September 8, 2014

SEPTEMBER 8

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Isaiah 1-2

Isaiah is THE great prophet in the Old Testament. Not that he made himself anything, but God just said a lot of massively great stuff through him. He is the prophet most mentioned by name and quoted in the NT. You could almost say he was the Billy Graham of his day, serving 4 to 5 kings over a period of 60+ years. Tradition has it that the guy in Hebrews 11:37, who was sawn in two, was Isaiah, when King Manasseh decided he really didn't need to hear Isaiah's message any more.

Isaiah is a very long book. It would do you well to underline words and phrases from the beginning. It would be valuable to keep track of the names of God. Also, the alternation between judgment and threat and future/eternal blessing might show you some things about God. Another thing to search for is passages from Isaiah that are quoted in the NT. There are lots of references to the Messiah.

In terms of a road map, I'll direct you to the outline that John Martin provides, “Isaiah, Themes and Theology,” The Bible Knowledge Commentary-OT, pp. 1031-1032. Basically, judgment is spelled out in chapters 1-39, and restoration is offered in chapters 40-66. Dr. Martin breaks this down in smaller chunks, but this will be all we'll need for our purposes. (This outline is at the end of this document.)

Another way of looking at Isaiah is that chapters 1-35 are meant to inspire godliness and faith to save Jerusalem from the challenge of chapters 36 and 37. Chapters 38 and 39 show that that deliverance didn’t go deep enough into the hearts of the people. Chapters 40-66 then will show the final deliverance and redemption of Israel and all of mankind.

Also, it might be good to have a chart of the prophets and kings to put this into perspective, so I’ll include it at the end of this document as well. “Kings of Judah and Israel and the Preexilic Prophets,” The Bible Knowledge Commentary-OT, p. 513.

It should probably be a standard thought for any disciple who can, to memorize Isaiah 53 and Isaiah 55. There are some great verses and passages in Isaiah and many worth memorizing, but these two chapters are complete thoughts. Isaiah 40:31 is one of those individual verses.

Isaiah 1

V. 1 There are four kings listed. Manasseh isn't mentioned, but I suspect Isaiah had a very short ministry under Manasseh.

Vs. 2-9 There are four clear divisions in what the Lord is saying here. The ESV gives us some nice divisions. How would you title these sections?

Vs. 2-3 This is a call to creation to observe Israel's rebellion.

V. 4 God addresses the people and uses the title the Holy One of Israel.

Vs. 5-6 This is an image of the nation as a sick body. Verse 5 is a good question we could ask of anyone today.

Vs. 7-9 This was the present state of affairs in Judah. It is interesting to think that Isaiah was saying stuff like this during the reigns of some good kings and some bad kings. God was keeping a certain pressure on the people and leaders to warn them of what would lead Judah to exile.

V. 9 Here you have the title the Lord of hosts. Also, Paul quotes this verse in Romans 9:29.

Vs. 10-17 Notice that the people were still worshiping by the letter, but not the way God wanted, in spirit. This morning I read what Jesus said to the Pharisees in Matthew 15:7-8, "You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ⁸'This people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me….'"

Vs. 18-20 Verse 18 is one of those famous verses. God calls all people to reason with Him. If you don't have this memorized, it would be short and worthwhile. The reason God refers to scarlet is because of v. 15. Their hands were full of blood.

Vs. 21-23 What a strong charge against the leaders of the people. God really cares about how people treat the poor and disadvantaged; in fact, He uses them as a test of the hearts of the leaders. This section now will become the contrast to the next section.

Vs. 24-26 Notice that judgment is for a purpose and it has a promise. God never lost sight of His redemptive purpose or His covenant with Abraham. This is God's promise to make Israel what it was meant to be.

V. 24 Notice the names of God. Lord of hosts literally means Lord of armies. Why is it being used here? What is the significance of the Mighty One of Israel? The poor and needy need a mighty one.

Vs. 27-31 God will redeem Zion and He will gather to Him all who repent, but for the others there will only be judgment. I was just reading about unquenchable fire this morning, but it was Jesus who was talking about it.

Isaiah 2

Vs. 1-4 This is the kind of promise that shows you something of God's heart, spoken as He is pronouncing judgment. The punishment will be strong, but the hope of redemption is given. This is obviously a prediction of the 1000-year reign of Christ in Jerusalem.

Vs. 5-11 This is a plea to Israel to follow the Lord.

Vs. 12-19 There would certainly be a day of judgment in Judah's near future when the Babylonians would come, but this is also suggesting the day when God judges the entire earth. Notice the theme here of the high being leveled. We'll definitely see this again in Isaiah and it was a part of the message of John the Baptist.

Vs. 20-22 This day of judgment looks like what will be happening during and at the end of the Tribulation.

In these two chapters God's coming judgment and coming kingdom have both been referred to. That sounds like something that still needs to be mentioned today in the harvest. The coming of the Kingdom of God means that all men must be ready. They need to turn to God or there will be only judgment waiting for them. On the other hand, those who turn to God will be faced with amazing grace and blessing. Add to this that they turn to God by believing in and welcoming Jesus as their Savior, and you have the gospel that John the Baptist, Jesus, and His disciples preached.

2 Corinthians 10

Up until now, Paul has spoken to the main body of the church and leaders in a very gentle and self-deprecating way. He has shown that in all of what has happened, God has worked and led. Now, Paul needs to address the false apostles and the Corinthians' infatuation (spiritual immaturity) with them. O Weh!

V. 1 Paul is entreating the people and then quotes the super-apostles (SAs), who said that Paul was a wimp in person and was only bold if he hid behind a letter. Having proven, to this point, by his soft spoken writing that he loves these people, Paul now takes the role of an elder by facing the troublemakers.

V. 2 Notice again how Paul is talking to two groups, the people and leaders, and the SAs.

Vs. 3-6 This is something more than wisdom and apologetics. Paul worked on a spiritual level, understanding his warfare as spiritual and using the gospel as the power of God. This is what he mentioned back in 1 Corinthians 1-4. The power that Paul and his companions had was in the spirit and in the simple truth of the gospel.

V. 5 Paul mentions this in Romans as his commission from Christ, to win obedience from the Gentiles, the obedience of faith. How do you know if a person has this? They follow Christ in faith in the harvest.

Vs. 7-12 I keep thinking about Jesus' constant words to His disciples, you will recognize them by their fruits.

Vs. 13-18 Notice that Paul is showing the Corinthians that God commended Paul & Co. as His servants by allowing them to lead these people to Christ. The SAs had no fruit. They were parasites. How often have I met "self important" and "head" leaders in a church who have no fruit from Christ using them in the harvest, but have "taken over" another person's fruit. These SAs and the people I have seen in churches do not get people to follow Christ. They get people to follow them, to recognize them as authorities. Following Christ becomes defined as following them. Paul was not like this at all. Later, Jude will call such leaders waterless clouds.

The Lord commends us as we follow Him in the harvest by letting his love flow through us to produce fruit. We are always to be reaching out to the lost and strengthening believers to help them become stronger disciples in the harvest who make disciples who make disciples. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. (John 15:8)

Psalm 52

Living life by one's own craftiness, rather than trusting the Lord, is an ongoing problem for all of us. The bad guy here seems like a totally evil man and a real rat, but actually, he might look like some of us. We might like him and buy his book. The Corinthians apparently supported some men like this who said they were apostles.

It is interesting that David wrote this after Doeg had killed the priests and David was living in caves. David would live like this for 6-7 years and then 3 years in Ziklag. What happened to Doeg? Who knows? But David trusted in the Lord, and for him vs. 8-9 were all that mattered. God was enough, although he was living a very desperate, insecure, and Spartan existence, following and waiting on the Lord. It is also interesting to think that this psalm was sung in worship.

Vs. 1-4 King Saul had surrounded himself with wicked men like Doeg. This man was an evil opportunist who acted religious to fit into the culture of Israel; but when the opportunity came to win favor with Saul, he did what no one else would. He destroyed an entire village of priests and their wives and children.

Vs. 5-7 Not only was David confident that God would judge Doeg, but that He would use him as an example to all those who followed the Lord. We have seen over and over again that the Lord will judge the wicked.

