May 6, 2018 Reading Notes

If you don't have a One Year Bible or prefer something online, this link will take you to the day's reading,  http://oneyearbibleonline.com/daily-oyb/.  This site allows you to select from several languages and several English translations.

MAY 6

Ruth 2-4

As you read these chapters, notice how different the spiritual tone is here, compared to what we've read in Judges. One man like Boaz influenced a very small community. Notice that Boaz tells Ruth to stay in his fields and not to go to the fields of others. Naomi even warns Ruth against this. The danger of her being sexually molested was real. Boaz didn't have a huge influence that changed all the neighbors, but these fields and these servants were affected by this guy who loved God. One of the surprises is that Boaz is very kind to Ruth. Or is it that surprising? I think Boaz's family history shaped him in this story. There are some notable men and women in his background including Tamar and Rahab, two Gentile women.

Ruth 2

Vs. 1-3 It is interesting that suddenly everything began going the right way. There was this great guy named Boaz, and Ruth just happens to end up in his field. Regardless of how things go, God is always involved and we follow, but it is nice to see how He can smooth the way. Boaz and his kinship to Elimelech is mentioned a lot.

Vs. 4-7 Boaz seems like a good guy and he was very observant.

Vs. 8-13 In Boaz you see the wise man of Proverbs and lover of God in one glance. It was possible to follow God during the times of the judges. Remember too, that this story is describing the family background and spiritual heritage of David. And for that matter, this is the family background of Jesus.

Notice that Boaz mentions that Ruth has taken shelter under God’s wings.

Vs. 14-16 In response to Ruth’s humble answer, Boaz really gets kind. I wonder if he was having stirrings. J

Vs. 17-23 According to John Reed in the Bible Knowledge Commentary-OT, p. 423, this was quite a haul for one day’s work, about 30 pounds of flour. During these weeks it could be that both Boaz and Ruth began getting the idea that God was bringing them together. I say this because Boaz had already looked into the legalities of who was the nearest kinsman. As we’ll see in chapter 3, Naomi was also revived in spirit and was playing matchmaker.

Ruth 3

Vs. 1-5 Apparently the threshing floor was a public place used by everyone. It would have been reserved for this day by Boaz; then when they finished, they would have celebrated and Boaz would have slept there to guard the barley until it could be hauled away in the morning. This was a fairly private meeting place. Ruth was told to uncover Boaz's feet and lie down. I have heard some bizarre explanations of what this was. I think it is simply what it says. It was cold. She uncovered his feet and lay at his feet and when he woke up to cover them up again, holy moly, there was a woman! And that's all this was.

Vs. 6-13 Although Boaz was surprised, he understood what was happening and was honored. In what she was doing, Ruth was being obedient to Naomi and she was honoring God.

V. 12 Apparently Boaz had already given thought to taking responsibility for Elimelech's family. This was the real issue. It didn't have to do with a field; it had to do with preserving the name and inheritance of a dead brother or relative. It was no small matter and involved some risk. In essence, Boaz could have lost his name and all of this land would have gone into the dead man’s name.

Vs. 14-18 They both kept the matter very quiet, but Boaz showed Ruth that he meant business by sending her away with more barley.

Ruth 4

Vs. 1-6 So, the other redeemer just happened to pass by. What a break. Notice v. 6. The risk was that the child would be called the son of Mahlon, who was the heir of Elimelech and husband of Ruth. This guy was afraid of having his name lost and his property belonging, not just to his son through Ruth in the name of Mahlon, but to those of another family. Boaz had no fear of this because he knew he was following the Lord.

Vs. 7-10 Here is the public ceremony of the one guy giving up his right as a redeemer. This is very significant and very symbolic that Boaz is now recognized as the redeemer.

Vs. 11-12 Notice that the people knew the family heritage of Boaz. Boaz’s background was special in that two Gentile women were part of it, and Boaz was in the lineage of the Messiah.

