Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Alcohol" (Brad Paisley)



Welcome to Tuesday!  It's time for Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  This is the blog that explores interesting, timely, and sometimes controversial themes with a soundtrack of the most popular music ever recorded!  Today's topic goes into that last category in case you haven't guessed!  We better get started, there's much to do!!!  Take it, Mr. Paisley!!!


Written from the perspective of libations, "Alcohol" arrived in the summer of 2005 to critical as well as listener acclaim.  It went all the way to #4 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and crossed over to peak at #28 on the Hot 100.  It was nominated for 2 Grammys (Best Country Song, Best Male Vocals) and finished at #24 on the end of the year US Country chart.  

The song goes to length to describe the effects of imbibing in fermented grains or grapes. As the descriptors get more outrageous, one can't help but laugh as we've either succumbed to the effects or known folks who have done most of the items on the list.  

The irony behind the song is that Brad Paisley joins a list of other famous folks who don't drink alcohol. ("10 Things You Didn't Know About Brad Paisley" by Devon Barker, wideopencountry.com, "Famous People Who Don't Drink Alcohol", Celebrity Insider, ranker.com)  The Notes suspects that Mr. Paisley's self prohibition is caused by seeing too many of the incidents described in today's featured song played out before his eyes.  


Noah, yup the one who found grace in the eyes of the Lord, got smashed...hammered...bombed...lit...(you get the idea).  The Bible never eludes to a rationale behind Noah getting drunk, it simply says that he "grew a vineyard, drank of the wine and got drunk."  Notice that God never comments on Noah's drinking. Genesis never says anything about Noah losing control over his faculties.  Yet, Noah's activities laid the foundation for the focal point of this passage.

The Bible does comment on drinking.  While there is no command to completely abstain, there is the command against drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18 NASB/The Message/KJV, Proverbs 23:29-35 NASB/The Message/KJV) There has been much damage to the cause of Christ due to well-intentioned folks judging others on this issue. However, we must remember a couple of things as believers.  First, we are not the judge.  That's Jesus' role.  Secondly, we must not be a stumbling block for those who struggle with addictions to alcohol (or anything else) by drinking in the presence of those folks.  Finally, based on the previous points, one would surmise that while abstinence is never commanded, it is advisable for Believers to refrain from drinking alcohol or participating in any activity that could result in destructive/addictive behavior.   

And now...the rest of the story.

Ham, Noah's youngest son, observed Noah passed out and naked.  Now, to 2019's voyeuristic culture, seeing someone in such a state isn't held with the same shame as it was during this episode.  God had standards in the beginning.  Since God never changes, the inference can be made that His standards never change either.  Noah's state of undress was still perceived as shameful as it was at the time of Adam (Genesis 3:10 NASB/The Message/KJV)  For Ham to come across it and do nothing was disrespectful and sinful.  Ham not only saw Noah's nakedness, but he did nothing to remedy the situation and told his brothers, Shem and Japheth about it.   Shem and Japheth immediately did the respectful act of covering Noah.  Notice they put the cover on their shoulders and approached Noah with their backs to him so as not to view him.  When Noah woke up, he realized all that had occurred and laid a curse upon Cannan, Ham's son.  Noah proclaimed that Cannan would forever be the slave to his relatives.  

There are those who would make much more about this passage of scripture.  Tuesday's Musical Notes suggest that you research for yourself and allow Holy Spirit to reveal to you the truth.  The Notes finds enough sin in the disrespect Ham gave to Noah, that no other commentary need be made.  

The main point?  Noah lost control.   It would be easy to judge Noah, however, the Bible doesn't comment on it.  Ham was disrespectful to Noah and God. There was a price to pay for Ham's maligning of Noah.  He would watch as his family surrendered to servitude to his brothers.   I don't know about you, but that seems harsher than having pictures made of him with a lampshade on his head...

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,
randy

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