Vs. 8-9 David had been the real goal of all that hatred of Saul that allowed this Doeg to have his day. Yet David was held in God's steadfast love, embraced in God's presence and cared for. David's normal response was to praise God and let the godly know that they could hope in the Lord.

Notice how the steadfast love of God opens and closes the psalm. It is a source of strength and hope for us, as we follow and work in the harvest, to know that His love is always with us and it is always enough.

Proverbs 22:26-27

These verses could be applied to pledging to pay the loans of another person, but it looks to me that it could also be going out on credit. This is not Larry Burkett or Dave Ramsey; this is God. Basically, I think it says that if you don't have cash on hand, don't buy it on a pledge to pay. I don't think this is referring to huge stuff like houses or cars, or to things that are really, really important. Rather this endorses a mindset of not living in debt and on credit. As Paul said to Timothy, both of whom were following in the harvest, But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (1 Tim. 6:8) In the world at present we are watching the debt bubbles burst in almost every western nation. It was all foolishness, just as it says here.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this linkhttp://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go tohttp://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and 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. 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 manual we have and 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. 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 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, 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. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

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. Send comments or feedback todgkachikis@gmail.com.

If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go tohttps://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to print.

September 7, 2014

SEPTEMBER 7

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Song of Solomon 5-8

I have to admit, I'm happy this book doesn't have 40 chapters. I doubt that many of us are going to get to heaven, run up to the Lord and say, "What were they doing in that verse?"

One thing to keep in mind is that all of the real events had to have taken place, before Solomon and his wife could sit down, compile thoughts, and put them in poetic form. So, in other words, the events here are not "real time," and artistic decisions are being made how to present their wedding and honeymoon. It is interesting in this to think that they included two very anxious dreams she had. Not only did this bride have anxieties, but she seems to have had some fears where things (foxes) were present that could ruin their relationship. Since Solomon wrote this, he must have known about the foxes too. Knowing truth doesn't make you immune to ruin. This is a very different Solomon than the one we just heard from in Ecclesiastes. I would say the deciding factor is that Solomon didn't write his own copy of the law and didn’t read it every day as God had commanded. Had he done so, he would have avoided having 1000 wives; and maybe, if he had read in the law about Abe and Sarah every month, he would have understood this woman as the only one God had intended for him.

Song 5

V. 1 This (supposedly) is the consummation of their relationship.

Vs. 2-9 This is her second bad dream. Who knows when this happened? It could be this was her dream after they made love and fell asleep. Maybe it was sometime later on the honeymoon. There apparently was a lot on her mind that made her insecure. This entire reading today will be a kind of plea from her to Solomon.

Vs. 2-6 In her dream she is waiting and ready for him. I have heard this portrayed allegorically as Jesus calling to the church, but the church is too lazy to respond. Holy Moly! If you understand here, she is telling him through the door that she is naked and anointed, ready and willing. In those days, the doors had a hole so that a person from the outside could let themselves in. He was playing with her and she with him. Then she couldn't wait any longer and ran to the door.

Notice he doesn't call her his bride, suggesting that this is after the wedding.

V. 7-9 The fact that she searches for him again, but this time is beaten by the watchmen, signals an escalation in her fears. These daughters of Jerusalem are possibly the competition, or they are being used as a poetic device to move the poem along.

Vs. 10-16 Who knows what's happening here. Maybe she awoke and saw him lying next to her.

Song 6

Vs. 1-3 I don't know, maybe she woke him up and he's rolling over into the garden.

Vs. 4-10 I think he likes her. Verses 7-9 are interesting with the mention of queens and concubines. Since we don't really have much detail I wonder if this is a recollection of the wedding guests and these were queens and concubines of other kings, or if this was Solomon's current tally. Solomon would eventually have 700 queens and 300 concubines. (1 Kings 11:3)

Vs. 11-13 Somewhere in all of this it is suggested that during a day, on some day, they take a walk in a real garden. I find some of that hard to grasp, because his descriptions of her are not exactly what you'd see if she were clothed. It could be that he took her some place like a pavilion in the garden itself. I'm sure Solomon must have had places where he could relax and entertain guests in the vineyards and gardens he had made. Or maybe it is all poetic imagery and they never left the honeymoon suite.

Song 7

Vs. 1-9 Apparently she was briefly wearing sandals. This might suggest they went some place.

Vs. 9-13 It seems that she suggested taking a walk and having a roll in the pomegranates.

Song 8

V. 1 I think the idea here is that in her insecurity, she wished the bond was stronger than marriage or the sexual. It isn't a wish for something perverse, rather, for a very permanent, unbreakable relational bond. Solomon had a lot of other women, many of royal descent, vying for his attention. Somehow I don't think this girl lasted long.

Vs. 2-4 These verses give me the idea that they are still in the honeymoon suite or in some enclosed garden pavilion and she is lying in his arms. Here again she is telling of the wisdom of waiting for the Lord's appointed time to fan the flame of sexual passion. Apparently she was glad she had waited.

V. 5 This could be those daughters of Jerusalem asking the question and Solomon saying where he first noticed her, in the apple orchard.

Vs. 6-7 This is a very bold appeal from her to Solomon to make this a very strong relationship. She wishes to be a seal on his arm and to be loved in a very loyal and fierce way.

Vs. 8-10 On the other hand, she had determined to wait for love and to be loyal to her husband, even before she met him. Her brothers watched over her. Would she be a tower, firm in her convictions, or would she be a door? They would take appropriate action. She was a moral girl, and so, she would bring her husband peace knowing she would remain faithful. Too bad Solomon wasn't that faithful.

Vs. 11-14 Somewhere in all of this I think she's inviting him for a rendezvous in the garden. Again, I wouldn't be surprised if they never left the room.

It is sad to realize that her insecurities proved to be right. Solomon was a hedonistic workaholic. His harem became his pleasure garden as he spiritually, relationally, emotionally, and personally died. Was the love expressed here genuine? I'll bet it was. Almost all marriages begin with an intense love. So, the lesson would be that what is genuine today, could be dead tomorrow if we allow it to happen. It is no accident that in Genesis and in Paul's recounting of the fall in Romans 1:18ff, after the breaking of the relationship with God, came the fracture in the relationship between man and wife. I think any married disciple who is serious about following Christ in the harvest will work hard to protect and grow the "garden" God has given to him/her. Particularly for a man, his relationship and love to Christ is "tested" in his love for his wife. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. (Ephesians 5:25) If we really had it right, we would love the Lord our God with all our hearts and soul and mind and strength, and then make sure our marriage reflects the devotion, blessing and pleasure of God. Marriage should add a fulfillment to us that is second only to our fulfillment in Christ.

2 Corinthians 9

Vs. 1-5 The occasion of this gift was a big deal. As a result of this conflict, we get some great verses and we see Paul gently encouraging the people to grow spiritually.

V. 2 Corinth had been an example to other churches. Now they were in danger of becoming a negative example of what division and infighting can do for you. The point here is not Paul's boasting or their reputation. The reality is that if they did not see this through, it would signify a step backward in maturity and growth in the church, probably leading to further disappointment and disunity in Corinth. If indeed they were healing from whatever malfunction they had had, finishing this project would be evidence of that healing.

Vs. 6-11 It is only through real faith that real giving occurs. We give for many reasons, but on the spiritual level it is because of our gratefulness to God and our total trust in Him. For the church in Corinth not to give, this would signify their disunity and then, too, their lack of gratefulness and their lack of trust.

V. 10 I think this is a reference to Isaiah 55:10, For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater.

Vs. 12-15 They would also be a blessing to others and bring glory to God.

There is a level of "material abandonment" that Jesus demands of His disciples. When Jesus told a man to sell all he had and give it away and follow Him, Jesus meant it. The man failed to respond because he was actually a slave to what he owned. Jesus also taught freedom from stuff when He told His disciples not to be anxious about food or drink or clothing, but to seek first the kingdom of heaven. Jesus doesn't demand every disciple to sell everything, but on the spiritual level He really does. Our home is in heaven not on earth, so our stuff and our money can go to the harvest and to all those people our Lord puts in our path who need His money.

