul instructed Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Bridges beautifully observes, “When the heart is graciously opened and enlightened, the ears instantly become attentive.” True wisdom transforms not only the mind but the disposition of the soul. When the believer humbles himself under instruction, he positions his life to walk in the fear of the Lord—the beginning of all knowledge.
Proverbs 23:13–14 – Do Not Fail to Correct Your Children
“Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.”
The father is commanded not to withhold correction from a child. Correction is not a punishment to be imposed, but a gift that properly belongs to the child for his moral and spiritual formation. To withhold discipline is to deny him what he most needs to grow in wisdom and righteousness. The rod symbolizes firm, loving correction that curbs folly before it becomes destructive. Proverbs 22:15 says, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”
The “rod” can represent literal physical correction, as in the act of spanking, or figurative discipline through consequences and instruction. In either case, the guiding principle is love, not anger. Discipline without affection leads to rebellion and hardness of heart, but godly correction aims at restoration. Waltke writes, “The cleansing rod must be applied with warmth, affection, and respect for the youth. Parents who brutalize their children cannot hide behind the rod-doctrine of Proverbs.” Likewise, Garrett warns, “This text does not justify brutalizing children. Parents who lose their tempers when doing so should consider Ephesians 6:4: ‘And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.’”
Bridges adds wisely that excessive severity destroys what discipline seeks to build: “Children become hardened under an iron rod. Sternness and severity close up their hearts.” Correction must be firm yet compassionate, intended to deliver the soul, not to crush the spirit. The phrase “deliver his soul from hell” uses the Hebrew sheol, meaning the grave or the realm of the dead. Proper correction saves the child from an early death brought by sin’s consequences, and spiritually, it turns him from the path of destruction toward life.
Proverbs 23:15–16 – The Joy of a Father Imparting Wisdom
“My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.”
These verses express the deep joy of a father whose child walks in wisdom. The father’s greatest delight is not wealth or success but the godly character of his children. When a child’s heart is governed by wisdom, the parent’s heart rejoices. This parallels the Apostle John’s words: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4).
When the father hears his child’s lips speak right things, he sees evidence that wisdom has taken root. The speech of the wise reflects the condition of the heart, for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). The child’s right words—words of truth, kindness, and reverence—bring honor to both God and the home that nurtured him.
The term reins (or kidneys) in verse 16 refers to the seat of deep emotion in Hebrew thought. As Kellermann notes, “The kidneys are looked upon as the seat of emotions from joy to deepest agony.” Thus, Solomon describes a joy that comes from the depths of the soul, the inward satisfaction of seeing righteousness flourish in the next generation. This joy reflects God’s own pleasure when His children walk in wisdom and truth.
Proverbs 23:17–18 – Do Not Envy Sinners
“Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.”
The wise are warned not to envy sinners. It is easy to look at the temporary prosperity of the wicked and feel discouraged, as though righteousness yields no reward. Yet such envy betrays a short-sighted view of life. The wicked may seem to flourish now, but their success is fleeting and their judgment certain. Psalm 37:1–2 gives the same counsel: “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”
Bridges rightly comments, “Our hearts, instead of envying sinners, should be full of compassion for them, for they have nothing to look forward to but death.” Rather than coveting their pleasures, the believer should pity their end. The antidote to envy is found in the fear of the Lord, which keeps the heart grounded in eternal truth.
Charles Spurgeon defined this fear beautifully: “The fear of the Lord is a brief description for true religion. It is an inward condition, betokening hearty submission to our heavenly Father. It consists very much in a holy reverence of God, and a sacred awe of him. This is accompanied by a childlike trust in him, which leads to loving obedience, tender submission, and lowly adoration.” To live in such reverence “all the day long” is to live in constant awareness of God’s presence and holiness. As Trapp adds, “Men must wake with God, walk with him, and lie down with him, be in continual communion with him and conformity unto him. This is to be in heaven beforehand.”
