Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

DRUNKENNESS

Intoxication from strong drink. Drunkenness was among the more prevalent social problems of the ancient world, and its effects were long lasting on families and nations of the OT. Noah and Lot serve as examples of inebriation leading to improper sexual relationships (Gen. 9:21-27; 19:30-38). The physical effects include staggered walk (Ps. 107:27; Isa. 24:20), loss of strength (Eccl. 10:17), decreased mental alertness (1 Kgs. 16:9; 20:16), induced sleep (Joel 1:5), blindness (Isa. 29:9), or even death and destruction, as with Nabal (1 Sam. 25:36-38) and Ephraim (Isa. 28:1-3).

Inebriation can lead to derisive behavior (Ps. 69:12[MT 13]), indecent lifestyle (Rom. 13:13), quarreling and fighting, (Prov. 4:17; 20:1), or destitution (23:21). Those who lead such lives are to be avoided, for they will not inherit the kingdom (1 Cor. 5:11; 6:10). The total dissipation of life is pictured as the drunk staggering in his vomit (Isa. 19:14).

Drunkenness prevents alertness to the work of God in the world (Luke 21:34). Hence priests were prohibited from consuming wine or strong drink while in service of the sanctuary (Lev. 10:9), and the Nazirite was to abstain from all products of the vineyard during the period of dedication to God (Num. 6:2-4).

Drunkenness often is used as a metaphor for God’s judgment. Many prophetic oracles against the nations surrounding Israel and Judah contained such dramatic imagery, including Moab (Jer. 48:26), Edom (49:12-13; Lam. 4:21), Babylon (Jer. 51:39), Egypt (Isa. 19:14), Assyria, and Nineveh (Nah. 1:10). Jerusalem as well, which had become God’s enemy by her continued idolatry and rejection of torah, would experience horror and desolation as a result of the cup of drunkenness brought by the Lord (Ezek. 23:32-34).

R. Dennis Cole

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

DRUNKENNESS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)