READINGS FOR APRIL 23, 2024: GENESIS 15, 1 CORINTHIANS 13, PSALM 34:1-10
GENESIS 15
This chapter details the renewal (or reaffirmation) of the covenant between God and Abram. In a dream, God comes to Abram and confirms that God is his shield. That everything that Abram needs will be supplied by God.
Abram asks for confirmation of God’s covenant. God had promised Abram a son and many years later he was still without one. Abram fears that one of his servants will inherit his possessions after he is dead. Abram believes this renewed promise and:
Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6, NIV)
Paul will use this verse in Romans 4:3 to emphasize the importance of faith. Faith is believing in something BEFORE it is revealed.
James 2:23 quotes this verse to emphasize the importance of faith and works. James uses the example of Abraham following God’s call to offer his son as a sacrifice (Genesis 22). He follows by stating that Abraham believed in this and every episode and it was credited to him as righteousness.
Sometimes we are called to go forward in faith. Sometimes we must simply follow God not knowing precisely where it will end. Sometimes we need to act when we believe that God is calling us to action.
Abram made a sacrifice offering to God of a heifer, a goat, a ram, a dove, and a young pigeon. In another dream, God again promises Abram’s descendents the land that he can see. He promises them the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.
1 CORINTHIANS 13
This may be one of the best-known chapters in the New Testament. It is read at almost every wedding. It is a beautiful poem about the virtue of love.
The love that Paul talks about in this chapter has little to do with emotions. Love (Agape – unconditional love) is recognized by actions. We share our love and grace with other by what we do (not what we feel).
This chapter is an Encomium poem. This is a type of poem that glorifies a person, thing, or abstract idea (www.britannica.com). In this case, Paul is praising the virtue of love.
The poem begins by using Paul as an example. He uses the Spiritual Gifts listed in Chapter 12 to set the stage. Paul is trying to say that no matter how magnificent the act or the expression of a Spiritual Gift, if love is missing it is worthless. It is self-promotion and fruitless. Only through love can the Spiritual Gifts bring fruit.
Paul goes on to list things that love is (patient, kind, and truthful); and things that it is not (does not envy, does not boast, not proud, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrong, does not delight in evil). These statements help us to see what love is. It is not selfish. It is outwardly focused.
To emphasize the power of love, Paul tells us:
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:7, NIV)
There are two words introduced in this verse that will play out throughout this chapter, (trust (faith) and hope. When we love, we have the ability to have faith (trust) in others and in God. When love is present, we can always keep a grasp on the hope that we have been given. It is love that helps us to get through trials. It is love of God and neighbor that gives us faith and hope for the future.
Paul then compares love to the Spiritual Gifts of tongues, prophecy, and knowledge. These gifts are for a moment. There will come a day when they are no longer needed. In the realm of eternity, there will be a day when we are in the presence of Christ and the Spiritual Gifts will no longer be required. Love never fails. It will always exist because God is love (1 John 4:8).
Paul reminds us that all that we see in this life is a poor reflection of what is yet to come. We cannot fully comprehend all that God is. We cannot see all that God’s love, grace, and mercy has done for us in this life. But there will be a day when we see everything clearly. It will be a day of celebration.
Paul ends the poem:
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13, NIV)
These three things are of utmost importance. Faith in God through Jesus Christ. Hope through the working of the Holy Spirit. And, most of all, love.
PSALM 34:1-10
Psalm 34 is an alphabetic acrostic. The first verse begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet (aleph) and each verse begins with the next letter. The psalm begins with praise to God for an answer to prayer (verses 1-7). The psalm continues with instruction for the people.
The title of this psalm gives its historical context (see 1 Samuel 21:10-15). While David was fleeing from King Saul, he went to the are of Gath. Because he was afraid of the King, he pretended to be insane. The King of Gath let him go because he did not want to deal with him.
The psalm begins with a hymn of praise. The first three verses call those who have been troubled to join David in praising God for his goodness. The reason for this praise is because God has recued David from a difficult time. David prayed to God in his fears and God answered those prayers. Those who call on the name of God will be saved.
In verse eight, the psalm shifts to wisdom sayings. Verse eight is often quoted and sometimes the metaphor is difficult to understand. The idea of “tasting” God seems odd. The concept is that if we “try” God; if we put our trust in God; we will see that God is good. We will see that we are blessed in the protection of God.
