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 9
Believe it or not, this is our last full day in Deuteronomy. If you
open your Bible and hold Genesis to Deuteronomy together, that is a hunk of
Bible. The same goes for what you've read in The Psalms and the Gospels. You've
actually read about a third of the Bible since you'll be reading The Psalms
twice. Tomorrow we meet Rahab, a woman of incredible faith.
Deuteronomy 33
This is sort of like Jacob's blessing of his sons at the end of
Genesis. What things stand out to you? I only have a few of my own
observations.
Vs. 1-5 Moses begins this blessing with God's coming to Sinai with His
angels to show great love to His people Israel.
V. 6 Reuben is mentioned first as Jacob's firstborn, but interestingly,
Moses says his men would be few. It may be that the penalty for his incest was
still there and had some influence in the tribe.
V. 7 Judah is mentioned here because he is the son/tribe who really
received the birthright. As it will say today in Psalm 78, the blessing went to
Judah. Can you remember why?
Interestingly, Simeon isn't mentioned although he was the second son.
This tribe was eventually absorbed into Judah.
Vs. 8-11 Notice the space given to the Levites. Of all the things that
God gave this tribe, Moses mentions the Thummim and Urim. These were incredible
gifts to the nation. I still don't understand why the nation didn't avail
itself of this blessing, except that to get this answer you had to come to the
tabernacle.
V. 10 Notice what the Levites were supposed to do. They were to be the
teachers of Israel.
V. 12 Benjamin is mentioned with Joseph since both were sons of the
loved wife, Rachel.
Vs. 13-17 This is a lot of text and blessing for Joseph. Israel was to
remember that God used Joseph to save them. Compare this to v. 67 in today's
psalm. Everyone looked to Joseph and Ephraim, but God chose Judah. In v. 17
Ephraim is mentioned first. Also note the "ten thousand - thousand"
comparison. This must have been a motto in the culture. This saying will play a
funny role when we get to King Saul and David.
Vs. 18-25 I find it interesting that so much text is given to the tribe
of Gad. Maybe this had something to do with the choice of the 2.5 tribes to
settle on the east side of the Jordan.
V. 22 Apparently there is a possible wordplay here, because
"Bashan" can mean or sound like "serpent." This could mean
something like, "strong like a lion, but afraid of snakes." When
Jacob blessed Dan in Genesis 49:17, he called him a snake on the road. All of
this is interesting because Dan becomes the first tribe to completely defect
into idolatry and they are not a part of the 144,000 in Revelation.
V. 23 The lake of Naphtali is the Sea of Galilee.
Vs. 24-25 A lot is said about Asher and I wonder why.
Vs. 26-29 This is the finale of the blessing on Israel (Jeshurun= the
upright one).
V. 27 This sounds like Psalm 90. If you really want to get the rest of
Moses' last words, you should read Psalm 90, which he must have written around
this time. As Laura observed, the Song of Moses in the previous chapter should
really be called the Song of God. Psalm 90 is the real Song of Moses.
V. 29 This could be applied to the church too, "Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord…" Now we
need to get the word out in the harvest, following our Lord to reach the lost
and make disciples, who make disciples, who make disciples.
In reading v. 26 and the imagery of God coming on the clouds to help
Israel, I have to think of the Lord coming at the end of the Tribulation. Jesus
spent 40 days after His resurrection teaching His disciples. He gave them the
Great Commission and told them to wait for the Spirit to have the power to perform
their mission. Then He was taken into heaven. The angels said He would return
the same way, but it will be different. Only a few saw Him leave, but everyone
will see Him return. He left silently, but He will come back with might and
power to save Israel and all those who believe in Him. He is Risen, and
returning. Let's be willing to sell all we have, gird ourselves for our work in
the harvest and wait expectantly with joy for His return.
Luke 13:1-21
Jesus had been teaching the disciples and then addressed the multitude.
