Christ Covenant Church

1. Jesus wants the faithful who love God to show it through shepherding the lost who also love God. 1.1. (Mat 9:9-13 w/36) 1.2. (13) “sinners” = Lost people who love God - versus lost people who love self/their sin. Jesus made the former a priority in His ministry (versus the latter who were a waste of time – TBD). “I desire compassion and not sacrifice” (Hos 6:6 “in the knowledge [understanding] of God rather than sacrifice”) = What God wants most from us as the sign of our love and loyalty are not those things or acts which require no exercise in understanding (“sacrifice”) but those that do (“compassion”) – especially in relation to those whose hearts are tender to God (they love Him) but are lost/have lost their way (“sinners”) (see Mat 12:1-7) = The Pharisees’ handling of the disciples was wrong (they “condemned the innocent”) because they did not take the time to understand them. 1.3. This (then) is what is behind the word “shepherd” in verse 36 (notice its connection to “compassion”) = A person who takes the time to understand at a deep level, the life of another, for the purpose of gaining their trust and effectively caring for them. In this case, caring for their spiritual needs (including evangelism – see v35). 1.4. This call to shepherd the lost who love God starts w/those in the covenant community (like those Jesus is speaking to in Mat 9) including our spouses and kids [the given – hence in re: to shepherds over the church – 1Ti 3:4-5]) but extends also to those outside the covenant community (those welcomed to God)(Act 1:8 w/13:48 “appointed for eternal life” = The lost outside the covenant community whose hearts are inclined to love God; 2Pe 3:9 “you…any” = Those who are lost yet love God – or inclined to love God – e.g., Neh 9:8).  1.5. The identity of the lost who love God = People who are distressed and dispirited by their sin because they have a heart inclined toward God – i.e., they love Him and don’t want to hurt Him (Luk 19:1-10 – Notice it is Jesus Who befriends Zaccheus leading to his repentance; similar w/the woman at the well – Joh 4:7-22 w/28-30). 1.6. The identity of the lost who love self/their sin = They are distressed and dispirited by God who makes them feel bad about the fact that they truly love self/their sin (or the world – i.e., darkness – Joh 1:5, 3:19-20). 1.7. Those who truly love God in their hearts will also love and want to follow Christ (Joh 5:39-42, 8:44). 1.8. It is important to note that those who love for God (Christ) will do so be because Who He is and what He represents (life and light [law – Isa 2:1-5], grace and truth [or compassion/mercy, lovingkindness and truth/faithfulness], righteousness, justice and equity [which includes transparency and honesty about who we are – Joh 3:21; Joh 1:1-4, 14 [Exo 34:6]; Joh 14:6; Psa 99:4 w/Isa 11:1-5) ---versus what they get from God in terms of material blessings etc., (e.g., Luk 8:13-15 “an honest and good heart” = They love God b/c of Who He is not what He gives them – hence why the rocky and thorny soil eventually fall away – the things they wanted from God they can get a lot quicker from the world world; See similar in Heb 6:4-6 = They loved God for what He gave them [“tasted the heavenly gift…partakers of the HS…tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come”] versus Who He is). 1.8. PNTM w/respect to the identity of the lost who love self/their sin = They may believe they love God but their reasons for doing so are narcissistic. They operate as though God is their investment versus what is actually true: we are God’s investment (and He expects a good return!). As a result, they care very little about righteousness/doing the right thing unless it gets them something. God is just a means to further their love of self (i.e., God is their sponsor) (Joh 6:1-15 w/25-26 w/66-68).     