Proverbs 23:35
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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.
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The drunkard is insane! He drinks until he is senseless and cannot feel the pain he causes himself and others. Then he must sleep for hours or days to get rid of his miserable hangover. But as soon as he is awake, he goes straight for the bottle again! These are the foolish and wicked actions of the drunkard in his insanity, rather than his literal words.
The Preacher has already taught us, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise" (Pr 20:1). See the comments on 20:1. Our proverb illustrates the mocking and raging consequences of drunkenness - the man is violently hurt by strong drink and foolishly mocked by wine; but he continues to drink!
He has also listed the troubles of the drunkard, "Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?" (23:29). See the comments on 23:29. In spite of such constant and miserable consequences, the drunkard returns again to much wine (23:30)! Give me another one!
The dog eats his own vomit, for his nature demands it (26:11). And the sow returns to her wallowing in the mud, for her nature demands it as well (II Pet 2:22). But the drunkard has no such instinct for self-destruction other than the deceitfulness of sin and the addicting properties of alcohol. "Whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise!" Stay away!
Our proverb describes the bodily troubles often experienced by drunkards. They engage in brawls for no reason at all; they provoke fights they would otherwise avoid. They fall down steps and off chairs; they have auto accidents. But they feel little, for they are senseless to physical, mental, and spiritual perception. They are lost in their drunkenness!
And though the consequences of drunkenness are horrible, the drunkard continues to drink himself drunk. He can no longer deliver himself, though he has a lie in his right hand. He builds a horrible habit, gives place to the devil, and becomes a slave to alcohol.
Is the drunkard more stupid than other sinners? Hardly! All sins have short pleasure, great and long lasting pain, and eternal judgment. Why do men love and continue in any sin? Is there hope for the drunkard? Certainly! All sinners may have great hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wrote, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 7:24-25).
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