Vs. 13-17 Don’t you like a happy ending, finally? If Samuel was writing this, it was probably after he had anointed that teenage boy, David, to be the future king of Israel.

Vs. 18-22 Notice here that although Boaz had a son who should have been named for Ruth's first husband, Mahlon, God honored Boaz. Boaz is the named father of Obed in the line of David.

One slight tension in this text is that we can pinpoint the time when Boaz and Ruth lived, because of the lineage of David, from Boaz to David. But between Boaz and Salmon there are about 250-300 years. Now, people back then did live a little longer than today, but obviously some of the people in between are not mentioned. But this isn't a huge problem. It was common to call someone the "son" of a famous forefather. For example, Jesus is called "the son of David" meaning the descendant of David, not the immediate birth son of David.

John 4:43-54

Vs. 43-45 Although Jesus went to Galilee, He didn’t go back to live in Nazareth. It is only in Nazareth, twice, that the words of v. 44 are quoted. Nazareth (in the territory of Zebulun) was His own country. Instead, Jesus went to live in Capernaum (in the territory of Naphtali).

Vs. 46-50 Jesus’ sharp response to the official was to see how sincere he was. The man was humble and was not there to see a sign, but to save his son. The fact that he came to Jesus meant that he believed. That Jesus simply told him to go, and that his son would be well without Jesus going with him, is a great proof of the faith of this man.

Vs. 51-54 The impact of this man meeting his servants must have been known among the disciples. The apostle John knew, so the others must have known also.

The thing in this passage that speaks to me as a disciple is in vs. 50 and 53. The correspondence between hearing what Jesus said, believing His Word and doing it is what makes a disciple. Jesus never would have found this kind of faith in Nazareth. I think Jesus wants this kind of faith among His laborers in the harvest who make disciples, who also have this same kind of faith.

We forget in all of this proof of Jesus’ identity, that as we work in the harvest we are introducing people to the only person who can make sense of this tragedy on earth. We obey, but we are compelled because of His amazing love and gentleness. He suffered so that we can be saved. We follow out of love and give our lives so that others can know Him and be saved and follow Him. We spend our lives so that disciples can be made who will make disciples for Him into the generations to come, until He comes. And He is loving and compassionate. He is our source of hope and He hears when we cry out to Him.

Psalm 105:16-36

We are in the middle of a psalm, probably written by David, celebrating the faithfulness of God to Abraham in saving Israel and giving them order through David. Underline or circle every occurrence of He, and see if that helps you get to the point of this psalm and what it means to us.

Vs. 16-24 Notice that God afflicted Joseph in order to save Israel. Joseph was then blessed so that the people could be blessed. This was what God did in faithfulness to His promise to Abraham.

Vs. 25-36 Notice that God is the cause of v. 25. Again, He brought affliction to make the people ready. Then He sent Moses and He showed His deliverance, as we will see, because of the promise to Abraham.

I think this psalm is going to end in a call to grateful obedience and praise to God. The argument of the psalm is that praise should be natural, and confidence in God’s faithfulness should be overpowering. He loves His people and remembers His covenant with Abraham.

Do you remember how often in Deuteronomy God and Moses told the people to always be telling the story of Israel's deliverance to their children? I don't think they did that, but here David is putting the story into song. When the man healed of the legion wanted to follow Jesus, Jesus told him to go home and tell the story of his rescue; and he did. It was the wonder and fascination of Christ and being rescued by Him that gave the man his story and message. In the same way it is our love for our Lord because He saved us, that gives us our message in the harvest.

Proverbs 14:26-27

Amen, and I think this is exactly what Psalm 105 is getting to.

Please Read the Following Disclaimer

I'm writing the Reading Notes to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and are interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church, that is, groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples, who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal and important discipleship manual we have and it is the key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here, or what we are to be doing, or whom we are to be following. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us, as disciples, focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, making disciples in the harvest.

If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC). I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge Commentary would be a good idea.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the ESV Bible.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background, theological training and my personal study.

