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 24
Jeremiah
44:24-47:7
Jeremiah 44:24-30
Vs. 24-28 You might need to
go back to yesterday and read 44:15-19 to remember the context that brought
about these verses.
V. 25 The people declared
their own sin. They just didn't think it was sin. Too bad God isn't for
religious tolerance. Maybe He needs sensitivity training. Oh wait, He is the Creator and the ONLY GOD.
This is why people today don't come to Christ. It is a relationship with very
personal requirements, like listening to Him and knowing Him. If we create our
own God, we control the requirements.
I read this earlier in John 3:18-21, Whoever
believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned
already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people
loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come
to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be
clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
This is what was functioning
in Jeremiah's day too. Creation is an anchor for our hearts knowing that there
is one Creator who is always the same and always present. He is present even
when we don't understand. We saw this in Job.
V. 28 God is saying here that
He will allow some people to return to Judea. I'm sure Jeremiah was one of them,
and, as we'll see in the next chapter, Baruch made it too. I doubt that any of
those men (and their wives) who let their wives make offerings for the queen of
heaven returned from Egypt.
Vs. 29-30 The people had a
new hope: Pharaoh Hophra. God decided to use this king as a sign to His
rebelling people. This actually happened to Pharaoh Hophra, but it wasn't the
result of the Babylonians. He was killed by political infighting before the
Babylonians got there. God again was showing the people that He meant business
and that Jeremiah was His man.
Jeremiah 45
V. 1 Notice that this goes
back to when Baruch began to work for Jeremiah. We just read about this in Jeremiah
36. It was God's encouragement to Baruch. God told Baruch back then how things
would fall out.
Vs. 2-4 Notice that God
declares four times in this chapter He is the Lord. God was telling Baruch that
He could protect him. He had used Baruch over these 17 years and He would and
could keep him safe.
V. 5 The reason this chapter
is given here is that although Jeremiah and Baruch were in a very bad place in
Egypt and a war was coming, and the Babylonians would find them again, God
would save them. I think that both Jeremiah and Baruch died of old age back in Israel.
Jeremiah 46
V. 1 This introduces a
section of God's pronouncements against the surrounding nations.
Vs. 2-12 This part of the
prophecy was given at the time of Egypt's first defeat at the hands of the
Babylonians. This Pharaoh Neco was the guy who killed King Josiah and put that
donkey of a king, Jehoiakim, on the throne. Apparently when Neco met
Nebuchadnezzar, most of the Egyptian army was killed. From this point on Egypt
would have to hire mercenaries to join their army and fight their battles.
V. 12 Apparently the retreat
of the frontline Egyptians was hindered by the Egyptians who were still coming
forward. It created such confusion that the Babylonians had easy pickings.
Vs. 13-26 This was now again
present day with Jeremiah in Egypt and Egypt about to be defeated by
Nebuchadnezzar. Notice that v. 21 talks about Egypt's hired soldiers being
ready for slaughter.
V. 17 This is funny. Apparently
this Pharaoh was all talk and no action.
This judgment against Egypt
was not only because of Pharaoh Neco killing Josiah, but Egypt encouraged
everyone to break their treaties with Babylon and to support Egypt in its fight
against Babylon. King Jehoiakim and King Zedekiah did this and it gave the
people false hope. It also made the messages of the false prophets more
believable. God was punishing Egypt for being a false hope to His people.
Vs. 27-28 This is much like a
father confirming his love toward a child before handing out the punishment.
Jeremiah 47
Vs. 1-7 This is the judgment
against the Philistines. It is interesting to see that God used the Egyptians
to punish these enemies of His people. Eventually Nebuchadnezzar would take
care of Tyre and Sidon. They would never be the centers of wealth and trade
they had once been.
Poor Jeremiah. His life had
been used by God to bring messages to people, most of whom chose judgment. We
will still hear lots of crying out by Jeremiah in the book of Lamentations. Yet
even in this misery, Jeremiah learned what every disciple learns, to praise God
in the storm. This might be a good time to listen to “Praise You in This
Storm,” by Casting Crowns.
2
Timothy 2:22-3:17
Remember the urgency in
Paul's writing and that Timothy had apparently been shaken. Paul is trying to
refocus Timothy and give him courage under fire.
