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.
JULY
23
2
Chronicles 8:11-10:19
2 Chronicles 8:11-18
Vs. 11-15 It seems that Ezra is
showing the short-term, good effect "being spiritual" had on Solomon.
Notice in all of this, it was still the effect of David’s devotion to the Lord
that was directing people.
V. 11 This isn't quite
correcting his mistake for marrying Pharaoh’s daughter, but Solomon does remove
her from the city of David. Ezra's people intermarried and then in repentance
annulled those marriages.
V. 12 Solomon used to offer on
the high places. Now he is only offering in Jerusalem in the temple.
Notice the two references to the
commands of Moses and David.
Vs. 16-18 So, after the
"mission" was complete, why did Solomon still need a lot of gold? You
can calculate the tonnage by multiplying the talents by 75 (1 talent = 75 lb.).
In 2 Chronicles 9:13 notice how much gold Solomon brought in yearly, even after
the temple and his palace were finished.
2 Chronicles 9
Vs. 1-12 The visit of the Queen
of Sheba showed that Solomon and Israel had international recognition and
acclaim. I think Ezra's point in this story is stated toward the end. Remember,
in building up the people's identity with the calling of God, Ezra is trying to
show them that there was a time that the glory of Israel was beyond that of
Babylon and Persia. Returning to Israel and to Jerusalem was not a "step
down."
Vs. 13-21 This is meant to show
the vast and lavish richness of Solomon’s Israel. It would have been the
vacation destination of the world.
Vs. 22-28 These would have been
the verses to the generation of returnees.
Vs. 29-30 Notice that Ezra
doesn't say anything negative about Solomon. This is the same as his review of
the life of David. Ezra has focused on God's promises as established in David
and in Solomon's dedication of the temple. The glory of Israel is in its God
and in His promises. And there was a time when the glory of Israel excelled
that of all kings and kingdoms on earth.
2 Chronicles 10
So, what do you see as the key
verses in this chapter?
In writing this, Ezra has
material to draw from. Certainly he has what is written in Samuel and Kings. We
know also that there were other documents. (See 1 Chron. 29:29.) Ezra is
putting them together to give this returning people a perspective on following
God that will make them proud to return and make them watchful to remember to
obey.
Vs. 1-15 And suddenly all the
grandeur and blessing was lost. The history of what had happened here was
already written elsewhere, but writing it like this would show the exiles how
quickly sin can destroy everything. This king didn't obey the Lord for sure;
but specifically, he didn't lead the people as David and Solomon had done. God
withdrew His blessing, and disaster followed.
Vs. 16-19 Even in exile, there
were probably hard feelings between tribes. Israel had been two separate
kingdoms for hundreds of years. The people who went into exile never knew of a
unified nation. How would they return and achieve that now? Here is the
explanation of how God divided the kingdoms and why. The remedy to disunity
would be seen in Ezra showing that if God was obeyed, there was blessing and
unity.
Romans
8:9-21
Notice how often the Spirit is
being mentioned. This chapter is that final link showing the redeemed how they
can live a life of growth and fruit as a result of Christ. Since we’ve been
left here to follow in the harvest, we can only grow and bear fruit as we abide
in Christ and follow the Spirit daily.
Vs. 9-11 Paul is affirming that
all believers have been reborn in the Spirit, and the Spirit is resident within
us. There is no excuse for following the flesh as if the Spirit weren’t there.
Vs. 12-13 Since we owe our
sinful nature nothing, why should we obey it? But we owe the Spirit everything.
This is written to believers. So how will you "die" if you live according to the flesh? I
believe this is salvation from damage as in 1 Timothy 4:16, Keep a close watch on yourself and on the
teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your
hearers. If we choose to live by the urgings of the flesh (our old nature
woven into this body), not intentionally following the Spirit, we can live just
as wrecked as everyone else. This gets proven every day and in every church. If
a believer decides to step in front of a truck, he gets run over too.
Vs. 14-17 This is the privilege of our relationship to God.
It shouldn’t be duty to follow the Father who loves us. It should be our desire
and passion. But this is also a choice.
V. 17 There are two things that this verse doesn't mean. First, it doesn't mean that a person can lose
their salvation. Second, it doesn't
mean that because a person has been saved, they fully share the glory of Christ
on earth in the harvest, if they are unwilling to suffer with Him. If we deny
Him, He will deny us and withhold the support He would have given our
testimony.
There are rewards built into our relationship with Christ
that are not automatic or equal with salvation. Our work on the foundation of
Christ is judged…gold, silver, precious stone, wood, hay, straw…for example.
Also, in the last verse of Isaiah 53, it says that Christ shall divide the spoil with
the strong. Not everyone who comes to Christ decides to live for Him in the
harvest; and therefore, they don't get the personal knowledge of Him here, and
they don't get the rewards from Him there.
Living as a Christian in Rome wasn't easy. In a few years,
Christians strapped to poles, standing soaked in basins of oil, would be used
to light the city; and those who stood for the name of Christ would be
entertaining the masses as they died in the coliseum.
V. 18 Paul is moving into another thought. We suffer in
truly following Christ in the harvest, but is it worth it?
Vs. 19-21 We knew this, right? The entire creation is tied
into our fall. We humans are the center of creation. Notice that in the
creation in Genesis, the sun, moon, planets and stars were not created until
the fourth day. And notice that they were made to serve us. The creation of man
was the reason God created the universe. We didn't come from some cosmic spore
or some alien life form. How silly.
If we really wanted to save the planet, we would all bow to
Christ. When we who belong to Christ are resurrected in spiritual bodies, free
of sin, then the creation will be set free from its bondage. That will be a day
of great celebration.
On this point of suffering, when
Roman persecution caught up to Paul, he was deserted by all his help except
Luke. Paul was a needy guy physically. Notice how often Paul, writing from a
Roman dungeon, has to tell a seasoned disciple like Timothy in 2 Timothy to be
willing to suffer. If you're not in the harvest you can hide. To be in the
harvest with Christ means that you will suffer, but that's cool, right? More on
that tomorrow.
Psalm
18:16-36
Vs. 16-19 are the rescue.
Vs. 20-24 During the time David
ran, he drew close to the Lord. His righteousness is shown in his desire to
please God, and when he had the chance, twice, he spared Saul. David also
showed fairness to his men in the situation at Ziklag. God rewarded David for
his devotion.
Vs. 25-27 It is interesting.
David states that God pays in kind. If you’ve been devoted, that’s good. If
you’ve been evil, that is not so good.
Vs. 28-36 David gave God all the
glory for all he was able to do and for all that was accomplished through him.
This psalm was written by David,
summarizing all of the help God gave him during the 10 years he was chased by
Saul and after the 7 years of civil war as he reigned over the tribe of Judah.
After 17 years of uncertainty,
fear, depression and waiting for God to fulfill the promise of becoming king
when Samuel anointed him, this is David's debriefing on all that the Lord had
done for him.
Again regarding suffering, you
have to endure all of this to be saved from damage and get to the place of
being able to give this kind of testimony. Jesus said to His disciples in
Matthew 10:22, and you
will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be
saved (from the damage of giving in).
Proverbs
19:26
Who would disagree? I wonder if
this violence and chasing can mean something other than physical.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment