JUNE 22
2
Kings 3:1-4:17
2 Kings 3
Vs. 1-8 The most significant thing about this
part of the story is that a good man like Jehoshaphat was making another very
foolish mistake. If he had asked the Lord, the Lord would have told him to stay
home.
V. 2 Notice that Jehoram seems better than
Ahab. If Jehoshaphat was hoping to be a good influence on Israel, this is as
far as it went. Actually, the only thing that Jehoram did was remove that
single image. As we'll see later, Jezebel was really still in charge and Baal
worship was alive and well in Israel. Actually, it looks like Jehoram's
reforms, if you can call them that, were for the eyes of Jehoshaphat.
V. 4 Yesterday in 2 Kings 1:1 we read about
the king of Moab breaking away from the control of Israel. Today we see the
significance of that passing remark.
V. 7 What was Jehoshaphat thinking to say
something like this? Soon, it would be true spiritually too, darkly.
Vs. 9-20 The Word of the Lord through Elisha
would become public knowledge. You would think that with a man like Elisha at
your disposal you could build a country. Unfortunately Elisha was ignored by
the northern kingdom and also by the southern kingdom. Again, God's grace is
shining through all of this to attract the disobedient and move them to
repentance.
It was unprecedented that these three kings
should work together and that probably looked like a good thing, but it wasn't
God's will. Notice too that Jehoram is a real glum kind of guy. He is assuming
that because the way is hard that it is Yahweh's fault and that God is leading
them to disaster. He wasn't a man of faith, to say the least. Actually, the way
being hard will lead them to God and His deliverance.
V. 11 Jehoshaphat's question is very ironic.
If he himself had consulted a prophet, he wouldn't have been there. But here,
it seems he was trying to have a fatherly influence on Jehoram. Ironically, as
well known as Elisha was, neither king had a clue. It was an ordinary guy who
pointed the way to the prophet.
V. 15 It is interesting that Elisha needed
some music to get into the mood.
Vs. 21-27 The king of Moab thought that the
combination of Judah, Israel and Edom would be a sure recipe for them to kill
each other. God's flooding of the land and then having the sun rise on it gave
the Moabites the impression that the kings had killed themselves.
V. 26 The king of Moab took 700 skilled
swordsmen and went after the weakest king but couldn't break through.
So how do you explain v. 27? Apparently the
human sacrifice called down a valid demonic wrath upon the army of Israel. So
then, why were they affected by this? Why didn't God's protection ward this
off? It was because they themselves were not truly worshiping or following God.
And Jehoshaphat was out of bounds here, associating with the godless. As
disciples, although we might be walking with the Lord, if we choose to
associate with the ungodly, "yoked together" with them, we incur the
same judgment they do. This is now the second time Jehoshaphat has been subject
to demonic influence by associating with the family of Ahab. Though this
"unity" and the "common sense" reasons for doing this
together must have seemed like good ideas, Jehoshaphat, a godly man, will
totally and completely destroy all the good he had built. And, his choices will
throw Judah into darkness.
2 Kings 4:1-17
Vs. 1-7 This story is similar to the story of
Elijah and the widow who had the vase of flour and the oil. This was not only
another story of God's power among the people, but it also shows that these
things happened on an ongoing basis. Generally, there was no real interest in
worshiping Yahweh or checking in with Elisha, but I'm sure there were some
people who were seeking God as a result of these signs.
Vs. 8-17 What is notable is the faith of the wealthy woman. She recognized that God
was with Elisha. I wonder too if she knew the story of Elijah and the widow
with whom he stayed in Zarephath. There, Elijah had stayed in an upper room.
This rich woman built an upper room for Elisha. She was willing to serve the
Lord by serving him. Here, we have one person in Israel who responded in faith.
This portion also introduces us to Elisha's servant, Gehazi, who himself
becomes a symbol of Israel's unbelief.
Acts
14:8-28
Just as in the reading about Elijah and
Elisha, where you see Elisha almost duplicating the miracles of Elijah, we'll
see this with Peter and Paul. In many places it seems that Paul does the same
miracles Peter did, only more of them. They both must have been working for the
same God and were both being led by the same Spirit.
Vs. 8-18 There are two things of note here.
First, the healing of the man who had been crippled from birth is similar to
Peter and John healing the man at the beautiful gate of the temple who was also
lame from birth. Being lame from birth would have made him a well-known beggar
in the market.
Second, notice that the people gave Barnabas
first billing, as the older and more mature man, but Paul was clearly the
preacher.
