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.
OCTOBER 15
Today you finish 2 Thessalonians and you get a good example
of how Jeremiah and the Spirit organized his material topically rather than
chronologically. For one reason or the other, treat yourself to something as
you read.
Jeremiah
26-27
Jeremiah 26
This message was actually
given in chapters 7-10. Now we will see the people's response to the message.
Vs. 1-3 The timing of this
was at the beginning of Jehoiakim's reign, but it is evident from v. 21 that he
was already reigning for a while and he was a very "no nonsense" kind
of guy. So, Jeremiah was being thrown into harm's way, but God said He would
protect Jeremiah.
Vs. 4-6 We are only given a
snippet of the entire message here. The people had already slipped back into
idolatry, and there was the warning that as God did to Shiloh, He would also do
to the temple.
Vs. 7-11 Notice it was the
priests and the prophets who are behind this.
Vs. 12-15 Jeremiah was
faithful to proclaim God's Word and to warn the people. Remember, the point of
these words was to turn the people back to the Lord, not to tickle their ears.
Vs. 16-19 This is referring
to the prophet Micah whose book we will be reading. Hezekiah was a godly king
and he accepted the rebuke like a godly man.
Vs. 20-23 We know nothing
about this prophet, but he accomplished God's will by dying for the truth. When
you look at how they disposed of the prophet's body, it is interesting that God
said through Jeremiah that Jehoiakim would be buried the same way. I guess this
is where that piece of justice originated, except that Jehoiakim wouldn't even
make it into a common grave. They would dump his body with the dead donkeys.
V. 24 There were still some
good people around. Thank God for Ahikam
the son of Shaphan. It should be noted that these were good people who had
been influenced by Josiah's revival. In fact, the parents of Daniel & Co.
were raised during Josiah's reign; and those boys were born toward the end of
Josiah's reign. Daniel was from that era, and became one of the most godly men
in the Bible.
Jeremiah 27
The Word of the Lord fell on
deaf ears during Jehoiakim's reign. Now, in the time of Zedekiah the option was
not "obey Me and be saved," but "obey Me and submit to
Nebuchadnezzar."
Vs. 1-7 This is a message to
all the nations. This prophecy had a visual aid attached to it. There was no
email and there were no cameras, but there were probably representatives of
those countries who came to Jerusalem and saw Jeremiah and heard the message.
As you look at v. 7, it is interesting that that is exactly as long as the
Babylonian Empire lasted.
Vs. 8-11 This message is
still to all the nations. That is why fortune-tellers and sorcerers are
mentioned.
Vs. 12-15 What an interesting
message and test to give Zedekiah. Jeremiah will tell him this privately just
before Zedekiah is captured. He should have listened.
Vs. 16-22 This was a message
for the priests. In listening to the prophets they had the false hope that all
the stuff taken into exile from the temple would be returned soon. Actually,
God was going to let Neb take much more. There is hope in what God says here,
but I'm sure the priests (remember how much they liked Jeremiah in the last
chapter?) were totally not happy.
In the harvest, the truth has
to be told so that it can give people the opportunity to know they are wrong
and need to turn to God.
2
Thessalonians 3
Vs. 1-5 It is interesting
that Paul was writing this from Corinth, asking for their prayers and God's
blessing. Corinth is the only city I can think of where Jesus appeared to Paul
and told him to hang on. Paul had already faced church-related worry and
suffering in other cities, and now Corinth would be added to that burden.
V. 5 Notice how love and
steadfastness are interwoven with following Christ in the harvest.
Vs. 6-12 Apparently some
people quit their jobs thinking the Lord's coming was around the corner. Paul
& Co. had set an example for the Thessalonians in working and caring.
Vs. 13-15 You can find
similar warnings in 1 Corinthians, Romans, and 1 Timothy. Notice that this
correction is only for believers, to coax them back into following Christ.
Vs. 16-18 A closing of the
letter, marked with the proof that this was Paul.
Even in the harvest we need
to love one another as Christ loved us by encouraging and correcting one
another. There are lots of ways to do this; but when it becomes a necessity,
there are the words of the prophets, correcting people so they will return to
the Lord.
Psalm
85
We're not sure when this was
written. Several occasions suggest themselves. It might have been after the
civil war with Absalom when the kingdom was shaken. Or it might have been when
the people returned from exile and were struggling to reestablish the nation.
Vs. 1-3 This looks like it
could be talking about how God was patient with the people in the wilderness or
during the time of the judges.
Vs. 4-7 This is the prayer
for restoration. God had shown judgment, and it was difficult to revive the
people and begin again. The appeal to God's steadfast and loyal love was made
so that the people could rejoice in seeing God's hand at work.
Vs. 8-9 They desired to be
led and to hear the voice of the Lord.
Vs. 10-11 If the Lord were to
speak, this is what would happen.
Vs. 12-13 This is their
confidence in faith that the Lord would hold true to His Word. We can also pray
this at many times in our lives. We change; our circumstances change, but God
is always the same. He is gracious, forgiving, and full of loving kindness.
Proverbs
25:16
So, to what do you think this should be applied? Is God just against us
eating too much honey? It seems to be a caution against all excess. Not only
should our needs be under control and restrained; but, if you link this thought
to the next verse, v. 17, we shouldn't overuse the kindness of others. Being
content with God and the life He has given us seems to be the idea. I
immediately think of Give us this day our
daily bread. That's really all I need. My energy is better spent looking to
the Lord in the harvest.
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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