The Song of Drunkards
Gary Waddell - Victory Ministries of Middle Tennessee
Ps 69:12 They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.
Ps 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Ps 69:8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.
There is a striking parallel in David’s psalm and part of the life of Jesus. This is just another of many examples sighting Jesus in every book of the Bible. I see drawings and art work of Jesus when He was an infant and the art work has a halo depicted over the head of Christ. I have heard people mention how it must have been for the half brothers and sisters to grow up around Jesus and how blessed they were. With what the Bible says, I seriously doubt that it was a picnic growing up the way He did. Jesus didn’t have an angelic childhood. Childhood envy was as prevalent then as it is now among siblings. Jesus' parents knew the truth so we know there was a special relationship with their 'oldest'. Joseph and Mary may not have been looked upon in a good light by everyone - let us reason. In John 7 Jesus’ brethren were going up to the feast and more or less challenges Jesus in John 7:3: His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. In verse 4 and 5 we see the reason behind their challenge. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him.
Jesus was perfect in moral character and wisdom. He astounded the temple rabbis at 12 years old. His brothers and sisters must have felt slighted by the way Mary treated Jesus. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. (Mk 6:3). Jesus' reply? (Mark 6:4) But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. Jesus did not receive any special honor from most of his own family. There are many verses in the New Testament showing the disrespect and contempt that many had for Jesus, the God Man. He endured the talk, the shame that many placed upon Him, the gossip of the town’s people and the chief priests. Mary could have been a candidate for stoning but her and Joseph knew this was a miracle child. I assume that Jesus Christ was subject to humiliation throughout His childhood and as a young man. But he endured it for us. And as we have discernment, we know that Joseph and Mary may not have been looked upon in a good light with many. Many movies and writings about our Lord Jesus being treated with honor as a young man do not show Jesus’ life the way it really was. He was indeed a man of sorrow. Isaiah 53:3 speaks of this clearly. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Jesus was acquainted with grief even before the cross. His life was a lot more than “humbling”. He wasn’t esteemed as a young man as much as some people believe. He had a childhood like His brothers and sisters however, He was despised by the highest members of society later on. He was mocked, made fun of, and lied about. As you read above, Isaiah 53:3 gives us some insight.
Even before the horrendous and brutal crucifixion where our Lord Jesus suffered torture and humiliation in the hands of His enemies (not to mention He was marched naked to the place of the skull), He was the song of drunkards all the way through to the end. And He endured it all for us. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Jn 3:16). A sinless Man who took upon Himself the sins of the world as the Perfect Sacrifice. The LORD of lords and KING of kings became the laughing stock to save our sinful souls – those who call upon His holy name. A mighty and Holy God sent us a gift, the most precious gift that could have been gifted - God’s only begotten Son. Now that's True Love. And yet many ignore His sacrifice to this very day. Every day. Many follow the path of the evil one, the devil, and step over the cross of Christ. Many follow after their own lusts and long for the things of this world even for a moment’s pleasure. They seek after riches and fame even knowing their lives are short. Multitudes scoff and mock His name throughout the world. Hollywood, sports, politics, the media, and our school systems 'sing the song of drunkards' so to speak. They mock the Lord's sacrifice and actually steal His miraculous creations by stating the earth is millions of years old and that people came from apes and other species. Some wicked groups have even stolen the rainbow and claimed it for their own! What an insult that must be to our LORD! John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet 3:9). We have to be willing to give it all up for Him. His desire for us is to repent, confess, take up the cross, and follow Him (and come, take up the cross, and follow Me - Mark 10:21b). We all have an appointment (Hebrews 9:27). The Lord is coming back and we certainly don’t want to be found ‘singing the song of drunkards’ and mocking the Sacrifice that God sent to us, Jesus our LORD. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God (Rom 14:11). Call upon the Lord today while you still have breath in your body. Jesus is waiting (Rev 3:20).
Thanks for ‘Taking Five’ • G Waddell • Victory Ministries of Middle Tennessee
God bless and bless GOD
