Woe to the Wicked-3

Isa. 5:22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:

God is talking here about the legislators and the judges, and it is interesting that the highest alcoholic consumption in the United States is in Washington, DC. The highest consumption per ca-pita is in Washington D.C. I think that’s tragic. All of the lobbying, "which justify the wicked for reward and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him," a lot of these edicts that are coming from these boozed legislators and judges and all, and it’s tragic. You don’t have to go to Washington to find it, you can find it right here in your own local community. It might be a good idea that you examine some of the judges that are sitting on the bench.

Now, I don’t blame them for becoming alcoholics. I wouldn’t want to be a judge. I wouldn’t want to have on my conscience the things that they must have on theirs. And you’ve got to do something to live with yourself and sleep at night, so I don’t blame them for becoming alcoholics. If I weren’t a Christian, I’d probably be an alcoholic too. How else are you gonna cope with this stupid world? But woe unto them.

Woe...

הוֹי

hôy

hoh'ee

A prolonged form of Oh!, alas (akin to of crying out after); oh!: - ah, alas, ho, O, woe.

Woe to the drunken bribe-takers

Rather than being heroes and good government authorities, many leaders were known for their heavy drinking. They were ready to be bribed, not caring for the people they were ruling. They were more concerned for their own pleasure than for the rights of the innocent. Therefore they (those leaders) would be judged.

unto them that are mighty...

גִּבֹּר גִּבּוֹר

gibbôr gibbôr

ghib-bore', ghib-bore'

Intensive from the same as a valiant man or warrior; powerful; by implication warrior, tyrant: - champion, chief, X excel, giant, man, mighty (man, one), strong (man), valiant man.

to drink...

שָׁתָה

shâthâh

shaw-thaw'

A primitive root; to imbibe (literally or figuratively). : - X assuredly, banquet, X certainly, drink (-er, -ing), drunk (X -ard), surely. [Prop. intensive of to quaff, that is, causatively to irrigate or furnish a potion .]

wine,...

יַיִן

yayin

yah'-yin

From an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by implication intoxication: - banqueting, wine, wine [-bibber].

and men...

אִישׁ

'ı̂ysh

eesh

Contracted for properly a mortal (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation.) : - also, another, any (man), a certain, + champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, [foot-, husband-] man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man [-kind], + none, one, people, person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso (-ever), worthy.

of strength...

חַיִל

chayil

khah'-yil

From properly to twist or whirl; probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength: - able, activity, (+) army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, train, (+) valiant (-ly), valour, virtuous (-ly), war, worthy (-ily).

to mingle...

מָסַךְ

mâsak

maw-sak'

A primitive root; to mix, especially wine (with spices): - mingle.

strong drink:...

שֵׁכָר

shêkâr

shay-kawr'

From to satiate with stimulating drink; an intoxicant, that is, intensely alcoholic liquor: - strong drink, + drunkard, strong wine.