July 21, Reading Notes

2 Chronicles 4:1-6:11

So, if you were raised in Babylon and someone mentioned the palace of Nebuchadnezzar and the hanging gardens, you could close your eyes and see it. Then your parents or some leader comes along and mentions that you are a Jew. Then they tell you that this is the most amazing privilege to belong to God, and you would agree, but in your mind's eye, you don't have land and you don't have any "thing" to be proud of. Ezra and the Spirit are painting a picture of the glory of Jerusalem. The temple was something to be proud of. In the past, it was a glorious and amazing structure. The question was, would people be willing to leave the comforts and prosperity of Babylon and Persia and return to Israel. And for the people who did return, would they take pride in rebuilding the temple? I think that is some of what Ezra and the Spirit are doing in writing this.

So if you were giving these chapters a name or title to generally describe their contents, what would you title them? These are the kinds of Bible study exercises that teach you how to observe and to think through what the Lord's purpose is in giving you this information. And as you read through these chapters, make as many observations that interest you, speak to you or say something to you about being a disciple in the harvest.

2 Chr. 4 (your title here)

2 Chr. 5 (your title here)

2 Chr. 6 (your title here)

Romans 7:1-13

V. 1 This is one of those verses where Paul addresses a specific group within the Roman church.

Vs. 4-6 This is the explanation of what Paul is saying about the law and sin. Verse 5 is really important to understanding what is going on in this conflict. So, what do you understand?

V. 6 is a very key verse in Paul's argument. The RSV says "the new life of the Spirit." I think this is accurate and this "new life" will be explained more in chapter eight.

Notice the contrast here. Either you face God through the law or through the new life of the Spirit. One causes sin to rage. The other responds in love to love.

Vs. 7-13 This is the mechanics of how the sickness within us works.

I have a couple of observations here:

V. 9 is where we get the teaching on the age of accountability. This is a very important verse. Before a person can morally understand right or wrong, they are "alive." But when the "commandment comes," that is, at whatever age for that person they become morally accountable and "know" good and evil (so to speak), sin awakens in them to rebel against God, and they "die." A child might do stuff that is angry and sinful, but until they cross the line to moral understanding, it is just the baloney kids do. Once they cross that line, if it is at 4 or 5 or 6, they stand before God accountable to the law and the sin within them reacts to that moral accountability to God.

V. 13 Paul has actually said this a couple of times. In 3:20, Paul said, "for no human being will be justified in his sight by works of the law, since through the law comes the knowledge of sin." Among other things, the law was given, like a blood test, to show us that we have a disease. We may rationalize and explain away our problem, but all of us know that there is something wrong with us.

Every person who does not know Christ, being saved by Him, stands before God under the law. Facing God through the law causes sin to go nuts. As disciples, how do we face God?

Psalm 17

We've read this before. What do you observe here, having read of David's life. What are some common themes that should be important to us as disciples.

V. 8 "apple of your eye" = eyeball.

Notice how this psalm fits well with the verses below from Proverbs.

Proverbs 19:22-23

Is it me, or did we just have 3 readings today that mentioned steadfast love? In this case in Proverbs, steadfast love is learned from God. Amen!

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.