Psalm 51

Reflecting on this psalm, what if it was still sung by David long after Ahithophel, Absalom, and the others were dead? What if David still labored under the guilt of what he had done? What if all the apologies had been made, but the memories remained? I wonder if this was a daily prayer for David. I wonder if Paul had this kind of prayer in those dark nights when he could close his eyes and see the faces of those he had beaten, those women screaming for their husbands, pleading for the mercy of Christ after Paul had them thrown in jail and had assented to their deaths?

Our guilt has a hard time dying, and many of us have prayers like this that we regularly bring before the Lord. Our hearts keep accusing us, but He is greater than our hearts. We are wholly accepted and forgiven in the blood of Christ.

Vs. 1-3 The desperate acknowledgement here is that David's sin was ever before him.

Vs. 4-6 Even after all the people were dead who could have been apologized too, David still had to deal with his heart before God. The effect of his sin had been devastating to his family and to his nation. More than that, it had to have made a deep mark on his heart. Only God could soothe his heart. Only God's truth could give him the confidence to follow every day.

Vs. 7-12 Notice all of the things David begs for here. Look at all the things that had been lost. David prayed for restoration.

Vs. 13-17 David vowed not only to give testimony of God's deliverance, but now he would be a teacher of transgressors, leading them back to the truth of God and to obedience. Verse 17 would be the greatest lesson he could give, and it was the deepest lesson he had learned.

Vs. 18-19 Maybe David had seen the damage he had done to Israel. This prayer was not for him or for the city per se. It was for the glory of God, God being exalted in His city and in the worship He received.

Proverbs 22:24-25

Amen, and beware of men who are given too easily to "righteous anger." God isn't fooled, but we are.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this linkhttp://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go tohttp://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and 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. 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 manual we have and 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. 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 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, 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. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

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. Send comments or feedback todgkachikis@gmail.com.

If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go tohttps://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to print.

September 6, 2014

SEPTEMBER 6

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Song of Solomon 1-4

It says of Solomon that he wrote proverbs about everything. In the Song of Solomon it seems that Solomon wrote a love song or poem regarding the events just before and just after his wedding. Most couples do photo albums; they did a song. Some of us might have a problem with this song simply because we know how Solomon's life ends. Solomon ignored God's Word and had 700 wives and 300 half wives, and they led him into idolatry. But in the beginning of his reign, like most of the godly kings, he was following the Lord and had a deep faith. It is thought that this might have been his first wife, an Israelite, whom he married before his first political marriage to Pharaoh's daughter. Or it might be that this relationship was the first where Solomon was genuinely in love and not marrying for what he thought, in his wisdom, would bring stability to the kingdom.

In the final event, God wanted this love song in the Bible. God created the union between man and woman and celebrated it in Adam and Eve in the garden. Every couple since Adam and Eve has experienced the wonder that God built into the relationship as it moves from the first attraction to marriage. And every couple has experienced the challenge of keeping that relation both romantic and healthy after marriage.

On the surface, the Song of Solomon is about raging hormones and poetic descriptions of bodies. Jewish men were not allowed to read this book until they were 30 years old. But apart from the raging hormones, you'll also notice some very significant, recurring themes that are signaled by repeated words and phrases. As you find them, underline or highlight what you see. They will give you some structure and there will be some interesting applications. Generally, we'll look at this song as a poem describing events, not as an allegory meaning something else. The Bible Knowledge Commentary-OT does a good job of describing what's going on in the Song of Solomon. According to the BKC, chapters 1-3 are just before the wedding, with Solomon personally taking her to Jerusalem for the ceremony. Chapter 4 is the wedding night and 5:1 is the afterglow. Chapters 5-8 are the "maturing" of their marriage, or I would say, some thoughts during the honeymoon. Who knows?

Song 1

This chapter describes their thoughts during the days leading up to the wedding and the couple's longing for one another.

Vs. 1-4 This can read as her desire and a request of longing, "Let the king take me to his chambers."

Vs. 5-7 These verses seem to express some of her insecurity marrying a man like Solomon. Apparently her brothers were protective of her and kept watch over her, as we'll see later. The vineyard has a double meaning. She kept the literal, family vineyard, but didn't have time to cultivate her own beauty.

Vs. 8-10 In our culture, better, in my house, this comparison wouldn't do much for my wife. He apparently is saying that she is so beautiful that she stands out.

V. 11 The invisible chorus is saying that her beauty will be adorned richly. These people are being used as some sort of poetic device.

Vs. 12-17 These are lots of rolling hormones waiting for a wedding night. These thoughts and desires roll into the next chapter.

Song 2

Vs. 1-2 She compares herself to an uncultivated, wildly-growing lily and he uses the image to say again that her beauty is such that it stands out and lifts her above the crowd.

Vs. 3-17 This seems to be the bride's premarital musing about her future husband.

Vs. 3-7 She is feeling so in love with him that she feels overwhelmed, sick so to speak. You have to have been in love like this to appreciate the feeling. I think that in v. 6, she is imagining him making love to her. We will see this same phrase again when he does make love to her after the wedding.

V. 7 We will see this refrain again too, and it comes across as good godly advice from the Lord. In nature, the mating only takes place at times God has appointed. Her advice is to allow God to be the one who determines when the time is right. In our world we push sexual attraction through the media and create desire in people inappropriately. God and the bride are saying not to rush things.

If you ask me, if she had been Solomon's only wife and he had been a focused husband, Solomon might have been a truly great man. Instead, Solomon started well, like a ball hit hard to right field that looked good, but went foul.

Vs. 8-14 suggest imagery relating to the waiting, the maturing of their premarital love, and the strain thereof, that she and Solomon experienced before the wedding. The ripening fruits are the images of the time arriving.

V. 15 This is a verse of warning. Here and elsewhere, the vineyard is an image of a relationship or marriage. These little foxes are issues or problems that destroy the marriage and relationship. Apparently she saw things in Solomon's busy life and/or personality that gave her a sense of worry and insecurity. Every marriage has these; but two people, who are each independently in love with Christ and following Him, can kill the vermin and make the vineyard "foxproof."

Vs. 16-17 We'll see this again. Here, it is the declaration of her love and submission to him. Now, it is just longing. Later, it will be the prelude to a kiss (and more).

Song 3

Vs. 1-5 This is one of her two dreams of worry. Apparently she worried about losing him, and when she found him, she took him to the safest place she knew. A bedroom? Where she was conceived? I'd say she was ready to be married. Notice v. 5, and the advice again about not stirring sexual desire before its time. I think she was feeling the stirrings.

Vs. 6-11 This is Solomon collecting his bride and taking her to Jerusalem in a procession for the wedding.

Song 4

This is the wedding night. Notice that it is all Solomon. There are lots of comparisons, images, poetic descriptions, veiled requests, and, of course, hormones. The description of this night should also include 5:1. According to the BKC, her words at the end of chapter 4, his first words of chapter 5, and the words of the "others" (some say God) mark the consummation of their relationship (they make love).

In your discipleship group you might want to discuss how to keep romance alive in marriage. In today's climate this is a worthwhile thing to talk about. Christian marriages do fall apart; and for guys, even devoted disciples, the sexual temptations have multiplied with the media and internet. The sad reality is that as long as we've been on this planet, we still don't understand "sex;" and so it keeps harming us. People following Christ are just as liable to make mistakes that hurt themselves and their relationships.

Regarding the romance and health of the relationship, sex is never the issue; and the climax is often the enemy of real fulfillment. Generally speaking, for 98% of mankind, when the God-ordained time comes in marriage, God made the sexual side of being one flesh just as vital and irresistible to us, particularly to a man, as breathing, eating and sleeping. The goal is completion and connection, not desire and a climax. This is why Solomon was such a poor man. He was sexually saturated, but had no real completion. It was like drinking water and dying of thirst. Any man who has fallen into the rut of the typical "end of the night, for a few minutes," snuggle with his wife is primed to stay unsatisfied and liable to fall into sin. It is like drinking and still being thirsty and always needing something more.

