May 22, Reading Notes

With this reading you are beginning the 9th book of the Old Testament. Celebrate with a Frappuccino® or whatever else sounds good. When was the last time you read all of these books? And for one more landmark to look forward to, tomorrow you begin Psalm 119, where more than any other place, you see what it meant when it said that David was a man after God's own heart.

2 Samuel 1:1-2:11

2 Sam. 1

Vs. 1-16

Since this account of Saul's death is different than the one found in 1 Sam. 31, the options are as follows. First, this account is a fuller rendering in detail, adding to the summary given there. Or second, this is a lie. It would have been ironic that the guy who finally killed Saul was an Amalekite since Saul had disobeyed God regarding the Amalekites. His story seems plausible although the likelihood is that this is a lie. The fact that he came to David in Ziklag with Saul's crown indicates that he expected this to be good news to David and expected to be rewarded. What would make him even more of a hero is that he had ended Saul's life. Also, the account in 1 Sam. 31 says he fell on his sword and died and here we're being told he fell on his spear or was wounded but being supported by his spear.

Vs. 11-12 are a summary of the effect of this news on David and his men, but actually verses 13-16 were carried out right away.

Can you imagine? This guy was probably expecting some reward from David. Saul's own armor bearer wouldn't lift his hand against Saul, but this guy said he did. David didn't think too highly of that.

Vs. 19-27 I don't doubt that David actually loved Saul, and he certainly loved Jonathan. I think in all of this there is also some grieving for the entire tragedy of the past 10 years.

2 Sam. 2

Vs. 1-4 I'm impressed that David inquired of the Lord. The fact that he does this and it is recorded makes you wonder about times when David does stuff and it isn't mentioned, like going to fight with the Philistines against Israel, even if that was a ploy. I think David was like us in this regard. Normally he didn't ask, but when he was in a hard situation, he asked, and then remembered to ask for a while after that until everything was normal again, when he was in control and didn't need to ask.

David was made king in Hebron over the tribe of Judah. Verse four should have been cut in half. The second half of the verse actually belongs to the conflict story.

David blessed the men of Jabesh-gilead. As a point of interest, the rescue of Jabesh-gilead in 1 Sam. 11:1 was Saul's first battle as king of Israel. The people there never forgot that. When they learned of the humiliating way the bodies of Saul and his sons were displayed on the wall at Beth-shan, they returned the kindness of Saul's rescue of their city. (Bible Knowledge Commentary, OT, page 455)

When David blessed the men of Jabesh-gilead, he also invited them to accept his kingship…BUT, verse 8. Abner intervened. It appears that Abner drove the civil war which ensued, perhaps wanting to be king himself. I say this because it is interesting that all the dates and times mentioned in verses 8-11 paint a very funny picture. Abner must have finally made Ish-bosheth (man of shame? BKC p. 458) the king after 5 and a half years of civil war. We know the war lasted 7 years and six months and ended at the assassination of Ish-bosheth. Abner was the real guy in power. This is another reason why Joab, David's military commander hated Abner. The real reason he hated Abner comes tomorrow.

As disciples following Jesus, there is always the sense of living in tension. I don't know when life ever gets easy, especially following Jesus in the harvest and working to reach people and make disciples. There is always a point of conflict somewhere, a relationship that isn't working out. So what do you do?

In David's life this is the same. You would have thought that the entire nation would be ready to unite around David and get redemptive history cleaned up and looking respectable. But the sin of Saul had a long reach and was rooted in the heart of his followers, particularly Abner. Abner had his own ambitions too.

When a disciple becomes proven in service, it means having gone through many times of upheaval and disappointment. Especially after being hit by "friendly fire," drawing ever closer in that pain and suffering to Christ is a must or you just become bitter. He is the only one who makes sense of all this baloney, and He alone is the one who keeps our passion alive and healthy, and our vision clear.

Somewhere in all of this, probably in Hebron during those seven years, David wrote his own copy of the Law. It was also probably during this time that he wrote Psalm 119. We'll begin reading that tomorrow and it will show why David was able to survive this continued time of trial.

John 12:20-50

Jesus is no longer publicly teaching. His public ministry has ended except for this final request and we really don't know if Jesus met these Greeks and, if He did, what He said to them.

Who knows why they came to Phillip…his Greek name?

