Be Still And Know

Proverbs 23:29-30 Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks. The abuse of alcohol is clearly not a new problem. These verses reveal a deep understanding of a challenge which continues to test our society. In the UK more than 8,000 people die from alcohol-related illnesses every year. Hospital admissions for alcohol-related conditions have risen by about 40 per cent over the past ten years. Alcohol abuse is estimated to cost our society more than £20bn a year. Clearly this is a huge challenge, and it is amazing to see these Proverbs written so long ago addressing the issue with such power. Some people might think of the writer of Proverbs as being a kill joy, but his purpose was exactly the opposite. He could see that alcohol could so easily ruin people’s lives. In the following verses he talks about the way in which wine can, when drunk