I think that God has meant the event to take a long time, for her and for him. The husband needs to make sure it goes as long as possible and focuses on her, and he'll be surprised that the ending is actually anticlimactic in comparison to the fulfillment found in the entire process. And for both, the depth will go to the soul.

I've known couples that tried to read the Song of Solomon to one another and were seriously hurt when they both fell off the couch laughing at Your nose is like a tower of Lebanon, which looks toward Damascus (Song 7:4). So, look for love songs. You can find them on YouTube and buy them on iTunes or somewhere. Here are some suggestions: "I Could Not Ask For More" and "A Real Fine Place to Start," by Sara Evans; "Now and Forever," by Richard Marx; "My Valentine," by M. McBride; "Looking in the Eyes of Love," by Alison Krauss; "Longer," by Dan Fogelberg; "We are Man and Wife," by Michelle Featherstone; "When the Stars Go Blue," The Corrs and Bono (studio version); "Then," by Brad Paisley; lots of stuff by Alabama; lots of country….just for starters.

Vs. 1-8 This could be Solomon describing her on the wedding night, seeing her naked for the first time.

Vs. 9-15 This sounds highly hormonal. Now she's a good smelling garden. Notice in v. 12 that there is a reference to her virginity. She was a locked garden until this night.

V. 16 I'm not sure what Solomon was saying here. I think his senses were completely overwhelmed by what he was feeling and saw and smelled. It almost sounds like, "Hi Ho, Silver, away!"

On the other hand, without a lot of interpretive energy, we can grasp what she was saying. She was unlocking the door to the garden. Read v. 1 of the next chapter to see the rest of the story.

Remember that this wasn't written "real time," as it happened. That would have been funny if it had been. "Hey, wait a minute, let me write that down." What this means is that the first days of the marriage were so extraordinary that they realized they had been deeply blessed by God. Too bad that Solomon didn't understand the true blessing of that relationship and that he would have to deny all others in order to keep it.

2 Corinthians 8:16-24

Vs. 16-17 Notice that Paul is telling the Corinthians that the heart of working for the Lord comes from the heart of God Himself. And in all of this conflict and distress for Paul & Co., God is the one who is creating that desire. Ministry is primarily not a work of man and the carrying out of plans. In all of these instructions you see God's heart in Paul's ministry.

Notice that Paul excluded himself from the carriers of the gift. In these verses Paul showed that Titus was the lead person who, himself, had a genuine love for the Corinthians. This would disarm the critics who were so focused on Paul. It is sad that an act of love like this gift had taken on such a political and controversial tone.

Vs. 18-21 Now Paul mentioned the brother who was a very good preacher. No one knows who this is. If it had been Apollos, Paul would have used his name. Notice that this person was not appointed by Paul, but by the other churches who were contributing. Even a man like Paul came under intense suspicion and was willing to step back and humble himself and submit to other authorities and opinions. This is an example of what he mentioned in
1 Corinthians 1:19ff.

V. 22 And to boot, they are sending that other "brother." Notice how this is all being done because of the immaturity of the Corinthian church and the critics.

Vs. 23-24 And again, Titus would be leading the organization around the collection and the group that would carry it to Jerusalem. Since Paul and others had taken this much care to insure that everything was done well under the scrutiny of the critics, Paul urged the Corinthians to finish well in completing what they had begun.

As disciples in the harvest, we need to be able to work with the immaturity of those who are not fully devoted to the Lord and are not totally willing to follow Him in the harvest. There is a sense of making disciples of the resistant, while we are working with the willing to reach the lost and make disciples who make disciples. This is what we see Paul doing.

Psalm 50

This is an easy psalm to break into sections, so give it a try before you read below.

Notice the silence of God that is mentioned in vs. 3 and 21. People think God is silent today too. Interestingly, I just talked to a neighbor who missed driving through an accident last night on his way to work, because his motorcycle wasn't running right and had to come back and get his truck. He's the one who mentioned God. God isn't as silent as we think.

Vs. 1-2 God summons the entire earth to judgment and His throne is in the beauty of Zion. This sounds like the judgment of the nations after Jesus returns as the Son of Man and begins His millennial reign in Jerusalem.

Vs. 3-6 This is very "end of the age" imagery. God is no longer silent. He commands all of creation to come together, judging the nations and His people. In all of this, He calls His faithful followers to gather to Him. Jesus spoke of stuff like this.

Vs. 7-13 This is really interesting to think about. "Doing something for God" was never the purpose of sacrifice. It was a sign of faith that men understood they were lost, under judgment and needed to have their sins covered. God Himself never needed animals. He owned them all. I was reading this morning in Romans 11:33-36, O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Vs. 14-15 This is all that God really wants. God asks us to praise Him in thankfulness and to make Him our only hope. I was reading this morning in John 14, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word.” It begins with love and flows into obedience.

Vs. 16-21 You understand that the wicked here are the religiously wicked. These are those who use the name, but do not know Him. Verse 21 is a great indictment. God's silence doesn't mean He approves of our religion. How many people worship every week, totally in vain.

Vs. 21-23 This is interesting. Inherent in what God is saying here is that the sacrifice and worship should be according to His Word and in thankfulness to Him. The sacrifice of thanksgiving is giving testimony to God for His salvation and mercy. The ordering of our way in Christ involves taking a cross and following Him into the harvest. That is obedience to the Word and thanksgiving in action.

Proverbs 22:22-23

This really fits well to the psalm.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this linkhttp://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go tohttp://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and 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. 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 manual we have and 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. 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 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, 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. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

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. Send comments or feedback todgkachikis@gmail.com.

If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go tohttps://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to print.

September 5, 2014

SEPTEMBER 5

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Ecclesiastes 10-12

Our last day in Ecclesiastes, the dark diary of Solomon. As you finish this book you'll probably need to increase your endorphins by eating large amounts of chocolate, or by hooking yourself up to a tank of laughing gas.

Ecclesiastes 10

There are a lot of good "sayings" and good advice. Which ones speak to you? I like vs. 4, 10, and 17-20.

Vs. 1-4 I knew a guy in college who wrote a song to v. 1. It didn't make the charts, but it made everyone in the room laugh. The rest seems like good advice from the Lord.

Vs. 5-7 Solomon was taken up with the unfairness of seeing the wrong persons being given position or recognition. He didn't understand why God allowed such things. God is wise, so why would a wise God allow the unwise to rule?

Vs. 8-15 It could be that Solomon added these thoughts to say that although the wrong person was ruling, his foolishness would still catch up with him and there would be some sense of justice.

Vs. 16-17 This section, too, seems to reflect back on the thought of the wrong persons ruling.

Vs. 18-20 These are like three missiles directed at life under a ruler who doesn't belong in office. First, his foolishness will become obvious. Second, stay unaffected and happy. Third, watch your mouth. I wish I had learned to heed v. 20 when I was about 20.

Ecclesiastes 11

Vs. 1-6 These verses seem to talk about investing and work and have one general motto, "Just do it." It is interesting that as Solomon talks about God, there seems to be a sense of regret and confusion.

Vs. 7-10 I think these verses on youth are a part of the entire thought that is in the next chapter. Basically, Solomon is saying one should enjoy youth; but it is fleeting, and, in Solomon's mind, meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 12

V. 1 …and remember your creator in your youth, because you will get old and wrecked.

Vs. 2-7 This is Solomon's poetic description of being wrecked by old age.

V. 8 Solomon's version of "bah, humbug!" I'll bet Paul didn't go out like this.

Vs. 9-12 I wonder if this is what they put on his tombstone. I think Solomon didn't spend enough time in the right book.

And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. ¹⁹And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, ²⁰that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:18-20)

Vs. 13-14 This is all true, but still spoken from the dark heart of a former follower who got lost on earth. As they say, "a word to the wise ought to be sufficient." We are wise if we love the Lord, live in His Word and follow Him in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples who make disciples. Where Solomon is now, I know he now understands that what we are doing as disciples is wisdom and blessing, and I'll bet he wishes he had done that too.