I'm doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a supplement, a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we will keep following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Being in the Word every day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the essential essence of being and making disciples.

May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples.  Dan

The daily installments of the Reading Notes can be found at http://fencerail.blogspot.com/

If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.

If you would like a full presentation of discipleship read Simply Disciples*^{Making Disciples}.

Or if you are struggling with insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.

Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018

The One Year Bible © by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All charts/graphics/outlines from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C. Cook.

© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.

All rights reserved. Publisher permission required to reproduce. 

May 5, 2018 Reading Notes

If you don't have a one-year Bible or prefer something online, this link will take you to the day's reading,  http://oneyearbibleonline.com/daily-oyb/.  This site allows you to select from several languages and several English translations.

MAY 5

Judges 21

Vs. 1-7 This event just keeps getting worse. What I find interesting in all of this is that Israel asks God about fighting, but they don't appear to ask God regarding a solution to the problem with Benjamin and where to get wives for them. They sought God for something difficult like fighting and then, when their lives weren't at stake, they said, "We can figure this out on our own." I've always wondered why there was no direct question to the Lord and why there was no answer.

It seems to me that things had fallen apart with the worship at the tabernacle. The ark of the covenant was easier to move, and possibly they moved the inner sanctuary (Holy of Holies) with it. In 1 Samuel we have the ark being moved and brought into battle, and afterward, the ark is separated from the tabernacle for years. It seems then, that Phinehas brought the ark to Bethel, but the tabernacle and altar and lampstand, etc., remained in Shiloh. So when they sacrificed at Bethel, they needed to build an altar.

Even in their worship and inquiry, there is something here that is not right. The Lord doesn't say anything. The verdict, Everyone did what was right in his own eyes, was spreading like a cancer in almost everything that happened in Israel. Keep in mind that this event and the event in chapters 17 and 18 happened within the first 60 years Israel was in the land.

V. 5 The oath they took doesn't seem to have been from the Lord, but rather, it was what the leaders thought was a good idea. This is reminiscent of Jephthah and the misguided vow he made. It made some sense that anyone who didn't send a representative to the battle was in some way saying they agreed with the men of Gibeah or didn't think cleansing the land was important.

Vs. 8-12 Somehow this doesn't strike me as just or smart or honorable. It just seemed good to them and they got 400 brides out of the deal. And the death toll that Benjamin is responsible for kept rising.

Vs. 19-24 The next big idea was to allow 200 men from Benjamin to kidnap the young women from Shiloh. Brilliant!?!?! I wonder how God would have weighed in on that idea if they had asked Him.

V. 25 This verse seems to give the commentary on all of this activity. They did not inquire of the Lord. They followed their own mind and "god" thoughts and feelings.

As disciples, we don't want to be wooden and rigid in seeking God's will, but we don't want to just live by good and godly feelings. I think it is good for us to consider God in every decision we make, just to stay in the habit. If we can just buy thing after thing, and watch show after show, go where we want and do what we want, without really laying it before God, I think we might be kidding ourselves. Maybe we're not really following God and His Word at all, just our "god" thoughts.

Ephesians 5:15-17 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ruth 1

As Samuel is writing the history contained in Judges and in Ruth, God is also using him to help the nation accept the upcoming kingship of David. Although David would not become the king of Israel until after Samuel’s death, Samuel had already anointed David as king years before he died.

We’ve noticed that Bethlehem appears in these last stories in Judges. Bethlehem is also the main stage of the story of Ruth. This last story about Benjamin will also be important as we enter 1 Samuel, since the first king of Israel, Saul, will be from Benjamin. In the 380 years after the near destruction of the tribe of Benjamin, the tribe grew. King Saul will be from this infamous area and in his first battle, the battle that brings him into prominence as a king, it will be to protect the people living in Jabesh-gilead. That city would have been near and dear to the tribe of Benjamin since that’s where many of them have ancestry to that city through their great-great-great grandmothers. Unfortunately King Saul will become the mortal enemy of David, so God is showing the nation of Israel the importance of Bethlehem so they will welcome a couple of very important men who will be born there.

