May 27, Reading Notes

2 Samuel 12

It seems from the narrative, that once Bathsheba found out she was pregnant and sent word to David, it wasn't long after that that Uriah died. Now, it looks like the baby has been born. I wonder why God waited so long before He confronted David. David had more than enough time to confess his sin and come clean.

Vs. 1-6 I wonder how many of the details of the man's affection for the lamb described the relationship of Uriah and Bathsheba before David destroyed things.

Vs. 7-14 It stands out to me here, that if David had sought the Lord and waited for Him, God would have "added" to him and given him more (v.8).

V. 9 Notice that God sees David as having despised His word.

All of what God "promises" David will come true and will become a real tragedy.

Vs. 24-25 Now here is an interesting thought. God loved Solomon and He told Nathan, and so, Solomon had another name that meant that God loved him. Why is God loving this person born out of such a foul history? Since God is sovereign, I would have to think that God knew that Solomon would be born of David and Bathsheba and that Solomon was a part of His plan. I think that if David hadn't sinned, God would have brought these two people together without sin. Probably Uriah would have died in battle or some other way, and since David knew Uriah, he would have taken Bathsheba legally as a wife. We've seen this before with Rebekah and Jacob stealing the blessing from Esau. If it is God's will for something to happen, we need to wait and be patient. Taking "God's Will" by our own hand only adds grief and sorrow to it.

Imagine what this sin would have done to David's entire "family." Would any of the other wives have felt good about being with David after he had done this?

This part about Solomon is probably a summary of the future birth.

Vs. 26-31 The long fought battle (over a year) finally ends in victory. I can't help but see this "victory" as a very ironic defeat for David and for all of Israel.

John 16

Vs. 1-4 I've tried to underscore the fact that the context of this upper room discourse is the immediate and ongoing threat there would be to the disciples as they followed Jesus now, and then later after Pentecost. This same atmosphere of threat is true for any who are following Christ in the harvest. Many of the truths in this discourse are great. The problem is that if they are removed from this context and taught in isolation, they are misleading. The context for this truth is following Christ on His mission under pressure.

If you take a piston from an engine and use it at Christmas to crack nuts, it will work for that. But imagine if you eventually forgot that it was anything other than a nutcracker. This is exactly what happens with teaching about the Holy Spirit. We use Him for all sorts of things, especially for our comfort. We just forget the context in which He is introduced, the mission, and therefore, the context in which we will find His power and comfort.

Vs. 5-15 Notice that Jesus is speaking again about His leaving them.

V. 7 Jesus will send the Spirit into the disciples. Whereas Jesus could only be in one place at one time, the Holy Spirit can indwell an infinite number of disciples. Notice what this Helper will do in verse 8. How does that help us? It only helps us if we are in the harvest.

Vs. 12-14 Jesus was their constant teacher and taught them before and after events, before and after conflicts. Now He was leaving them. The Spirit of Truth would now take His place.

Vs. 16-28 Somehow, I don't think the disciples understood the impact it would have on them when He died. He is bracing them to experience intense disappointment, fear and sorrow, and He's promising them that the joy they experience afterward will wipe that all away.

Notice the references to joy and the encouragement for them to pray. Jesus is helping them to protect them and I don't think they had a clue.

Vs. 29-33 Here it is like the disciples say, "Oh, so that's what you're saying. Null Problemo." And then Jesus says, "Oh yeah. You've got it down? You guys are about to be scattered in fear."

V. 33 Notice that the context for this peace is peace in persecution for being a follower of Christ in the harvest.

Psalm 119:65-80

What I noticed today was the references to being afflicted and how affliction worked to drive David to the Word. Seeing what is happening with David in 2 Samuel, I guess it is better to be afflicted and in the Word, than to have everything going well and feel you can survive without His Word.

Proverbs 16:4-5

In the OT stories, we have seen how the Lord uses the evil and failings of men to further His plan of redemption. We've also seen, and will see, that verse 5 is true, even among God's own children.

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.