The reason for this counsel is clear: “For surely there is an end,” or as the phrase can mean, “surely there is a hereafter.” This truth gives eternal perspective. If this life were all there is, then sin might appear profitable and envy understandable. But because there is a hereafter—an ultimate reckoning and reward—the wise live for eternity, not for the fleeting pleasures of sin. The righteous man’s hope “shall not be cut off,” for his trust is in the Lord who rewards faithfulness both now and forever.
B. A Father Warns His Child About Wine and Women
Proverbs 23:19–21 – The Danger of Drinking Companions
“Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.”
This passage continues Solomon’s fatherly instruction to his son, calling him to wisdom and self-control. The command hear, my son, and be wise underscores that wisdom begins with attentive listening. True wisdom is not merely known, it is lived, as the son is told to guide his heart in the way. This means to direct one’s inner desires and affections according to the path of righteousness.
The warning then turns practical: Do not mix with winebibbers or gluttonous eaters of meat. Companionship influences character. Those who indulge themselves without restraint in food or drink are on a path that leads to ruin, both moral and material. “The drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty,” not merely because indulgence wastes resources, but because it erodes discipline and dulls the mind. Waltke notes, “Their full stomachs empty their minds.” Spiritual lethargy follows indulgence, as symbolized by drowsiness clothing a man with rags.
Spurgeon vividly illustrated this principle with a warning against those who refuse to hear: “It is wretched work preaching to a congregation whose ears are stopped with prejudices.” Likewise, those who close their hearts to correction will soon be clothed with spiritual poverty. Trapp adds a solemn reminder that this poverty extends beyond the temporal: “Nay, to eternal misery in hell; but few men fear that; beggary they hold worse than any hell.”
The wise believer avoids the company of those enslaved to excess, for indulgent living always leads downward—to poverty, disgrace, and ruin.
Proverbs 23:22 – An Exhortation to Listen to Parents
“Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.”
Solomon reiterates one of the fundamental moral duties of humanity: honor and obedience to one’s parents. To hearken means more than hearing; it means to listen with respect and readiness to obey. Wisdom cannot be imparted to a closed heart. This instruction mirrors the fifth commandment, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” (Exodus 20:12).
The phrase despise not thy mother when she is old reflects a tenderness of spirit. As parents age, their physical strength may fade, but their experience and wisdom deserve greater reverence. When children grow strong, independent, and prosperous, the temptation arises to undervalue the counsel of their aging parents. This proverb condemns such pride. Ephesians 6:2–3 affirms this same truth: “Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” True wisdom is humble enough to keep listening to those who first taught it.
Proverbs 23:23 – The Attitude to Have Toward Wisdom
“Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.”
The believer is called to pursue truth and wisdom as treasures of immeasurable worth. Buy the truth implies deliberate, costly acquisition. One must be willing to sacrifice convenience, comfort, and even social standing to gain and preserve truth. Poole remarks, “Purchase it upon any terms, spare no pains nor cost to get it.” Truth is the foundation of wisdom, and its price is beyond measure.
Spurgeon expands this command into a passionate plea: “Buy the truth; that is, be willing at all risks to hold to the truth. Buy it as the martyrs did when they gave their bodies to be burned for it.” The Christian life demands conviction that truth is worth any price. The second half of the verse warns: Do not sell it. Spurgeon continues, “Sell it not; sell it not; it cost Christ too dear. Sell it not; you made a good bargain when you bought it. Sell it not; you will want it in the hour of death and in the day of judgment.”
Bridges insightfully adds that the Lord Himself invites us to such spiritual purchase: “The Savior says that we should buy from Him (Revelation 3:18). This settles the matter. If we do not really want the goods, we will not pay much attention to the proverb. For we only buy what we eagerly desire.”
To buy the truth is to value it above all earthly gain, to study and hold fast to the Word of God, and to refuse compromise even when truth becomes costly. Alongside truth, the believer must also seek wisdom, instruction, and understanding—terms which in Proverbs often form a triad describing the fullness of godly discernment. Wisdom shows us how to live; instruction corrects and shapes our conduct; understanding grants insight into the deep things of God.