His word to them was that they were living like hypocrites. They knew the
weather, but refused to understand His presence among them. Jesus told them
they needed to make peace quickly with God.
Vs. 1-5 Apparently when Jesus finished saying this, somebody spoke up,
probably trying to say something that would get some respect or acknowledgment
from Jesus. Jesus turned the point and kept teaching the crowd. There are
always people who want to point to a disaster and make a one-to-one connection
to that event and sin. What's interesting is that Jesus doesn't deny the
connection, but points the situation to the people who were talking. It is
almost to say, "Don't worry about that, but worry about yourselves."
Notice that Jesus says that all of them need to repent.
The reality is that sometimes there is a correlation between events and
God's hand of judgment. In all things, God is free to allow something to happen
in order to make others wake up. Ultimately, all souls appear before the throne
of God. That's where we'll all wind up. The question is, are we ready, and if
we are ready, in light of this coming event, we need to be moved with
compassion, not judgment, and help others find Christ.
Vs. 6-9 As Jesus tells this story, He is really building on something
that John the Baptist said earlier in Luke 3:8-9. If you look back there you'll
find repentance, trees and fruit, too. Jesus uses the previous question of
God's judgment in situations to point to God's mercy. Every person on this planet
is in trouble. God's patience is incredible. Instead of judging quickly, God is
kind and shows mercy. This is His daily posture as He works that none should
perish. Many will perish, but it won't be because He didn't provide
opportunities to hear the truth and respond.
Repentance is a "turning" from our sin to God. It is a
decision of heart and soul, and need not be accompanied by doing anything. But
the point of true repentance is that once a person has repented and turned to
God, it should begin to become evident. The evidence is the fruit.
Vs. 10-17 So here is a case in point of religious fruitlessness. This
woman had been bound by Satan 18 years. It doesn't say it was because of sin.
The implication, like the man born blind in the Gospel of John, is that God
allowed this for His glory. God works as He chooses so that we have
opportunities to believe, follow Him and tell others.
V. 12 Notice that as soon as Jesus saw her, He called her and healed
her. He knew it was of the Father and He had no regard for the fact that it was
in a synagogue or on the Sabbath.
Vs. 13-14 Notice the contrast. She glorified God, and the ruler of the
synagogue had a fit.
Vs. 15-16 Jesus had used this kind of example before. It is interesting
to me that it is similar, yet different from the others. For me it makes Jesus'
teaching more personal and understandable. Verse 16 was a homerun.
V. 17 You wonder why Jesus was willing to continually face conflict.
Here is the reason. It was to give the people a chance to respond to the truth.
Vs. 18-21 Jesus has used the parables of the mustard seed and the
leaven earlier in His ministry and we've read this in Matthew 13 in a
completely different context. This telling of those parables is almost verbatim
with that earlier occasion. Commentators are tempted to put a negative spin on
both tellings of these parables because of the presence of the ruler of the
synagogue and because of the conflict, but it seems that since these renditions
are verbatim, the meaning is the same. Jesus could have used different wording
to suggest negative influence. It seems to me that the message was to the
disciples. The kingdom is seen by faith. It will begin small and will grow
great, and it is hidden, but is among them. In spite of the resistance, the
kingdom will not be stopped.
Psalm 78:65-72
So, after all of the disaster in the history of Israel, God rises
confidently without inhibition and brings victory, order, and peace through
David. I think this is the main point of the psalm. Instead of rebelling as
Israel has in the past, they are to submit to the order God has made,
submitting to the rule of David. After Joshua, 400 years would pass in trouble
and insecurity. The reign of David would be the next time the nation was
secure. It was the visible blessing and working of God.
Proverbs 12:25
Encouragement is an incredible need. Yet, the Lord lets us walk without
it at times to see where our real treasure is and where it is that we find our
ultimate security. It is amazing how often Jesus told His disciples not to be
anxious or to fear. It is what we are to learn as we follow, but I still pray
for encouragement every day.
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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