APRIL 5
Deuteronomy
28
Notice the proportion of verses given for the
blessing and the proportion given for the curse. What does that tell you? Zig
Ziglar said, "The fear of loss is greater than the desire for gain."
It seems that God might believe that too. It is also interesting in the NT that
hell and judgment are spoken of quite a bit. If this is what they said out loud
in the ceremony of the blessings and the curses, I'll bet it ended with a sense
of shock.
Look for key verses for why God will bring
the curse on them.
Vs. 1-14 The blessing.
Vs. 1-6 This is the personal blessing to the
nation and individuals.
Vs. 7-14 This is their blessing in relationship
to the nations. Even though much of this is a benefit to the people, it will be
viewed by the nations. Israel will be the witness to the world of the benefits
of serving and worshiping Yahweh. During the Millennium, this will be
fulfilled.
V. 14 This is a verse of warning, and the key
to the blessing and curses is given. There is no neutrality in life. All
mankind, even atheists, are always worshiping something. Worshiping other gods
would unleash God's wrath.
Vs. 15-68 The curse.
Vs. 15-19 This is the general, personal
curse. This section is parallel to vs. 1-6. Now it gets worse.
Vs. 20-24 This looks like an explanation of
how God will make their personal lives loathsome, by cursing the ground and
their health. It almost looks like the curse on Adam.
Vs. 25-35 This is their curse in relationship
to the nations. What I find interesting is that vs. 28 and 34 describe how God
will allow their misfortunes to drive them mad with despair.
Another interesting note is that Isaiah
refers to this section (actually God does it) in Isaiah 55. The references to
nations that are not known in vs. 33 and 36 are used by Isaiah to describe the
blessing of what will happen when Israel follows the Lord in the future.
Vs. 36-44 This seems also to amplify how God
will show the nations that Israel is under God's curse.
Vs. 45-51 Israel hasn't even entered the
land, and God is already telling them of foreign domination and the coming of
Babylon to take Israel into exile.
Vs. 45-47 These verses summarize the reason
God will remove them. Isn't it interesting that it kind of boils down to the
people not serving the Lord with joy and gladness.
Vs. 52-57 We will read of this happening when Samaria is besieged (2 Kings 6:24-7:20). Although
this happened in Jerusalem too, we have no similar eye witness account, but
then, Jeremiah was, thankfully, in prison; or the people might have eaten him
too.
Vs. 58-63 Now God is revisiting their history
of salvation from Egypt. God will curse them as He cursed Egypt.
Vs. 64-68 The key here is the last verse.
Even if they were to go back to Egypt, Egypt wouldn't want them. Oddly enough,
there will be a group of people who escape to Egypt, taking Jeremiah with them.
In a way, they bring the curse with them and God sends Babylon into Egypt to
destroy that country and punish the Jewish exiles.
Both the blessing and the curse are the
active work of God. I have met some people against whom, it has appeared to me,
God's hand was set not to let them get up. I discussed this with one of these
people, because I had never known the Lord to be this hard. My concern was that
he had done something awful, and the Lord wasn't letting him get up until he
repented, confessed and in all ways possible, made peace with God. The stuff
that tumbled out on the table was interesting, and it explained why all the
money that had been given to this person to help him make a new start had
accomplished nothing. Interestingly, it wasn't one event, but rather, a heart
that constantly would not trust God. I still don't know about the other case.
God showed favor and kindness to the worst people in the Bible when they
repented and humbled themselves before Him. That's the key.
These curses seem very hard and very
theoretical until you read the pages ahead, from Judges to the end of Malachi.
We will see God constantly trying to help Israel, and the people will
constantly resist and rebel. God's judgment always seems harsher in the
theoretical, as it did to Jeremiah, but when you are working in the harvest
with the future recipients of that judgment, you understand that God's judgment
is just, as Jeremiah did.
Luke
11:14-36
In the reading for yesterday, did you notice
what Jesus was doing just prior to the disciples asking Him how to pray?
Apparently Jesus took time every day to get away from the disciples, a stone's
throw, and do it Himself.
Luke 11:14-26
You might think we've read this before in
Matthew 12:24 and in Mark 3:22, but this is different. In the second year of
Jesus' ministry the scribes and the Pharisees had come up with an explanation
for Jesus' power and signs. Now, months before His death, the sickness the Jews
(Jewish leaders) spread is being expressed by the people themselves. What we
have here is coming out of the mouth of the people.
