Believers and alcohol: Kings, Priests, Nazarites

BELIEVERS AND ALCOHOL: KINGS, PRIESTS, NAZARITES

A. BIBLE WINES
When we speak of alcoholic beverages today we have a range of alcoholic content anywhere from 0.5% (low alcohol) to 40% (100 Proof). We have no idea of the alcohol content of Bible wines, since even “strong drink” could have been only 10-15%. They did not build distilleries for 100 Proof alcohol in those days, so we must use caution. Also the “flagons of wine” (AV) are simply raisin cakes ('ashiyshah {ash-ee-shaw'}) used in sacrificial feasts.

1. The Old Testament makes a clear distinction between three kinds of wine, and each has it’s own characteristics:
a) New wine or sweet wine, with absolutely no alcohol. We would call it fresh grape juice.
b) Wine, with alcohol, similar to fermented wines made today from grapes
c) “Strong drink” or a highly intoxicating drink, probably made from fruits, vegetable or grains, intead of grapes, and having a much higher alcohol content.

2. New Wine, Sweet Wine, or just Wine
This is called tiyrowsh {tee-roshe'} or tiyrosh {tee-roshe'} wine, fresh or new wine, must, freshly pressed wine, which corresponds to the gleukos {glyoo'-kos} the sweet juice pressed the grape, sweet wine in the NT. Today we would simply call it fresh grape juice. This “wine” represents GOD’S BLESSINGS (Gen. 27:28,37; Deut. 7:13, 11:14; Zech. 9:17) because it “cheereth God and man” (Judges 9:13), and was the only wine to be offered for the tithes of Israel: Num 18:12 All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee (Cf. Deut.12:17; 14:23; 18:4; 2 Chr. 31:5; 32:28; Neh. 10:37-39; 13:5,12). Since tithes were for the priests, and priests were forbidden alcoholic wine and strong drink, this was their provision (This important fact is significant for believers, who are both “kings and priests”. More about this further down).

3. Wine [Fermented Wine]
This is yayin {yah'-yin},from an unused root meaning to effervesce wine, therefore this is the alcoholic beverage mentioned in the OT (also called chamar{kham-ar'} in Aramaic, and oinos {oy'-nos} in Greek. This is the WINE OF MAN’S TRANSGRESSION (Hab.2:5), and metaphorically known as “fiery wine of God's wrath (Rev. 14:10). Noah drank fermented wine and lay shamefully naked (Gen.9:21,24), and Lot drank wine and committed incest with his daughters (Gen.19:32-33). Because it is the wine of transgression (leaven, yeast or fermentation being symbolic of sin, it was offered with the meal and burnt offerings as a “drink offering” (Lev.23:13; Num. 15:5-10; 28:7,14). That is probably why Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, had yayin with him when he met Abraham )Gen.14:18). Whenever there is an injunction in Scripture against “wine and strong drink” this is the alcoholic beverage God sees as a companion to strong drink.

4. Strong Drink
This is shekar {shay-kawr'} strong drink, intoxicating drink, fermented or intoxicating liquor, which is the strongest of the three, and corresponds in the NT to sikera {sik'-er-ah} strong drink, an intoxicating beverage, different from wine; it was a artificial product, made of a mixture of sweet ingredients, whether derived from grain and vegetables, or from the juice of fruits (dates), or a decoction of honey. This is the strong drink, along with the fermented yayin, that was STRICTLY FORBIDDEN TO THREE GROUPS OF PEOPLE: KINGS, PRIESTS, AND NAZARITES: Prov 31:4 [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [it is] not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lev 10:9 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: Num 6:3 He shall separate [himself] from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.”

