5h • Wisdom
Tarrying Long
‘They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.’ Proverbs 23:30
After listing the sorrows and wounds of the previous verse, Scripture now identifies the cause. The issue is not merely drinking, but lingering—tarrying long. It describes a heart that does not simply encounter temptation but pursues it, seeks it, and settles into it. The phrase “mixed wine” suggests intensified indulgence, carefully crafted to heighten effect. What begins as casual becomes intentional.
The Bible consistently warns about this progression. Isaiah speaks of those who “continue until night, till wine inflame them.” Ephesians contrasts being drunk with wine and being filled with the Spirit, showing that what fills the heart shapes the life. The danger is not only in excess, but in desire that plans for excess. When a person seeks the next stronger mixture, the appetite has moved from enjoyment to mastery.
Scripture often shows that sin grows through lingering. Proverbs 7 describes the young man passing near her corner and going the way to her house. He did not fall instantly; he lingered. Psalm 1 warns against walking, standing, and sitting in ungodly influence. The longer one remains in the presence of temptation, the weaker resistance becomes. Tarrying creates familiarity, and familiarity dulls warning.
God’s Word also emphasizes sobriety and watchfulness. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant.” Sobriety is not merely abstinence; it is alertness. Paul urges believers to walk honestly, not in rioting and drunkenness. The Spirit-filled life cultivates clarity of mind and steadiness of heart. Lingering at the place of excess clouds both.
Practically, Proverbs 23:30 calls for proactive boundaries. It warns against environments and habits that nurture appetite rather than discipline it. The verse challenges believers to ask not only what they allow, but what they seek. Wisdom recognizes that repeated pursuit shapes desire, and desire shapes destiny. Choosing not to tarry protects both clarity and calling, preserving the soul for God’s purposes.
0
0 comments
Tarrying Long
powered by
skool.com/everyday-bible-4349
Everyday Bible was created to discuss as a community the Word of God and its practical application in our lives.
Suggested communities
Powered by