Comments for March 2

v.10 - Equal shares - a principle of scripture, but not very easy to find, and certainly difficult to enforce, being totally contrary to human nature. Within the world, and even within our own community, we have a vast range of means. See also Ex.16:18 - the perfection of this process when God provided - and 2Co.8:14 - Paul's advice, as well as Acts 2:44,45.

v.12 'sacrifice of thanksgiving' is a concept which is utilised a number of times in Scripture - here are some. Psalm 50:23 103:1 107:8 22 Hosea 14:2 2 Corinthians 9:15 Ephesians 5:20 Philippians 4:6 Colossians 1:12 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Hebrews 13:15 1 Peter 2:5 showing that the peace offering is a pattern of our service in Christ.

v.17 - Like so many of the laws, which would seem at the time to be arbitrary rituals, God was looking after the health of his people, making law of what we now know to be scientifically sound advice.

:26-27 The prohibition on the eating of blood contrasts with the practices of some of the nations around where drinking the blood of animals was taken as a way to receive the strength of the animal whose blood was drunk. As far as Israel were concerned the life was in the blood [Leviticus 17:11] The life belongs to God and is not for man to appropriate to himself.

:38 We remember that this is one of the verses scattered through the book which confirms that the details contained were spoken at Sinai.

:30 In saying 'his own hands shall bring' shows that the sacrifice we make must be our own. None else can make a sacrifice on our behalf - as if by proxy we can get someone else to do our service to God.

7:15 In requiring that the flesh of the sacrifice be eaten the same day as the sacrifice is offered teaches us a lesson. It is this. The part of the animal that the offerer eats is a gift from God. It is His response to the offerer's gift. We must not delay to accept the offer of salvation that God gives to us.

The offerer had to bring the offering to the door of the Tabernacle and, in the case of an animal, lay his hand upon its head, and then kill the animal himself. This clearly taught that he should identify himself with the offering, and thus acknowledge that he deserved the fate of the slain animal. The acknowledgement of sin and its consequences was then, as now, the essential prerequisite for forgiveness. 

All fat belongs to the LORD (Lev 3:16).  This constituted all the inward parts (Lev 3:14,15).  This would indicate that the LORD is interested in the inward (spiritual) man to serve Him (Rom 7:22).
 
No fowl was offered for the peace (fellowship) offering.
 
Only the peace (fellowship) offering used leavened bread (v.13).
During the public peace offering at the Feast of Pentecost, leavened bread was used (Lev 23:17).

Brother John Martin explains it this way: This fact helps to explain the inclusion of leaven, for Pentecost was typical of that period of history when the Christian ecclesia was established and a multitude of the servants of corruption were saved by the sacrifice of Christ (Acts 2:1,38).  Under this offering, God typically set forth the offer of fellowship with Himself.  The inclusion of leaven was a gentle reminder that the prerequisite for fellowship with God could never be human perfection, but the exercise of the grace of God (Rom 8:12).
 
The peace (fellowship) offering allowed for the sacrifice of less-than-perfect cattle (Lev 22:23), but only in the case of a freewill offering and not for a vow.

 The "Peace Offering", like the other sacrifices, was very carefully prescribed by God.  Nobody could bring any old thing.  If you gave to God it had to be just as God directed. I'm sure there's a lesson in that
somewhere for us, too.

Lev 7 The essential meaning of the Peace Offering was that of a sacrificial meal of fellowship with God. It constitutes one of the outstanding prototypes of the remembrance of Christ in the Breaking of Bread.

7:16     Even though a thank offering had to be eaten the same day the vow could be eaten the next day as well. This teaches that vows are long term commitments to God.

We are introduced to the trespass offering in this chapter, we are told that there is one law for both the sin differing and the trespass offering (V.7). Why are the two offerings so distinct from each other?

V.11,12,16,17,18 - The peace or fellowship offering perhaps echoes a future relationship of imperfect followers having a fellowship with Christ (the mediator between God and man  1Tim 2:5). We have the expression of thankfulness, the concept of freewill (perhaps an echo of Christ freely yielding to his Father's will or the freewill to follow Christ and have fellowship?), the flesh on the third day being burned perhaps foreshadowed Christ's mortal body being exchanged for a purified body at the third day.

PRIEST'S SHARE
 
The priests in Israel did an important work. They were the ones who were to teach the people of God, who instructed them in the law. They were the doctors, and they were the one ones who were the example of lives devoted to God that the rest of Israel were to follow. Part of their job was to offer the sacrifices and offerings that the children of Israel offered.
 
Being involved in the work of God in this way meant that the priests were not going to have the time that the common people would have to provide for their needs, to raise their livestock or to grow their crops. For this reason God provided for them in the law. While the offerings and sacrifices were offered by the people to God, a good proportion of them became the property of the priest. One example is that of the fellowship offering. God said, "From the fellowship offering of the Israelites, I have taken the breast that is waved and the thigh that is presented and have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as their regular share from the Israelites." (Lev 7:34)
 
Within our churches and missions fields there are many people who contribute vast quantities of time and resources in the service of the Lord. Let us value their work and in some way give them the same sort of support God provided for those who did his work under the law of Moses.

7:7 The provision that the priest could have the skin of the sin and trespass offerings possibly provided the justification for Eli’s sons to demand part of the sacrifices offered - 1Sam 2:13-16. Of course that was wrong but possibly indicates how one might misuse Scripture to justify wrong actions.

