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JULY 9
1
Chronicles 7-8
As Israel was rebuilding after
the Babylonian exile, one of the objectives of Ezra and the other leaders was
to put together a unified Israel. Israel hadn't been unified since Solomon
died. You will notice the mention of David in certain connections that show
that the northern tribes had been important to David during his reign. In a
couple of days Chronicles will take up a more narrative tone as Ezra will begin
to show God's working through the line of David.
1 Chronicles 7
Vs. 1-5 This is the genealogy of
the tribe of Issachar. You notice in this that Tola was a judge of Israel.
Notice the "random" mention that Issachar had 22,600 men in David's
army. The focus of 1 Chronicles is soon to become David, and God’s blessing to
Israel through him. Every mention that Ezra gives David is meant to draw the
eyes of the returned exiles to God’s blessing on Israel. It is interesting that
at the end of some of these summaries, there is a note regarding the
enrollment. Some tribes don't have this note.
Vs. 6-12 This general genealogy
of Benjamin will be added to in the next chapter. Just for fun, look at v. 12.
Who would name their boys Shuppim and Huppim? Were they twins?
V. 13 A very short genealogy of
Naphtali.
Vs. 14-19 Notice that Machir is
the son of interest here. So now you have Machir giving wives from his own
family to Shuppim and Huppim. Apparently those were men of note. Maybe the
women were twins too, Taghim and Baghim. J Of interest to me in this
genealogy of Manasseh is the mention of Zelophehad and his daughters. It is
also interesting that in these accounts of Manasseh, it never talks about those
who were enrolled in their genealogies. I wonder if some of the tribe had a
hard time tracing themselves back to their roots.
Vs. 20-29 This is the genealogy
of Ephraim. Like in the verses about Jabez, you have to notice the break in the
rhythm and wonder what the point of this story is. Apparently Ephraim lived in
northern Egypt near the border of Canaan, and raiders from Gath came down and
killed some of his sons. After he was comforted he had a
"replacement" son named Beriah, who had a son named Rephah…follow the
names and you get to….. And that's the reason for the story. So, if not for the
raiders from Gath, we would have one less book of the Bible, kind of.
Vs. 30-40 This is a long list of
people descended from Asher. Note that at the end it mentions the enrollment by
genealogies. Again, for Ezra and the leaders who were restoring Israel to
order, having enrollments and proof of descent was important.
1 Chronicles 8
This chapter is an expansion of
the tribe of Benjamin because of their importance in the kingship of Saul,
which in turn led to David. Just think, the apostle Paul could probably have
traced his lineage all the way back to Jacob. Again, these genealogies were
important after the exile, particularly knowing who could worship in the temple
and who could serve in the temple. Many of the mixed people in Samaria would
claim to be descendants, but they couldn't prove it. To be a true-blue Jew, you
had to be able to provide proof through documents.
Vs. 1-28 Notice that you can
find a judge of Israel in all of this.
Vs. 29-40 This is beginning to
zero in on the royal family. Notice too that these people came from a man named
Gibeon. In the days of David, probably for political reasons, the tabernacle
was set up in Gibeon and the ark of the covenant was in Jerusalem, the city of
David. So you had the worship of God represented in both Benjamin and in Judah.
You have the name of Jonathan's
son, Merib-baal (Mephibosheth), which goes to his son Micah. Micah's
descendants apparently were the only surviving lineage of Saul, and it looks
like they went clear through the exile and ended up back in Jerusalem. It would
be kind of cool if Paul was a descendant of Jonathan through Mephibosheth and
Micah. Jonathan was a model of godliness, humility and strength. I think
Mephibosheth was like his father.
As disciples, isn't it
interesting that we can trace our genealogy back to Jesus. He's the only one
that counts.
Acts
27:1-20
Vs. 1-9 Now, at this point, Paul
had been imprisoned for over two years. It was time for a road trip.
V. 3 The centurions were always
nice guys in the NT. Notice that Paul needed to be cared for. No one is really
sure what his problem was, or what his thorn in the flesh was. It might have
been his sight. In any case Paul seems to have needed someone to be with him
and help him. Here, Dr. Luke is with him also. Luke's presence with Paul during
this trip also speaks to Paul's need for help.
Notice Luke's descriptions of
the sailing and trip. This is some of the most detailed and accurate reporting
of sailing in those times in any ancient literature. This has led some people
to think that Luke was an experienced sailor, probably being a ship's doctor.
Vs. 9-12 The Fast was the Day of Atonement in October. By November they
usually closed all shipping in the Med that was traveling west. It became
stormy, and the strong winds came out of the north and west, making travel very
dangerous. Sailing to the west was almost impossible.
V. 10 You might ask what "knowledge" a preacher
had of sailing. You’ll see that Paul had some firsthand experience with ships
that had pressed their luck against the weather, when you read 2 Corinthians
11:25, Three times I was beaten with
rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was
adrift at sea. Notice that Paul says he was adrift in the sea an entire
day. That happened before this trip, since Paul had written 1 & 2
Corinthians two and a half to three years ago from Ephesus. When they jump
overboard in a couple of weeks, it would be just a short swim to shore at
Malta. Then Paul would be able to say, "Four times."
It is good to note that Paul said this and was ignored.
Later Paul will say, "I told you so." When the centurion finally
writes his report, he will have some good things to say about Paul.
V. 11 It's good to know that
this centurion learned his lesson later.
Vs. 13-20 Isn't God good at
storms? We haven't read Jonah yet, but keep this all in mind. God lured them
out (they really wanted to go out against all good judgment anyway) and then,
Bam!
Paul was having some exciting
days in the harvest. God would use all of this for His glory and for Paul's
deliverance and testimony for Him. We need to remember that God uses chaos and
the bad decisions of others in the harvest.
Psalm
7
Vs. 1-2 It would be
understandable if Paul felt like this. David did. It gives you the sense when
he mentions soul that David wasn't
just concerned for his death, but also his heart being damaged from all of this
pressure and violence.
Vs. 3-5 In order for Saul and
his government to justify their campaign against David, a national hero, they
had to smear his name and spread lies. They had to make it look like David was
a sinner needing justice. David knew that God knew his heart was pure before
Him.
Vs. 6-7 Because of the terrible
lies involved in Saul's pursuit of David, David thought God should also be emotionally
upset and do something.
Vs. 8-11 David was ready for God
to judge, beginning with him. David knew that God would defend and vindicate
him.
V. 11 This being true, it is a
testimony to God's patience and grace that He waits for the full number of those
who are to be saved.
Vs. 12-16 tell the story of
those who do not respond to God's patience and forgiveness during this time of
salvation and harvest. David predicts and the Spirit says that God will use the
evil and treachery of the evil against them. Paul says this in 1 Corinthians
2-3. In some respects this is what happened to King Saul.
V. 17 This is David’s legacy.
Not that he ended his psalms with praise, but that he also continually praised
God publicly and led others to see God’s love and deliverance. That’s what
these psalms are, public testimony.
When I read those words of God
being our shield, I always think of the song, “We Rest On Thee.” It's an oldie
and I like the version that has all four verses. Beth's dad and the other four
guys sang this, just before they gave their lives in the harvest following
Christ in Ecuador.
Proverbs
18:22
What can you say but,
"Amen!"
Interesting that it doesn't say
anything about the deal the wife gets, getting a husband. I assume it's
assumed.
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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