2. Jesus doesn’t want His faithful to invest themselves in the lives of the lost who love self/their sin. 2.1. (Mat 10:1-15) 2.2. (12-14) = Don’t’ give your time to the lost who love self/their sin as evidenced by their less than interested attitude toward the things of God or sadness over their sin. 2.3. Why Jesus doesn’t want us to invest ourselves in the lost who love self/their sin: 1) Because there is nothing we can say or do to change their situation (the problem is moral not intellectual – no amount of reasoning will remove their love for darkness [sin/self and the world] Joh 14:22-24 = There is no point in disclosing Myself/attempting to reach those who don’t love Me/are not inclined to love Me because they will never obey/be faithful). 2) Because it takes time away from the lost who love God (and need our help) which weakens us as a church (we are only as strong as our weakest link) and our mission in reaching others (hence Mat 9:37-38). 3) Because it can lead to discouragement – even depression or feelings of hopelessness (e.g., 1Ki 19:1-9 = Focus on the darkness in our midst can so eclipse the good [18:36-40] that we lose meaning [and hope or motivation] in the struggle). Remembering this last point becomes even more important when we realize that the majority of the lost we will encounter (in the church and outside in the world) are those that love self/their sin (they love the world and darkness and not God).   3. Jesus wants the lost who love God (or are inclined to love God) to know that He (still) loves them and is the secret to receiving permanent relief from their struggles with sin.  3.1. (Mat 11:28-30) 3.2. (28) “All who are weary and heavy-laden” = The lost who love God/inclined to love God but continue to be burdened by their sin (who are dispirited and distressed by their struggle with sin – hating it/desiring to be done with it). 3.3. (28/29) I will give you rest…you will find rest” = You will overcome your struggles with sin and be able to live faithful to God consistent with your love for Him. 3.4. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me” = The secret to overcoming is becoming My disciple (which entails two things): 1) “take My yoke upon you” = Take the covenant (vows) of faith through the waters of baptism necessary to cleansing your soul and becoming a new creation (Tit 3:5; Joh 3:1-16 [vv1-11 = baptism where we become new creations; vv12-16 = vows of faith/fidelity – vv12-16). 2) learn from Me” = Live learning to imitate Me (i.e., to bear my image instead of your own [seeking to be yourself or possess your own identity/life]; Mat 16:24-25 [“follow” = Imitate; “loses his life for My sake” = Forfeits the search for self bc it has been replaced by seeking to instead be a reflection of Christ – His self/image]; Joh 12:25-26). According to Paul, this second part (the “secret”) was implied in our baptism (Rom 6:1-11 “alive to God in [the imitation] of Christ”) and God’s plan from the beginning (Rom 8:29) 3.5. The instruments of love (for Him/God) and imitation are what Jesus uses to restore “lost” Peter after his thrice denial (Joh 21:15-19).   CLOSING CONTEMPLATION:   1) Which one do you feel you cannot live without: the promotion of God or the promotion of self (btw: only one can be true – Mat 6:24)? 2) Do you live as though God is your investment or you as His investment? 3) Is your life dedicated to learning and putting into practice the imitation of Christ (to being the best Christ-version of you – Phi 1:21)? Does looking forward to this as your life’s focus excite – or depress you?   4) How do we reconcile today’s teaching w/: 3.1.) Romans 3:11 [Psa 14:1-3, 53:1-3], 3.2.) Psalm 73:25-26 and Mat 6:19-20?

Three more lies that lead us astray: 1. God doesn't care or love me, as much as He does others. 2. My lack of love for God doesn't affect others. 3. God's forgiveness is forever, as long as I'm sorry.

