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translations.
JULY
14
1
Chronicles 16:37-18:17
1 Chronicles 16:37-43
This is a continuation from
yesterday showing that David, as king, took the lead in organizing and
designing the worship. One mark of all godly kings in Judah was that they
personally invested in and organized the worship of the people. For the rulers
of Israel, returning to the land after the exile, Ezra was emphasizing the need
for them to model spiritual involvement and worship for the people.
Vs. 39-40 This is interesting.
There was the tent in Jerusalem for the ark, and there was the tabernacle in
Gibeon. This is why David had two high priests, Abiathar and Zadok. The
question is why the tabernacle was in Gibeon and the ark was in Jerusalem. Sacrifices
were being made in both places. I wonder if David had the tabernacle placed in
Gibeon during the civil war, so that it would have been outside of Judah in the
territory of Benjamin, Saul's tribe. When Solomon was worshiping to God and
received the promise of wisdom, Solomon was at Gibeon. Somehow I think God
allowed this, but didn't necessarily approve. Hezekiah and Josiah removed all
the high places and made the altar in Jerusalem the only place to sacrifice or
worship.
1 Chronicles 17
Today, in this very select
history for the returning exiles, comes the Davidic promise. David sought the
glory and honor of God, and God honored David with this promise. The importance
of this promise in the OT is rivaled only by the promise to Adam and Eve and
the promise to Abraham. These were redemptive promises, even if at times,
Israel only understood them as nationalistic. Even in Romans 1, as Paul
introduces himself, he includes David's name in the description of the gospel.
The Messiah is the eternal ruler who was promised by God to come through the
house and lineage of David.
As you read this chapter, what
do you think Ezra was trying to say to the new generation entering the land of
promise?
Vs. 1-2 It apparently bothered
David that he now lived comfortably in a permanent house made of cedar, but the
Lord was represented by a tent. Nathan assumed that everything David desired
would be blessed.
Vs. 3-15 This is the promise or
covenant with David.
Vs. 11-12 These verses transform this promise into something
that could only be fulfilled by God Himself. To reign forever meant that this
son would have to live forever. Solomon fulfilled v. 11, but only Jesus could
fulfill v. 12. This was a part of the confused Jewish theology Jesus lived with
during His ministry. They understood this theologically, but couldn't accept it
in reality. For example, in John 1:49 Nathanael answered and said to Jesus, Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the
King of Israel! It was one thing to say that the Messiah would be God's eternally
living Son; it was another thing to meet God's eternally living Son and like
Him and follow Him.
Vs. 16-27 This entire chapter is inspiring. Out of all the
earthly confusion we have read about regarding Samuel and Saul and David,
suddenly the plan of God clearly comes to the forefront. You wonder as you read
this how much David understood of God's plan of redemption. We know from what
we've read in 2 Samuel, that David lost perspective because of his sin with
Bathsheba and Uriah and began to worry and obsess about which son would fulfill
this.
I'm reminded of what Jesus said to His disciples in Luke
10:24, For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and
did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. And think
of our privilege. As disciples in the harvest we have been saved by this plan.
We know the Messiah; we can explain the plan of salvation to others, and we
have been called to become ambassadors of this truth. We dare not let our
downfall be that, knowing all of this, we take it for granted and hide our
light.
1 Chronicles 18
We've seen that David fought
battles and God gave him the victory, establishing David's house. But, we
haven't yet seen what Ezra is trying to emphasize about David that these people
should model.
Vs. 1-8 We've read about these
battles before, but notice vs. 7-8. Even though David was told he couldn't
build the temple, it was still his passion to see this done. David knew a
temple would be built and that Solomon would do it. In everything that David
did, he still had that desire burning in his heart. He wanted God’s presence
near him, and he wanted God’s presence to be the center of Israel’s existence.
This is what made David a man after God’s own heart. This is an example of
David’s passion for God showing through. Whereas Solomon made himself rich by
acquiring gold and precious metals, David began to stockpile these metals for
the building of the temple.
Vs. 9-11 Even the gifts David
was given went into the treasury for the temple.
Vs. 12-13 It was just mentioned
that David carried away the wealth of Edom and the other nations. Apparently it
was Abishai who was responsible for the campaign that brought Edom into
submission.
Vs. 14-17 Here is David again -
leading, guiding, organizing and serving Israel, the people of God. Notice in
v. 17 it says that David made his sons officials in his government as they came
to adulthood. In 2 Samuel 8:18 it says they were priests, but “officials” is
what was meant. They became like governors and judges, mediators for the
people.
When David comes and sits before
the Lord in 1 Chronicles 17:16, he asks the question every disciple of Jesus
should ask, Who am I? When we read
those first few verses of Romans 1, we realize that we have been called to
belong to Christ and have been appointed to take the news of this salvation to
the lost and dying. That should be a cause for feeling just as David felt when
he was told that God would pour out kindness and honor upon him. In many ways,
the kindness and honor God has shown us is so much greater. Jesus told His
disciples in Matthew, But
blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you,
many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see
it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it (Matt.
