Bible Teachings on Abstinence

Leviticus 10:1, 2, 8-11; Proverbs 31:4, 5; Luke 1:13-16

GOLDEN TEXT: “Beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink.”—Judges 13:4

TODAY’S lesson on abstaining from the use of wine and strong drink presents four cases in point: First, God’s instructions to Aaron, which evidently are related to the offering of strange fire by Nadab and Abihu; Second, Solomon’s instructions to kings; Third, the abstinence of John the Baptist; and Fourth, the instructions of the angel to the mother of Samson: Three of these examples are directly related to servants of God, and the other with the responsibility of kings in the proper administration of government.

Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the Lord. The account is not specific as to what caused the fire to be “strange,” but it is certain that in offering it they, in some way, disobeyed the instructions of the Lord pertaining to such offerings. Fire came out from the Lord and destroyed the two disobedient ones, and swift action followed by Moses forbidding Aaron and his remaining two sons to mourn the loss of their brethren.

Then the Lord spake directly to Aaron, commanding him not to drink wine nor strong drink when he went into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest he die. The same law was also made binding upon his remaining two sons. It is not unreasonable to suppose that Nadab and Abihu were intoxicated when they offered strange fire before the Lord, and that it was in the bewilderment of their minds that they disobeyed the rules governing such matters; and that the Lord’s instructions to Aaron were intended as a safeguard against further such misconduct of the priesthood—a very wise precaution.

It was highly important that the services of the priesthood, conducted in the tabernacle, be carried out precisely as directed by the Lord, for they were shadows of better things to come. Those who conducted the services probably realized but little just why they should not be changed, but God knew and their part was to obey the divine instructions. Certainly they would not be qualified to obey minutely if their minds were beclouded by strong drink.

The same thought is involved in Solomon’s instructions to kings. Could there be anything more disappointing or disgusting than drunken executors of the law? Kings in ancient times were the administrators of justice to the people. It was their business to decide the right and wrong of cases, much as judges do today. Could there be anything more pitiable than a drunken judge deciding the merits of a case that had been brought before him!

God made the rule of abstinence for John the Baptist before he was born, and this one of whom Jesus said there had not risen a greater, was obedient thereto. (Matthew 11:11) The power by which this great prophet of the Lord was stimulated was that of the Holy Spirit. He was filled with it, and went forth under its influence, and in the strength of the Lord.

In this respect the experience of John reminds us of Paul’s instructions to Christians, as recorded in Ephesians 5:18—“be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” John the Baptist did not possess the Holy Spirit in the same sense as Christians do, nor for the same purpose; yet in his case, as in ours, it was the power of God operating to stimulate and strengthen him for the work in hand.

The ministration of the Holy Spirit beginning with Jesus is that of a begettal to a new, spiritual life. In this respect the Spirit was not yet given when John began his ministry, nor did he ever receive it for this purpose. John was not begotten by the Spirit to a new, heavenly life, hence the “least in the Kingdom of heaven” will be greater than he. But he was filled with the Spirit, the power of God. It directed him and inspired him; and yielding to its influence, he became a real power for the Lord in his day.

And then we have the case of Manoah’s wife, the mother of Samson, as set forth in our Golden Text. God prepared her to be the mother of a Nazarite. A Nazarite, in Israel, was one who had taken a special vow to abstain from spiritous liquors in every form, and not to cut his hair. Samson, from his birth, was under this vow, which, by the direction of an angel of the Lord, was adopted for him by his parents. Thus the mother’s abstinence was in preparation for the vow which became binding upon her son. In some respects the Nazarite Vow seems to have signified the complete consecration of the person to God and His service.

The application to Christians of the illustration in today’s lesson is very pointed when we recall that every footstep follower of the Master is a special servant of God—a servant who is to be directed by the Holy Spirit, and filled with that Spirit, that his service may be rendered acceptably and to the glory of God. As God has not directly commanded the Christian not to kill—because a Christian would rather be killed than to kill others—so He has given no specific Law forbidding drunkenness, because the interests of a true follower of the Master are centered on higher things.

Just as Paul admonishes, Christians are seeking to be filled with the Spirit of God, and to derive their stimulation from His promises—not from strong drink—depending upon Him to fulfill His promises to give them strength to help in every time of need. Christians should be so far removed from the world and its spirit and habits, that it will have no influence over them. They should look upon the world and its revelries with pity, yet rejoicing in the hope that in God’s die time it will be their privilege to enlighten and bless all mankind.

QUESTIONS:

What was a Nazarite, and what vows did he take?

What is the special application of the lesson to Christians?

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