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 9
1 Kings 5-6
It might help in today's reading to find an online diagram of the plan
of Solomon’s temple.
1 Kings 5
Vs. 1-12 I find it interesting that there was love between Hiram and
David. You don't hear of that between national leaders today. Keep the name of
Hiram in mind. Later he will say some words that will give us an indication
that all was not well.
V. 7 I think Hiram was not only blessed to see that God had given David
a wise son, but notice that Solomon's request is the focus of his reign. He
wanted to build a temple to the Lord. Most kings with Solomon's wisdom and
potential would have wanted to create an empire.
Vs. 13-18 Solomon was an organizing machine. Who says God isn't into
detail?
1 Kings 6
Vs. 1-10 These dates are interesting, and they have helped conservative
scholars pinpoint the times of people and events in the OT. According to the Bible
Knowledge Commentary-OT, p. 499, since we have the dates of Solomon's
reign, these 480 years puts the Exodus in the year 1446 B.C.
Remember that a cubit is 18 inches or about one and a half feet. Again,
according to the BKC-OT, p. 499, the temple was only 2700 sq. ft. The stone
work took time. The craftsmanship took time. And of course, overlaying
everything with gold took time. But when you think about rebuilding a temple
today with our materials, a 2700 sq. ft. building would be a piece of cake. And
the temple didn’t have electricity or plumbing.
Vs. 11-13 This was God's encouragement to Solomon during the building
of the temple. I wonder if Solomon obeyed the command to make his own
handwritten copy of the law and to read it daily. This promise is very
gracious, but the "down side," if you want to call it that, would be
that Solomon would have to obey.
Vs. 14-36 What I find interesting is that he refers to Solomon.
Apparently he had his hand in the design and the crafting of almost everything.
When we get to Solomon's dedication of the temple, he will become I
and it might sound like he took too much ownership. We'll see.
Vs. 37-38 This is interesting information. It seems like something you
might need for "Millionaire" or "Trivial Pursuit," but it
will give an interesting slant on things soon. You wonder, if it only took
seven years to build the temple, and if Solomon reigned for 40 years, what did
he do in those other years? For the answer to that question, we have the story
of the end of his life and the book of Ecclesiastes.
Acts 7:1-29
Vs. 1-29 Now, if you've ever read this sermon, you know that Stephen is
killed at the end of it. If you are like me, you are tempted to think Stephen
was killed because the sermon was so long and senseless and scatterbrained.
But, alas, Stephen, speaking under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, actually had
a point. So here we go. The point of the entire sermon is in 7:51. Read that,
and now, as you read through this for the next three days, look for alternating
descriptions of obedience vs. resistance, constant change and movement, and the
difference between God's grace and doing stuff in the flesh.
If you want a great description of Stephen's sermon, read p. 369 of the
Bible Knowledge Commentary-NT.
V. 25 This is interesting in thinking about what Moses did in the book
of Exodus. It shows that he was fully aware that God had put it in his heart to
deliver the people of Israel when he killed the Egyptian. Moses just hadn’t
sought God or God’s way.
Psalm 127
Interestingly enough, this psalm is written by Solomon, the builder.
What a coincidence that we'd read this today.
Solomon's early years as king were amazing in terms of the things he
built and said. It is undeniable that he had a heart for God. That makes what
happens to him later absolutely horrific, and it ought to strike a deep
humility into the heart of every disciple. The sickness of sin in us is so much
more powerful than we think.
This psalm was to be sung by the pilgrims coming up the heights to
Jerusalem. Probably, they could see the temple and the gold and the grandeur of
Solomon's Jerusalem. This psalm, then, is a very mature and godly perspective
on their lives and their worship.
Vs. 1-2 Our hope is in God to build our lives as we follow Him. Our
hope is on God to protect us as we follow Him.
Vs. 3-5 The next generation is the true heritage of the Lord.
If only Solomon would have lived that. As disciples following Christ in
the harvest, these records of the lives of David, Solomon, and others have been
recorded for us to learn from. We need to imitate the good and to avoid the
traps they fell into. For many of us, there will be a test.
Proverbs 16:28-30
I remember one time after reading this, being in a three-way
conversation; and when one of the people was talking, saying something I guess
I didn't agree with, I looked at the other person and winked. This verse came
immediately to mind. Boy, did I feel bad. I would like to think I'm not the dishonest man or the man of violence or the
"winker," but in the right (or wrong?) circumstances, I can be.
So, turning the proverb to the positive, an honest man is not simply
passive, but spreads understanding and brings people together. A man of peace
wins his neighbors' trust to lead him in a way that is good for him. A disciple
of Christ is transparently honest, wise as a serpent, but innocent as a dove, seeking
to lead others to Christ and to make disciples, who make disciples, glorifying
the Father by bearing much fruit for Him. Something like that.
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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