1231 To you my eyes are lifted up, even to you whose seat is in the heavens. 2 See! as the eyes of servants are turned to the hands of their masters, and the eyes of a servant-girl to her owner, so our eyes are waiting for the Lord our God, till he has mercy on us. 3 Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us: for all men are looking down on us. 4 For long enough have men of pride made sport of our soul.
1241 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side (let Israel now say); 2 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men came up against us; 3 They would have made a meal of us while still living, in the heat of their wrath against us: 4 We would have been covered by the waters; the streams would have gone over our soul; 5 Yes, the waters of pride would have gone over our soul.
6 Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be wounded by their teeth. 7 Our soul has gone free like a bird out of the net of those who would take her: the net is broken, and we are free. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
1251 Those whose hope is in the Lord are like the mountain of Zion, which may not be moved, but keeps its place for ever. 2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people, from this time and for ever. 3 For the rod of sinners will not be resting on the heritage of the upright; so that the upright may not put out their hands to evil.
4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in heart. 5 But as for such as are turned out of the straight way, the Lord will take them away with the workers of evil. Let peace be on Israel.
101 For it is my desire, my brothers, that you may keep in mind how all our fathers were under the cloud, and they all went through the sea; 2 And they all had baptism from Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And they all took the same holy food; 4 And the same holy drink: for they all took of the water from the holy rock which came after them: and the rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not pleased: for they came to their end in the waste land.
6 Now these things were for an example to us, so that our hearts might not go after evil things, as they did. 7 Then do not go after false gods, as some of them did; as it is said in the holy Writings, After resting and feasting, the people got up to take their pleasure. 8 Again, let us not give way to the desires of the flesh, as some of them did, of whom twenty-three thousand came to their end in one day. 9 And let us not put the Lord to the test, as some of them did, and came to their death by snakes. 10 And do not say evil things against the Lord, as some of them did, and destruction overtook them. 11 Now these things were done as an example; and were put down in writing for our teaching, on whom the last days have come. 12 So let him who seems to himself to be safe go in fear of a fall. 13 You have been put to no test but such as is common to man: and God is true, who will not let any test come on you which you are not able to undergo; but he will make with the test a way out of it, so that you may be able to go through it. 14 For this cause, my dear brothers, give no worship to false gods.
15 What I am saying is for wise men, do you be the judges of it. 16 The cup of blessing which we take, does it not give us a part in the blood of Christ? and is not the broken bread a taking part in the body of Christ? 17 Because we, being a number of persons, are one bread, we are one body: for we all take part in the one bread. 18 See Israel after the flesh: do not those who take as food the offerings of the altar take a part in the altar?
(Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-5)
To dissuade the Corinthians from communion with idolaters, and security in any sinful course, the apostle sets before them the example of the Jewish nation of old. They were, by a miracle, led through the Red Sea, where the pursuing Egyptians were drowned. It was to them a typical baptism. The manna on which they fed was a type of Christ crucified, the Bread which came down from heaven, which whoso eateth shall live for ever. Christ is the Rock on which the Christian church is built; and of the streams that issue therefrom, all believers drink, and are refreshed. It typified the sacred influences of the Holy Spirit, as given to believers through Christ. But let none presume upon their great privileges, or profession of the truth; these will not secure heavenly happiness.
(Read 1 Corinthians 10:6-14)
Carnal desires gain strength by indulgence, therefore should be checked in their first rise. Let us fear the sins of Israel, if we would shun their plagues. And it is but just to fear, that such as tempt Christ, will be left by him in the power of the old serpent. Murmuring against God's disposals and commands, greatly provokes him. Nothing in Scripture is written in vain; and it is our wisdom and duty to learn from it. Others have fallen, and so may we. 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. He knows what we can bear. He will make a way to escape; he will deliver either from the trial itself, or at least the mischief of it. We have full encouragement to flee from sin, and to be faithful to God. We cannot fall by temptation, if we cleave fast to him. Whether the world smiles or frowns, it is an enemy; but believers shall be strengthened to overcome it, with all its terrors and enticements. The fear of the Lord, put into their hearts, will be the great means of safety.
(Read 1 Corinthians 10:15-22)
Did not the joining in the Lord's supper show a profession of faith in Christ crucified, and of adoring gratitude to him for his salvation ? Christians, by this ordinance, and the faith therein professed, were united as the grains of wheat in one loaf of bread, or as the members in the human body, seeing they were all united to Christ, and had fellowship with him and one another. This is confirmed from the Jewish worship and customs in sacrifice. The apostle applies this to feasting with idolaters. Eating food as part of a heathen sacrifice, was worshipping the idol to whom it was made, and having fellowship or communion with it; just as he who eats the Lord's supper, is accounted to partake in the Christian sacrifice, or as they who ate the Jewish sacrifices partook of what was offered on their altar. It was denying Christianity; for communion with Christ, and communion with devils, could never be had at once. If Christians venture into places, and join in sacrifices to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, they will provoke God.
