READINGS FOR APRIL 24TH: GENESIS 16, 1 CORINTHIANS 14, PSALM 34:11-22
GENESIS 16
After ten years of living in Canaan, the promise of a son still had not been fulfilled. Sarai is frustrated at how long it has taken and has come to believe that God will not fulfill the promise.
Sarai takes matters into her own hands. Sarai offers up her maidservant, Hagai, to Abram to produce a male heir. This was an ancient custom in marriages. If the wife was unable to conceive, a servant in the household was offered to the husband as a substitute. The ability of the household to have a male heir in order the property to be passed down was critical.
Hagai bears a son named Ishmael. As soon as she is pregnant, the relationship between Sarai and Hagai sours. Sarai is jealous and Hagai is proud. The situation gets so bad that Hagai runs away. An angel appears to Hagai and tells her that she should return to Abram’s household. The child she is bearing will have many descendants.
Verse 12 is often used to explain why the relations in the Middle East are so tough. It states:
He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone’s hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward all his brothers.” (Genesis 15:6, NIV)
On some level, this makes light of the current tension between the nations. But it does rightly predict that this area will be in serious conflict.
Have you ever been tired of waiting on God and decided to go out on your own? How did that work out for you? God has a plan. Sometimes it requires us to wait patiently.
1 CORINTHIANS 14
This chapter returns to a discussion about Spiritual Gifts. Paul’s concern here is the use of them in corporate worship. For Paul, there is a simple answer. Corporate worship should only include those things that increase the faith of everyone in attendance. For Paul, prophecy is critical. Speaking in tongues should only be allowed if there is someone who can interpret what is being said.
This identifies the importance of hospitality in worship. Do our guests have everything they need to fully participate in worship? Are there any “rituals” that we do that require “insider information”? How can we better include all who gather in worship?
Verses 33b – 36 – This is a difficult passage of scripture. Paul is telling the people of Corinth to not let women speak in worship. If they do, it is a disgrace.
If this is a universal prohibition of women speaking, then there is a potential internal disagreement within the letter. In 11:5, Paul states:
But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. (NIV)
If Paul feels that women are not allowed to speak in the church, then why did he not state so when talking about head coverings? The fact that Paul states that they must have their head covered when they participate in these activities, is it not possible that Paul believes them to be acceptable behaviors? So, how do we struggle with the contradiction?
Some scholars believe that an editor inserted these verses into the letter to bring it in line with later Pauline letters (see 1 Timothy 2:13-14). There are old manuscripts that have these verses coming after verse 40. While there are no manuscripts where these verses are absent, the fact that there are differences can allow questions about it being in the original letter.
Some scholars believe that Paul was addressing a particular situation in the church. These verses come after Paul tells those speaking in tongues that if there is not an interpreter they should remain silent (verses 28-29). Also, if a prophet who is sitting has something to share, then the speaker should sit and allow the person to share (verse 30). Based on verse 35, it is possible that there were undereducated women who were disrupting the worship service by asking questions about what was being presented. They should ask their husbands later.
None of these answers give us an acceptable answer.
PSALM 34:11-22
The reading for today is the last 12 verses of Psalm 34 which is an alphabetic acrostic. These verses continue with instruction for the people. This section can be broken down into three sections, verses (8-10) 11-14, 15-18, and 19-22. Verses 8-10 from yesterday’s reading are included with verses 11-14 in one section. These are like the type of teachings that might be found in proverbs. However, they are included in the longer psalm.
Verses (8-10) 11-14 – David uses the traditional language of the wisdom teachers when he calls “my children” to listen. The way to worship God is to turn away from evil. It is to act in accordance with God’s plans. It is to seek and embrace wholeness and completeness in life.
The call for us to keep our tongues from evil is found several places in the Bible. In the book of James, the writer cautions us about the power of the tongue (James 3:5-10). James warns us:
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. (James 3:10, NIV)
We need to watch the words that come out of our mouths.
Verses 15-18 – David assures us that God is paying attention to those who are righteous. God will defeat those who do evil to the point that they will be forgotten. God will deliver the righteous.
Verses 19-22 – This section begins by stating that we will have troubles. Everyone on this earth will have times when things do not go our way. Temptations, struggles, and frustrations are a part of life. God protects those who have faith. God will rescue those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus. Noone who finds shelter under God’s wings will be condemned.
