And I raised up some of your sons for prophets,
and some of your young men for Nazirites.
Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?”
declares the LORD.
“But you made the Nazirites drink wine,
and commanded the prophets,
saying, You shall not prophesy.’
“Behold, I will press you down in your place,
as a cart full of sheaves presses down.
Flight shall perish from the swift,
and the strong shall not retain his strength,
nor shall the mighty save his life;
he who handles the bow shall not stand,
and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself,
nor shall he who rides the horse save his life;
and he who is stout of heart among the mighty
shall flee away naked in that day,”
declares the LORD.
Comment: Starting where we left yesterday, God reminds them that prophets and the special subgroup, the Nazarites, who amongst other things were not to drink alcohol. They were God’s special messengers. What had the powerful sought to do when prophets and Nazarites presented God’s message? They sought to legislate what the prophets could speak and divert the Nazarites from their promise of abstinence and intoxicate them! It sounds as if the country is coming to war but on the Northern Kingdom’s side the swift shall be slow. the strong weak, the archer unable to stand and shoot, neither on foot nor horse shall they escape, even though a few of the mighty might sneak naked and disgraced away!
Prayer: Help me to turn back from evil long before I come under such judgement, O God.
As I read it! 