Old Testament – Today in Nehemiah chapter 3 we read about the Israelites involvement in the various segments of the wall of Jerusalem being rebuilt! Below is an image by C.F. Vos titled “Rebuilding the Walls of Jerusalem”:
New Testament – First Corinthians chapter 7 verses 32 through 34 are intriguing words from Paul: “An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. But a married man can’t do that so well. He has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. His interests are divided.” I see his logic of these words – and these words have often rung so very true in my own life. But, I also see the blessing of the family. Of marriage. Of being part of a Holy Family. Obviously each of us came into this world because of the union of a woman and man. There are a billion reasons of why marriage is important – why the family is important. It produces people like us! 🙂 Unfortunately in our world today I am afraid the concept of the “Holy Family” is not so strong. Family can turn into a negative word for many people, instead of the holy word it should be. All this to say – I believe many of us are called to family life – to marriage and to kids. But I also believe that many of us are called to singleness. I really do. And I do believe being called to singleness is truly a blessing – just as being called to marriage is a blessing as well. Have you spent much time in your life discerning whether God has called you to singleness or to marriage? I think it’s worth reflecting upon periodically – but not to stress out about. It’s better to ultimately remember Paul’s words in verses 29 through 33: “The time that remains is very short, so husbands should not let marriage be their major concern. Happiness or sadness or wealth should not keep anyone from doing God’s work. Those in frequent contact with the things of the world should make good use of them without becoming attached to them, for this world and all it contains will pass away. In everything you do, I want you to be free from the concerns of this life.” Whether you are single or married, do you believe these preceding verses are true for you? What does it mean to you that “the time that remains is very short”? How might this affect how you live your life?
Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in First Corinthians titled “Undistracted Devotion” is at this link.
Psalms – Today we read Psalm 32, which is a wonderful testimony of joy about God’s gift of forgiveness to us when we confess our sins to God! In Psalm 32 verses 1 & 2 we read: “Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!” Do you agree with this Psalmist that there is joy in forgiveness? Have you confessed your sins to God? Do you make a regular habit of examining your conscience and confessing your sins to God? After confessing your sins, do you continuously pray to God to heal you of sins that may be gripping you? Will you then move forward on the actions or corrective measures that God leads you to – to truly be healed of addictive sins? Will you seek the joy of God’s forgiveness? Will you seek to live your life in complete honesty to God? Below is the famous painting titled “Forgiven.” Please take a few moments to meditate upon this painting. How does it speak to you today?
Proverbs – Today in Proverbs 21 verse 5 we read – “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” This is quite a convicting Proverb for me, as I often find myself acting very hastily. I like to hustle and move fast all too often – and then try to plan later. . . I had a great conversation recently with a friend who recently completed a 5 year strategic plan for her own life, which was fascinating to me and seemed incredibly beneficial to this friend. I have another friend that does this type of significant planning in his life as well. Now, I don’t know that all of us are called to have 5 year strategic plans for our own lives! 🙂 However, I do think this Proverb advocates planning. Planning is diligent. And planning leads to profit – whereas haste leads to poverty. So, how do you plan in your life? Do you pray to God regularly to show you what His Plan is for your life? Do you then seek to follow what God’s plan is for you? Do you set goals and plans based on where you believe God is leading you? Do you think there would be value in setting goals and plans in your life?
Worship Video: Today’s readings in Psalm 32 reminded me of the awesome Sidewalk Prophets song called “The Words I Would Say:”
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today:“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5 (NIV)
Prayer Point: Pray to be a diligent person through a saving relationship with Jesus. Pray that you will not act in haste in your life, but will act with godly diligence in all things.
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless, Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS: (our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Ramona:
Nehemiah 3:15-5:13
Ah! Like a bad penny, Sanballat and Tobiah keep popping up. The devil sure is persistent and never gives up, unlike us Christians. Satan knows how to talk a “good” game and is a master at verbal sparing and intimidation.
Knowing the Word of God, having it hidden in our hearts is vital to seeing through the smoke screen of the devil’s lies. Mike thank you again for providing a forum for those interested in knowing what the Word of God says as opposed to what we think it says. The next think we must learn to do is trust that what God has said He will do. Having and knowing the Word is one thing, applying it to our lives, situations and problems are another.
