April 8

Journey-through-the-Bible-with-us

READING FOR APRIL 8, 2025: 1 SAMUEL 28, 1 CORINTHIANS 3, PSALM 28:6-9                                       1 SAMUEL 28 The chapter opens with David boasting to the Philistine king about how he will prove himself in battle against Israel.  Israel’s king Saul finds himself without Samuel’s godly counsel and with no other way of receiving guidance from God in the face of the Philistine threat.  It’s a topsy-turvy situation. Have we ever been in bad spots that appear to be absurd with no way out?  This chapter doesn’t give any direct guidance about what to do. In fact, it’s hard to see any good options. But it tells us what not to do.  Let’s at least learn this lesson. 

The larger context is that God expressively forbade Israel to engage with any spirits that were not from God: “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, a soothsayer, one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,  or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who consults the dead.  For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord” (Deut. 10-12). This prohibition, by the way, applies to us as well: “But for the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers,and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Rev. 21:10).  To his credit, Saul had banned this activity earlier, but in his desperate state, he asked his servants where he could find a medium. When we are in a hopeless bind, whatever we do, the one thing not to do is what God clearly prohibits.

Skipping to the end of the story, Samuel indeed appeared to them from death. He was very annoyed to have been disturbed. He gave Saul the worst news anyone could hear: “The Lord has abandoned you and has become your enemy “(vs 16). Could something this dreadful happen to anyone today, given God’s love? Here are a few verses upon which to reflect:

  • “Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God...God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:4-6). 
  • “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ” (Phil. 3:18).
  • “The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters”  (Matt.12:30).
  • “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Rom 5:10).                                                                                              

We are all God’s enemies in our natural condition, but Rom. 5:10 gives a way to reconcile with God, to escape our otherwise hopeless situation. WE ALL NEED TO BE SAVED (ROM 10:9)!

1 CORINTHIANS 3 This chapter begins with a criticism of the people in the Corinth church. Paul uses the image of feeding an infant to assess their spiritual growth. Even though Paul and others had spent considerable time teaching them about the Christian faith, they were still being fed milk and not solid food. The growth in faith was not maturing. The conflicts in the 

READINGS FOR APRIL 8, 2024: CONTINUED 1 CORINTHIANS 3, PSALM 28:6-9                      church were a sign of their spiritual immaturity. As Christians, it is an individual’s responsibility  to grow in faith. Teachers can assist them. Books can help them understand. But maturity in faith rests squarely in the heart of the individual. The next image Paul uses is to try and diffuse the conflict in the church. The people had chosen sides and were supporting the teachings of Paul, or Cephas (Peter), or Apollos. Paul uses the imagery of gardening (farming) to show the people of Corinth that their arguments are not valid. One teacher planted the seed and another one watered it. The teachers were only doing their part. It was God who “has been making it grow” (verse 6). The work of the gardener is important. But it pales in comparison to what God does in the life of a Christian. 

We often use this passage to encourage each other to work for the reign of Christ and leave the growing to God. This is not wrong, but the original use was to show the people of Corinth that the argument they were making was based upon a wrong assumption. To further his point, Paul then uses the image of constructing a building. To our modern understanding, this should make sense. In building a home, a specialized crew does each stage of construction. There are masons for the foundation, framers for the walls, roofers, electricians, plumbers, drywallers, painters, etc. Each one has a unique job that when you add them all together you get a home.

God uses each teacher in your life to help you to construct your faith. It is the Holy Spirit that is responsible for the finished product. But, each craftsperson (teacher), whether official or unofficial) played a part in the Christian that you become. And while these faithful Christians played a part in your spiritual formation, the result is the work that the Holy Spirit has done in you. It is the work that you have done with the assistance of others through the Holy Spirit that allows you to move from baby’s milk to baby food, to the full menu of spiritual nourish- ment as you mature in the faith.                                                                                                           PSALM 28:6-9 The psalm ends in praise to God. David accepts the fact that God has heard his cry in need. David’ heart leaps for joy as he sings praise. David uses the idea of a shield to talk about God’s protection. In ancient times, the shield was the first line of defense for a soldier in battle. It was used to defend from attacks from arrows, spears, and swords. If it were wooden, it could be wrapped in leather and soaked in water to repel the flaming arrows of the long bow. If it were metal, it would be almost impenetrable. The last verse lifts God’s two primary acts by which he effects people’s well-being. God saves and blesses the people who call on God. David uses two images in this last verse. The first is from Deuteronomy 9:29: “But they are your people, your inheritance that you brought out by your great power and your outstretched arm.” The people of Israel are God’s Chosen People. It is through God’s relationship with the     Chosen People that the rest of the world will see the attributes of God. When God saves them from their enemies or when God blesses them with goodness. The second image is God as Shepherd. The shepherd protects as he cares for the sheep. The shepherd carries the sheep when they are injured. God care for his people forever.