Be Wise and Keep your Peace, Proverbs 20:1AMP

Proverbs 20:1 AMP

[1] Wine is a mocker, strong drink a riotous brawler; And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. [Prov 23:29, 30; Is 28:7; Hos 4:11]

Proverbs 23:29-30 AMP

[29] ¶Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Whose eyes are red and dim? [30] Those who linger long over wine, Those who go to taste mixed wine. [Prov 20:1; Eph 5:18]

Isaiah 28:7 AMP

[7] But even these reel with wine and stagger from strong drink: The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink; They are confused by wine, they stagger from strong drink; They reel while seeing visions, They stagger when pronouncing judgment.

Hosea 4:11 AMP

[11] ¶Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away the mind and the [spiritual] understanding.

This is not a bashing session for those who do drink.  For those who are able to do so in moderation. You can drink and not be drunk. Having a drink and being consistently drunk are two different things.  This is a reminder for all of us of the dangers of being drunk.  For not handling your drink in moderation but it is also a reminder for those of us on the sober path.  It is to remind us of how far we have come.  A reminder of what the Lord has delivered us from.  We should never, ever forget what the Lord has delivered us from.  It’s what keeps us humble.  

Proverbs 20:1 is correct.  A mocker and a brawler.  All wisdom goes out the window when you are intoxicated.  Bad decisions are made.  Sometimes decisions that you can’t take back or decisions that come at a high price are made under the influence.  Decisions that the devil will enjoy throwing back in your face, so why give him more ammunition?  Remember he is the accuser of the brethren.  Why give him more bad decisions to accuse you of?  That leads into Prov. 23:29-30.  Woe, sorrow, strife, complaining and wounds without cause are all results of being drunk (Eph. 5:18).  All results of bad decisions while under the influence.  Isaiah 28:7 says, “They are confused by wine.”  God is not a God of confusion.  He is the God of peace (Rom. 15:33).  Why destroy your peace? Is it worth it? Lastly, Hosea 4:11 says, “take away the mind and (spiritual) understanding”.  How can you understand the things of God if you are always under the influence?  How will you understand anything if your mind is always gone?  You can’t focus on the things of God if your mind is constantly altered.  You will continue to fail and fall if your mind is not at perfect peace in Him.  To those who are not walking the sober path, use wisdom. The consequences of not using wisdom are in the scriptures above. To those who are, never forget what the Lord has delivered you from and remember as you walk this path He is walking beside you.  He sticks closer than a brother and He will never leave you nor forsake you. 

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