1 Corinthians 10

Thursday, 2 October 2014

We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 1 Corinthians 10:8

Paul is quite clear here, as he is throughout his writings, that sexual immorality is unacceptable. And this isn’t just Paul, but it is a precept which permeates Scripture, even to the very last page of the Bible. Revelation 22:15 says that the sexually immoral will be excluded from entrance into the gates of the New Jerusalem. There, they are lumped together with dogs (those who are unclean and who would go after their own vomit), people who practice magic arts, murderers, idolaters, and those who love and practice falsehood.

In other words, sexual immorality is not an acceptable part of a Christian’s walk. In today’s world, this seems almost foreign to us. Even churches allow the most sexually depraved of people to participate in their services and excuse it by saying that God would “want them to be happy.” Happiness is irrelevant. What matters is obedience to the Lord. As an example of this, Paul goes back to the account of the Baal of Peor in Numbers 25:1-9. There it says “the Lord’s anger burned against them.”

It was an incident they were reminded of later in Numbers and then in Deuteronomy before entering Canaan. They will continue to be reminded of it in the books of Joshua, the Psalms, and Hosea. Likewise, Paul reaches back to it to show the severity of the judgment for what occurred. He says that “in one day twenty-tree thousand of them died.” It was a huge price to pay for the faithless actions of the people.

As a note concerning this, Numbers 25:9 places the number at 24,000 instead of 23,000. There have been several suggestions as to how the numbers can be reconciled. It is possible that 23,000 were killed by the plague which resulted, and the other 1000 were killed by those who defended the Lord’s honor by using the sword against their own countrymen. Another view is that the number could have been a round number. If it were 23,600, then it could be rounded up or down. Another explanation is that 23,000 fell “in one day” as Paul says and the other 1000 died the next day.

The most probable is that Paul was referring to those killed by the plague only and not those killed by the sword, thus showing the severity of the Lord’s judgment. If this is the case, then it was a tradition handed down in the society and not something specifically recorded in Scripture. The main issue though is in regards to sexual immorality. It is considered unacceptable and the Lord will judge those who violate this precept.

Life application: The Lord intends for those who engage in sex to be married – a male to a female. Any other sexual contact is considered immoral.

Lord, You have granted to man that He can take a wife
Someone to share their walk together all of their days
You would have them to remain together till the end of life
Living in holiness and bringing You honor and praise

Help us in our weakness to be stout and strong
To be faithful to one another as the years go past
Yes Lord, help us in this all our life long
To be obedient to You until You call us home at last

Heavenly Father, I know that Your word is clear on the issue of sex. It is intended for the state of marriage and it is to be between a man and his wife. Your word shows that any other sexual contact is considered immoral and that You will judge the sexually immoral. This may not be popular, but I didn’t write Your word and so I will proclaim this truth because You have ordained it. And Lord, help me in my weakness to be pure in this regard. The world is filled with temptation and so I ask for strength, wisdom, and fortitude concerning this issue. Amen.

Wednesday, 1 October 2014

And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 1 Corinthians 10:7

In the previous verse, Paul spoke of lusting after evil things. Continuing on, he next warns against becoming “idolaters as were some of them.” The very people who had been redeemed from the bondage of Egypt, and who had seen the marvelous works of the Lord, fell into idolatry. Rather than honoring the Creator, they worshipped before the created. This account is found in Exodus 32:1-6 –

“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”

² And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” ³ So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. ⁴ And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf.
Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!”
⁵ So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.” ⁶ Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”

Paul, citing this account and saying “As it is written” is intended to show that it was specifically recorded for our learning and our instruction. The people failed to conduct themselves in a manner which was in accord with the glory of the Lord which they had beheld. A question that could be asked then is “What was wrong about the people sitting down and eating and drinking and rising up to play?” The answer is not that the actions were specifically wrong, but the context of their actions was. They directed them towards the golden calf, not towards the Lord.

People need to sit down, people need to eat and drink, and the Bible shows that properly directed worship can be brought to a very emotional state. A great example of this last category is found in 2 Samuel 6. David danced and leapt before the Lord as the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the City of David. His wife Michal didn’t approve of his conduct and rebuked him. His response was that, “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord. And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight.” 2 Samuel 6:21, 22

This verse which Paul is citing cannot be used as a reason to forbid dancing. There are churches that do forbid dancing and they use verses like this one to justify that stand. However, this is not the intent of what Paul is saying here. Rather, that is a manipulation of Scripture which cannot be justified.

