Thursday, October 29 — Not Every Loud Voice Is God's
These days, anyone with a phone and a ring light can announce what God is saying. Some of them are worth hearing. Some of them definitely are not. How do we tell the difference?
1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 26-31 — KJV
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 26-31 — WEB
1 Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation. 4 He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly. 5 Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up. 26 What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, or has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up. 27 If any man speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29 Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern. 30 But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted.
Explanation
Yesterday Paul told the Corinthians that every gift comes from the same Spirit. In between that chapter and this one sits 1 Corinthians 13, the great love chapter. So when chapter 14 opens with "Follow after charity," Paul is carrying that whole chapter with him into the worship service.
Worship in Corinth was lively, and sometimes chaotic. People were speaking in languages no one around them understood, talking over one another, each with something to share. Paul doesn't shut it down. He redirects it. Prophecy, he says, is to be preferred because it speaks to people "to edification, and exhortation, and comfort," building them up, urging them forward, and consoling them. A word from God is meant to land on somebody and help them. If nobody can understand it, it may bless the speaker, but it doesn't build the church.
Then in verses 26 through 31, Paul gives some very practical instructions. Everybody has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation. Fine. "Let all things be done unto edifying." Take turns. Two or three at most. If someone speaks in another language, someone needs to interpret. And here's the line at the center of today's theme: "Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge." Other translations say "weigh" or "discern." Even a genuine prophetic word is not beyond testing. The community listens, and the community weighs.
Verse 30 adds a humbling detail. If God reveals something to a person sitting nearby, the first speaker should stop and let them talk. No one has a monopoly on God's voice.
That lands right next to Sunday's lesson, The Lord Calls Samuel. An old priest named Eli, who had made serious mistakes, still had enough discernment to realize that the voice calling a young boy in the night was the LORD. And when God's word came, it came to the boy, not to Eli. The person "sitting by" got the message, and the elder had to hold his peace and listen.
So how do we weigh what we hear? A few honest questions help. Does it line up with Scripture? Does it point to Jesus, or to the person saying it? Does it build up, or only tear down? Does it come with love? Is it being tested in community, or does the speaker resent being questioned? That goes for preachers on video, for political voices, for advice from family, and even for the voice in our own heads. Discernment is not cynicism. It's caring enough about God's voice to make sure we're actually hearing it.
Thought for the Day
Not every loud voice is God's. Weigh it with love.
Reflection Question
Whose voice have you been accepting without weighing it, and how could you test it against Scripture this week?
Prayer
Lord, there are so many voices claiming to speak for You. Give us discernment that is humble, not suspicious. Help our words build others up instead of just making noise. Teach us to listen to each other, because You might be speaking through the person sitting next to us.
This week we walk toward Sunday's lesson: The Lord Calls Samuel.