2
Chronicles 8:11-10:19
2 Chronicles 8:11-18
Vs. 11-15 It seems that Ezra is showing the short-term, good
effect "being spiritual" had on Solomon. Notice in all of this, it
was still the effect of David’s devotion to the Lord that was directing people.
V. 11 This isn't quite correcting his mistake for marrying
Pharaoh’s daughter, but Solomon does remove her from the city of David. Ezra's
people intermarried and then in repentance annulled those marriages.
V. 12 Solomon used to offer on the high places. Now he is
only offering in Jerusalem in the temple.
Notice the two references to the commands of Moses and
David.
Vs. 16-18 So, after the "mission" was complete, why
did Solomon still need a lot of gold? You can calculate the tonnage by
multiplying the talents by 75 (1 talent = 75lbs.). In 2 Chronicles 9:13 notice
how much gold Solomon brought in yearly, even after the temple and his palace
were finished.
2 Chronicles 9
Vs. 1-12 The visit of the Queen of Sheba showed that Solomon
and Israel had international recognition and acclaim. I think Ezra's point in
this story is stated toward the end. Remember, in building up the people's
identity with the calling of God, Ezra is trying to show them that there was a
time that the glory of Israel was beyond that of Babylon and Persia. Returning
to Israel and to Jerusalem was not a "step down."
Vs. 13-21 This is meant to show the vast and lavish richness
of Solomon’s Israel. It would have been the vacation destination of the world.
Vs. 22-28 These would have been the verses to the generation
of returnees.
Vs. 29-30 Notice that Ezra doesn't say anything negative
about Solomon. This is the same as his review of the life of David. Ezra has
focused on God's promises as established in David and in Solomon's dedication
of the temple. The glory of Israel is in its God and in His promises. And there
was a time when the glory of Israel excelled that of all kings and kingdoms on
earth.
2 Chronicles 10
So, what do you see as the key verses in this chapter?
In writing this, Ezra has material to draw from. Certainly
he has what is written in Samuel and Kings. We know also that there were other
documents. (See 1 Chron. 29:29.) Ezra is putting them together to give this
returning people a perspective on following God that will make them proud to
return and make them watchful to remember to obey.
Vs. 1-15 And suddenly all the grandeur and blessing was
lost. The history of what had happened here was already written elsewhere, but
writing it like this would show the exiles how quickly sin can destroy
everything. This king didn't obey the Lord for sure; but specifically, he
didn't lead the people as David and Solomon had done. God withdrew His
blessing, and disaster followed.
Vs. 16-19 Even in exile, there were probably hard feelings
between tribes. Israel had been two separate kingdoms for hundreds of years.
The people who went into exile never knew of a unified nation. How would they
return and achieve that now? Here is the explanation of how God divided the
kingdoms and why. The remedy to disunity would be seen in Ezra showing that if
God was obeyed, there was blessing and unity.
Romans
8:9-21
Notice how often the Spirit is being mentioned. This chapter
is that final link showing the redeemed how they can live a life of growth and
fruit as a result of Christ. Since we’ve been left here to follow in the
harvest, we can only grow and bear fruit as we abide in Christ and follow the
Spirit daily.
Vs. 9-11 Paul is affirming that all believers have been
reborn in the Spirit, and the Spirit is resident within us. There is no excuse
for following the flesh as if the Spirit weren’t there.
Vs. 12-13 Since we owe our sinful nature nothing, why should
we obey it? But we owe the Spirit everything. This is written to believers. So
how will you "die" if you live
according to the flesh? I believe this is salvation from damage as in 1
Timothy 4:16, Keep a close watch on
yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save
both yourself and your hearers. If we choose to live by the urgings of the
flesh (our old nature woven into this body), not intentionally following the
Spirit, we can live just as wrecked as everyone else. This gets proven every
day and in every church. If a believer decides to step in front of a truck, he
gets run over too.
Vs.
14-17 This is the privilege of our relationship to God. It shouldn’t be duty to
follow the Father who loves us. It should be our desire and passion. But this
is also a choice.
V. 17
There are two things that this verse doesn't
mean. First, it doesn't mean that a
person can lose their salvation. Second, it doesn't mean that because a person has been saved, they fully share
the glory of Christ on earth in the harvest, if they are unwilling to suffer
with Him. If we deny Him, He will deny us and withhold the support He would
have given our testimony.
There
are rewards built into our relationship with Christ that are not automatic or
equal with salvation. Our work on the foundation of Christ is judged…gold,
silver, precious stone, wood, hay, straw…for example. Also, in the last verse
of Isaiah 53, it says that Christ shall
divide the spoil with the strong. Not
everyone who comes to Christ decides to live for Him in the harvest; and
therefore, they don't get the personal knowledge of Him here, and they don't
get the rewards from Him there.
Living
as a Christian in Rome wasn't easy. In a few years, Christians strapped to
poles, standing soaked in basins of oil, would be used to light the city; and
those who stood for the name of Christ would be entertaining the masses as they
died in the coliseum.
V. 18
Paul is moving into another thought. We suffer in truly following Christ in the
harvest, but is it worth it?
Vs.
19-21 We knew this, right? The entire creation is tied into our fall. We humans
are the center of creation. Notice that in the creation in Genesis, the sun,
moon, planets and stars were not created until the fourth day. And notice that
they were made to serve us. The creation of man was the reason God created the
universe. We didn't come from some cosmic spore or some alien life form. How
silly.
If we
really wanted to save the planet, we would all bow to Christ. When we who
belong to Christ are resurrected in spiritual bodies, free of sin, then the
creation will be set free from its bondage. That will be a day of great
celebration.
On this point of suffering, when Roman persecution caught up
to Paul, he was deserted by all his help except Luke. Paul was a needy guy
physically. Notice how often Paul, writing from a Roman dungeon, has to tell a
seasoned disciple like Timothy in 2 Timothy to be willing to suffer. If you're
not in the harvest you can hide. To be in the harvest with Christ means that
you will suffer, but that's cool, right? More on that tomorrow.
Psalm
18:16-36
Vs. 16-19 are the rescue.
Vs. 20-24 During the time David ran, he drew close to the
Lord. His righteousness is shown in his desire to please God, and when he had
the chance, twice, he spared Saul. David also showed fairness to his men in the
situation at Ziklag. God rewarded David for his devotion.
Vs. 25-27 It is interesting. David states that God pays in
kind. If you’ve been devoted, that’s good. If you’ve been evil, that is not so
good.
Vs. 28-36 David gave God all the glory for all he was able
to do and for all that was accomplished through him.
This psalm was written by David, summarizing all of the help
God gave him during the 10 years he was chased by Saul and after the 7 years of
civil war as he reigned over the tribe of Judah.
After 17 years of uncertainty, fear, depression and waiting
for God to fulfill the promise of becoming king when Samuel anointed him, this
is David's debriefing on all that the Lord had done for him.
Again regarding suffering, you have to endure all of this to
be saved from damage and get to the place of being able to give this kind of
testimony. Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 10:22, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to
the end will be saved. (from the damage of giving in).
Proverbs
19:26
Who would disagree? I wonder if this violence and chasing
can mean something other than physical.
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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