Good Morning Yamon Ki Yesepar;
Proverbs 20:1 “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy and all who stray by it are not wise.”
Since tis the season to make merry, there are those who tend to make a little too merry. For this holiday season I would like to visit some words from the wisest man who ever lived.
I had a prior study on the word wine. It does not necessarily mean “grape juice” nor fermented. It could be any type of fruit juice. Generally new wine (good wine) is consider non fermented and old wine is considered fermented. To be fair this is hotly debated among Bible scholars. This is where I plant my flag, however, until proven wrong. The root word for wine is “yavan” which has the idea of heating, hence fermentation. Thus, you have the strongest argument that wine means a fermented juice. However, fermentation starts the moment grape juice is made, especially in a hot climate without refrigeration. The Talmud recognizes certain degrees or levels of fermentation. Today, as I am told, the older the wine, the more prized it is. In ancient times, the newer the wine the more prized it was.
Further research into the root word “yavan” reveals that it is also the word used for mud, or clay, hence the coming from the earth. This is where wine get’s it’s picture as earthly pleasures and pursuits. Wine is a mocker or in the Hebrew “levas.” This is an Arabic word which has the idea of twisting sentences or words, hence the idea of mockery. It sort of like our modern day idea of putting a “spin” on words, making something out to be what it is really not.
“Strong drink” is the word “shekar” This is your word from drunkenness. This would be the “happy” drunk, one who drinks to his full. It is also the same word used to sell oneself out to slavery. A fitting picture of an alcoholic, that is, one who is a slave to drink having sold himself out for a few moments of earthly pleasure. Such a person is
“raging” or “homeh” In it’s primitive form the word is derived from a stomach making a gurgling noise, hence, the stomach raging at you.” It was felt that when the stomach “growls” that it was unhappy, dissatisfied, with what it was fed, yet wanting more.
Thus Solomon may have a double meaning to this verse. Just as drinking wine could lead to an abuse, causing one to feel he is happy but then he ends up being dissatisified and wanting more. Solomon is trying to show that earthly pleasures leave you unsatisfied. The more you have the more it will mock you, and demand more and better. The lure of earthly pleasures and pursuits will leave you thirsting again and again.
Solomon should know, he was the wealthiest man in the world, he had everything anyone could want but he ended up by saying “Worthless, worthless, all is worthless…” Ecclesiastes 1:2. I remember a billionaire was interviewed by a reporter who asked: “Just how much more money do you need to be satisfied?” He replied: “Just a little more.”
This holiday season will come and go. Many will make merry, if not with drink, with just partying, but January 2, 2009 will arrive and January can be a long, dark, cold month. The waters many will drink this season will leave them thirsting for more. Oh, yes, the Hebrews knew all about “living waters,” never thirsting again, but that can only come from the Messiah. Who, by the say, came 2,000 years ago as this season will celebrate – how ironic.
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