The lesson is clear: Truth and wisdom are not possessions to be casually held or traded for temporary benefit—they are eternal investments that must never be sold.
Proverbs 23:24–25 – Wise Children Bring Joy to Their Parents
“The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.”
Solomon again emphasizes the family joy that flows from a child’s godly character. When a son or daughter walks in righteousness, their parents experience profound rejoicing. The father of the righteous rejoices greatly, and the mother who bore such a child finds her heart filled with delight. This truth underscores that wisdom and obedience do not only benefit the individual but bless the entire household.
The father’s joy is not merely emotional pride but spiritual satisfaction in seeing the fruit of godly instruction. The wise child vindicates the parental labor of teaching, correcting, and praying. It is the fulfillment of Proverbs 10:1: “A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.” The rejoicing mentioned here points to both earthly joy and eternal gratitude, for godly children are living testimonies of grace and obedience.
The command, Let your father and your mother be glad, is more than sentimental advice. It is a moral duty rooted in gratitude and honor. A wise child blesses his parents not only with respect but by living righteously before God. The Apostle Paul affirmed this principle in Ephesians 6:1–3, saying, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” To live wisely before God is to bring glory not only to the Lord but joy to those who gave life and instruction.
Proverbs 23:26–28 – The Danger of the Immoral Woman
“My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.”
Here the father’s appeal grows more personal and urgent. My son, give me thine heart is an invitation for complete trust and submission to parental guidance grounded in divine truth. Wisdom cannot be imparted to a heart that is closed; therefore, the plea is not merely for attention but for surrender. The heart is the wellspring of life, and Solomon knows that moral failure begins in a divided heart long before it manifests in action.
He then urges, Let thine eyes observe my ways. A father’s teaching must be reinforced by example. The righteous parent not only instructs but models godliness before his children. Trapp beautifully paraphrases the Hebrew: “Let thine eyes run through my ways. Get a full prospect of them, and diligently peruse them. Fix and feed thine eyes upon the best objects, and restrain them from gazing upon forbidden beauties, lest they prove to be windows of wickedness, and loopholes of lust.” Solomon’s warning comes with grave realism—the eyes are often the gateway to sin.
The imagery of the immoral woman is sharp and sobering. For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. The comparison is to a hidden trap dug for prey. Once fallen in, the victim cannot easily escape. The harlot’s charm conceals a deadly snare, both physical and spiritual. As Waltke notes, “Having trapped her victim, he cannot escape the pit because it is deep.” Sexual sin, once indulged, entangles the soul with guilt, shame, and consequences that reach far beyond the moment of pleasure.
Ambrose aptly observed, “Samson broke the bonds of his enemies, but he could not break the bonds of his own lusts. He choked the lion, but he could not choke his own wanton love.” The strongest man in Scripture fell not to battle but to passion. This serves as a timeless warning that strength, wisdom, or reputation offer no protection when the heart yields to temptation.
The phrase a strange woman is a narrow pit further intensifies the image. A narrow well promises satisfaction but frustrates the one who seeks it. True marital intimacy is compared elsewhere to a refreshing well (Proverbs 5:15–18), but the seductress offers only counterfeit pleasure. As Waltke explains, “The fornicator came hoping to quench his sexual appetite, but he finds her incapable of the intimacy necessary to satisfy that thirst.” Illicit passion can never bring lasting fulfillment; it leaves the soul emptier than before.
Finally, Solomon warns, She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. The seductress is depicted as a hunter, deliberately seeking victims. Her actions multiply the unfaithful, expanding sin’s reach across society. Though the passage describes her snare, it does not excuse the man’s guilt. Both the tempter and the tempted are accountable before God. As Kidner notes, “Unchastity may be romanticized, but the hard facts are faithfully given here: captivity, ruthlessness, social disruption.” Poole adds, “She is the cause of innumerable sins against God, and against the marriage-bed, against the soul and body too.”
