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JULY
15
1
Chronicles 19-21
As you read today, remember that
Ezra is writing to the Jews who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian
exile. Our question as we read is to understand why God is leading Ezra to
include some information and leave out other information. You will read some
things that seem verbatim with what you've read before. In a couple of parts
you'll notice that Ezra leaves out a lot of stuff. Then you'll read a familiar
story, but you'll notice that there is a lot more detail added. The Lord had
His purposes for how He led Ezra to write for these people.
1 Chronicles 19
We've read of this battle
before. I think the significance for Ezra in reviewing this entire story was
that this was the largest foreign army David fought against. The situation
began innocently enough, but God allowed
it to escalate into a major international showdown. It was God's way of
revealing threats to David and Israel and taking care of them. The Ammonites
hired an army from the areas around Assyria and Babylon, and Israel defeated
them with God's help. After this, the names of God and David were known as far
as Babylon. The returned Israelites could depend on God for His help too.
Vs. 1-5 David was innocent of
any false motives, but things still went bad. This was what had also happened
to the returnees when they began to rebuild the temple. They were being charged
with wanting to become rebels and reestablish an independent Israel.
Vs. 6-15 The words of Joab to
his brother were exactly what the people needed to hear. They needed to be
strong and to use their strength for their people and for the cities of their
God. Israel's history showed that God would honor their faith and He would
reward them for seeking Him.
Vs. 16-19 It seemed like things
had gone from bad to worse, but history showed that the Lord was working in
this to bring an even greater victory, and to bring renown to Israel and to His
name.
These are also good lessons for
us to learn for our work in the harvest.
1 Chronicles 20
Vs. 1-3 We've read this story
before too, but what is interesting is what's missing. There is no mention of
Bathsheba or the death of Uriah.
Vs. 4-8 This is a very thin
summary, showing the returning generation that God rescued Israel from huge
armies and (literally) enormous foes.
No one could stand before Israel
if they sought the Lord.
1 Chronicles 21
We have also read this story.
The twist here is that Ezra says that Satan stood up against Israel and incited
David to do something that would bring God's judgment on Israel. The story was
important for the returnees to know, because this is how the location for the
temple was chosen.
It is interesting that Ezra
points to Satan being against Israel. We know this is true, but this is the
first time I can remember it being said. Israel had seen trouble and had been
disobedient; and as a result, they were kicked out of their land. They almost
ceased to exist as a nation and only God's grace in Babylon saved them. As the
nation of God, tracing its roots back to Adam and Eve, they needed to keep in
mind that they had an enemy who would incite them to sin. Even God's favorite
son, David, when incited to sin, was punished.
Vs. 1-6 This is recorded in 2
Samuel 24 where it says that God was angry and incited David to take the
census. This needs some thought. I would suggest comparing this to the
situation of Ahab and Jehoshaphat who had already made the decision to work
together without consulting God. God gave them the desire of their hearts, but
God was clearly unhappy with them and allowed a demonic power to influence
them. The point is that they had already sinned in their hearts and actions. I
think David had already sinned by becoming so prideful of his nation that he felt
he wanted to see how great he had become as a military power. In God's anger at
David's pride, God allowed Satan to incite him. David was open and willing, and
Satan knows a thing or two about pride.
Again, it is ironic that a man
like Joab saw what David couldn't see. This often happens to us when we choose
to sin. God speaks to us in some very ironic ways: through the mouth of a
donkey here, and through the words of a bad person there.
Vs. 7-13 In 2 Samuel 24 it says
that David's heart struck him. Here it says that God struck Israel and then
David knew he was wrong. Apparently God began to move and then David saw the
connection between the beginning of God's judgment and his prideful action.
Vs. 14-17 Ezra is adding more
detail to his rendering of this story. He is showing that there was grace and
purpose in what God did here. This threshing floor is the point of the story.
Vs. 18-27 We have a lot more
detail here. The angel of the Lord…
commanded Gad to tell David to make a sacrifice. It is a good guess that
this angel of the Lord was the pre-incarnate Christ.
V. 20 It is funny that this guy
and his sons saw the angel and hid.
V. 23 If I was that guy, with a
deadly angel standing there with his sword ready for action, I'd just want to
give the property away too.
V. 25 In 2 Samuel 24 there is
another amount given, but David actually bought two things. He bought the
threshing floor and the acreage around it.
V. 26 Here we learn that the Lord answered… with fire from heaven.
V. 27 Only then did the Lord command
the angel to sheath His sword.
Vs. 28-30 The idea here seems
that David recognized that this was where the Lord wanted David to worship
every day, not in Gibeon. Gibeon was far enough away that David wouldn't have
gone there regularly. This was the place of worship and sacrifice and seeking
God's favor. Later, we will hear the name of this place is Mt. Moriah. It is
where Abraham had been willing to offer Isaac, and it was the place where the
temple would be built. Ezra was trying to help the returned Israel understand
that this place of mercy should be their focus and priority as they sought God
to rebuild the nation.
Romans
2:25-3:8
Romans 2:25-29
V. 25 What is the value of
circumcision for a Jew? It is seen in Romans 4:11 regarding the faith of Abraham.
It was a symbol of the promise of redemption through God's work in Abraham. It
was what symbolized the nation built on faith in that promise. It still boiled
down to faith. To break the law was to break faith and undo what circumcision
meant.
