Scripture has much to say
about alcoholic beverages.
Some of it is not what you might expect it to say.
Most references are to wine,
but wine in Biblical
times was much stronger in alcoholic content
than most wine is today.
It was
definitely considered "strong drink".
Throughout these references (and
there are others)
it's plain that alcohol was not forbidden in most cases.
The
exceptions to this were generally involved in acts of worship before YAHWEH.
In
fact, in many cases some alcohol use was actually encouraged.
It was apparently normal for it to be used at times of joy and celebration.
But there was appropriate
use and inappropriate use.
Too much wine often led to very serious problems
for those involved.
It "confused the mind" enough to allow people to
do some very unwise things,
even some very offensive things, to or with others.
When used in moderation, properly, it has its place.
Scripture is clear about
this.
But when it's abused through over-indulgence it becomes a very serious
problem.
This is true of many of the things YAHWEH provides for us.
Always, we are
encouraged to be good stewards of His gifts,
and this means wise and
appropriate use.
Here's what Scripture says on the subject of alcohol:
Genesis 9:21: And he drank of the wine, and was drunk; and he was uncovered within his tent.
Genesis 14:18: And Melchi-Zedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine:
and he was the priest of (el elyown) The Most High God.
Genesis 19:32: Come, let us make our father drink wine,
and we will lie with him and cause the seed of our father to live."
33 And they caused their father himself to drink wine that very night.
And the firstborn went in and laid down with her father himself.
And he did not perceive when she laid down or when she arose.
34 And it was the next day. And the firstborn said to the younger,
“Behold! I laid down with my father himself last night.
Let us cause him to drink wine tonight also.
And you go in to lie with him.
And we will keep alive the seed of our father.”
35 And they caused their father himself to drink wine that night also.
And the younger arose and laid with him.
And he did not perceive when she laid down or when she arose.
Genesis 27:25: And he said, Come near to me,
and I will eat of my son’s game in order that my life blesses you.
And he brought it near to him, and he ate.
And he brought him wine, and he drank.
Leviticus 10:9: Wine and intoxicant
you yourself את are not to
drink,
nor your
sons themselves, את
you yourself, את
as you go
into The Tent of
Appointment
and be
killed.
A rule forever, throughout
your generations.
Numbers 18:12: All your
choicest oil,
and all
your choicest wine and grain,
the premier
part that they
give to YAHWEH,
to you I have
given it.
Deuteronomy 7:13 : And He will
love you.
And He
will bless you.
And He
will increase you.
And He will
bless the fruit
of your womb
and the
fruit of your land,
your
grain, and your
new wine, and your
oil,
the
increase of your cattle and the
offspring of your flock
in the
land which He swore to your forefathers to give
to you.
Deuteronomy 11:14 : then I will
give to you
the rain
for your land in its
season,
the early
rain and the
latter rain.
And you will
gather in your
grain,
and your
new wine, and your
oil.
Deuteronomy 12:17: You are
not allowed to eat within
your gates
the tithe
of your grain,
or of
your new wine,
or of
your oil,
or of the
firstlings
of your
herds or your
flocks,
or of any
of your promise offerings which you
promise,
or of
your spontaneous offerings,
or of the
elevated gifts of your hands.
Instead,
you are to eat them
before
the face of YAHWEH, your
Elohim,
in the
place which YAHWEH, your
Elohim, chooses,
you yourself את and your
son, and your
daughter,
and your
male slave, and your
female slave,
and the
Levite who is
within your gates.
And you are
to rejoice
before the
face of YAHWEH, your
Elohim,
in all
that you put forth your hands to.
1 Chronicles 9:29: Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.
2 Chronicles 31:5: And as soon as the direction came forth the children of Yisra’el brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
Nehemiah 13:15: In those days I saw in Yahudah some treading wine presses on The Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on The Sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold food.
Psalms 75:8: When the
cup is in the hand of YAHWEH
then the
wine will foam, the full mixture.
And He will
cause this to be poured out.
All the morally wrong of the earth will drink it to
the dregs!
Psalms 104:15: ...and wine.
It gladdens
the heart of a mortal.
Proverbs 4.14-16: Do not enter into the path of the morally wrong!
And do not go forward on the way of evil!
Prov. 4:15 Expose it!
Do not pass over on it!
Turn aside from upon it and pass by!
Prov. 4:16 Indeed, they will not sleep
unless they have caused something bad.
And their sleep is taken away
unless they cause someone to fall.
Proverbs 20:1: The wine is a mocker
Roaring is of strong drink.
And everyone being deceived by it
is not wise.
Proverbs 21:17: A man of poverty
will be one loving pleasure.
One loving wine and oil will not
be rich.
Proverbs 23:29-30: Who has woe?
Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions?
Who has complaints?
Who has injuries without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
Prov. 23:30 it is to those staying
long over wine,
to those going to search out
mixed wine.
Proverbs 31:4-7: It is not for kings, Lemu’el,
it is not for kings to
drink wine,
nor for princes to desire strong
drink,
Prov. 31:5 lest they drink
and forget what has been decreed,
and alter the judgment
of all the sons of the afflicted.
Prov. 31:6 Give strong drink to one
who is perishing,
and wine to those bitter of life.
Prov. 31:7 He will drink.
And he will forget his poverty.
And his misery he will remember
no more.
Isaiah 5:11-12: Woe to those rising early in the morning
to pursue strong drink, who remain late at
night.
Wine inflames them!
5:12 And lyre and harp,
tambourine and flute, and
wine
are in their banquets
but the actions of YAHWEH themselves את
they do not look upon intently.
And the workmanship of His hands
they do not observe.
Isaiah 28:7: And these also have gone astray with wine
and with strong drink they have wandered away.
Priest and prophet have wandered away with
strong drink. They have been swallowed up by wine.
They wander away by strong drink.
They have gone astray in vision.
They have stumbled in judicial decisions.
Hosea 4:11: Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
Romans 14:21: It is not good to eat meat nor to drink wine nor to do anything by which your brother is tripped up or is entrapped or is made weak.
Ephesians 5:18: And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation, but instead, be filled with the Divine Nature of YAHWEH...
Titus 2:3: Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of what is right...
These references give you a basis with which to deal with the issues related to alcohol usage.
Ask YAHWEH to guide your decisions in this area.
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