Truths about the NHNE you may have forgot (or never known): 1. It will be a place without sin, a place of unending love. 1.1. There will never be any sin in the NHNE (no sin = no lawlessness [1 Jo 3:4]; a place of perfect lawfulness or equity [the purpose of God’s Law]). Hence the reason there will no human death/curse (existence of human death/curse = existence of sin; Isa 65:25; 1Co 15:26 w/55-56; Rev 22:3). 1.2. What will keep us from sinning in the NHNE? The faithfulness in trusting God and practicing equity we secured in this life (Mat 22:36-40 = Trust God and practice equity [the summation of the Law and Prophets]) will translate into perfect equity and trust (or obedience) once coupled w/perfect knowledge in the next. (Rev 21:7 “overcomes”) = Secures faithfulness in trusting God and practicing equity (e.g., Gen 18:19 w/22:16 [Gen 22:1-3]) in contrast to (8a “cowardly”) = Unwilling to practice equity; the selfish; (8b “unbelieving”) = Unwilling to trust. (1Co 13:12 “know fully”) = Possess perfect wisdom (skill in discerning value [enhancing equity]) in relation to all things – including the new things we discover/learn/experience in our travels to different planets, solar systems and galaxies. 1.3. This (then) is what also makes the Reboot a place of unending love (equity = Law = love). The NHNE will be a place filled w/constant unending and unfailing love from everyone around us (no betrayal, lying, manipulation, heartbreak etc., ever again in relation to anyone). Everyone will treat everyone with the same righteous care they expect for themselves (Mat 7:12; 2Pe 3:13 “NHNE where righteousness dwells”). 2. It will be a universe of superlative beauty. 2.1. That the Rebooted universe wb beautiful is confirmed by Jesus’ (Rev 2:7 [Rev 22:2] “Paradise of God” = Garden of beauty). 2.2. That the beauty of the NHNE wb superlative in relation to its predecessor is confirmed by Paul (2Co 4:17-18; Rom 8:18-23 [“creation” = Nonhuman parts of Creation -e.g., celestial bodies, plants, animals, etc.,]) = The glory or beauty of the NHNE is so much greater that it makes our existing world not only a poor comparison but a painful choice (“the whole creation groans and suffers…and we ourselves groan.”) 2.3. The word translated “corruption” (Grk., phthora) also carries the idea of inequity – or imbalance (e.g., 2Pe 1:4, 2:19) –which means that what we can expect in relation to the superlative beauty of the NHNE is a universe where everything (including us) will be created perfectly symmetrical, proportionate and ordered in relation to itself and its environment (i.e., it will suffer no imbalance in form or function, it wb equitable). This (btw) the biblical definition of beauty (enhanced equity [achieved thru complexity and diversity] 1 ). 2.4. The most likely reason John’s vision of the NHNE in Rev 21 and 22 is largely symbolic is due to the fact that he would not be able to explain the beauty he observed had he seen its true form. It was beyond his imagination and cognitive abilities to understand. This is most likely what Paul is getting at in (2Co 12:1-4 “not permitted to speak” = Not able to form meaningful words or thoughts to explain what was observed). 2.5. This goes back to Paul’s statement about the NHNE being “far beyond all comparison” (2Co 4:17). Our existing world is the basis for all cognitive ability or imagination. IOW: we cannot imagine things outside this created order. Yet once more- what is coming in the Reboot is “far beyond” that -- which means whatever the NHNE looks like it is beyond the best (or coolest) our imaginations can come up with (i.e., better than the coolest stuff we imagine –or watch in our sci-fi movies- e.g., think about the beauty of the galaxies and planets presented in Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Trek or Star Wars films—it will make those universes look like some 2yr old drew it with a crayon). 1 Two additional thoughts (or tangents) in relation to beauty as enhanced equity: 1) creating beauty wb our primary function in the Reboot just as it was/is here - i.e., to further enhance the equity of existing things or raw materials provided by God in the new universe (in re: to this life – Gen 2:15 “cultivate” = “Enhance the equity or life-giving abilities of those raw materials in the garden I have provided to you [and then expand that principle to the rest of the existing things on the planet]”). 2) bc we are imagers of God (a Being Who lives for equity – Psa 138:2), we are drawn to equity (love) – especially its enhanced versions (beauty) – hence the reason also we are duped be evil or sinful things if they are (at the same time) beautiful (manifesting in some aspect of their identity, enhanced levels of equity [e.g., the symmetry of a beautiful woman’s physical form]). 