7:19    A simple point really. Uncleanness if transferable. If we associate with unclean things our mind are contaminated. That is what is being taught in this detail of the effect of the sacrifice touching something unclean. – 1Cor 15:33

The sin offering and the trespass offering seem similar, but they are two separate offerings, although the priest had equal access to both offerings as food (v.7).

The sin offering was given by an individual to atone for a sin that he had committed inadvertently (or for one that he thought might have occurred - consider Job’s actions in this regard (Job 1:5). In the sin offering, a female sheep or goat was used as a sacrifice, and its blood was placed on the horns of the altar (Lev 5:6).

The trespass offering involved forgiveness for a wrong done to others. A ram was used as an offering, but no blood was put on the horns of the altar (Lev 5:15). Furthermore, the wrongdoer had to add 20% to his compensation toward the wronged person (Lev 5:16).

7:10 The description here of the fact that the priests had part of the sacrifices is one area which forms that basis for 1Cor 10:18

V.38 In the KJV, the word oblations (sacrificial gift) comes from the Hebrew word korban. The Pharisees twisted the idea of korban to allow a man to avoid his responsibilities towards his parents (Matt 7:11).

7:17 This is one of a number of times where remains were to be burned ‘on the third day’. It is as if the law of Moses is telling us that the sacrifices under the law will be of no value after the third day – the resurrection of Jesus.

7:18   The constraint about not eating the flesh on the third day indicates that a sacrifice, though given by the offerer, must be offered according to God’s direction.  Likewise we cannot simply decide that something we  do will automatically be acceptable simply because we are doing it. We must organise our offerings to be ‘according to His will.

OFFERING OF YEAST

The fellowship offering was the only offering in the Law of Moses in which yeast was involved. And even as far as the fellowship offering went, it was only a fellowship offering that was to express thankfulness that was to include yeast.

This is what the Scripture says: "If he offers it (the fellowship offering) as an expression of thankfulness, then along with his thank offering he is to offer cakes of bread made without yeast and spread with oil, and wafers made without yeast and spread with oil, and cakes of fine flour well-kneaded and mixed with oil. Along with his fellowship offering of thanksgiving he is to present an offering with cakes of bread made with yeast." (Lev 7:12-13)

The main quality of yeast is that it makes things grow. So yeast was not included in the sin offering or the guilt offering because we don't want to enlarge our sin and guilt. Yeast was not included in an offering associated with a vow because a vow is a definite quantity. It was not included with the burnt offering because God wants only our honest dedication - not an over inflated picture of ourselves. So it is very appropriate that yeast should accompany thanksgiving because our thankfulness for the greatness and blessings of God should always continue to grow and overflow.

There is no limit on how thankful we can be. So lets add spiritual yeast to our attitudes of thankfulness. Paul said that we need to continue to live in Christ while "overflowing with thankfulness." (Col 2:7) Lets do it!

7:26The prohibition against eating blood has a practical outworking. Israel were not to eat animals that died of natural causes but could sell those animals to ‘strangers’ – Deut 14:21

7:30-34     Whilst here the emphasis on things being given to God we learn in Deut 18:3-4 giving to God was achieved by giving to the Levites. They were God’s representatives.

7:20   The peace offering was offered to God as a mark of fellowship and desire to thank God. But care had to be taken. An unclean person could not offer a peace offering. In like manner our service to God cannot be accepted if our heart is astray from His teaching. 

Elkanah's family

The edible parts of the trespass offering are eaten by the priests, only the males (not their families), and only in the Holy place (v6). This wasn't the case for all the offerings though -- see in v11-21 the peace offering for thanksgiving or for the completion of a vow. If we look carefully enough at the detail we notice that there is no such restriction on who can eat it, except that they must be clean; so can we assume the one who brought the offering could eat of it? It would be a real treat for the family too to have roast meat, so could they bring their family? I find it fascinating to compare the abstract and seemingly incomplete details of Leviticus with the concrete detail of a story like that of Elkanah and his family. In 1Sam 1 we get to complete the picture, because we see the whole family travelling to where the Tabernacle is, yearly, to offer their sacrifice and then be seated for a family meal of fellowship.

1Samuel 1: Hannah and Elkanah's meal

1Sam 1:4-5 Elkanah would give portions of the offering to each member of his family, both women and children.

1Sam 1:9 confirms they were seated, eating and drinking, at Shiloh where the Tabernacle was.

1Sam 1:19 implied that the food had been eaten and then destroyed before the next day, as stipulated in Lev 7:15

"The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day it is offered. He shall not leave any of it until morning."

So we can see how easily the story of Hannah and Elkanah puts "flesh on the bones" of the Leviticus account. I hope through some further reading of the two chapters together, that you will find that this story of Samuel explains some of the hard-to-decipher law for you. Why not put a note in your Bible to read the two chapters side by side in future, and let me know how you get on?

7:17    There are a number of places in the law where sacrifices should not be eaten on the third day. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day – 1Cor 15:4 – The prohibition against eating any of the sacrifices on the third day was to teach Israel that with the resurrection of Jesus the sacrifices under the law of Moses would become redundant and that anyone who continued to place their confidence in them would not be saved

7:33   The whole of the details about the consecration of Aaron and his son is to teach that one cannot approach God unless sanctified. We have the same obligation to develop holiness in ourselves as we see in 2Cor 7:1

7:10     The eating of the sacrifices was not a meal in the sense that we understand a meal. It was not primarily for their sustenance. It was an aspect of fellowship with God. This is reinforced by the injunction that each of the sons was to have an equal share – this is irrespective of their individual appetites which would vary one from the other.