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

This section today has to do with the offering for the poor among the churches in Jerusalem. Apparently there was a famine in Jerusalem. Corinth was one of the first churches to get behind this need (v. 11), but got stopped by something. What Paul is asking here is not that they should chip in, but that they should complete what they started. This all has to do with the conflict within the church and the presence of these false apostles. In the next chapters we'll see that these super-apostles were demanding to be paid by the church. As a point against the criticism of these false teachers, Paul never took any financial help from Corinth. This conflict goes back to 1 Corinthians 9, and those guys probably stopped the church from doing what Paul suggested in 1 Corinthians 16.

Vs. 1-5 The churches of Philippi, Berea and Thessalonica all contributed in spite of their affliction, because of their love for Christ and joy in knowing Him.

V. 5 Note that Paul is letting the Corinthians know this was the work of the Spirit and a response of love rather than apostolic pressure.

Vs. 6-7 It seems that Paul is saying that in the same way they knew that the Spirit was among them through all the gifts they had received, they should also prove the Spirit's power by allowing Him to help them finish what they had begun.

Vs. 8-9 So, what was the proof of their genuine love for Christ? It was their imitating Christ as His disciples. Those first words of v. 9, for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus, are so simple, and yet they are spirit and life. I don't think we are meant to ever recover from His grace. Paul had a unique and tender understanding of the grace of Jesus. Here Paul is seeking to re-open the hearts of these people with the reminder of our Lord's grace. In 2 Timothy Paul reminded Timothy of His grace, to strengthen Timothy to follow in spite of the fear of death. Nero's madness was heating up against the church and was about to send Paul into the presence of Christ when Paul wrote, You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1) Our strength is in the grace of our Lord. If we know His grace, it gives us amazing strength.

Vs. 10-12 The benefit was not just finishing what they had begun, but they had been motivated out of a heart of love. The benefit was in giving full expression to the heart of Christ by imitating Christ.

Vs. 13-15 I wonder if this was a concern in Corinth.

What I appreciate so much about God's wisdom in the gospel and in salvation is that our response to Christ has nothing to do with position, culture, or education. The poorest, most childlike person on earth has as much (if not more) of an opportunity of grasping Christ as anyone has. How do we grasp and embrace the grace of our Lord? It is all in our hunger for Him and in our thanks for His salvation. What an amazing equalizer. How fair and just is the Father in hiding this from the wise and understanding and revealing it to babes. This morning I was reading about Jesus teaching His disciples, Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew18:3) Following Christ is very simple if you have the right heart in the harvest. We all have Bibles, but the hungry live in the Word because it brings them close to the heart and face of our Savior. Jesus is available for us all, but the hungry would rather starve than eat a meal without being next to Him.

Psalm 49

It is very fitting to have this psalm on the day we finish Ecclesiastes. This sounds like Solomon and deals with some of the same observations Solomon made in his darkness. The difference is the question and the answer. Unlike Solomon's words, there is hope here. The question is why should we fear in times of trouble. The answer is that God is in control and has determined a time of judgment for the proud. It seems that this could have been written, like several of the preceding psalms, after the salvation of Jerusalem in 2 Kings 18 & 19.

Vs. 1-4 This song and its message are for all nations. All the nations would have been interested after the way God delivered Jerusalem and a lot of other nations by humbling the Assyrians.

Vs. 5-6 The riddle is in v. 5 and has to do with the pride of the rich and powerful.

Vs. 7-9 Man cannot ransom his own life from God. This suggests God's absolute power and that only God could do this. God solved the riddle of redemption on the cross. This also sounds like what Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 16:26, For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Vs. 10-12 This is what happens to those who live life on earth only for themselves. This is how Solomon was seeing life because he had lost his contact with the Lord. Verse 12 has a subtle tone of irony and judgment since we were made in the image of God. But if we try, we can make ourselves like the animals.

Vs. 13-14 This will be the end of everyone who disregards God.

V. 15 Job had this hope living in him, helping him, giving him hope. Solomon couldn't see anything but life on earth and he faded into despair. Our strength and hope are in our redemption. I was reading this morning in Romans 6:5, For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We certainly shall. Praise God!

Vs. 16-20 Both men and nations come and go. There is wealth and power and abuse, but what happens before God is what really matters. These 70 years on earth do not occupy the space of a door's thickness in the entire vastness of eternity. These are vital years because in them we decide where we will spend eternity, but once we know Christ, these years take on an entirely different meaning for us. These are the years that we join our Savior in the harvest, striving on this lost planet to rescue the perishing and make disciples who make disciples. The joy and glory of eternity, for all eternity, will begin after we are led out of the harvest over that thin, dark threshold into light.

What kind of worship song was this? I wonder if it had a good beat. But all things considered, the truth stated here is something we need to keep before our eyes as we follow Christ in the harvest.

Proverbs 22:20-21

These are introductory words for the next batch of proverbs. This makes me think of John 8:32, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Truth frees us to know and follow our Lord.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this linkhttp://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go tohttp://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and 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. 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 manual we have and 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. 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 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, 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. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

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. Send comments or feedback todgkachikis@gmail.com.

If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go tohttps://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to print.

September 4, 2014

SEPTEMBER 4

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Ecclesiastes 7-9

Get ready for another shock treatment, compliments of the wisest man on earth. When you read what Solomon says today it shocks you, realizing that at one time this man loved God and it says that God loved him. (2 Sam. 12:24) Much of what we'll read will sound like the book of Job, but darker. Job was grieving the loss of his children, his life and his friends. Even more disturbing to Job was not understanding why God had allowed this to happen to him. Solomon is in greater danger. He thinks he knows what's going on. He has sunk deeply into the darkness of his own soul. That is a pretty bad place to be. Scripture shows us that he never found a friend to pull him out of this and God allowed him to stay like this. That is an interesting thought when you consider what God did to King Manasseh and how Manasseh turned to God.

Ecclesiastes 7

Vs. 1-13 Some of these are wisdom like in Proverbs, and a couple of these observations are just dark.

Vs. 4-5 These are wise advice.

V. 10 This is something to think about as each of us gets older. It is also good for congregations to think about. The best days for us as disciples always lie before us.

V. 14 This is a very interesting thought that is dark, but it has some truth to it. From this point on, notice that it really bothered Solomon that he didn't know what God was doing or that he didn't know the future.

Vs. 15-18 Again, this is very much like Job. It seems like there is a little truth here and a little darkness. We can all agree with v. 18.

Vs. 19-24 It seems that Solomon is beginning to say that in his wisdom he discovered that all men were depraved.

Vs. 25-26 Solomon is probably referring to some of his wives.

Vs. 27-28 I think that Solomon was gathering wives in disobedience to the Word and got what he wanted. I don't think godliness was the first thing Solomon was looking for as he considered who to add to his harem.

You notice that Solomon was not the guy who wrote about the Virtuous Woman at the end of Proverbs.

V. 29 If Solomon would have read Genesis 3, he would have known about depravity without having to ruin himself to discover it. Solomon could have written, "The Heart of Darkness;" in fact, that's what he's doing.

Ecclesiastes 8

As you read this chapter, the paragraphs are laid out for you, so try to title the paragraphs. What issues or observations is Solomon stating?

Vs. 1-9 It seems that Solomon is attesting to the wisdom of the wise and the power of the king; but then in vs. 6-8 he is saying that in spite of wisdom and power, man is limited. Man bears the weight of his trouble. He doesn't know the future and he cannot keep from dying.

Vs. 10-13 This seems to be saying that the prosperity of the wicked causes men to prefer evil. Still Solomon held that those who feared God came out better.

Vs. 14-15 Like Job, Solomon couldn't figure out the disparity of how the wicked and the righteous end up. Unlike Job, Solomon's answer was just to be happy with what the Lord gives you, to eat and drink and be joyful. Again, if this is saying to be content and enjoy the Lord's provision without having to have all the answers, I agree. I think Solomon is more on the side of "eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

Vs. 16-17 This statement contains truth. We shouldn't try to understand everything. We should trust God because He is wise beyond our understanding. But I sense that to Solomon's darkened heart, this was a deep frustration to him and it made him want to give up seeking God.