V. 1 This took place during the days of the judges. The Bible Knowledge Commentary-OT, p. 415, suggests that this might have taken place during the judgeship of Gideon. Who knows? Since we know that Ruth's son will be Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of King David, these time references put this event a couple of generations before Samuel and Samson.

V. 2 Notice with this story, and in the last two stories in Judges, there is another mention of Bethlehem. This area of Israel was taking on dominance, and this story in particular points to God's selection of David as king. So then, even in all of this history, God's plan of redemption is working. A tribe, Judah, has been given a privileged standing and now the region around Bethlehem and Jerusalem is becoming, not just the geographical center of Israel, but the redemptive center as well.

Vs. 1-14 I don't know that Elimelech did anything bad in leaving. I don't read that it was somehow God's punishment that all these guys died. We have the advantage of seeing God's plan in this. They didn't. As disciples, we learn not to judge God because of chaos in our lives. God is working for good.

It looked like one of the boys married OPRAH, but alas, it is really ORPAH.

Vs. 15-18 Somewhere in this, there is not only loyalty, but also great faith on Ruth's part. She was literally turning her back on her previous way of life. Whatever this family was doing, even in dying and doubting their way, they were a testimony to these two women. Ruth couldn't find a home anymore apart from Naomi and her ways, and part of "her ways" was the worship of Yahweh. Apparently Ruth fully believed in Yahweh.

Vs. 19-22 One irony we see here that Naomi didn't see was that she came back bitter and empty in her own eyes, but we see Ruth with her. Bringing Ruth back was probably the point of the entire ten-year adventure. God had been in control and He was still in control.

V. 22 They returned around the time of the Passover. There is a lot of redemption going on here. The BKC also mentions the frequency of the forms of the word, return. This morning I was reading that the pairs of apostles Jesus sent out, preached the gospel "that men should repent"…that is, the gospel says to turn from sin and turn toward God. I think that the image of turning or returning is part of the early story in Ruth.

John 4:4-42

You know this story, and you'll make lots of great observations.

Vs. 4-6 Just for trivia, this place is probably Shechem from the OT (Joshua 24:32). A lot of history took place there, in particular, the blessings and curses and the renewal of the covenant in Joshua 8:33-34.

Vs. 7-15 I think the most instructive thing for me was that Jesus understood this situation as being laid before Him by His Father. I think this is one of those situations that shows us how Jesus abided in the Father and how we as disciples abide in Christ.

Vs. 16-18 This was the Spirit giving Jesus some insider information at a critical time.

Vs. 19-26 I've read this story several times and have never understood, as many preachers say, that she was trying to get Jesus off onto a side issue. It seems to me that when she realized that Jesus was a prophet, she asked a question that was important for her, and Jesus gave her a very direct and sensitive answer. Her response shows she had an open heart.

Vs. 27-30 Apparently you didn't talk to strange women. This was culturally stretching for the disciples. I always chuckle at the people going out to meet Jesus, especially since she told them that Jesus knew everything she had ever done. You might have had a lot of scared husbands and suspicious wives running out to speak to Jesus first. 

Actually, you notice that this woman was not a prostitute, but simply a hard woman to live with. She was someone who was chronically dissatisfied. She had had 5 husbands. Apparently at the present time she was being “cautious,” regarding marriage, but what she was doing was still immoral.

Vs. 31-38 And then Jesus used this to teach His disciples what we are supposed to be doing on earth.

V. 34 Somehow I think this needs to be truer of me and all of us with each passing day.

V. 35 I believe this. Lord, help my unbelief.

Vs. 39-42 What an amazing story. The Father created the situation; the Spirit supplied the information and nudged the Son; and the Son saved the lost and trained His disciples. Somehow I think this has something to do with abiding in Christ.

