Joy in the drink:
The process for obtaining the fruit of the vine, wine, has a procedure. First, there is the planting of the seeds and the plowing of the land. Once the grapes are ripe, the gatherers or reapers harvest them. And, finally, the treaders, once the grapes are placed in a giant tub, tread until all the grapes are squashed. Once the grapes are squashed, they are placed into containers to ferment until the wine is ready to drink. Wine can take up to a year to be ready for drinking. While wine was a literal beverage used for everyday consumption alongside meals and celebrations, it is a symbol of blessings, joy, and a covenant with God. After the flood, Noah made a vineyard to honor God. Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding at Cana (Jh 2:10-11). This miracle reignited the joy of the wedding, but also set in motion the ministry of Christ. At the last supper, the wine in the cup represents the blood of Christ that is shed for the remission of sins (Mt 26:27-28). But wine also serves as a symbol of excess and moral decay, with warnings against drunkenness and overindulgence (Pro 20:1).
Amos 9:13-14
13 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.
14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
For anyone to obtain the benefits from the wine, they would need to wait. People have to wait a year before they can indulge in a cup of wine to be joyous. The children of Israel had to wait many years for the Messiah to come and pour his blood for the remission of their sins. The process for the emotional and spiritual blessings was changed after the children of Israel rejected the Son of God. Amos said that the spiritual blessings that affect man more than the wine were coming, but without the risk of error, unlike wine. What are spiritual blessings? one might ask. Spiritual blessings include the gifts of faith, hope, love, assurance, forgiveness, wisdom, and the grace of salvation, as included in Galatians 5:22-23.
The process for the spiritual blessings was swift. It was going to pour down as rain on a mountain dropping sweet wine. It was not going to need the plowman, reapers, or treaders for it to come down. The swiftness of the blessings is seen in the house of Cornelius. Once Peter opened his mouth and began to preach, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were there (Acts 10:44-46). The prophet Joel spoke about God pouring his holy spirit on all flesh as a swift occasion (Joel 2:28-29). Spiritual blessings are a sign of God’s restoration time in one’s life.
John 2:10-11
10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
Matthew 26-27-28
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Acts 10:44-46
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Joel 2:28-29
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.