I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
The first of Job’s friends. Eliphaz responded to what he said. Eliphaz said some things to which I think we should pay attention, but we need to keep in mind that in the end God calls on Eliphaz to request Job’s forgiveness. Eliphaz asked the rhetorical question:
Can anyone be pure before the Creator?’
The obvious answer being, “No.” A little further on Eliphaz tells us that evil and trouble do not come from nature, rather both are the products of human action. Eliphaz gives Job one more piece of advice that we would all do well to heed. He tells Job:
and present my case to him.
This is certainly sound advice. When we face trouble, let us take our case before God. Admit our errors and repent of our mistakes, throwing ourselves upon His mercy and accepting the consequences which He lays upon us.
Job responded to Eliphaz and told him that his words were not helpful. Job complained that Eliphaz assumed his guilt. This is to me the most important part of this passage. We should not assume someone else’s guilt in a particular situation. In any situation where we are challenging someone for sinning, we need to be able to tell them specifically what they have done wrong. If we cannot tell them specifically what they have done wrong, we should not assume that they have done wrong.
Paul continues his discussion on spiritual gifts by saying that while he talks in other languages more than any of his readers, he would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a language that no one present understands. He then says something that confuses me. First he says that speaking in other languages is a sign for unbelievers, not for believers and that prophesy is for believers, not for unbelievers. So far so good.
However, next Paul tells us that if the Church is gathered and everyone is speaking in other languages, when someone seeking to learn about the Gospel, or an unbeliever, comes in to the meeting, they will think we are all crazy. On the other hand if the everyone at the meeting is prophesying, the seeker, or unbeliever, who comes in will be convicted that God is present among the believers by the words of God being spoken.
Paul then addresses how this all applies in worship services. He says that the services should be orderly with only one person talking at a time. Only a few people should speak in other languages and then only if there is someone there to interpret. If there is no one there to interpret, they should speak silently to God in those other languages. He gives other examples of the way that the service should be orderly with only one person speaking at a time. He tells the Corinthians to remember that the word of God did not originate with them and that they are not the only ones who have heard it. As a result, they should acknowledge that what he is writing is God’s command.
One thing Paul says in the section on orderly worship troubles me. He says that women should be silent during the service. He follows this up by saying that if they have a question, they should ask their husbands at home. That suggests that he is thinking that the only thing they would have to say are questions. Which would be consistent with the fact that at that time women were generally not given as much of an education as men. However, it occurs to me that there is an additional interpretation of what Paul is saying. Perhaps he is suggesting that a husband and wife should be sure to have the same understanding of spiritual matters. All in all, this is a passage that I am not sure what to do with, especially since there are other passages written by Paul that seem to take a different perspective on this. Perhaps this passage was only meant for the situation as it existed in Corinth? There are elements of the passage which suggest that (the focus on the fact that the word of God did not originate in Corinth).
The godly offer good counsel and teach right from wrong. The wicked on the other hand wait in ambush for the godly, seeking an excuse to kill them. But God will not allow the wicked to succeed. Put your trust in God and you will see the wicked destroyed. It may seem like the wicked are prospering like a tree planted in good, well-watered soil, but no sooner will you think they are here to stay then they are gone to be found no more. Look rather at the honest and good, they have a wonderful future awaiting them. Live a righteous life and God will rescue you when trouble looms.
Sacrifices will not suffice to offset continued wicked behavior and those who think that they can bribe God will discover they are mistaken.