Your post makes me think of “gall and wormwood” from Deuteronomy 29:18-19 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turns away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that bears gall and wormwood; [19] And it come to pass, when he hears the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
is “gall and wormwood” linked to adding drunkenness to thirst? Psalm 69:12-21 They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards. [13] But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of your mercy hear me, in the truth of your salvation. [14] Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. [15] Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. [16] Hear me, O Lord ; for Your lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies. [17] And hide not your face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily. [18] Draw near unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of my enemies. [19] You have known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: My adversaries are all before you. [20] Reproach has broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. [21] They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
“reproach has broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness” “I look for some to take pity” which the verse concerning strong drink belongs to those heavy in heart…let him drink and remember his poverty and misery no more? From Job knowing the end that the Lord is full of pity and of tender mercy?
What you posted about keeping the precepts and not drinking …makes me think of His Tasting thereof, but he would not drink? What does that mean Amadeus? When he prayed not to drink from the cup and for the cup to pass but submitting to “Father, Your will be done?”
Matthew 27:34-37 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. [35] And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. [36] And sitting down they watched him there; [37] And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.