I'm sure that Jesus gave this message to
others in different settings. Although what Jesus says here is very close to
Matthew 12, there are some interesting differences.
Vs. 14-23 This is very similar to what Jesus
had said to the Pharisees and scribes in Matthew 12 and in Mark 3. What is
missing here is the mention of the unforgivable sin.
V. 22 The telling of this parable is a little
different. Jesus adds to this by including the mention of armor. Since the
figures of speech mirror reality, I wonder what the armor in which he trusted was?
Vs. 24-26 When Jesus told this earlier, it
seemed like He was applying it to the entire generation. In any case, this
seems to be a description of reality in the spiritual world. Even among the
demons, having rebelled against God's purpose for them, it could be that they
can't be completely free of human connection since they were made, back when
they were angels, to serve God by serving us.
Vs. 27-28 I wonder if this outburst was to
change the subject since Jesus was talking about something "nasty."
This expression of religious sentimentality created a nice bridge into talking
about the importance of hearing and doing Jesus' words.
Vs. 29-32 Jesus was asked several times to
show a sign specifically to prove He was the Messiah. Here it had come from the
crowd, but He gave the people His standard answer. Notice that in one example,
the hearing of the Word is emphasized; and in the other example, the response
to the Word is the main point.
V. 33 When Jesus has used this before, it has
been with the disciples and the focus has been for them to spread the Word.
Here with the people, the focus is that they themselves should use the light.
There still is the aspect of the light being for others.
Vs. 34-36 When Jesus used this before with
His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount, it had to do with their perception of
value. Here, for the people, it seems that the focus is on them understanding
Him, His Word and the times. If they get this right, there is light. If they
warp their perception of Him, they will not only be blind, but will also be
full of darkness.
This last warning was directed toward the
people and the religious leaders. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6:23),
Jesus used this same illustration to warn His disciples that it could also
happen to them. There's no better way to keep your eye clear than following Him
in the harvest and using the truth for what the truth was meant to be used, for
reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples.
Psalm
77
This is a good psalm for strength in waiting
on the Lord. Since I'm in a time of waiting, this really lets me know that
these feelings are normal and understood by God and that I need to wait well,
in hope, knowing that my heart is being strengthened in the waiting. God says
to keep on crying out, not to be comforted by anything other than God's answer.
The psalmist looked to an example of God being gracious and kind to the most
undeserving, and showing favor to stubborn people. The idea is, "If He did
it for them, He'll do it for me too." In that example, God used His power
and shook the elements for these people. Isn't it funny that the people and the
event that the psalmist took comfort in is the same stuff we're reading in the
OT? Note v. 20.
Vs. 1-3 It doesn't matter who you look at,
Job, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, or anyone in between; this is how we are to
pray. God seems to specifically move those who are following Him in His plan
into situations where they learn to cry out. In Luke, Jesus doesn't just teach
the words by which to tune our hearts in prayer; He gives us two very important
stories of persistence in crying out to God. I feel more and more comfortable
being in places like this in following Christ, because this is normal and it
means that the Lord has led us to this very spot of crying out.
Vs. 4-9 It seems that Asaph realized that God
would give him no rest or easy solution. So in v. 5, Asaph turns his heart and
mind to the Lord. What gave him strength was remembering that character of God
as revealed in Scripture. His steadfast love never ends. His promise to Abraham
will never fail. God doesn't know how to hold back His grace and His
compassion.
V. 10 This is Asaph's breakthrough. The right
hand refers both to power and righteousness.
Vs. 11-15 This is why the Word is so
important to us. It is the basis of our remembering the love, power and
holiness of God. In v. 13, God is the only God and the holy God. In v. 14, He
is the God who is mighty beyond everything and who reveals Himself. In v. 15,
He is the promise-keeping God who redeems. By the way, this would preach well.
Notice the mention of Jacob and Joseph. This
tips you off that what Asaph is remembering is what happened to Israel being
led out of Egypt. Isn't it interesting that in Deuteronomy, God is telling
Israel they should never forget these very same things. His holiness, His
power, His promises, and their salvation should always be upon their hearts. Is
that any different for us?
Vs. 16-20 And here are the acts in Egypt and
the Exodus that Asaph is remembering.
Proverbs
12:18
It takes confidence and personal depth in
God's love to have the steadfastness and gentleness to speak the truth in love.
Anybody can wound. I think I'm getting there, but some days, I'm still the
other guy.
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
complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find
it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
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.
If you would like
documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to
print.
No comments:
Post a Comment