“Wine and Women-- The Power of Lifestyle Choices

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March 28, 2015

SS Teacher:  Larry R Evans

Introduction

The study for this week is built on Proverbs 31.  The quarterly’s title suggests that the subject is about wine and women.  We’d like to suggest that while wine and women are certainly discussed in this chapter, Proverbs 31 is an amplification and a conclusion to Proverbs 1:7—“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The setting is about a king’s calling and vocation.  Any glamor associated with lose living is removed.  The king must keep his role clearly in focus.  He is to be the protector and advocate of his people (vss 8,9).  With his responsibility clearly set before him, it becomes obvious that he must not anaesthetize himself with those things that would minimize or impair his judgment.  He must not compromise his God-given principles.  In the context of Proverbs, the king must not separate himself from the Source of true wisdom.

The German philosopher, Johann Herder once wrote, “We cannot know ourselves without a reference point outside ourselves.”  Proverbs offers this reference point as being the personification of “Wisdom” and from this we are given an opportunity to examine our lives.  In Proverbs 31 this personification comes in the form of a woman.  Proverbs 1:7 introduces us to this “Wisdom” as being grounded in “the LORD”.  LORD is in all caps because it is a reference to Yahweh, the covenant God, the God who oversees, fulfills and sustains.  It is this personal God that supplies us with the wisdom, the insights, the strength to make choices that lead to a more full and complete life.  The kind of knowledge of which Proverbs speaks is a relationship with God that is inseparable from the character that He is developing within each of us if we but give Him an opportunity.  Distractions from this relationship are what sin and “foolishness” (1:7) is all about.  Lifestyle choices play a vital role with the kind of person we are and are becoming.  The choices made every day are a revelation of the kind of wisdom that has captured our heart’s desires.  Against this background we will take a look at “Wine and Women.”

Proverbs 31:1-9

Discussion Starters

1.            Medical benefits out weigh spiritual liabilities.  (Prov.31:4,5,8,9)  True or False?

2.            For the dying person wine is permissible.  (Prov. 31:6,7) True or False?

3.            Proverbs provides a “checklist” for men looking for a wife and a “to do list” for every woman. (Prov. 31:10-31)  True or False?

4.            Work comes as a result of sin. (Prov. 31:12, 15, 18; Gen. 1:27-29, 31)  True or False?

5.            Outward beauty is as deep and lasting as is the character.  (Prov. 31:30)  True or False?

1.   Medical benefits out weigh spiritual liabilities.  (Prov.31:4,5,8,9) False

       “It is not for kings, Lemuel—

                  it is not for kings to drink wine,

                  not for rulers to crave beer,

         lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,

and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.” – Proverbs 31:4,5

AND . . .

“I am the LORD your God,

                  who teaches you what is best for you,

                  who directs you in the way you should go.

         If only you had paid attention to my commands,

                  your peace would have been like a river,

                  your well-being like the waves of the sea.”

                                             Isa. 48:17-18

There are many blessings that come with an increase of knowledge.  Science, for example, has enabled us to communicate faster, travel faster and even diagnose our ailments faster.  Scientific discoveries have saved lives and so has the Bible.  

In recent years, the benefits of drinking wine, for example, has been highlighted and promoted in the news.  What hasn’t received much attention is that the same benefits can be found in grape juice without the alcohol that can easily impair judgment.  Such findings aren’t as popular.

The queen mother depicted in Proverbs is giving advice to her son.  In so doing she explains that the drunkenness of a king brings with it a tendency to have a clouded memory and judgment resulting in injustice to the oppressed (31:8).  Such was the case that led to the death of John the Baptist. (Mk 6)

The Bible, however, adds another important dimension  to one’s health that science does not address.  The  Bible speaks directly to the issue of one’s eternal welfare. Having a clear mind that is capable of discerning spiritual principles is vital! Ephesians 6:11 says, “Put on  the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”   An impaired judgment is not only a problem when driving home from a party; it is also about being able to have keen spiritual discernment. The issue at stake is about keeping our minds alert so we will not compromise our ability to make decisions affecting our own spiritual welfare and the welfare of those within the realm of our influence.

2              For the dying person wine is permissible.  (Prov. 31:6,7)  Understand first who the “dying person” is in Proverbs

“Alcohol is for the dying,

               and wine for those in bitter distress.

      Let them drink to forget their poverty

and remember their troubles no more.”—Proverbs 31:6,7

In Proverbs the “perishing” is a reference to those who are not “righteous.” 

“When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;

when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.”—Proverbs 11:10  [See also 19:9]

“It was Christ who in the Old Testament gave the warning to Israel, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1. And He Himself provided no such beverage. Satan tempts men to indulgence that will becloud reason and benumb the spiritual perceptions, but Christ teaches us to bring the lower nature into subjection. His whole life was an example of self-denial. In order to break the power of appetite, He suffered in our behalf the severest test that humanity could endure. It was Christ who directed that John the Baptist should drink neither wine nor strong drink. It was He who enjoined similar abstinence upon the wife of Manoah. And He pronounced a curse upon the man who should put the bottle to his neighbor’s lips. Christ did not contradict His own teaching. The unfermented wine which He provided for the wedding guests was a wholesome and refreshing drink. Its effect was to bring the taste into harmony with a healthful appetite.” --Ellen White in The Desire of Ages, p.149

