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AUGUST 10
Ezra 10
V. 1 It seems strange that Ezra made confession of his own sins, since
he himself didn’t do anything. We will see the ultimate example of this in the
book of Daniel. There is a formula for prayer given by Moses, and reemphasized
in the dedication prayer of Solomon, that says that those seeking God’s grace
for the nation need to confess their own sins and the sins of their fathers. It
isn't just a formula for prayer, but if a person cannot sense his own need for
forgiveness and doesn't understand that we are all wrecked creatures, there is
pride. And pride makes prayer powerless.
Vs. 2-5 This is a miracle in itself. The people were weeping and were
totally in agreement and they were repentant. When does that happen? Notice
that the people were willing to submit to even the harshest remedy. Somehow
their hearts were humbled before the Lord and they only needed good, godly
leadership. These people encouraged Ezra to stand in the gap.
According to the law, if these women renounced their other religions
and became worshipers of Yahweh, the men could marry them. The problem, of
course, is that worshiping Yahweh really hadn't been important to the husbands,
as evidenced by disobeying the law and marrying women who worshiped foreign
gods. There was no model of what it meant to be a follower of God. There was no
positive reason for the women to change. There was no example of why worshiping
the Lord was important. In a case like this, the best the leaders might hope
for was compliance. You can't make people believe by threatening them.
Vs. 6-8 This section brings up an interesting point. All the people
were to gather on the third day, or they would be banned from the congregation
of the exiles. As was always true in Israel, if the people didn't like God or
the law, all they had to do was move. A little to the south was Egypt. A little
to the north was Syria. Or they could have just stayed in, or gone back to,
Babylon or Persia. There was no need to do any of this unless someone really
wanted to repent and to honor God.
Vs. 9-15 So, they left from Babylon in the first month, arrived in
Jerusalem in the fifth month and now this is the ninth month. This was a major
assembly of the people and it was pouring heavy, cold November rain. The people
were freezing, adding to the distress of the matter, but moving them to a quick
decision. Every case would be examined. This would give couples and families
time to talk and make decisions. Ruth left everything to go with Naomi. I'll
bet Ruth's name was mentioned more than once in those days.
V. 15 Notice that there were four leading men who opposed this. I
wonder why. Jonathan and Jahzeiah were against taking action and
then there were two men who supported Jonathan and Jahzeiah; one of whom was Meshullam.
It might be that there was some politicking here since according to v. 29,
Meshullam was guilty of marrying a foreign woman, and by extension, opening
himself to being tolerant of other gods and other worship.
Vs. 16-17 Again, we have a time frame for all of this. It took them ten
days after the assembly to select the men to do this. They began in their tenth
month and were finished three months later.
Vs. 18-24 For the priest and Levites, because they served the Lord in
the temple, they had to marry Israelite women. Now if they didn't want to be
priests, all they had to do was pack their bags and move with their wives and
kids. Notice at the end of v. 18, some of the sons of Jeshua and his brothers
married foreign wives. This is the Jeshua (Joshua) who was high priest and a
leader with Zerubbabel.
Vs. 25-44 When you read this list, it doesn’t seem like so many people,
so what was the problem? First, as Paul said yesterday, a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Second, these people were
leaders and people in the leading clans, meaning that their action had a deeper
impact on the entire population. Third, if these were the leaders, this
probably isn’t an exhaustive list for all the people.
What is even more interesting is that many of these people came back to
Israel from captivity for the glory of God. Most of the people who returned
with Zerubbabel were men of faith on a mission. After 80 years, the mission got
mired in the stuff of life. The focus on the work of God on earth and the plan
of redemption became blurry and was lost. The faith of following Yahweh
couldn't compete with the wild women of Baal worship and "Why shouldn't
you be able to enjoy a good pork chop with your neighbor?" Faith looks
funny removed from the redemptive purpose of God on earth. That kind of faith
can't compete with a life lived for having a good time on earth. There is no
shopping or comparison here where we get to choose the best, most enjoyable and
fulfilling life on earth. Truth is truth. This is a dying planet. We are on a sinking
ship. Faith is meant to save us so we can know God and help others before they
stand before God. And this faith shows us the love of the Father and of the Son
who reached out to save us when we didn't care and were His enemies.
The generation that returned with Zerubbabel returned in faith. Eighty
years later, they realized they had become lost on earth. Ezra was the man God
sent to redirect them to honor God with their lives and to follow Him. The
message for us is that our faith always has to be focused on following the Lord
in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. If
Christianity is removed from its commission, it becomes merely an alternative
among many lifestyles, and the sea of humanity is free to flow unhindered to
judgment and to hell. We love and follow Jesus, who gave His life as a ransom
for humanity, who came to seek and to save that which is lost. And so we
follow, as our Lord led and still leads.
1 Corinthians 6
This is a very interesting chapter, full of theology. It goes to show
that all of our actions involve some very important theology, or the
misunderstanding of that very important theology.
Vs. 1-8 Just think of all the underlying teaching that is in this
section. The overt message is that Christians shouldn’t sue Christians, and if
there are disagreements, they should go before the elders/spiritual men.
Underlying all of this is the sovereignty of God and our situation on this
earth.
Vs. 2-3 WOW! If that's the case, how can we afford to follow in the sin
of the world and the influence of its rulers? Not only that, it certainly means
that the end of this tragic affair on earth is judgment of the lost and of
those who rebel against God.
V. 7 How many of us, for the sake of Christ and His testimony, for the
salvation of others, would be willing to suffer this kind of abuse? But notice,
it is really a command from Jesus to anyone who is a disciple.
Luke
6:27-36 “But I say to you who hear, Love your
enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those
who abuse you. 29To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one
who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30Give to everyone who begs from
you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31And as you wish that others
would do to you, do so to them.
32“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even
sinners love those who love them.
33And if you do good to those who do good to
you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34And if you lend to those from
whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to
sinners, to get back the same amount. 35But love your enemies, and do good, and
lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will
be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36Be merciful, even as your
Father is merciful.
For the sake of the Lord and His gospel, it also applies to when we are
being abused by other Christians. Our recourse is Matthew 18.
Vs. 9-11 So, what is the point Paul is making here? He isn't saying
this to degrade the competence of unbelievers, but he is saying that they are
lost and are subject to all of these things we have been freed from. By God's
grace, we see more of life and reality than they do. We have the wisdom of the
Spirit, and we understand the power of sin and the judgment coming against this
planet. We know the love of God in Christ, and we can show them how to be
saved.
Vs. 12-20 This is a separate problem in the church, but somehow related
to the past problem.
Note here that when Paul quotes an opponent or false teaching, he
immediately answers in a very clear way. There is some confusion in chapter 14
about women being silent in certain settings in the church. Certain people
dismiss that teaching, saying that Paul was quoting an opponent; but it isn’t
apparent that he was quoting anyone. This example is typical of other instances
we’ll see where Paul quotes his opponents. Chapter 14 doesn’t fit into this at
all.
V. 12 Notice how the Jews had over reacted to “freedom” in Christ.
Somehow they equated knowing Christ to being free from the restraints of the
law and morality, as if the spiritual didn’t connect to the physical.
Vs. 13-14 Someone was teaching that liberty in Christ meant liberty to
be immorally sexually active. That is nothing new, but it was disturbing that
Christians were accepting that. In Germany I met this mindset among Christians
too. The idea is that the act of sex is simply human, and besides, God
forgives. I met German leaders, who when challenged to prove that sex before
marriage was wrong, were speechless.
Back to the argument here: The Lord owns our bodies. If He is Lord, we
need to obey and go with Him.
Vs. 15-16 Apparently some of the believing men were getting dates with
prostitutes, thinking they were immune to moral requirements. Paul shows the
spiritual stupidity in that view. Corinth was a very immoral city. To call
someone's mother a "Corinthian Woman," was to call her a prostitute.
Just like the men in Ezra's day who walked away from faith to marry foreign
women, there was a sexual component here also. It was this sexual attraction
that led them to disobey Christ, cleverly veneered with some spiritual
reasoning. Now of course, someone would say that it was in fact immoral to do
this with prostitutes, but not with someone you were planning to marry. But
Paul will address that in chapter 7 and give a motto that has appeared on many
wedding invitations, "It is better to marry, than to burn with
passion," or the short version, "That we might not burn."
We have found a lot of ways to define one flesh, but the Spirit makes it pretty clear that "joining
your members" is how it happens. And God is not tricked by "how
far" or by definitions of words. Jesus said that if a man looks lustfully
at a woman (even a computer image) other than his wife, he has already
committed adultery.
V. 17 This has always been a challenge for me. Our relationship and
growth in Christ aren’t automatic. As we obey and follow closer, we get more of
Him. Being united with the Lord is also abiding in Christ from John 15.
V. 18 When I read this I think of Joseph leaving his robe in Potiphar's
wife's hands when she went for him. Many men and women are being ruined by
their sexual passions, not because they have passions, but because they don't
discipline themselves and keep them in check.
Vs. 19-20 What an amazing statement. The Holy Spirit is within us, and
we are to live to glorify God. And this has everything to do with how we look
at sexuality on this planet.
Just as an aside, notice that Paul doesn’t go totally nuclear about
their immorality. The Spirit doesn't write off anyone as unusable or
irredeemable - not that this issue isn’t important. Paul and the Spirit are
saying it is, but with repentance and forgiveness, lives can get back on track.
God understands our need and our weakness sexually far better than we do. As
important as our sexuality is and how it permeates all of our songs and jokes
and media, we are still pretty ignorant when it comes to this stuff. Chapter 7
will set some things straight for the disciples at Corinth.
Psalm 31:9-18
There are many parallels of David's experience of suffering to Jesus'
suffering, Psalm 22 for example. Of course, David was a sinner and Jesus wasn't
and some of David's troubles were caused by his own failing. Those parallels
can't be made with Jesus, yet the Spirit has chosen to use David as an example
to illustrate some of what Jesus felt on the cross. Last time we read this I
mentioned imagining this as what Jesus felt as He went through His journey to
the cross. If you want a good parallel to this, read Isaiah 53. For example,
notice the parallel between v. 11 here, and Isaiah 53:3.
Vs. 9-10 David suffered for many years running from Saul. It was not
only unfair and unjust, but David had been anointed by Samuel to be king of
Israel when he was about twelve years old. Now David was in his twenties,
possibly close to thirty, and this promise looked hard to believe. Was the
waiting because of his own sins? It probably seemed like it at times. But we
have the benefit of knowing that God did deliver David and that these years of
waiting were years where God was engineering David's heart. He does the same
with us.
Vs. 11-13 David was a hunted man. There was no better way to win Saul's
favor than to say you didn't like David or to tell Saul where he was hiding.
David lived under that kind of disdain and pressure. And to think, this is what
Jesus endured for us.
Vs. 14-18 Look at everything David learned. This is also why God allows
us to wait and to suffer as we follow Him in the harvest. I don't know what
speaks to you, but v. 16 is what I want more and more. And as God teaches us,
people in the harvest see more of Him in us.
Proverbs 21:3
Amen, and instead of sacrifice
you could add, “or going to cool worship services.” I see righteousness and
justice as linked to the harvest and our work in it.
Matthew 12:18-21
“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will
anyone hear his voice in the streets; 20a bruised reed he will not break, and a
smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; 21and
in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
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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