RPG Adults
NO ALCOHOL AT ALL!
TUESDAY, MAY 7
Leviticus 10
Proverbs 31:4-6
“…that ye may put difference
between holy and unholy,
and between unclean and clean.”
NO ALCOHOL AT ALL!
Upon the death and burial of Nadab and Abihu, the LORD gave specific instructions on total abstinence to the priesthood. They were forbidden to drink wine or strong drink when they were on duty. Drinking would colour their senses and cause them to sin against God. Most likely this was the sin that Nadab and Abihu had committed against the LORD that resulted in the strange fire they offered and their instant death.
Alcohol (or rather fermented grape juice) was used to purify water the way we use chlorine to purify our water today. The danger was that the proportion of water and fermented grape juice that some Israelites used could result in there being more “wine” than water. To prevent such abuses, the LORD forbade the priests who were on duty for that day to drink any wine or strong drink. They had to trust the LORD to keep them safe when they drank non-purified water, i.e. without fermented juice mixed into it. Those who drank concentrated fermented grape juice in large amounts could easily get drunk, like what happened to Noah after the global flood. Genesis 9:20-21: “And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.”
Today’s priests are all New Testament saints. There are no off days for priests today whereby we do not witness for Christ in holiness. Holy living begins the moment we wake up and start living every day. This is the best biblical reason for practising total abstinence. 1 Peter 2:9-10: “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: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (See also 1 Peter 2:5.) It is an honour given to us by God in Christ to be His holy people and witness.
MEMORISATION: Leviticus 10:9
PRAYER: I thank Thee, Father, for helping me to practise total abstinence for Jesus’ sake and God’s glory. Amen.