For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
1 Cor. 14
What should your attitude be toward spiritual gifts? (See v. 1, 39-40) I’m not sure why the specific discussion of tongues versus prophecy here. Perhaps, of all the spiritual gifts, those are the two that most involve speaking out in the church. Paul said in chapter 12, “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.” (1 Cor. 12:31). Paul then pointed out that, unless done in love, any of the gifts are pointless. And in this chapter, he went on to say that prophecy is the greater gift, at least compared with tongues, because it builds up the church and speaks to others while only God or an interpreter understands tongues.
All spiritual gifts are good. But like all good things, they can be misused. From Paul’s letter, I get images of people talking over one another, going on and on and not letting anyone else speak, and babbling on in some other tongue without concern for those listening to the nonsense – patiently or otherwise. It seems there is no shortage of human driven behavior in the church. No wonder Paul was grieved.
Judges 7-8
Why did God whittle down Gideon’s army? Where do you feel whittled down? God did what He loves to do. He made the situation impossible for man. “The LORD said to Gideon, ‘You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’’”. (Jud. 7:2). God made sure the Israelites could not question from where their salvation came.
Though the Israelites had been crying out for help, they were obviously still not humbly seeking God. God’s actions to prevent their boasting demonstrates this fact. But we also see it elsewhere in the story. The Ephraimites challenged Gideon after God overthrew the Midian camp. They were clearly concerned that Gideon was taking all the glory for himself. The men of Sukkoth and Peniel, on the other hand, were still afraid of the Midianites because Gideon had not yet captured two of the Midian kings. Because of their lack of faith in God, they refused to help Gideon and his men. And, even after all of that, when Gideon prevailed the Israelites tried to make him their ruler, crediting their salvation from the Midianites to him.
It is no surprise, then, that Israel never really made a full return to God this time. Instead, they worshiped the ephod Gideon had made as long as he lived. And, “No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals.” (Judges 8:33a). The Israelites were becoming more and more like their beloved idols. They had eyes, but could not see, ears but could not hear, and hearts made of wood and stone.