Read Isaiah 28
Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with
wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they
stumble when rendering decisions.
Isaiah 28:7
Isaiah saw storm clouds gathering over the city and announced that
trouble was coming. He began his message announcing God’s judgment on Ephraim (Isa. 28:1–6). Their arrogance was detestable to
God, for they thought their fortress city of Samaria was impregnable.
Samaria reigned in luxury and pleasure and had no fear of her enemies.
The Lord was also appalled by their drunkenness. To the Jews,
wine was a gift from God and a source of joy. The law did not demand
abstinence, but it did warn against drunkenness.
A government official in Washington, D.C., once quipped, “We
have three parties in this city: the Democratic Party, the Republican
Party, and the cocktail party.” Indeed, Washington, D.C., ranks high
on the list of cities noted for alcohol consumption. Many people don’t
realize that alcohol and nicotine, America’s favorite legal drugs, do
far more damage than all the illegal drugs combined. What hope is
there for our affluent, pleasure-loving society that gives lip service to
religion and ignores the tragic consequences of sin and the judgment
that is sure to come?
Something to Ponder
Drunkenness was related to arrogance for the people of Ephraim. Do
you think the two traits are still related? In what ways?