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.
JUNE 18
1 Kings 19
This is a very cool portion of Scripture. Elijah had fought hard for
the Lord and now in his eyes he had failed. God was extremely gentle with him.
Apparently Ahab and Jezebel had a palace at Jezreel too. In Jezebel, we
meet one of two women rulers in Israel/Judah. This mother and daughter team
were both evil, and both carried their agenda through with a cold and bloody
determination.
Vs. 1-2 This wasn't an idol threat. J Jezebel vowed before whatever she believed
in, to kill Elijah. Now before we judge Elijah too harshly, we have to remember
Elijah was not a super hero. We give him that status. James says that Elijah
was just like us. We have seen enough men and women of God to know that they
lived from one fear and one act of faith to another. Also, Elijah is never
condemned for running. I have to think that God knew this would happen and that
it was within His plan for Elijah and the events that would now unfold.
V. 3 This seems like a huge contradiction. Elijah had performed such a
great miracle, and now this woman threatens him and he takes off. Elijah must
have expected that the people would return to God. There were no riots in the
streets and no shouts for reform. Carmel had been a spectacular and cool event.
Now Elijah understood that change wouldn't happen. He had failed. Not only
that, he was completely pumped out emotionally. They say you are always at your
most vulnerable spiritually and emotionally after you have had a spiritual
success where you have poured yourself out for the Lord. Elijah was empty and
disappointed.
Obviously, Elijah personalized this too much, but so did Moses and
Samuel when they were rejected. Moses wanted to die and Samuel got all
depressed. All of them had invested everything in seeing the people come to
God. It had been so important for them, that when the people rejected God, they
took it to heart. We are no better.
Vs. 4-8 What can you say? God was totally understanding and gave him
what he needed. As we'll see, the Lord is good about waking and helping His
needy followers.
Vs. 9-18 Notice that God was not in the spectacular. He was in the
quiet. One of the dangers of looking for the spectacular is to miss God's
working in the quiet things the Spirit is doing all around us. I think that's
why we are told to abide in Christ, living in the present in the harvest,
looking for what our Lord is showing us that He is doing. And sometimes, the
Lord's quiet working in the harvest is pretty spectacular. Abiding in Christ
makes us aware of our Lord's working in the harvest around us.
Notice also, that God totally agreed with Elijah as shown in the
judgments He pronounced. What had happened at Mt. Carmel was absolutely
critical to the future of the northern kingdom. The people had missed their
window of opportunity. What was happening here was equally as important. God
gave Elijah three tasks that would spell judgment for Israel.
V. 16 Elisha would be "the closer."
V. 18 In Romans, Paul says that God kept these people separate by His
grace. Not "bowing or kissing" didn't just mean they hadn't worshiped
Baal, it meant that they had not participated in the sexual worship of Baal.
Notice that the fact that these people succeeded in resisting this sensual
idolatry was God's grace upon them.
Vs. 19-21 Elisha would also be a great prophet, but his ministry would
be in providing hope as the lights were being turned off. Notice that Elisha
was a godly man living in an ungodly country. He also came from a rich
background, though he was a very "hands on" rich kid.
V. 20 This might seem confusing in the wording of this verse in
English. Basically Elijah says to him, "I'm not stopping you. Just think
about what I've just done to you." Elisha fully understood. Sacrificing
the animals, burning the yokes and holding this feast, was Elisha's way of
burning his bridges to his future inheritance in his family and accepting the
call of God.
It is interesting that from now on, Elisha will appear to be a poor
prophet of God. He chose to be poor to follow God. Following God wouldn't look
"successful." But Elisha followed and God used him. For us as
disciples, we are faced with the same situation. We are called to follow, to be
poor now, and to work in the harvest knowing that a storm of judgment is coming
that cannot be held back.
Acts 12:1-23
Vs. 1-5 This is the first governmental persecution of the church. This
Herod was the grandson of Herod the Great (who hunted Jesus and killed the
babies) and the nephew of the Herod who killed John the Baptist and saw Jesus
just before Jesus died. There were just way too many Herods.
