Proclaim Hope Daily | Week 40

Below is a short summary or synopsis of the Bible reading for the day. Use it as a helpful tool to think through the Scripture. There are also some cross references to study other passages of Scripture to highlight or better understand that passage.

This psalm was a popular hymn, widely used to celebrate the various Jewish festivals, including: Passover, Weeks, and Tabernacles. It is quite possible that Jesus and the 12 sang this hymn during their Passover feast when the Lord’s Supper was instituted. Just like the prior two psalms (111 and 112) it begins with immediate praise: Praise the Lord! The hymn then transitions into a call to praise (vv.2-3), followed by evidence of God’s unmatched glory (vv.4-9). God’s steadfast love endures forever, so should his praise be endless, encompassing every minute of each day. The Lord our God lives and reigns above and beyond all comprehension, uninhibited by space and time. Therefore, He is able to accomplish the unimaginable as his protection and provision rains down from above the heavens. The praise of His people is rooted in their amazement of his grandeur, appreciation for his goodness, and reverence for his just and holy nature.

(Exodus 15:11; 2 Samuel 7:22; Psalm 34:1, 90:2, 145:1-2; Isaiah 42:8, 57:15; Romans 11:36; Ephesians 4:6; 2 Peter 3:8; Jude 1:25; Revelation 5:13)

There is great tragedy found in the life of someone who has been blessed with many of life’s comforts, particularly mentioned here are the gifts of wealth and long life, yet never truly appreciate and value them. The toil of mankind often leads to chasing the next horizon. Unsatisfied with what lies in front of him, uncontent and unable to rejoice with thanksgiving, pushing forward toward the next obtainable conquest. What value do these earthly blessings have if the one who possesses them is not given a spirit of gratefulness?  Every good gift comes from God and should be acknowledged as such. However, unless a man has the wisdom of the Lord, he knows not what he has or where it came from. As the old adage goes, humanity has a God-shaped hole in him. A hole that is constantly stuffed with various things throughout life, but without remedy or success. This unquenchable thirst reveals the search of the soul for something greater. No amount of money, friends, or worldly things could ever satisfy this specifically shaped hole. All is vanity unless the soul finds it’s rest in the Creator. Only then is one able to truly appreciate the life given and praise the One who gave it. As Augustine writes, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

(Isaiah 55:2; Psalm 62:1, 63:1, 90:14, 107:9; Matthew 5:6, 7:7-8; John 6:35; James 1:17)

After addressing an array of issues, Paul transitions to the first pressing concern which the Corinthian believers had written to him about: Marriage. Those within the church had converted to Christianity, yet they had not entirely separated from the surrounding culture which seemed to confuse the matters of Christian life, specifically marriage, celibacy and the intricacies of sexual intercourse. The secular world during the first century offered a plethora of choices when it came to marriage, quite similar to our Post-Christian era. Celibacy, polygamy, adultery, perfunctory divorce, and even the habit of keeping concubines or sexual slaves had become quite the norm. As these individuals came to faith in Christ, their lives were radically transformed, yet they were seeking some clarity on how to live out this new found faith practically. Paul both instructs and warns about the implementation of celibacy. The apostle for instance practiced celibacy and while he encouraged it, he did so only with those who had a specific gift and calling from the Lord to do so. To completely deny the flesh of what God had created it to do (procreate) would require a unique and special ability granted by God. The ramifications of enforcing this practice on those who have not received such a gifting have produced severe consequences throughout history, as witnessed within the Roman Catholic church. Celibacy is not to be practiced within the confines of marriage because it would ignore and nullify one of the intentions and covenant blessings of the unification. Sexual intercourse is in fact an inherently good and beautiful thing when it is experienced as it was intended within the bond of marriage. In an effort to point out the remedial benefit of marital sex, Paul informs the Corinthians that the husband should submit his body unto his wife and likewise the wife to the husband, fulfilling the intimate needs of one another. Marriage is a symbol of Christ (Bridegroom) uniting with the Church (the Bride), therefore it is a holy and sacred union that is to be revered, kept pure and undefiled by the likes of promiscuity or adultery.

(Genesis 2:24-25; Proverbs 5:18-19; Song of Solomon; Matthew 19:12; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:31-31; Hebrews 13:4; Revelation 19:7, 21:2)

Another concern raised by the Corinthian church was the issue of eating meat that had been offered to idols. Apparently there were some who were either attending pagan services and partaking of the meat which was sacrificed unto false gods, or they were obtaining meat from a source that was somehow linked to pagan sacrifices. Biblical doctrine does not explicitly address this issue, therefore Paul answers intelligently, practically and compassionately. First, the apostle intuitively states the obvious; these false gods are not even real and only exist in the fantastical minds of these pagans. No one is claiming that a Corinthian believer is worshipping or sacrificing to a false god, but only in one way or another partaking of the meat involved in said worship. It is just meat, Paul says. Eating the meat will neither help nor harm anyone. There is a certain level of Christian freedom that allows believers to operate based upon their own conscience and conviction when it comes to situations not expressly addressed in the bible. However, because some may take offense or another may be tempted into error, it is better to abstain entirely for the sake of unity in the church. A key marker of a Christian is to have a humble, sacrificial heart and therefore should always place the concern of a brother/sister in Christ above oneself. Paul’s advice – if eating meat causes a brother to stumble, become a vegetarian.

