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.
DECEMBER 15
Not only are you closing in on
the end of the year, but you are closing in on having read The One Year
Bible for a year. Today you begin the 33rd book of the Old Testament with
only six more books to go. If you are still reading, even struggling, God will
reward you, so keep going. Christmas chocolates and cookies might help.
Micah 1-4
One
of the challenges reading the minor prophets is to pay attention and try to
understand what makes this messenger unique. After a while, it just seems like
"Blah, blah, blah, blah, oh, blah, blah, blah, blah, sickness, sorrow and
despair, people dying everywhere, blah, blah, blah, blah, oh, blah, blah, blah,
blah." Reading the Bible every year gives you the basic events. What we don't
often understand is the working behind those events. For example, Cyrus sent
the people back to Jerusalem to build the temple, but how did God move him to
do that? Then, when you put Daniel 5 and 6 next to that event, you understand
how God moved Cyrus and you see the glory and grace of God.
The
same is true with Micah. Micah has some “stand-alone” bright spots, that is, a
few verses dealing with Jesus' birth and one passage dealing with devotion to
God. Yet, we have something in Jeremiah that shows us how God actually used
Micah and his messages.
Micah
of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and said to all
the people of Judah: ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, Zion shall be plowed as a
field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a
wooded height.’ Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did
he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and did not the LORD
relent of the disaster that he had pronounced against them? But we are about to
bring great disaster upon ourselves (Jere. 26:18-19).
So,
you wonder how it was that Hezekiah was spiritually ready to stand against the
massive force of Assyria coming against Jerusalem. It was Micah. Sure, it might
also have been God working in Joel and the grasshoppers. Hezekiah had Isaiah
close at hand too, but it was definitely the influence of these messages by
Micah that helped Hezekiah. These seven chapters are full of judgments, but
they also have some great promises to the future glory of Israel. In that
sense, they fit nicely with our reading in Revelation.
Remember to look at the chart, “Kings of Judah and Israel and
the Preexilic Prophets.”
Micah
1
V.
1 This message is mainly to Israel, the northern kingdom, but notice how God
says that their sickness has infected Judah and come to Jerusalem.
Vs.
2-4 What do you think about this call to all the peoples of the earth? Notice
that the temple is immediately in view and is, so to speak, the center of the
world. The Lord's judgment will begin with His own people. Again, Israel is
serving the world as a lesson, but very few people or nations are paying
attention.
V.
5 This seems to say that both of these cities are guilty. Calling Jerusalem a high place was a way of chiding Judah
for the idolatry that had been, and would be, practiced there.
Vs.
6-9 This judgment of Israel by Assyria will come to the gate of Jerusalem. We
know from 2 Kings 18 and 19 that the Assyrians came, they saw, they
threatened, they taunted God and they went home broken.
Vs.
10-16 When Assyria swept Israel away, they also came into the kingdom of Judah
and took cities and villages. The names of some of these places were in Judah,
but God only allowed Assyria to come to the gate
of Jerusalem.
Micah
2
The
message, perhaps years later than chapter 1, came during the time of Hezekiah
and was aimed at Judah.
Vs.
1-5 This seems to cite some of the sins of the people, probably the rich.
Vs.
6-11 This is a word against the false prophets who told the people what they
wanted to hear. Verse 6 shows the message of the false prophets against the
true prophets. In the minds of the false prophets, the people needed good news,
not bad news. In v. 11 you have the false preachers again, probably citing both
their wages and their inspiration.
Vs.
12-13 This is not only a note to future blessing, but within it, there is a
threat that only a remnant of them will be saved.
Micah
3
Vs.
1-4 This is God's judgment of the rulers
of Jerusalem and Judah. The leaders used the people for their own advantage.
Vs.
5-7 Naturally, this disrespect of God was powered by false prophets.
V.
8 The lies told to the people must have gotten Micah's blood boiling.
Vs.
9-12 This is what was quoted in Jeremiah 26 and was directed to King Hezekiah.
Like the king of Nineveh, but unlike the kings of Israel, Hezekiah took this to
heart and repented.
Micah
4
Because
of the salvation to Jerusalem that Hezekiah's response would bring, God
discloses this future blessing.
Vs.
1-4 You not only have the Messiah, but also peace and prosperity. Notice how
the Messiah is associated with the Word.
V.
5 This is a present contrast between the moment Micah was writing and what the
future will hold for Israel.
Vs.
6-8 God will take weak Israel and make them a witness and leader for the
nations.
Vs.
9-12 This is a very quick confirmation that Judah will go into exile in Babylon,
but will also be returned, not only to Jerusalem, but to usefulness for the
Lord.
V.
13 I guess you could title this "Victory in Jesus."
So,
remember that the force of this really convicted Hezekiah. If you look at the
context of the passage in Jeremiah, if the events were similar, Hezekiah might
even have been moved to anger against Micah when he first heard this. If so,
Hezekiah humbled himself and obeyed the Word that the Lord spoke through Micah.