Betrayal by those who supposedly love you and care about you is most heart wrenching. The rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem took on an “all-hands-on-deck” approach so I’m not sure if this famine is one of lack of rain or if it is a famine of human resource to cultivate the land so food would grow. If they were not working on building the wall, they were protecting those who were. If the people were building the much needed defenses while they ignored their crops in the fields which was needed to protect everyone, what the Jewish settlers who had money to sustain them during this time did, loan money as high usury were extremely egregious. Those who were slaves and exiles know what it feels like to be subjugated to another human. Being released from that bondage should make one more sensitive to the plight of others, sadly, it does not.
I Corinthians 7:25-40
Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are. The one bound to a wife should not seek divorce. The one released from a wife should not seek marriage. (1Co 7:26-27 NET.)
Clearly, Paul is writing about the political climate and situation the church at Corinth was facing. Because the date of this letter is not known with certainty, we can only guess at what was going on in the Roman Empire as Paul penned this letter. However, I do believe the topic he is discussing, to be marred or single, must be tempered with the times one is living in. If the preacher wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes, To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: (Ecc 3:1 KJV), then surly there is a time to be married and a time to dwell in singleness.
Psalm 32:1-11
This is a wonderful Psalm and causes to come to my remembrance the Words of Jesus,
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Mat 11:28-30 KJV)
Sin and guilt are burdens we were never designed to bear.
5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. 6 Therefore, let all the godly confess their rebellion to you while there is time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. 7 For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.
Proverbs 21:5-7
The thoughts of the [steadily] diligent tend only to plenteousness, but everyone who is impatient and hasty hastens only to want. (Pro 21:5 AMP)
I don’t know why but I kept thinking of our desire to have everything fast food quick when I read this particular Proverb. People want everything yesterday even abusing the sales staff that is being paid to help them as best they can. It seems when you have someone who is unreasonably demanding, thinking that it is “My Right” to abuse sales staff and any other worker, the more you accommodate them the worse they behave and the needier they grow.
I find it interesting that it says they hasten to want and not hasten to need which are two separate things. If someone is in perpetual want, their wants will never be satisfied no matter how much they are given. Their deficiency is not in the lack of resources it is in their lack of spiritual substance, which causes them to be a drain of every material blessing they receive leading to abject poverty.
Grace and peace, Ramona
======= Pat:
I would like to make a personal comment on 1 Corinthians 7 and being single. I was married for 10 years and out of that marriage came a marvelous son who I am so proud of and is such a joy to everyone that knows him. He is truly one of my great blessings. However, when I was divorced in 1977 I had no desire to remarry. I came close to remarrying twice during my 29 years of being single but both times realized that I actually did not want to reenter the bonds of matrimony. I am truly a happy single person with a full life filled with joy, and I’m very content with my lifestyle. My sister on the other hand was miserable after her divorce and fitfully looked for another husband even to the point of searching the Internet. She felt incomplete without a husband and was not happy until she remarried last year. Neither of our divorces was something that we wanted. My divorce stemmed from being a Christian and my husband wanted to live a lifestyle that was totally opposite to Christianity. I’m thrilled to say that my ex-husband and his wife found Christianity later in their lives and now are among our Christian bothers and sisters. Her husband found someone else while she was attending seminary. Her ex-husband married his mistress and had since divorced that wife for a new mistress. I think being single or married is a personal choice and that choice should be respected. There is nothing wrong with being happily married and there is nothing wrong with being happily single. God created us as individuals and each of us is different in our own way and each of us is precious to the Lord.
Now I would like to comment on how I personally feel about Psalms 32. We need to confess our sins to God! We need to address them individually and not in just a generic way. Why? When we do something that we know is wrong – and we know it because the Holy Spirit lets us know – we need to talk it over with God. Sure God already knows the sin we committed but by discussing it with God then we let God know that we know what we did was wrong! It’s easy to pray “forgive me of my sins” but it takes on more emphasis in our own life when we pray “forgive me because today I did this xxxxxx and I know I shouldn’t because xxxxxx” and then ask the Lord to forgive us and give us strength not to repeat the sin. Confession is not for God’s benefit because He is all knowing but confession is for our benefit because it makes us take a close look at ourselves and how our attitude and actions can affect our relationship with God and with the other people we come in contact with.
God Bless!