7:13  The principle that uncleanness is transferrable by contact is the basis for the question that the prophet askes the priests – Hag 2:13

7:24 this command is repeated a number of times in the Law of Moses. Here is one – Lev 17:15-16.

Lev 7:11-12 The sacrifice of the peace offering may be offered and accepted as a thanksgiving offering to the Lord (v.11-12). The preparation of the offering includes unleavened cakes and wafers. In addition the offering of leavened bread was also required (Lev 7:13). 

Before Jesus crucifixion he shared a supper of remembrance and thanksgiving with his disciples. It was a feast to be observed by all true followers of Jesus until he returns.

 “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:19-20).

The “thanksgiving” offering had both unleavened and leavened constituents.

Jesus did not specify the type of bread to be used by us when braking bread in remembrance of him. Therefore, for us this is a matter of choice.

7:10 Notice the sacrifice that was to be eaten by all the sons of Aaron was to be shared equally. It is as if the priests were all to be associated to the same extent with the offering.

7:21 Christians are not under the strictures of the Law of Moses. However there are clear principles being taught in the detail of what could and must not be done. On this occasion a priest who has made himself unclean by his actions was barred from eating the sacrifice, even though it was something that had been given to him by God.

Do we think about our manner of life so that we avoid things that render our minds unclean? Or do we happily slip from unhelpful activities to healthy practices with no regard to what we were doing beforehand?

An example would be to slip from watching unseemly movies to joining fellow believers for worship.

7:10  Isn’t it a sad matter? Whilst all the sons of Aaron – all four of them – were to share in the sacrifice that never happened. Two of the sons of Aaron died before the Lord before any of this could happen because they failed to sanctify God in their behaviour.

Our life now will determine whether we are able to share with our fellow believers in he “marriage supper of the lamb”

v.8 - The times that God has 'made his mighty power to be known' and man has chosen to ignore it. May we learn from the lessons that are repeated time and time again of the way that many nations - even Israel - have chosen not to recognise God's saving power. Num.14:14-16, Deut.32:26-27, Jer.14:7,21, Dan.9:17-19.

continued from yesterday ...1 Chronicles 16 records David bringing the ark to Zion. The three Psalms were spoken by David at that time. They were then incorporated into the book of Psalms as three separate Psalms.
Notice that it is the historical parts of Psalms 105 and 106 which are left out of the record in 1 Chronicles.
The reason being, the historical account records the joy of the time of the bringing the ark to Zion. The Psalms record the 'journey' that the people took in arriving at this point in their history.

v.1-5 None of our sins or sufferings should prevent our ascribing glory and praise to the Lord. The more unworthy we are, the more is His grace to be admired. Those who depend on the Redeemer’s righteousness will endeavour to copy his example, and by word and deed to show forth his praise. Neh.9:5, Rom.11:33, Eph.1:19, 3:18

:19-20 In the Psalmists comment here on the making of the golden calf and it's effect we learn that worshipping idols is not something that can be done alongside an attempt to worship God. This is because that we bring God down to the level of the idol that we have made. Thus idol worship actually impacts on our worship of God. It devalues it.

:30-31 The mention of Phinehas quotes the events of Num 25 where he stayed the plague by killing the Midianitish woman and the Simeonite. In that 'it was counted to him for righteousness' (Psalm 106:31) he is like Abraham (Genesis 15:6) whose faith was counted to him for righteousness. Phinehas' faith was seen in the way he behaved.

Psalm 106  Together with yesterday's reading, we have a look at Israel's history from Israel's response. What a sorry sight we have. We see the severity of God, V.29; 32 but we must not overlook His longsuffering mercy. V.44

Thus continues the catalogue of Israel's misdeeds contrasted by the everlasting mercy of Yahweh (v.43-46).

Notice how the psalmist anguishes in his association with the nation (v.6).  Do we anguish over our community, or are we just content to consider our journey as an individual endeavour?  Clearly, we are a collective with individual responsibilities (1Cor 12:12-27).

v.1 - We cannot help but notice how many of the Psalms begin with Praise.  Praise of God is very important.  We should do all things to His praise and glory.

What a dreadful thing to “forget” God!  In Psa 106:13,21 Israel is accused of forgetting what the Lord had done, and even of “forgetting God”. We cannot make any progress in our spiritual life if we forget our Creator.

106:1   ‘O give thanks … for ever’  is also found in 1Chron 16:34, when David brought the ark to Zion.  Given that – see yesterday’s comments – that this Psalm was written as a consequence of bringing the ark to Zion we should be looking to explore the relationship between this Psalm and the bringing of the ark to Zion.

Israel witnessed the mighty power of Yahweh, had a boost in faith, and then soon forgot (vs.12,13).  This is rather like the man who looks at himself in a mirror and then forgets what he looks like: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was (James 1:24).  Let us not let down in faith.  This can only be accomplished by daily reading the Bible, the Word of God (Rom 10:17).

Moses stood between Yahweh and man as a Savior (v.23).  He acted as a type of Christ who is the mediator between God and man (1Tim 2:5).  The role of Christ, as mediator, is not to plead our cause to God, but to bring God into our lives. 

106:8 We must resist the temptation to think that God saves because of our status. He saved Israel for ‘His name’s sake’.

106:2 The rhetorical question ‘who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord?’ is not an empty question. However there are men and women who can speak of the acts of God – those who have been enlightened by the word of God and have seen His hand at work in their lives.

PROOF OF GOD'S EXISTENCE

I have friends who are struggling and have struggled with the question of whether God exists or not. They have been brought up to believe that God exists, they have taught others the same and have even brought up their children to live in God's ways. But now, for whatever reason, the issue of God's existence has come into question.