V. 23 Their arrival seems to be connected to Jesus' statement here, that His hour had come. These Greeks were "God-fearers" and were close to Judaism, the same as the centurion whose slave Jesus healed, and later Cornelius, also an Italian and a centurion and an important person in the Gospel going to the Gentiles. I would think that the request of these Gentiles was a signal from the Father, almost like the Gentile world saying, "even if the Jews have rejected your offer for now, we're ready to receive it."

V. 24 This parable is very important. Not only is it used by Paul later in 1 Corinthians 15, but in John 15, Jesus uses it to define glorifying the Father and proving to be His disciple. You always hear people wondering what kind of fruit Jesus is talking about in John 15. Here, and therefore in chapter 15, the meaning of the fruit is obvious: Jesus must give His life so that many more will experience life. The "fruit" is people who will come to faith and obtain eternal life through His giving of His life.

Vs. 25-26 Notice how Jesus immediately repeats here, what He has said previously in the context of discipleship to His disciples. Knowing Christ means following. Discipleship is not an option. Only we have made it that way. This is why the Great Commission says to make disciples, not, "lead them to belief and then, later, try to persuade them to follow." If Jesus is presented as who He is, God who became man and gave His life for us, that He is God inherently means He is worthy of worship/service. Following is a natural part of the message of turning way from sin and death and turning to Him for forgiveness and life. We make it hard on ourselves when we think knowing Jesus means salvation but not necessarily following. Jesus didn't think that.

Vs. 27-36 His hour having arrived, the reality of what He would have to endure also hit Him. Jesus the man, the Son of God, and Son of Man, knew what He was going to have to suffer. His humiliation and physical beating, vividly shown in the Passion of the Christ, was simply the path that brought Him to His real work, hanging on a tree, being cursed and punished by His Father. Only what He endured on the cross, the spiritual judgment and rejection, made forgiveness possible. "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." We are impressed, and rightfully so, with His suffering before He got to the cross; but it was what happened on the cross that purchased our pardon. It was when the animal was on the altar that it became a sacrificial offering. What Jesus is visualizing here is the spiritual aspect of what He will have to endure for mankind.

V. 28 If you look at Jesus' life, the arrival of angels and the voice of His Father came at very crucial times.

V. 31 Wow! "Now" was the judgment that would be complete with His crucifixion and resurrection, but we are still waiting until that judgment is fully executed.

V. 32 It is the cross where it all goes down. When Jesus said this, "lifted up" must have meant "crucifixion" to the people, therefore, the response of the people in verse 34.

V. 34 To be fair, the disciples didn't get it either. It wasn't until after the resurrection that they understood why the Christ must suffer. The disciples didn't get it, but they still believed He was the Christ. That's the difference.

Vs. 37-50 is a kind of summary from John regarding Jesus' public ministry to this point.

Verses 37-43 explain why they didn't understand. Part of this is Isaiah 53, and part is Isaiah 6:10. In both places the rejection of the Messiah and the truth are the result of sin and not being desperate to understand the truth. This isn't God blinding their eyes as much as it is not making them desperate to seek Him. This falls in line with Jesus' use of parables. If people were desperate and tried, they understood. It also falls in line with what Isaiah said of the Messiah in Isaiah 53, "and like a root out of dry ground He had no form or comeliness that we should look at Him, no beauty that we should desire Him." He wasn't what they were looking for because they were not desperate for the truth. They wanted what they wanted. God's work in Israel at the close of this age will be that Israel will be so desperate and needy in seeking the Lord that they will cry out, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." And this Jesus, that they are rejecting here, will return for them.

Verses 44-50 are a focused, clear summation of Jesus' message.

Notice verse 47. He came to save the world, not a country or language group or western cultural mindset. He came to save every person. There is no other way. There is no other Savior.

And to think, all of this came into motion, the hour struck, when a couple of Greeks came to see Jesus.

Psalm 118:19-29

It's interesting that in this last part of the psalm, there are two references to Jesus and one reference to a song. This is the danger of hacking up the psalms like this. Now that we can see that some reference is made to Jesus, we can read back over the first part and see that the suffering it refers to might also have some connection to His suffering.

You probably saw verses 22 and 23. So where did Jesus say verse 26?

The song will definitely be known by us older folks, verse 24. For many folks, this song became the occasion of them clapping their hands in church for the first time.

Notice that the psalm ends as it began, testifying that His steadfast love endures forever.

Proverbs 15:27-28

It is interesting that verse 27 says that the result of this pursuit is that the entire family is troubled. Most people have more gifts from God, than they realize, to give them a solid, healthy family. Wanting more often kills a family.

That sense of pondering, and going to God, and really seeking answers, builds a solid foundation in life.

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.