JULY
13
1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36
Both of these chapters are dedicated to
David bringing the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. For the returnees, this is
an important point of history. David's kingdom wasn't complete without God's
presence established near him. This was David's passion and Ezra was suggesting
that it should be their passion.
Contrary to what should have happened
and totally because of God's grace, Israel grew strong as a nation in exile.
When they returned they brought with them the synagogue system. There was a
school of training and textual study that developed during that time. I think
the work of men like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (of the tribe of
Judah) helped to keep the nation focused on their destiny and unity as a
people. Still, why would you want to go back to Jerusalem? Anyone who had grown
up near Babylon saw one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Hanging Gardens
were built by Nebuchadnezzar (Iraq) for his Persian (Iran) wife. Jerusalem had
nothing to offer that even came close to the glory, wealth and comfort of the
city of Babylon. Going back to Jerusalem was like going back to the ruins of a
ghost town.
In this history then, you can see why
Ezra is emphasizing the glory of Israel. They had the covenant of God. They had
the king of promise, David, bringing the very mercy seat of God's presence into
Jerusalem. The God of creation formed and spoke to this nation to further His
plan of redemption in the world. Babylon and Persia couldn't touch that. That
is why this history is important.
One additional small note: They should
have included the last seven verses of chapter 16 in today's reading.
1 Chronicles 15
V. 1 David needed more than one house
because he had more than one wife. This is another reason to only have one
wife. The tent he put up would have been a second tabernacle. This mention of
houses and the tent will have an effect on David in chapter 17.
Vs. 2-24 We've read this story before,
but this information is entirely new. It not only shows David as a spiritual
leader of the people, but he is the designer of their worship. David, the king
of promise who wrote most of the songs of worship, also ordered the worship of
Israel. Leaders must lead spiritually.
Vs. 11-15 God's humbling of David on
David's first attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem had borne fruit. Notice
that the lesson wasn't just obeying the instructions in the Bible, but also
seeking God.
Vs. 16-24 This isn’t just David
commanding and leading the Levities; this organization is from David.
Vs. 25-28 This is David leading all the
elders and leaders of Israel.
V. 29 We've read this before too, and
in greater detail. Since Ezra makes no mention of the rivalry with Saul's
lineage, this story is totally devoted as a warning against despising those who
worship God with all they are. So then, those entering the new nation should
worship with passion like David.
1 Chronicles 16
Vs. 1-3 The offerings David made here
were for himself in accordance with what is written in Leviticus for the sin
and freewill offerings for rulers and people. Afterward they had a barbecue.
Vs. 4-7 David made sure that the
Levites and the priests fulfilled their parts and were organized.
As an historical note for the returning
generation, it mentions in v. 7 that this was the day that David appointed
Asaph and his brothers to accompany the worship in song. David, himself a
musician and song writer, decreed from this point on that music would always be
a part of Israel's worship. Asaph was the first worship leader. For these
people, hundreds of years later, they would read this and go, "So that's
where the Beatles, I mean, the sons of Asaph came from. The sons of Asaph were
like a cultural phenomenon in the worship of Israel.
Vs. 8-36 And this is Asaph's first
song.
V. 8 Note how global this song was.
This is the first time you get the idea that Israel understood its role in the
redemptive plan of God. It seems to me from what is seen in other psalms, that
David probably wrote all or most of this song. Asaph and others may have added
the melody, and they did the singing.
There are lots of things to see in this
song. As a disciple, do you see the redemptive plan of God and how naturally it
is woven into the praise of God? It is clear that all nations and people were
to look at Israel and praise God.
Notice vs. 35-36. It could be that Ezra
added these verses as a prayer to God for those still in exile. Or it could be
that in all the years since Joshua, Israel had been scattered because of their
enemies and because of their disobedience.
I guess our desire should be to want to
see people brought out of slavery to Christ.
Romans 1:18-32
This is one of the most incredible
portions of Scripture or world literature. It's the Genesis or beginning of how
the world got wrecked by sin. No other religion explains the confusion and
differences in worship in this lost world. No other religion or philosophy can
account for the constant downward movement in the human heart and why every
generation and culture fails to get better. The answer is sin, and it accounts
for this mess, brilliantly.
Vs. 18-20 There is enough visual
evidence of God to make every human being guilty before God. The invisible
spiritual sickness of sin irresistibly pushes us to suppress this truth.
