April 17, Reading Notes

Joshua 15

This is a long chapter having to do with the land given to Judah. There are some points of interest.

First, notice the story right in the middle of this, having to do with Caleb. It is conspicuous by its presence. This is the first time we find the name of Othniel. He is the first judge in the book of Judges.

There are a couple of mentions of the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. It wouldn't be until David was king that Jerusalem would belong to Israel and become the city of David. They actually taunted David from the wall that he wouldn't be able to take the city. Bad choice. Of course the Jebusites had about 350 years (Judges to David being king) of experience seeing Israel flounder around in the land and fail. They hadn't been confronted by a man who was following God. Caleb apparently never personally tried to take the city and Othniel lived south of Jerusalem in the desert.

Just for trivia and because I never saw this before, notice the town of Ziklag in verse 31. When David finally gets tired of being chased by King Saul, he heads to live among the Philistines in Ziklag. This town was originally supposed to belong to Judah. It won't be until the reign of David that the power of the Philistines is broken and these cities are under the rule of Israel.

Luke 18:18-43

Luke 18:18-30

Many of the last illustrations Jesus has used have to do with the Pharisees or rich people (the Pharisees were rich too). We know this guy as the rich young ruler. The designation of "ruler" means he was probably a ruler of a synagogue.

The word for needle that Luke uses is a surgical needle. If being rich makes being saved almost impossible, I wonder what being fully supplied and sufficient does for us as disciples? Just a thought.

Vs. 28-30 This is a short version of Jesus telling them to "seek ye first." God will more than make up for what we "give up" in following Jesus in the harvest.

Luke 18:31-34

Jesus has been heading toward Jerusalem in a round-about way. At this point, His GPS is no longer saying, "recalculating." He is heading directly for Jerusalem through Jericho. This talk that Jesus is having with His disciples seems very serious, but they don't get it. I have a feeling that if we had been there, we wouldn't have understood either. Maybe the disciples thought, "With all Jesus was able to do, and knowing how true and good He was, how could anything like this possibly happen to Him? How could God allow it?"

Luke 18:35-43

I always enjoy this story. The crowd tells him, "Jesus of Nazareth," and Bartimaeus cries out, "Son of David." What guts he had to keep crying out. In verse 43 he is following and glorifying God and now the people are praising God.

Psalm 86

It looks like the psalmist has experienced deliverance before this and is in the place of needing help again. In Romans 5:3-5 it says, "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

I don't know about you, but I wish, sometimes, that going through this cycle once would be enough. It seems like this writer was going though it again. But as disciples, we "rejoice and exult" in our trials, because now with the Holy Spirit in us and God as our Father, He turns what once were deadly and dangerous circumstances for our souls, into steps of growth and victory: proof that we belong to Him and are under His care.

Proverbs 13:9-10

We often think of the wise man in terms of someone we seek who has deep, balanced, experienced insights into life and the actions of people. We don't usually think of the wise man as one who has learned to take advice.

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.