If you don't
have a One Year Bible or prefer something online, this link will take you to
the day's reading, http://oneyearbibleonline.com/daily-oyb/. This
site allows you to select from several languages and several English
translations.
APRIL 22
In a way, we're all going to miss Joshua. He is one of the most
"sterling" followers of God in the Old Testament. Of course God has
only given us a little information about Joshua, so he looks a little
one-dimensional, but we will have all eternity to get to know him. This chapter
will show us something of his heart. This morning I was reading about Jesus
saying, whoever would be
great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be
your slave (Matt. 20:26-27). So…Joshua 24:29 says that Joshua was a
great man.
Another reason we will miss Joshua is that Judges introduces us to the
power of sin in Israel.
Joshua 24
Vs. 1-5 The focus here is on the covenant to Abraham and how it flowed
through Abe to Isaac and to Esau and Jacob. Moses became the continuation of
the promise to Abraham.
V. 1 This location had a lot of significance. Shechem was where God met
with Abraham and promised his descendants the land. If you do a word search,
you'll find this place mentioned often. Now, neither you nor I would know this,
if not for helps like the Bible Knowledge Commentary, but Shechem is
between Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim, from Joshua 8:30-35. This is where Joshua set
up the stones upon which he wrote the law. The people were on the mountains
opposite each other pronouncing the blessing and the curses involved with
obeying or disobeying God's law. So, this is a pretty important place.
Note also that it says they presented themselves before God. This was
to be a renewal of the covenant.
V. 2 It is interesting that Joshua speaks in the 1st person as God, or
it is God speaking through him.
Note that God refers back to Abraham's father, Terah, that those men
served other gods. Noah was still alive during this time. Noah didn't serve
other gods, but sin in man creates an incredible impulse in man to stray from
God. Rebellion in us because of the power of sin is almost irresistible. I
think Abe was chosen because he learned from Noah (Abe might have known Noah or
Noah’s son Shem). We wonder why Abraham was different than his father and his
culture. I'd bet it was because of his association with a man like Noah or Shem
who didn't worship other gods, but rather the true God. It's interesting to
think of that possible connection between Noah, Shem and Abe in terms of
discipleship. The mission of redemption was kept alive in the heart of this one
disciple.
Vs. 6-13 All of these references to God's protection also reflect the
inability of the false gods to stand against God. These peoples, particularly
Egypt, were known for their gods. Balaam's inability to work against Israel,
again, shows that Israel's God is the only God, and He's for them.
In giving Israel what it didn't build or plant, there is not only a
reference to blessing, but also a reference to God's judgment of the
Canaanites. Their worship before God was sick and their culture was terminal.
The Canaanites lost everything because of their sin. Now it belonged to Israel.
Notice v. 22 in today’s reading of Proverbs.
Vs. 14-15 This seems pretty strong and you notice that Joshua is
pushing them to a point of commitment. It seems to me, that Israel was already
straying and he knew it. The last part of v. 15 would make a good wall plaque
and song.
Vs. 16-18 Notice the interaction between Joshua and the people. The
people seem committed and emotional in their acknowledgement of God's help and
power in all they have experienced. They declare that they too will serve the Lord.
Vs. 19-20 Joshua was not to be swayed by their emotion. We read that
God is a jealous God, but we cannot emotionally enter into the idea of Him
being jealous. Jealousy is an awesome emotion that brings everything to a
standstill. Just as "a little unfaithfulness" would destroy most
marriages, God's blessing would halt if they were unfaithful. In fact, God
would work to take away the good He had given them. In our day and age, we
don't think this applies to us in the church, but I think we will have a rude
awakening when the Lord helps us understand the influence our culture and
society has had on His church and His followers.
Vs. 21-22 It is interesting that the people are insistent and call
their own words to witness against themselves.
V. 23 I think both Joshua and God are telling the people to investigate
their lives closer. Apparently there were already idols among them. Whatever it
was, it must have been semi-secret or revolved around some gray area. The
people had no problem moving against 2.5 tribes when the issues seemed
clear-cut. And, Joshua doesn't seem like the kind of guy to sit still if there
was open, blatant idolatry. But something was going on and the root of
infection and destruction was already there.
V. 24 And the people were not able to grasp what he was saying. Maybe
they were in denial. In any case they are saying they are true to the Lord.
Vs. 25-28 The covenant in v.
25 is followed very strongly by Joshua setting up a monument and writing out
the details of this meeting and covenant. Sadly, Joshua was right.
We never think of idols and worshipping falsely today, especially in
the church. Paul accused the Corinthians of idolatry in 1 Corinthians 10, and
Paul redefined covetousness as idolatry in Ephesians 5. Israel gathered pretty
looking stuff, some of which was used in foreign worship before they acquired
it. Maybe they kept the precious figurines saying there was no God but Yahweh.
It was simply art of value. I wonder if that stuff began to entice them. I
wonder if the stuff that we have has taken such importance in our lives, that
without realizing it, we are no longer devoted to Christ.
I was reading this morning where Jesus says, whoever loves father and mother, …son or daughter more than Me, is not
worthy of Me. I wonder if we have lost our affection for Him and we don't
realize it.
