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DRINK DRINK DRINK
The Apostle Paul identified the "Drunkard" and instructed that we should "not keep company" with such and added further that no "Drunkard" would inherit the Kingdom of God. (I Corinthians 5 &6)
The Hebrew for drunkard is translated from the word Shikkur meaning "satiated or merry" and in the New Testament from the word "method" again meaning "softened" with drink. The two most used Hebrew words are "Yayin" and "tirosh" both translated "That which is pressed out" and identified as grape juice or new wine .
The New Testament word is "Oinos" again, grape juice and often prefixed With the word, "new", eg "New Wine" also translated fresh-recent or newly made .
At the feast of Cana the Ruler said, "Every man at the beginning doth set forth 'good' (Kalos) pleasing - beautiful wine (Oinos) grape juice . . . Then that which is 'worse' (Elasson) 'inferior', but thou has kept the good (pleasing) wine until now." (I John 2)
Many hope to use I Timothy 5:23 as an excuse to imbibe "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine (Oinos) for thy stomachs' sake and thine oft infirmities. Again grape juice or 'new' wine .
Paul wrote, "It is good neither to eat flesh nor to drink wine . . . whereby(in which) or (by which) thy brother stumbleth." (Romans 14:21) Grape juice will not cause a brother to stumble, "strong drink" will. We note also that the word 'strong' as a prefix to the word 'drink' denotes such to be 'fierce - hard or imprudent'. To be 'drunk' was to be 'satiated' or 'softened'.
The Old Testament relegates wine or strong (fierce) drink as being unholy and unclean. Those entering the Tabernacle were warned against such a practice "Lest ye die." In the New Testament we are the Tabernacle.
"Look not upon the wine . ." it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.''
We read (Proverbs 23:31) "Look not thou upon the wine (Yayin), grape juice when it is red (fiery), when it giveth (opportions) its colour (appearance) in the cup, when it moveth (goes up and down) itself aright, at the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder."
Fermented (moving) wine is condemned, hence the old Hebrew practice of diluting the new wine to avoid fermentation.
Isaiah and others warned Israel of drunkenness (Is. 28:1 - 7) and subsequent error. Indeed this theme is obvious throughout the Old Testament. There are innumerable references to this practice -the drinking of intoxicating - fermenting grape juice. The Cana wine symbolised the New Covenant, the miracle of change, the shed blood. The call is to " . . . bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (II Corinthians 10)
When God's chosen become satiated - softened and abuse the Tabernacle and cause others to stumble also, when a sound mind becomes unsound trouble will follow. Beware and be warned, drinking intoxicating liquor is O-U-T Pentecost take note!