READING FOR APRIL 11, 2025: 1 SAMUEL 31, 1 CORINTHIANS 6, PSALMS 30:6-12 1 SAMUEL 31 Saul’s final battle.
The last time we left Saul, he was with the medium from Endor where he received this less than encouraging word from the dead Samuel: “The Lord will also hand Israel along with you over to the Philistines; so tomorrow you and your sons will be with me” (1 Samuel 28:19). What might we do if we had only one day left to live? The text doesn’t say Saul did anything other than to go into battle with Philistines. Unlike Saul, we don’t know how many days we have left. We do know, however, that the current life expectancy for Americans is 79.25. Our time to die likely will come faster than we think. What are we going to do in the time we have left?
When Paul was saying his final goodbyes to his friends, he said this: “I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:25-27). Can we say with Paul that we have explained the Gospel to our loved ones so that we are innocent of their blood? As Christians, that’s both our responsibility and privilege.
This final battle for Saul took place at Mt. Gilboa. Three of Saul’s sons died, and Saul was gravely wounded. He asked his armor bearer to finish the job. He refused, so Saul fell on his sword. Notice when the Israelites in nearby cities learned of this, they fled the area. When leaders of God’s people fall, many of God’s people can lose heart. This is a key lesson for those in church leadership. The Philistines then found his body, cut off his head, stripped off his weapons, and paraded them throughout the land. Then they nailed his body to the wall at Beth-shan as a way to humiliate him. Likewise, fallen Christian leaders are often publicly humiliated by the world today. Jesus, so great His love, was humiliated for our sins even though He was sinless. The news isn’t all bad for Israel. Valient men from Jabesh-gilead recovered Saul’s body and gave him a proper burial (like Joseph of Arimathea did for Jesus).
1 CORINTHIANS 6 This chapter contains a very controversial verse in our modern-day conversation around human sexuality. Before we discuss that one verse, we will first look at the chapter. The first eight verses deal with legal disputes between members of the Corinthian churches. Paul is upset for a couple of reasons. First, that the members were taking their disputes to the courts instead of handling them inside the church. Why would they expect the non-Christian judicial system to understand the way in which followers of Christ should treat one another. The second and maybe more important reason is the simple fact that there is a need for lawsuits between two believers. If we would cheat, lie, and steal from our brothers and sisters in Christ, what does that have to say about the faith we express through Christ. Christians should treat everyone with honesty and integrity. When we cannot do this with our own brothers and sisters in Christ, we are struggling. In verse 9, Paul shifts from talking about court cases to talking about wrongdoers and people who commit sins. Some members of the church may have believed that because they were reborn by the Spirit they were allowed to do whatever they wanted without regard to the consequences. Because Christ came to bring a new covenant, they were free from the Law and the commands of the Old Testament. Paul’s
READINGS FOR APRIL 11, 2025 CONTINUED:1 CORINTHIANS 6, PSALM 30:6-12 response to them is that sin is wrong. He reminds them that: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” (1 Cor. 6:19-20). When we sin, we are corrupting our lives and distancing ourselves from Christ. We must flee from sexual immorality (Paul’s main focus here) and other sins that will separate us from God.
***** THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS A DISCUSSION ON SEX AND SEXUALITY ***** In verse 9, there are two words (malakoi and arsenokoitai) that people argue about when it comes to human sexuality. Depending on how you translate these words will affect what you believe Paul is teaching. The word “malakoi“– soft, delicate effeminate (Strong’s Concordance)--is often used to refer to those who were on the receiving end of male-to-male sexual relations. It has been translated as male prostitute, effeminate, homosexuals (when combined with arsenokoitai) The word “arsenokoitai” – is often used to refer to the one who is penetrating during male-to-male sexual relations. It is translated as homosexuals, sodomites, abusers of themselves with mankind. What is Paul talking about? There are differing opinions.
Traditional Understanding – This view takes the words in their literal form. Paul is listing homosexuality as sexually immoral. They further emphasize this view by citing Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Timothy 1:8-11.
Cultural Understanding – progressive theology has attempted to place Paul’s teaching withing the culture of Corinth. They split the two words. The word, malakoi is defined as male prostitute. And arsenokoitai is used to describe a practice in Greek culture when a wealthy older adult male would engage in sex with a younger man (aged 12-16). It was usually agreed upon relationship where the younger man (people were recognized as adults much earlier than today) would be mentored and set-up to become a part of the society in return for sex. The problem with this interpretation is that there are specific words for this type of relationship in the Greek language: pederasty – the practice; erastes – the older male; eromenos – the younger male. If Paul meant this relationship, then why did he not use the word that was commonly used in Corinthian culture? Due to the difficulty of language and the difference in Greco-Roman culture and our modern culture, we cannot say definitively what Paul is describing as sexually immoral. I do believe that anytime you begin to qualify and define scripture through a modern lens, you must be careful.
PSALM 30:6-12 This reading finishes Psalm 30. In verses 6-7, David recalls a time when he had become arrogant. It is possible that the writer had begun to think that they were responsible for the security and safety they had been blessed to receive. Possibly believing they were invincible. However, when the danger came (whether it was poor health or something else), David was reminded of his weakness. In verses 9-10, the writer calls out to God for mercy. The way that David asks for mercy is interesting. To sum it up, if David dies, will the dust praise God. Interestingly, God does not need our praise. We need to praise God for us to place God in his rightful place. The final two verses return to a hymn of praise. Verse 10 well known and used often by those who had overcome some adversity. God has transformed our grief into joy (mourning to dancing). We are to praise God.