V. 26-27 A Gentile who kept the
law would show that he had both the faith in the promise to Abraham, and the
work of redemption God was working in the world. It still boiled down to faith.
Vs. 28-29 In chapters 9-15, Paul
will say that there is a difference between the church and the Jews and that
the Jews will fulfill their destiny. There is no ground in Romans whatsoever to
say that the church and Israel are the same. Paul's purpose in saying that a
real Jew is a Jew inwardly is that a real Jew is not only descended by blood
from Abraham, but is a man or woman of faith in the promise to Abraham and
shares the faith of Abraham. Romans 9 makes this very clear. The real
descendants of Abraham not only have the blood tie, but they also have the
faith tie. Paul's and the Spirit's logic is compelling.
Romans 3:1-8
Vs. 1-2 If the Jews had lived by
faith, it is hard to overestimate the privilege and "advantage"
mentioned here. Compare this to what Paul says later in Romans 9:4-5.
V. 3 God will still honor His
promises to Abraham, to David and to Solomon regarding the temple and
Jerusalem. The nation of Israel will fulfill its destiny and proclaim God's
grace to the earth. Israel's rebellion doesn't show God's failure; it shows the
truth of His Word and the wisdom of His actions. We'll see all this in chapters
11 and 15.
V. 4 This is one of those many
places in Romans where Paul asks a rhetorical question that is answered very
strongly with By no means. In the
Greek this is a very, very strong denial. To get the right effect in the
English, you probably need to take your shoe off and bang it on the table as
you're saying this.
The issue of God being
"judged" is interesting and very important in the dramas being played
out in this time of spiritual darkness. Paul will mention God's righteousness
again in this chapter. Although Paul will use some arguments in chapter 9 that
will make it look like God can do what He pleases, God still brings about
salvation in such a way that it is totally righteous and just. Satan is not only
the accuser of the brethren, but he's keeping an eye on God too, to hold Him to
the line. When all is said and done, without having to violate righteousness
and play the card that says, "I'm bigger than you, so I can do anything I
want," God will appear totally righteous, good and loving in how He
brought about salvation universally and personally. (See Psa. 11:7 in today’s
reading.)
Vs. 5-7 We will see this
argument surface in a different way in chapter 9. If God uses the unrighteous,
does that make God unrighteous in judging the unrighteous? Of course not, but
some people think they understand justice and righteousness better than God.
Actually, to question God in this regard is rebellion and a lack of trust in
who God is.
V. 8 Apparently some people
twisted Paul's teaching on grace, as Peter says later, to their own
destruction.
Psalm
11
As disciples following Christ,
we don't live our lives according to the "tune" of our culture. We
see a different reality and know a Savior who is still interested in seeing
people saved. That means our lives have to take a different trajectory every
day. No one else in the world rises every day to take a cross that declares
they are following Christ to the death should He ask it. Our work in the
harvest is to work as He worked whether or not others understand it or support
it.
V. 1 is the taunt of the
unrighteous. Even those who were running and hiding with David must have
suggested that he abandon any thought of help from God and just head for the
hills.
Vs. 2-3 As David ran from Saul,
the resources of a nation were bent on destroying David. If David were killed,
what would the anointing of Samuel mean? Yet they were really fighting against
God, not David.
V. 3 This seems like what people
are always attempting. If the foundational truth can be “redefined,” then the
righteous are helpless. But God doesn’t change or go away. He is the foundation
of truth and reality. Unbelief may rage against truth and reality, yet we are
always secure. Paul and the Spirit say so in Romans 8:28-39.
Vs. 4-7 None of this escapes the
Lord's attention or is beyond His sovereign working.
V. 5 The tension is that on the
one hand, those who follow are being tested. Yet on the other hand, to the
person not following God, this testing proves their point, that those who
follow God do it in vain. And God knows their thoughts and sets His face
against them.
V. 7 is our only true hope. As
we follow, our lives are used by God for His purpose. Success is defined by the
Lord, not by us or our culture. Our hope is in knowing we will see His face and
know His kindness in Christ forever.
Proverbs
19:10-12
It's hard to know what to do
with this little mish-mash.
V. 10 You have the disparity of
seeing the foolish do well, but they do, especially in Hollywood.
V. 11 You have the internal
wisdom that supplies a person with balance in an "unequal" world.
V. 12 Then there is the judgment
of a "king."
I guess in all of this, the
person made wise by following God can make sense of the disparity of this life
and he knows how to seek the favor of God.
In reading all of this, there is
the question of whether it's worth it or not to make so much of following God.
Ezra is trying to make a case for living as God's chosen people. Paul is saying
that the life of faith is worth pursuing. The psalmist is crying out after
listening to people tell him there's really no help, but helping yourself. Even
the proverb says it's hard to see the foolish prosper because it looks like
they were right. But reality never changes. God has a plan and it's coming to
completion. If you only do the speed limit when you see a cop, it means that
you really don't see the law as important. If the only time we obey God is when
we can see Him, that would be compliance, not love and faith. When we "can't
see" Him working, but we keep on following in the harvest, that is love
and faith. Others might think we've lost a couple of cards from the deck while
they enjoy a comfortable life, but I'd rather follow, even if it means being
hungry now.
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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