JULY
14
1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17
1
Chronicles 16:37-43
This
is a continuation from yesterday showing that David, as king, took the lead in
organizing and designing the worship. One mark of all godly kings in Judah was
that they personally invested in and organized the worship of the people. For
the rulers of Israel, returning to the land after the exile, Ezra was
emphasizing the need for them to model spiritual involvement and worship for
the people.
Vs.
39-40 This is interesting. There was the tent in Jerusalem for the ark, and
there was the tabernacle in Gibeon. This is why David had two high priests,
Abiathar and Zadok. The question is why the tabernacle was in Gibeon and the
ark was in Jerusalem. Sacrifices were being made in both places. I wonder if
David had the tabernacle placed in Gibeon during the civil war, so that it
would have been outside of Judah in the territory of Benjamin, Saul's tribe.
When Solomon was worshiping to God and received the promise of wisdom, Solomon
was at Gibeon. Somehow I think God allowed this, but didn't necessarily
approve. Hezekiah and Josiah removed all the high places and made the altar in
Jerusalem the only place to sacrifice or worship.
1
Chronicles 17
Today,
in this very select history for the returning exiles, comes the Davidic
promise. David sought the glory and honor of God, and God honored David with
this promise. The importance of this promise in the OT is rivaled only by the
promise to Adam and Eve and the promise to Abraham. These were redemptive
promises, even if at times, Israel only understood them as nationalistic. Even
in Romans 1, as Paul introduces himself, he includes David's name in the
description of the gospel. The Messiah is the eternal ruler who was promised by
God to come through the house and lineage of David.
As you
read this chapter, what do you think Ezra was trying to say to the new
generation entering the land of promise?
Vs.
1-2 It apparently bothered David that he now lived comfortably in a permanent
house made of cedar, but the Lord was represented by a tent. Nathan assumed
that everything David desired would be blessed.
Vs.
3-15 This is the promise or covenant with David.
Vs. 11-12 These verses transform this promise into something
that could only be fulfilled by God Himself. To reign forever meant that this
son would have to live forever. Solomon fulfilled v. 11, but only Jesus could
fulfill v. 12. This was a part of the confused Jewish theology Jesus lived with
during His ministry. They understood this theologically, but couldn't accept it
in reality. For example, in John 1:49 Nathanael answered and said to Jesus, Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the
King of Israel! It was one thing to say that the Messiah would be God's eternally
living Son; it was another thing to meet God's eternally living Son and like
Him and follow Him.
Vs. 16-27 This entire chapter is inspiring. Out of all the
earthly confusion we have read about regarding Samuel and Saul and David,
suddenly the plan of God clearly comes to the forefront. You wonder as you read
this how much David understood of God's plan of redemption. We know from what
we've read in 2 Samuel, that David lost perspective because of his sin with
Bathsheba and Uriah and began to worry and obsess about which son would fulfill
this.
I'm reminded of what Jesus said to His disciples in Luke
10:24, For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and
did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. And think
of our privilege. As disciples in the harvest we have been saved by this plan.
We know the Messiah; we can explain the plan of salvation to others, and we
have been called to become ambassadors of this truth. We dare not let our
downfall be that, knowing all of this, we take it for granted and hide our
light.
1
Chronicles 18
We've
seen that David fought battles and God gave him the victory, establishing
David's house. But, we haven't yet seen what Ezra is trying to emphasize about
David that these people should model.
Vs.
1-8 We've read about these battles before, but notice vs. 7-8. Even though
David was told he couldn't build the temple, it was still his passion to see
this done. David knew a temple would be built and that Solomon would do it. In
everything that David did, he still had that desire burning in his heart. He
wanted God’s presence near him, and he wanted God’s presence to be the center
of Israel’s existence. This is what made David a man after God’s own heart.
This is an example of David’s passion for God showing through. Whereas Solomon
made himself rich by acquiring gold and precious metals, David began to
stockpile these metals for the building of the temple.
Vs.
9-11 Even the gifts David was given went into the treasury for the temple.
Vs.
12-13 It was just mentioned that David carried away the wealth of Edom and the
other nations. Apparently it was Abishai who was responsible for the campaign
that brought Edom into submission.
Vs.
14-17 Here is David again - leading, guiding, organizing and serving Israel,
the people of God. Notice in v. 17 it says that David made his sons officials
in his government as they came to adulthood. In 2 Samuel 8:18 it says they were
priests, but “officials” is what was meant. They became like governors and
judges, mediators for the people.
When
David comes and sits before the Lord in 1 Chronicles 17:16, he asks the
question every disciple of Jesus should ask, Who am I? When we read those first few verses of Romans 1, we
realize that we have been called to belong to Christ and have been appointed to
take the news of this salvation to the lost and dying. That should be a cause
for feeling just as David felt when he was told that God would pour out kindness
and honor upon him. In many ways, the kindness and honor God has shown us is so
much greater. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew, But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and
your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to
see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not
hear it. (Matt. 13:16-17) We are those
disciples of honor who have been saved, who see and hear and have the privilege
of working with our Savior in the harvest.
