Tag Archives: 1 Corinthians 14:18-40

August 22, 2015 Bible Study — Orderly and Proper, Not Staid and Boring

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 21:27

    It is detestable when someone makes offerings and sacrifices to offset wicked behavior they have no intention of changing. It is even worse when they make those offerings with the intention of getting the righteous to cover for them.

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Psalm 37:30-40

    The godly give good advice and teach right from wrong. More importantly, they internalize God’s law and live it, even when no one is watching. It may seem as if the wicked are flourishing and immune to all of trouble. It seems they will stand the test of time. Yet, look away for but a moment and when you look back they will be gone, all trace of them wiped from the earth.

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1 Corinthians 14:18-40

    Paul continues his teaching about spiritual gifts. He tells us that when we meet together he would rather we speak five intelligible words than thousands of words in an unknown language. When we get together only one person should speak at a time. When we sing, we should all be singing the same song. Our gatherings should be orderly and proper. If the service is chaotic and disorderly, we are not glorifying God. One final note, orderly and proper does NOT mean staid and boring.

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Job 4-7

    Today as I read this it struck me that one of the important lessons about the book of Job is that we need to be careful when we seek to comfort and advise those who are suffering. On the one hand we both want to and ought to give them advice and counsel which may offer them hope and the chance to ease their suffering. On the other hand we must be careful not to conclude that they have done wrong just because they are suffering. People do not always suffer in order to teach them a lesson. Sometimes they experience suffering in order to teach someone else a lesson. That someone else may be us. Let us always be ready to learn the lessons God is trying to teach. And let us welcome the opportunity for God to use our suffering to teach others.

August 22, 2014 Bible Study — Worship Should Be Orderly, Not Chaotic

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 21:27

    Sacrifices and offerings made by those who intend to go on sinning are detestable. It is even worse when they are made with the intention of influencing the actions of those serving the Lord.

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Psalm 37:30-40

    The first verse of our psalm today has two sides. On the one hand, the words spoken by those who are righteous will naturally tend to be wise and support justice. On the other hand, if we desire to be righteous we must take care that the words we speak are wise and support justice. The wicked will lay traps for us and attempt to trick us into speaking foolishly. However, if we keep our focus on God and doing His will, He will keep us from falling into their traps and protect us from their attacks.

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1 Corinthians 14:18-40

    Paul continues his critique of speaking in tongues. It is clear from what he says that, while he believes it is a valuable gift from God, the Church in Corinth has become excessively focused on it. It appears that this focus has led them to have disorderly, chaotic worship services. Paul describes how our worship services should go, something we should perhaps examine and apply today. He describes how some have songs they wish to sing, others have words from God to share, and still others are prepared to teach. He points out that only two or three should speak in tongues, and then one at a time. Those who feel led to speak in tongues should only do so if there is someone present who has been given the gift to explain what it means to everyone else. When those who feel they have a word from God speak, everyone else should consider whether what they say is right. Most importantly, our worship services should be orderly, with only one person at a time speaking.

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Job 4-7:21

    The first of Job’s friends, Eliphaz, replies to Job. Eliphaz tells Job that the righteous do not suffer, therefore he, Job, must have done something wrong. The hard times which Job is experiencing are merely God’s attempts to correct him. If Job would only turn back to the Lord, all of his troubles would go away and life would be good once more.
    Job answers Eliphaz by recounting how severe his misery and suffering are. Then he asks Eliphaz, or the others, to show him what he had done wrong, where he fell short and needed to change. Job then continues by asking God why this had happened to him? Why was God sending so much suffering his way?
    Remember, no matter how much you are suffering, you are not the first and your suffering is not greater than that experienced by others. Continue with me as we look at the rest of this book over the next few days.

August 22, 2013 Bible Study — Stop Assuming My( or His/Her) Guilt

     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.

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Job 4-7:21

     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 a mortal be innocent before God?
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:
If I were you, I would go to God
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.

