75 Bibical reasons not to drink

Magnolia is debating a very important issue:  the sale of consumption alcohol.  Does alcohol bring growth?  Will it make our town better?  Will it  magically draw in businesses as they propose?  Here are  75 Bibical  references, and many reasons, we as Christ followers avoid drinking, and the support of it.

75   Bible References on the Demise of Drinking

1. Genesis 9:20-26  - The first drunkenness and attendant immoral behavior
2. Genesis 19:30-38 - Drinking results in Lot’s debauchery of his own daughters.
3. Genesis 27:25 - Isaac was drinking when he mistakenly blessed Jacob.
4. Leviticus 10:9 - An Express command not to Drink.

NIV Leviticus 10:9 "You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.”

5. Numbers 6:3 - The vow of the Nazarite.
6. Deuteronomy 21:20  - Drinking leads to stubbornness, rebellion, and gluttony and brings dishonor to parents. 
7. Deuteronomy 29:2-6 – Abstinence assures a closer walk with God.
8. Judges 13:4, 7,14 - Samson’s mother, an example of all womanhood, was commanded not to drink.
9. I Samuel 1:14-15 - Hannah, an example of honored motherhood, refrained from drinking wine.
10. I Samuel 25:32-38 - Nabal, rich but coarse man who opposed David, died after a drunken spree.  He had already lost his wife’s respect.
11. II Samuel 11-13 - By having Uriah plied with strong drink, David attempted to cover his own sin.
12. II. Samuel 13:28-29 -  Ammon, in a drunken brawl, was murdered by his brother, Absalom.
13. I Kings 16:8-10  - While a king was  “drinking himself drunk”  in his own home, one of his captains conspired against him and slew him. 
14. I Kings 20:12-21 - Drink and war.  While Ben Hadad and 32 other kings were drinking in their pavilions, a small band of Israel’s men fell upon the Syrians and put them to flight.
15. Esther 1:5-12 – Drink wrecks homes and separates man and wife.
16. Job 1:18-19 - The children of Job were feasting and drinking when blown awat in a cyclone.
17. Proverbs 4:17 - Violence results from drinking.
18. Proverbs 20:1 – No wise man will indulge
19. Proverbs 21:17 – He that loveth wine is not rich
20. Proverbs 23:21 – Drinking leads to poverty.
21. Proverbs 23:29-30 - Strong drink produces sorrow, contentions, wounds without cause, babblings, redness of eyes.
22. Proverbs 23:31- Do not be tempted by intoxicants.
23.  Proverbs 23:32 – Liquor harms all who drink.
24. Proverbs 23:33 – it fills men’s minds with adulterous and impure thoughts.
25. Proverbs 23:34  - it brings on insecurity.
26.  Proverbs 23:35 - Insensibility follows drinking
27. Proverbs 23:35 Habit forming. One drink calls for another.
28. Proverbs 31:4-5 Kings and all other rulers or officials with the weight of human lives in their control should not indulge.
29. Proverbs 31:6-7  - The only Sanction for the use of strong drink was as a medicine or anesthetic for those about to die.  (We now have better medicines and anesthetics than whiskey, wine or beer)
30. Ecclesiastes 2:3
31. Ecclesiastes 12:8   - Both speaks of the Writer of Ecclesiastes trying strong drink,   but in the end was forced to admit that it too is vanity.
32. Ecclesiastes 10:17 - Blessings are promised to the temperate and abstaining nation.
33.  Isaiah 5:11-12 – woe to the drunkards.
34. Isaiah 5:22 – More woes to them who drink.
35. Isaiah 22:13  - Drinking and carnality go together.  Leaves men hopeless.
36. Isaiah 24:9  - Drink is bitter to them that drink it.

Several lessons from one verse:

37. Isaiah 28:1 Woe to the drunkards of Ephraim.
38. Isaiah 28:3 – The pride of drunkards will be trodden down .
39. Isaiah 28:7 – Prophet and priests erred through drink.
40. Isaiah 28:7  - those who drink were set  aside as useless.
41. Isaiah 28:7  - prophets and priests finally swallowed up by drink.
42. Isaiah 28:7  - Drinking brings on spiritual blindness
43. Isaiah 56:9-12 - rebuke to the wicked
44. Jeremiah 35:5,6,8,14 – Total Abstinence of the Rechabites cited as an example of obedience on the part of God’s people.
45. Ezekiel 44:21 – Priests are not to drink wine.
46. Daniel 1:5, 8; 16 10:3  - God Honored Daniel because he abstained from drinking the kings wine.
47. Daniel 5:1 - Belshazzar exhibited as an example of a leader who drank and taught  his people to drink.
48.  Daniel 5:2, 23 - A nation whose women Drink
49. Daniel 5:5-9, 25-28 – Ruin and downfall for nations whose rulers and leaders cause them to drink.
50. Daniel 5:3 – Balshazzar’s blasphemy in using sacred temple vessels for liquor.
51. Hosea 3:1 – Part of degradation of Hosea’s wife induced by drink.  (King James Version)
52. Hosea 4:11 – Strong drink and immorality go hand in hand
53. Hosea 7:5 – King and people reproved because of drinking.
54. Joel 1:5 – Drunkards to awake from  their drinking and weep
55.  Joel 3:3 – Young virtue sold for the price of drink
56. Amos 2:8 – Wine of the condemned
57. Amos 2:12 - Pollution of the innocent
58. Amos 4:1 – Dissolute women, oppressors of the poor, call for their liquor.
59. Amos 6:6 – Drinkers not concerned about God nor the welfare of others.
60. Nahum 1:10 – Drunkards to be destroyed
61. Habakkuk 2:5 Arrogance inflamed by drink.
62. Habakkuk 2:15 Wrong to give one’s neighbor drink -  refers I think to social drinking…
63. Habakkuk 2:26 – Drink leads to shame and humiliation
64. Matthew 24:48-51 - Drunkards warned about the return of Christ and His judgment
65. Luke 1:15 – Greatness of John the Baptist linked with his total abstinence
66. Luke 12:45 – Christ warns against being enmeshed in drink evil.
67.  Luke 21:34 – Warning against drunkenness and the cares of this life, which follow, keeping one occupied to the exclusion of the Spirit. 
68. Romans 13:13 – all are admonished to walk honestly not rioting and drunkenness.   It is not Honest to be less than men, created in the image of God.
69. Romans 14:21 – Drinking causes a brother to stumble - Importance placed on being an example.
70.  1 Corinthians 6:10 No drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of God.  (Therefore the preaching of the Gospel must include alcohol education)
71. 1 Corinthians 11:17-25 The Lord’s Supper no place for wine - The “wine” is not even used - instead all accounts say, “cup” or  “fruit of the vine”
72. Galatians 5:21 - Revelers in drunkenness shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
73. Ephesians 5:18 – Direct command that exhilaration shall be of the Spirit and not by wine.
74. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 – Self-control is the standard – abstinence (Light) is seen in comparison to drunkenness (darkness)  - Lesson:  children of light must not be overcome by darkness
75.  1 Timothy 3:3, 8,11,12 -  Church officers must not drink; neither should their families