2 December 2007 - Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew
LET ALL true BIBLE-PRESBYTERIANS NOT DRINK! (PART 6)
(9.) Shekar, "strong drink," any intoxicating liquor; from a root meaning "to drink deeply," "to be drunken", a generic term applied to all fermented liquors, however obtained. Nu 28:7 translated it as "strong wine". It is sometimes distinguished from wine, e.g., Le 10:9 , "Do not drink wine [yayin] nor strong drink [shekar];" Nu 6:3 ; Jud 13:4 , 7 ; Isa 28:7 (in all these places rendered "strong drink"). Translated "strong drink" also in Isa 5:11 ; 24:9 ; 29:9 ; 56:12 ; Pr 20:1 ; 31:6 ; Mic 2:11 .
(shekar; sikera; from shakkar, "to be or become drunk"; probably from the same root as sugar, saccharine): With the exception of Nu 28:7 , "strong drink" is always coupled with "wine." The two terms are commonly used as mutually exclusive, and as together exhaustive of all kinds of intoxicants.
Originally shekhar seems to have been a general term for intoxicating drinks of all kinds, without reference to the material out of which they were made; and in that sense, it would include wine. Reminiscences of this older usage may be found in Nu 28:7 (where shekhar is clearly equivalent to wine, as may be seen by comparing it with Nu 28:14 , and with Ex 29:40 , where the material of the drink offering is expressly designated "wine").
When the Hebrews were living a nomadic life, before their settlement in Canaan, the grape-wine was practically unknown to them, and there would be no need of a special term to describe it. But when they settled down to an agricultural life, and came to cultivate the vine, it would become necessary to distinguish it from the older kinds of intoxicants; hence, the borrowed word yayin ("wine") was applied to the former, while the latter would be classed together under the old term shekhar, which would then come to mean all intoxicating beverages other than wine (Lev 10:9 ; Nu 6:3 ; De 14:26 ; Pr 20:1 ; Isa 24:9 ). The exact nature of these drinks is not clearly indicated in the Bible itself. The only fermented beverage other than grape-wine specifically named is pomegranate-wine (Song 8:2 : "the juice of my pomegranate,"); but we may infer that other kinds of shekhar besides that obtained from pomegranates were in use, such as drinks made from dates, honey, raisins, barley, apples, etc. Probably Jerome (circa 400 AD) was near the mark when he wrote, "Sikera in the Hebrew tongue means every kind of drink which can intoxicate, whether made from grain or from the juice of apples, or when honeycombs are boiled down into a sweet and strange drink, or the fruit of palm oppressed into liquor, and when water is colored and thickened from boiled herbs" (Ep. ad Nepotianum). Thus shekhar is a comprehensive term for all kinds of fermented drinks, excluding wine.
There can be no doubt that shekhar was intoxicating. This is proved (1) from the etymology of the word, it being derived from shakhar, "to be or become drunk" (Ge 9:21 ; Isa 29:9 ; Jer 25:27 , etc.); compare the word for drunkard (shikkar), and for drunkenness (shikkaron) from the same root; (2) from descriptions of its effects: e.g. Isaiah graphically describes the stupefying effect of shekhar on those who drink it excessively (28:7 , 8 ). Hannah defended herself against the charge of being drunk by saying, "I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink," i.e. neither wine nor any other intoxicating liquor (1Sa 1:15 ).
Application -- That strong wine or strong drink existed in the OT is not doubted. The word “shekar” occurs 20 times in the OT. In all the occurrences it is forbidden to kings who have to perform kingly duties. Proverbs 31:4-6 , “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.” The reason is that they might pervert their rule of law and allow injustice to prevail in the land. They must make righteous judgement at all times as kings.
It is also forbidden for priests to drink any fruit of the vine or strong drink especially when they are on duty. Leviticus 10:8-11 , “And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.” The reasons are similar to that for the kings. They must not lose their faculties and not be fully alert when they perform their priestly duties. They have to teach the Israelites and ensure that they bring the right kinds of offerings and every step of the sacrifice is done according to Scriptures.
It is also forbidden for a Nazarite to drink strong drink. Numbers 6:1-4 , “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.” The Nazarite makes a vow to be separated unto the LORD for the LORD’s use only. During this period of separation he must not drink strong drink, amongst other prohibitions. The reason is again similar to that for the king. He must be alert and sober and watchful in His devotion and service to the LORD.
There is one usage where it is not drunk by man but to be offered to the LORD as a drink offering. Numbers 28:7 , “And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering.” In this instance, it is to be poured onto the ground unto the LORD.
At the same time it cannot be denied that in OT times, the ordinary Israelites were allowed to drink this strong drink. Deuteronomy 14:26 , “And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,” The warning against drunkenness still stands. Proverbs 20:1 , “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Also the warnings in Isaiah 5:11-14 , “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands. Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.” The warnings were very stern. The Israelites did not listen and they were judged and condemned into exile by God for their sin, and the drinking of wine and strong drink contributed to this judgement.
The NT saints are priests and kings. In the OT, ordinary Israelites comprised both believers and unbelievers, and this liberty of drinking was given to them. The NT local church is to be made up of only believers where the members have taken an oath that they are Christians. As such their kingly and priestly duties are perpetual. This means that they must still refrain from drinking strong drink.