3              Proverbs provides a “checklist” for men looking for a wife and a “to do list” for every woman. (Prov. 31:10-31) False but with True implications

We live in an age of checklists.  When I used to fly as a pilot we carefully went through a checklist before takeoff and then again before landing.  There are checklists for just about anything and if there isn’t one we’ll make one. I work from my own checklists at work. It is easy, unfortunately, to turn Christianity into a checklist – things to do and things I must not do.  The problem in this case is that no sooner is our list of “do’s and don’ts” made than we discover something we left off!  In Proverbs 31 we have a list of duties that a “wife of noble character” is able to accomplish.  It is a rather daunting list to put it mildly:

·      Selects wool and flax

·      Works with eager hands

·      Brings food from afar

·      Gets up when it is still night

·      Provides food for the family

·      Buys property

·      Plants a vineyard

·      Works vigorously and is in good shape with strong arms.

·      Profitable with her trading

·      Opens her arms to the poor

·      Dresses well

·      Is dignified

·      Able to laugh at what the future might bring

·      Speaks with wisdom

·      Is not idle

[An acrostic poem – each of the 22 verses begins with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.]

It’s no wonder that her husband and children “call her blessed!!” (v.2)  But we must ask, “Who is this capable woman of verse 10?”  She has tremendous abilities and has high social standing.  It is interesting that her personal appearance is not mentioned once. Who is she?  This woman, so it appears, carries the theme of the entire book of Proverbs to a grand application.  This woman parallels Ms Wisdom of the opening chapters (3:13-18; 9:1-6).  How can anyone become the perfect wife or the perfect husband for that matter.  Proverbs holds the key!  As seen in Genesis 1 & 2 man and woman together find their fulfillment by bearing the image of God (1:26). Proverbs simply says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (1:7).  Such qualities bear the image of Wisdom and can be obtained only by being re-molded into God’s image.

4              Work comes as a result of sin. (Prov. 31:12, 15, 18; Gen. 1:27-29, 31) False

She opens her arms to the poor

     and extends her hands to the needy. . .

She watches over the affairs of her household

     and does not eat the bread of idleness.

                       Proverbs 31:20,27

A common complaint in nursing homes is the regret of not having something to do.  Some actually complain of having too much leisure and not enough work!  It becomes clear that work is one of the ways we make ourselves useful to others, rather than just living a life for ourselves.  Tim Keller, author of Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work wrote, “According to the Bible, we don’t merely need the money from work to survive; we need the work itself to survive and live fully human lives.” (p.38)  Keller goes on to explain, that “it is through work that we discover who we are, because it is through work that we come to understand our distinct abilities and gifts, a major component in our identities.”

In Genesis 1:31 we not only find that God works but He finds delight in it.  But there is also another danger and that is that we see work as the end objective and that we rest in order to recharge our batteries so we can work more.  The Sabbath brings a halt to the endless cycle!  Both work and rest are meant to direct us to our Creator and Redeemer and Sustainer.  Work is not the meaning of life regardless of how important our work might be.  God worked and rested yet in the context of Genesis 2 God’s work and our work, His rest and our rest is for the purpose that we might find a relationship with one another.

John Calvin, the great Protestant reformer, asked, “Did God create food only to provide for necessity [nutrition] and not also for delight and good cheer?” 

“In short, work —and lots of it— is an indispensable component in a meaningful human life. It is a supreme gift from God and one of the main things that gives our lives purpose. But it must play its proper role, subservient to God. It must regularly give way not just to work stoppage for bodily repair but also to joyful reception of the world and of ordinary life.”  Keller, Timothy (2012-11-13). Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work (p. 42). Penguin Group US. Kindle Edition.

5              Outward beauty is as deep and lasting as is the character.  (Prov. 31:30)   False

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. – Proverbs 31:30

The woman described in this chapter is an excellent wife and mother.  Her range of skills is really amazing.  In this verse, however, we are reminded that her strength and dignity do not come from her amazing achievements!  They come as a result of her reverence for God.

“As Proverbs has stated repeatedly, these are qualities that lead to honor, praise, success, personal dignity and worth, and enjoyment of life. In the face of the adulteress’ temptations mentioned often in Proverbs, it is fitting that the book concludes by extolling a virtuous wife. Young men and others can learn from this noble woman. By fearing God, they can live wisely and righteously. That is the message of Proverbs.”—Bible Knowledge Commentary

Concluding Remarks

Proverbs 31 is a powerful conclusion to what has been said previously. Throughout the book the queen mother is counseling her son about the qualities of being a true king and gives two warnings—warnings that could jeopardize his success:  women and wine. She is “concerned with protecting her son against the influence of folly and the effect of iniquity, all of which may blur the king’s judgment and duties as a king (31:3). . . . The reason the queen mother is so adamant against wine and the woman-folly is that they both affect the king’s access to wisdom, his capacity to judge and to distinguish between good and evil.” (Jacques Doukhan in Proverbs, pp. 126, 127)

“Wisdom is compared to the ideal wife because wisdom is not just an intellectual acquisition.  We reach wisdom through the process of a relationship with the divine person.  The book of Proverbs concludes then, with this parable, the last mashal; it is an appeal to the reader to go and search for Wisdom and engage in a dynamic conjugal relationship with her, to make our life meaningful and full of the divine Presence.” (Ibid., p.127)