Laura mentioned this morning that she found it kind of cool that on the day that Josiah found the book of the Law, the psalm we read was Psalm 1, "but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." I found that kind of cool too.
2 Kings 23:31-25:30
2 Kings 23:31-37
Pharaoh Neco removed Jehoahaz as king, showing he was boss and installed Eliakim as king, renaming him Jehoiakim, showing again that he was boss.
2 Kings 24
V. 1 We'll meet Jehoiakim later in Jeremiah. He was a jerk, and was buried with such honor. He is important for one big reason. When he made peace with Nebuchadnezzar, Neb took some of the young men captive to train them to serve him as governors, etc.. This is 605 BC and begins the Babylonian captivity. The clock is now ticking. Daniel and his friends were taken at this point. What I've never noticed before is that Jehoiakim served Neb for 3 years. Those 3 years play a very important role later.
V. 12 Now Jehoiachin was also not a godly king. The last words of 2 Kings talk about him being taken out of prison in Babylon and being honored by Nebuchadnezzar's son, Evil-Merodach. Of course, you're wondering why you would name your kid, "Evil" anything. But the real question that you can't find answered here is why you have the story of Jehoiachin at the end of 2 Kings. You get the facts here but they mean little to you.
Vs. 10-17 Nebuchadnezzar took Judah captive in three waves. The first wave of only a few thousand, when Daniel was taken, was in 605 BC. This now would be the second wave, taking most of what was in the temple and about 12,000 of the skilled laborers. This was meant to have humbled the country, but not destroy it. You have to ask yourself why Neb didn't just destroy Jerusalem and take everyone. It is because something happened in those 3 years that gave him a reason not to want to destroy Jerusalem. This then is the second deportation.
Vs. 18-20 Neb renamed Mattaniah, Zedekiah, showing he was boss, and left the humbled, yet existing, Jerusalem intact. God's judgment on Judah was not complete. We don't see it yet, but God was working overtime in great grace and mercy to preserve Israel as a nation in exile. It was grace upon grace.
2 Kings 25
Vs. 1-7 Unfortunately Zedekiah didn't listen to Jeremiah. We'll see all of this close-up when we get there.
Vs. 8-21 The city was destroyed, the temple destroyed. All the cool stuff Solomon made was either destroyed or taken to Babylon. To think that Solomon began this ruin by worshiping other gods. Most of the people were taken away into Babylon (a long walk) and only the very poorest of people were left. Jeremiah was left. In fact, Nebuchadnezzar gave special instructions about Jeremiah. I'm willing to bet it was on Daniel's advice.
Vs. 22-26 God's judgment wasn't over. When Gedaliah was killed, the people came to Jeremiah and asked him to ask God what they should do. God told them to remain in the land. They said that Jeremiah was lying and took off for Egypt. Neb followed them to Egypt and killed them and the Egyptians. Jeremiah and his servant survived.
Vs. 27-30 This note is also at the end of Jeremiah, indicating it was years later, and after the death of Nebuchadnezzar. Since Jeremiah wrote it in his book, we know he was alive.
Here is why this event is important. God told the people through Jeremiah that if they surrendered to Neb, opened the gates and went out, they would live and see God's mercy. Jeremiah said this very thing later to Zedekiah also. No one did it, except Jehoiachin, and look what happened. Even this evil king was honored by God for obeying His Word spoken through Jeremiah. It was a last kind of proof to the people that if they had obeyed God, even in His judgment of them, He would have honored them.
Acts 22:17-23:10
Acts 22:17-23
It is hard to believe that they were listening until he said the word "Gentiles." Their fanatic racism was not to be taken lightly. Remember, this also existed in the church, therefore the necessity to give the Spirit visibly and to accompany the giving of the Spirit with the gift of tongues, tying together the experience of the Jews with the experience of the Gentiles. This racism explains these two manifestations.
V. 23 Can you imagine them flinging dust into the air. This sounds like something you'd expect to see in the primate house at the zoo.
Vs. 24-30 Paul might have been slow to show his Roman Citizen ID when he was in Philippi. Here, Paul played the card quickly. Roman soldiers like these almost whipped Jesus to death and they didn't like the Jews, for apparent reasons.
Acts 23
Vs. 1-5 Ananias the high priest was not Annas the high priest who tried Jesus. The commentators are all over the place here with Paul's response. I wasn't there but I'll tell you what I think. After Paul was struck, he reacted. Even Jesus responded to being struck (John 18:23). But in answer to the question in verse 4, Paul got sarcastic. The people hated this high priest and no one spoke well of him, therefore Paul's comment. Since all spoke evil of him, he must not have been the ruler. So Paul said, "oh, I didn't know he was high priest because everyone in Jerusalem tells Ananias jokes." You get the idea.
Vs. 6-10 At this point Paul began smelling Kangaroo. It was the court. Then he began smelling goose. It was his and it was cooked. Paul knew there was no justice to be had and that his situation, with that group, was dangerous and hopeless. So Paul drove a wedge between the groups by appealing to the resurrection of the dead, which the Pharisees held and the Sadducees (the priests were Sadducees too) rejected. The Romans took Paul out of danger again.
Psalm 2
It's ironic, we are guests in God's "house" and we decide, democratically, that we don't like His view of marriage or spirituality. We decide that His "rules" don't allow us to express our "humanity" and "freedom." The earth is full of our "humanity and freedom." The only sane ones on this planet know they are sick and lost and know where to run. The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it, and they are saved.
Proverbs 18:13
Oh well, I guess most of us husbands and parents are "cooked" on this one. Anyone who's trying to do better, raise your hand!
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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