B. LESSONS FOR BELIEVERS
For those who may presume that because the Mosaic Law has been replaced with a higher law – the Perfect Law of Liberty (Love), and because Mosaic ordinances were abolished on the cross, nothing in the OT has any relevance whatsoever. That would be a mistake, since we are commanded to diligently study the OT : “Now all these things happened unto them for [ex]amples: and THEY ARE WRITTEN FOR OUR ADMONITION, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Cor. 19:11, see the entire chapter). However, we cannot profit from the OT unless we first recognize our position is Christ:

1. Jesus of Nazareth was a Nazarite
The Lord Jesus Christ is our supreme example in all things. He was from Nazareth for a specific reason. The word “Nazareth” is a play on two Hebrew words “naziyr” {naw-zeer'} or nazir {naw-zeer'} consecrated or devoted one, and “netzer” the Branch [of David], “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene” (Matt.2:23; Jdg. 13:5). He was consecrated to God from His mother’s womb, as were both Samson and John the Baptizer. The proof that Christ was the Divine Nazarite who came to be baptized by the human Nazarite is found in Matt.3:16” “He [Christ] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I AM WELL PLEASED” .

2. Believers are Nazarites
The law of the Nazarite is detailed in Numbers 6:1-21, and wine, vinegar, and strong drink were strictly forbidden (vv. 3-4). Because Samson, a type of Christ, was to be a Nazarite unto God, neither his mother nor he could drink wine nor strong drink (Judges 13:4-14). Is there any teaching here whatsoever for the believer? Yes, indeed. The law of the Nazarite said that a man who was separated unto God [dedicated and sanctified] would be filled with the Holy Spirit. Samson’s superhuman strength came to him because of this (Jdg. 13:24-25; 14:6). When the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, they had supernatural power to witness to the world (Acts. 1:8; 2:4; 4:31). When a believer is FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT he will have the necessary boldness to speak the Word of God and witness before all men, even if he or she expects to be persecuted and die because of this testimony (Stephen in Acts 6:8-7:60). “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people” (Acts 6:8). Before that can happen, the “Nazarite” must be separated. Because John the Baptizer was a Nazarite, we read: “He shall be FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST”, even from his mother’s womb” (Lk. 1:15). So Paul says: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that YE PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. This holiness involves separation from all uncleanness, including “wine and strong drink”. This is not an option. It is a command under the Nazarite law of grace. Israel in the wilderness, a type of the believer on this earth, was kept from wine and strong drink for 40 years to teach us a valuable spiritual lesson: Deut. 29:6 Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I [am] the LORD your God.

3. Believers are Kings and Priests
Again, the Lord Jesus is our supreme example. He is the Divine Royal High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (Heb.1:3,8-9; 4:14-16; 5:1-10). Therefore, He was made us kings and priests, since we are joint-heirs with Him. As a result, we can come “boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4: 16). “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us KINGS AND PRIESTS unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Rev.1:5-6). As you can see, that is an awesome position as well as a tremendous privilege. What exactly does this means in terms of our practical, daily lives? “But ye are a chosen generation, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, AN HOLY NATION, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you OUT OF DARKNESS into His marvellous light” (1 Pet. 2:9). It is crystal clear that God’s royal priesthood must be HOLY, and holiness is simply “separation from all that is unclean”. Therefore the injunctions to kings and priests in the OT had a higher and further application to believers under grace. Because we are under grace, we must be PERFECT, as our Heavenly Father is PERFECT (Matt. 5:48). This is not law, it is grace. The Believer-King-Priest-Nazarite is to be separated from "wine and strong drink".

Yesterday at 11:33 PM Yekcidmij said this in Post #2
Im a simple guy help me summerize. So believers are "in the wrong" if they comsume alcohol?

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In one word, personal holiness is the issue. It seems that the heart of the issue is being ignored. Our focus and are greatest desire on earth should be to be FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. That means fully under God's control. When alcohol enters the human system, it does not take much for us to be "under the influence" of alcohol.  So the issue really is "Under whose influece should the believer be"? Scripture is clear: "And be not drunk with wine (oinos = fermented wine), wherein is excess; BUT BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT" (Eph.5:18).  If we are to put on the whole armour of God (Eph.6:10-18), we have to also be filled with the Spirit.