Ecclesiastes 9

Vs. 1-6 This is an important summary statement on chapter 8. Notice the mentions of love and hate in v. 1 and v. 6. Since we just read Job, it seems that Solomon was really depressed that life ended in death, and that the same fate came to both the wicked and the righteous. He couldn't see any farther; and so it seems, he questioned why it was better to be wise.

Vs. 7-10 This was Solomon's grand conclusion. It sort of reads again like, "let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die." It doesn't mean that there isn't some wisdom here, but because Solomon couldn't see there was life after death, he valued only that which could be done on earth. And since nothing on earth lasted, this contentment was more like resolving to give in to the futility of life on earth and just enjoy.

Vs. 11-12 This is "What's the sense?" based on the fickleness of life and events. Notice that Solomon mentions again that man cannot know. This really upset him. For Job, the issue was that man could know God. That saved Job. Job kept appealing to God for an answer. Solomon, wise as he was, didn't think he needed anything but his wisdom.

Vs. 13-16 This is "What's the sense?" based on the fickleness of men.

Vs. 17-18 These verses are a contrast to v. 1 and end on a dark, but true, note.

For us as disciples, isn't it great to know the Lord. Knowing Jesus is enough, especially living in a fallen world and lugging around this body of death. We are motivated by His love and we follow with a purpose that defies all the damage this world may have inflicted on us. We know what we need to do every day in the harvest, and staying in the Word reminds us of His love, our mission and our sure hope of being made new in Him forever.

A fruitful, but battered, disciple shared his wisdom with a younger disciple. It is a little more positive than what Solomon has to say and it reflects reality in the harvest.

But godliness with contentment is great gain, ⁷for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. ⁸But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. ⁹But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. ¹¹But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. ¹²Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, ¹⁴to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. ¹⁷As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. (1 Timothy 6:6-17)

2 Corinthians 7:8-16

Paul is still debriefing himself and the Corinthians on the events that took place. He is showing God's purpose in all that happened. Look for words that repeat. This is a good section describing the heart of working through conflicts, and the purpose of God in chastening us and others.

Vs. 8-10 This was hard on Paul. It was hard on the Corinthians.

V. 10 The difference between depression and feeling grieved because of our sin is that the love of God is never forgotten when we are grieved in Him. Because of His love, we repent and are restored. Depression mis-understands God's power and sovereignty, and it focuses us on us, that we're stupid and disobedient and worthless. Paul was a violent persecutor of the church and responsible for the murders and imprisonments of men and women who loved Christ. He destroyed families. Paul never forgot this, but the love of Christ and the sovereignty of God moved him to repentance and service, not depression.

Vs. 11-12 Why does God allow conflict? Why does He let us, or others, melt down? To show us something and to reveal something about ourselves and about others. Difficulties, even conflicts, show us how He can use all things for His purposes.

Vs. 13-16 Paul, again, is affirming his love to them, and he is grateful and happy with the happy ending. God also used this situation as a good lesson for Titus in following Christ in the harvest.

Psalm 48

I think this psalm, too, was written in the afterglow of God destroying the Assyrian army that came against Jerusalem when Hezekiah was king. As I read a psalm like this, in the back of my mind I know that Jerusalem has been destroyed several times and today there is no temple. If this psalm is about the pride of having a great city or a great worship structure, then that was all, as Solomon would say, vanity.

So, let's assume that this symbolizes something that is still true and important to anyone who loves the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

V. 1 What shows God's greatness and shows He is worthy of praise?

V. 2 What do we point to that is beautiful and majestic, where God is found?

V. 3 What is it about God that shows what a secure refuge He is?

Vs. 4-7 What is it about God that confounds and humiliates all of the pride of man?

V. 8 What have we heard and seen and shows a hope that God has established forever?

V. 9 What makes you think of God's steadfast love?

V. 10 What praise of God will reach the end of the earth? When you think of God's right hand, do you think of something/someone who is righteous?

Vs. 11-14 What one thing gives us joy, is our dwelling place, and will guide us forever? We could all answer this a little differently. Is it a place where you first found Jesus and learned of His love? Or maybe it is Jesus Himself.

Proverbs 22:17-19

Up to this point, all of the proverbs have been written by Solomon. The rest of Proverbs will be written by others, some of whom are named and others who are not.

These verses are reminiscent of those that begin the book of Proverbs. They are a call to the reader (or hearer) to incline their hearts and apply what they hear. Unlike the opening words of Proverbs in chapter 1, here there is a very strong assertion that the result of this inclining and applying will be to move the listener to put complete trust in the Lord.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this linkhttp://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go tohttp://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and 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. 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 manual we have and 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. 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 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, 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. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

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. Send comments or feedback todgkachikis@gmail.com.

If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go tohttps://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to print.

September 3, 2014

SEPTEMBER 3

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Ecclesiastes 4-6

Job and Solomon were both rich men who worked hard in life. It would be easier to hear Job say what Solomon is about to say, since Job lost everything. As Solomon writes this he is still amazingly rich. It seems that everything Solomon says lacks any redemptive perspective in life and comes from the attitude that a man, himself, makes his life. Just like in Job, there is an abundance of truth here, but it is truth about life when you have lost the closeness to the Lord. Solomon's focus is on accomplishment on earth and lasting value. We know this earth must pass away, and only what is done for the Lord in the redemption and rescue of people will last or have meaning.

By now you know what to do to keep your interest sharp. Look for recurring words and phrases, and highlight or underline them.

Ecclesiastes 4

This chapter seems to focus on the foolishness of being alone.

Vs. 1-3 This definitely sounds like Job. As Solomon looked outside of Israel (I hope it was outside of Israel), he saw oppression that could not be remedied. In his mind, it was better for the oppressed never to have been born. He didn't know about the church in communist China. If the rule of Solomon had been about the glory of God and not the glory of Solomon, he might have brought the testimony of God’s truth and holiness to others and the leaders of other nations.

Vs. 4-6 Verse 6 appears to be the godly goal, but what is said in v. 4 seems to be said from a bitter heart. Maybe some of what Solomon built came from wanting to be envied by other nations.

Vs. 7-8 Solomon appears to have had this work ethic, but without working for the Lord, one wonders for whom the work is done. That ought to be a message to us as believers. A disciple in the harvest lives knowing the answer to this.

Vs. 9-12 I wonder if Solomon said this from regret. I think that ultimately, Solomon was a lonely man without real friends. He apparently didn’t have anyone with the guts to tell him he was wrong. Also, I think he was love starved. God designed that a man should have one wife to complete him. Solomon, the man who had 1000 wives, was really alone on earth and desperately incomplete.

Vs. 13-16 This story seems to describe the new king as alone, not accepted and not regarded for his achievements. This wasn't completely autobiographical, but the feelings might have been the same.

Ecclesiastes 5

Vs. 1-7 This seems to say that if you make God mad at you by not fulfilling the promises you have made to Him, He will make your accomplishments meaningless and your life pointless. I wonder if Solomon felt guilty for having fallen so far from those early days. It is hard to imagine that the guy who prayed that prayer at the dedication of the temple later wrote these words.

Vs. 8-9 Rulers will take the fruit of your toil.

Vs. 10-17 Ruin through the love of money and greed. Much of this sounds like Job, particularly v. 15; and much of it seems like it could be autobiographical, Solomon reflecting on his own life.

Vs. 18-20 This is the only point in life as Solomon saw it. Ironically, from everything Solomon says, I don't think he enjoyed this simple life. I think he was miserable. I wonder if he wished he could have had something like what he described here.

I have read a commentator who said this was actually a true statement coming from God. I would say this is true in the sense that a simpler life is better and probably reflects what God intended life to be, had there been no fall. But knowing the rescue that God is making on earth, there is so much more to life. In a sense, this could be seen in what Paul says about godliness with contentment; but as a disciple, Paul’s life was filled with meaning and activity because of the harvest and following Christ. IF this statement can be connected to living to follow Christ in the harvest, I’m all for it.

