2 Kings 13-14
We are seeing the last days of the northern kingdom of Israel. On June 30th they will be taken into exile and only Judah will be left. I say "last days," but still years are passing. Again, never let anyone say that God doesn't show grace and patience in the Old Testament. God's redemptive purpose is submerged in the muddle of all of these kings and all of their sin, worshiping the wrong things, holding on to some degree of "religion" regarding Yahweh, yet ignoring His outstretched hand. God said through Isaiah, "all day long I have held out my hand to a disobedient and stubborn people." Not just all day long, but for decades.
2 Kings 13
V. 1 Notice that Jehu's son Jehoahaz reigned for 17 years. That is still a long time. In the US you get 3-5 presidents out of that length of time.
V. 3 Hazael of Syria named his son for the king he himself murdered.
Vs. 4-9 There is a lot of grace in all of this. The purpose of this kindness is seen in what Paul says in Romans 2:4-5 "Or do you presume upon the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed."
V. 10 This son of Jehoahaz is also called Joash in verse 14. Lots of name confusion going on here. Notice that he, too, reigned for a long time.
Vs. 14-19 There are lots of observations and questions in all of these stories, but for me the biggest question is always how they could recognize God's power in Elisha, but not obey and worship God as He desired. Like Jesus said, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I tell you?"
If I'm ever given the option, I'll bang the arrows on the ground until they shatter and my hand's bleeding.
Vs. 20-21 Can you imagine this? A miracle is performed through Elisha's dead body. What a funny visual.
Vs. 22-23 God's grace was working in all of this. His redemptive purpose for mankind was lost to the eyes of the Israelites, but it was always in focus for God.
2 Kings 14
V. 2 We'll read more about Amaziah of Judah later. The purpose of this history is really to talk about his pride and subsequent conflict with Jehoash of Israel.
Vs. 11-16 This is the first mention of a king of Israel looting Jerusalem.
Vs. 17-22 Whenever you read of a conspiracy, you know the king was up to no good.
Vs. 23-29 Notice that this king of Israel reigned for 41 years, longer than any other king of the northern kingdom, doing evil in the sight of the Lord, yet God patiently keeps showing mercy. From the beginning of Jehu's reign to the end of the reign of his great grandson, Jeroboam, it has been over 100 years (28+17+16+41=102). That's a lot of patience, mercy and grace.
And what do you think of verses 26-27? Israel was to have been God's redemptive witness to the world. They still will be that. As Paul said in Romans 11:29 "For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable." Thankfully, even our work in the harvest is not dependent on us. It is His calling, His work, His purpose and His harvest.
Acts 18:23-19:12
Acts 18:23-28
V. 23 This begins Paul's 3rd and final missionary journey as recorded in Acts. Just for your information, the books of 1 and 2 Timothy hint at other travels of Paul after the events in Acts.
Vs. 24-27 Apollos is mentioned here and in 1 Corinthians 1-4. Apparently he taught in the area around Ephesus but his message only mentioned that Jesus was the Messiah, not that Jesus was the payment for sin and was raised from the dead.
That is an interesting point. Our message is not "believe in God," or even "Jesus is God," but that Jesus, the Son of God is the savior of men who paid for our sins and was raised from the dead and that there is salvation in no other.
Acts 19:1-12
V. 1 So Apollos went to Corinth and now Paul is in Ephesus.
Vs. 2-7 Back in the Gospels, there was a conflict between the disciples of John and the disciples of Jesus. The Pharisees tried to exploit this difference. When Jesus was confronted by John's disciples, he was very gentle with them. The first parable Jesus told was to John's disciples to help them understand the difference between Him and John. When Paul met these twelve, traveling disciples of John (Jews) they are in a place where Apollos had been teaching the baptism of John. There might have been a potential for conflict or division. This, I think, is why the Holy Spirit came upon them visually and with tongues and prophesy. Their faith and experience was now linked to that of the apostles and to the Gentile church through this sign by the Holy Spirit.
V. 10 Notice the time marker.
Vs. 11-12 This was parallel to what Peter did in Acts 5:15-16. This outpouring of healing and miracles shows God's interest in establishing the church in Ephesus, not Paul's gifting. Again, I think this is proof that what happened in Acts was unique. You don't hear of this happening today, either by virtue of gifting, or by our strategizing. God does what He does when it fulfills His purpose. I'm convinced that we'll see more of God's working in the harvest, than in any other place. God's power is specific to His purpose of making disciples.
Psalm 146
So, how do you respond to a psalm like this that sounds so triumphant and confident, when you yourself are struggling. Because of our weakness of spirit and the effects of sin, we can hold the mindset of this psalm for a day or a week, but if the waves roll over us too long, we struggle to hold these realities. But I guess that is the point. It is in trials that we deny our fears and the temptations to react or give up. In the conflict of feelings we hold fast to what we know is true because we know it is true. And we wait on the Lord because the very thing this psalm says is true.
Proverbs 18:2-3
What I get from these verses, as a disciple, is to be slow in expressing my opinion and slow to show contempt or ridicule. God describes what is really behind these things.
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.
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