May 31, 2014

MAY 31

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

2 Samuel 17

Vs. 1-4 Ahithophel had a good plan and he would have taken David.

Vs. 5-14 This tells you why God allowed Hushai to win the day both to save David and to bring Absalom to ruin. It seems to me that Ahithophel was not a deeply vocal and persuasive man. He seems like more of a good, wise and gentle man. Hushai and Ahithophel knew that the "big" battle plan played into God’s hands and would be the ruin of Absalom.

Vs. 15-22 This is really a funny section of people running around. Actually, after Hushai’s plan was adopted, David was perfectly safe on whichever side of the Jordan he had slept. But actually, there were friends waiting for David on the other side. Maybe the Lord made sure he moved to find this help.

V. 23 How sad. Ahithophel knew God had thwarted him and that David would win. It's interesting that he went home and put all of his affairs in order. I don't think he killed himself for fear of David. Had he been an evil man, he probably would have been happy to have spit in David's face before he died. I think he committed suicide out of personal bitterness, knowing that God would spare David. I wonder if Ahithophel and the Lord had a good long conversation after this. I hope so.

It's interesting here that Eliam lost his father, Bathsheba lost her grandfather and Solomon lost his great-grandfather. And remember, up until all this took place, Ahithophel was a revered man in the palace. Sad.

Vs. 24-26 If you remember this name, Mahanaim, it is where Ish-bosheth set up his headquarters in fighting against David in the civil war. Apparently, it was a fortress. Notice that Amasa was put over the army of Absalom. He is Joab's cousin and a nephew-in-law to David. This will be interesting in a few chapters.

Vs. 27-29 Apparently this is the reason why God made sure David went over the Jordan so quickly. Notice that beds, food, bathtubs, microwaves, bratwurst, chips, cheese whiz, etc., were brought from surrounding nations including, ironically, the city that Joab had had under siege when the events took place that led to all this baloney.

John 19:23-42

Vs. 23-24 It is interesting that John mentions this fulfillment of Scripture.

Vs. 25-27 John is the only one who mentions that Jesus' mother was at the cross. The other Gospels mention the other three women standing at a distance. What happened here is that at some point Mary neared the cross. She was escorted by her sister, Salome and by Salome's son John (the son of Zebedee, who was also the disciple whom Jesus loved), by her sister-in-law [Clopas is thought to be Joseph's (remember Joseph, Mary's husband) brother], and by Mary Magdalene. So, when Jesus saw His mother and His cousin John, who is also the apostle John, Jesus gave John the care of His mother.

Vs. 28-30 It is interesting that with all the other things Jesus said on the cross, it seems that it was after taking care of His mother that Jesus knew all was now finished. Now with all the loose ends tied, the sacrifice for mankind completed and the Father's justice satisfied, Jesus said, It is finished, and He died.

Vs. 31-37 This Friday would have fallen on the normal day to kill the lamb, and that Sabbath evening would have been the time to eat the Passover. So it was doubly holy, being both the Passover and the Sabbath. John was apparently standing there, with the other women watching all of this. He saw the water and the blood. Since Jesus was already dead, there was no need to break his legs. Notice again that John cites two examples of the Scripture being fulfilled even after Jesus was dead and still hanging on the cross. The Father was still working.

Vs. 38-42 Joe and Nick came out of hiding. Because they had to do this quickly, they used Joe's own tomb, which was close at hand, and Nick brought the necessary things, 75 pounds worth of spices and the necessary sheets, to prepare the body quickly before the Sabbath. The three women helped. Afterward, Sunday morning, they would come back and do a more thorough job. To be continued!

Psalm 119:129-152

Vs. 129-136 This is what good preaching and teaching does, it unfolds the Word. It shows people how to understand the Word for themselves and every time they go back to that passage, they can develop the thoughts and find that light again. Notice again the oppression and adversity that is still in the shadows, driving him to the Lord.

Notice v. 135. I understand that desire more and more.

Vs. 137-144 If only David would have kept on feeling small and despised. When I read v. 143, I think I appreciate more why God allows this. It is the only thing that keeps us on our knees before Him in His Word.

Vs. 145-152 Look at all the crying out in these verses. I'll bet at some point David longed for those old days, when life wasn't complicated by the demands of ruling and by the sin of his actions. Even though there was affliction, there was this vital and pulsing freshness.

So, what could he have done? If my theory is right and David wrote this during the same time he was writing his copy of the law, I would say he should have kept reading that copy daily as Moses said. David, like everyone of us, was spiritually "bi-polar," meaning he needed to acknowledge his condition daily and take his meds every day, without exception. David got busy, comfortable, and lazy, just like we do. Paul, out of God's love and mercy, was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to keep him humble and needy. The secret revealed through Paul is this, For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor. 12:10). If you are a disciple, serious about bearing fruit in the harvest and staying close to Christ, you need the Word daily and you need to pursue Him and work under a certain amount of affliction. You don't have to "lash yourself;" because, if you are in the harvest, the Father will prune you and that will make you both effective and needy.

Proverbs 16:12-13

Since we really don't identify with kings, I find it helpful to substitute the title, "spiritual person." The king of Israel was supposed to lead the nation before God, modeling what it meant to be under God's control. That didn't happen often in Israel. Also, and we're seeing this now, kings often followed God when they were young and afflicted, but once they became strong, rich, secure, proud, etc., these men of faith did silly, unspiritual stuff. We can, and should, learn from their stories. This proverb, probably written by Solomon, is still true and spoken by God; even if Solomon, like his father before him, denied, by his life, the very words he was writing.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this linkhttp://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go tohttp://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 todgkachikis@gmail.com.

If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go tohttps://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to print.