By: Obed Pineda
After receiving word that his beloved had committed suicide, the Roman general Marcus Antonius (better known today as Mark Antony) took his sword and fell upon it, thus ending his life unaware that the report was false. Upon hearing of Mark Antony’s tragic end, Queen Cleopatra of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt (famous for her stunning beauty) bewailed the death of her husband and, chose to take her own life as well. The story goes that Cleopatra took an asp, put it upon her breast, and allowed it to bite her, poising herself to death. There is much dispute about the validity of Cleopatra’s poetic suicide, but one thing is undeniable; the asp gained global recognition due to its alleged role in the death of one of Egypt’s most famous rulers. In the ancient world, “asp” could refer to a variety of highly venomous serpents found in the Nile region. The serpent was an emblem of royalty in Egypt and its potent toxin was used as a form of execution for criminals who belonged to society’s aristocracy. This method of capital punishment was held as more dignified because the poisonous bite of a Cobra (a species of asp) is painless, putting its victim to sleep until death. Therefore, the venom of any species of asp is deadly not only because of its dangerous level of toxicity, but also because it cannot be easily detected. This curious fact was without a doubt in the mind of King Solomon when he wrote, “Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper” (Proverbs 23:31-32). In the old King James translation, the word “adder” is used in place of “viper,” but the Hebrew word ṣepa’,which is interpreted by the lexicon as “a poisonous serpent” (Strongs H6848), allows either rendition to properly translate the original text. Therefore, the admonition given by the inspired Solomon is that ingesting fermented drink (i.e. any form of alcoholic beverage) is as lethal as the bite of a poisonous snake (i.e. an “asp”). When one considers the powerful influence that alcohol has on the mind, the comparison made by Solomon to the adder’s sting is unmistakable. Keep in mind that the venom of an asp was viewed in antiquity as a merciful form of execution because it put the person into a literal permanent sleep. Solomon is illustrating how fermented drinks are smooth and seemingly innocuous when consumed, but it is this deception that makes them very deadly. The lethal threat that the wise king exposes is in the effects inebriant drinks have on a man’s consciousness after consumption. Like the poison of asps, it puts a man’s mind to slumber and dangerously dulls all of his senses. Hence the reason the inspired king warns his son to not even look at the seductive, red eyes of wine lest he be charmed by it. Although it is true that within the proper context of the proverb the poison of asps is used as a simile of the dreadful effects of fermented drink, it can also be used emblematically of all sin. James cautions that one falls prey to temptation “when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren” (James 1:14-16). The apostle John, too, urges every Christian to beware of being seduced by the world “for all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lusts of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1st John 2:16-17). Observe the similarities between sin’s fatal seductive charm as described by James and John with Solomon’s description of wine’s intoxicating influence. Like the red gaze of wine, the predator known as lust has the power to lure its victims into its cruel arms with its deceitful beauty. It offers carnal pleasure and immediate satisfaction but, similar to the asp’s venom, this lustful bliss lead’s man toward his eternal doom. It is imperative to remember that one epithet used by Holy Writ to describe Satan is the “serpent of old” (cf. Revelation 12:9, 20:1-3). The apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians the reason for this description of the devil, as he expresses his concern for them stating, “I fear, lest somehow as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2nd Corinthians 11:3). Later on in the chapter, the apostle unveils that Satan’s ministers “also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (2nd Corinthians 11:15). Paul’s reference to their transformation is not speaking about a genuine change from darkness to light, but rather he is saying that they disguise themselves and feign righteousness, making them extremely dangerous and deadly to those around them. King David concurs with the apostle to the Gentiles assessment declaring, “Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones? Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men? No, in heart you work wickedness; you weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth. The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; they are like the deaf cobra that stops its ear, which will not heed the voice of charmers, charming ever so skillfully” (Psalm 58:1-5). The astonishing ability that the wicked has in alluring the upright into their trap is terrifying and necessary to be vigilant of (cf. 1st Kings 13:11-24, Proverbs 6:20-26). David, by inspiration, sounds the alarm of this frightening ability manifesting, “They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips” saying also elsewhere that, “there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is destruction; their throat is an open tomb; they flatter with their tongue” (Psalm 140:3, Psalm 5:9). The high risk that sin carries when ingested by man makes it a top-level priority threat that one must always be on guard for. It is vital to not lose sight that sin’s toxin will dull man’s moral compass, blurring the lines of right and wrong, leading to eternal death (cf. Ezekiel 13:20-23, Romans 8:6-8). Understanding how lethal and seductive of a temptress lustful sin truly is, it behooves us that when she appears we heed the counsel of the proverb wisely instructing, “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished” (Proverbs 27:12).