As we study what the Bible says about alcohol, we turn our attention to the books of what is called “wisdom literature.” Here we find two of the main passages cited against the use of alcohol:

Proverbs 20:1    Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Proverbs 23:31    Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!

As we think about these verses, we need to remember some points about wisdom literature:

1. Wisdom literature often uses hyperbole to make a point: “Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things— which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found. See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.” (Ecclesiastes 7:27-29) Taken literally, these verses teach that .1% of all men are upright, while 0% of women are upright. Some men would favor this interpretation, but I take it as hyperbole. “The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.” (Proverbs 10:27) Do all righteous people live long lives? Do all the wicked die young? To force such an understanding on wisdom literature is to misunderstand its message.
2. Wisdom literature sometimes uses a word to symbolize a related activity. “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.” (Proverbs 6:10-11) Neither sleep nor rest is being condemned here; what is being condemned is laziness. An interesting exercise is to read what Proverbs says about sleep the same way many read what the book says about alcoholic beverages; we would be forced to preach many sermons on insomnia as a spiritual discipline.
3. The advice given in wisdom literature does not always refer to sinful/lawful status. When people make statements like “Proverbs 20:1 condemns wine and strong drink,” they’re adding to the text. There is no condemnation involved. There is a warning not to be “led astray by them.” Again, it’s helpful to study what Proverbs says about things like gluttony, eating meat, sleep, etc.

Proverbs speaks out against drunkenness (see Proverbs 23:29-35), as we have seen in the rest of the Old Testament. That’s the message we should hear and take away from these passages. Let’s not force them to say things that they don’t actually say.

Some additional notes about what wisdom literature says about alcohol:

• Proverbs says that strong drink (beer) and wine should be given to the less fortunate so they may forget their condition (Proverbs 31:6-7). If every use of these drinks were condemned, would Proverbs encourage that they be given to others?
• Ecclesiastes speaks repeatedly about “eating and drinking” being part of how a believer is to enjoy life. (Ecclesiastes 2:24; 3:13; 5:18; 8:15; 9:7) Ecclesiastes 9:7 specifically mentions wine.

As always, please point out where these verses are being misrepresented or add additional verses from the books of wisdom to be considered. (I was going to include a list of the verses where Song of Solomon speaks favorably of wine, but it didn’t seem to add much to the discussion.)

[I’m largely refraining from commenting on comments, trying to present my thoughts bit by bit. Toward the end of the series, I’ll try and be more interactive.]

Previous posts in this series:
The Christian and Alcohol (Alcohol abuse)
The Christian and Alcohol, Part 2 (Alcohol in the history of the U.S.)
The Christian and Alcohol, Part 3 (Seeing what the Bible says about alcohol)
The Christian and Alcohol, Part 4 (What the Pentateuch says about alcohol)
The Christian and Alcohol, Part 5 (What the rest of the Old Testament says about alcohol)