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22 Woe [howy] unto them that are
mighty [gibbowr] to drink [shathah] wine, [yayin] and men ['enowsh] of strength [chayil] to
mingle [macak] strong drink: [shekar] KJV-Interlinear
22 Woe to
those who are heroes in drinking wine, And valiant men in mixing strong drink; NASB
Verse eleven defined those who drink all day out of habit, while disregarding their normal daily obligations of life.
Here, the drinking takes on a different attitude, that which is one of boasting about being above or better than the intoxication effects of alcohol or drugs.
Drinking refers to alcoholic beverages, and to mingle with strong drink means to do that which is necessary to make the drinks even stronger than normal, but mixing other things such as drugs that have a narcotic affect, or even stronger versions of alcoholic beverages are all meant to lead to higher highs or more elevated adventures as perceived by the individual.
Mighty and strength both refer to the warrior self-image of the drinker, and the army or force to be reckoned with as the drinker sees himself.
Arrogance sends the person off into a realm of invincibility as well as legitimizing any excuses they might have for never being wrong, justifying their actions and behavior.
This is the ultimate mockery against authority, against respect, against society's moral standards.
Confidence and bravery are found in boasting over ones ability to consume, to defeat the intoxicating affects, to be better than drugs and alcohol. It is a boasting in vanity of one detached from reality.
'I can handle it. I can control it. It does not affect me. It makes me better. It helps calm my nerves. It does not hurt anyone.'
And so the reasons and excuses and rational go.
And this is a woe, because of its disastrous results. Deviations from truth are the same as deviations from being sober. Drug addiction and drunkenness are separations or escapes from reality. Negative volition toward Bible doctrine is likewise a separation or escape from reality.
Drunkenness affects the here and now and is the worldly example of a dysfunctional life. Spiritual separation affects all of eternity and is far, far worse and is the reality of a dysfunctional life.
In drunkenness life's priorities are upside down, life's courage is misplaced, life's values are distorted, and ones life is in a sorry state. And worst of all, the person does not care, and does not acknowledge their error.
They reject reality and replace it with their own version of truth.
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