V. 3 This guy was liked by the Jews and went out of his way to please
the Jews. It appears that he instigated the persecution of the church and might
even have dared to see if he could kill a follower of Jesus. Once it worked and
he saw the Jews liked it, Herod must have gotten all excited. The Feast of
Unleavened Bread was the Passover and the week that followed. Although the
Roman capital of Judah was on the coast in Caesarea, the governor always came
to Jerusalem during the feasts to help control the mobs and to look like he was
true blue.
Vs. 6-11 Isn't it interesting the Lord waited until the very night
before the execution to free Peter? This is the second event in today's
reading, where an angel wakes up a servant of God who needed guidance and
assistance. This was a very cool deliverance.
Vs. 12-17 This comical story introduces many things. First, it mentions
John Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. Mark, the failed servant, will become the
first writer of a Gospel. He will also become the companion of Peter in Peter's
future ministry. This story also shows that James, Jesus' brother, was already
in the leadership of the church in Jerusalem. Paul mentions James in Galatians
1:17. Third, this was one of those things that got Peter out of Jerusalem.
We'll see Peter again in Jerusalem in chapter 15. After that, Peter will leave
the story of Acts and it appears that he will leave Jerusalem and become a
traveling maker of disciples.
Vs. 18-19 Caesarea was the Roman capital of Israel, and that is where
the Roman governors ruled. You've already heard of that city several times
regarding Philip and Cornelius. It will also be an important city at the end
of Acts.
Vs. 20-23 The Lord had more than enough on Herod, and He could have
struck him down at any time. I find it very interesting that after the Lord had
allowed Herod to do this to the church, fulfilling His purposes, He took Herod
out. Apparently the illness came immediately, but death came slowly.
As disciples, we need to realize that the Lord is still directing His
and our work in the harvest even when sudden events seem out of control. If God
could save Peter like this, He also could have saved James, John’s brother. If
it was easy for Him to remove Herod after James’ death, God certainly could have
removed him earlier. As disciples we rest in Him and His wisdom, knowing the
Lord is always aware, sovereign, wise and loving. We need to be engaged and
committed to abiding and following, ready to reach out to the lost and to make disciples,
who make disciples.
Psalm 136
This was the first psalm I ever read that impressed me with the
brilliance of seeing everything surrounded by God's steadfast love.
Now that we have a good bit of the OT behind us, we know that some of
the things mentioned were rough years and rough spots for the people. But just
like in our lives, regardless of the event and the way we feel, what carries us
through is to remember that His steadfast
love endures forever. In fact, I'm convinced that the Lord allows us, even
guides us, into situations to prove to us that His steadfast love endures forever. And then I know that the Lord
allows us to wait, to see if we really believe that His steadfast love endures forever.
Vs. 1-3 This seems to be acknowledging God being good and almighty, whose
love endures forever.
Vs. 4-9 It is a wonder that we know God as Creator of the universe. All
He created was guided by His love. What is particularly amazing is that He
loves us.
Vs. 10-22 This isn't just Israel's history; it is the history of God's
redemptive plan of love for mankind. I've got to admit that it's interesting
how God mentions the victories over Sihon and Og so often. As we've seen twice
today, God knows how to rescue His servants. It may not be His will to do so,
but we should never doubt that He knows what's happening, nor His power to
rescue.
Vs. 23-26 And in all of His thoughts and saving acts toward us and to
everyone who receives Christ, His
steadfast love endures forever.
Proverbs 17:14-15
V. 14 There are lots of creative ways to understand the letting out water. The point Solomon (a
guy) is getting at is that once you start, it is very, very hard to stop and
most likely you will keep on letting out
water (anger) until you are empty. So don't start. The time to stop is
before you start and make a big mess.
V. 15 I know we would never do this, but it sort of reminds me of some
of the dumb stuff that is said in a quarrel, just because a person doesn't want
to admit they are wrong.
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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