2 Chronicles 30-31
When you think back on the attempt of Jehoshaphat to unify Israel and the disaster that was, you look at these two chapters and see that God showed Hezekiah the right way to call Israel together.
I really don't have a lot to say about these chapters other than what is obvious. A godly king or leader leads his people in following God, worshiping God and organizes to make this possible. Ezra showed that this passion for organization began with David and was true of every godly king who had the heart of David.
2 Chr. 30
V. 3 Isaiah was a prophet and I'm sure they sought the Lord to get these concessions. God can be flexible.
Vs. 6-9 The offer was very simple and the reasons to respond would only have been understood by the humble. Notice that it refers to there only being a remnant of the people left.
Vs. 10-12 What is interesting about the couriers being laughed to scorn, is that God's judgment had already hit the northern kingdom. Most of the people had been dragged away into captivity. These were the few people who were left.. Talk about blindness and arrogance. But, even at this late date there were some who saw and understood and were humbled. The lost got their chance, some few responded and came to Judah where the hand of the Lord was blessing.
V. 20 Hezekiah, though not a priest and not doing what only the priest could do, still led the people spiritually.
Vs. 26-27 God had given such simple requirements in the feasts. Obeying Him and celebrating the feasts would have kept the country unified and focused on Him. Anyway, that had been the original plan.
Notice that nothing like this had happened since David and Solomon. I find that kind of sad.
2 Chr. 31
This chapter is for the organization of the worship. It is the mark of a truly spiritual leader.
Vs. 5-10 Notice that Hezekiah made sure the tithes were brought in to feed the priests and the Levites. This was an important part of showing that the people understood the importance of the sacrifices and worship and presence of God among them. Later in Nehemiah, Nehemiah will set up all of this and convince the priests and Levites to come to Jerusalem. As soon as Nehemiah went back to Persia, the people stopped giving and the Levites left and went back to their farms. Tithing is not a matter of economics and return on investment (why should I work and pay to have them sit on their hands?), it is a matter of spiritual perspective. God had commanded it so His work could be done, so His people would be cleansed and so that they would be unified in His love through the feasts.
Vs. 20-21 This is a summary of Hezekiah's faithfulness and the result is that people were seeking the Lord.
Romans 15:1-22
Paul is continuing his teaching about what to do when you have people in the congregation who are weak in conscience because of their past life in paganism or in legalism. The answer will be to imitate the love of Christ and to focus on why we are left here, that is, to proclaim together the glory of God to a lost world.
Vs. 1-3 Notice that Jesus is the example here. We were (are) all weak and Christ bore with us. He is our example. So, who do you suppose reproaches sinful worthless humanity?
Vs. 4-7 Notice that the focus of all of this is to have the unity to proclaim together the Glory of God. Jesus again becomes the one we imitate. He didn't save us to be alike, but to give glory to God together. Regardless of differences, we should all be able to do that. Right?
Vs. 8-13 Christ came one way, as a servant to the Jews (Jesus the deacon), for two purposes. First, He confirmed the promises to the Jews. He didn't fulfill them. He showed by His coming that they would one day be fulfilled. Second, He started a fire under the Gentiles so that because of receiving God's mercy the Gentiles would proclaim God's glory in all the earth. That's why we were left here. It is another way of expressing the great commission.
Notice how Paul goes to the OT to show that God's plan of redemption always included the Gentiles and how reaching the Gentiles was always the mission of the Messiah.
Vs. 14-16 This is a very clear expression of Paul's commission by God.
Vs. 17-21 I think this is our commission also as disciples working in the harvest. This portion is worth memorizing.
Verse 22, in my thinking, should have gone with tomorrow's reading.
Psalm 25:1-15
I get the feeling that David wrote this while he was still in distress, either before Ziklag or afterward in Hebron. It's interesting to me that when we are in distress, we also think back on our own sins. I guess we can't help thinking there might be a connection. Subconsciously we are always under the weight of our sin and failure. Isn't it great to know that Christ has lifted that weight, and we are totally whole, loved and accepted in the Beloved?
The parts that speak to me are the desire to know the way of the Lord (4-5), the remembrance of and pleading for God's steadfast love (6-7), the confidence that when the Lord leads us we realize His steadfast love (10) and finally, David's desire for God's friendship (14).
I wonder what this would have sounded like as a song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHVioeJU0g8
Proverbs 20:13-15
This seems like another random smattering of wisdom. I guess if I were putting them together to make sense of them, I would say that diligence (13) and craftiness (14) can get you what you need because there is an abundance of gold and costly stones to be had (15), but lips of knowledge (of the Lord) are rarer, more valuable and you only get them one way. The people in the ruined northern kingdom figured it out when they received Hezekiah's offer to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem. They humbled themselves and sought the Lord.
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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