July 27, Reading Notes

2 Chronicles 19-20

2 Chr. 19

Vs. 1-3 It isn't unusual to see God rebuke a king for doing wrong. What makes this interesting is that Jehoshaphat is rebuked and responds with humility. Now we'll see two further acts of faith and obedience that are not mentioned in Kings.

Vs. 4-11 This sort of godly organization is "typical" of the Davidic kings who loved the Lord. After the kind of rebuke he received from the Lord you might think he would try to "look" repentant. But these acts are very intelligent and sincere, aimed at keeping the heart of Israel focused on the Lord. This would be important for Ezra to show the leaders of Israel, that when rebuked, a godly leader humbles himself and keeps working to lead the people to the Lord.

2 Chr. 20

This is a very long account of Jehoshaphat's spiritual leadership. Ezra is showing that the heart of a leader of Israel should rely on the promises of God.

Vs. 1-4 What is interesting here is that Jehoshaphat sought the Lord and the Lord only. When he needed help, he didn't run to the northern kingdom or Ahab's house.

Vs. 5-12 This is very godly leadership by Jehoshaphat. And, he focuses the people on the promise that God made regarding the temple. Jehoshaphat knew of Solomon's prayer of dedication and God's eternal promise to hear this kind of prayer. What a model to the people and what a man of faith.

Vs. 13-17 So, the life of the nation is on the line. Jehoshaphat has prayed his heart out. Suddenly this guy stands up and says this. Now, Ezra mentions his pedigree, but still, it is just this guy, no cloud out of heaven.

Vs. 18-19 Jehoshaphat knew that it was the Lord and led the people in obedience and worship. This is faith.

Vs. 20-21 So then, under Jehoshaphat's leadership they get ready for battle and go out to the field, and they have a "praise" service. And look what they sing, the "Best of David." "Give thanks to the Lord, for His steadfast love endures forever," is the expression of David's faith that he commanded to be sung in all the worship of Israel. I doubt that they teach this at West Point or in any military training facility today.

Vs. 22-23 And "Boom!" the Lord settled the matter for them.

Vs. 24-30 You've got to admit that this is an amazing thing and Jehoshaphat led them in it.

V. 25 Notice that like the battle that Asa fought, they were given the spoils by God. The lesson here for Jehoshaphat is that God can make rich without foul allegiances and chasing gold.

V. 26 Notice too, that Jehoshaphat finished this event with praise to God.

V. 30 Normally this should be a note of blessing, but now that the Lord has given Jehoshaphat peace and he doesn't have a mission. What will he do?

Vs. 35-37 Actually, we know from Kings, that Jehoshaphat also joins together with Ahaziah in a battle and again comes under demonic influence. This time the rebuke comes from Elisha.

The lesson I see here is that as disciples, we need to make our following simple, simply doing what our Lord desires in the harvest. God never asked Jehoshaphat to build a bridge to the northern kingdom. It was some desire on Jehoshaphat's part and it appears that he had some other motives too. Being a peacemaker sounds like a "god" thing, but not if it's not God's will, and not if it keeps us from honoring Him in the harvest.

What is interesting in both Asa and Jehoshaphat is that when they were simply honoring God, God brought them respect, and people from the northern kingdom were convicted and came to Jerusalem. Jehoshaphat didn't need to join with Ahab or anyone from the northern kingdom. When Jehoshaphat was honoring God, God put the fear and respect of Judah in the hearts of the surrounding nations, Jehoshaphat never had to build a good looking army. When Jehoshaphat was building into the lives of his people and honoring God, he never had to do a joint venture thing to get gold and wealth, God just dumped it in his lap.

As disciples, our focus only needs to be on one thing, loving our Lord and following Him in the harvest. That vision and mission is more than enough. Seeing the lost saved and making disciples who make disciples is blessing enough on this earth. Paul's life was a living sacrifice to Christ and he put it like this in 1 Corinthians 9:23, "I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."

Romans 10:14-11:12

Romans 10:14-21

Vs. 14-17 The question that jumps out to me in reading this section is, "What question or objection was Paul answering?" One other major difference between Judaism and Christianity was that Christianity had a mandate and commission to be out and to be preaching and telling. It seems here that Paul is showing that sharing the gospel is not only logical and necessary, but is mentioned in the OT.

Verse 17 is another of those famous verses.

Vs. 18-21 I suppose the question then would be, "But did Israel really have a chance and have the Word preached to them?"

V. 18 Paul's knowledge of the Word is pretty vast when you think of all the Scripture he is quoting and alluding to. This quote is from Psalm 19:4. Wouldn't it be great to have such a close walk with God and such a vast understanding of the Word?

V. 19 This quote will become important in the next chapter.

V. 21 This is what we know from reading the OT. On the one hand, we'll hear that God gave them a spirit of stupor; but on the other hand, reading the OT, we realize that each person and every king made their own decisions. It isn't the case that God "blinded" them, but rather (as in Rom. 1:18ff) God gave them up to their own desire to sin. There came a point when He would no longer throw pearls before swine. As we'll see, God will work in mercy to get them ready to receive truth.

Romans 11:1-12

This is a good chapter to read fully. If you don't, you could get caught thinking that the "remnant" is the only part of Israel that will be saved. If you read to 11:25 you'll see that there is a future redemption for the entire nation of Israel.

Vs. 1-6 This is an interesting argument by Paul. The remnant in Elijah's time was a small group of people in the northern kingdom God kept from worshiping Baal. After the time of Elijah and after this remnant was gone, there were many prophets who wrote of the nation returning to the Lord. The remnant was preserved by grace during a very dark time for a specific purpose, but it was in no way taking the place of the nation or inheriting the promises of God to the nation of Israel. The present remnant of which Paul was a part, and of which Jewish believers today are a part, in no way takes the place of the nation of Israel and the fulfillment of God's promises to it. It wasn't the case back then and isn't the case now.

Vs. 7-12 This is an unfortunate breaking point. I'd suggest reading the rest of the chapter.

This is the description of God's punishment on Israel and His purpose of redemption for the Gentiles and Jews in that punishment. The hardening of heart, as with Pharaoh, was in response to his own hardening of heart. That is, if a person rejects God long enough, he will intensify their blindness to fulfill His own purposes. That blinding will be lifted in the future when God prepares their hearts to receive His truth. In the meantime, God is reaching the Gentiles, but you can sense from how this is written, Paul is anticipating that the time for the Jews will come.

Psalm 21

This psalm is evangelical in a way, as David proclaims the secret of his success. And if God will do that for David, we can trust Him too. And what do we trust in as we follow Christ in the harvest? What can we be sure to receive from Him? Houses? Cars? Comforts? Verse seven says it. The steadfast love of the Most High.

Proverbs 20:4-6

If verse four is read with the previous three verses, you have a picture of different behaviors.

In verse five, the man of understanding observes all of this, knows that motives run deep, and he has the wisdom to draw out and understand these people.

Words don't show loyal love, faithfulness does. Verse six might belong to the proverb for tomorrow which mentions integrity and it being passed on to children.

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.