Thursday 26 February 2015

Psalm: Psalm 118:1-18

Background

In the first part of this passage, Paul puts effort intoestablishing that the Corinthians are indeed people of God. Hecalls upon the example of their "ancestors" (v. 1), using languagewhich highlights the similarities between the world of his hearersand the worlds of the people he is describing. But, havingestablished that the Corinthians are God's people, he warns themthat this does not mean that they are immune from temptation orharm. Whilst they may have confidence in God's blessing, it shouldnever be taken for granted; neither should it produce complacency.Receiving God's blessing does not mean that there is no longer anyneed for hard work: indeed, it is only the beginning.

Paul tells how unfaithfulness led to the people being "struckdown in the wilderness" (v. 5), using the story as a warning of theconsequences of giving in to temptation. Not only should wecontinue to be alert and faithful to God and God alone, Paul urges,but also we must not put God to the test. In Paul's understandingof God's nature, God's wrath was something that could beexercised.

Yet, God is a God who can be relied on. We may be tested andtried, but God is faithful and we can trust in God's love. Howeverwe may be challenged, Paul has confidence that God will provide theresource we need to get through.

To Ponder

• What has helped you to get through testing times?

• What do you rely on when under pressure?

• Are there times when you feel you have wanted to "put Christ tothe test" (v. 9), and how did you handle this?