There are many things that prove to me that God exists. Fulfilled prophecy in the Bible; the patterns and number sequences in the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Bible; the patterns, beauty and intricacy of creation; and the empty tomb of Jesus are just some of them. Another way that gives me proof that God exists has been the way God has worked in my life. I have seen miracles, answered prayers, and have had God's guidance leading me in ways that I would not otherwise have expected.

While there are times when it may not feel like God is answering prayer, and we wonder if he is there at all, it is well worth while looking back over our lives to see how he has led us to him. We need to look for the hand of God in the little things that may have been out of the ordinary and have had an impact on our lives.

Israel did not look to God in this way and remained faithless while God was clearly working in their lives. "When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses and they rebelled." (Psa 106:7)

Let's not make the same mistake, but give thought to the miraculous intervention of God and remember his kindnesses. 

106:6-7 David associated himself with the people in saying ‘we have sinned’ and then he introduces another example of Israel not understanding God at work in their lives when they were in Egypt and the wilderness. This makes the point very clearly that the history of Israel is a valid example for exhortation.

Demons/devils

I. There is mention of "demons" in the NIV while the KJV uses the term "devils". In the Old Testament this refers to idols (8163, 7700) and pagans, who worshipped idols, believed in these demon gods Psa 106:36-37.  The KJV in the Old Testament refers to "devils" 4 times.

II. In the New Testament the Greeks believed "demons" ["daimonion", "daimonizomai" (to be possessed by demons), "dakno" (to bite), (1140, 1139, 1142)] caused various illnesses. Demons were used to describe certain diseases, from the ancient superstition that diseases were attributed to the malignant influence of the spirits of dead heroes. Casting out devils or demons in the New Testament meant to cure a disease. Christ used the vernacular of the times, much as we might use lunatic or moon struck.

III. Examples of New Testament illnesses described as demon possession:

    A. blind and dumb - Matt 12:22 (NIV "demon", KJV a "devil" - if literal, how many devils are    there?).

    B. insanity, possible schizophrenia - Mark 5:1-6,12 (vs 12 in the KJV "all the devils" - if literal, how many devils are there?).

    C. epilepsy - Mark 9:17-27 (they didn't have modern understanding of medicine etc. to treat illnesses in those days).

    D. arthritis - Luke 13:11-17.

    E. return to sanity - Mark 5:15.

IV. God (not the devil, devils, or demons) is the source of all power - Isa 45:7;Job 1:21;Job 2:10.

Vs.12,13 When Israel saw a miracle they believed. But, in the absence of a miracle, they thought Yahweh had abandoned them. They walked by sight and not by faith. Followers of Christ walk by faith and not by sight (2Cor 5:7)

V.22 the land of Ham is a reference to Egypt. That is because the people of Ham’s son Mizraim inhabited that region. What we see as Egypt in our Bibles is, in fact, mizraim in the Hebrew text.

106:16-17 This is a reference to the uprising of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.

SIN TO AVOID

The children of Israel sinned in many different ways. It is worth taking note of what they did so that we will not fall into the same traps.

They gave no thought to God's miracles and did not remember his many kindnesses. (Psa 106:7) We need to make sure we count our blessings and remember the amazing ways God works in our lives.

"In the desert they gave in to their cravings." (v.14) Whatever it is that might lead us into sin often starts with a craving - food, alcohol, tobacco, television, sex, the lust for money, and so on. Let's not give in to these cravings.

"They grew envious of Moses and Aaron." (v.16) Envy is a particularly easy trap to fall into. We need to remember that God has given us what is best for us, and he has given others what is best for them. Envy makes us unhappy.

"They forgot God who saved them." (v.21) Again, it is all too easy to find our lives so busy that prayer, Bible reading and meditation on God get lost and forgotten. Let's schedule in time for God each day and each week lest we forget.

"They grumbled in their tents." (v.25) Our grumbling doesn't have to be done in public to become a sin. Grumbling is a sin anywhere and any time. Sometimes we don't even notice we are doing it.

"They mingled with the nations and adopted their customs."  (v.35) The effect of the world around us can very quickly draw us away from God. We have to live in the world but we cannot afford to become as godless as the people around us.

106:12-13         Notice the awful contrast ‘they believed His works’ – ‘they soon forgat’ herein is our problem. We are not very good at having a long term memory of the goodness that God has done for us.

106:45   Repeating yesterday’s comment about Psa 105:42 We take it for granted that God remembers His promises. Such is His consistency. We should both rejoice in this and see His consistency in keeping His word as a model for ourselves.

1. Psalm 106 begins with Israel's failings but the emphasis is more on God's continued longsuffering and mercy toward them and that He never utterly cast them off.

2. Psa 106:3 - "judgment"<4941>.

3. Psa 106:17 - the children of Korah were not swallowed up (Num 26:11;Deut 11:6).

4. Psa 106:18 - the fire that burnt up the wicked refers to the 250 that offered incense (Num 26:10;16:35).

5. Psa 106:27 - the Jews would be scattered among the Gentile lands.

6. Psa 106:34-39 - God commanded the Israelites to destroy certain nations/peoples to mercifully protect the Israelites from adopting their ungodly ways.

7. Psa 106:43-47 - despite Israel's disobedience, God showed mercy and gathered His people from among the Gentile nations and will ultimately save His people.