Vs. 29-33 The book of Joshua ends with three burials. Sounds like a
movie, "A Covenant and Three Burials." It is interesting that they
mention the burial of the bones of Joseph. The land was Israel's so now it was
time to bury them. I wonder, since they were buried at Shechem, if Joshua did
this at the end of that ceremony.
V. 29 Notice that Joshua is called the
servant of the Lord, and in v. 31 his legacy is that Israel served the Lord. Joshua's influence was great. This sounds
like what the Lord has asked us to do. We become disciples of Jesus whose
legacy is that we make disciples who follow Jesus and make disciples.
Luke 21:1-28
Vs. 1-4 There is an interesting connection between this event and what
Jesus has been saying. Jesus has just condemned the rich scribes and now He is
contrasting them to this simple, but fully devout, woman. The fact that Luke
was a missionary who traveled with Paul adds to the impact of this story.
Jesus' disciples were told to give everything in order to work in the harvest.
Vs. 5-10 Up to v. 10 the two signs given, false Messiahs and wars, will
come before the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and before
Jesus returns at the end of the Tribulation. Interestingly, in talking about
the Tribulation alone, it never talks about that temple being destroyed. Since
there is no temple today in Jerusalem it means it would have to be rebuilt, but
that could happen easily during the first 3.5 years of the Tribulation when
there is a peace treaty with Israel. The temple needs no electricity, plumbing
or windows, and the foundation is already there. I'll bet "Extreme
Makeover: Temple Edition" could put it up in a week.
Vs. 11-19 These verses seem to be more focused on the future Tribulation
of Israel. Much of what is said here, the disciples have heard before when
Jesus sent out the Twelve. The same things will be true for His future
disciples during those seven years on earth.
Vs. 13-15 Jesus is telling them to expect that God will use His
sovereignty to put His followers into positions where they will give testimony.
The Spirit will speak through them. Then, some might remain on earth, but
probably most will appear in the presence of God, honored and safe.
V. 18 To understand this, read what Paul says just before his death in
2 Timothy 4:18. Paul speaks of rescue, meaning the rescue of leaving his body
and appearing before the Lord in heaven.
V. 19 The call for endurance,
in my thinking, means "salvation" from the fear and emotional terror
of those times. See 1 Timothy 4:16.
Vs. 20-24 This description was as valid for the past onslaught of the
Romans on the temple and Jerusalem, as it is valid for the future persecution
of the Jews at the midway point of the Tribulation.
Vs. 25-28 Of course this time won't be all fun and games and killing
God's people.
V. 25 This seems to describe the first 3.5 years of the Tribulation.
The universe will be out of whack and it will show on the earth, especially in
the oceans. These disasters will create mass terror and fear (and probably ruin
a lot of good vacation spots), but not for those who understand that it is all
exactly as God has planned. In essence, the planet will become much more
primitive as the world tries to deal with unprecedented natural disasters. This
will make it easier for God's people and followers to hide during the second
half of the Tribulation. There will still be destruction in the final 3.5 years
of the Tribulation, but most of the destruction in the first 3.5 years will be
called down on the earth by the two witnesses who will be like Moses and Aaron
in Egypt.
V. 27 However this is to happen, it will be a world event and visible
to all. Everyone will be commenting on that sign in the heavens and everyone
around Jerusalem will be talking about those strange clouds.
V. 28 Those followers of Christ will be weighed down, working
undercover and praying. But like Jesus in those last challenges by the
Pharisees, these disciples will have boldness to risk everything to bring one
more disciple into the kingdom. For us in the harvest, now is the time to cut
loose and go for it.
Psalm 89:38-52
The psalmist is asking God to look down and have mercy on David.
Vs. 38-45 Notice the word You.
For a time, David had to leave Jerusalem. He and his kingdom were in ruins. God
was letting this happen to David as punishment for his taking of Bathsheba and
his murder of Uriah.
Vs. 46-48 David's sin had been years earlier. The guilt and the sin
still hounded David. David's family had been ruined; his conscience was
damaged; and now Absalom was dishonoring his father's wives and throne.
Vs. 49-52 Once again, God's steadfast
love and faithfulness are
appealed to. Verse 51 could be referring to how David was mocked and humiliated
by Shimei when He fled from Jerusalem. If you're interested, read 2 Samuel
16:5-23 and you'll get the sense of what is being said here.
Proverbs 13:20-23
For the first three verses I'd just say, "Amen, amen and
amen!" But, then you have v. 23. Maybe it is somehow saying that the
byproduct of having the righteous in the land is that they protect the poor
from injustice. In a land of righteous people, the poor would have plenty.
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are 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, that is, 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
and important discipleship manual we have and it is the 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, or whom we are to be following. 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,
as disciples, 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, making
disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive
commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular
One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
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. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm
doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that
will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are
reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a
supplement, a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we
will keep following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making
disciples, who make disciples. Being in
the Word every day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the
essential essence of being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the
harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
If you would like documents
containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full
presentation of discipleship read Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with
insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these
can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis
2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
The One Year Bible © by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English Standard
Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good
News Publishers.
All charts/graphics/outlines
from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C.
Cook.
© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck. The
Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Publisher permission
required to reproduce.
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