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 17
One thing you notice reading The One Year Bible is that it is
hard to find a day when God is not projecting your vision forward to the time
when Christ returns and the plan of redemption will be complete. God is always
interested in strengthening our hearts and giving us a lasting hope as we work
each day in the harvest.
Jeremiah
30-31:26
Some people call chapters
30-33 the "Book of Consolation." Almost right in the middle here, God
gives the nation a view of their distant hope and His everlasting love.
Jeremiah 30
Vs. 1-7 After the promise to
restore the entire nation, Israel and Judah together, v. 7 projects ahead to
"Jacob's" ultimate distress at the end of the Tribulation.
Vs. 8-9 In this final
deliverance, Israel will no longer be threatened, and they will be led by a
resurrected king, David. Ezekiel 34 also mentions the return of David.
Vs. 10-17 This is hope mixed
with an explanation of why God needs to punish them to heal them. Notice the
mention in v. 17 of Zion. That will be important. Notice also that the way
these promises are stated, the restoration of vs. 10 and 11 have to be for the
Millennial Kingdom.
V. 12 Notice the revisiting
of the theme of an incurable wound. This is also in v. 17. Redemption in Jesus
and the resurrection encompass that cure.
Vs. 18-22 This will be the
ultimate restoration of the people, and of course, before that, there will be
events that foreshadow this; but Israel will never be in true peace until the
Messiah rules on earth.
Vs. 23-24 In the latter days, probably of the
Tribulation and the kingdom.
Jeremiah 31:1-26
V. 1 This should probably
belong to the last verses of chapter 30. In order for God to be the GOD of all
the clans, they all have to be believers. This is still in the future and
referring to the Millennial Kingdom. After this statement come the declarations
of the Lord.
Vs. 2-6 The rebuilding of
Israel. Jesus said that there would be a time when those in Judea would need to
flee to the mountains in the wilderness (Matt. 24:16, Rev. 12:14). Notice the everlasting love. It is still
everlasting for Israel's future. Notice that the Lord is in Zion.
Vs. 7-9 This is the
regathering of Israel. They have probably felt this in every age when they have
been scattered.
Vs. 10-14 This is the future
redemption of Israel. Notice that this declaration went out to the nations. The
result is great joy in Israel.
V. 15 This is a famous verse,
but what is it doing here?
Here is my thought on this.
In the plan of redemption the moment God put His hand on Abraham, he and his
family and the nation of Israel became servants of the world, examples to the
world of sin and God's character and forgiveness. God has put them to hard work
for us. They will weep, but there will be joy and reward.
Rachel's destiny was a part
of this story. She died near Ramah giving birth to the only one of Jacob's
children born in the land of promise. As Rachel was dying she tried to name the
child "son of my sorrow," but Jacob named the child, "son of my
right hand," Benjamin. Rachel wept in death, losing her children, her sad
life and death being a part of God's plan of redemption.
During Jeremiah's days in
that same area around Jerusalem, many would die. Jeremiah 40:1 indicates that
Ramah became the area where Nebuchadnezzar gathered the people to take them
into exile. There would be people parting, going into exile, who would never be
seen again.
When Herod destroyed the
children around Bethlehem trying to kill Jesus, once more Israel suffered
tragedy and violence because of its work in the plan of redemption. It is also
interesting that it was from this area that Joseph took Mary and Jesus, fleeing
into Egypt to escape Herod's deadly brutality.
Vs. 16-17 The nation has
wept, but there will be a reward for their work. That is quite a profound
statement.
Vs. 18-20 Israel (designated
by the name Ephraim) repents and God welcomes him. Doesn't this sound like the
prodigal son?
Vs. 21-25 God brings them
back and restores the holy hill of Zion in millennial blessing.
V. 22 Usually it is the man
who seeks the woman. Here, Israel, as a bride, seeks the man, the Lord.
V. 26 Poor Jeremiah. What a
stressed out guy, always bringing bad news and being pushed by the Lord and
punished by the people. But this was a good vision of hope from the Lord, and
it brought him peace and comfort, knowing that the end of Israel's work would
be joyously rewarded.
1
Timothy 2
So then, since Paul had been
chosen by grace to be an apostle, and in view of the distress of the times and
in view of the call of God on Timothy's life, Timothy was to reestablish the
foundation of the church.
Vs. 1-7 This is a general
pronouncement for the conduct and focus of the entire church, and there are
some famous verses here.