Romans 2:1-24
In
this chapter Paul is working toward what he's going to say in chapter three,
that we are all condemned and guilty before God because that we are all under
the power of sin. The only answer to the condemnation of man and the power of
sin will be faith in Christ. Paul is also defusing any sense that Jews or those
who follow the law are better than those who "only" know Christ.
In
your observations, notice how Paul is building an atmosphere of coming
judgment.
Vs.
1-5 This could apply to any person who is a judge of others, Jew or Gentile.
Knowing what is right doesn't free anyone from the power of sin. Thinking we
are better than others because we "know" makes us hypocrites because
that same power of sin is still roaring through our veins. Knowing right from
wrong doesn't save you. Only Christ saves and only the Spirit can aid us
against sin. There is no ground for pride in our salvation.
Vs.
6-11 might give the "idea" that there might be something someone
could "do" for acceptance before God, but this is just Paul setting
up his argument for man's hopelessness in chapter 3. Look ahead to the end of
what Paul is saying here in v. 16 and notice the basis of this judgment.
Judgment is according to Jesus Christ. That will mean "by faith in
Christ." I was reading this morning in John 6 that when the people asked
Jesus, “What must we do, to be doing the
works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God,
that you believe in him whom he has sent.” That is the only work that works: belief in Jesus,
welcoming Him as Savior and Lord. In John 6, Jesus is taking their view of
works and saying that there is no work, only faith in Him.
Notice
too that in this section, Paul is beginning to show that since God shows no
partiality, the Jews and the Gentiles are equal. All are lost and all are saved
by faith in Christ.
Vs.
12-16 This is some amazing information. Even those who don't know the Law of
Moses/God are responsible for the law. The law’s most important components are
written on the hearts of humans, since we are all created in the image of God.
This goes back to Romans 1:19-20. All mankind is without excuse before God.
Notice that judgment is a part of the gospel. That is one of the reasons God
has left us here in the harvest, to warn people.
Vs.
17-24 Now, although there is a tone in this letter as if Paul is writing to a
completely Jewish audience, he is not. This is one of a few instances where
Paul addresses and names a particular group in the church in Rome. Paul will
again address the Jews in chapter 7 and then the Gentiles in chapter 11. It was
a mixed congregation of people. The point here was that the Jews were so shot
through with sin, the spiritual disease, that there was no way they should feel
safe or better or saved because they were Jews.
The
contradictions between belief and behavior are also famous in the church today.
A theoretical Christianity is powerless. We are not better off for all the
videos, books, preachers and podcasts we have. We still need to be in the Word
daily and humbly following our Lord every day, pouring out our lives to make
disciples of those He is seeking. That is the only way we stay in His presence
and care, by staying close to Him.
It
could be that there were Jews in the church who were either not yet saved, or
they were Jewish Christians who were still very rooted in the law. These
"law abiding" people were a deep threat to understanding the grace of
the gospel and the saving faith in Christ alone. Paul is doing some very
thorough theological re-orientation here for those stuck on the law. Paul will
level the playing field and show that neither Jew nor Gentile has any hope
without faith in Christ, and that even in the OT, salvation was based solely on
faith.
One trap that we fall into as Christians is thinking that we
are better than "sinners." That attitude will keep us from being
effective for Jesus in the harvest. Humbled disciples know that the disease of
sin still rages in this body of death. It is only by grace, by the daily
cleansing of the Word, by following the leading of the Spirit that we are able
to do anything that is half-way honoring and glorifying to God. It is pure
grace and purely by His help. As Jesus said, apart from me you can do nothing. Paul said to the Corinthians, What have you that you did not receive? If
then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift? (1 Cor.
4:7, RSV) Knowing the gift draws you in love to the Savior who is, in fact,
still working in the harvest.
Psalm 10:16-18
This
is the very intense ending of the psalm. There is a kind of spiritual
affliction that comes from seeing the harvest, and sensing our call to serve
God in the harvest. The work is important and it is desperate. That is why
Jesus could tell His disciples, in Luke 6:21, Blessed are you who are
hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed
are you who weep now, for you
shall laugh. We don't have to be afflicted now, but we will gladly be
afflicted now because we understand the grace given to us, the amazing grace
and love in the gospel and the coming judgment on those who have not yet
responded.
Vs.
16-18 Since God is the King forever, and He is also the cure for all that will
come in the "forever" part of this life, now is the time to face
affliction and put aside our interests and work in the harvest reaching the
lost, making disciples, who make disciples.
Proverbs 19:8-9
Truth
or lies. Is a person living according to reality or closing their eyes to
reality? Christians get ruined too. And pretending that there is no harvest is
the same as saying there isn't one. Jesus said in Luke 8:21, My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word
of God and do it. For a disciple, the "it" always involves
following their Savior into the harvest. Submitting to His reality and truth
shows we love Him, and, according to v. 8, that we love our own souls. Hmmm.
And we will discover good.
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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