International S. S. Lessons.
"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." —Neh. 8:8 LESSON XII.—SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1894. THE WOES OF THE DRUNKARD.
- WHO hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath complaining? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
- They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek out mixed wine.
- Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth its color in the cup, when it goeth down smoothly;
- At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
- Thine eye shall behold strange things, and thine heart shall utter froward things.
- Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
- They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not hurt; they have beaten me, and I felt it not; when shall I awake? I shall seek it yet again.
Golden Text: "Look not thou upon the wine when it is red." Verse 31. - What questions are asked by the wise man? Verse 29. Note 1.
- What reply does he give to his questions? Verse 30. Note 2.
- In view of the evils of drink, what warning is given? Verse 31. Note 3.
- What are said to be the sure results of indulgence in drink? Verse 32.
- How does the wise man speak of the perversion of the senses? Verse 33.
- By what language does he describe the drunkard and his feelings? Verse 34.
- Despite all these woes and miseries, what is the language of the drunkard generally? Verse 35. Note 4.
1. This lesson has been aptly described as "the drunkard's looking glass." The literal Hebrew makes a very graphic picture of verse 29. See margin of Revised Version. Who hath oh? that is, the interjection "oh" as expressive of the fearful list of woes which come to the drunkard. For "Who hath sorrow?" the Hebrew is, "Who hath alas?" the very sorrow of despair. "Who hath complaining?" rather, "Who hath contentions and strifes with everyone?" How true is the picture! Strong drink excites the passions, loosens the tongue, and takes away all self-control. The great majority of crime is committed by men under the influence, directly or indirectly, of strong drink. "Who hath wounds without cause?" These are characteristics of the drunkard, as is also the redness, or, as the margin reads, "darkness of eyes." What a fearful load of sins is here bundled together! Milton's "Comus" aptly expresses the power of strong drink in the following lines:—
"Soon as the poison works, their human countenance,
Th' express resemblance of the gods, is changed
Into some brutish form of wolf or bear,
Or ounce, or tiger, hog, or bearded goat,
And they, so perfect in their misery,
Not once perceive their foul disfigurement,
But boast themselves more comely than before,
And all their friends and native home forget,
To roll with pleasure in a sensual sty." 2. They that go to seek out mixed wine.—The Septuagint reads, "Those who hunt out where carousals are taking place." Mixed wine evidently means spiced or medicated wine, so prepared that its intoxicating power is increased. Consider the whole verse, the carousals expressed by tarrying long, and the going from the mild drinks to those that are stronger. The downward path of the drunkard is graphically set forth. Peloubet well says, "Every drunkard was once an innocent child." Everyone was first a moderate drinker. No one ever yet became a drunkard who refused to touch intoxicating drink. Not all who drink moderately do become drunkards, but no one ever became a drunkard who did not first drink moderately. 3. The wine against which we are warned is not the pure, unfermented juice of the grape, but the wine that sparkles, "giveth its color in the cup," "that moveth itself aright," or that "goeth down smoothly." All intoxicants create an appetite for478themselves, and which cannot be satisfied by common, natural food. 4. It is impossible to exaggerate the power and results of depraved appetite. Would to God that every young man could see the fearful end before he takes the first step. It is so much easier not to do than to break away from evil doing. This scripture shows that as the man on the top of the mast, in imminent danger of being thrown into the sea, such is the position of the drunkard, and yet he does not realize it. After all the calamities and woes which come to him he says, "I will seek it yet again." In fact, there is no hope or help or redemption for the drunkard but in the Lord Jesus Christ. And in true reform in all matters of temperance, the reformed drunkard who continues to use tobacco is almost sure to return to his whisky. And the many exciting condiments and stimulants used in these days all tend to increase the appetite of strong drink. True temperance begins with the babe at the table. Control of the appetite then will be control of appetite in later years. Of course Christ is able to save the drunkard, and all others who want to be saved, but the sad thing about strong drink is that it puts the mind and conscience and heart in that condition where they are not affected by the Spirit of God and do not answer to his loving voice. The only true way is, in the integrity of manhood and by the help of Christ, to refuse to touch strong drink, and avoid everything that would lead to its use.