11 “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that tarry late into the night, till wine inflame them! 12 And the harp and the lute, the tabret and the pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither have they considered the operation of His hands. 13 Therefore My people are gone into captivity for lack of knowledge; and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude are parched with thirst. 14 Therefore hell hath enlarged her desire, and opened her mouth without measure; and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth among them, descend into it. 15 And the mean man is bowed down, and the great man is humbled, and the eyes of the lofty are humbled; but the Lord of hosts is exalted in judgment, and God the Holy One is sanctified in righteousness. 17 Then shall the lambs feed as in their pastures, and the waste places of the fat ones shall wanderers eat. 18 “Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart-rope: 19 that say, Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!” 20 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” 21 “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! 22 “Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: 23 which justify the wicked for a reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!”
Golden Text.— “Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine.” Verse 22.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) Upon whom is a special woe pronounced? Verse 11. Note 1. (2) What is associated with their feasts of revelry? What is the effect upon the character of the participants? Verse 12. Note 2. (3) What was the result of such conditions to the Lord’s people? Verse 13. Note 3. (4) What was the effect upon their vitality? Verse 14. Note 4. (5) How complete was the humiliation of the people? Verse 15. (6) What did the prophet say of God’s honor as a result of their fall? Verse 16. (7) How would those fare who remained faithful? And what of the places left by those who lived sumptuously? Verse 17. Note 5. (8) Upon whom is another woe pronounced? Verse 18. (9) What did their action virtually say? Verse 19. Note 6. (10) What is the next woe spoken by the prophet? Verse 20. (11) What other woe follows? Verse 21. (12) How is the woe upon drunkenness emphasized? Verse 22. Note 7. (13) What further sins are laid at their door? Verse 23.
NOTES.
1. Rising Early to Drink.—It was not common among the ancients to become intoxicated early in the day. See Acts 2:13-15. But Judah had so yielded to this degrading habit that all-day dissipation was the result. The previous part of the chapter shows that the Lord’s “pleasant plant” had become almost fruitless. In addition to Judah’s other sins, that of continual dissipation had overtaken the people.
2. Musical Instruments.—The Lord delights in music, and there is frequent reference to it in His Word, both in connection with angelic adoration and the worship in the earthly sanctuary. For this very reason the adversary connects it with all the orgies of drunkenness. Thus is perverted one of the most exhilarating elements in nature—the sweet strains of music.
3. Therefore, because of this cap-sheaf of Judah’s apostasy, showing an utter lack of knowledge, captivity inevitably follows. It is so near and so sure, that the prophet speaks of it as present. Then the kingdom of Israel, which had already gone into captivity, was an object-lesson to Judah, if they had but heeded it, showing the very results of wickedness that were now menacing them.
4. The word “hell” in this text is from sheol, meaning the grave, or place of the dead. Its enlarging refers to the awful ravages of death which the prophet saw, as a result of the prevalent dissipation and the approaching devastation through war.
5. Verse 17 implies that “the lambs”—the innocent trusting ones—would be cared for, tho in captivity; while “the places of the fat ones”—the well-to-do, who lived luxuriously—would be occupied by strangers.
6. Verse 19 expresses defiance of the Lord. The dissolute people say by their actions the words here recorded. They that are laden with iniquity, as indicated in the previous verse, do always make light of the counsel of God by His prophets. See the words of Stephen, Acts 7:51-53. This spirit is not yet extinct.
7. “Mighty to Drink Wine.”—There are strong men who pride themselves on their ability to drink great quantities of liquors. Many times excessive drinking comes of men’s bantering each other to drink certain quantities, or making wagers as to who can drink the greatest amount. “Strong drink” is used to denote liquors stronger than wine. Almost every nation has its national beverage. “That which was used by the Hebrews,” says Dr. Barnes, “was made from grain, dates, honey, etc., prepared by fermentation.” Mixing wine and strong drink would naturally produce a more deleterious effect. The use of the milder stimulants begets an appetite for the stronger.
