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AUGUST 27

8:1 things offered to idols. The Greeks and 8:7 conscience…is defiled. The consciences
Romans were polytheistic (worshiping many of some newer converts were still accusing
gods) and polydemonistic (believing in many them strongly with regard to allowing them to
evil spirits). They believed that evil spirits eat idol food without feeling spiritually cor-
would try to invade human beings by attach- rupted and guilty. They still imagined that
ing themselves to food before it was eaten, idols were real and evil.A defiled conscience is
and that the spirits could be removed only by one that has been violated, bringing fear,
the food’s being sacrificed to a god.The sacrifice shame, and guilt.
was meant not only to gain favor with the god
but also to cleanse the meat from demonic con- 8:12 you sin against Christ. A strong warn-
tamination. Such decontaminated meat was ing that causing a brother or sister in Christ to
offered to the gods as a sacrifice. That which stumble is more than simply an offense
was not burned on the altar was served at against that person. It is a serious offense
wicked pagan feasts.What was left was sold in against the Lord Himself.
the market. After conversion, believers resent-
ed eating such food bought out of idol mar-
kets, because it reminded sensitive Gentile
believers of their previous pagan lives and the 7 However, there is not in everyone that knowl-
demonic worship. we all have knowledge. edge; for some, with consciousness of the idol,
Paul and mature believers knew better than to until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and
be bothered by such food offered once to idols their conscience, being weak, is defiled. But
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and then sold in the marketplace. They knew food does not commend us to God; for neither if
the deities didn’t exist and that evil spirits did we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are
not contaminate the food. love edifies. we the worse.
Knowledge mingled with love prevents a 9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of
believer from exercising freedoms that offend yours become a stumbling block to those who
weaker believers and, rather, builds the others are weak. For if anyone sees you who have
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up in truth and wisdom (13:1–4).
knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not
the conscience of him who is weak be embold-
ened to eat those things offered to idols? And
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but one. For even if there are so-called gods, because of your knowledge shall the weak
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whether in heaven or on earth (as there are brother perish, for whom Christ died? But
many gods and many lords), yet for us there is when you thus sin against the brethren, and
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one God, the Father, of whom are all things, wound their weak conscience, you sin against
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and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother
through whom are all things, and through stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I
whom we live. make my brother stumble.
DAY 27: In Ecclesiates, what reflections does Solomon give on Genesis?
Toward the end of his life,the penitent King Solomon pondered life in the wake of the Fall and
the outworking of man’s sin.Solomon drew the following conclusions,possibly from his own study
of Genesis:
1. God created the heavens and earth with laws of design and regularity (Eccl. 1:2–7; 3:1–8;
Gen. 1:1–31; 8:22).
2. Man is created from dust and returns to dust (Eccl. 3:20; 12:7; Gen. 2:7; 3:19).
3. God placed in man His life-giving breath (Eccl. 12:7; Gen. 2:7).
4. As God ordained it,marriage is one of life’s most enjoyable blessings (Eccl.9:9;Gen.2:18–25).
5. Divine judgment results from the Fall (Eccl. 3:14–22; 11:9; 12:14; Gen. 2:17; 3:1–19).
6. The effect of the curse on creation is “vanity,”i.e., futility (Eccl. 1:5–8; Gen. 3:17–19).
7. Labor after the Fall is difficult and yields little profit (Eccl. 1:3,13; 2:3; 3:9–11; Gen. 3:17–19).
8. Death overcomes all creatures after the Fall (Eccl. 8:8; 9:4,5; Gen. 2:17; 3:19).
9. After the Fall,man’s heart is desperately wicked (Eccl.7:20,29; 8:11; 9:3; Gen.3:22; 6:5; 8:21).
10. God withholds certain knowledge and wisdom from man for His wise, but unspoken,
reasons (Eccl. 6:12; 8:17; Gen. 3:22).

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