Ecclesiastes 6

Vs. 1-6 This seems to be autobiographical. Solomon might have already seen that his son Rehoboam would be a fool. We already know from chapter 1 that Solomon gave himself to pleasure and didn’t enjoy it. Not only that, with all the wives Solomon had, you’d think he would have had more children than Rehoboam; but we never hear of them. We do know that Solomon later sacrificed/offered children (babies) to Molech. They would have been his own children, for that "offering" to have been meaningful.

Vs. 7-9 Without someone to pass things on to, Solomon says that our work is only for our own personal appetites. This is a good reason to invest our lives in reaching the lost and strengthening one another to make disciples who make disciples. Our appetites need to conform to God’s purposes and Word.

Vs. 10-12 This is why the existential philosophers love Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes. This is a great description of life on earth without God.

In reading this, we need to remember that what happened to Solomon could happen to any of us. Solomon was "destroyed" spiritually by living in the flesh and drifting from God. Here is what Paul said regarding former disciples. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. ²⁰But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:18-21)

The best defense is a good offense. Love Christ for His salvation and forgiveness; follow Him in the harvest. Stay in the Word, growing in the Lord; and make disciples who make disciples. And did I mention staying in the Word every day? Many of us start well, but living on this planet has an eroding effect on our vision. Only love for Jesus can keep us alive. And that love for Jesus is kept alive by being in the Word daily and following in the harvest.

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

So who is Paul referring to here? Is he talking about marriage? I think Paul is talking about the Jewish super-apostles and other frauds the Corinthians had in their group. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul told them, For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. This is a good general principle, but here I think Paul is telling the Corinthians to distance themselves from those who said they were believers, but were not believers, or those who were believers, but were a problem to unity.

These factitious people were also setting the people against Paul. Here is what Paul says in Romans 16:17, I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. Why Paul needed to appeal to the church in Rome and why he needed to say this to the Corinthians is that we resist doing this to those who are in the church, who keep the church from its mission by criticism and stubbornness. Our misguided thoughts of tolerance and love for one another need to be in conformity with the Word and to following Christ in the harvest.

These verses (vs. 16-18) are from Isaiah and Ezekiel and they have a point. We cannot be close to God and have Him reveal Himself to us if we are intimately mixed with those who have no love for Christ in conformity to the Word. Following the Lord has to be our first passion, and everyone opposed to Him and His Word cannot be in the innermost place in our hearts.

2 Corinthians 7:1-7

V. 1 Which promises are those? The ones Paul has just quoted from the Old Testament. Seeking the promises here will only make sense to the person who loves Christ. To all others it will sound too extreme or theoretical. This verse also sounds like Romans 12:1-2, offering themselves back to Christ.

Vs. 2-4 Paul is coming full circle to chapter 1. In this long explanation of his distress that began in 2:14, Paul is now making his final appeal to the Corinthians to accept him and his coworkers because of their sincerity and love. All of this is written because of his love and heart for the Corinthians. Notice that v. 2 is full of defense of his ministry among them, and everything else is a testimony of his love for them. Paul had the heart of a shepherd and maker of disciples.

Vs. 5-7 This continues the narrative from 2:13. Paul was waiting for Titus. He was anxious about the impact of the letter he sent with Titus. When Titus found Paul, he told him that the majority of the people saw what was happening and had tender hearts toward Paul. Notice all the mentions of afflictions and comfort. This all goes back to the first chapter of this letter.

One of the toils in the harvest is seeking to move believers back into the arena of following Christ in the harvest. This is discipleship too. It’s not easy to do this when people have redefined Christianity as what they like to do and is comfortable for them. The goal suggests the strategy. They need to be in the Word every day, they need to fall back in love with Christ who saved them, and they need to give themselves to Him, following Him in the harvest. These are the basics of what it means to belong to Jesus Christ.

Psalm 47

I think this was written in the afterglow of God saving Jerusalem from the Assyrians.

Vs. 1-4 When God destroyed the Assyrian army, they had already ransacked many countries and cities. The entire world sat up and took notice of Jerusalem and Yahweh. It says that nations sent gifts to Hezekiah, because they were so thankful that God had humbled the Assyrians. (2 Chronicles 32:23)

Vs. 5-7 This is a call for the nations, not just to rejoice, but to praise the God who did it, the King of all nations.

Vs. 8-9 Notice that in v. 9 the people of all nations gather as if they belonged to the promise of Abraham. Actually the promise of Abraham is a promise of redemption to all mankind. Through Abraham’s seed, Jesus, all nations would be blessed.

This seems like a simple song of praise in worship. I wonder if the sons of Korah understood that God was working in the world and in Israel to bring salvation and redemption to all of lost humanity. If you miss this part, what really is the difference between Solomon dedicating the temple and Solomon writing Ecclesiastes? I'm so thankful that we are defined by Jesus and not by church or worship from any culture, or by perceived blessing. We follow Jesus as His disciples in the harvest.

Proverbs 22:16

Either on earth or after, amen.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this linkhttp://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go tohttp://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and 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. 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 manual we have and 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. 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 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, 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. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

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. Send comments or feedback todgkachikis@gmail.com.

If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go tohttps://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to print.

September 2, 2014

SEPTEMBER 2

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Ecclesiastes 1-3

After reading Job you probably didn't think things could get worse. But they can and they did, and we hear it from the mouth of King Solomon, the person God said was the wisest man who ever lived.

While Job has a great positive lesson, Ecclesiastes has a great negative warning. There are similarities between these two men and the despair they describe, and at times, they sound the same; but they couldn't be greater opposites. Job suffered because he was righteous. Solomon suffered because he became unrighteous. Job's trouble came from outside him. Solomon's trouble came from within. Job is used by God as an example of a godly man desperately holding on to what he knew was true of God, and he was saved from personal ruin. Solomon is offered as an example of what happens to a godly man who lets go of what he knows is true of God and is then ruined. In this book we see what can become of a person who loves God and decides to ignore Him. How low can a person sink? What is notable here is that Solomon doesn't mention his idolatry. In my mind, that means that it hadn't occurred yet. I doubt that Solomon wrote anything after he became a server of pagan gods. What we see in Ecclesiastes is not how low one could go, but we see how a believer can progressively destroy his life.

Just like in Job, we know the background of what is happening here. Having read Kings, we know that Solomon ignored the warnings in the Word and did everything God said a king was not supposed to do. Read Deuteronomy 17:15-20. I doubt that Solomon wrote his own copy of the law and read it every day. God is not mocked, even by those He loves. If a man sows to the wind, he will reap the whirlwind. Solomon became like the seed planted among thorns. He became choked by stuff and drifted away from God. To hear that Solomon learned that life on earth is senseless should make sense to us. Just to put this in perspective and understand that this is still possible for any believer or disciple, look at what Paul wrote to the Romans.

Romans 8:12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Since Paul is warning believers, you realize the issue is not loss of salvation, but damage of your mind and heart on earth. We can ruin it all if we try, and many believers today are ruining their lives for Christ. They are distant from the Word, absent from the harvest and they have lost their love and gratefulness to Jesus. They are lost on earth and living to die. Solomon "died," and God will show us how it happened, so that we can "live."

Ecclesiastes 1

Vs. 1-2 This is Solomon's message in the book. At this point you could stop reading, but it is worth going on to see how Solomon fell into the trap and to see his regret.

Vs. 3-11 It is actually amazing that Solomon grasped this. Many people never see that a life without God, just lived on this earth, is meaningless. But realize that Solomon is not teaching us as a warning, he is expressing his view of life. God is allowing us to see the heart of this once godly, but now hollow, man.

I'm going to suggest a progress in Solomon's decline to despair. Notice that he relies on his wisdom and position. He does not seek God to understand life and circumstances. All the godly kings sought God when they were following Him. Because Solomon was so smart, he sought to understand life without God. The poorest person in the world might not be that foolish. The simplest believer in Christ, in the most poverty stricken place on earth, would be richer and wiser than Solomon; because he would begin with Christ to understand life on earth and be dependent on the Word and the Spirit.

What we're looking for in this section is Solomon's description of what he did, and his own conclusion about what he did. This section shows a progression of looking into one thing and then looking into another, until Solomon finally hit bottom. The "bottom" will be total despair, hopelessness. After writing this book, Solomon broke through the bottom and fell into horrible idolatry.