V. 14 Notice that Barnabas is called an
apostle.
Finally, notice that this crowd was so
overcome by what they are doing that they almost worshiped Barnabas and Paul.
Isn't emotion a great thing and true indicator of commitment? Not.
Vs. 19-23 So here is that same devoted crowd
killing Paul. Some suggest that Paul was dead and this is where he ascended
into the third heaven. We'll have to ask Paul when we get to heaven.
In that crowd, observing, was a teenager or
young man who Paul had led to Christ. Later Paul will tell him to remember this
time as an encouragement to be willing to trust God and suffer for Christ:
2 Timothy
3:10-17 You, however, have followed my
teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my
steadfastness, 11my
persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at
Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12Indeed,
all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while
evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being
deceived. 14But
as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing
from whom you learned it 15and
how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are
able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All
Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that
the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy
4:1-2 I charge you in the presence of God
and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his
appearing and his kingdom: 2preach
the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort,
with complete patience and teaching.
V. 21 Can you believe that the next day they
were preaching again, and leading many to Christ? Notice that conversion to
Christ was the same as becoming a disciple. This is exactly what Jesus said in
the Great Commission. Looking at the challenges Paul and Barnabas were facing,
it is safe to say that when people came to Christ in the harvest they understood
that following as cross-bearing disciples was a part of their salvation in
Christ. Notice what these new disciples were taught in v. 22.
Notice that Barnabas and Paul went back
through all the churches, encouraging them and structuring the leadership.
Praying and fasting was much more real to them, because they were on the
cutting edge of working in the harvest as disciples, and God was giving them
fruit.
V. 22 They gave the disciples a realistic
view of following Christ in the harvest. This is similar to 2 Timothy 3:12
above.
V. 23 Because Paul began in the synagogues
and led many Jews to Christ, they naturally had men who knew how to organize a
group and understood the concept of being an elder.
Vs. 24-28 This was the first "missionary
on furlough" slide show report. According to the Bible Knowledge
Commentary-NT, p. 393, Barnabas and Paul had been away somewhere for one to
two years. They had traveled over 700 miles by land and 500 miles by sea.
Although this missionary journey opened the gospel to the ends of the world, it had also raised a lot of Jewish
hostility, not just among the unsaved, but also from the true-blue Jewish
Christians in Jerusalem.
As disciples in the harvest, we should always
expect opposition, especially from those who should be on our side.
Psalm
140
Can you believe you've read 140 psalms?
Vs. 1-5 I would guess this was written as
David was running from Saul. Not only was Saul driven by his hatred and fear of
David; but it is implied that many of Saul's men, like Abner, were filling his
ear with lies and inciting him to go after David. I think it was the lying
against David that created the desperation behind the psalm.
There is hardly anything on earth that shakes us like having
an aggressive enemy, a stalker who is bent on lies and harm. You feel powerless
and totally harassed. But in all things, there is only one real source of
strength and hope: the Lord. In Psalm 27:3 David writes, Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war
arise against me, yet I will be confident. Those are some pretty confident
words, but God trains us to depend on Him by bringing us to the place where we
must depend on Him.
V. 3 Notice that Paul quotes a part of this
in Romans 3.
Notice that David makes at least three pleas
for himself: deliver me, preserve me, and
guard me.
Vs. 6-8 After describing his desperation, now
David pleads for God's deliverance.
Vs. 9-11 The judgment that David asks for
here is basically that what these men have wished for him should happen to
them.
V. 10 I don't know where the burning coals thing originated, but here
you have it.
Vs. 12-13 David hasn't yet been delivered,
but this is where David has his hope set, in the character of God.
As disciples, the Lord leads us through all
of what David mentions above. He allows lies and complications to hinder our
way and harass us. But He does this to train us to fill our minds with the
truth of Him and this life. The point isn't to get something "out of our
minds," but to keep our minds filled with what is true about Him. Our
lives are in the hands of a loving, faithful Father, who, in all that is
happening, works for (the) good (of His sovereign plan) with those who love
Him. We're already secure with Christ and will live with Him forever and know
the riches of His glory. This life on earth isn't about us anymore; we're safe.
And still, He blesses us.
Proverbs
17:22
Amen. I was reading in Romans 14:17 this
morning, for the kingdom of God
is…righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. That peace only
comes from God, being led and influenced, not by the flesh, but by the Holy
Spirit. If we remember we are safe and have a place in His coming kingdom, then
we have peace and joy.
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