3. It will be experienced as eternal pleasure. 3.1. Those who dwell in the same realm as God experience nothing but pleasure (Psa 16:11; this is what is inferred by Rev 21:1-3). 3.2. Pleasure is also the result of everything being equitable and beautiful – or existing w/o the other thing associated with that word, “corruption” – the pain connected to deficiency, depravity, destruction, disease and death (Rev 21:4). 3.3. Eternal pleasure is likewise behind the word “paradise” (in the ANE, the term also meant, “pleasure park”). 3.4. Our modern history as human beings has proven this to be the most appealing part of the NHNE (e.g., those addicted to pleasure producing drugs. The experience is so good they could care less about their location or state when using [emaciated and laying in the gutter]. Hence the reason it is so hard to get addicts to kick it – pleasure trumps everything else). 4. We will exist as immortal and invincible human torches equipped with superhuman abilities and advanced tech who enjoy travelling through infinite galaxies filled not only with every being that existed on this planet (including dinosaurs) and in the third heaven (several different species of beings are presented in Scripture) but also those creatures specifically designed to thrive in the different types of atmospheres and environments found on other planets where we serve as their discoverers, enhancers, subduers and protectors. 4.1. Regarding our existence as immortal and invincible human torches with superhuman abilities (Gen 1:27 [w/Gen 5:1-3 “image/likeness” = Includes ontological makeup] w/Heb 12:29 [w/Deu 9:3 “consuming fire” = ontological makeup]; Rev 21:4-6 w/Rev 22:1-2; Gen 3:10 w/Rev 1:14-15 w/2:18 w/1Jo 3:2; Mat 22:30 w/Heb 1:7 [Psa 104:4] w/Rev 10:1 w/Rev 7:1-2, 14:6, 13 w/Mat 13:41-42 w/1Ch 21:16; Psa 103:20). 4.2. Regarding advanced tech (Eze 1:13-21 “workmanship” = Indicates advanced tech not other living beings; “the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels” = The donut-shaped tech [drone ufo?] was paired to the living beings – i.e., under the control of their minds/spirits). 4.3. Regarding our role as discoverers, enhancers, subduers and protectors of this new universe (Gen 1:26-28; Gen 2:15w/Psa 8:4-8 = Mankind was made to be the caretakers and cultivators of all life in God’s creation- from one end of the universe to the other). 4.4. Regarding the existence of all things that existed before and life on other planets: our God is a God of life, redundancy and purpose. All three of those truths strongly infer the former. 5. We will be members of an elite club. 5.1. Unfortunately, most people (including those who entered into covenant relationship w/Christ) will not make it to the NHNE (Luk 13:22-24). 5.2. Why so many in covenant w/Christ will fail to reach the Reboot: 1) inconsistent and/or selective in their trust of God and/or equity toward others (i.e., they are selective in their obedience to the Father’s will and laws of equity) (Mat 7:12 w/21-23). 2) being an idiot (bib. term, “fool”) (i.e., they make poor assessments [of self/others/gospel] and decisions [in re: to their assets/time/energy] that strip them of the trust and equity necessary to make it to the Reboot). PNTM: wisdom is necessary to salvation (Phi 1:9-11). 3) selfishness – prioritizing personal advancement/good over the advancement/good of the covenant community (God and His people) (Phi 2:1-5) = Jesus (our example) sacrificed His personal advancement/good in this life for the advancement/good of the covenant community –and as a result gained eternal advancement/good (6-11) = These verses also teach us that what Jesus requires of us (death to personal advancement/good – Mat 16:24-27) is not inequitable since He Himself lived by these rules also. Hence the reason He is worthy to be exalted and worshipped (He deserves it!) 2 . 5.3. Those present in the Reboot will only be those whose record reveals them to be part of an elite club: those who during their earthly life and covenant relationship with Christ - daily died to self – and like their Savior, were characterized by trust, equity, wisdom and the advancement/good of the team (cov comm) over self. CLOSING CHALLENGE: 4YRS4CHRIST [trust • equity • wisdom • wolverines (the team)]

Five lies that lead us astray: 1. If I feel like someone is doing something wrong, then it is okay to believe or act on it. 2. As long as I believe what I am doing is right, then I can keep doing it. 3. If I can give you Scripture, then what I believe is right. 4. I know in my heart whether or not I truly love Jesus. 5. My emotions are a valid excuse for my mouth.