Vs. 12-15 Trying to understand human life and activity by wisdom. Notice the words applied, seek, and search. I think this is Solomon's first step. It was a step without God.

Notice in v. 13 what Solomon did and what he learned.

V. 14 is his conclusion regarding this phase of his study. Here, Solomon's conclusion is marked by the word vanity (vapor or breath) and a descriptive phrase, striving after wind. Now look for the next.

Vs. 16-18 Can you see what he applied his heart to here? Can you understand how this is different than the thing he tried to find out in 12-15?

Notice at the end of v. 17 that Solomon says that this endeavor was as meaningful as chasing after wind. Solomon is slowly progressing to the "dark side."

Ecclesiastes 2

Vs. 1-11 This was a big phase of Solomon's "study" and it involved a lot of his life. How would you title this?

V. 1 Notice what Solomon applied his heart to and how he says this endeavor was vanity (meaningless, a vapor). It is important to note that here he says that giving himself to pleasure was vanity. Later in these verses he will say that what he found out was vanity too.

After Solomon built the temple, his "goal" in life was fulfilled. It seems that all of his godliness was aimed at building the temple and fulfilling his father's dream. I don't think Solomon had his own godly desires, so he began to build and try to fill the void. He followed his dreams. He had everything and everything ruined him. The size of his harem was not only a violation of Deuteronomy 17, but it was obscene and excessive. He was out of control. But he looked godly; he had a silver tongue and he paid the bills. Why disagree with him?

V. 11 Notice that he saw all that his hand had done. Compare this with Job 31:24-28, “If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence, ²⁵if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much, ²⁶if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, ²⁷and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, ²⁸this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above. It was happening to Solomon and no one stepped in his way.

Vs. 12-19 This seems to be the same thing Solomon sought as in 1:16-18. It seems like a way of stopping, after you've done something and trying to make sense of life. When he tried to make sense of life in 1:16-18, it led him to seek a meaning in life through pleasure and accomplishment. Here, it led him into a deeper evaluation of the value of life and wisdom, and the result is that Solomon hated his life. This is like a mid-life crisis on steroids. And again, there is no mention of seeking God.

Vs. 20-23 Solomon gave into despair. This means giving up the hope that there is a purpose to life. At this point, Solomon is ready for the "dark side" and for stepping into idolatry with his wild women.

V. 21 Notice Solomon's comment here. Giving into despair was not only vanity, but a great evil. I think this was the end of the road for Solomon. If you conclude, as Solomon did, that there is no lasting contribution in life, if there is no hope and no purpose, you have given yourself up to despair and living as you please. Now he was ready for anything worse that came along. At this point, Solomon is not wise, but incredibly bitter in his perception of life. Solomon had eyes only for himself and his incredible wisdom, not for God or God's redemptive purpose in the world. And look at what that did to him. I see this same thing in believers who are not in the harvest, making a comfortable life on earth.

Vs. 24-26 This is totally cynical, but interestingly, at the end of this tirade he says this observation on life is pretty meaningless too. Multiplying everything by zero (hopelessness) always gives you the same result.

Ecclesiastes 3

Vs. 1-8 The view of life from "hopeless heights." Simon and Garfunkel made a song out of this, and I didn't like it either.

Vs. 9-13 Based on the previous verses, this is what Solomon will say, over and over, is the point of life and as much as we should expect. For many people, this is enough.

V. 11 Solomon's observation that God has put eternity in our hearts was great, but because he didn't seek God, it was just a frustration to him. This is true of believers too. To know the truth and know there is something beckoning to us, and to not pursue it, makes for a frustrating life. This is why we are to follow Christ in the harvest, not just stand here in life or sit in church.

Vs. 14-22 As you read this section you'll notice that it sounds like some of the things Job said. This is worse than Job, simply because of the hopelessness. Job never gave up hope. He still thought that his Redeemer lived and that he would be vindicated in what he held to. Solomon gave up.

So what lessons do you get out of this? What does the Spirit say to you? I definitely appreciate God's mercy and love in giving us understanding of what is happening on this earth, and in the world of the spiritual. I'm thankful that our lives are defined by Christ and His love for us, and I'm grateful that we have a mission in life. We know what will last, and it is for the glory of God and not for us. Now, of course, we could deny all of this like Solomon did. Solomon could have lived for the redemptive purpose of God. God spoke to Solomon twice and probably would have spoken to him more if Solomon had asked, if he had sought God. The lasting value of our lives on earth is in the harvest, working with our Lord and His church to bear much fruit, glorifying the Father and so proving we are His disciples. And because of the resurrection we know that we will be raised and live with Christ forever. This earth is just a temporary, tragic prelude to the future. Here we work and bear Christ's suffering as we reach the lost and equip others to continue and make disciples. There we will rejoice with the redeemed and bear the glory of our Savior.

2 Corinthians 6:1-13

Vs. 1-2 This is a statement of Paul's office in life, but actually this is for all of us. We have been offered the opportunity of working together with God as His ambassadors. The idea of not receiving the grace of God in vain, I think, involves fruitlessness, a life that doesn't grow in Christ and reproduce in reaching the lost and making disciples who make disciples. I think we're seeing this in Solomon. The quote in v. 2 comes from Isaiah 49:8 . If you read Isaiah 49 you will find a call to Israel to follow and be a light to the nations. They will fulfill their destiny. Although Solomon lived before Isaiah wrote, there was plenty in the Word to have enabled Solomon to live for the promise of God and the redemption of mankind. The key is that he never obeyed those words written to the king in Deuteronomy 17.

How do you receive the grace of God in vain? I think it is receiving salvation, then living for yourself, and not declaring your praise of God to the lost. The Corinthian church was becoming religiously lost in itself. Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. (Romans 7:4)

Vs. 3-10 This was Paul's commendation showing he was a servant of Christ. This is like a visual or an example of what Jesus told His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount. Paul lived like a disciple is called to live in the harvest. Notice too that this is similar to what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:12, Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Paul was a model of both suffering for Christ and fruitfulness in following. He loved Christ and endured anything to show that love. What a guy to model.

Vs. 11-13 The conflict in Corinth is never out of view. Paul was their spiritual father (led them to Christ) pleading to them as his children. What an appeal. The ultimate end of what he was seeking is that they would love and follow Christ.

Psalm 46

I think this was written after the Lord destroyed the Assyrian army that came to threaten Jerusalem when Hezekiah was the king. This took place in 2 Kings 18 & 19.

Vs. 1 This is the declaration of faith and confidence in the Lord.

Vs. 2-3 This is the ultimate threat. The sea was like a devouring monster, relentless and untamable, and it was able to swallow the mountains.

Vs. 4-5 But on God's mountain, in Jerusalem, there is a supernatural calm. The stream brings an intoxicating gladness and peace. In confidence they know that God will answer in the morning after a night of rest.

Vs. 6-7 God made Assyria totter when the Assyrians woke the next morning and found 185,000 soldiers had died in their sleep.

Vs. 8-9 The people of Jerusalem went out to the Assyrian camp, and it was full of supplies and wagons and chariots. Apparently they used some of this stuff to burn in order to keep warm. At the end of the Tribulation and extending into the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, the people in and around Jerusalem will be doing this again. Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them, shields and bucklers, bow and arrows, clubs and spears; and they will make fires of them for seven years, ¹⁰so that they will not need to take wood out of the field or cut down any out of the forests, for they will make their fires of the weapons. They will seize the spoil of those who despoiled them, and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord God.
(Ezekiel 39:9-10)

Vs. 10-11 The people "trapped" in Jerusalem with Hezekiah didn't know what the Lord was doing or why He would allow Assyria to attack them. They were in distress and cried out and waited. God rescued them and gave them a message and song. God is telling us too, that we are to seek His shelter and not to fear as we wait for Him.

Proverbs 22:15

Amen, but remember, you'll get arrested in Sweden if you do this.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this linkhttp://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go tohttp://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and 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. 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 manual we have and 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. 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 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, 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. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

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. Send comments or feedback todgkachikis@gmail.com.

If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go tohttps://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to print.