The real issue is that we are a Royal Priesthood commanded to be holy or separated from all uncleanness (1 Pet. 2:9). That is why kings and priests were commanded to abstain from "wine and strong drink". The same injuction applies to believers. To misunderstand the application of the term Nazarite is to simply miss the point. Christ did not need to take the Nazarite vow since He was already "holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners". However, He is specifically called a "Nazarene" because He is the Divine Nazarite. It's not a matter of leaving hair uncut, but an internal, spiritual holiness that we are concerned with. A believer who wants spiritual power (pictured in the Nazarite Samson's superhuman strength) must become a "Nazarite" in a manner of speaking, although he or she is already a Royal Priest who enters into the heavenly Tabernacle daily (see the entire book of Hebrews for this teaching). Anyway you look at it the command is to abstain.

Did Christ consume fermented or unfermented wine?  Did He say that there was fermented wine in the cup taken at the Lord's Supper?  The Lord said He came "eating and drink" as opposed to John the Baptist who lived in the wilderness and ate locusts and wild honey.  Jesus was accused of but did not say "I came eating gluttonously and drinking fermented wine".  Fresh grape juice is also called "wine" in the Bible (new wine, sweet wine, tiyrosh) and He cerainly partook of that, as could any of the Aaronic priests. However, the Lord being the Divine Royal High Priest could not have allowed fermented wine to touch His lips since it was forbidden to kings and priests.  So the accusations that He drank fermented wine are unprovable and have no basis in proper Scripture interpretation.

You will also note that the Lord was careful to say "the cup" and "the fruit of the vine", not "wine" with reference to the Lord's Supper.  The "fruit of the vine" which represents God's blessings and could legitimately go into the cup was "tiyrosh" (new wine).  Again, a superficial reading of Scriputre leads to erroneous conclusions. To apply the totality of the literal Nazarite vow to all this is to misread the spiritual meaning of the Nazarite vow. In light of this it is highly unlikely that the wine served at the marriage feast in Cana was fermented, although it had a flavour superior to that of the best fermented aged wine because it was miraculously provided in the first place.


 

Yesterday at 11:44 PM Yekcidmij said this in Post #6
Would Christ have turned the water into wine if drinking it was sinful? ... I agree that getting drunk is wrong ,but drinking a little now and again is not.

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Yekcidmij:

I notice that you have the armour of God shown under your name.  The power to wield the Sword of the Spirit comes from "being filled" with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). So the real question is, Do you want to wield the Sword and do you need the power from God to do so? Why was Samson physically so powerful?  Why were John the Baptist, Jesus of Nazareth, and all the apostles so powerful in proclaiming the Gospel and seeing God bless?  They are all FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST.

As to what kind of "wine" was produced in Cana of Galilee, it would have to be consistent with the fact that Jesus of Nazareth was "holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners".  It stands to reason that He of all men would not create something harmful (which alcohol is). Further, it is only unfermented "wine" or "new wine" which represents God's blessings. Fermented wine is called "the wine of man's transgression" and drunken Noah and Lot are examples given to us of the tragic results of drunkenness. 

How am I a Nazerite??? -- Yekcidmij

First, we'll go to the actual law of the Nazarite, then we'll go to the spiritual law of the Nazarite, and I trust you will make the connection easily:

"When either man or woman shall SEPARATE THEMSELVES to vow a vow of the Nazarite, TO SEPARATE THEMSELVES UNTO THE LORD: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink... all the days of his separation HE IS HOLY UNTO THE LORD" (Num 6:2,3,8).

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, that ye PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD, which is your reasonable service... But ye are a chosen generation, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, AN HOLY NATION... Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, ABSTAIN [SEPARATE YOURSELVES FROM] fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (Romans 12:1; 1 Peter 2:9,11).
Kings and priests were forbidden fermented wine and strong drink.