Pat
====== Luch:
The best part of Nehemiah 3 is the way they were organized on the wall. Over and over it says “so and so was next to so and so” all through the chapter. Here they are demonstrating how the body of Christ is to funtion, side by side for the sake of advancing the gospel into our world, and side by side to build up the church of Christ, each one doing his/her part. TEAM spells ‘together each achieves more”… Nehemiah was an organizational genius. I wonder where he learned to lead this way. He had probably never been to any of our leadership seminars but God equipped him well for the essentials of doing a work for God.
One little note in Nehemiah 3:5 about the leaders from Tekoa. Sadly it says, “though their leaders refused to help.” We’re not told why but I’m sure they had their excuses. Same is true today isn’t it!! As leaders, if we are leaders, let’s make sure we lead by example and not just by exhorting and challenging people without putting our own hand to the plough. By the way, I just went to see the new movie called World Trade Center starring Nicolas Cage. Talk about a leader leading by example. Whew! And talk about people coming together to ‘rescue people’ and rebuild a different kind of wall. Powerful. I highly recommend this inspiring but heart wrenching movie. You will be pleasantly surprised by how God and Jesus and spiritual themes are woven throughout this story.
Luch
======= Jan:
Regarding being “called” to be single. I don’t think we are “called” to be single – I also think it is a choice & the reason I believe this is that from the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, God made a woman for a man – to be together as one in Him. The plan was for marriage to show/reflect our relationship with Him/becoming One. Marriage between a man & a woman was the orginial plan & then sin entered in & messed the whole thing up – so the plan of marriage was distorted for sure.
Singleness is a choice not a calling – Godly marriage was the origianl plan/calling for the whole race that was aborted when sin entered the plan – everything changed.
I know in the deepest recess of my spirit that I’m not “called” to be single – was never His plan for a woman or a man – but I am single because it is not His timing for me to be married “again.” I am single, but not by my choice but by His & prayerfully that will change some time in the near future – at least that is my prayer at all times.
My singleness at this point in time is not my choice but His or obviously I would be married again.
Sounds a little poetic this morning…surely the Spirit speakth in me
Jan
====== Sue:
Did you see Christ in Nehemiah?
Nehemiah was the wine taster for Artaxerxes: The KING! He was in a position of great power and honor, and despite this preferential treatment and comfort with the life he lived in the palace of the king, he chose to go and be with and build up the common people, those who needed a leaders, a savior: The walls of the city were down, and needed to be built in order to resume the sacrificial offerings and the dedications, and worship in the temple, and what did Jesus do?
Sue
====== Skip:
Everytime I read Paul talking about single people and how they should stay single, but if they are on fire they should marry, I have to wonder and it makes me sad. I am single, never married. I would say that I’m not on fire, but I do burn. I so much would like to be married. I pray to be brought together with the woman that God has for me, but in more than a half century, that hasn’t happened. I guess it’s not in God’s plan for my life of serving Him, but then I question why I burn so and long so? I trust God to guide me and that I am where He wants me to be and doing what it is He planned for me to do. I just can’t help wondering why, if it’s not in God’s plan for me to be married, that I have such a strong desire to be married? I guess I’ll just keep praying and keeping the faith that I’m working within Gods plan.
Yours in Christ, Skip
====== Frederick:
On Ezra and Nehemiah
When it comes to rebuilding of the Temple and the city wall, the arrangement of Bible puts two ‘earthly’ things in the text. In Ezra, the Israelites married gentile women. In Nehemiah, the poor were complaining against the usury of the nobles. It seems that when we wnat to rebuild the ‘spiritual’ aspects of our life, it inevitably touches on our sins and whether we act righteously. So, rebuilding involves self examinations and repentance and act righteously.
Frederick
====== Lori:
I am still pondering on 1 Corinthians 7. The commentary on the blog was helpful. This are some words of Paul’s I’ve struggled with, but am not beginning to understand them better.
The forgiveness painting is awesome. It looks like the man has a judges’ gavel in his hand, like he has condemned himself guilty maybe. Jesus is so tender and compassionate…so loving. So forgiving. So amazing.
One thing that stood out to me today is that the time is short. Since I do not know how much longer I have on this earth, then I should live each day with that in mind. This is a convicting, powerful thought to me. But it gets my focus right and really gets me to thinking about priorities. What I’m really here for.