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1 Corinthians 14:18-40

     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.

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     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).

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Psalm 37:30-40

     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.

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Proverbs 21:27

     Sacrifices will not suffice to offset continued wicked behavior and those who think that they can bribe God will discover they are mistaken.

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August 22, 2012 Bible Study

     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.

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Job 4-7:21

     Job’s friend Eliphaz is the first to respond. Eliphaz starts off by telling Job that he, Job, had encouraged others in their times of trouble, but now when trouble strikes him, he loses heart. I struggle when I read this, to what degree am I finding fault with what Eliphaz said because I know from previous experience that Eliphaz is in the wrong? How do I read this passage and interpret what Eliphaz says on the basis of what is in the passage I am reading? I think sometimes we read too much condemnation of Job’s friends in the ending of Job, but on the other hand we need to be careful not to read too little as well.
     Eliphaz gives Job some good advice. He tells him,

“Can a mortal be innocent before God?
Can anyone be pure before the Creator?”

And this is certainly a valid question because the answer is “No.” He further says that resentment and jealousy destroy the fool. Eliphaz also says that does great things that are too marvelous to understand and performs countless miracles. This all true. These are things we would all do well to remember. However, he also tells Job that he should go to God with is troubles, which is good advice, except that Eliphaz says this in a manner that implies that Job has not already done so. Eliphaz at several points essentially accuses Job of sin without saying what sin Job has committed.
     Job responds to Eliphaz by admitting that he spoke impulsively. Job asks if he does not have a right to complain about his suffering since even animals do the same when they are hungry. Job says that he takes comfort in the fact that despite his suffering he has not denied the words of God. He demands that Eliphaz stop assuming that he is guilty. We, also, should not assume the guilt of others. If we witness them sinning and confront them over it, that is one thing, but we should not assume that someone is guilty. We should seek their interpretation of what happened before we conclude that they are guilty.

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1 Corinthians 14:18-40

     Paul continues his teaching on spiritual gifts by thanking God that he speaks in tongues more than any of the Corinthians, but says that he would rather speak five intelligible words in a church meeting than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Paul goes on to tell them that if an unbeliever comes into a service and everyone is speaking in tongues, the unbeliever will be convinced that the believers are crazy. On the other hand, if the believers are prophesying, the unbeliever will be convicted by their inmost thoughts being revealed.
     Paul segues into telling the believers that services should be orderly, with only one person speaking at a time. He tells us that those who speak in tongues should only do so in the service if there is someone there to interpret what they say and even then only two or three should speak in tongues. He goes on to say that the service should be orderly. Those who prophecy are in control of their spirits and can take their turns. God is not a god of disorder, but a God of peace. As part of his teachings on orderly worship, Paul says that it is improper for women to speak in the church meetings. That if they have questions they should ask their husbands at home. This instruction troubles me. It seems clear and unequivocal, yet there are other passages which seem to suggest that there are qualifiers to this. On the other hand, if this instruction has qualifiers, why did Paul not put them in here? I continue to pray for the Spirit’s guidance on understanding this teaching. Paul concludes this section by telling us to be eager to prophecy and to not forbid speaking in tongues, but reminds us that our services should be orderly and done properly.

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Psalm 37:30-40

     The psalmist tells us that the godly offer good counsel, while the wicked seek an excuse to destroy the godly. The wicked may seem to be prospering and flourishing, but soon they will disappear completely. God will provide shelter for the godly and rescue them in times of trouble.

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Proverbs 21:27

     Today’s proverb tells us that the sacrifice of an evil person is detestable. Those who are doing evil cannot cover it over by offering a sacrifice to God. Offering sacrifices to God are only of value when one is truly intending to change one’s ways and turn from evil. It is bad enough when someone offers a sacrifice with no intention of turning from their sin, but it is even worse when they offer the sacrifice in order to further their evil plans.