Drinking and Doing

This morning I read the unique passage when God spoke directly to Aaron the high priest rather than through Moses in Leviticus 10.  God forbade the priest Aaron and his descendants from drinking wine or strong drink during their times of service to the LORD in the tabernacle.  This command was given right after Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu were struck dead for offering "strange" or profane fire before the LORD.  It is not known for certain, but the context suggests an overindulgence of drinking might have led to their lapse in judgment.

There is undoubtedly a connection between alcohol, risky behaviour, serious injury, and even death.  That is why drink driving is a crime in Australia and drivers are often subjected to random breath tests.  When it comes to drinking, some laud health benefits whilst others see drinking as a grave vice.  The fact is, the drinking of alcohol is common among Christians and non-believers alike, and God have given people the freedom to follow their own convictions.  My intent in this post is not to criticise people who drink or applaud those who abstain.  What this passage prompted in me is to consider the reasons God gave for forbidding wine or strong drink to priests when "on the job," and these reasons are relevant for all today.  Drinking brings with it universal and inevitable risk which children of God are wise to understand.

Leviticus 10:8-11 reads, "Then the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying: ⁹ "Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, ¹⁰ that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, ¹¹ and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them by the hand of Moses."  The drinking of wine would potentially cloud the good judgment of Aaron and his sons, and they needed to be wholly in their right minds to "distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean."  Wine and strong drink had the power to affect their reasoning and ability to teach others God's statues.  If we are uncomfortable with a surgeon drinking wine whilst performing delicate procedures on patients, it is reasonable those serving God in the tabernacle would abstain from drinking during the performance of their duties so they could be focused on God and their role.

I am also reminded of the words spoken to King Lemuel by his mother in Proverbs 31:4-5:  "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; ⁵  lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted."  Here we see other dangers of drinks which intoxicate: forgetfulness of God's Law, and perversion of justice.  Forgetting is an interesting thing, because we cannot remember all we have forgotten.  We might think our memories clear and sharp, but we likely forget more than we can recall.  Forgetfulness and the twisting of the truth go together, and neither kings nor priests could afford this risk.  We can forget when we drink only water, but the drinking of wine or strong drink certainly "takes the edge off" mental awareness, reflexes, tact, sound judgment, and memory.

Abstaining from drunkenness or completely from alcohol is only part of what God has commanded Christians, for there is much more we are commanded to do in Ephesians 5:15-21:  "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God."  Following Jesus is much more than leaving the old life behind, but entering into new life through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth.

Fasting and Feasting

Last night after dinner as a family we read Zechariah chapter 7, when delegates inquired of the LORD concerning their traditional fast during the fifth and seventh months.  This prolonged period of mourning and fasting had not been commanded by God but was a self-imposed observance.  Zechariah 7:4-6 revealed God's answer to the prophet:  "Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, ⁵ "Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me--for Me? ⁶ When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves?"  God's answer provided amazing insight:  if we do not eat and drink unto the LORD, can we really say we fast for Him?

The concepts of sacrifice, self-denial, and abstaining from activities in which people find pleasure are common components of religious observances across the world.  It is like paying dues for membership or to gain status as devout.  The typical approach of the flesh is to deny ourselves in one area, and justify indulgence in another.  If asked I am sure the Jews would have asserted they were fasting for the LORD during the fifth and seventh months, but because they lived for themselves during the other ten months - contrary to plain commands of God He had given them - their fasting really wasn't for Him at all.  They fasted to feel like they were doing something for God, making a huge commitment and sacrifice, when they could have been joyfully feasting as they did what God commanded.

God commanded His people to fast and to feast - with the major emphasis on the three major feasts of the year.  Whether we feast or fast, we are to do it as unto the LORD.  Whilst we live we live unto the LORD, and when we die we do so for His glory.  If we eat, we do it in thankfulness to our God; if we fast we do so in faith, knowing God is food and drink for our souls.  Paul wrote in Colossians 3:22-24, "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."  Praise the LORD that whether we fast or feast, we can do so with God's blessing and bountiful reward for obedience.

Junk Drawer Worship

I was looking through pictures I took in Cambodia a few years ago and an object lesson jumped out at me.  It is very common to see small pagodas and idols everywhere.  These demonic habitations look like ornate mailboxes on the street or shrines in shops and hotels.  Once you notice them, you will see them everywhere - like one in a shop on the left in the Russian Markets of Phnom Penh.  The picture on the right is a shrine sitting in the foyer of our hotel, a more "low maintenance" presentation with plastic flowers.

