Tag Archives: Lord’s

1 Corinthians 8

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1 Corinthians 8: Many God’s and Lord’s

                                Paul explains that knowledge is important, however we should not let knowledge go to our head. We should be humble and let Charity edify our knowledge. For “…if any many think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing…” (1 Corinthians 8:2) Those who believe that we as humans have all the knowledge are mistaken. This of course is NOT to discredit science, but we as humans need to understand that there is much more knowledge out there, that we have yet to learn. God of course is all knowing, and we being His offspring will also one day know everything.

Paul explains that there is ONE GOD, however there are multiples “gods” and “lords”; “For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father…” (1 Corinthians 8:5-6) Paul explains that we are perfectly within our rights to eat meat that is offered unto an idol, for an idol is not a god or the God, it is made by man. Paul says that anything we do or do not eat will not affect our spirituality; “…for neither if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.” (1 Corinthians 8:8)

Those with a strong conscience should respect those with a weak conscience and understand that judgment should be left unto God; “…take heed lest by any means this liberty [motivation to do good] of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.” (1 Corinthians 8:9)

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Psalms 77-78

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Psalms 77-78

Chapter 77: The Righteous Remember Wonders of God

To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.

                In the days of trouble Asaph sought the Lord, and in these days he remembered the great works of the Lord. God does many works and wonders. God redeemed the sons of Jacob and led Israel like a flock in the ancient times.

Chapter 78: Israel= Teach the Lords Law

Maschil of Asaph.

                This Psalm gives us a pretty good summary of the first five books of Moses. Asaph tells us that Israel must teach their children the Laws of the Lord in order to remain at peace with the Lord.

He reminds us of the ancient Israelites, who disobeyed God. The problem was simple, it was one of memory loss. The Israelites had seen the mighty power of the Lord throughout the first five books of Moses.

The Lord…

                “…divided the sea, and caused them [Israelites] to pass through…” (Psalms 78:13)

“… he [The Lord] led them [Israelites] with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.” (Psalms 78:14)

“…gave them drink as out of the great depths.” (Psalms 78:15)

                “…he [The Lord] smote the rock, that the waters gushed out…” (Psalms 78:20)

                “…rained down manna upon them to eat…” (Psalms 78:24)

“…rained down flesh also upon them… fowls like as the sand of the sea…” (Psalms 78:27)

YET, EVEN AFTER ALL THESE MIRACLES, THEY CHOSE TO SIN AND BELIEVE NOT IN HIM.

“For all this they sinned still, and believe not for his wondrous works.” (Psalms 78:32)

However, if the Lords anger was not kindled and he started to slay them with his mighty power “…they remembered that God was their rock… Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues… neither were they stedfast in his covenant.” (Psalms 78:35-37)

When trouble arose, these Israelites remembered God and told God, lying to him, that they would no longer do evil, and “turn” themselves “over” to God. Even after being lied to, the Lord in his great majesty, power and empathy remembered himself that they were but “flesh” or mortal and with human error.

These Israelites provoked the Lord to anger; they caused him to be jealous of their worship to false idols. May we remember that we must not provoke the Lord; we must remember all that he has done for us and not forget about Him.

 

Psalms 25-26

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Psalms 25-26

Chapter 25: Truth for the Righteousness

A Psalm of David.

                Like several other Psalms, Psalm 25 is acrostic, Psalms (9-10, 25, 34, 37, 11, 112, 119, and 145). Acrostic is a literary device used to add beauty and form to the Psalm and is used to hide messages in the words where certain letters in each verse add to the next verse to make complete sentences.

Unfortunately this only works in the Hebrew, since being translated into English this cannot be done.

We do not know the precise time period it came from; David was often in trouble making it hard to distinguish between time periods.

David starts the Psalm off by offering his soul to the Lord, as an offering of trust. David offers to wait on the Lord in the sense that he will attend to every desire of the one being served, God.

“Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake…” (Psalms 25:7)

Immediately after asking God to remember His tender mercies (Psalm 25:6), David asked God to forget. He wanted God to forget his own youthful sins (in the sense of forgiving them), and he wanted God to remember God’s own faithfulness in prior times. David wanted to be remembered based on God’s mercy and not by the merit of David himself.

David asks who would fear the Lord. Then goes on to say that; “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.” (Psalms 25:14)

This helps us to understand that the things of God may seem “foolish” to the natural man, but those who have faith can have a new life and knowledge in the things of the Lord. In a letter from Paul to the Corinthians he writes; “…my speech and my preaching was not in enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthian 2:4)

Essentially we can learn that one can speak, but without the “power” or “authority” of God through His Holy Spirit, one cannot speak the things of the Lord, or understand when someone is speaking the truth.

Simply put… To explain such secrets to those who do not have the Spirit of God is like explaining colors to a blind man or musical harmonies to a deaf man. It just can’t be done.

David closes by asking God to remember and consider his enemies and to deliver Israel.

Chapter 26: Love the Lord’s work

A Psalm of David.

                David prays to the Lord and tells Him that he is full of integrity and obedience. David even asks the Lord to “…prove…” (Psalms 26:2) him.

This is a pretty straightforward Psalm, David is telling the Lord that he is good and will not dwell amongst wicked.