June 18, Reading Notes

1 Kings 19

This is a very cool portion of Scripture. Elijah has fought hard for the Lord and now, in his eyes, has failed. God is extremely gentle with him.

Apparently Ahab and Jezebel had a palace at Jezreel too. In Jezebel, we meet one of two women rulers. Both were evil and carried their agenda through with a cold and bloody determination.

V. 3 This seems like a huge contradiction. Elijah had performed such a great miracle, and now this woman threatens him and he takes off. Elijah must have expected that the people would return to God. There were no riots in the streets and no shouts for reform. Carmel had been a cool event. He understood that change wouldn't happen. He had failed. Not only that, he was completely pumped out emotionally. They say you are always at your most vulnerable spiritually and emotionally after you have had a spiritual success where you have poured yourself out for the Lord. Elijah is empty and disappointed.

Obviously, Elijah personalized this too much, but so did Moses and Samuel when they were rejected. Moses wanted to die and Samuel got all depressed. They had invested so much in seeing the people come to God, it was so important for them, that when the people rejected God, they took it to heart. We are no better.

Vs. 4-8 What can you say? God was totally understanding and gave him what he needed.

Vs. 9-18 God totally agreed with Elijah, shown in the judgments He pronounces. What happened at Mt. Carmel was absolutely critical to the future of the northern kingdom. The people had missed their window of opportunity. God gave Elijah three tasks that would spell judgment for Israel.

V. 16 Elisha would be "the closer."

V. 18 In Romans, Paul says that God kept these people separate by His grace. Not "bowing or kissing" didn't just mean they hadn't worshiped Baal, it means that they had not participated in the sexual worship of Baal.

V. 19-21 Elisha would also be a great prophet, but his ministry would be in providing hope as the lights were being turned off.

Acts 12:1-23

V. 1 This Herod was the grandson of Herod the Great (who hunted Jesus and killed the babies) and the nephew of the Herod who killed John the Baptist and saw Jesus just before he died. Way too many Herods.

V. 3 This guy was liked by the Jews and went out of his way to please the Jews. The feast of unleavened bread was the Passover and the week that followed.

V. 6 Isn't it interesting the Lord waited until the night before the execution to free Peter.

V. 17 James, Jesus' brother was in the leadership. You can see that also in what Paul says in Galatians 1:17.

V. 19 Caesarea was the Roman capital of Israel and that is where the Roman governors ruled. You've already heard of that city several times regarding Phillip and Cornelius.

Vs. 20-23 The Lord had enough on Herod that He could have struck him down at any time. I find it interesting that after He allowed Herod to do this to the church, fulfilling His purposes, God took Herod out.

Psalm 136

This was the first psalm I ever read that impressed me with the brilliance of seeing everything surrounded by God's steadfast love.

Now that we have a good bit of the OT behind us, we know that some of the things mentioned were rough years and rough spots for the people. But just like in our lives, regardless of the event and the way we feel, what carries us through is to remember that His steadfast love endures forever. In fact, I'm convinced that the Lord allows us, even guides us, into situations to prove to us that His steadfast love endures forever. And then I know that the Lord allows us to wait to see if we really believe that His steadfast love endures forever.

Proverbs 17:14-15

There are lots of creative ways to understand the "letting out of water." The point Solomon (a guy) is getting at is once you start, it is very hard to stop and most likely you will keep on "letting out water" (anger) until you are empty. So don't start. The time to stop is before you start. And you make a huge mess besides.

Verse 15 reminds me of some of the dumb stuff that is said in a quarrel, just because you don't want to be wrong.

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.