Proclaim Hope Daily | Week 41

Below is a short summary or synopsis of the Bible reading for the day. Use it as a helpful tool to think through the Scripture. There are also some cross references to study other passages of Scripture to highlight or better understand that passage.

This hymn begins with a vital aspect of faith - the denial of self and the glorification of God. Indeed it is only the name of YAHWEH that should be praised, for he alone is worthy and any other objects of worship are undeniably empty and destructive. As the psalm continues it draws a comparison between the one true living God and all other man-made deities, which are nothing but the façade of demons. While the God of the heavens and the earth sovereignly rules and reigns, all other idols are by nature rendered deaf, dumb, and motionless. The only aspect of a "g" god that exists are the elements from which an idol is carved, ironically made by the Creator. Not only is the God of Israel tangible, his power and works visible to mankind, but he is also just and merciful. His people are drawn to praise Him for his existence alone. So how much more should the Lord be glorified because of his steadfast love and faithfulness that endures? Those who worship nothing will become nothing, but those who seek and find the truth of God will inherit the Father’s Kingdom through and with the Son of the living God.

(Deuteronomy 4:28, 32:17; Psalm 115:4; Jeremiah 1:16; Matthew 16:16-17, 24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; John 1:14; Romans 1:19-20, 8:12-17; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, 10:20; 2 Timothy 2:12; 1 John 1:1-4; Revelation 5:10)

Here the Preacher seems to be addressing the congregation within the setting of a funeral, or at least speaking to the familiar concerning the loss of an individual. The legacy left behind by means of a righteous life brings comfort and assurance to those who mourn. Those whom are comforted know that all will experience death, but to have made use of the time is a blessing to the one who is gone, as well as those who remain. The use of irony here helps the reader to understand that happiness can be found in the elevation of sorrow and grief. Through the process of mourning the lost, positive memories are both recalled and cherished, which encourage the heart and character of the bereaved. This also explains why death is better than birth, the last day more beneficial than the first; for the journey through life is filled with experiences, both trials and treasures that accumulate appreciation and build faith. All of this can only be true for those who have God’s wisdom by way of faith, because they can attest to God’s provision through both the highs and lows of life, whereas fools cannot and do not cherish such ability. All of mankind, from Adam to present, have sinned against the Lord, but those who have been given the wisdom of God are kept from eternal folly and the permanent death.

(Psalm 34:18, 147:3; Matthew 5:4; Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 15:53-55; Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 13; Revelation 20:6)

The apostle Paul, after rebuking and correcting the Corinthians for misusing the Lord’s Table, now does the same concerning spiritual gifts. As mentioned prior, Corinth was a hotbed for a dynamic cocktail of pagan practices. A combination of Greek and Roman idolatry plagued the region so famously the term Corinthianize was coined to describe the level of immorality of an individual. Religious practices that took place in the context of first century Corinth, also quite common today, relied a great deal on sensationalism; focusing on ecstatic feeling and emotional experience rather than reverent discipline, doctrinal study and spiritual maturity. Many within the Corinthian church had been saved out of such lifestyles, yet they had not fully abandoned the influence it had on them. This greatly affected their understanding and implementation of biblical practices, including the perversion and misuse of spiritual giftings. Paul lists several giftings of the Holy Spirit, although not exhaustive, and explains to the Corinthians that all believers are given gifts which are to be used in unison to build up and expand the church. Each gift is just as important as the next; dependent upon one another to function properly for the sake of Christ. Those in Corinth were not only mingling pagan mentalities with Christian ecclesiology, but they were elevating certain gifts above others, further dividing the congregants and preventing the intended functionality of the body. The apostle teaches them to examine the purity and genuineness of their giftings with two standard measurements: is Christ the focus, not self and does it build-up the body with clarity of truth and unity.

(Jeremiah 17:9; Psalm 61:2; Proverbs 3:5-6, 28:26, 29:11; Romans 12:4-8, 14:9; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Ephesians 4:7-12, 16; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; 1 Timothy 1:4; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 2 Peter 1:5-9)

As the apostle persists in his instruction to the Corinthians regarding spiritual gifts, he unveils the master key to success: LOVE. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ taught that the greatest commandment is love. The entire bible hinges upon love: loving God and loving others. The word love appears in the ESV translation 551 times. Love encompasses the gospel in a single word. Love defines God the Father’s purpose in grace and mercy. Love is the litmus test for validating a believers faith. Love tethers the greatest promises and truths in scripture. Love is eternal and the greatest of emotions, which produces godly action. There is no such thing as faith without love. Therefore, Paul emphasizes here, that without love, there is no point or meaning behind any spiritual gift. If they are not practiced with the intention of love, observed through the lens of love, received in love, then such a gift is rendered useless and potentially harmful.

(Psalm 136:26; Isaiah 54:10; Lamentations 3:22; Matthew 22:34-40; John 3:16, 14:15, 15:12-13; 1 Corinthians 16:14; Ephesians 2:4-5; Colossians 3:14; 1 John 4:7-12)

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