"He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry." Psalm 147:9
“Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth, and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
The Bible tells us not only of the Lord’s mercy, but of His tender mercy!
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” Psalm 51:1
“Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,” Luke 1:78
Cider. . .
What is cider? According to dictionary.com the word “cider”means, “the juice pressed from apples (or formerly from some other fruit) used for drinking, either before fermentation (sweet cider) or after fermentation (hard cider)”.
Perhaps around the holidays as a kid you remember having a glass of apple cider. If you have ever been to something like a fall festival where they actually pressed apples, you would know that unless treated the apples would eventually ferment you would have hard cider on your hands. But there is a bit of time before it does ferment.
What is wine? According to the online etymological dictionary (etymonline.com), we borrow our English word “wine” from the Latin word “vinium”. The Latin is essentially “vine”, and it is also from where we get other English words such as “vineyard”, or “vinegar”. Grapes grow on vines, and from them we get grape juice.
Actually, wine is to grapes, is what we understand cider is to apples. Although today most of us use it differently, wine originally meant “the juice of grapes either before fermentation or after”.
The Bible talks about being
“A bishop then must be. . . vigilant, sober. . .Not given to wine . . .” I Timothy 3:2-3
When someone is given to something, it is like they are married to it. It is like when a woman is “given in marriage” (Matt.22:30). Given to wine, is like making wine your head and not to Christ. “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” Ephesians 5:23
What kind of wine has exerts power over men?
The Bible tells us, “ Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” Proverbs 23:31-32 That kind of wine is the kind that moves. It is the fermented kind of wine.
The scripture says that a bishop is not supposed to be given to wine. Does it say anything about others?
It is not for kings and princes.
“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:” Proverbs 31:1
It is not for judges.
“Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.” Proverbs 31:5
It is not for priests.
“Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:and that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;” Leviticus 10:9-10
It is not for any child of the King!
“And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:6
“ Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” I Corinthians 6:3
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1
Be sober and vigilant!
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” I Peter 5:8
We are in a battle field, and we are supposed to be sober and vigilant. Do you think the Devil will not notice when our guard is let down?
Consider the word sober It means more than being not drunk. It means being alert and circumspect. Here the word is translated from the Greek word, “nepho”. “Strong’s Concordance defines it as, “to abstain from wine (keep sober), i.e. (figuratively) be discreet:—be sober, watch.” One cannot be intoxicated, have his senses impaired, and yet be described as sober.
What about the Lord’s example?
Consider: “And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.” Mark 15:23-24
. . .When is it ok for Christians to drink wine?
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:11-13
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1
Does the Bible forbid us from drinking wine as grape juice?
There are occasions where the Bible mentions drinking wine in an acceptable setting. There is no reason to interpret as a contradiction to what God spoke so plainly on, and a suggestion to go get intoxicated. Mostly in ancient times people drank water. When harvest came in the people of God would also drink juice to celebrate. We drink apple cider now.
Jesus even made water into wine for a wedding celebration as recorded in John 2. And it is obvious was non-alcoholic wine.
“Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:” Proverbs 23:20
“Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also. . .” Habbukkuk 2:15
So in conclusion, God wouldn’t tell us His word that whoever drinks strong drink is a fool and then tell us to go do it in another verse.
God also warns us to consider who you listen to:
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. ” I John 3:2-3
“And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life…. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” I John 2:25,28
Photo by NASA
“And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give unto every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12
“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 22:44
Jesus is coming quickly! Are you ready?
You may also want to read:
What the Bible says about how to know if you are going to Heaven.
When Ravens Cry 