The Church Part V

Paul, ever the lawyer, summarizes his argument here with the citation of a portion of Isaiah's prophecy against Israel (Isaiah 28:11-12). Because Israel refused to listen to God's message proclaimed by His prophets, Isaiah predicted that another message would come. This one would be delivered in a foreign tongue ("other tongues") unintelligible to the Israelites. The "other tongue" symbolized God's rejection of, and disciplinary response to Israel's stiff-necked rebellion against Him (II Kings 17:14; Acts 7:51). Foreigners, instead of Israel, became the temporary servants of God and their foreign tongue was a punitive sign to Israel of what had taken place (Isaiah 5: 26; Habakkuk 1:6; Matthew 21:43; Romans 10:19-21). Uninterpreted tongues had their place but not in the Church where prophecy benefited believers. Speaking in tongues will only confuse and be unconvincing to an unbeliever.