“Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!”

The predominant wine in Solomon’s day was red. White was known but not nearly as well as the red and it was without a doubt the best. Gazing in this verse carries a sense of seduction with it. As a matter of fact the Arab understood this verse meant much more than the temptation of the over indulgence of wine. It tells the story of anything that we may stare at longingly. There is a reason it is the same phase used in the Song of Solomon. The presentation would make a sommelier proud. It’s sparkling as it flows from the bottle, more correctly the wineskin or jug, into the goblet. Scripture clearly tells us to not get drunk on wine. This verse at its most obvious is helping thwart that in the life of God’s children. At a more core level it is telling us to guard our eyes from anything that would grab our attention and draw us away from God’s plan for our life. It may be of a sexual nature. It may be of a covetous nature or it may simply be of any basic desire that we tend to over indulge in. The caution is there, don’t stare and fantasize. James warns us that that is the beginning of the birth pangs for sin. Today flee sinful things. #BeTheEdge

“Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