The moral and spiritual devastation that follows unchastity affects not only individuals but families, communities, and generations. For this reason, Solomon’s call, My son, give me thine heart, is a call to guard the deepest affections, to seek satisfaction in the ways of God, and to flee from every counterfeit pleasure that leads to destruction.
Proverbs 23:29–35 – The Misery of Abusing Alcohol
“Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 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.”
This passage presents one of the most vivid and sobering depictions of the misery caused by alcohol abuse found anywhere in Scripture. Solomon paints a poetic yet tragic portrait of the drunkard’s downfall, showing the deception, the progression, and the despair that follow indulgence.
The wise king begins with a series of rhetorical questions—Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? These six questions strike like hammer blows, exposing the fruit of drunkenness. The abuser of alcohol reaps nothing but sorrow, conflict, confusion, physical harm, and shame. As Solomon reveals, these calamities belong “to them that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.” These are those who dwell near temptation, who take comfort in the nearness of their drink, and who pursue the next sensation as their god.
Garrett calls this passage “a small masterpiece; the most effective combination lampoon and lament over the sorry state of the drunkard.” The wisdom here is not abstract—it is moral realism. Alcohol, when abused, produces misery in the home, the body, and the soul. Solomon does not condemn all use of wine (as the Old Testament recognized its use in moderation and ceremony), but he utterly condemns its misuse and enslavement. The principle is universal and extends to all intoxicants.
The warning continues: Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. This verse is a command to refuse even the enticement of strong drink. The “sparkling,” “swirling” appearance of wine represents its seductive charm—its deceitful invitation to pleasure. Poole described it as “when it sparkleth and frisketh, and seems to smile upon a man.” The temptation lies in its appearance and promise of satisfaction, but the end is destruction.
At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Here the metaphor shifts from beauty to venom. What begins as pleasure ends as poison. The serpent’s bite speaks of the sudden and irreversible harm caused by drunkenness—both physical and spiritual. As Waltke observed, Solomon deliberately placed this warning after his discussion of the adulterous woman (Proverbs 23:26–28), for both wine and the immoral woman are seductive traps: “Both the vixen and wine are hidden and deadly. The unchaste wife is a triumphant huntress; wine is a poisonous snake.”
The consequences continue: Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Intoxication loosens moral restraint. Alcohol clouds judgment and stirs sinful desires that would otherwise be restrained. Many have ruined marriages, reputations, and ministries in a single night of drunken foolishness. The connection between wine and sexual sin is deliberate—one sin feeds the other.
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. The imagery here is striking. The drunkard is compared to a sailor asleep in the most perilous of places—either on a ship tossing in the open sea or at the top of the mast swaying with the storm. His life is unsteady, his danger immense, and yet he feels secure. Poole notes that this image describes “the giddiness of his brain, the unquietness of his mind, and especially his extreme danger joined with great security.” Waltke adds, “He escalates his giddiness and danger by comparing him to one sleeping in the crow’s nest where the ship’s rocking is greatest.”
The drunkard’s speech reveals his self-deception: 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. This is the voice of addiction. The drunkard feels the wounds of his sin but has become numb to them. His body is destroyed, his reputation ruined, and yet his only thought is to seek another drink. As Aitken noted, this describes not a single night’s drunkenness but “the degenerative effects, physical and mental, of the habitual drinker.”
Garrett summarizes the picture well: “Wine, and in modern society illicit drugs, brings physical pain and debilitation, exhausts one’s resources, takes away mental acuity, and yet leaves one craving for more of the same.” The sin of intoxication enslaves the will and blinds the conscience. It promises comfort and ends in chains.
Yet even in this dark portrait, there is hope in Christ. Bridges writes with pastoral compassion: “Is anything too hard for the Lord? May His name be praised for a full deliverance from the enslavement to sin—to all sins and to every individual sin—and even from the chains of this giant sin. The drunkard becomes sober, the unclean holy, the glutton temperate. The love of Christ overpowers the love of sin.”
Christ alone can deliver from the misery of addiction. Where sin brings bondage, the Spirit of God brings freedom, as it is written, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).
