July 9, 2014

JULY 9

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

1 Chronicles 7-8

As Israel was rebuilding after the Babylonian exile, one of the objectives of Ezra and the other leaders was to put together a unified Israel. Israel hadn't been unified since Solomon died. You will notice the mention of David in certain connections that show that the northern tribes had been important to David during his reign. In a couple of days Chronicles will take up a more narrative tone as Ezra will begin to show God's working through the line of David.

1 Chronicles 7

Vs. 1-5 This is the genealogy of the tribe of Issachar. You notice in this that Tola was a judge of Israel. Notice the "random" mention that Issachar had 22,600 men in David's army. The focus of 1 Chronicles is soon to become David, and God’s blessing to Israel through him. Every mention that Ezra gives David is meant to draw the eyes of the returned exiles to God’s blessing on Israel. It is interesting that at the end of some of these summaries, there is a note regarding the enrollment. Some tribes don't have this note.

Vs. 6-12 This general genealogy of Benjamin will be added to in the next chapter. Just for fun, look at v. 12. Who would name their boys Shuppim and Huppim? Were they twins?

V. 13 A very short genealogy of Naphtali.

Vs. 14-19 Notice that Machir is the son of interest here. So now you have Machir giving wives from his own family to Shuppim and Huppim. Apparently those where men of note. Maybe the women were twins too, Taghim and Baghim. J Of interest to me in this genealogy of Manasseh is the mention of Zelophehad and his daughters. It is also interesting that in these accounts of Manasseh, it never talks about those who were enrolled in their genealogies. I wonder if some of the tribe had a hard time tracing themselves back to their roots.

Vs. 20-29 This is the genealogy of Ephraim. Like in the verses about Jabez, you have to notice the break in the rhythm and wonder what the point of this story is. Apparently Ephraim lived in northern Egypt near the border of Canaan, and raiders from Gath came down and killed some of his sons. After he was comforted he had a "replacement" son named Beriah, who had a son named Rephah…follow the names and you get to….. And that's the reason for the story. So, if not for the raiders from Gath, we would have one less book of the Bible, kind of.

Vs. 30-40 This is a long list of people descended from Asher. Note that at the end it mentions the enrollment by genealogies. Again, for Ezra and the leaders who were restoring Israel to order, having enrollments and proof of descent was important.

1 Chronicles 8

This chapter is an expansion of the tribe of Benjamin because of their importance in the kingship of Saul, which in turn led to David. Just think, the apostle Paul could probably have traced his lineage all the way back to Jacob. Again, these genealogies were important after the exile, particularly knowing who could worship in the temple and who could serve in the temple. Many of the mixed people in Samaria would claim to be descendants, but they couldn't prove it. To be a true-blue Jew, you had to be able to provide proof through documents.

Vs. 1-28 Notice that you can find a judge of Israel in all of this.

Vs. 29-40 This is beginning to zero in on the royal family. Notice too that these people came from a man named Gibeon. In the days of David, probably for political reasons, the tabernacle was set up in Gibeon and the ark of the covenant was in Jerusalem, the city of David. So you had the worship of God represented in both Benjamin and in Judah.

You have the name of Jonathan's son, Merib-baal (Mephibosheth), which goes to his son Micah. Micah's descendants apparently were the only surviving lineage of Saul, and it looks like they went clear through the exile and ended up back in Jerusalem. It would be kind of cool if Paul was a descendant of Jonathan through Mephibosheth and Micah. Jonathan was a model of godliness, humility and strength. I think Mephibosheth was like his father.

As disciples, isn't it interesting that we can trace our genealogy back to Jesus. He's the only one that counts.

Acts 27:1-20

Vs. 1-9 Now, at this point, Paul had been imprisoned for over two years. It was time for a road trip.

V. 3 The centurions were always nice guys in the NT. Notice that Paul needed to be cared for. No one is really sure what his problem was, or what his thorn in the flesh was. It might have been his sight. In any case Paul seems to have needed someone to be with him and help him. Here, Dr. Luke is with him also. Luke's presence with Paul during this trip also speaks to Paul's need for help.

Notice Luke's descriptions of the sailing and trip. This is some of the most detailed and accurate reporting of sailing in those times in any ancient literature. This has led some people to think that Luke was an experienced sailor, probably being a ship's doctor.

Vs. 9-12 The Fast was the Day of Atonement in October. By November they usually closed all shipping in the Med that was traveling west. It became stormy, and the strong winds came out of the north and west, making travel very dangerous. Sailing to the west was almost impossible.

V. 10 You might ask what "knowledge" a preacher had of sailing. You’ll see that Paul had some firsthand experience with ships that had pressed their luck against the weather, when you read 2 Corinthians 11:25, Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea. Notice that Paul says he was adrift in the sea an entire day. That happened before this trip, since Paul had written 1 & 2 Corinthians two and a half to three years ago from Ephesus. When they jump overboard in a couple of weeks, it would be just a short swim to shore at Malta. Then Paul would be able to say, "Four times."

It is good to note that Paul said this and was ignored. Later Paul will say, "I told you so." When the centurion finally writes his report, he will have some good things to say about Paul.

V. 11 It's good to know that this centurion learned his lesson later.

Vs. 13-20 Isn't God good at storms? We haven't read Jonah yet, but keep this all in mind. God lured them out (they really wanted to go out against all good judgment anyway) and then, Bam!

Paul was having some exciting days in the harvest. God would use all of this for His glory and for Paul's deliverance and testimony for Him. We need to remember that God uses chaos and the bad decisions of others in the harvest.

Psalm 7

Vs. 1-2 It would be understandable if Paul felt like this. David did. It gives you the sense when he mentions soul that David wasn't just concerned for his death, but also his heart being damaged from all of this pressure and violence.

Vs. 3-5 In order for Saul and his government to justify their campaign against David, a national hero, they had to smear his name and spread lies. They had to make it look like David was a sinner needing justice. David knew that God knew his heart was pure before Him.

Vs. 6-7 Because of the terrible lies involved in Saul's pursuit of David, David thought God should also be emotionally upset and do something.

Vs. 8-11 David was ready for God to judge, beginning with him. David knew that God would defend and vindicate him.

V. 11 This being true, it is a testimony to God's patience and grace that He waits for the full number of those who are to be saved.

Vs. 12-16 tell the story of those who do not respond to God's patience and forgiveness during this time of salvation and harvest. David predicts and the Spirit says that God will use the evil and treachery of the evil against them. Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 2-3. In some respects this is what happened to King Saul.

V. 17 This is David’s legacy. Not that he ended his psalms with praise, but that he also continually praised God publicly and led others to see God’s love and deliverance. That’s what these psalms are, public testimony.

When I read those words of God being our shield, I always think of the song, “We Rest On Thee.” It's an oldie and I like the version that has all four verses. Beth's dad and the other four guys sang this, just before they gave their lives in the harvest following Christ in Ecuador.

Proverbs 18:22

What can you say but, "Amen!"

Interesting that it doesn't say anything about the deal the wife gets, getting a husband. I assume it's assumed.

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.