ALL SOUNDS MUST HAVE SIGNIFICANCE

pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the

sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or

harped. For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound,

who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise

ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be

understood, how shall it be known what is spoken?

for ye shall speak into the air. There are, it may be,

so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of

them is without signification. Therefore, If I know

not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that

speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a

barbarian unto me

(I Cor. 14:7-11)

Even inanimate objects that give sound, whether a pipe or a harp, must

provide a distinction in the sounds, or we will not know what is being piped or

harped. The sounds themselves are not important, but what they signify is. Have

you ever thought about how strange are the sounds that make up a language? We

We glug and gargle and goo and gaggle and cackle and hiss and hum--we make all

those sounds, yet the sounds have significance. We puff and hiss and spit, "Pass-

ssss a piesssss of pizzzzzzzza," and someone hands us a gastronomical delight.

Amazing!

Paul says that even though the sounds may have a meaning to others, if

there is no distinction in sounds, they may not have meaning to him. This is why

the older generation does not understand certain kinds of music made by the

younger generation. They cannot make a distinction in the sounds. Young people

enjoy a rock concert, but the older generation wonders what is going on.

Then, Paul says, "so likewise you, except you utter by the tongue, words

easy to understand, how shall it be known what is spoken?" Even though a

person may be speaking by the Spirit in the tongue of angels, it will be as though

he is speaking into the air. There are many kinds of voices in the world, almost

3,000 different dialects in which to express an idea, and every one of them has

meaning to somebody. But, to the majority of us, only one, or a very few, have

significance. For, as the apostle said, "If I don't know the meaning of the voice, I

shall be unto him that speaks a barbarian and he that speaks shall be a barbarian

unto me," even though he is my brother in Christ.

Remember, it is not just the speaking that is important, whether it be angelic

or the common language of the people. For we may listen for an hour to a

speaker who has nothing to say and we are not edified. What is important is

whether or not the church is edified.

This is why Paul said, "I would that you all spake with tongues, but rather

that ye prophesied" (verse 5), because in prophecy we are speaking in a language

that can be understood for the purposes of edification. And this is why he also

said, "Let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret"

(verse 13). People must have an interpretation of what is spoken in tongues if

they are to be edified.

EXCEL IN EDIFYING THE CHURCH

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual

gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the

church. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an un-

known tongue pray that he may interpret

(I Cor. 14:12,13).

When we read the scriptures, it is important to see the connections between

the verses: the "wherefore's," the "even so's," the "for if's," the "what is it

then's," and the "else when's." All of these little words have meaning. They all

have a significance because each of these connectives is relating that scripture to

something that the writer has already said and is providing a logical foundation for

his argument.

Paul declares that if we are going to be zealous about spiritual things, if we

are going to speak in tongues, if we are going to give utterances in the church, if

we are going to be zealous of spirituals, we need to be zealous in finding ways

that we may excel in the edifying of the church. This should be our desire.

WHEREFORE, if we want to be zealous of spirituals; WHEREFORE, if we are going

to edify the church; THEN, if we speak in an unknown tongue, we must pray for

an interpretation. Why an interpretation? So we can edify the church. If we are

speaking in tongues, we are edifying ourselves. However, if we are going to

speak out in public, then we need to have an interpretation so someone else can

understand what we are saying.

In these scriptures, Paul is also emphasizing common courtesy in personal

relationships. Why would anyone, ministering in love, desire to edify himself at

another person's inconvenience? It is not proper for me to edify myself by speak-

ing in tongues while others sit there not understanding what I am saying, espe-

cially if they are unbelievers. It would be as if I invited them to my home, then sat

at the dining table eating a good meal without asking them to eat with me. I am

enjoying myself, edifying myself, while they are hungry. Paul's guidelines are

based upon love and a consideration for the needs of others--"Let no man seek his

own, but every man another's wealth [well-being]" (I Cor. 10:24).

THE NEED FOR UNDERSTANDING

For if I pray [or speak a psalm] in an unknown

tongue, my spirit prays [or speaks a psalm] but my

understanding is unfruitful (I Cor. 14:14).

When we pray in the Spirit our spirit prays and we are edified. However,

Paul instructs us to pray for the interpretation in order to understand what the

Spirit is saying and illuminate our intellect. As John said, "He that hath an ear, let

him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Rev. 2:7,11,17,29). We need

to hear the voice of the Spirit to help us understand the will of God. What is the

Spirit's prayer to God in our behalf? What is the psalm the Spirit is speaking to

God? What is the blessing that the Spirit would bestow upon us?

Since we are praying or psalming in the Spirit, we are blessing by the Spirit

in an excellent manner and our spirit is edified. However, without an interpreta-

tion, we are not receiving the full benefit of the manifestation--our understanding is

unfruitful, our intellect is not enlightened. To receive the full spiritual and intellec-

tual benefit, we should pray and psalm both with the Spirit and with the under-

standing.