BIBLE READINGS by Mrs. S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 6, 1900

BIBLE READINGS.

By Mrs. S. N. Haskell

Fermented and Unfermented Wine.

MRS. S. N. HASKELL.

Alcohol is formed by decay or fermentation. All fermentation and decay come as the result of sin. Alcohol has a bad parentage,—sin and death,—and perpetuates its own race wherever it gains a footing. Unfermented wine is free from alcohol, and represents the blood of Christ. Matt. 26: 27–29. The Lord’s Supper was instituted during the Passover feast. In Ex. 13: 6, 7; 12: 13, we learn that during the eight days of the Passover feast no one was allowed to have leaven or anything leavened or fermented in his house. Therefore the wine the Saviour used was unfermented.

By reading the texts that speak of wine, we can readily tell whether or not the wine spoken of contains alcohol. Wherever alcohol is, it reveals traces of its pedigree,—sin and death. We find woe, poverty, and sorrow in its track. The following texts, which refer to fermented wine, will illustrate this fact:—

Prov. 20: 1: A mocker and deceiver; infuriates the temper.

Hosea 4: 11: Found in bad company.

Isa. 5: 11: Inflames the passions.

Isa. 28: 7: Impairs the judgment.

Prov. 31: 4, 5: Causes one to forget the law.

Prov. 23: 29–32: Brings woe, contention, and sorrow. We are not to look upon it.

I am thankful that all the texts that speak of wine do not show traces of alcohol, the child of sin. By reading the texts, unfermented wine is recognized just as readily as is the fermented. Where unfermented wine is mentioned, it is spoken of as cheering and building up, and as a blessing. The following texts illustrate the character of unfermented wine:—

Judges 9: 13: Cheereth God and man.

Zech. 9: 17: Good for maidens.

Ps. 104: 15: Makes men glad, a blessing.

1 Tim. 5: 23: Used as a medicine.

Gen. 40: 11: Simple manner of making in early time.

Mark 2: 22: In the Saviour’s time it was customary to seal the wine to keep it from fermenting. Old bottles were liable to have traces of the old wine, which would start fermentation, and thus spoil the new wine. The wine must be kept sealed air-tight to prevent fermentation.

It would be well to have a bottle of unfermented wine to exhibit, and let the audience come forward and taste it at the close of the exercises.

We would suggest that those churches and companies that wish to have successful temperance meetings during the winter, meet together and appoint a wide-awake, earnest Christian as superintendent or chairman of their temperance meetings, also appoint a committee of three to decide upon the programmes for the meetings. If all will act as a committee of the whole to perform faithfully any part assigned them by the programme committee, and also to act as a committee of invitation, and invite all their neighbors,—this, with earnest prayer, will insure good temperance meetings.