June 20, Reading Notes

1 Kings 22

Vs. 1-40 We meet Jehoshaphat in this story, but the object is really the death of Ahab.

V.1 Notice that there was no need for this war. You wonder what Jehoshaphat was doing there.

Vs. 4-5 Jehoshaphat was a godly king in Judah, and I think he was trying to unify both kingdoms by making peace and doing some stuff together. Great idea. Maybe he did this because his father, Asa, was at war with the northern kingdom and it kind of ate his lunch and his faith. I think this peace also had a godly "spin" to it in trying to bring unity to Israel, but it is always better to check stuff out with God. Not every human move toward peace is God's will. This will actually be the tragic flaw of Jehoshaphat that will rain horrible cultural ungodliness down on Judah. If we were going to make a policy from his life, it would be to ask God first and then the peace has to be on God's terms. Visible in what Jehoshaphat did was a lot of human and fleshly motive.

V. 7 It also appears that Jehoshaphat saw through the prophets a little and thinks he will be a good influence on Ahab by suggesting they see a "real" prophet of the Lord.

Vs. 8-14 I really like this poor beaten prophet.

V. 15-16 My take on this is that Micaiah answered with some sort of sarcasm in his voice, parroting the other prophets, making it apparent he was ridiculing the entire circus atmosphere.

What Ahab says here is so ironic that it is funny.

Vs. 17-23 Now, we are looking into God's court where the fallen angels still enter and where God uses them to chasten and judge men. We'll get another look at this in Job. All the angels God made, including Lucifer (Satan), still report to God. When God calls for judgment on Ahab, it is clearly a fallen angel that comes forward. What is interesting is that God Himself grants the mission and its success.

Unfortunately for Jehoshaphat and Ahab, they had already decided to do what they were going to do regardless of what those prophets or God said. Their hearts were already set and hardened, so God gave them what they wanted as judgment against them. He allowed a demon to supernaturally empower the speech and persuasion of the lying prophets. That means that these prophets were really good and inspiring. Sometimes it isn't good when God gives you what you want if you really don't want what He wants.

Vs. 24-28 Micaiah was completely humiliated. Jehoshaphat should have seen this, but he had already given his word or as proverbs below will say, made a pledge for his neighbor. In this Jehoshaphat was a complete fool.

Vs. 29-40 Ahab was really setting up Jehoshaphat to be killed, but God made sure the arrow went into the air and came down in the right place. Apparently, the well is where Naboth and his family were killed.

Vs. 41-50 Jehoshaphat was a godly king and did a lot of great stuff, but his human attempt (without seeking God's will) to unite the kingdoms will completely destroy all that he built. That ought to be a word to the wise. Look at verse 49. Even though he was rebuked by the Lord for his association with Ahab (in Chronicles), Jehoshaphat persisted in trying to be friends with the evil rulers north of him.

Today too, you see a lot of Christian leaders trying to make public relational bridges to very ungodly groups and very ungodly concepts. They do it because of the “love of God” or “tolerance” or whatever, but the result looks utterly foolish and they harm the people of God and the mission of Christ. Jesus preached repentance and sent the twelve out preaching repentance. We don’t have to be condemning, but we do have to preach the Word of God and leave it to Him, not our savvy. It is between them and God, we are just the messengers, not the architects of reconciliation. Jesus said, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…."

Vs. 51-53 Ahaziah was like his father and Jezebel, his mother, was still running things. The judgment on Ahab's house would soon follow.

Acts 13:16-41

We are fully into Paul's 1st missionary journey.

What is interesting as you read this, note how much Paul knows about John and Jesus and what they said. This sermon is being given in a synagogue. Note also how often Paul mentions names, like David. Also, notice how often he mentions the resurrection.

Psalm 138

In reading this psalm, note that David is praising God for delivering him from everything that was thrown at him. So then, he is giving testimony to all those forces of God's greatness and power and love.

V. 1 The word "gods" could mean mighty ones, either being human or spiritual. Notice in verse 4 David refers to the kings of the earth and in verse 7 he talks about enemies.

Verses 3 and 7 seem parallel when he mentions God's help giving him courage.

Twice it mentions "your steadfast love endures forever."

Proverbs 17:17-18

These seem like contradictory verses. One says that a friend or a brother is always there for you. The other says you're a fool if you make yourself the guarantor for your neighbor.

This seems to say that there is a line you don't have to cross, and shouldn't cross for a friend or a brother. Loyalty and love is enough. Or you just give for your neighbor's need without having to receive in return.

In the case of Jesus, He didn't make a pledge on our honor, he paid it all.

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.