Psalm 105:1-15

This is the first of three days we'll be reading this psalm. It is probably written by David to unify the nation in worshiping in Jerusalem. David is confirming that the present events are God's blessing as promised in the promise to Abraham to save and bless Israel and draw all nations to Him through Israel.

Vs. 1-6 The peoples are the nations or Gentiles. Notice that Israel is always identified in Abraham. Notice the commands of celebration: call, make known, sing, tell, glory, rejoice, seek and remember. This would preach.

Vs. 7-11 Now notice the words, He and His. This is the God who makes covenants, and promises His love and faithfulness.

Vs. 12-15 And not only does He promise, He proves it with His power.

David is using God's faithfulness to the covenant with Abraham, to motivate the nation to follow God in the covenant with Moses. The covenant with Moses said that if they obeyed, God would bless them as a nation. The covenant with Abraham says that God will redeem Israel and use them to offer redemption to all nations. Both covenants stood side by side, but faith in the promise to Abraham enabled the people to pursue God in obeying the covenant under Moses.

Proverbs 14:25

The truth saves. Period. No amount of "foggy speak," even Christian "foggy speak," saves lives. Disciples should lovingly tell people what their Master says and let Him take the heat.

Please Read the Following Disclaimer

I'm writing the Reading Notes to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and are interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church, that is, groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples, who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal and important discipleship manual we have and it is the key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here, or what we are to be doing, or whom we are to be following. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us, as disciples, focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, making disciples in the harvest.

If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC). I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge Commentary would be a good idea.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the ESV Bible.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background, theological training and my personal study.

I'm doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a supplement, a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we will keep following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Being in the Word every day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the essential essence of being and making disciples.

May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples.  Dan

The daily installments of the Reading Notes can be found at http://fencerail.blogspot.com/

If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.

If you would like a full presentation of discipleship read Simply Disciples*^{Making Disciples}.

Or if you are struggling with insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.

Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018

The One Year Bible © by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All charts/graphics/outlines from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C. Cook.

© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.

All rights reserved. Publisher permission required to reproduce. 

May 4, 2018 Reading Notes

If you don't have a One Year Bible or prefer something online, this link will take you to the day's reading,  http://oneyearbibleonline.com/daily-oyb/.  This site allows you to select from several languages and several English translations.

MAY 4

Like most people, I love things in chronological order. In fact, I assume things are in chronological order. When I read the Chronicles of Narnia to my kids, I read book six to them first. Before I read the Lord of the Rings, I made myself read The Hobbit first, just to get the right order of things. People who don't write things in chronological order are "artsy," and will be tolerated if they do a good job and get stuff straightened out in the end and don't lose us in between.

In Judges, God is "artsy," in that the final two stories, chronologically, would have been placed toward the beginning. Apparently He felt this was a better idea. Interestingly, the two stories are in chronological order to each other. So, again, before we read Judges for today, it is good to know that this event happened within the decades immediately after Joshua's death. Look at Judges 20:28, Phinehas is the high priest. It is hard to give an exact time, but it is within the life time of Phinehas, who probably was in his 30's or 40's when Joshua died. This will make a few things we read today a little more understandable. It will make other things we read very alarming.

Judges 19-20

Judges 19

Vs. 1-20 There are some similarities to the previous story in that this man was a Levite. This "wife" had been unfaithful to him, but he wanted her back, so all was well. Bethlehem is mentioned in both stories and Ephraim is mentioned in both stories. Both stories tragically involve an entire tribe departing from God.

I always wonder when I read this why 10 verses are devoted to the guy trying to get away from his father-in-law. I guess it might have to do with the sense of hospitality or the lack of purposefulness in life. Apparently the guys enjoyed each other's company.

V. 12 This verse is utterly ironic.

Vs. 14-15 In any event, once they arrive in the town square of Gibeah, you start getting that "Sodom and Gomorrah" feeling. No one offered them hospitality, making it necessary for them to remain exposed in the town square.