Revelation 6
For
me, the best way to understand Revelation is chronologically; that is, most of
the events happen one after another. There are a few exceptions, but it seems
to be the way things are laid out by the Spirit. You have the church, then the
introduction of the Ancient of Days, then comes the Lamb to take the scroll and
then He opens the seals, then come the trumpets and then the bowls, etc. Then
comes the end.
Since
I'm not God and since no one really fully understands this book, I'll suggest
some order to things, but I reserve the right to change my mind later as the
Spirit makes things clearer to me.
Vs.
1-2 So though we know what the white
horse means, we don't really understand how it fits to the Tribulation.
Since this sounds a lot like Jesus in Revelation 19:11, I'm going to suggest
this “could” be the Lord taking the church. The church finishing its mission
would be considered conquerors. The church gets taken at the beginning of the
Tribulation and this guy doesn't seem to have any negative connotations or to
be inflicting disaster on the earth. This is just a guess. Of course, if a lot
of people suddenly disappeared off the face of the earth, it would not only
make the evening news, it would create a lot of havoc worldwide. It would also
be that sign that would cause Israel to wake up, to be "jealous" of
the church and to come to faith in Christ. Their wake-up call will come when
the number of the Gentiles (the church) is complete (Rom. 11:25-26). In my view
here, which is just supposition, Jesus doesn’t need arrows for warfare like He
will in Revelation 19:11 because this visit is to “conquer” by taking His
Church.
On
the other hand, many also see the white horseman as the anti-christ. Since none
of the other riders are identified with a real person, it is also a lot of
theological “supposing.” The definite point here, in any case, is that this
rider begins the Tribulation.
Vs.
3-4 Now this second seal and horseman
do create disaster on the earth. This could be the anarchy created after so
many believers from every country are removed (Matt. 24:6-8).
Vs.
5-6 The third seal and the black
horse bring financial chaos and famine on the earth. This will make what's
happening in the U.S. and in Europe today look like a picnic.
Vs.
7-8 A very simple thing like a plague, a flu, a divine something, will wipe out
a quarter of the earth's population. That would be about 1.75 billion people.
That is more than the population of India. Compared to that number, the U.S. is
just a drop in the bucket. And imagine the disease and disorder that will come
from that. Imagine the disorder when politicians, doctors, pilots, and geeks
who keep the internet going are suddenly sick and dying. We humans think we are
so big.
Vs.
9-11 This fifth seal is a call for
justice, or God's vengeance, I believe it is from those martyred for Christ
since His resurrection to that day. What will follow in the Tribulation will be
the slaughter of God's people, the Tribulation saints, because they name the
name of Christ and/or protect the Jews. I think this persecution of believing Jews
and followers of Christ will begin soon after the beginning of the Tribulation
and will intensify during the final 3.5 years (Matt. 24:9-13).
Vs.
12-16 This is only the sixth of seven
seals. I don't know if this is a result of the call for justice from those
saints or whether this is a stand-alone curse on the earth. Whatever it is it
will look like the natural result from the earthquake or volcano or both. It
could be that the atmosphere of the earth will be changed because of volcanic
ash or something. Yet, there could also be a spiritual or cosmic element to
this too. It looks like the heavens and the stars are affected as well. The
result will be so devastating and make people feel so emotionally helpless and
distraught that they will wish for death. There will be no place to hide, and
they will hate the two witnesses, but they will understand that this is from
the Lord.
Now
as a note here, somewhere in all of this are the actions of the two witnesses.
They might come after the sealing of the 144,000. They will be like Aaron and
Moses, walking around in Jerusalem and being the human agency that calls down
the wrath of God on the earth, as the seals are broken in heaven.
Also,
it is interesting to note that Jesus said that as soon as the Tribulation
begins, normal life will end. Weddings, business ventures, and having a good
time at the mall will all cease. If you can imagine the trauma of these first
six seals, you can see there will be great fear, anxiousness and disorder on
the planet. And, the real fun hasn't even begun. This is designed by God as a
last effort to prepare the hearts of men to trust Christ, while also bringing a
much deserved judgment against mankind. Tomorrow we'll meet the missionary
force sent out into this dark time of harvest. Then we'll see that the judgment
of the earth is just, in that those who reject the message will show their
hearts by taking out their anger against God on those who follow Christ.
Psalm 134
Vs.
1-3 This looks like a song of the pilgrims approaching Jerusalem to inspire the
priests and the Levites who would stand before them and the Lord.
It
would be good today if people would appreciate, trust, and follow their leaders
who are truly shepherding them into the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples,
who make disciples.
Proverbs 30:1-4
I don't think Agur is being too humble here. I think
that the closer we walk with the Lord, the more amazed we are with the depth of
our depravity and the wonder of God's help to us. What would we do without the
Word and the Spirit daily in our lives?
While claiming he is too human
to have wisdom, Agur suddenly says something that is very amazing. You kind of
wonder who that son is that Agur
mentions. Here is something Jesus said. This is pretty cool.
No one has ascended into
heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man (John
3:13).
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment