The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-03-05
BIBLE TEACHINGS AGAINST
DRUNKENNESS

UNOIvMGNINGS0
LESSON TEXT Samuel 80: 1e, II: Isaiah
g.: IA. z; Galatians 5:19-21.
GOLDEN TEXT-"Strong drink shall be
bitter to them that drink it."-Isaiah 24:e.
Sowing and reaping is one of those
universal laws which applies in all
realms Of life. What we sow we
reap, whether in the farmers field,
in our national life, or in the life OF
the individual. It is true physically,
mentally, morally and spiritually.
How surprising then that intelli-
gent Americans think we. can 60 on
with the use Of intoxicants which
have destroyed other nations and ex-
pect to escape the same sad conse-
quences. Professional men have
wrecked their careers, business men
lost their hard earned positions, and
rich men dissipated their inherit
ances; and at the same time each
Of them has fallen into moral decay
all through their inability to con-
troll their desire for drink. Yet we
continue to license its sale, and so
another generation Of young men
must meet the same temptation.
Our lesson presents three results
Of drunkenness.
I. Military Defeat Il Sam. 30:16,
~.
A crisis in the life Of King David
is related in this chapter. The
Amalekites had taken Ziklag. The
king and his family were prisoners,
held by host Of barbarous men
far too strong for them to oppose.
He inquired of God and was told to
attack. With his little army of 400
men he defeated them. Why? Be-
cause in a drunken debauch they
were celebrating their victory of the
day before.
This was not the first, nor the
last, time that military defeat fol-
lowed indulgence in alcoholic bev-
erages. It has happened even in.the
present war. Have we learned the
lesson? Will we avoid that danger?
In this country our armed forces
and defense workers are constantly
exposed to temptation-and how
many of them fall, anyone may
know who has eyes to see.
From distant battlefronts come
disquieting reports that intoxicants
are among the supplies" which find
quick transportation to the very
front, where they are soon put to
their destructive use.
II. National Decay Elsa. 28:14, y.
Isaiah was mighty voice against
moral corruption, and for the right
eousness of God. With true prophetic
insight he saw beneath the outward
prosperity and apparent glory of his
people, and exposed the sins which
would soon destroy them as ma
ton. Outstanding among these de-
structive forces was drunkenness.
Turning first to the northern king
dom of Israel (for the nation had
now been divided), he tells them
that though their valleys may be
fertile and their cities respondent,
the collapse of all their boosted
greatness will surely come if they
live in revelry and drunkenness.
He speaks of the coming Of ''the
mighty and the strong one" ". q
who will be like destroying storm.
He refers to Assyria-itself an un-
godly people, but used of God to
scourge His own people who had
become indulgent and sinful.
There is a truth here which we
need to learn. When nations forget
God and fail in their responsibilities
to Him and to their fellow men;
when they become vain and self in
dulgent, God will bring judgment
upon them. He may use as His in
strument nations who are them,
selves pagan, to accomplish His pur-
pose.
The people should be led in re-
pentance and righteousness by their
religious leaders. How sad that some
set an example in the other direc-
ton. Others who live personal lives
above reproach are silent on these
important questions lest they give
offense to someone who may make
it difficult for them. How sad!
III. Eternal Destruction (Gal.
5:19-21).
Military loss and national declen-
sion should be enough to align every
right thinking person against intoxi-
cants. But far worse is the fact
that they bring many, many men
and women into eternal separation
from God.
In this passage drunkenness and
revellings" find their proper place
with the other works of the flesh
which close the door to the kingdom
of God. There is no use trying to
dismiss or cover it up as the I'M
fortunate weakness of an otherwise
nice person. or the natural result
of a bit of social fellowship.
America has too long regarded a
drunken person as joke-or almost
a bit of a nuisance to be INDUCED
and tolerated. The Bible says that
''they who practice such things shall
not inherit the kingdom Of God"
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