2 Chronicles 17-18
Unlike the writer of 1 & 2 Kings, Ezra is only interested in the kings of the Davidic line. Today we get far more information on Jehoshaphat than we did in 1 Kings. Again, he was an amazing man of faith, yet one who destroyed everything good that he had done. As you read these two chapters learn from what he did well, and then try to understand what it was that motivated him to make such a grave mistake.
2 Chr. 17
V. 3 Notice that the kings are "graded" in terms of following Yahweh only.
Vs. 7-9 This is a very wise thing that Jehoshaphat did. You don't read about any other king doing this.
V. 10 Notice that the result of Jehoshaphat's godliness was that God brought this fear and respect. Oddly, it wasn't because of Israel's might.
You notice now that Jehoshaphat spends a lot of time building up the "might" of Israel. Ironically, it wasn't Israel's might that put them in this position. God honored Jehoshaphat for honoring Him. I wonder why this was so important to Joe.
2 Chr. 18
V. 1 Now that Jehoshaphat was strong and honored, he did something that was totally wrong. My only conclusion is that Joe thought he should work to unite the northern and southern kingdom. This might have been motivated out of a good heart, seeing how God had blessed him, but we know for sure that he never asked God about this. Look ahead at 2 Chr. 19:1-3. How sad and ironic.
V. 4 Joe had already committed himself to helping Ahab. These words are arrogant at best. If Joe had asked God if he should even be there, God would have said, "No." Unknown to Joe, he was under the satanic influence that was bearing down on Ahab.
Vs. 12-27 This story is rich with lessons.
V. 15 How funny. Apparently Micaiah had parroted, imitated the false prophets and Ahab saw the ridicule.
Vs. 20-22 When we set our hearts to join those who are rebelling against God, we put ourselves under the same satanic influence that is working on them. In this case, Jehoshaphat was also falling under the judgment of God on Ahab. Even before they sought the advice of God, they had already made up their minds. You have to wonder what was going through Joe's mind when he heard this from Micaiah. He still didn't back down.
V. 31 We see this formula all the time. We cry out and He hears us.
We still have two chapters about Jehoshaphat, but he has shown here the mind and heart attitudes that will bring about his ruin. As disciples we have this tremendous faith in us to follow Christ; yet, as Paul says in Romans, we have this deep sin within us that pushes to ignore God at crucial points in our lives. We all have personal issues within us that are a challenge to our obedience and faith. These details from the lives of such great men of faith are recorded here for no other reason than to warn us to be careful as we walk before the Lord.
Romans 9:22-10:13
The editors who put in the chapter and verse breaks generally did a great job. Because of the tight logic of Romans, the editors did an exact job here. The chapters in Romans comprise complete thoughts, so, in the way we're reading it in the one-year Bible, it is a bit disjointed. Just page back or ahead and read the complete chapters.
Romans 9:22-33
Vs. 22-24 Read this as the conclusion of Paul's thinking from yesterday.
Paul is slanting the argument toward those who object to God's "use" of the disobedient. If God knows before a person is born that they will rebel against Him, why even let him live? Yet, God allows these people to live and enjoy life and raise heck and do all sorts of stuff that, if you think about it, is hard for God to watch. This is that perfect love of the Father who sends His rain on the just and unjust. Yet, in His divine wisdom and power, He also uses them for His glory and for the purpose of redemption. When it is all said and done, the lost will be lost because of their choice and will. God gives them chances, shows them love and grace, allows them to live and enjoy life, but in His wisdom He uses them for His purpose.
What we don't see yet, is that Paul will say that God is using the disobedience of Israel so that the Gentiles can be saved. This is just "step one" of Paul's argument. In chapter 11 he brings it all together and gets the future nation of Israel saved too!
Vs. 25-29 Saul of Tarsus (Paul) was an intense student of Scripture. At his conversion, his world was shaken. Not only had he been wrong, but he had opposed God, rooted for those who killed the Messiah and he had persecuted, beaten and had part in the murder of many believers in Christ. After his conversion, Paul disappeared for about three years during the Damascus adventure. And after he visited Jerusalem Paul disappeared again for years until Barnabas found him up in Turkey. During those years of silence, Paul must have reexamined the Word, trying to understand how the Jews missed it and why salvation was now going to the Gentiles. This passage is evidence (actually all of Romans is evidence) of how thoroughly Paul searched the Scriptures.
Summing up these passages, Paul is showing that the Gentiles are included and that a remnant of Israel has been saved.
Vs. 30-33 This is Paul's conclusion to this part of his argument. You say, "What argument? What's his point?" This is Paul's point. The next chapter will support this point and then chapter 11 will go further and show that in God's plan of redemption, the fulfillment of the promise of Abraham and the believing nation is still future and is intertwined with the redemption of the Gentiles.
Romans 10:1-13
This is a famous portion of the NT because of verses 9-13. This entire chapter will show that Israel can only be saved through faith.
Vs. 6-8 This is one of those portions that shows how Paul worked through the OT looking for salvation by faith. This is from Moses' final words to Israel in Deut. 30:11-14.
The key here is in verse 12 and 13 and the thought will be continued tomorrow. These are great verses.
Psalm 20
You wonder if David wrote this in his early years as the king of Israel. There were still battles to be fought, but he was in Zion (v. 2) and David had the assurance that God had helped him (v.6).
David might have written this before battle with the Philistines or one of the armies hired from the north. But because of the years he had depended on the Lord during hard and uncertain times, you know that he was assured now that trusting in the name of the Lord, not armies (think of Jehoshaphat above) was his strength and salvation.
Proverbs 20:2-3
We don't really worry about "kings," unless we mean bosses, police or teachers. Maybe, it would be good to think of the Lord here. There is a very healthy fear of the Lord that keeps us safe, just like being afraid to put your hand on the stove or speed past a cop. Sin needs to be kept in check, and fear sometimes does the trick.
V. 3 Along with this, I think of what Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:23, "Have nothing to do with stupid, senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, forbearing, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, 26 and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will."
It is good to fear and respect the Lord, and to just obey. It might feel like fun to be right and win an argument, but Paul tells Timothy what is really at stake. And above all, as disciples, we are the Lord's servant. We are not here in this harvest to serve ourselves.
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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