July 10, 2012 Reading Notes

July 10, 2012 Reading Notes

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

1 Chronicles 9-10

We're almost out of the woods.

1 Chronicles 9

Vs. 1-9 This gives you the point of this chapter and the past eight chapters. Who were the first of the people to return from exile in Babylon? Those who could trace their roots.

Notice the words "breach of faith." We'll see these words again in this reading.

V. 3 Although it says there were people of Ephraim and Manasseh living in Jerusalem, Ezra's purpose was to focus in on Judah and Benjamin. These were the two tribes with kings

Vs. 10-35 The particular interest in this chapter is the Levites and setting up the worship of God. One of the questions you might ask yourself is how they were so ready to return, both in terms of organization and genealogies. Did they have a "heads up?" God did some amazing things during their time in Babylon. More on that later. I'm amazed how organized this was.

One other purpose Ezra may have had here relates to verse 22 and then what we'll see later in this book. King David was an organizing animal. We haven't seen that about him in the earlier history, but his passion for the Lord will be clearly developed in 1 Chronicles. David organized the Levites and priests like this. It was no accident and David's concern for the worship of God left nothing to "chance." Ezra would show that the blessing of God came through God's promise to David. The newly returning leaders of Israel then should make David their model. In Chronicles, there will be a lot said about David, but nothing regarding his sin with Bathsheba or his family dysfunctions.

Vs. 10-13 These were the priests who returned ready to roll.

Vs. 14-16 These are the seven families of Levites who returned to serve in the temple.

Vs. 17-27 Since the temple operated every day for morning and evening sacrifices, the gatekeepers were important and appropriately organized. We'll see later too that the gatekeepers were often singers and leaders of worship. It may be that they helped organize the people who came to worship.

V. 20 Ezra gives some honor to Phinehas. God made an eternal covenant with him back in Numbers. It may be that there was blessing on the priesthood because of him, and it could be that there has always been a believing descendant of Phinehas who has served the Lord since that promise was made.

Vs. 28-32 They apparently needed fewer Levites to attend to the services in the temple.

Vs. 33-34 And then you have the singers. We'll hear more about them later.

In a way this shows that when Israel returned they knew it was God's grace. Where the worship of God had been a mess before the exile, they wanted to return and worship God properly with the proper people. In a way, they wanted to get back to how things were under David. This was a very good thing. What is interesting is that this was prepared for during the exile. When we begin the book of Daniel you will see how these preparations could have been possible.

Vs. 35-44 Once again, this is the lineage of King Saul going up to those of his descendants who returned to Jerusalem after the exile. Notice again the name of Gibeon.

1 Chronicles 10

This is a very abbreviated rendition of Saul; in fact, only his death. The real point is to get to David in the next chapter.

Vs. 1-12 This is the account of Saul's death and his sons. Notice that this account is at odds with the guy who came to David in Ziklag and said he had killed Saul. He hoped to get a reward, but his lie earned him a quick trip into God's presence. Saul was dead before his armor bearer killed himself. It gives proof to the fact that the kid lied in order to win David's favor.

Vs. 13-14 This is an interesting commentary on Saul's sin and death. How do you reconcile the fact that Saul said he had tried to contact God, but God wasn't talking, with this report that Saul didn't seek guidance from the Lord? Sometimes seeking is a matter of how and how long. Also, we never heard that Saul was in any sense repentant for killing a town of priests and unjustly seeking to kill David. Sometimes seeking God needs to happen the right way. It is clear that most of his life, Saul didn't seek God.

Acts 27:21-44

It is kind of interesting that last year at this time my daughter and her family were on Malta. They took care about collecting driftwood, but somebody ran into their car. Paul didn't have to worry about cars.

Vs. 21-26 Some people wonder why Luke included this story of Paul's trip to Rome. The trip is evidence of God's working. And, I'll bet it made the centurion's report exciting to read. Nero probably couldn't put it down.

V. 21 Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul says, "I told you so."

Vs. 23-24 Once again we have confirmation, that even in this catastrophe at sea, God was in it. Remember too, that the centurion would have to file a report.

Vs. 27-32 That's a long time. I definitely would have been beyond seasick.

V. 29 Nelson, of Her Majesty's Navy, took a lesson from this and did likewise before one of his battles.

Vs. 31-32 It wasn't a matter of God needing the crew together to save them all, it was a matter of needing all the experienced sailors present when they struck land so they could save everyone else.

So the centurion wrote in his little book. "Once again, that Jewish criminal was pretty helpful."

Vs. 33-38 Paul had faced so many storms for Jesus, he was definitely in control and able to serve them. I don't know if that is a comforting thought, but it ought to be. God leads us through storms so we learn to trust Him even better in the next one. The other three shipwrecks Paul had been in were to prepare him for this one.

Vs. 39-44 The centurion was a good guy. I'll bet he wrote in his little book, "We all made it safe to land. That little Jewish criminal was right again. His vision must have been true." By now, even the unbelievers on the ship must have understood that God was involved in what they had been going through.

All of this reminds me that as disciples, we don't determine the harvest field, the Lord does. All he asks us to do is to follow with the passion to reach lost people and make disciples. He does the rest. He trains us and gets us to the place where we can bring calm into a storm. The people around us see that it is because of our Lord. He does this. It isn't a strategy. It is following in the harvest.

Psalm 8

I wonder if David wrote this one evening in the wilderness when there was a pause in running from Saul.

Vs. 1-2 It is interesting that even in a praise psalm like this, David still had his enemies in view. He says that God's wonder, spoken through the lips of babies and infants is so strong that it defeated and confounded his enemies. This is what Jesus meant and what the Pharisee's would have understood in Matthew 21:16, when the Pharisees said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise?'" In the context of this psalm, the Pharisees would have understood they were God's enemies and that these babies were defeating them.

Vs. 3-4 This is part of the purpose of God's creation.

Vs. 5-8 There is an important contrast in verse 5. The angels are heavenly and glorious, yet man is crowned with glory and honor. This definitely applies to Jesus in Hebrews 2:7, and in the future it will apply to us. This is what made Satan mad enough to become proud and rebel. He was one of the most beautiful of God's creation (Ezekiel 28:12), and he should serve mankind?

V. 6 David the shepherd appreciated this command given at man's creation to have dominion over the work of God's hands. Notice that "under his feet" prophetically applies to Jesus, but in terms of man's dominion, it doesn't mean to crush or treat in a demeaning way. David as a shepherd loved and cared for his sheep, protecting them with his life, pulling a lion's beard here and clubbing a bear to death there. Authority means different things depending on the degree of rebellion and submission of the followers.

V. 9 Amen.

How Majestic is Thy Name (Psalm 8), Keith Green

Proverbs 18:23-24

I guess this is saying that the poor make real friends because they are humble and know they are needy. There is something about adversity that teaches you humility and bonding together. I'll bet that Paul and the centurion on the ship were friends after this.

In our lives here on earth, I think it is the harvest that gives us this kind of humility and this kind of closeness. Churches and pastors herniate themselves trying to produce the kind of unity that only comes from knowing we're saved by grace to follow Christ and work together in the harvest. Musical worship and potlucks and summer missions trips will never replace living as disciples in the shadow of His grace, in the shadow of the coming storm, working together in the harvest.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/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. Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.