If you took a simple plastic spoon and
tried to convince your neighbor that in 70 gazillion years that spoon just
happened, he'd say you were nuts. Something as simple as that spoon needed an
engineer, a designer, complex processes and machinery. But that same neighbor
might say this world is all an "accident." God doesn't have understanding
with that kind of logic. He just says it is sin and suppressing the truth. We
know that this world and everything in it isn't an accident.
Vs. 21-23 The story of mankind since
Genesis is not one of knowing God better, but knowing God less. Adam and Eve
and Cain and Abel saw and heard God, probably the angel of the Lord. And still
they disobeyed. But we were made to worship and have connection with God. The
need is irresistible. If sin pushes us away from Him, we still need something
to seek, to worship and to ask help from.
Vs. 24-25 This is the origin of our
relational and sexual dysfunction. Being "one flesh" is the way we
were made. We cannot deny it. We will always seek it. It is built in. There are
some exceptions, but they are exceptions, not the norm. The unity in being one
flesh is almost mystical beyond our thinking. In a proper way it is spiritual
and needs to be linked to God for it to remain healthy. Well, we know the story
here. This is the general, heterosexual side of sexual sin and dysfunction.
Vs. 26-27 This is the homosexual side
of the dysfunction. It is all sin. I think the order here makes perfect sense.
A man is to be the protector of the relationship and the nurturer of his wife.
If a man doesn't see this and if the spiritual "one flesh" nature of
the relationship is lost, sex becomes a function or obsession for a man. The
difference in sexual expression between men and women, the need and response,
was designed and built in by God. Sin breeds stupidity and selfishness and
perversion: men became dominated by their desire; women became frustrated by
their need; both were unsatisfied emotionally and spiritually.
Regarding homosexuality, God created
sexuality and calls this a perversion of what He created. God is God and we
don't need to be ashamed of holding to what He says. And we don't need to
soften His words for the sake of the feelings of those who enjoy any particular
sin, even if we like these people and would like to see them come to Christ.
Repentance is part of the gospel; and where there is no repentance, there is no
forgiveness.
Homosexuality is sin like every other
sin, yet, honestly, there is something about it that makes it seem different.
Sexuality is a very deep and vulnerable part of who God made us. Things that
tamper with "nature" are hard for us to treat as "normal."
Also, there is something about homosexuality that seems to border on addiction.
It doesn't seem easy for people who have given themselves to this, to just hit
the "reset" button and go back to God's specs. Addictions, whether to
drugs, alcohol, gambling, pornography or homosexuality, cut deep and often
never completely disappear. It isn't an accident that homosexuality is
mentioned in Romans 1:18ff. Paul and the Spirit are describing man redefining
himself apart from his Creator. Sin destroys, but doesn't have to be fatal if
you admit that it's sin and repent. The problem with redefinition is that you
don't see things as sin. Unfortunately then, the Creator owns the world and
reality. Once we redefine ourselves out of His world and His reality, then,
well, there's only one place left to go.
Vs. 28-32 Note this list of qualities
is just as bad as whatever came before. These things are what plague all human
relationships and come from the sin in each of our hearts.
Notice that there is a general
progression in this section today. First came the loss of God and truth, then
the loss of marital oneness and intimacy, then loss of social unity and order.
Notice also that there are three
instances where, God gave them up.
Think about that progression and what connection there is between what they
did, or didn't do, and what God gave them up to. God’s severest punishment,
though fitting and ironic, is to give us what we want. Sin affects everything,
and Paul will eventually describe sin as a force: something spiritually sick
within us.
Psalm 10:1-15
Wow, read this psalm and relate it to the passage in Romans,
especially Romans 1:18. Notice what the thoughts or words of the unbeliever are
and how they fit into the reading in Romans for today.
V. 1 So what was the trouble?
Vs. 2-11 As we have seen in God's dealing with the kings and
people of Israel, God doesn't always judge immediately. It looks as if it is
possible to spit in God's face and prosper. That is why the psalmist was
suffering. He saw this happening and wondered why God didn't do something.
Vs. 12-15 The writer wanted to see God arise and judge the
wicked and care for those who cried out to Him.
In the harvest, reading through the Bible year after year,
we understand this as God's kindness and patience. He wants to see all men
saved; and His kindness, forbearance and patience are meant to lead people to
repentance. God will judge. At the same time, God has many things working that
we could never understand. We can only trust His wisdom and goodness. In the
meantime, we go forward following our Lord, reaching the lost and making disciples,
who make disciples.
Proverbs 19:6-7
The point of these verses is that all
of this is built on words without reality and substance. Neither the rich man
nor the poor man has an honest friend, when gifts and position are what really
matter.
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.
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