106:7    We should note carefully that David says that Israel “understood not” the miracles in Egypt. He does not say that they did not see them. They were well aware of them. However their implications did not impact on their consciousness that their God was at work in their lives. Likewise we can be aware of God’s miraculous acts – such as the rebirth of the nation of Israel – but not appreciate the implications of that miracle in our lives. Namely that God is indeed at work in the nations. The awareness of the fact that God is working should bolster our faith in the return of Jesus. 

LOOKING BACK

Year Twenty-five in the wilderness. Day one hundred and two. Wake up. Collect manna. Cook manna. The cloud lifts. Pack up everything. Put out the fire. Line up in our family group and follow the cloud. Stop walking, Set up the tent. Light a fire. Cook more manna. Go to bed. Start again tomorrow.

Why do we have to travel from place to place all the time? When are we going to get to the promised land? Will we ever get to the promised land? I'm sick of manna. I want to feel the rain. I want to run in bare feet across the grass, but there is only burning sand in this wilderness. Everyone around me is dying one by one. Is God really interested? Is He there at all? Everything seems just the same as yesterday... and the day before... will it ever by any different?

We could have the same thoughts about our lives. School, work, family, television, bed and on and on it goes. Is God really involved?

Psalm 106 encourages us to look back and see how God has dealt with us in the past to bring us to where we are now. The psalmist saw the deliverance from Egypt, the miracles in the wilderness, and realised that God was there. When we look back over our lives, we should be able to see God's hand in the circumstances of our lives too. Encourage yourself today by viewing God's hand in your life that has brought you to this point.

106:48 David wrote this Psalm as a consequence of bringing the ark to Zion as we have said in an earlier comment. Those things looked forward to the work of Christ. So it is not surprising to see words from this verse quoted –Luke 1:68 – in a context associated with the work of Jesus.

"We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly." (v6)

I think the particular historical setting for this Psalm could be Hezekiah's reformations, which were done in the setting of the recent captivity of Israel (compare 2Chron 29:6-10 with Psa 106:47 which appears to mention the captivity).

Other places in the history of Israel where this phrase is used:

Judg 10:10

1Sam 7:6, 12:10

1 Kin 8:47

Neh 1:6

Jer 3:25, 14:20

Lam 5:7

Dan 9: 5, 8, 11, 15

106:12 David says that Israel “believed” when they crossed the Red Sea. Maybe this is the basis for the writer to the Hebrews’ comment Heb 11:29 that “they” passed through the Red Sea “by faith”.

106:20 Notice Israel devalued  their own glory by idol worship. We might have thought they devalued God. Whilst they did devalue God they also devalued themselves.

106:48  Notice the difference between this verse and 1Chron 16:36. Whilst the Psalm has “let the people say” the historical narrative advises us that the people did say amen. So we conclude that the Psalm is the instruction which was followed when David brought the ark to Zion.

GRACE OR WORKS

Over the years the debate has raged on: Are we saved by grace or by works? And if it is by one of those, how does the other fit in?

As God rescued Israel out of Egypt and saved them from slavery, eventually bringing them into the Promised Land, it was certainly not because of their works that he saved them. Instead of doing good, they angered God time and time again. God saved them by grace. What he wanted was an obedient, thankful and loving response to his work in their lives.

Listen to this: "When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea." (Psa 106:7).

Yes, we are saved by grace, but God wants us to respond in love to his grace. That's where works come in. If He has showed love to us, then we should reflect it back to him and pass it on to each other. The alternative is rebellion - not a good choice.

Let's remember God's love, grace and kindness toward us and pass it on as a loving response to the God who blesses us so much.
 

106:3    What is it to “do righteousness?” Righteousness is a quality rather than an action. Psa 15:2 presents one attribute seen in one “doing righteousness”. They “speak the truth in their heart”

106:39 We do well to remember that it is only what we do that defiles us. We cannot blame anyone else!

Psa 106:7,45,54 that Israel forgot what God had done is repeated and re-enforces why Israel were to teach their children what God had done for them – Deut 6:7 -  in like manner we need to be reminded of His acts so that we do not forget. One way of doing this is regular Bible reading.

106:23,30 God had determined to destroy Israel but His judgment is stayed by the action of faithful men. Moses and Phineas, by their words and actions, interceded on behalf of the nation. A little like faithful Abraham pleading for Sodom Gen 18:23-32) which saved Lot (Gen 19:29). We conclude that our God listens and can respond to the requests of His faithful children. Never doubt the power of faithful prayer.

106:9-11 Notice how the Psalmist speaks in a matter of fact way about the deliverance of Israel from Egypt through the Red Sea. No apologies, no explanations. It happened! And because it happened Israel in David’s day could take comfort in God’s continuing care. So it is true for us as well.

106:16 Korah, of the tribe of Levi, was given great responsibilities in matters to do with the moving of the tabernacle in the wilderness. However what he had been given was not sufficient for him. He wanted the priesthood also – Numbers 16:9-10. Human nature is such that it generally seeks to have more than is already rightfully owned. It extends even to the daily things of life. But such an aquisitional way of thinking is not becoming for a servant of God.

106:16 When men in the camp were jealous ... the earth opened and swallowed up

Psalm 106 begins and ends with praise and thankfulness (vv 1,48). But envy is corrosive (v16). It destroys relationships and also destroys the person harbouring jealousy. It is the opposite of contentment and it is doubtful that a jealous, discontented person can be a believer who is motivated by praise and thankfulness to God.