13:16-17). We are those disciples of honor who have been saved, who see
and hear and have the privilege of working with our Savior in the harvest.
Romans
2:1-24
In this chapter Paul is working
toward what he's going to say in chapter 3, that we are all condemned and
guilty before God, because we are all under the power of sin. The only answer
to the condemnation of man and the power of sin will be faith in Christ. Paul
is also defusing any sense that Jews or those who follow the law are better
than those who "only" know Christ.
In your observations, notice how
Paul is building an atmosphere of coming judgment.
Vs. 1-5 This could apply to any
person who is a judge of others, Jew or Gentile. Knowing what is right doesn't
free anyone from the power of sin. Thinking we are better than others because
we "know" makes us hypocrites because that same power of sin is still
roaring through our veins. Knowing right from wrong doesn't save you. Only
Christ saves and only the Spirit can aid us against sin. There is no ground for
pride in our salvation.
Vs. 6-11 might give the
"idea" that there might be something someone could "do" for
acceptance before God, but this is just Paul setting up his argument for man's
hopelessness in chapter 3. Look ahead to the end of what Paul is saying here in
v. 16 and notice the basis of this judgment. Judgment is according to Jesus
Christ. That will mean "by faith in Christ." I was reading this
morning in John 6 that when the people asked Jesus, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” That
is the only work that works: belief
in Jesus, welcoming Him as Savior and Lord. In John 6, Jesus is taking their
view of works and saying that there is no work, only faith in Him.
Notice too that in this section,
Paul is beginning to show that since God shows no partiality, the Jews and the
Gentiles are equal. All are lost and all are saved by faith in Christ.
Vs. 12-16 This is some amazing
information. Even those who don't know the Law of Moses/God are responsible for
the law. The law’s most important components are written on the hearts of
humans, since we are all created in the image of God. This goes back to Romans
1:19-20. All mankind is without excuse before God. Notice that judgment is a part
of the gospel. That is one of the reasons God has left us here in the harvest,
to warn people.
Vs. 17-24 Now, although there is
a tone in this letter as if Paul is writing to a completely Jewish audience, he
is not. This is one of the few instances where Paul addresses and names a
particular group in the church in Rome. Paul will again address the Jews in
chapter 7 and then the Gentiles in chapter 11. It was a mixed congregation of
people. The point here was that the Jews were so shot through with sin, the
spiritual disease, that there was no way they should feel safe or better or
saved because they were Jews.
The contradictions between
belief and behavior are also famous in the church today. A theoretical
Christianity is powerless. We are not better off for all the videos, books,
preachers and podcasts we have. We still need to be in the Word daily and
humbly following our Lord every day, pouring out our lives to make disciples of
those He is seeking. That is the only way we stay in His presence and care, by
staying close to Him.
It could be that there were Jews
in the church who were either not yet saved, or they were Jewish Christians who
were still very rooted in the law. These "law abiding" people were a
deep threat to understanding the grace of the gospel and the saving faith in
Christ alone. Paul is doing some very thorough theological re-orientation here
for those stuck on the law. Paul will level the playing field and show that
neither Jew nor Gentile has any hope without faith in Christ, and that even in
the OT, salvation was based solely on faith.
One trap that we fall into as Christians is thinking that we
are better than "sinners." That attitude will keep us from being
effective for Jesus in the harvest. Humbled disciples know that the disease of
sin still rages in this body of death. It is only by grace, by the daily
cleansing of the Word, by following the leading of the Spirit that we are able
to do anything that is half-way honoring and glorifying to God. It is pure
grace and purely by His help. As Jesus said, apart from me you can do nothing. Paul said to the Corinthians, What have you that you did not receive? If
then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift (1 Cor.
4:7, RSV)? Knowing the gift draws you in love to the Savior who is, in fact,
still working in the harvest.
Psalm
10:16-18
This is the very intense ending
of the psalm. There is a kind of spiritual affliction that comes from seeing
the harvest, and sensing our call to serve God in the harvest. The work is
important and it is desperate. That is why Jesus could tell His disciples, in
Luke 6:21, Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. We
don't have to be afflicted now, but we will gladly be afflicted now because we
understand the grace given to us, the amazing grace and love in the gospel and
the coming judgment on those who have not yet responded.
Vs. 16-18 Since God is the King
forever, and He is also the cure for all that will come in the "forever"
part of this life, now is the time to face affliction and put aside our
interests and work in the harvest reaching the lost, making disciples, who make
disciples.
Proverbs
19:8-9
Truth or lies. Is a person
living according to reality or closing their eyes to reality? Christians get
ruined too. And pretending that there is no harvest is the same as saying there
isn't one. Jesus said in Luke 8:21, My mother
and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it. For a
disciple, the "it" always involves following their Savior into the
harvest. Submitting to His reality and truth shows we love Him, and, according
to v. 8, that we love our own souls. Hmmm. And we will discover good.
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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