This is where we get the
well-known command to pray for rulers, but notice that the point of this prayer
is so that we can work in the harvest under the radar.
This is the second time Paul
uses the phrase God our Savior. He
used it in the first line of the book and now here. Paul is making sure that
the church is established in reaching out to a lost world.
So, if this is to be the
general focus of the church, praying and working in the harvest, Paul gives
some specific instruction to men and women.
V. 8 Men are to pray, lifting holy hands; that is, with a
godly perspective of life and God's work in this dying world. They shouldn't be
given to anger or quarreling. Anger
and quarreling over what? Anything. Not over the price of gas or the political
party. Their perspective is to be in going to God and having a spiritual
perspective on life in the harvest.
Vs. 9-10 Women are also to be
focused on the harvest. Good works as
in Ephesians 2:10 are what God has prepared for us to do for our neighbors in
opening doors of opportunity. Like men, women are not to be consumed by the
issues of life, in their case, focusing on looking fine.
Now, I want to suggest
something here. When Paul talks about men and women, sometimes he uses a kind
of alternating reference, sort of like men-women, women-men, men-women. You see
this in 1 Corinthians 7:2-4 and 7:12-14. I think that Paul uses alternating
references to men and women as he changes his topic in the rest of this chapter
and in chapter 3. I would say it looks like this:
Topic: Focus in the harvest, Men-prayer / Women-good works
Topic: Leadership of the
church, Women-submission /
Men-serve as elders
Topic: Serving the church Men-as deacons / Women-as
deaconesses
In the Greek there is no
chapter break between chapters 2 and 3. I believe Paul is talking about the
guiding leadership of the church beginning in 2:11.
Vs. 11-15 A woman's role in
the authority and teaching of the church is to learn quietly in submission. I
think the words teach or to exercise
authority are key to understanding what Paul says here and why he
introduces the elders in 3:1. Elders are the people who are responsible for the
teaching in the church (they determine, protect and oversee the entrusting of
that truth) and they exercise authority in the church. I don't think a woman is
to be in the position of an elder, having responsibility for teaching like an
elder; nor should she be in a position to exercise authority in the church as
an elder exercises authority. I think the limits on a woman's ability to teach
and have authority are in the context of what an elder does. Elders determine
the "teaching" of a church and make sure it is protected and
entrusted accurately. Elders have the authority in a church to oversee this
teaching and to call people to account if they have deviated in teaching or in
behavior. Teaching and authority, I think, is meant in this context.
Vs. 13-14 Paul's/the Spirit's
reasoning here is biblical and not cultural, based on God's decision in the
creation order and in the events of the fall.
V. 15 "Fools rush in
where angels fear to tread." (Alexander Pope) But making an attempt, here
goes. In creation, God created Adam and Eve differently. A man is saved (from damage) by doing what God
has given him to do, and a woman is saved
by doing what she was meant to do. Each has received roles of leadership and
service. To deny these roles is to put ourselves where we were not meant to be
and, therefore, not to discover the fullness that God has for us. For most
women, not all, God's plan involves bearing children. In the job of being a mom
there is not only fulfillment, but plenty of leadership and service. Women for
whom God hasn't designed motherhood can find fulfillment, a role of leadership,
and service in other ways. The point is that God has designated a role for men
and women, and only in staying true to those roles, do we develop
"safely" the way God wants us to develop.
I remember wrestling with v.
15 and feeling the Lord had given me some insight into it. So I went to my
mother-in-law, Barbara Youderian, and asked her what she thought v. 15 meant
and she not only said the same thing, but she said it much better and gave me a
great example. I sat there feeling like a kindergartner.
This chapter began by
focusing the church and the behavior of everyone on the harvest.
Psalm
87
This is a very short and
amazing psalm. We have just read something like this in Jeremiah.
Vs. 1-3 Someday this city
will be the center of the earth because of the king who will be reigning there.
Vs. 4- 6 Jerusalem has been
judged again and again. It was the scene of a famous murder and everlasting
redemption. God's everlasting love is directed toward these people whom He has
used as an example to the world of lost humanity. Someday it will be a high
honor to hear that someone was born in Zion.
V. 7 The Septuagint gives the idea to this verse that everything that
brings joy, refreshment and life is in Zion. That sounds like Revelation
22:2, through the middle of the street of
the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve
kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for
the healing of the nations.
Proverbs
25:18-19
Amen and "ouch!"
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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