Chapter 32 - Whilst chapter 31 speaks of the appointment of Bezaleel as the man who would be skilful in metal work the selection was not made until Moses came down the mountain. The scene is being set for a contrast.

31:13 The Sabbath was not simply a day of rest or an irksome inconvenience for Israel as they often found it. Rather it was to teach that their sanctification was of God

32:6 In sitting down to eat and drink and then rising up to play the people are very much like Esau (Genesis 25:34) who sold his birthright.

Exo 32:19  Moses, in hot anger, smashed God’s wonderful carving and writing down onto the ground. We do not read of God being angry with him, but we are told that he had to carve out the new blocks of stone himself, and to carry them up to God Deut 10:1,and God would write the same words again. Is there a type here? The first covenant (or, the Law of Moses) was to be replaced by the Law of Christ, "Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." Heb 8:13

Exo 31:13-17  Sabbath only for Israel. "Speak unto the children of Israel" V.13  "It is a sign between me and the children of Israel." V.17 We can also go to Rom 14:5, Col 2:16

We see Moses, as a type of Christ, standing in the gap, interceding for his people (32:11).  Yahweh can be persuaded for His Name's sake (32:12).
 
Not long before the incident of the molten calf, the people had agreed to obey Yahweh (19:8).  And yet, through their lack of faith, they turned to the very idolatry from which they had been extricated (cattle were considered objects of worship in Egypt).

We must keep our faith strong by daily refreshing ourselves and our brethren with the Word.  We are like boats tied up at the dock.  As long as our ropes are secure we will not drift away.  We might be tossed up and down with the waves and pulled by the tide, but we will remain in place.
Slacken the rope and we will surely drift away, even little by little, until we are lost at sea.  Let the rope of the Word secure us to the dock of Christ.

31:6      We might have thought that it was practical skills that would be required for the making of the tabernacle. However the men that were involved were ‘wise hearted’ – an indication that building the house of God – the ecclesia – is not a matter of worldly skills but is a matter of applying Godly wisdom which often is at variance from the wisdom of the world.

32:1     In saying that the people thought that Moses ‘delayed’ we learn that they were impatient. Are we unwilling to wait for God ad are we too willing to get involved in mischief whilst we wait God’s good time?

31:3 The filling of Bezaleel with the qualities required to build the tabernacle is rather like the giving of the spirit gifts in the first century which were for the building up of the church – Eph 4:12

31:6 The addition of Aholiab and others is like the giving of the holy spirit gifts in the first century. They were not confined to one or two in the church but rather to many who all used them for the same purpose, the edifying of the church.

89:35   David had made an oath to God that he would not rest until the ark was I the place of God’s choosing – Psa 132:2-5 and so God made a promise, confirmed with an oath, to David.

V.11 The scripture claims that Yahweh is the creator and owner of all things. However, most prefer to believe in godless evolution.  Yet, others try to combine the two positions by saying that God created through the evolutionary process.  These fence-sitters are like agnostics who believe that God might exist but that nothing can be known about him.  It is easier to persuade a person who takes a definite position than one who wavers between two opposite standpoints.  The scripture has no use for those of two minds (1Kin 18:21; James 1:8).

Psa 89:3-4, Psa 89:34-36.First Principles>Sure Mercies of David
The covenant which God made with David will not be broken.
Go to Isa 55:3 for more about the Sure Mercies of David, including references showing the five conditions which will be satisfied by God's coming Kingdom.

Psa 89:36 First Principles>Sure mercies of David>King
The Lord Jesus Christ is the one who will be the King to sit on David's throne for ever. For more about the King, go to 2Sam 7:12-16.

89:9 The stilling of the waves was seen in the miracles of Jesus, for example Mark 4:39 – but in a greater way speaks of the way in which Jesus will rule the nations when he returns to bring about the fulfilment of the promise to David.

ch 1 - Acts 18 records the formation of the ecclesia at Corinth. Sosthenes is also mentioned in Acts 18:12 - it must have been quite a blow to the Jews that a ruler of the synagogue was converted to Christ.

2:4 and 1:17 Twice Paul emphasises that his message was not according to man's wisdom - we will see as we continue reading 1 Corinthians that the Corinthians were very much taken with their own importance.

1:13 ‘Is Christ divided?’ – such a direct question but if we were to ask this every time we were at variance with a brother maybe we would have less division in our midst.

2:3 In speaking of being in Corinth in ‘much fear’ Paul is referring to Acts 18:12 – giving us an insight into how Paul felt at that time.

1:1-10 What an amazing way Paul has of setting up his discussion of divisions starting in verse 10. Every verse before this mentions our Lord. v1 apostle of Jesus Christ, v2 sanctified in Christ Jesus, call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, v3 peace . . . from the Lord Jesus Christ, v4 grace . . . given you by Jesus Christ, v5 enriched by him, v6, testimony of Christ, v7, coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, v8, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, v9, fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Has he hammered it home enough? What a setup before launching in to a discussion on their divisions.

1:22-27 God is aware of cultural bias, but His hope and His way if or all cultures, not just one. This comes out strongly in this passage: v22 the Jews require a sign (demonstration of power), the Greeks seek after wisdom. Paul goes on to demonstrate that God in his mercy has taken care, each, of their cultural needs -- and much more! -- 

Jews - seek a sign, demonstration of power	Greeks - seek wisdom
v24 Christ the power of God	v24 Christ the wisdom of God
v25 weakness of God stronger than men	v25 foolishness of God wiser than men
v26 not many mighty called	v26 not many wise called
v27 God has chosen the weak of this world to confound the mighty	v27 God has chosen the foolish of this world to confound the wise

1:2 This letter is going to address many serious moral and doctrinal problems in Corinth. By speaking to the brethren and sisters as ‘sanctified’ Paul is highlighting their position that they might appreciate the seriousness of their situation when he speaks of their problems.

2:8       Here and in James 2:9 we find the term ‘lord of glory. On both occasions it is a reference to the risen Christ. On both occasions the term is used to emphasise the status of the risen Jesus.  The implication on both occasions is that an appreciation of the status of Jesus should modify one’s behaviour.

1:1-10 Notice how often the title ‘Jesus Christ’ occurs in these verses. It sets the scene for the argument about unity amongst the believers. He is the head, the one they are all trying to follow, the one through whom they are actually together. His title, therefore, is clearly stated a number of times to force them to see the head and basis for all that they do together.

The best way to hide something is by making it easier to find than people expect. By making it easy to find we de-value it in people's estimation. The majority of travellers on the road of life go running right past the turnoff for salvation. It's too early on, and too small a road. They feel there must be more further on, so they pass by. Yet the blind and lame find it because they grasp at whatever is in their reach. For them there is no opportunity to run further on with the crowd.

This is the picture we find in 1:18 and 1:26-29. The Greeks want something more wise. And the Jews want to do more. Only the weak (or weak in spirit) seem to be prepared to accept the gospel for what it is. Who would have thought that eternal life was a simple as believing in Christ, asking, and receiving? In Romans 2 Paul goes on to explain that it is only by this lowly mindset (spirit = mindset) that we can perceive the wisdom of God at all (v12) "that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God."

1:20 In quoting Isa 29:14 ‘I will ... prudent’ we see Paul using the Old Testament to show that this proud way of thinking had been foreseen by God long before the days of Jesus and that He had already worked out a way to deal with it.