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JULY 5
1
Chronicles 1:1-2:17
Having read the books of Samuel
and Kings, Chronicles will add some very interesting information. Chronologically
these books were probably written after the Babylonian exile. Their purpose was
to reestablish both the genealogy of Israel and the history of Israel for a new
generation reentering the land. It has been supposed that Ezra, of the book of
Ezra, was the writer. When we get to Ezra, we'll see that it was not easy for
Israel to reestablish itself. This genealogy and history would help. Ezra will
show that the plan of redemption runs through Israel and through the lineage of
David. Ezra will also show that the worship of God was to be led by the
Levites. This history is to properly order Israel as a nation returned from
exile, knowing both their heritage and their purpose.
1 Chronicles 1
Why start at the beginning?
Well, as mentioned in a famous song from “Sound of Music,” "That's a very
good place to start." Actually, the direction Ezra is going is toward the
lineage of David and the Davidic kingship. That is "the shoreline" we
come to today. The writer is linking David to Adam, both of whom had a special
relationship to God. Enjoy the reading. Some of this will be review. See how
much you remember.
Vs. 1-27 This is the lineage of
redemption up to Abraham. Notice how Ezra writes this. He is showing the godly
line of God's redemptive plan beginning with Adam. If a person had more than
one son, and understanding what those other sons did is important, Ezra will
explain what the other guys did first and then after that, he'll talk about the
son who brought the godly line forward.
V. 19 Notice Peleg. In his days
the earth was divided. This doesn't mean that surveying crews went out and set
up boundaries. This was after the confusion of languages. People scattered from
the area around Babylon. After this scattering of people, it is thought that
the continents began to drift apart.
Vs. 28-33 Ezra thought it
important to explain the lineage of Abraham's other sons first. Some of them
became important nations in Israel's history.
Vs. 34-54 The son of promise was
Isaac, but Isaac had two sons. The lineage of Esau is developed first. Again,
all of this was significant information for the newly returned nation of
Israel.
1 Chronicles 2:1-17
Vs. 1-4 Notice how quickly Ezra
goes to the tribe of Judah.
Vs. 5-8 Ezra does quick work
explaining the line of Zerah. His famous descendant was Achan, that troubler of
Israel. Do you remember where we read about him?
Vs. 9-16 This goes straight down
the line to David, but notice at the end you have some development of the sons
of David's sisters. You should recognize some very important names here.
V. 16 Notice the relationship
between David and Joab. This was another reason why it was so hard for David to
get rid of him. And notice the relationship between Joab and Amasa, whom Joab
murdered.
It is interesting that as the
exiles returned, in rebuilding Israel, they went all the way back to the
beginning, the fall and the promise of redemption. It might have been that they
wanted the people to see their lives in the perspective of God's plan, rather
than simply living every day with no perspective of what their lives and their
nation meant. For us as disciples in the harvest, we begin each day knowing why
we are here and who it is who is leading us into the harvest. Our purpose for
being here each day goes back to the plan of redemption.
Acts
23:11-35
V. 11 This is how we know that
all of this mess was not a mistake on Paul's part. The Lord Himself stood with
Paul in prison and told him that everything was going according to plan. So
when you get here, you can look back over Paul's journey to Jerusalem, all of
the warnings, Paul taking the guys into the temple to complete the vow, etc.,
and understand that it was God's plan, not some human mistake.
It is interesting that the word
"facts" is not in the text. The issue here is that two different
words for testify are used. The first means something like a solemn, insistent
pleading, like laying out a case and trying to get someone to see the truth.
The second word for testify is the normal word for witness.
Jesus was not only encouraging
Paul, but He was acknowledging that what Paul had done, he had done well.
Vs. 12-15 This is simply first
century terrorism. It's a suicide squad. I wonder if these guys really held to
their vow. It would serve them right if they did. But since the circumstances
changed, the high priest probably released them. Jesus predicted that the time
would come when those who killed His followers would think they were serving
God. Actually, Paul understood that line of thinking too.
Vs. 16-22 This tells you that
Paul had family in Jerusalem and that they were still connected to the
religious elite. That's the only way Paul's nephew could have been close to
those who knew this information.
V. 17 This is another example in
Acts of a Roman officer who was positive toward Christianity. What Luke
mentions here would have gone into Roman records that might have been called
upon for Paul's trial in Rome before Caesar.
Vs. 23-35 Caesarea was the Roman
capital of Israel. This would be Paul's home for the next three years. Note v.
29. This again would have been in the official Roman record. So why wasn't Paul
released? Because, as we will find out, Felix was a rat. Oh, and God had a
purpose in all of the next three years of confusion. Imagine, Paul had been so
busy and traveling so broadly, and now God's will for him was to sit
"under house arrest" for at least three to four years in Caesarea and
then in Rome.
As disciples we learn like Paul,
and all the great servants of God before him, that we serve where and when and
how He chooses. And even in jail or in isolation, we are in His will, serving
the same God in His harvest.
Psalm
3
Wow. I wonder if Paul read this
psalm in prison in Caesarea. God was, in fact, a shield around him. Actually,
we know the circumstances of David writing this psalm. Keep in mind that he
probably wrote this sometime after his return to Jerusalem when he was safe.
Possibly civil war was looming as he wrote this.
Vs. 1-2 This had been true of
David on several occasions.
Vs. 3-4 David had learned that
God was his protector and the only thing that he had to be proud of. David's
desire was to build the temple and he desired it to be in Jerusalem. As he had
gone out of Jerusalem during the shame of Absalom seeking to kill him, David
believed that God answered his cry from Jerusalem.
Vs. 5-6 With all the things from
which God had saved him, including the results of his own sin, once David
understood the Lord was with him, he could sleep.
Vs. 7-8 Amen. I'll bet Paul knew
this too.
Proverbs
18:14-15
What crushes a spirit? In the
Spirit, a person close to God, led by the Spirit, prays and cries out and comes
to understand the times and the Lord's leading. He or she survives those times
that crush men's souls through coming to grips with God's will and His love.
I'm sure that is how Paul survived those very long years in jail. The knowledge
that is mentioned would be in knowing God and knowing that we are always in His
hand.
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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