After striking down two of Aaron’s sons for disobedience in serving God in the priesthood, the Lord further instructs Aaron that neither he, nor his sons, should drink wine or strong drink in the tent of meeting. He did not say they could not drink at all, but not in the tent of meeting. The Lord wanted once again to distinguish between the holy and the profane. Strong drink can lead to many mistakes and sin if taken in too much quantity.
8The LORD then spoke to Aaron, saying, 9“Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die—it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations— 10and so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean, 11and so as to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them through Moses.”
Our Father warns us throughout His word to avoid getting drunk. He does not forbid us from drinking, but in examples like this scripture calls upon us not to drink, in this case as an example of being set apart and holy. Another example is the Nazarite vow, which among other things included a vow not to drink. The Nazarite vow was also a consecration in which someone was set apart for God’s service.
Let us take heed that we should not underestimate the potential hazards that wine and strong drink can lead to. If we are to partake, we should use discretion and self control to avoid drunkenness. It is completely acceptable, even perhaps wise, to avoid alcohol all together… which may help us if we wish to be set apart for His service and avoid foolishness and poor choices.
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