Lori
====== Pat:
Mike, I too believe that some where called to minister as single people and others to minister as married. We know for sure that Peter was married for Scripture tells us that Peter had a wife. During His earthly ministry, Jesus came to Peter’s house and healed “his wife’s mother” (Matthew 8:14-17 and Mark 1:30-31. In addition we learn in 1 Corinthians 9:5 that Peter’s wife accompanied Peter as he travelled the countryside with Jesus. The important thing is that each of us be true to the calling of the Holy Spirit.
Pat
====== Joyce:
Mike and everyone, Psalm 32 in EasyEnglish translation really spoke to me: v1, v2 A man is very happy when (God): – forgives his disobedience – covers his sin – does not put it against him when he does bad things There is nothing false in his spirit v3, v4 When I said nothing my bones became weak and I cried all day long. In the day and in the night your hand was heavy on me. I felt dried up as in the heat of summer. SELAH v5 (Then) I told you about my sin and I did not hide the bad things that I had done. I said, “I will show my disobedience to the LORD”. You forgave the bad things that I had done in my disobedience. v10 Bad people will be very sad. People that trust in the LORD will find his kind love all round them. v11 So, all you good people that have clean hearts: – show everyone that the LORD has made you happy – praise him in words and in music Today i read a sermon on Psalm 32:1-11 on “Discovering Spiritual Contentment” by Alan Carr, http://www.sermonnotebook.org The pastor said if we lack contentment and peace of heart, one of two things is probably true: 1, We have never been saved – only a relationship with God can fill the empty space in our heart. or 2, We are saved, but there is sin in our life. 1 John 1:9 Amplified Bible: “If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].” What a promise this is! Father, For the believers, help us to rest and be content and find refuge in Your amazing grace and power in completely forgiving and erasing our sins. Help us find true peace in You. pray in Jesus’ Name – amen.
Sincerely, Joyce
====== Jane:
“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”Nehemiah 4:14. Never saw this verse before n it popped out to me. Today there seems the breakdown of family. Divorce. Remarriage. 3 or 4 sets of grandparents. Estranged children. Ungrateful children. Hostile parents. Fighting. Satan is in his glory.. We need to bring back the families. Can someone tell me how I build a legacy for my grandchildren if the younger generation doesn’t want Tradition anymore? If everyone is working no one can find good quality time. Lord help us
Jane
====== Lisa:
Thank you.. I needed this!
Lisa
====== Nancy:
For myself I chose not to remarry. It is helpful to only be responsible for myself. I am content in it. I have the freedom of being involved with several ministries at my church. I don’t have to be concerned with being home to fix dinner for the family. I can have cereal for dinner if I want. After my dog died I didn’t replace her for the same reason. Always had dogs. I wanted to see what it was like not having one & the responsibility. Miss her, but not the responsibility.
Nancy
===== Dee:
Yes I’m like u Ramona! Sanballat and friends are like a bad penny! Always mocking and being like a bully! God is good and with Nehemiah..he had him back then and has us now! He honors the faithful!
Corinthians 1st: marriage no marriage, husband’s and wives..I too Mike believe marriage is a good thing. So many take it for granted..but I can say my hubs balances me out..he is the best of my weakest and I am strong in his weaknesses. I love it..just like God honors us in that while we are weak He is our strength
Psalm 32 honesty and forgiveness ! Be still in the Lord..never give up Hope God’s got a plan for u..I already know! Yes!! (From our song today) love it
Proverbs healthy planning for the future is so important..I love how God’s timing is perfect. I was just talking to my son about this very thing! Plan for future ..have a retirement plan..put back for the future ! Don’t wait. Amen
Dee
====== John:
Nehemiah
Ch. 4
When we are doing the work of the Lord, do we have one hand on our “Sword of the Spirit” (God’s Word)?
When we are not on the frontlines doing the work of the Lord, are we in the breeches praying and armed with the Sword of the Spirit to help protect those on the frontlines?
When the trumpet call comes, are we willing to rush into the battle in prayer and the Word? – (thinking of corporate prayer). ====================================================== Ch. 5 Nehemiah’s Handling of Sin (Brother against Brother)
1) He thought about it. 2) He confronted the sinner’s directly. 3) Called an assembly to deal with the sins. 4) Presented evidence in front of assembly. 5) Explained the bad influence of such conduct. (Note: Nehemiah himself was a good example in this case.) 6) Called for repentance and restitution. 7) Required a defined stated commitment of changes to be made. 8) Emphasized seriousness of matter. 9) Warned of consequences of further sin.
John
====== John:
1Cor7:25-40
Paul turns to Christians in general.