Life application: There is nothing wrong with rejoicing and praising before the Lord. There are abundant examples given in Scripture which show people praising the Lord with their voices and in dancing. If our hearts and souls are directed toward the Lord, then we are given the freedom to jump and shout praises to Him or beat on drums as we praise Him. Surely the Lord is worthy of our praise.

I will praise You, O God, with my voice and with my heart. I will praise You with my actions and in my deeds. I will praise You with music that glorifies You and with twirling dances of joy. Lord, how can I withhold the praises? You have done wondrous things for me and I will surely pop if I don’t return thanks and praise to You. You are great, O God. Surely You are worthy of praise. Hallelujah and amen.

Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 1 Corinthians 10:6

“Now these things” is speaking of those with whom “God was not well pleased.” They had seen the miracles and been sustained by God’s gracious hand, and yet they rebelled in various ways which Paul will explain in the verses ahead. Because of their rebellion he noted in the previous verse that “their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.” It is all of this that he is referring to as examples.

This word translated as “examples” is the Greek word typoi. It could be referring either to the pictures of Christ and thus be translated as “types” or “foreshadowing events.” Or it could be translated as “examples” and thus be referring to the scattering of the bodies based on rebellion. As he hasn’t yet explained the examples which caused the deaths, some scholars insist that it is speaking of the pictures of Christ. However, because he just mentioned the deaths of the people and he will continue to explain that, others insist this is what he is referring to. There is no reason to assume that he isn’t speaking of the entire process though. The types of Christ and their subsequent rejection led to the deaths of the people.

Either way, Paul’s continued statement in this verse is that we should learn “that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.” If we have been redeemed by Christ, then we should follow Christ, trust Christ, and fix our eyes on Christ. It makes no sense to call on Christ and then to ignore the very salvation that He has provided.

Life application: The Old Testament is often overlooked by many Christians. And yet, it has been given to show us the logical progression of redemptive history as God slowly reveals Himself and His plans to the people of the world. The Old Testament allows us to know where we have been, where we are going, and the pitfalls to avoid in our walk.

Lord, I remember the tears of joy on the day I realized I was forgiven and free because of the cross of Christ. The weight of my past was lifted and the prospects of living in newness of life lay ahead like a path of gold. But at times, I forget that and find my feet heading off in wrong directions once again. Forgive me for my disobedience, help me in correcting my waywardness, and restore me to the joy of my salvation once again. I thank You for Your merciful hand upon me as I erringly walk in this temporary life on my way to glory! Amen.

Monday, 29 September 2014

But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 1 Corinthians 10:5

Despite the Israelites having all of the privileges which Paul mentioned in the preceding verses (baptism in the cloud and the sea, the spiritual food, and the spiritual Rock), he shows that it didn’t profit them at all in their spiritual lives. He leads into this with the word “but.” Despite all of the proofs and all of the physical demonstrations of God’s presence among them, instead of having faith that He would see their redemption through to a good end, they failed to trust.

What God looks for is faith in Him and His promises. What He got was rebellion and a stubborn, stiff-necked attitude. And because of this “with most of them God was not well pleased.” Because they lacked faith in Him and His provision, He rewarded them with what they accused Him of.

Time and again, the Israelites complained and accused the Lord of wrongdoing. One example is from Numbers 14:2-4 –

“And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, ‘If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! ³ Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?’ ⁴ So they said to one another, ‘Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.'”

After this, Moses petitioned the Lord to pardon the people, but there would be a penalty for their lack of faith. This is recorded later in the chapter –

“Then the Lord said: ‘I have pardoned, according to your word; ²¹ but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord— ²² because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, ²³ they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. ²⁴ But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it. ²⁵ Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley; tomorrow turn and move out into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.'” Numbers 14:20-25

The Israelites would receive the punishment that they deserved. Because of their lack of faith, “their bodies were in the wilderness.” This was the very thing that they had said would happen and so their words were used as a witness against them. Despite this though, there was grace in the sentence. Instead of being snuffed out immediately, they would be allowed to live out their lives and raise their children until they were old enough to assume the responsibility of going into Canaan. This is detailed later in the same chapter –

“But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. ³² But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. ³³ And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. ³⁴ According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection. ³⁵ I the Lord have spoken this. I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.” Numbers 14:31-35

In the end, only two of the 603,550 registered males who were of fighting age were permitted the honor of entering the promised land. Figuring in the women, well over a million people would die as they wandered through the wilderness. Such was the price for lacking faith and rebelling against the Lord.