Avoid jealousy. Look for the things in your life for which God ought to be praised and thanked, even in the midst of trial. Blot out in your mind anything else that threatens that approach to God. 

v.37 - the word for 'bare' - (gumnos 1131) - the word for 'naked'. It brings in ideas that start right back in Gen.2:25 - go through many analogies to make us realise that our clothing, like Adam and Eve's, must be made by God. Here are some of the other occurrences of the word - Matt.25:36,38,43,44. 2Cor.5:3, Heb.4:13, Rev.16:15.

:12-19 We have noted a number of times that the Corinthians trusted in their own 'wisdom' now Paul uses powerful logic which did not even require a knowledge of Scripture to demonstrate that folly of not believing that Jesus had not been raised from the dead.

15:32 In saying if the dead do not rise 'let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die' Paul quotes  Isa 22:13 - the words of Jews in Jerusalem in the days of Hezekiah who did not believe that God would deliver Hezekiah.

1Cor 15:37  We all know that in working the land, that the seed that is sown will only bring forth the fruit of the same seed sown. On the day of resurrection, if by our Heavenly Father's Mercy we are found worthy, the only change that will take place is that we will be given immortality. V.53-54  If other changes are to take place, they must made to-day.

The thesis of this chapter clearly quashes the erroneous notion that the soul floats off to Heaven at death.

Christ will return to earth (1Cor 15:23).  Why would He need to do that if souls rise to meet him in Heaven?

The dead will rise (1Thess 4:16).  Those who are found acceptable will be immortalised (v.52,53) and given new bodies (v.35-38).  And so, the reward for the faithful is here on earth with the Lord Jesus.  Their bodies will become spiritual ones which will permit them to live forever in the presence of Yahweh.

v.20 - This is the hub of belief - the mainstay of faith.  If we do not wholeheartedly believe that Jesus rose from the dead then our faith has no basis, we are (v.19) of all men most miserable - having denied ourselves for nothing, as it were.  Our salvation depends not on whether this happened so much as on whether we believe that this happened.  It is by our belief that we are saved.

15:35-36  The question that might be asked ‘how are the dead raised up’ was not asked out of general interest. Rather it was designed to undermine the teaching of the bodily resurrection. There is no profit in discussing the question for example, where will the raised get their clothes from. That it will happen is sufficient.

Vs.23-28 Paul provides a synopsis of events that will occur when the Lord Jesus returns to the earth.

When Jesus returns:

-He will set up His Kingdom and rule the earth from Jerusalem (Dan 2:44; Mic 4:2).

-He will put down those who oppose Him (Psa 2:9).

-Then a reign of peace and prosperity will ensue (Psa 72:16; Isa 11:1-9; Zech 8:4,5).

-Towards the end of the Kingdom age, a rebellion will occur that shall be quashed (Rev 7:10).

-A judgement will be made on those mortals who have lived during through the Kingdom period (Rev 20:11-13).

-Those accepted by the Lord will be immortalised and join the saints who were immortalised before the Kingdom age began.

-Then the last enemy, death, will be destroyed (v.26).

-At this point Jesus will hand back the throne to His Father (v.24).

-Then shall Jesus and the immortalised saints all be subject to God (v.28).

-Thus, the state of God-manifestation will be achieved for eternity.

It is said that the Jewish farmers cut their “firstfruits” and took the sheaf to God, on the morning after the Passover weekend. We know that this was scheduled for “the morrow after the Sabbath” in Lev 23:11, and I understand that this was traditionally the Sunday after:- the Passover was killed (Thursday), the 1st day of Unleavened Bread (Friday), the normal Sabbath (Saturday). What a lovely climax to that deliverance weekend, that Christ should rise on the date when the “firstfruits” were offered to God (1Cor 15:23).

15:25 In speaking of ‘all enemies under his feet’ Paul draws together Psa 110:2 and Psa 8:6

What a wonderful comfort this chapter is to each one of us, and more especially when we realize that God is not willing that any should perish. God will only forsake us if we forsake Him, therefore while we maintain the Truth, and seek first His kingdom and righteousness, we can be assured that we shall attain unto eternal life, through His Grace.

15:1   Paul now reminds the brethren and sisters that he is not preaching some new doctrine. It is what he taught them before – it seems he is saying this because there are some in the ecclesia who have modified their beliefs but think it is Paul who has changed his teaching.

There are a couple of passages in this chapter which should be clarified.  The first is in v. 29.  The expression baptised for the dead is believed by some groups to be an opportunity to ensure the salvation of those who have died by being baptised for them as a substitute.  This is a highly heretical error.  All examples in the scripture of baptism are by individuals for the salvation of themselves and no one else.  baptised for the dead is a reference to those believers who have died and who are now being replaced by new believers.  Paul is saying that if the old believers are not going to rise from the dead, then what is the point of the new believers being baptised, because they are not going to be resurrected either.  But, of course, the thrust of Paul's thesis is that all baptised believers will surely be raised.

The second passage is in v. 52 where we read: and the dead shall be raised incorruptible.  This appears that the dead will emerge from the ground already in a immortal state.  But then that clause is followed by: and we shall be changed.  The point of Paul's argument is that the chosen shall be raised and then changed to incorruptibility (Immortality).  This is dependent upon acceptance at the judgement seat at which we must all stand (Rom 14:10).  If we were automatically raised to immortality, then why would we need to appear at the judgement seat?

15:1 ‘Wherein we stand’ forces the Corinthians to realise that what he is speaking to them about is actually part of what they should believe. As we work through the chapter we realise that in speaking about the resurrection Paul is dealing with a doctrine which some in Corinth did not actually believe in, or had a confused understanding of.

