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MAY 25
2 Samuel 7-8
2 Samuel 7
This is a big
chapter in the Bible because of the Davidic Covenant. Basically, in this
covenant God promises that someone from David's lineage will rule over Israel
forever. This will be fulfilled in Jesus. Something interesting to note is that
when Paul talked about the gospel he preached, it went like this: Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead,
the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel (2
Tim. 2:8). This covenant is suddenly a very clear revelation of the next step
forward in God’s plan of redemption.
Vs. 1-2 David had a house built for him by Hiram. His days
of living in tents and in caves were over. In thanking God for this, it must
have made David think about the ark being in a tent. The tent represented God’s
presence and I doubt the tabernacle looked as good as the one Moses made in the
wilderness.
V. 3 I find it kind of funny that Nathan thought that God would approve
everything David did since He was blessing David in everything else. It was a
good time, and I guess they were beginning to take God for granted.
Vs. 4-17 These are the words of the covenant God was making with David.
Nathan was the prophet. Note in vs. 4-7 that God acknowledged David’s heartfelt
concern for God and His glory.
Vs. 8-12 This is what God had done with David and will still do with
David. It is interesting that God took David from following the sheep to making him the shepherd of Israel. God said
that He was responsible for protecting David and bringing blessing though him.
Vs. 13-17 In what God is saying to David here, there would be a near
literal fulfillment. There would be a temple built by Solomon, and there would
be a lineage of David. But there is also a future fulfillment that will be when
Jesus sits on the throne in the Millennial Kingdom. The Davidic line would not
rule unbroken, as obviously it hasn't. But that rule, when reestablished, will
be resumed by a descendant of David, Jesus; and He will build God a house (1
Peter 2:5).
Vs. 18-29 So what
is faith? David talked to a man named Nathan. He said, "You know, I think
I'll build a temple to the glory of God, to house the ark of the
covenant." The guy, Nathan, said, "Go for it." A few hours
later, Nathan came back and said, "By the way, God said not to do it, but
instead He is going to establish your lineage into an eternal dynasty." So
David, having heard this from this guy, went into the forecourt of the
tabernacle, before the Lord, and prayed this. The faith really blows me away.
Nathan could have made that up. David heard from a human, but understood the
words were from God and poured out his heart in gratitude. Jesus said to Thomas
in John
20:29, "Have you believed because
you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have
believed."
This is a very impressive prayer and act of faith.
V. 29 What David understood and what awed him was forever. This is what awed Paul, and
this is why everyone in the Gospels who cried out to the Son of David usually
had saving faith.
2 Samuel 8
Vs. 1-8 All of this was the blessing of the Lord and fulfilling what
God had said He would do for Israel and David. David would be established and
have peace. What God was doing here not only involved victories, but He was
giving David and his men the wisdom to organize and keep the nations in
submission to him. At the same time, God was blessing the nation of Israel.
Vs. 9-12 God not only took care of David’s enemies, but He gave David
allies. We’ll see in Chronicles that although David couldn’t build the temple,
he had all the materials stockpiled and he gave a set of blueprints to Solomon
before he died.
Vs. 13-14 This might be mentioned because the Edomites lived in the
rock and may have been thought to be invincible. David defeated them.
Vs. 15-18 So David and Israel got organized. David’s sons were
officials. We’ll see later that this was a way kings began to train their sons.
One son in particular will take his role as an official very seriously. That
would be Absalom.
We’ll be reading a lot more about David in Kings and Chronicles, and it
is amazing how much David organized. It seems that as God expands His work and
blesses what we do for Him, He also organizes us. I think some of the
organizing David did came out of passions that God gave him. We can trust God
to do this for us too in the harvest. If He blesses, He will help us get
organized.
John 14:15-31
Remember from John 14:1 that being troubled of heart and afraid is the
context here. This worry is because Jesus will be leaving them, now and in the
future. This is mentioned several times.
Vs. 15-17 The Holy Spirit then will take Jesus' place both leading and
comforting them in the mission. The Holy Spirit is not given primarily to
comfort us when the car breaks or we're lonely. There is a purpose for us being
left here on earth as witnesses of Christ, and the Holy Spirit comforts and
enables us for that.
Vs. 18-24 Jesus speaks lots of comfort and encouragement here. Notice
that the way for them, and us, to commune and connect with the Lord will be
through His Word. The Holy Spirit enables this, but we respond in love to
knowing and obeying the Word. Not only do the Father and Son dwell with us, but
the Father confirms His love to us. And all of this is when we are following in
the harvest. This is all enabled by the Spirit’s working in Jesus’ own.
Also, notice how often love is mentioned in these verses. Circle the
word love. Loving Christ and obeying
Him, following Him in the harvest, will result in the Son and the Father
manifesting themselves to us and making their abode with us, all this via the
Holy Spirit. So what is it that we are obedient to? This obeying is not general
moral living or going to church or singing in worship and living harmless
lives. This obedience is following Christ in the mission. We'll see this
emphasis of mission in the next chapter, and it is important to grasp this to
understand how the Holy Spirit will help us. If you think about what Jesus commanded
His disciples, you’ll see that much of it had to do with being fearless,
anxiety-free followers in the harvest who were not ashamed to testify to His
name. His commandments are summed up in the Great Commission.
Vs. 25-31 As Jesus introduced the ministry of the Spirit, He applied
the Spirit’s coming to their immediate need for comfort. They would also need
the Spirit’s comfort in their future ministry, as they stood for Jesus. There
is the element of joy that Jesus was going to the Father. But they didn’t
understand what that would mean for the plan of redemption or the incredible
message they would be taking into the world. They also didn’t understand the
power of the spiritual authorities that would be directed to them this night or
in the future. In that too, the Spirit of God would be their Helper.
As disciples we need to see that the power and ministry of the Spirit
is to aid and comfort and empower us as we are laboring in the harvest,
reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Jesus told His
disciples in John 12:26, If anyone serves me, he must
follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. Jesus is still
seeking to save the lost and we need to be with Him in the harvest. Then we
will know the power and wonder of the Spirit.
Psalm 119:33-48
Notice how many ways God's Word is referred to. Notice the pleas,
petitions and cries for help. Isn't this amazing stuff with which to fill your
heart? This is how we are to cry out and what we are to do, when we are being
pressed by the stuff of this life. Our hope is only in God and His Word.
Vs. 33-40 This is David crying out to hold true to the Word. Notice the
mention of selfish gain, worthless things and the reproach of
others. Those are things that take us from the Word. David, here and elsewhere,
expresses his delight and longing for the Word. When he had those, David was
safe and thriving. That’s the same with us.
Vs. 41-48 Here, the steadfast
love of the Lord and remembrance of God saving David secured his heart in
the Word, even when he was taunted. Notice the importance of meditation to
David. Again, when David did this, he was a mighty man for God.
Proverbs 15:33
Amen. I wish I had really, really, really learned this in my 20's.
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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