(Matthew 23:11-12; Romans 14:1-23; 1 Corinthians 10:28-32; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 4:6; Philippians 2:3-4)

In line with his instruction from the previous chapter, Paul willingly demonstrates the principles he expects the Corinthians to follow, while additionally asserting his authority as an apostle directly associated with Jesus Christ. It is not particularly clear, but it seems that some were questioning Paul’s intentions and agency. He reminds them that he has apostolic authority, meaning he was specifically chosen, set aside and instructed of the gospel by Jesus the Messiah himself. Essentially he has been given authority from the ultimate One who has all authority, on Earth and in Heaven. This statement speaks of both supreme jurisdiction in addition to absolute reliability. Although the apostle has such power and authority, he submits to what is beneficial for others. Paul understands that he is indeed free, yet he lives his life among the people in such a way not to cause confusion or division. While among the Jews he willingly adheres to Jewish ceremonial law in order to maintain fellowship. When he is with the Gentiles Paul is willing to accommodate in order to commune with them. Paul desires the church to keep the main thing the main thing. Believers should not divide over trivial matters and should be willing to compromise in order to promote unity. This is not inconsistency, Paul argues, but faith in step with a Christ-like love for others, aligned to advance the establishment and growth of the church.

(Matthew 28:18; Romans 12:10, 15:7; 1 Corinthians 14:37;  Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 4:2; Philippians 2:9-10; 2 Peter 3:15-16)

This section of Paul’s letter can be summed up by verse 31, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” This admonishment covers several of the issues regarding the Corinthians’ confusion concerning how to practice and implement their new found faith. Some of the believers were clearly violating foundational commandments, while others were lost in obscurity. At the end of the day what matters is yielding to the guidance and conviction of the Holy Spirit that indwells each true believer. To this day we see religious factions argue and divide over issues like dancing and drinking alcohol. Paul’s advice is to commit everything you do unto God. If you are able to do so with a clean conscience, there is no reason to ascetically abstain. Unless, Paul reaffirms, you are participating in such an act that causes your brother or sister to fall. If so, it is better for the sake of Christ and fellow believers to limit your individual freedoms. The apostle uses the infidelity of the Israelites in the wilderness to warn the Corinthians concerning the dangers of taking religious liberty too far. Similar to the Corinthians, the Israelites had professed faith, were baptized and received spiritual food, yet became an example as to what happens when spiritual freedom becomes a license to sin. Pride and self-will can quickly lead to a hardened heart and blindness which quenches the conviction of the Spirit.

(Deuteronomy 9:7; Nehemiah 9:16-17; Psalm 143:10; Hosea 13:6; John 14:26, 16:13; Acts 7:51; Romans 6:13, 8:14; Galatians 5:16, 25; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; Hebrews 3:15; 1 Peter 2:16; 2 Peter 2:1-3)

The first century Corinthians must have been dealing with society’s intrusive influence concerning gender roles, due to the necessity for Paul to address it here in this epistle. Paul takes the time to remind the church in Corinth that there is an intentional hierarchy fashioned within creation. God the Father is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of man, and man the head of his wife. This is a hot-button issue today, as it surely must have been back then. Some take this to mean that scripture teaches women are inferior to men, which is not the case. This is why Paul emphatically claims that men and women are dependent upon one another (vv.11-12). However, this does not define them as equal in all facets. In regards to human fundamental and moral worth, of course there is no distinction. Yet scripture clearly outlines varying definitive roles for each sex. This view is referred to as complementarian, meaning while male and female have separate defining roles, they are purposefully designed to complement one another. The apostle then moves to correcting the Corinthians implementation of the Lord’s Supper or Communion. Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper at Passover, commemorating the deliverance of the Jewish people as the death angel passed over the homes that were marked by the blood of a lamb; which foreshadowed the coming of the spotless Lamb (Jesus) that would bring ultimate deliverance by shedding his blood to cover the sins of the world. Due to sin and misconceptions within the church, the believers were even divided during their keeping of the ordinance. Paul does not take this lightly and rebukes them strongly, but with loving concern. Christ is the unifying factor that brings sinners unto himself, cleansing them and molding them into one body, therefore carelessly memorializing his death while infighting was a serious and blasphemous issue. Some were falling ill and even dying because of their lack of reverence. The apostle informs them that the ordinance is to be an intentional time of significant self-reflection and purification, as each member approaches the gravity of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

(Exodus 12:1-28; Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:42; John 5:19, 6:38, 17:22-23; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 5:7, 15:28; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 5:22-33)