1 Chron. 20-22
I get the feeling there is A LOT more significance to this story of David’s census and the ensuing plague than what we see on the surface. The end result of the whole thing was the designation of the site for God’s Holy Temple. I mentioned, back when we were reading in Exodus, that I never understood why God got angry at David for counting the people. I mentioned this then because Exodus 30 spoke of a census tax that required each person numbered to give a ransom for his life to the LORD so that there would not be a plague among them. The ransom money was to be given for the service of the tent of meeting as an atonement for the people’s lives.
Though I still don’t understand why being counted required a ransom from the people, I can at least now see how David’s census put guilt on the heads of the Israelites. And I can see that this story is somehow yet another representation of God’s Plan for our redemption in Christ. David chose the plague as a punishment because, as he said, “Let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercy is very great” (1 Chron 21:13). And indeed, God’s mercy kicked in…right there at the site of the future Temple – the Temple that is a representation of Christ, God’s gift of mercy to us all.
1 Cor. 14:1-20
I get the impression from reading this passage that the people in the Corinthian church held speaking in tongues in high esteem. Perhaps, knowing what I do of human nature, this was because it made them feel and appear ‘spiritual’. Why else would Paul go on such a rant here? He was certainly not saying that there was anything wrong with speaking in tongues or even in desiring to do so. But Paul reminds them – and us – that it is far better to build up others than to build up ourselves. “So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.” (1 Cor 14:12). This, Paul says, is mature thinking – when you become more concerned with how your relationship with God benefits others rather than just yourself.