2 Timothy 2: 22-26
Vs. 22-23 With everything
that Paul has already said about discussions about words and foolish talk, Paul
will say it again. It took me a while to catch on to what Timothy's youthful passion was, but it is clear in
this context. Timothy was predisposed to arguing and jumping into
controversies. Verse 23 has the hint of correction in it.
V. 24 Paul's words to Timothy
were very pointed. Timothy was the Lord's
servant and apparently was falling into quarrelling.
Vs. 25-26 Notice that this
context has to do with discussions within the church. People within the church
get captured by Satan. Only a cool head could patiently teach and nurture them
to safety, if that were even possible.
What Paul is saying here is
very important. I haven't been in a church where there were not these kinds of
people in the church creating difficulties. It takes a lot of wisdom and
maturity to deal with them and keep the church focused on the harvest.
2 Timothy 3
Vs. 1-5 Now this definitely
seems like a list of those bad people outside the church who smoke and drink
and swear. But just for your consideration, remember back in 2 Thessalonians
2:3, Paul mentioned that before the day
of the Lord there would be a rebellion. That word means, "a falling
away," or apostasy. In 2 Timothy 4, Paul will talk about itchy-eared
Christians accumulating teachers for themselves who say what they like to hear.
I think this list is also talking about the church and those who profess
belonging to Christ. Verse 5 seems to indicate that this was in the church.
Vs. 6-9 This is an example of
the list Paul just gave, and the problem was within the church.
Vs. 10-13 This is not what
you would want to use for an advertisement for discipleship, but this is a
great description of following Christ in the harvest. Only a disciple would be
strengthened by these words. Verse 12 is a promise for every disciple. O Weh!
Paul had been a model for
Timothy in all of these things, but what kind of model is it when your mentor
is about to die in prison? But wait, our Lord died on a cross and told us up
front that if we wanted to follow Him, we needed to deny ourselves, take up our
death (cross) daily and follow Him. Paul was a great model and Timothy needed
to take up the cross.
Vs. 14-15 This is Timothy's
heritage in the gospel.
Vs. 16-17 Timothy's strength
in the work of the gospel was the Word. What do people think of these verses
when they themselves are so infrequent in the Word? If the Word were a tool,
how skilled would we be with that tool? If it were a video game, would we have
it mastered? And the reality of it all is that we can't grow in our
relationship to God without being in it.
One interesting thought here
is that if it had not been for this church catastrophe in Ephesus and Timothy's
need for encouragement, Paul would not have said these very famous verses. God
still works His purpose in the storm.
For me this is very pointed.
Paul is bringing everything down to one focus: to the Word of God and a life
lived by that Word. The foundation of our life in following the Lord as
disciples is knowing and living in His Word. We get all wrapped up in famous
preachers and media, but it is this book that is alive and gives us the breath
of the Spirit.
Psalm
94
Again, it is no coincidence
that we have a psalm like this as we're reading about the destruction of
Jerusalem. We understand God better than ever, both in His judgment of His
people and His mercy to His people. To think, God has endured all of this to see
us (and mankind) come to Christ and know what steadfast love really means.
Vs. 1-7 God was being called
upon to judge everyone who had harmed God's heritage, both those within and outside
the nation.
Vs. 8-11 Although Israel just
seemed like a forgotten nation, they have been an example to mankind in God's
redemptive plan. They have never been forgotten and God will use Israel and all
the lessons to be learned through them to discipline the nations.
Vs. 12-15 God will discipline
His people, but He will still fulfill His plan for His heritage.
Vs. 16-23 The question of who in v. 16 is answered in vs. 17, 18,
19, 22 and 23. It is the Lord. And in God helping and saving His people, He
teaches them His steadfast love.
Proverbs
26:6-8
I think God is saying we should
really try not to be fools. The core of being a fool is not to "do"
God's Word. Even for churches in the harvest, we sometimes violate these
verses, trying to be so inclusive that we honor the half-hearted, the arrogant
and the lazy. People are changed by the Word of God, not by putting their names
on a plaque or in the bulletin. Alas, we need wisdom.
V. 7 is funny, but not very
politically correct, but who has the guts to tell God that?
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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