July 20, Reading Notes

2 Chronicles 1-3

Leaving David, Ezra is now showing the people the grandeur of the temple. As you read over these three chapters, it is fairly easy to understand the purpose or main subject of each. Enjoy figuring this out.

Think about the purpose of God and Ezra in writing this. When the returnees came to Jerusalem, they began the work on the temple immediately; but due to persecution, they let off the work and lost interest. These chapters, beginning in 1 Chronicles and continued here, are to motivate the people to continue building and to treasure having God's presence among them.

Romans 6

Take your time reading this chapter and write down lots of questions. Make observations and be honest to say, that if sin is "dead," it sure seems pretty alive.

V. 1 When Paul asks these rhetorical questions it is probably because he has heard similar questions raised before, most likely by opponents. If and when Paul does quote an opponent, he always answers the question immediately.

V. 2 I think this is a new thought for the Romans. Paul is stating it in question form, but now he will explain what he means. Do you "feel" like you have died to sin? I sure don't. But it is true. You've just got to figure out what he and the Spirit mean. Paul is going to talk about something that took place in reality and he really won't get to the conclusion of this thought until Romans 8.

Vs. 3-11 Notice how often death with Christ and resurrection with Christ are mentioned.

Something happened when we trusted Christ, and it will be completed when we are resurrected with Christ. To understand what this "death" is, you have to get to verse 14.

V. 14 This is a key thought. The death to sin is actually death to the law, meaning that the effect of the law on sin should be gone because we are saved by faith, not by the law. Being saved by grace through faith means we are dead to the law. The sinful nature, though still alive, has been given the death sentence. Paul will explain this more in chapter 7.

Vs. 15-23 Read these verses, understanding that the sinful nature has been judged and neutralized. It can't react to the law because we are not under the law. Within us now is a newly created nature that responds to the love and grace of God in Christ. This isn't the full story. We still struggle with sin, but we still have two chapters to understand what God has done for us in Christ.

One interesting note here as you read is to think of these closing words in 1 Cor. 15, "the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Psalm 16

The first verse seems to give an idea of where David was in his life when he wrote this. He was probably on the run from Saul. He was in the wilderness with people who were gathering to him. David had nothing to offer them. There was no pay, no insurance, and no benefits. They didn't even have TV or computers. David had plenty of nothing. Actually, that's not true. David had the Lord. David must have written this on a good day, during a good time on the run, where he understood that the closeness to the Lord was better than anything he had experienced before. This is what David learned in hardship. This is why David was a man after God's own heart.

Proverbs 19:20-21

You've got to admit, these two verses are a perfect complement to Psalm 16.

The first three lines are all relative and only make sense if the last line is important to us. What is the purpose of the Lord? As disciples that is what we live for. Many disciples have been smashed on the rocks of their plans and expectations. God's purpose might be a train wreck. It could be a desert. For Paul and Barnabas it was a heated argument and a parting of the ways. We tend to listen to advice that pleases us and define wisdom as what we are doing. We make our plans and cast our vision and hope that God will bless them. But what is God's purpose for us, for our time, for our work in the harvest? In submission to Him, following Christ in the harvest, making disciples who make disciples, the list of our expectations and ideas gets smaller and our joy and contentment with Christ grows. Living life on earth becomes more about Him and less about us.

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.