Darash Chai Experiment

In chapter 4 we are introduced to a new judge for Israel. And the identity of this judge is quite controversial. The common assertion that is made is that it is Deborah who is the judge of chapters 4 and 5, but others say that the judge is Barak. So is there any indication anywhere else in scripture of who this judge is? Let’s find out.

There is in the stories of Judges a cycle that repeats over and over and over again. It is a seven step cycle that starts and ends with Israel in a state of sin and seeking salvation. And this cycle is one that every Christian is likely familiar with as we experience this cycle repeatedly in our own lives. So what is this cycle and is there a way to break this cycle?

Throughout the book of 1 Corinthians, Paul has been imploring the church at Corinth to seek unity over division in their dealings with each other. And each chapter of this book has been leveraged towards attempting to address areas of division within the body. But when we get to chapter 16 it seems as if all of that simply goes out the window in favor or personal greetings and Paul’s future plans. But when we really stop and examine the chapter in full we find that Paul has not abandoned his previous topic, he is simply brining it full circle.

In the course of the Bible, there is only one chapter that even begins to talk about the practical application of Spiritual Gifts in the corporate worship service. And when covering this topic Paul uses two gifts in particular to make his point. Tongues and prophecy. Perhaps the two most controversial gifts in the modern age. But when we get down to it, there is one focus that is put on the church service when it comes to the gifts. Order over Chaos.

In chapter 10 of 1 Corinthians Paul introduced a metaphor for the church that is aptly descriptive and yet goes much deeper than most realize. Yeshua while on this earth walked in a body. When His body left the earth in the ascension, you might assume that His body is no longer present. And yet, in 1 Corinthians Paul calls the church the body of Christ. And if we are the body of Yeshua then what are the implications of this line of thought?

The idea of sacrifice is all throughout scripture. From the very beginning when Cain and Abel offer the first recorded sacrifices, to the NT where sacrifice is something that becomes more personal. In the city of Corinth sacrifice was a ubiquitous practice but not to God. There were many gods worshipped in the city of Corinth, and food that was available to purchase had likely been offered in sacrifice to one of the many gods in the city. What was the Christian in this situation to do?

For many, the desire to be right is central to their belief. After all, truth is of vital importance and so defending what we see as true is a just cause. But there is a danger to the focused defense of the truth. A side effect that leaves victims in our wake as we seek to elevate our own ideas of what is true over the ideas of others. And as Paul continues in this letter he has addressed this danger, but in this chapter he brings his thoughts on the matter to the front.

There will from time to time arise issues between believers. We are human and we make mistakes, so what do we do when this occurs? Do we take it to the courts, or do we take it to the church? Well, Paul recommends taking these disuptes to the church, and his reasoning for saying this is quite profound.