It is common for shopkeepers to light incense, candles, and place a plate of food before the shrine.  From what I am told this is so they will have good fortune, luck, protection, and prosperity.  Going on appearances the people of Cambodia are generally religious, even boasting the temple of Angkor Wat on their national flag.  Buddhism is practised by about 95% of the population, and the trappings of it can be found everywhere - from temples, shrines, talismans hung on the neck, or red bracelets worn on the wrist.

As seriously as many take their religion in Cambodia, not all displays suggest a deep level of commitment and sacrifice.  For instance, take this strange conglomeration an offering box - which looked like a veritable junk drawer.

It appeared the picture of the deity was removed, but the offerings remained:  a couple glasses of wine, a bottle of water, white and pink ball things, random toys, Barbies, pebbles with grass growing in them, a spent perfume bottle, marbles, and other miscellaneous items.  If I was a deity, I would not be impressed with this obvious lack of effort or care.  Should this junk be supplied as an offering it would be a disgrace.

God commanded His people to give of their first fruits, the best of their flocks and herds as sacrifices unto Him.  He deserved their attention, their "prime time" - not their used junk, diseased goats, or sheep which had died of old age that were good for nothing.  It struck me that our worship of God can resemble this junk drawer.  When I saw this I thought, "Is this how my worship looks to God?  Is there evidence of love, effort, or sacrifice, or is my worship worthless junk?'  We can give God five minutes here, sing a song there, read the Bible, but all with an aim to simply get through the thing to do what we really want to do.  Is this not like a junk drawer of worship?  If we truly treasure God, then He will be our priority.  We will love and value Him above ourselves and give Him our best.  It would be a tragedy for people to give more time and effort to honouring demons than God's people their loving Saviour.

People in Cambodia give to appease spirits or earn their favour, but as Christians our service and worship unto God is in response to the love He has already demonstrated to us.  Homemade cards can be a lovely effort which shows creativity and a personal touch, but they can also be the result of a lack of preparation - just throwing something together at the last minute out of duty.  Let us be those whose worship resemble a homemade card with a meaningful poem, a drawing which expresses love which required time and effort with intent to bless God.  The expense of the gift is not what impresses God, but that we would seek Him in humility and faith.  Thank the LORD for His grace, that any effort of ours would be a treasure in His sight. 

Eager to Walk

"Then the strong steeds went out, eager to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth. And He said, "Go, walk to and fro throughout the earth." So they walked to and fro throughout the earth."

Zechariah 6:7

This verse is part of a vision Zechariah was shown concerning the future, and the steeds represented the four spirits of heaven sent forth to judge.  I cite this passage not to expound upon it in the context of Zechariah, but to consider the importance of eagerness to do God's will.  God created horses from the beginning strong and powerful to run.  The spirits were personified as strong steeds that "went out, eager to go," for the purpose of doing exactly what God would command them.  They wanted to walk to and fro throughout the whole earth, God told them to walk to and fro throughout the whole earth, and then they did!

In serving God it is wonderful to discover things God has called us to do.  Though feelings are not a good gauge of calling or barometer of success, it is amazing to experience the exhilaration of serving the LORD and sensing in your soul, "I was made by God to do this."  I imagine there is a similar sense of delight in a string of young horses as they gallop together.  This knowledge and enjoyment is not reserved for particular roles in the body of Christ, but in all those who choose to do His will.  All followers of Jesus are called to make disciples and teach people to observe what Jesus has commanded.  When we do this with even one other person there is encouragement and blessing for all.  We as believers are called to prayer, and we are greatly edified and strengthened when we do.

Are you eager to do what God commands?  As purchased possessions of Jesus Christ through the Gospel, we are divinely enabled by the Holy Spirit to do what God created us to do:  to worship Him in Spirit and in truth, to praise, thank, serve and obey Him.  We are enabled to read the Bible with understanding and to be strengthened with all might.  We may never be able to match a horse for speed with our feet, but faith in God causes our souls to soar.  Isaiah 40:28-31 says, "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. ²⁹ He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. ³⁰ Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, ³¹ But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

Isn't it encouraging that people who cannot walk or run can wait on the LORD in His strength?  Not all of us have been empowered as Elijah was to outrun Ahab's chariot, but we can continue on our course with eagerness and walk without growing faint.  God has made you for this purpose, believer, and in your weakness through God you can discover strength.  May our hearts yearn for God's glory and our souls seek His presence as we patiently and gladly wait on Him.  Walk with Jesus and you will find He is your strength and song.