March 24, Reading Notes

Deuteronomy 2-3

These two chapters are a review, but from God's perspective. You've read of the events as history, but now Moses is telling from his and the Lord's perspective. It's an interesting slant on things.

Note that Israel was not allowed to fight against Edom, Moab or Ammon. The Ammonites are not the Amorites.

2:11-12 Remember that the spies said there were giants in the land and they couldn't fight against them? The Emim or the Rephaim and the Anakim were giants. Notice what happened to them. Apparently Israel was the only ones afraid of them. Big guys make big targets.

2:14 It took about two years for the people to get organized under God and move to Kadesh-Barnea where they rebelled. It was 38 years and some months that they were finally ready to enter the land. Not all 40 years were punishment.

2:36 Notice that one of the cities they took was fortified with high walls. This was another reason the 10 spies said to stay out of the land.

3:1-11 In this account, once again, the report of the 10 spies was laid to rest. A cubit was 18 inches. I'll bet that's why no one made fun of his name. Who names their kid “Og?”

3:12-22 This was a foretaste of what would happen in the Land. The people had seen the battles, the booty and 2.5 tribes find a home. God protected and blessed them in all of it and they never lost a man.

3:23-29 Now we’re back to “real time.” If you know the song "Sweet Hour of Prayer" you know the phrase from that third verse that nobody sings, "till from Mt. Pisgah's lofty height I view my home and take my flight." That's a cool verse.

Luke 6:12-38

It would be great to put all of the Gospels together to get the full view of this. Luke is the only one who says that Jesus prayed all night before He chose the twelve. Mark says why He chose them in a very cool way.

Notice here that Jesus lifts His eyes on His disciples. This is how we know that the Sermon on the Mount in Matt. 5-7 is really Jesus' orientation to His disciples. I guess that means to us too.

Psalm 67

Just like with Psalm 66, this could have been written by Israel as it entered the land. Notice the blessing that God gave to Aaron. Notice too, that there is a testimony to the nations. Verse 5 is quoted by Paul in Rom. 15. The witness to the nations was what Israel was all about as a continuation of the promise to Adam and Eve, and the promise to Abraham. It was always about the redemption of mankind.

Proverbs 11:27

There is a kind of justice in the Bible where God gives a person what they want, or here, what they seek. It is not always good to succeed, and just because the Lord lets you have something, doesn't mean it was His will, or that it's good for you.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.

If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.