READINGS FOR APRIL 11, 2024: JOB 38, 1 CORINTHIANS 5, PSALM 30:1-5
JOB 38
The theophany Elihu thinks is coming is realized in the beginning of this chapter. Job and his friends meet God in the storm. This is the beginning of God’s answer to Job’s questions and pleading.
In verse two, God begins by stating that Job is complaining and raging against God are unjustified and come from a limited understanding. God does not begin his discourse by answering Job’s questions. God does not state that Job is guilty or innocent.
God proceeds to ask Job a series of rhetorical questions. Each of these questions require that Job answer that he is ignorant of the answer. These questions helped to establish that God is supreme over all things. God is all-powerful. Job is asked questions about the earth, the sea, the sun, moon & stars in addition to other questions. Each question asks if Job knows the origin, who set them in place, and other questions that only God knows the answer.
In verse 39, the God questions move to the animal kingdom. Verses 39-42 will be addressed in tomorrow’s discussion.
1 CORINTHIANS 5
Paul has harsh words for the church in Corinth. They are allowing two people in the church to display what Paul believes is an immoral situation. A man has taken up a sexual relationship with his father’s wife. This practice is specifically forbidden in Leviticus 18:8. IN addition, Paul implies that the Corinthian Church has not only accepted the relationship but has celebrated it. Paul demands that the couple be put out of the church.
Paul uses the image of how a small amount of yeast mixed in the bread dough allows the bread to rise. This image of yeast is used several times in the Bible. Sometimes the image is used positively. In Luke 13, Jesus uses it to explain how the kingdom of God can grow into something powerful.
Most often, the image is negative. Here in Corinthians, Paul uses to emphasize that if the church allows sin to be accepted in any amount, it will grow and fester in the community until it overtakes the entire culture. Paul tells the church to not let the yeast of sin take hold and infect the entire church.
Paul then warns the Corinthians to avoid those brothers and sisters who indulge in sins:
But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. (1 Corinthians 5:11, NIV)
One of the important things to emphasize in this direction from Paul is that this direction from Paul is strictly about those who claim to be Christians and yet refuse to admit that they are engaging in sinful behaviors. Those who refuse to accept that their choice, their behaviors are in violation of God’s teachings. Or worse, those who know that their behaviors are sinful and put on the airs of religion.
Notice that this instruction is not about non-Christians. If anything, Paul is telling Christians that we should engage with non-believers who may be living sin-filled lives. How can we judge someone by the teachings and laws of God if they do not understand those laws? Are there people who would be pushed away from Christ because we judged their behaviors by laws and rules that they did not know?
PSALM 30:1-5
This psalm is a song of praise attributed to King David. It gives thanks to God for saving him. It is possible that David had been healed from some type of serious illness. IN this psalm it is not the hands of the enemy that brought on David’s issue. God gives grace to David so that his enemies can not boast about his illnesses.
The psalm begins with a commitment by the writer to praise God. David promises to “lift up” or exalt” the name of God (Yahweh). This is the heart of praise, where we lift up God for who he is.
The reason for the writer’s praise is because God brought David out of the depths. The reason that David thought he was near the point of death is unclear. But the imagery that is used underscores the fact that he believed that death was nearby.
Verses 4-5 are often quoted by persons who have endured suffering:
Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:4-5, NIV)
The concept here is that suffering will happen, however it does not last for eternity. There will be dark times (times of trouble) where we will be sad, grieved, and mourning. But the morning is coming, and joy will come with it.