1) What if I am young, unmarried – should I stay unmarried?
Paul thinks so, but if you get married it is ok.
Paul is giving his own opinion and it is based on: A) existing distress – there may have been some local persecution in Corinth as Christians were half of one percent of the population. On a larger scale, Roman persecution started around 64 AD. Persecution is tough if you are married, but if you are married – don’t abandon family because of it.
B) There will be troubles in the marriage – solving your “burning desire by marriage is good, but there will be other problems. Life will not be a utopia, just because you get married. The distractions of the problems of marriage may hinder your service to the Lord.
C) Time is short – I can only take this as Paul thinks Christ is coming back soon – and as earth is a way-station. Whatever your status live as if time is short.
[Note: I wonder if Paul knew that God would “tarry” many centuries if his advice would be the same???]
2) What of my children? Should I keep them celibate to the Lord?
Either way is Good. Determine it through prayer and communication with your children.
3) Widows can remarry if they marry a Christian. Again Paul suggests it is better to be single.
“Paul will affirm celibacy, but not because sex itself is evil (as some of the Corinthian Christians were thinking). Instead, the unmarried state can be superior because it offers a person (if they are so gifted) more opportunity to serve God.” – David Guzik ====================================================== Jan,
There is precedent for staying single. Some prophets were single, John the Baptist was single, and Jesus was single.
I don’t have as much problem with the idea of God “calling” (alternate translation: “inviting”) us to to a particular path regarding marriage.
Reading your comment, it seems you are convicted by the Holy Spirit that you should be married. If that is the case, I agree with you that God will provide at the right time in your life.
For me, I have no overwhelming “conviction” regarding marriage. There has been great benefit for me in being single since being saved. It has allowed me to catch-up (being a latecomer to Christ) in my studying of the Word the last two years, and free to do other things to serve Christ.
At some points, I feel it would be nice to be married, but it does not burden me. I had proposed three times in my life, and looking back – I see the wisdom of God in not allowing those proposals to come to fruition.
Currently, I just leave it up to God, and in prayer tell him – “thy will be done”.
John
======= Vance:
I Corinthians 7 30 Happiness or sadness or wealth should not keep anyone from doing God’s work.
This verse really convicted me. I need to process and gain understanding, wisdom, and enlightenment for life through my spirit, “the lamp of the Lord”
Proverbs 20
(AMPLIFIED)
27 The spirit of man [that factor in human personality which proceeds immediately from God] is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.(A)
(NEW KING JAMES VERSION) 27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart. [a]
[a] Literally the rooms of the belly
I like these insights into our spirits:
Amplified –
New KJV note – searching the rooms of the belly
I can pray, and God can show me what is inside of me. I see this not only in the sense of psychology (seeing and understanding my soul), but also seeing and hearing what the Lord is saying within me. (See I Corinthians 2)
I say this because is to TOO easy, acting as a mere human (NOT depending on spiritual wisdom) to focus on, long for, intensely think about marriage– whether as a single or as married.
As a single, the focus can be on getting married, and finding “that perfect mate”. As a married person, the focus can be on “getting out” of marriage or “seeing all of the troublesom issues” in marriage.
If marriage is my focus, and NOT the Lord, then I have to lie in the bed which I make.
So… it so refreshing to read and trust the Lord to teach me to adopt HIS ATTITUDE whether married or single:
I Corinthians 7 30 Happiness or sadness or wealth should not keep anyone from doing God’s work.
PSALM 32
I really like these verse from this Psalm from the Amplified Bible:
1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) is he
==> who has forgiveness of his transgression continually exercised upon him, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity and ==> in whose spirit there is no deceit.(A)
I really like that part in verse 1: who has forgiveness of his transgression continually exercised upon him
Do I live in the awareness AND IN THE REALITY that forgiviness is CONTINUALLY BEING EXERCISED UPON ME?
It is DEFINITELY NOT A STATIC THING! (Praise God!)
And verse 2 helps me know HOW to live in the awareness of the continual exercising of forgiveness:
in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Vance
======= John:
1Cor7
The Corinthians were confused. Many of the original Christians in Corinth were slaves. The sexual immorality of Corinth was staggering. The family life in Rome Empire overall had become a joke. The Brethern had questions:
To be spiritual do we need to abstain from sex whether single or married?What about marriage, fidelity, divorce, mixed marriages with non-believers?