(1Ti 4:4-5)   Psalm 104 credits God – at least indirectly, with the creation of alcohol – which means according to Paul (1Ti 4), it (like other “foods” created by God – v3) “is good” (Gen 1:31) and not to be “rejected (condemned or forbidden) – but rather “received with gratitude.” However (as Paul also makes clear), its place as good is dependent on it being “sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.” IOW: even created things first declared good by God must be practiced according to His prescription (“the Word of God”) and dedicated to His glory (“prayer” – 1Co 10:31) if they are to remain good – and not become stumbling blocks and sin. Assuming the latter to be given (we have prayerfully committed to God that the pleasure we receive in consuming alcohol will bring Him glory), only the former remains in question: what is God’s prescription for consuming alcohol? This study will provide the answer to that question as well what happens when we don’t follow His prescription.   1. Like God’s other powerful gifts (e.g., sex), His prescription for consuming alcohol enjoys a very limited context: excluding medicinal use[1], its sole purpose is to function only as an initial aid to the kind of gladness of heart conducive to God-honoring comfort and conversation with God’s covenant family during God’s sanctioned/sacred celebrations. 1.1. (Psa 104:15) “makes man’s heart glad” = Initiates gladness of heart; “food which sustains man’s heart [with gladness].” = Sustains gladness of heart. IOW: it was never God’s intention that mankind would fill up on alcohol as the means to sustaining the gladness initiated by alcohol. That gladness is instead to be sustained through filling up on food (or feasting) 1.2. Hence the reason those who fill up on alcohol (i.e., attempt to sustain their gladness by continuing to consume alcohol) are cursed with drunkenness (Gen 9:21 “drunk”) = To fill up or saturate (versus initiate) w/alcohol. NOTICE: the word does not point to the result (becoming tipsy, impaired, etc.,) but rather the cause – i.e., attempting to sustain (through filling up or saturation w/alcohol) the gladness of heart initiated by alcohol. 1.3. In summary: We are to initiate gladness thru alcohol but sustain that gladness thru food/feasting. And all of this is only to take place with covenant family during God’s sanctioned/sacred celebrations: 1) Sabbath feasts (Deu 14:26) = The consumption of alcohol takes place along w/eating meat or feasting (in the ANE, meat on the menu - more than not, indicated the existence of a special feast or celebration). 2) Wedding-related celebrations - including betrothal celebrations [e.g., baptisms] (Gen 14:17-20) = This sacred meal (of bread and wine/alcohol) along w/giving a tenth represents the beginning of the marriage covenant/betrothal process between Abe and God (followed by the binding vow ceremony in 15:1-21)[2]; (Joh 2:1-10). 3) Celebrations of covenant renewal/ratification or reconciliation (Mat 26:27-29) = The LT (ratification/renewal of the covenant initiated at baptism (Joh 13:10); (Luk 15:23) = Considering what we also know about ANE practice, two things in this verse imply the consumption of alcohol: the consumption of meat and the mention of celebration. 4) Birthday celebrations w/covenant family (Job 1:4 [“his day” same word as 3:1] w/13 “wine”). 5) Celebrations established by God’s leaders in the covenant community (Joh 10:22-23) = Jesus celebrated Hanukah/Festival of Dedication, a sacred holiday established – not by God, but the leaders of the covenant community [the Maccabees] involving the consumption of alcohol (e.g., camping trip; members dinner; ordination celebrations). 1.4. What (then) is not considered by God as sanctioned/sacred celebrations (though we are with covenant family): Any fellowship or celebration not mentioned above (e.g., vacation w/covenant family; Gen 18:1-8 = Abe serves milk not wine). 1.5. PNTM: Per God’s prescription, consuming alcohol requires possessing the right context: drinking to initiate gladness/conversation w/covenant family that takes place in those religious or covenant family environments established by God or His leaders. Following this prescription not only causes us to fulfill our prayer of dedication to God (we are drinking in a way that glorifies God) but avoid the consequences associated w/alcohol abuse and sin.