Neither Be Idolaters 1 Corinthians 10:7

The apostle Paul told the church members in Corinth, “these things”, which were scriptures in the old testament, “were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.” In chapter ten and verse seven of First Corinthians, Paul told the church members “neither be idolaters” where we read:

Neither be you idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written,

The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

The verse begins, “Neither be you idolaters, as were some of them;” Paul began with the word, “neither” which means “nor and ever once so much as” “be you idolaters” or “were the church members worship idols or false gods” “as were some” which means “in the like manner as certain ones” “of them” which refers to “the children of Israel who wandered through the wilderness”. Paul exhorted the Corinthian church not to “worship false gods” as did “certain ones” of the people of Israel.

The verse goes on to say, “as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Paul continued with the words, “as it is written” or “in the manner in which it was delineated in letters on a tablet, parchment, paper, or other material”, “the people” which means “the great part of the population of the Israelites” “sat down” which means “fixed their abode and settled” “to eat” or “to consume and devour” “and drink” which means “imbibe”, “and rose up” or “raised from their places or stood up” “to play” which means “to sport with joking, singing and dancing”. Paul referred to Exodus chapter thirty-two and verse six as he recalled how some of the children of Israel began to eat, drink, play and worship the golden calves which were forged by Aaron who was Moses' brother.

When we meditate upon these words from Paul, we remember how the people began to worship “idols” while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the ten commandments from God. Even as God was providing protective ways for the children of Israel to live, they abandoned Him and worshiped false gods. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father, but by me” (John 14:6), and to give “homage or adoration” to anything else is to commit “spiritual idolatry”. God desires for us to have an intimate relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and when we surrender our lives to Him, we have no reason to be guilty of being “idolaters”.

Next time Paul told the church members, “neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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