Background Bob Deffingbaugh quotes from William Barclay’s commentary on Corinthians, p. 202:
“Seneca writes that women were married to be divorced and divorced to be married. In Rome the Romans did not commonly date their years by numbers; they called them by the names of their husbands. Martial the Roman poet tells of a woman who had ten husbands; Juvenal tells us of one who had had eight husbands in five years; Jerome declares it to be true that in Rome there was a woman who was married to her twenty-third husband and she herself was his twenty-first wife. We find even a Roman Emperor Augustus demanding that her husband should divorce the lady Livia when she was with child that he might himself marry her. We find even Cicero, in his old age, putting away his wife Terentia that he might marry a young heiress, whose trustee he was, that he might enter into her estate, in order to pay his debts.”
John MacArthur cites:
“Seneca, says that men have … women have wives for the housekeeping and the raising of children and concubines for physical pleasure…Jerome Carcopino writes about it, he says: “Some were not content to live their lives by their husband’s side; they carried on a totally separate life unto themselves. And Juvenal, says: “What modesty can you expect in a woman who wears a helmet, hates her own sex and delights in feats of strength?” And Juvenal* said the women were going bare‑breasted through the streets with spears, sticking pigs and climbing posts. It’s not my kind of woman. But you have all of that kind of stuff. And Juvenal also says that “She lords it over her husband… before long she vacates her home … flits from one house to another wearing out her bridal veil.” http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/2340.htm
[Note: JUVENAL (ca. 55-127 c.e.). Roman satiric poet whose works attacked corruption
Jérôme Carcopino (1881 – 1970) was a French historian and author. “Daily Life in Ancient Rome”, Pelican, London, 1956]
There were four types of marriages in Roman Empire:
1) contubernium, meaning “tent companionship” which was an arrangement between slaves which lasted only as long as their owner permitted, as the slaves were completely without rights. Slave owners mated their slaves with the hope of getting offspring with desired characterstics. Much like prize cattle and horses are mated today.
2) usus, a form of common law marriage recognizing a couple to be husband and wife after they had lived together for a year. To preserve property from spousal attachment – a partner needed to live apart from spouse three consecutive days in each year.
3) coemptio in manum, in which a father would sell his daughter to a prospective husband.
4) confarreatio, on which the modern Christian marrige ceremony is based..involved participation by both families in the arrgenements for the wedding, a matron to accomany the bride and a man to accompany the groom, exchanging of vows, the wearing of a veil by the bride, the giving of a ring (placed on the third finger of the left hand), a bridal bouquet, and a wedding cake. ====================================================== So there was rampant sexual immorality, decaying family life, marriage was varied and probably confusing to a slave –
is it any wonder that the brethren were confused?
Paul addresses their questions in 1Cor7. We only see the answers, but it is not hard to imagine the questions.
[Note: Looked up the majority of references that Barclay and MacArthur cited – found most – and am satisfied that the representation of life in those times is accurate.]
1Cor7:1-24
Paul begins to answer their questions:
1) Should we be celibate? It is ok (good)to be single and celibate.
2) What about in marriage? Given the temptations in climate. It is good to be married. One husband to One wife, and marital duties should be fulfilled. A concession, but not a command that abstinence can be allowed by mutual consent for prayer, but afterwards to resume relations.
3)So which way is best – single or married? Neither, each is a gift from God. They are both good.
“While Paul recognizes that some are gifted for marriage, and some are gifted for the unmarried state, no one is “gifted” for sexual immorality! The married must live faithfully to their spouse, and the unmarried must live celibate. – David Guzik
4) What if we are single and cannot resist temptation?
Then get married. “..for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” NIV
“burn in Greek is “on fire” not just tempted, but filled with overflowing passion.
5) What about a marriage between Christians? Can they divorce? No. (Unless there is infidelity Matt5 and 19). But I think the brethren just want to know in general given the permissive divorce practices in Corinth,and Paul says, “NO”. BUT if you do – you must stay unmarried or reconcile with your mate.
6) What about if I become a believer and spouse is not? You stay together unless the non-believer wants “out”. Let them go, while you were to pray for their salvation, their is no guarantee of “conversion”. While in the marriage the unbeliever is “sanctified”???
