June 1, Reading Notes

2 Samuel 18:1-19:10

2 Sam. 18

David was impossible to beat in the open field, and with God against Absalom, Absalom was toast. He just didn't know it yet.

V. 3 Notice that they didn't let David go out to fight since he alone was the target. Absalom wasn't so smart.

V. 5 Perhaps because of his sense of guilt, that all of this was a part of what he had done to Uriah, or because of some misplaced hope that Absalom would be his successor, or both, David gave this order to spare Absalom. This will be a test of hearts in the coming verses.

Vs. 6-18 Imagine, they lost 20,000 men in a day. We, thankfully, cannot even conceive of that. And to think, this all goes back to David and an afternoon of sexual restlessness. (Again, I think there is more leading up to that event.)

V. 9 Remember Absalom's pride in his hair. Pride cometh before getting hung in a tree.

V. 12 This guy was right, I wouldn't have trusted Joab either. Interesting that his men knew this about him.

V. 14 Disobeying a command of the king, and murdering Absalom like this, should have cost Joab his life. Joab could get away with "practical measures" like this because David had no power over him. If David had dealt with Joab earlier, God would have raised up someone to take his place. What a mistake to have Joab on your team.

V. 18 Earlier it was said that Absalom had sons, but apparently they had died. This would make the monument a bit more understandable since it had to do with the pain he suffered when the boys died.

V. 19-33 I have never really understood why this "race" happened other than that I think insincerity and being political was commonplace in David's court. This situation, like others we have seen and will see, reflect David's lost sense of justice and fairness.

2 Sam. 19

Joab wasn't a spiritual genius, but he was thinking straighter than David. If David hadn't gone among the people, things would have ended worse. As it is, the drama isn't over. A civil war will meet him when the dust settles. God's judgment of David is like a French meal, and we haven't gotten to the final course yet.

As a disciple, is this instilling in you a healthy sense of respect of the danger of sin? God is not mocked, even by those He loves. David was a "superhero" of the faith and is honored by God even now, but his sin sure damaged his life on earth and hurt a lot of people.

John 20

Vs. 1-10 So we have another foot race here. Isn't it cute that John never refers to himself other than "the other disciple." So John beats Peter to the tomb, but Peter goes in. John believes, but Peter, with his sense of failure, is left wondering. FYI, before the guys meet Jesus on the road to Emmaus, Jesus will already have had a personal meeting with Peter (Luke 24:34). Jesus made sure that Peter didn't sink into his own failure.

V. 10 They all went home. There was no glue, they really didn't understand His death, His resurrection or His mission.

V. 17 In the KJV it says, "Do not touch me." My first thought was, "what, wasn't He 'set' yet." Mary seems very emotional and probably had His legs in some ninja hold. Jesus had stuff to do and He had a mission to send her on.

Vs. 19-23 In Luke's version of this meeting, they thought Jesus was a ghost (again) and He ate with them. Where it says here that they received the Holy Spirit, it says in Luke 24:45, that He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. This was a temporary provision to get them to Pentecost. Just as Jesus had talked to them to encourage them before the crucifixion, now that they had made it this far, He was giving them a supernatural allowance to understand what the OT had to say about the necessity of His death and resurrection. At the same time, in verse 24, He let them know the mission and authority that would go with understanding those Scriptures.

V. 24-29 These were smart Jewish boys and not given to jumping on bandwagons. So enter Thomas. I can see them telling Thomas about the meeting they had with Jesus. I can see them, with their new understanding, trying to convince him. I can also see Thomas noticing that their heads looked larger but saying, "No way, Jose." Eight days later Jesus showed up again, looking at Thomas. We got a great verse out of it.

V. 30 This is the point of this Gospel.

Psalm 119:153-176

So, wrapping up Psalm 119, what do you think the point is? Did you realize that there was so much crying out for help in this psalm. Apparently, that crying out is to be seen as normal. Apparently, hiding in God's love and His Word is also to be seen as normal. To not be in the place where we're crying out or hiding in His Word and love, means we might be in the wrong place or not really following Christ in the harvest. In the harvest we experience pruning. What is the response of a disciple during this pruning? Well, I guess that's what this psalm is all about.

Proverbs 16:14-15

Again, since we're not "kings," just think of this as a spiritual person.

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.