Calvary Baptist Church of Waterbury, CT

Menacing Murmuring - 1 Corinthians 10

Sep 25, 2022    Dr. Craig P. Scott

There are several words I can use that would help us understand this morning's subject. Murmuring means to "grumble," to be "discontent," to "complain" and to "criticize." We probably need to add "whining" to this definition as well.
Paul warns the Corinthians about the dangers of murmuring in our text and uses the example of the Israelites to illustrate the peril they faced if they continued this behavior. "...Neither murmur ye..." is his admonition.

In 1 Corinthians 10:6 we are given the point of this passage.

“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”

In our passage this morning God is using historic events of the past to teach us a lesson. He does not want us to fall into the same situation as Israel or the church in Corinth. He makes it clear that He was not pleased with a number of people during Israel’s wilderness wandering nor with many in the Corinthian church.
Note 1 Corinthians 10:5, “But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.”
The implication of this passage is that it is possible for God to be displeased with many in today’s church as He was with many of those at Corinth and in the Jewish wilderness wandering.