1 Corinthians 10 (2)

Pray Psalm 73.25-28.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works.

Sing Psalm 73.25-28.
(Ellacombe: Hosanna, Loud Hosanna)
Then what have I in heav’n above but You, my God and Lord?
And on this earth what shall I love besides You and Your Word?
My flesh and heart shall surely fail, and death my soul release;
Your strength for me will e’er avail and grant eternal peace.

Then let them perish who depart from You and from Your Word.
All those unfaithful in their heart You shall destroy, O LORD!
But as for me, Your nearness, LORD, is where I e’er will dwell!
I hide myself within Your Word, Your wondrous works to tell.

Read 1 Corinthians 10.1-13; meditate on verses 7-13.

Preparation
1. Against what did Paul warn the Corinthians?

2. What did he say about temptation?

Meditation
Two things to know about temptation: First, temptation is not sin. Martin Luther is credited with having observed, concerning temptation, “You can’t stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” Second, Christians are not well taught concerning how to recognize temptation or what to do when it arises.

The people of Israel certainly suffered from that second observation. They stumbled over every obstacle to faith and fell through temptation into sin nearly every time they were faced with it (vv. 7-11). Paul says these people are examples for us—bad examples, to be sure.

But good examples if they help us identify the sins that tend so often to lodge in our soul and hinder our walk with and work for the Lord. Lust, presuming on the Lord, complaining about things (v. 8-10). For the Corinthians “all these things happened to them as examples”, so the Corinthians, looking into the mirror of God’s Word, could see their own folly and turn away from it.

The Corinthians were pretty sure they were standing on solid ground (v. 12), though they were at odds with one another, divided over petty differences, and complaining about this, that, and the other. Paul says to them, “Take heed.” You will face temptation every day. That’s unavoidable. But you don’t have to fall through it into sin. We can grow through temptation to greater levels of sanctification if we look to the Lord, resist the devil, recognize temptation for what it is, and walk by faith rather than by sight.

If we resolve not to give into temptation, and look for the way to escape through it, God will bear us up, draw us near, and give us the strength of His Spirit to carry us through (v. 13).

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
The psalmist did not fall through temptation into sin. He saw it for what it was and railed against it:
“All Your commandments are faithful;
they persecute me wrongfully; Help me!
They almost made an end of me on earth,
but I did not forsake Your precepts.
Revive me according to Your loving kindness,
so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth” (Ps. 119.86-88).

God specifically provided the correct quota of manna for the Israelites. He told them to gather so much and no more. And not on the Sabbath. He did it in this way to “test them, whether they will walk in My law or not” (Ex. 16.4).

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (Jms. 1.17). But those good and perfect gifts are to be used according to His direction and quotas—tempting as it may seem that if a little is good, a lot would be a lot better—according to His Law.

The enemy, that roaring lion (1 Pet. 5.8), uses stealthy tactics to draw us off the good path. Gideon used a method, stealthy and victorious, to defeat one of his enemies. Here is how he did it: “he attacked the army [of his enemies] while the camp felt secure” (Judg. 8.11).

And Paul warned that the devil does the same to us, he attacks in places where we feel secure. “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10.12). It is right where we feel cocky and sure, so much so, that we are not following God’s way nor listening to His guidance—but seeking our own way—that we stumble and fall.

Jesus, in all things, was made like we, “that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Heb. 2.17, 18).

Jesus knows. He was tempted as we. But He never fell through into sin. Never.
We are joined to the Lord and are one spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6.17).
He has sent us “the Helper, the Holy Spirit” Who will teach us all things and bring to our remembrance everything that He has told us through His Word (Jn. 14.26).

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (Jn. 14.27).

Jesus didn’t fall. We don’t have to either. When we live our lives according to His plan, we will escape the sin that temptation wants us to fall into. No birds need nest in our hair. Ever.

For reflection
1. When have you ever been taught how to recognize and deal with temptation? What did you learn?

2. What is the role of prayer in dealing with temptation? What role does the Word play?

3. Can we recognize temptation if we are ignorant of God’s Law? Explain.

The Christian’s security against sin is distrust of himself. God has not promised to keep us from falling, if we do not look to ourselves. To this word of caution, a word of comfort is added. Others have the like burdens, and the like temptations: what they bear up under, and break through, we may also. God is wise as well as faithful, and will make our burdens according to our strength. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on the 1 Corinthians 10.6-14

Pray Psalm 73.1-24.
The psalmist was tempted by covetousness, but he did not give in. How many ways of escaping did he appeal to keep himself in the fellowship of the Lord? As you pray through this psalm, ask the Lord to equip you to deal with the temptations you will face this day.

Sing Psalm 73.1-24.
(Ellacombe: Hosanna, Loud Hosanna)
To us our God is only good, to all the pure in heart!
But as for me, I nearly stood in sin from Him apart.
I nearly stumbled, nearly slipped as I the proud observed,
how they with ease and riches dripped while I, impoverished, served.

The wicked know in death no pain; with fat their bodies surge.
The plagues and trials of other men their ease do not disturb.
In fury, wrath, and pride they dwell; their minds run where they will.
Their tongues of sin and mocking tell; with earth their mouths they fill.

They never change but fill their soul with earth’s abundant charms,
and laugh to think that God might know or do them any harm.
For thus do they themselves appease with riches and good health;
the wicked ever dwell in ease, in pleasure and in wealth.

“Surely in vain have I kept pure my heart, or cleansed my hands!
What troubles daily I endure while thus with God I stand!”
But had I spoken thus I would Your children have betrayed.
When this at last I understood, my troubled soul obeyed.

Into Your Presence, LORD, I come and see the sinner’s end:
In slippery places they must run; to judgment them You send.
Destruction all at once must fall when You Your anger raise;
and terror will beset them all both now and all their days.

When my poor sad, embittered heart was pierced within by grace,
I saw how beastly was the part I chose before Your face.
But I am ever with You, LORD, You hold me by the hand,
and guide me daily by Your Word; in glory I e’er shall stand.

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.