Ps. 87-88
The Psalms are a bit of a mystery at times. I can’t imagine what the Psalm writers were thinking or experiencing to write some of the stuff they wrote. When I read Psalm 87, for example, from my perspective, it could be speaking of the New Jerusalem, God’s chosen eternal dwelling place, and of those from every nation who will be “born again” into God’s family. But what was on the Psalmist’s mind when he wrote, “And of Zion it shall be said, ‘This one and that one were born in her'” (Ps 87:8a)? I know Hebrew words and phrases often have more than one meaning, so perhaps we lose a little something in the translation. But I firmly believe it is no mistake that so many of these Psalms seem to speak of things that happened well after their time or even of things yet to come.
Psalm 88 is another example. It seems a tad over dramatic for most people’s experiences. I could make a case for Job speaking these words, but Job’s situation was pretty extreme. But it also sounds an awful lot like something Jesus might have said. He could have spoken these words when pouring out His heart to God in the garden just before His arrest. Or it could have been His heart’s cry while hanging on the cross. So it reads to me like prophecy. I expect this from King David’s Psalms, but it is fascinating to see it from other Psalm writers as well. Whatever the case, I think there is no end to the truths, wonders, and mysteries revealed in the book called the Bible. If only we had eyes to see them!
1 Cor. 12
First note – I have mentioned a few times that I believe that many of Paul’s specific instructions to the Churches are given to directly counter pagan practices of the day. When Paul addresses the Corinthians here in verse 2 by saying, “You know that when you were pagans…”, it reinforces this thought to me.
Paul’s transition from being led astray to mute idols to the gifts and services of the Holy Spirit is a little rough and disjointed to me. So I must be missing something (perhaps that translation issue again). The best I can make of it is that Paul is pointing out that, as pagans, they had no idea what was leading them where. But now that they are in Christ, they need to be aware that it is God’s Spirit that is leading them in everything.
He makes this point by first stating that it is the Holy Spirit that leads us to truth in Christ in the first place. He then goes on to say that it is this same Spirit – only one Spirit and only one God – who leads us to the specific work that He has for each of us to do. God is not mute as the useless idols are. He speaks to us and works in us and empowers us to do what He has called us to. And though this looks different for each one of us, it all comes from the same Spirit and serves the same God.