15:9-10 In speaking of himself as ‘the least of the apostles’ Paul is not exhibiting false modesty. There were in Corinth those who were ‘puffed up’. Paul has already established his apostolic credentials in the letter but now he is showing that even though he was an apostle he stood among them through the sacrifice of Christ covering his is rather than just as an apostle.

1Cor 15:3-4 “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” and “rose again the third day according to the scriptures”. Paul reminds us of the many scriptures which Christ fulfilled by his sacrifice.

Chapter 15 Christ Sacrifice Christ in the Old Testament  According to the Scripture
v.3 He was a sin offering Isaiah 53:10 
v.20 He is risen, the firstfruits Lev 23:10Bring firstfruits, 1st day after Passover
v.22 In Christ all be made alive Lev 16:17,30All cleansed on Day of Atonement
v.23 Christ the firstfruits Lev 23:5-11Passover
v.23 Afterwards the faithful at his coming Lev 23:15-1750 days after his resurrection, Pentecost
v.24-28 Then comes the end Lev 23:39All fruit gathered in, Tabernacles
v.52 Trumpet shall sound Lev 23:24 Trumpets sound, holy convocation
v.57  Thanks be to God who gives the victory Lev 7:11-16Voluntary peace offering
v.58 Be steadfast, unmovable Lev 8:18-21Burnt offering, whole ram offered

Jesus rose the 3rd day according to the Scriptures.  We see the importance of the 3rd day established by the Lord. See the many scriptures which associate the 3rd day with giving of life, Gen 1:9-13(the earth); Gen 22:4 (Isaac sacrifice); Gen 42:18 (Joseph to his brethren); 2Kin 20:5(Hezekiah); Est 5:1; Hos 6:2 (Israel).

15:49 Bearing the image of the ‘earthly’ speaks of our Adamic nature. Isn’t it wonderful that Paul speaks to us showing that if we have borne (that is recognised we bear) Adam’s nature we will be made like the risen Christ?

15:11 We have read in 1 Corinthians about the problems of factions and followings in 1Cor 1:11-12. Now Paul returns to this by saying that it does not matter who has preached truth. What matters is whether that which is preached in truth is believed.

1Cor 15:28

"And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all."

E.W. Bullinger in Figures of Speech Used in the Bible writes: "...We have no liberty to change the translation here. It must be 'all things,' and to complete the sense we must render it 'that God be (over) all things, in all (places); i.e., over all beings in all parts of the universe.' "

1Cor 15:53

"For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."

E.W. Bullinger in Figures of Speech Used in the Bible writes: "For this corruptible (body) must put on incorruption, and this mortal (body) must put on immortality." The noun 'body' must also be supplied in the next verse." In Verse 54 then we have "...this mortal (body) shall have put on immortality..."

1Cor 15:51-53

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye… For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

The original Greek word used here for "moment" is atomos, # <823>, from which we get our English word, “atom.” The translators, because of their lack of understanding of what the spirit-filled apostle Paul was saying, incorrectly used the word, “moment” (cf. 2Cor 4:17, moment is # <3901>, pararrhueo). This word, however, does not convey the meaning of “uncut, indivisible” An atom cannot be split or be divided, and thus cannot be measured by human means. There is the reason why Paul chose atomos here, and not pararrhueo, and it is significant that it is the only place where this word is used!

Have you ever wondered just how fast a twinkling of the eye is? A Scientific study was once conducted to measure the blink, wink, and the twink! The blink is a reflex action that lasts anywhere between 3/10^th – 4/10^th of a second; the wink is 1/10^th of a second, and the twink(le) is 1/100^th of a second, the smallest unit of time.

Because of the translators misunderstanding of this passage, we conclude that the moment is the twinkling of the eye, but it is not. The context is about the atomic change of our bodies! We shall all be changed in atoms, an anatomic structural change, in the twinkling of an eye, or split second, at the last trump! This is in harmony with the context and message of Paul.

Note: The atom, indeed, can be split into sub-atomic particles by a process known as nuclear fission, and Ernest Walton and John Cockroft under the direction of Ernest Rutherford were in 1932 the first to split the atom. Ernest Rutherford created nuclear physics and changed the way we envisage the structure of the atom. Nonetheless, the message of the apostle Paul remains the same, as up until this time it was universally believed that the atom could not be split. The technology to  split the atom was non-existent up until the 20th Century.

15:2  Notice the recurring use of the word “vain” 15:10,14,17,58. This the starkness of the emptiness of a belief which does not include a belief in the resurrection is seen.

1Cor 15:8.

15:11   In Corinth there was a serious problem of the “party spirit” – 1Cor 1:12 – so, having spoken of the first eye witnesses of the resurrection Paul is at pains to point out that it does not matter who was the first person to instruct us in the things of the Christian hope. 

15:45  The scriptures that  Paul refers to are:-

“Living soul”              Gen 2:7

“Quickening spirit”     John 5:21

15:4    “The scriptures”, of course, includes the parts of the New Testament that had been written by the time that Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians. We might consider Matt 20:19 as one such scripture.

1Cor 15:58  Always Abounding In The Work Of The Lord 

There is one thing you should do right now -- this very minute. DO IT! Do not sidetrack it; do not procrastinate; do not fiddle with rubbish for mere "amusement." That's childish. That's babyish. Grow up! Do the thing right now that SHOULD be done. And make that the constant, purposeful, satisfying pattern of your life, from moment to moment. And do it cheerfully, heartily, thankfully, joyfully. Relunctant, unhappy, grudging service is an insult to God, and a self-imposed burden to ourselves. 