“Sanctified, in this context, does not mean that the unbelieving spouse is saved just by being married to a Christian. It simply means that they are set apart for a special working in their lives by the Holy Spirit, by virtue of being so close to someone who is a Christian.” – David Guzik
Summary What’s your message to the church, Paul? I mean, how … what’s, your practical message? Look, the message is this. The way God made you, the way ordained you, the way called you, that’s the way you ought to walk. In other words, if…if He designed you for marriage, you ought to get married. If He designed you for singleness, you ought to be single. And if you were saved married, stay married. And if you were saved single, stay single unless you feel you need to get married. He’s just saying ‑ Look, what I say in all the churches is that the Lord has to work this out as He distributes to every individual. And only you know between you and God whether you need to be single or married. But…but salvation shouldn’t change those things. http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/2341.htm
John
====== John:
Rethinking #5 from above
We don’t know the questions asked, but the theme of the responses, seem to indicate the questions asked center around:
We came into Christianity with a background – do we need to change our situation to pursue spirituality, celibacy, or closeness to God?
For a marriage where both partners are believers, Paul is saying – no – you stay together as situation God called you in at salvation. You do not divorce to pursue some perceived ideal lifestyle regarding the Lord.
John
===== Vance:
Divorce is clearly not God’s will, as in Malachi 2 (NKJV): 16 “ For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence,” says the LORD of hosts. “ Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.” 17 You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you say, “ In what way have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “ Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them,” or, “Where is the God of justice?” ~~~
The Holy Spirit through Paul clearly reinforces this in I Corinthians 7 (NKJV): 10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
Yet, Jesus allowed it (though because of the hardness of heart) if there was sexual immorality.
A believer and follower of Christ is not allowed to leave an unbeliever, and to put for the spiritual effort of prayer, love and partnership to make marriage with an unbeliever a beautiful thing.
Yet, the Holy Spirit says that if the unbeliever wants to leave, then he or she is allowed to.
It seems clear to me that in two (2) cases, the Lord allows for divorce and subsequent remarriage: 1. if one spouse commits adultery—though divorce is allowed, God’s glory can still rebuild the marriage and make it into an even more wonderful testimony of God’s power and grace 2. if the unbeliever chooses to leave—i.e., desertion by the unbeliever. Then, in that case, the believer must (of course) then remarry “in the Lord”.
Yet, the overall principle to follow is found in a passage we read a few days ago—I Corinthians 5 (NKJV): 9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
This is God’s rule—“ not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral”. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 19 (NKJV): 8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, [Or fornication] and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” ~~~
By Jesus’ own testimony—“whoever divorces [his or her spouse] and marries another commits adultery”. Adultery is sexual immorality.
We are not to even have fellowship with someone who deliberately disregards the command of the Lord and follows the “unbridled passion of lust” or “unbridled longing for love” to divorce a spouse and marry someone else.
Of course, all sin can be forgiven, and is covered by the Blood of Jesus. If someone divorces against God’s will (i.e., because long for someone else, because of unhappiness in present marriage, because of uncontrolled desires or anger, etc.)—and they later genuinely repent, then they are forgiven through Christ.
At that moment, as much as is possible, they need to try to reconcile with the former spouse. However, that may not be possible as the former spouse may not be able to or willing to remarry them.
Then, these persons need to follow the Lord with all of their hearts and follow the Word and the Holy Spirit in the context of a local fellowship of believers who serve the Lord. ~~~
Psalm 32 (Amplified Bible) 1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) is he who has forgiveness of his transgression continually exercised upon him, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
NOTE: I really like this rendering of these marvelous verses. MAY WE REALLY PRESS INTO, in order to KNOW AND EXPERIENCE this marvelous GRACE of God every day of our lives!
I praise God that there are always THOUSANDS and MILLIONS of chances for ALL of us who are sincerely willing to repent, ask forgiveness, and follow the Lord.
Regardless of the sin or injury (if sinned against), we can ALL LIVE in a REAL state of live where our spirits are free from ALL DECEIT and DARKNESS.
Of course, we always have to submit to God, repent of sin, and resist the devil every day. Of course, we will be attacked spiritually as we obey. YET, God HAS MADE PROVISION for us to live our lives FREE of DECEIT and DARKNESS.
We can like Jesus “for the joy set before us” endure any temptation and cross.
WE CAN KNOW REAL STRENGTH THROUGH INTIMACY WITH THE LORD at all times– when we feel weak or strong. God is our joy, life, and prosperity.
ALL WE ARE AND ALL WE HAVE is in Him and from Him!
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