Life application: God asks for faith in His faithless creatures, so a little bit will do. He asks us to trust Him, even when times seem out of control. If we truly believe that He will fulfill His promises, we will continue to trust Him and to praise Him each step of the way. With this, He will be well-pleased.

Heavenly Father, the lesson of those Israelites who perished in the wilderness should teach us that we need to trust You when times are tough or even seemingly out of control. Yes, life takes turns that lead us into deep and dark valleys, but You have promised to never leave us nor to forsake us. Help us to remember that You are there with us in those dark places and that You have a good plan and purpose for those times. Remind us that the dark valley is merely a short walk towards a bright and wondrous mountaintop. Thank You for Your ever-faithful presence. Amen.

Sunday, 28 September 2014

…and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:4

So far in just three verses, Paul has shown the great amount of spiritual connection between the exodus and wilderness wanderings and their correlation to Christ. He has shown that the cloud and the sea pictured being baptized into Moses, meaning the Law given by the Lord. He has also shown that the manna they ate was “spiritual food.” Now he shows that even the water they drank was a spiritual picture of Christ because they “all drank the same spiritual drink.”

One cannot live long without water. God intended this to show that just as we cannot live without water, so we cannot live without being spiritually connected to Him through Christ. We are either dead in sins and trespasses, having inherited Adam’s fallen nature, or we are born again through Christ. To show us that this was pictured in the exodus account, he says, “For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”

The people of Israel twice drank directly from water which issued from a rock. The first time was in Exodus 17:1-6 in a place called Rephidim (meaning “resting places”) which was their 11th stop while traveling. The second is recorded in Numbers 20:1-11 at a place called Kadesh (meaning “holy”). This was their 33rd recorded stop. After they received the water, the places were renamed “Meribah,” which means “strife” or “contention” because the people strived with the Lord over the water.

Paul says that in these places “they drank of that spiritual Rock which followed them.” There is a Jewish tradition that the rock literally followed them wherever they went. This is not the intent of Paul’s words. Rather, the idea of “following” them is that wherever they were, Christ was present. They contended with the Lord, claiming that He had left them to die, but then the Lord, through Moses, showed them that He was always there, ready to provide. This is the intent of saying that the Rock “followed them.”

This Rock is then said explicitly to be Christ by Paul. In other words, the natural rock is merely a metaphor which is then left completely out of the true picture. If there was one rock in Rephidim and one rock in Kadesh and both gave water, then the Rock is a picture of Christ. If this is so, then it isn’t just the rock either, but the water which issued from the rock which is also the intended symbol. As it says, “they drank ‘of’ that spiritual Rock.”

Understanding this, the rest of the Bible in both testaments uses the terms “rock” and “water” to describe the Lord. The rock is the unmovable foundation upon which our faith is grounded, such as in the parable of building one’s house upon the rock in Matthew 7. The water is the water of life seen in John 4, John 7, Revelation 22, and elsewhere. The account from John 4 is both memorable and explicit –

“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.'” John 4:13, 14

Life application: When reading the Bible, one should attempt to remember things that are mentioned and see if later comparisons are made. Rocks, water, harvesters, the wind, trees, numbers, milk, types of grain, different types of work, and on and on. All of them having meaning and nothing is arbitrary. Each will give us insights into Christ, into God’s plan of redemptive history, and teach us moral lessons as well. Nothing is superfluous and nothing is left out. The Bible is an amazingly beautiful compilation of words which all form to show us God’s love for us. And it is all centered on the Person and work of Jesus Christ.

Lord God, I know that whatever I read or study will be absorbed into my collective memory and mold me in some way. As this is certain, I will endeavor to read, contemplate, and absorb Your word above all else. As it reveals Your very heart for me, then obviously I will be molded more and more into Your image as I learn and apply it to my life. Thank You for this wondrous gift which will allow me to be shaped by You into a vessel of beauty and holiness. Amen.