September 14, Reading Notes

Isaiah 15-18

From this point on it will be common to have judgments and prophesies aimed at the nations surrounding Israel. They hated Israel. They not only attacked towns in Israel, but often joined with others against Israel. They rejoiced when Israel was destroyed. The situation today of Israel being hated by its neighbors is nothing new. It was just as true back then. You could say they started it by taking over Canaan, but actually that was God’s idea. He’s the one who decreed the change in ownership because of the evil of those who lived there. In the final event, the real animosity is caused on a spiritual level, because Israel was and is God’s instrument of bringing His redemptive purpose in life, to completion. The hatred of man for God needs a symbol and object, so we have Israel.

Isaiah 15

This describes what will happen when Assyria wipes out Moab. After these wars, you never hear of many of these people again.

V. 5 I’m not sure why God/Isaiah is saddened by this other than that Moab was descended from Lot. It could be that this attack by Assyria, and being taken away in exile, would lead to the extinction of Moab.

Isaiah 16

Vs. 1-5 This is an offer for Moab to join Israel and take refuge in Zion. Jerusalem would be the only place that wouldn’t be destroyed, but who would believe that? Because of the wording of the offer they were being given a chance to know the steadfast love of the Lord.

Vs. 6-14 So, as you read, can you see what it is that keeps Moab from accepting this amazing offer?

Isaiah 17

Vs. 1-3 This is destruction for Syria (and for the northern kingdom). Notice that it doesn’t say Damascus will be a heap of ruins forever. It will only be during this time of Assyrian domination. Some ancient cities have layers of ruins, having been destroyed and rebuilt several times. It was also not uncommon to rebuild a city on a different, nearby location.

Vs. 4-14 Notice the repetition of “in that day.” At one time, Damascus was ruled by Israel, and Israel and Syria had a very good relationship during the time of David and Solomon. You could imagine that there was the knowledge of Yahweh in Damascus, but just as in the northern kingdom, that knowledge was lost.

Isaiah 18

Vs. 1-6 The Ethiopians were called on as mercenaries to help when needed. King Asa faced an army like this. Here, they are being told to stay out of these battles or they would become food for the local wildlife.

V. 7 It is interesting that God has a soft spot for the Ethiopians and for the Egyptians. It is not an accident that the first Gentile we know of, who was saved in Acts, was an official from Ethiopia.

Galatians 1

Galatians has been called the cornerstone of the Reformation because it was the short and clear declaration that salvation was by grace through faith alone. Luther called Galatians his wife. (Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC), NT p. 587)

Galatians is Paul’s first letter to a church, and it is one of the most shocking. They were quickly being persuaded to associate grace in Christ with acceptance through works. In Galatians we get some biographical information on Paul that is not in Acts. We get some inside information on meetings we don’t see in Acts. And all of this comes as a result of Christians from the circumcision party in Jerusalem who took it upon themselves to corrupt what Paul was teaching. Opposition to Paul, within the believing church in Jerusalem, apparently began very early. Church conflict, don’t you love it? But God uses it. Again, as a result of conflict, we are given the letter that broke the church out of the dark ages.

For the disciple in the harvest and those groups of disciples working together (churches) in the harvest, Galatians simplifies our mission from age to age and from culture to culture. We are to present salvation as by grace through faith in Christ alone. Forms and traditions serve the church in a particular culture or generation, but often these become laws that make us right before God and wrong before Him if don’t do things a certain way. This morning I read Jesus rebuking the Pharisees, “you turn from the commandment of God and hold fast to the traditions of men.” The commandment of God for us is very simple and it involves being a disciple in the harvest, reaching the lost, making disciples with a very simple, trans-cultural message. Remember 1 Cor.9:19ff. A disciple should be able to move from one culture to the next, one language to the next, with a “no bag for his journey.” He carries with him a very simple message he can preach from whatever Bible is available, that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The harvest isn’t that hard.

Galatians 1

V. 1 Notice how Paul immediately begins defending his apostleship against the Jewish Christians who were turning the church in Galatia against Paul and what he taught.

V. 4 There are no wasted words here. Jesus gave himself. That’s enough, right?

The present evil age brings to mind immediately the spiritual resistance to the truth of the gospel, in this case, the forces behind these “well meaning” Jewish Christians.

Vs. 6-9 This seems to connect to Paul’s words against the Jewish super apostles in Corinth where he says that Satan presents himself as an angel of light. 2 Cor. 11:14 Interestingly, it would be years later that Paul would write 2 Corinthians. Paul was in this conflict all of his ministry. That was the price of following Christ in the harvest during that time.

