March 26, Reading Notes

Deuteronomy 5-6

Deut. 5

This is still some of the introduction to the sermon that really begins in the next chapter. As a disciple, what speaks to me is the privilege they had, that we have.

Vs. 3-4 The covenant is made with those standing there. They were "face to face" with God. They could claim something no other nation could. That's the same for us in Jesus.

V. 6 All of what they have is built on God delivering them. That's the same for us.

I find it interesting that there is so much said about not making images and keeping the Sabbath. Also, it is interesting that keeping the Sabbath is linked to God delivering them in power.

What a great chapter. When I read verse 33, it makes me think that in God's work to redeem mankind, nothing has changed. In our lives following Christ, nothing has changed. Look again at yesterday's reading in Luke, Luke 6:46.

Deut. 6

This chapter is full of good stuff. Take your time and look for repetition and recurring themes. As a disciple, write down every principle you think is important for you, your church, or that "other guy."

Notice v.16, Jesus quotes this in His confrontation with Satan in the wilderness.

Notice that this chapter almost ends the same as the last chapter.

Just for fun, or if you don't have enough to do, I'm giving you some links to a sermon by Howard Hendricks that I've put up on YouTube. The message is called "Rearing Children, The Home" and comes from Deuteronomy 6. There are 6 parts because it's a long message, but it is the best sermon I've ever heard on parenting or on this section of Deuteronomy. If you don't want the introduction, listen to 2-6. It ends abruptly but the tape is over 30 years old and it's right at the end of the message. This is Hendricks at his best and should be a part of any church's parenting library. The background picture is one of my favorites by Michael Dudash, A Father's Heritage.

Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acp2V-PD6SY

Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDWpEDNt0_g

Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNAaOKT2lhs

Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMX5nyJnM54

Part 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_mjYT62Uv4

Part 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSwLNsTWCvU

Oh yeah, and they're funny.

Luke 7:11-35

Luke 7:11-17

This event is only in Luke. There are a couple things that I get from this story. First, Jesus was led by the Spirit just like we are. Jesus didn't know He would find this going on, but as He saw it, moved with compassion, He knew what the Father wanted Him to do. Second, this event was one of the things that caused John the Baptist to doubt. Jesus was leading the life of the Messiah who was freeing captives of sin, not captives of government. John had been sitting in prison under a tyrant a long time and was losing perspective.

Luke 7:18-35

Matthew also has this encounter. Jesus' answer to John was to focus on how Jesus fulfilled all the Scripture concerning the Messiah, rather than concentrating on his own circumstances.

Not a big point, but in Matthew it says John came neither eating or drinking. Here, maybe for the sake of accuracy and because of legalistic Jewish Christians who followed Paul "correcting" his teaching and who taught the Gentiles abstinence, Luke says that John ate no bread and drank no wine. It is clear in this context that Jesus drank wine. Jesus was the opposite of John in these details. He both ate rich food and drank wine. The word for drunkard is "wine drinker." This would have been a rebuttal to legalistic teachers telling the Gentiles that they needed more "rigor" to their faith. Paul warned Timothy about such teachers. 1 Timothy 4:3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

Psalm 68:19-35

I suppose it is hard for us to embrace the sense of God's victory over oppression unless we are oppressed. It is hard to rejoice in His victory over enemies unless we have lost family and friends to these enemies. In the western world we are insulated, for the most part, and so we read this from David as primal raving from a primitive, uncultured age. The same God who tells us to love our enemies, inspired this in David.

In light of the revolutions of the past couple of months, it is interesting to read here, and elsewhere, that Egypt will come to God and know Christ.

Proverbs 11:29-31

Good words for the wise of heart.

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.