[3] 2. God’s curse in various forms of harm – even death and hell, are appointed to those who sin by not treating alcohol according to His prescription. 2.1. (Jam 4:17; Rom 14:23 = Failing to do something according to faith [and therefore sinning against God] would include not only those things you know to be sinful but also anything you know could be sinful - yet still choose to do, though you do not possess the biblical support to prove it is righteous). This would include: 1) Getting drunk (1Co 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21; 1Co 11:20-21 w/29-34) = Hell wb the home of drunkards.[4] Additional dangers associated w/getting drunk: a) You open yourself up to demonic influence (or possession) (Eph 5:15-16) “days are evil” = Every day is filled with evil spirits attempting to make contact with us (See Eph 6:11-13 “the evil day” = Day when we are being attacked by evil spirits) (w/17-18) “do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation” [Grk., asotia = Literally, unsavedness – or an unsaved version of being filled up or occupied] = IOW: you are not filling up with the Spirit – but w/what invites those opposed to salvation (evil spirits/demons). Ancient cultures used drunkenness to occupy – or be occupied/filled by the spirit realm. In the first century, Ephesus was the epicenter for such demonic practice (hence why Act 19:18-19; See Power and Magic: The Concept of Power in Ephesians). b) You increase the chances of sexual perversion (e.g., Gen 9:20-25; Gen 19:30-36; 50% of all sexual assault cases involve alcohol and/or drunkenness). 2) Drinking large amounts (i.e., beyond what should be needed as an initial aid to gladness of heart)(Isa 5:22) “Woe to those [you are in danger of damnation] who are heroes at drinking wine and valiant men in mixing strong drink” [those able to tolerate large quantities of alcohol before becoming intoxicated/before reaching the initiating effects of gladness] (w/24-25) = God will punish these heroes of alcohol as rebels who have rejected His law; (1Ti 3:3) “addicted to wine” [Grk., paroinos] = One who consumes more wine than needed. [5] Additional danger associated w/drinking large amounts of alcohol = Permanent brain damage or shrinkage of those parts of the brain associated with memory, reasoning, cognition and learning (Pro 31:4-7).[6] 3) Drinking with or like the pagans (drunkards) (1Pe 4:3 “Gentiles” = Pagans) = You drink w/or like the pagans you will condemned w/or like the pagans; (Mat 24:49) “drinking with the drunkards” = Drinking alcohol with pagans[7]; Hence why (2Co 6:14-7:1) “Come out of their midst and be separate from them [the “unbeliever” or pagan]…let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh” = This includes also separating/cleansing ourselves from their drinking practices/traditions (e.g., Isa 5:11-13) = Constant drinking throughout the day (which begins in the morning and continues into the evening) was a popular holiday [vacation] tradition among pagan cultures in the ANE that God condemned His people for adopting due to their willful ignorance of His Law which forbid such practice. Hence (Act 2:15). 4) Drinking on unsanctioned days (Lev 10:1-3 w/9) = The reason that God killed Nadab and Abihu is because they were drinking alcohol on the day of their service before God. IOW: they were drinking on an unsanctioned day. 2.2. PNTM: you don’t need to be drunk to be sinning when you consume alcohol.   3. Rabbi Jesus showed that loving God’s people includes rabbis functioning as spiritual physicians healing those in the covenant community burdened by alcohol-related sins and ready to repent. 3.1. Jesus hung out w/those in the covenant community who were alcoholics/abusing alcohol. Hence (Mat 11:19). 3.2. Jesus did so b/c He knew that alcoholism/alcohol abuse is not a disease (a physical problem) – but sin (a spiritual problem), and therefore could be cured by God’s spiritual physicians – rabbis like Him: men who have the special help (anointing) of God’s Sprit and know how to use God’s Word to diagnose the unbelief/deficiency causing their abuse of alcohol (Mat 9:9-13). 