15:32 The incident mentioned here may well be the basis for what Paul wrote to Timothy – 2Tim 3:17

1Cor 15:42

“… So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.”

“When speaking concerning the resurrection body treated of in the 15th chap. of Corinthians, the Dr. gave a rendering of the 42^nd verse which throws a new light upon it. Instead of reading ‘it is raised in incorruption’ the correct translation of the Greek word is ‘to incorruption,’ it should read thus: ‘it is raised to incorruption.’” – Dr. Thomas’ daughter, 1875

15:45  Notice that by quoting Gen 2:7 and John 5:21 Paul demonstrates that John’s gospel was available to the Corinthians and he equates the words of Johns Gospel as scripture like Genesis.

15:4-5 words quoted from the gospels here are “buried” from J “third day” Luke 24:2. We should be alert to the fact that the letters quoted the gospel records which were available by the time that Paul wrote to Corinth.

16:7       Whilst Paul had plans and expectation he said if the lord permit” because he had already experienced his plans being modified by the Holy Spirit – Acts 16:6

1Cor 15:22

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

“All” refers to those who have put on Christ in the way appointed and who by faith and good works have remained in him. In the act of baptism, a complete water immersion, believers are to emerge as “new creatures” (2Cor 5:17,21; Gal 6:15). They are to merge their individuality in Christ, if you will, (Col 3:3,4) to be “in Christ,” or “in the Lord,” phrases which the apostle Paul used  no less than ten times in the last chapter of his letter to the Romans (Rom 16:2,3,17-13)! It is to be “one” with Christ (Rom 8:1; 1Cor 12:13; Gal 3:26-28).

To be “in Christ” means we have accepted his sacrifice as payment for and cleansing of our sins. When we accept Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf means that God no longer looks on our imperfections, but rather sees the righteousness of His son in us, and thus, restores our relationship with Him (Eph 2:12,13). The saints are “complete” in Christ (Col 2:10-13), who is “the author and finisher of our [saints] faith” (Heb 12:2).

Our position “in Christ” is not irrevocable if we do not have “the mind of Christ” (Rom 8:9,10), and unless we follow up our obedience in baptism with “newness of life,” walk “in light” (Col 1:12; 1John 1:7), and walk “in truth” (2John 1:4; 3John 1:4), the act avails us nothing (1John 1:6; cf. 1Kin 2:4), our salvation being conditional on obedience to what is required of us.

1Cor 15:5 Jesus was seen by Peter, then of the twelve. It wasn’t until Jesus had ascended to heaven that Matthias became the replacement for Judas in Acts 1:26. So, why twelve? Is it an error? Of course not, nor is it an error of translation.

If this theory is correct, and it is only a theory, Jesus was seen by all twelve disciples just after Peter saw him, so it was within a short time after his resurrection. Could it have been Judas? There were no limitations to Jesus’s ability to forgive, so perhaps Judas had the opportunity to change. We know he didn’t and hung himself.

Any other theories on why it is twelve, not eleven?

Thanks to the Australian brother for the idea and regret I cannot recall his name.

15:58 We might ask what the “work of the Lord” is. One example, which Paul uses later – 1Cor 16:10 –was Timothy. Clearly the “work of the Lord” Paul is speaking of is service to the church. We can learn from this. Or again, as Jesus styles it – John 6:29 – it is believing the gospel message.

1Cor 15:20 FIRSTFRUITS.

It is worth mentioning that there maybe an apperant contradiction with the firstfruits?

Here we see Christ is the firstfruits. Yet in Rev 14:4 we see the saints are the firstfruits.

So can there be two firstfruits? Which is which. Cp Lev 23:10

15:15 here and the three other places where Paul says rise not he is contrasting the words of Isa 26:19 from which he quotes the word “rise”

15:32  Paul’s comment about fighting with lions at Ephesus provides an explanation to Paul’s words – 2Cor 1:8 where, speaking about his tie in Asia, he says he was fearful for his life.

15:12 The thrust of this chapter is that Jesus was raised from the dead and was seen but many people, many of whom were still alive when the letter was written. It seems that there were some in Corinth who actually denied the physical resurrection of Jesus!

The logical consequences of that belief is that there is no such thing as salvation as scripture explains. It seems that some could  not accept the miraculous nature of the resurrection! But could they accept the miraculous fact that God would forgive them if they repented? The two go hand in hand.

15:15 The resurrection of Jesus is spoken of in the inspired gospel records. So denying the resurrection of Jesus is the same as making God a liar.

We might say that we would never deny the resurrection of Jesus. However those who embrace any of the various “theistic evolution ideas actually deny the resurrection of Jesus – though they may say they do not.

Without a literal Adam and Eve and their fall from grace the death and resurrection of Jesus is meaningless. Wrong views in one area of our understanding does impact on other areas of our beliefs.

15:29 What do people mean by being baptised on behalf of the dead?

This is a puzzling verse. It could mean:

1.  Baptism unites the believer with death. It has no meaning without the realisation that death is our destiny. But it also has no meaning, or efficacy, if  it doesn't lead to life beyond death, that is, resurrection. Acknowledging that we are all dead, and through baptism,  uniting ourselves to the ranks of those who see baptism as the way out of death, is futile if resurrection is not a reality.

2. There may have been a public veneration of exemplary believers who have now died. The new convert may have been so impacted by the great foundational work of the now-dead person who led them to saving faith, that they see themselves as being baptised as a result of the influence of the now-dead believer. But if the dead are not raised the exemplary and inspirational work of these influential believers is futile.