Sunday, January 27, 2008

Isaiah 28 - Woe to the Drunkards

Woe to the Drunkards

Isa 28:1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!

Ephraim was a tribe in the Kingdom of Israel. The Southern Kingdom of Judah had separated with it's own king. What was God saying to Ephraim? He was addressing the sins of the people. It was a nation of drunks, overcome with wine.

Prov 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Alcohol can change a gentle person into a red eyed devil. The lips speak words of a devil and the wicked acts towards others, especially family, destroys the bond of love and peace. A Christian should not be drunk with wine, for it allows other spirits to be in control. We are to allow God to be in control.

Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Isa 28:2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.

The Assyrians would invade the land. This will put a stop to the drunken lifestyle. It will put a stop to the nation, for they shall be taken captive.

Isa 8:7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:

Isa 28:3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:

Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim: Like any other sin, drunkenness is connected to pride, so much so that Isaiah likens the drunkards of Ephraim to a crown of pride. Much of the self-hatred and self-despising drunkards feel is rooted in too much focus upon one's self, which is the essence of pride. These who are self centered will be trampled under feet by the Assyrian invaders.

Isa 28:4 And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.

This beautiful place of Ephraim which is at the northern most part of Israel, shall be as a fading flower and the early fruit, the first ripened figs, shall be eaten up. The Assyrians will carry them into captivity.

Woe to a nation of indulgence, full of pride, alcohol and drugs in a prosperous land. Beware for God will allow the invading armies to take away your easy life and to put you in captivity. Wake up people of God.

Superragman@aol.com

Eaglewings Journal

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