3.3. Jesus also knew that no one could be healed who was not ready to repent which includes confessing it and committing to seeing life (not simply their life but all of life) through God’s eyes (Joh 9:39-41; the sin of coveting as idolatry is often the reason people have substance abuse problems – Eph 5:5). [1] (1Ti 5:23; Pro 31:6-7) [2] Participation in a sacred meal and tithing were most likely a common part of covenant formation among all the religions of the ANE. [3] “If there has been a single well-documented and replicated finding in the sociology of deviance, it is the low rate of alcohol problems among [American] Jews in comparison to other ethnic groups. Jews present high percentages of adult drinkers but low alcoholism and alcohol problem rates…Some researchers argue for a similarly low rate of alcohol abuse in Israel, and historical analysis suggests that alcohol problems have been rare in Jewish communities for the last 2,500 years [i.e., since her establishment as a nation under Moses]…The noteworthy sobriety of the Jews appears to be primarily associated with [their] religious culture – a culture with a ritualistic emphasis prescribing drinking which is integrated with familial religious practices [only]…What seems to be operative, then, are alcoholic-specific protective characteristics in Jewish communities. Among those frequently cited are sacramental and family drinking which have depended, of course, on traditional religious practices…Drinking [among Jews] serves as a symbolic punctuation mark that helps to separate certain good events (religious services, weddings, etc.,) from all other events…Through religious and ceremonial usage of alcohol, Jews continue to learn ‘prescriptive’ drinking norms…Sobriety amid drinking continues to be the norm in Jewish homes [which] Jews perpetuate [through] its connection to ritual, not only by affiliation with religious life but also by restricting drinking to… only with other Jews…on [special] occasions and [during] festive eating…Not only is Jewish drinking limited…to [covenant] family and religious occasions but also…the drinking is tightly connected with eating. Most [Jews] alluded to the importance of food over drink, and the absence of drinking without eating.” [4] We need to be careful not to assume that what qualifies as drunkenness today is the same as what it was in the ancient Jewish world when the Scripture prohibitions against drunkenness were written. According to Jewish Tradition, a person is considered drunk, “when he is unable to speak before a king…without becoming confused” (Mishneh Torah, Prayer and Priestly Blessing, 4:17) – which in modern terms, means we use the impairment BAC [.05; e.g., 24 ounces of beer, 10 ounces of wine, or 3 ounces of liquor for a 180lb person] versus the drunkenness BAC [.08]). [5] If you are this kind of person (you need to consume a lot of alcohol to feel anything), then it means you need to stop drinking until your body recalibrates to a place where you experience the initial effects of gladness consuming no more than the average person your weight, age, sex etc., (4-5 weeks). If you don’t, you will be identified (and condemned) along with those Isaiah is speaking to in 5:22.  [6] “If a person regularly drinks much more than the recommended limit of alcohol, it can damage their brain. It causes their memory and ability to think clearly to get worse over time, especially if the person drinks too much over many years. This is known as alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD). People who get ARBD are generally aged between 40 and 50.” – Alzheimers.org.uk [http://alzheimers.org.uk]; “When the team analyzed the questionnaires, the cognitive test scores, and MRI scans, they found that the amount of shrinkage in the hippocampus – the brain area associated with memory and reasoning …cognition and learning– was related to the amount people drank.” – Beverly Merz (“This is your brain on alcohol”, Harvard Health Publishing) [7] The Yiddish expression is shikker vie a goy (drunk as a Gentile) indicating this as the view of Jews in respect to Gentiles/pagans – they are characterized by drunkenness – or when they drink, they drink to get drunk.