June 24, Reading Notes

2 Kings 6-7

More amazing, miraculous stories of ignoring God.

2 Kings 6

Vs. 1-7 God tends to small things.

Vs. 8-23 God tends to huge things.

Vs. 15-17 To me this is the part of the story that I'm convicted by. I need to see every situation spiritually instead of letting my vision and head and mood get in the way.

So, why wasn't Israel following God? It is the amazing power of sin.

Vs. 24-33 The location of chapter breaks are unfortunate.

V. 31 Notice that the king was humbling himself "incognito." Instead of openly showing repentance and humiliation, he hid the sackcloth under his clothes. He wasn't leading the people in prayer and repentance.

2 Kings 7

This event will be similar to God saving Jerusalem under Hezekiah, but there, the entire city is praying. Here, it is only the mercy of God trying to lead the people to repentance since the people were not really following God.

V. 2 This verse has always been a warning to me to never doubt what God can do.

V. 6 God can make things happen so easily. For us as disciples, we should be seeking to understand on a spiritual level why God allows things to take so much time sometimes. Knowing that God can make things happen easily, ironically, should give us peace when He doesn't do things quickly, knowing He could, but has chosen not to.

Vs. 16-20 I think it is safe to say that the point of this event is hinted at by the length of this explanation.

Acts 15:36-16:15

Acts 15:36-41

People often ask who was right here. I think God was right in separating Paul and Barnabas. What is interesting is that He chose to separate them through a strong disagreement based on their convictions. The strength of this disagreement is shown in that they couldn't and wouldn't compromise. Paul would head into trouble and get beaten to a pulp, like usual, and he was right in not taking Mark. Barnabas was right in taking Mark to restore him and mentor him. I think they parted as friends.

Our ideas of unity and tolerance need to be as wide as God's will. God is responsible for this irreconcilable difference. It was His way to form two teams for two different missions. We need to love and respect one another but we definitely don't need to agree with one another if the Lord has given us a strong conviction.

Notice this parting was by mutual agreement. I have often seen churches force staff out of the church and say it was a "Paul and Barnabas" thing. How silly and dishonest. Of course, it is also true, that if the Lord has given someone a different vision, if he creates problems with it, he needs to leave or be urged to go.

V. 39 Notice that Barnabas took Mark back to the place where he had deserted Paul and Barnabas. I wonder if Barnabas took him back there to help him through something. Actually, in Barnabas going to Cyprus and Paul going north through Syria, they were working together, covering more ground.

Acts 16:1-15

Vs. 1-5

From things Paul says in 1 and 2 Timothy, Paul apparently led Timothy to Christ on his first trip. On returning, Timothy had grown in faith and was a strong servant. It is likely that Timothy was in his 20s.

So, if Paul was this guy who didn't think that circumcision was necessary for salvation, and if he was the apostle to the Gentiles, why did he circumcise Timothy? I think it had to do with his strategy as expressed in 1Cor. 9:19ff. A circumcised Timothy could go anywhere and would not put a stumbling block in front of anyone. An uncircumcised Timothy could not enter a synagogue and the Jews would have never heard a word.

It is interesting that even Christians tend to exalt individualism rather than being a disciple in the harvest. A disciple focused on following Christ in the harvest is supposed to be able to blend in for the sake of seeing others saved and follow Christ, and not to put anything unnecessary in the way of the Gospel. Blending into a culture often means putting our preferences aside and choosing to not do things we could do if we wanted. In the case above, Paul put Timothy in a place where he could minister to both groups, not just one.

Vs. 6-10 Getting a map of Paul's missionary journeys will help here. Apparently Paul asked for guidance on where to go and received it, in the form of a "no."

Vs. 11-15 Do you notice the change in narration in verse 11? Apparently Troas is where Paul and Luke met.

V. 13 I wonder if there was a synagogue in Philippi. Apparently not. Here, Paul found a place where Jews and God-fearing Gentiles gathered for prayer. God opened the doors of hearts here. Tomorrow He will open iron doors and more hearts.

Isn't it interesting to see how the church at Philippi began.

Psalm 142

Waiting on the Lord is the norm and the rule, not the exception. He trains us to set our hearts on Him and to seek a deeper, spiritual help and resource in Him.

Proverbs 17:24-25

Paul told Timothy to train himself in godliness, practicing in all circumstances how to honor God. That is a constant mindset and requires concentration in all circumstances. It is a focused pursuit and I think it would qualify as seeking to grow in wisdom.

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.