So, what is the gospel?

V. 10 The charge against Paul by the legalistic Christians was that the message of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone was “easy believe-ism.” It was watered down to win approval. If you put the bar on the ground, everyone can walk over it and get into the church. The Jewish Christians wanted to “raise the bar” and make the Gentiles have to do something that showed they really believed and were really following Christ.

Paul is saying that what he just said in 6-9 were not the words of a man who was interested in winning the approval of anyone other than God. No wonder Paul got all those beatings. But in a manner of speaking, if you look at how Jesus talked to the Pharisees, you could say that His mouth got Him killed. The reality is that some truth is worth going to the wall for. Or as Luther said, "Here I stand. I can do no other."

Vs. 11-12 This is something we don’t “see” in Acts. Paul was spoken to by the Lord and given his instruction and theological retraining. Opponents were saying Paul got his information from a bad source, who knows where they said he got it from, maybe the apostles Thomas or Simon the zealot. Notice what Paul says in 1 Cor. 15:3, he received this information. Later Paul says that everyone was preaching the same thing. Here we see where Paul received his information: from Jesus Himself. Also look at 1 Cor. 11:23. Even the Lord’s Supper was given to him personally from Jesus.

Vs. 13-17 Do you see where Paul is defending his apostleship? He is showing he is as good, on a human level, as his opponents. If you want to read some hard words from Paul on this subject, read Phil. 3:1-6. But also, notice after those verses, we have some of the greatest verses in the Bible.

Paul totally embraced that God chose and called him to this ministry, along with the good, bad and ugly of his past. It was all incorporated into God’s planning and timing.

Vs. 18-19 We have talked about this in Acts. Apparently Luke doesn’t mention that Paul leaves Damascus for 3 years, returns to Damascus, flees the city for Jerusalem and then meets Peter. Acts 9:25 mentions that Paul had disciples who helped him escape, suggesting that some amount of time had passed since his conversion.

Vs. 20-24 Notice that Paul is concerned here also about his connection with Jerusalem and Judea. Paul is trying to show that his message wasn’t given to him by some group, but rather by Jesus Himself. It was probably the case that his opponents were linking Paul’s teaching to some person or group. It’s kind of funny because critics always look for the influences on a person’s views and beliefs. In the early 1900s there was a critical look at Paul as being a very conservatively influenced pharisaical Jewish convert. Paul was way too “legalistic” for the liberals. J. Greshem Machen wrote a book to refute all of this liberal criticism called, The Origin of Paul’s Religion. Oddly, Machen came to the same conclusion that Paul is making here. It all came from Jesus Himself and everything Paul teaches is found in Jesus’ teaching.

One discouraging thing in following Christ is dealing with the resistance and differences of working with other believers and churches. This is sort of a rites of passage for many people that proves their commitment to following Christ. There is no other way besides the church and working with others. God doesn’t commission us to the harvest to become loners. The core of disciple making is equipping others and working together to reach others for Christ. It is a process that brings maturity, keeping our focus on the harvest and learning how to find like-minded people with whom we can work. It is definitely not for the weak of heart. What we see in all of Paul’s struggling is a solid commitment to make the church effective and useful for the Master as we glorify the Father by bearing much fruit, so proving that we are disciples of our Lord.

This song has helped me more than a couple of times to keep my focus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFHfoEadyz0

Psalm 58

Vs. 1-5 This is an ode to the wicked. David is thinking of those who are after him unjustly.

Vs. 6-9 This is the psalmist’s inspired wish to see the wicked judged.

Vs. 10-11 I don’t identify with verse 10, but I love verse 11.

Proverbs 23:12

It’s easy to say “amen” to this and go on, but I really think it is a command to us to sweat and strain to gain wisdom and knowledge. We give it mental assent, but really don’t get it. On the “disciples following Jesus” front we do this all the time, and therein is our problem. Thinking is not doing. The harvest doesn’t get in the barn by force of thought. You have to go into the harvest and get it. Here is something that Paul told Timothy in the context of following Christ: 1 Timothy 4:15 Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. In other words Paul is saying, “don’t just say, ‘yeah, I know, OK.’ You need to sweat and strain.” (in the joy and peace and grace and strength of the Lord, of course :))

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. If you have thoughts or feedback send these to dgkachikis@gmail.com.