Let’s read those informative verses.  Proverbs 31:4-7 says, “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.”

In these verses, we have reference to wine and strong drink.  Wine here is defined as a fermented drink that can intoxicate or make drunk.  Strong drink is defined as an intoxicant or intensely alcoholic liquor.  We see from verse one that these were words of prophecy to King Lemuel from his mother.  The advice from his mother is good instruction for any leader. She warns Lemuel not to fall into the trap of immorality…chasing after women will sap a king’s strength (verse 3). Then she warns her son against the dangers of alcohol; a drunken king is never a good king. A ruler who craves wine will pervert justice and act lawlessly (verses 4–7).  These words are so rational and are to be heeded.  Alcoholic stimulants can weaken reason, they can pervert the heart, and do not suit rulers.  Rulers need clear and steady minds to be able to handle the concerns of their offices.  We read in Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”  In their drunkenness, the king (or any political leader) is prone to forget how to apply the law and pervert the justice that is due to the poor and oppressed.

On the other hand, verses 6-7 seem to give permission to give strong drink to those who are dying and wine to those who are of heavy heart.  The proper use of such drinks is to offer relief to feeble bodies and depressed minds. Psalm 104:15 tells us that it is wine that, “maketh glad the heart of man…”  It was a traditional practice to give strong drink or wine to those suffering before death.  This was shown as the Lord was on the cross.  We read in Matthew 27:34, “They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.”  This was offered to the Lord to lessen the pain of the crucifixion, but He refused to take anything to reduce His suffering.  There is a proper use of wine for the ailing.  The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to drink wine to alleviate his suffering in 1 Timothy 5:23, “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.” 

There is definitely a use and an abuse of wine.  There is a proper time and amount of wine that might be had today by believers.  We read in Ephesians 5:18, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”  It is not the drinking of wine that is forbidden, it is the EXCESS in drinking wine that is definitely and strictly forbidden. 

There is an abuse of alcohol that we must be very aware of and not allow in our lives.  As we read earlier, Proverbs 20:1 tells us, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”  If we give ourselves over to the power of alcohol, it will ruin our lives.  It can be a mocker and a deceiver.  It can rage through our lives and ruin our relationship with our spouses, our family, our workplace, and can seriously harm our relationship with the Lord.  So, while there is a proper use of alcohol, may we also be warned that alcohol can take over our lives if we allow it.  (CC)  (596.4)