May 10, Reading Notes

"Oops" alert! Yesterday I miss-wrote that the two cows that pulled the cart were being nursed, but actually they were milk cows that were still nursing young calves. It was still a class "C" miracle. In a multitude of translations (and languages), there is a multitude of confusion…or is it just me? Glad my wife has a sharp eye.

1 Samuel 8-9

1Sam. 8

There is some bad and good happening here. It is bad that the sons of Samuel are dishonest. I've heard Howard Hendricks preach this portion and mention that Samuel was a success in his profession and a failure as a father. Samuel, unfortunately, learned his fathering through Eli, another failed father.

It is good that the people didn't want to slip back into the godless ways of the disunified Israel that existed before Samuel.

It is to be noted that God mentions through Moses that they will someday have a king.

I think the "demand" was wrong, as opposed to searching for God's will and heart.

I think the desire to be like the other nations was wrong.

Notice how often God tells Samuel to obey their voice. There was definitely a sense of rejection of God going on here. They were rejecting Samuel in the sense of rejecting what he taught them of complete trust and obedience toward God.

Reading the Bible Knowledge Commentary this morning, it hit me that if they would have asked God for a king and His will, eventually they would have gotten David. But at this time, God couldn't give them David because David might not have been born yet. Just like we saw with Rebekah and Jacob stealing the blessing, it was a family disaster. If they had waited on a sovereign Lord, He would have made an honest way, in His time to make sure Jacob had that blessing. Here, if they had sought God, but been willing to wait, they could have spared Israel years of disaster under Saul and seven years of civil war before David became king. Somehow, God would have naturally made David the ruler of Israel.

Vs. 10-18 Death by taxes. This is the "overhead" they were about to add to their lives.

1 Sam. 9

V. 2 Apparently the Lord was giving the people the kind of king they had in mind: A king in their own image and after their own heart.

V. 3 The Donkey's of Kish would make a good name for a rock band or murder mystery.

Notice that it seems that Saul's servant is more in charge than he is.

Since we already know that Saul will be a weak, vicious, tragic character, as you read this, notice his character.

John 6:22-42

It should be noted here, that from Bethsaida to Capernaum was a well traveled road. It is true that if you took a boat and had the right winds, you could cut off the top curve of the sea and you could save your legs. People had seen Jesus leave to go from Capernaum and Bethsaida and ran there on foot and got there ahead of Him. So, in verse 24, only some of the crowd took boats. The rest got there by foot.

V. 26 It wasn't unusual for Jesus to challenge motives. Look at John 4:48.

Vs. 27-34 Thankfully, we who know Christ have an insight into what Jesus is saying that those people did not. It seems to make sense to us because we have believed in Him. Imagine how hard it was for these people to hear these words and be looking at a 5'3" hook nosed, slightly ugly, balding, dark skinned man with a Galilean accent.

Doesn't this whole thing sound like Jesus at the well with the woman?

V. 34 Don't these people sound like the woman at the well?

Vs. 35-40 You don't find a clearer declaration of Jesus saying He is God and the Messiah.

Notice how the Lord talks about those who come to Him, who understand that He is the Savior. This should give us a lot of security in our walk and a lot of confidence in our work in the harvest. It doesn’t rest on the eloquence of our words, but on the power of His working.

Vs. 41-42 Usually when it says "the Jews," it means the Jewish leaders. It was a special challenge to look at the man Jesus and know His family and listen to these words. Yet, to be fair, they had all the Scriptures that said a descendant of David would reign forever as the son of man. This meant he would be human born but divine. In truth, they just didn't like God.

Psalm 106:32-48

Vs. 34-46 Notice that this part of the psalm summarizes what we just read in Judges.

Notice first that they mixed with the people. Then they sacrificed their children.

The point of this psalm is that in spite of their disobedience, the Lord rescued them.

Vs. 47-48 Therefore, now in exile, they were pleading to the Lord to rescue them.

Proverbs 14:34-35

We've seen verse 34 on political posters. This righteousness is rightness before God. There will be plenty of well-meaning, morally righteous people in Hell. What makes a servant deal wisely? Paul and the Spirit say it in Ephesians 6:5-8 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ; not in the way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatever good any one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

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.