Vs. 16-21 This is exactly what happened when Lot found the two angels sitting in the square of Sodom.

Vs. 22-26 So here is a city of Israel, of Benjamin, that has gone "Sodom." How did that happen? Apparently it wasn't known far and wide, or this man would have stayed among the Gentiles in Jerusalem (Jebus).

No angels were there to save them so the man gave the mob his unfaithful wife rather than the virgin daughter of his host. Whatever happened to protecting the womenfolk? Apparently they didn't watch westerns back then. I find this repulsive all the way around.

Vs. 27-30 This Levite seems scared and heartless to me. Sending around "pieces" was a custom to call all the tribes together. It meant that if they didn't answer the call and show up, they would wind up like the animal. Later, King Saul will call Israel together using the pieces of an ox. That these were the pieces of his maid-wife, a human, made this shocking and alarming. It got everyone's attention.

Notice the mention of Egypt. This is another clue that this generation was still near to the Exodus and the generation of Joshua.

Judges 20

Vs. 1-7 There are some interesting things here. First, notice the mention of from Dan to Beersheba. This means from north to south. Apparently the tribe of Dan (and yesterday's event) had already taken place and the tribe of Dan had migrated from the middle of Israel to the northernmost point. Just like in Romans 1:18ff, the defection from God took place before the moral defection.

If you look at the map you'll see that the people gathered before the Lord at Mizpah, south of Shiloh and just four miles north of Gibeah. This doesn't mean the tabernacle was there. It means that they gathered together to inquire of the Lord. Apparently the tabernacle was still eight miles north at Shiloh. Next to Mizpah was Bethel, and it seems that the ark of the covenant was in Bethel for some reason. You might think that Phinehas brought the ark to Bethel because it was closer to the battle, but v. 27 gives you the idea that the ark was there on a permanent basis. This was not normal.

Vs. 8-17 The repetition that caught my eye in this chapter was as one man. This is another one of those things that shows it was early in the history of Israel. Later, during the time of Samson and Samuel, it is hard for the nation to do anything unified. Samuel, in leading Israel, will bring unity to the nation in worship.

Just the mention of Israel having 400,000 men and Benjamin having only 26,000 gives you a funny feeling. It is almost a shock to see that Benjamin wouldn't hand over the men of Gibeah. I guess they had confidence in their 700 special forces guys.

Vs. 18-25 The people did the right things in assembling and questioning God (Phinehas and the Urim and Thummim) and seeking only to punish the guilty in Gibeah. So, a huge question is, "Why did God tell Israel to fight Benjamin twice, but allow them to lose twice?" In those two battles, Israel lost 40,000 men. Why did God allow them to lose twice?

Vs. 26-28 I think that God wanted to bring the people to a real place of desperate dependence and humility. Actually, it is probable that all of the tribes were sinning at this point. The offerings would have been to confess and cleanse their own sin. I think God allows us to meet disaster for the same reasons. It is often after a defeat, that we become desperate and honest in seeking God's will and mind, and we begin confessing our sins. The sacrifices should have come first. Having hearts cleansed should have been the first priority.

I get the feeling that the people were so desperate, they finally decided to try to do everything according to the book. Just for trivia, God didn't spare David either when David decided to transport the ark on a wagon. After he lost one man in that adventure, David went to the Bible and figured out how God wanted it done, with the Levites carrying it with poles and with sacrifices and offerings for sin and for thanks.

Notice that this is the first mention of Phinehas and notice that the people moved from Mizpah to Bethel where the ark was located. Something is not right here. When we get to Judges 21:4, the people will build an altar at Bethel to sacrifice. If the tabernacle was there, they would have had an altar. But apparently the altar they were using at Bethel was just stones, and after the sacrifices were finished, it needed to be rebuilt. This is all hard to grasp because Israel was forbidden to sacrifice anywhere but at the tabernacle and then only on one altar. And, only the priest could do the sacrificing. The feel of this whole thing is wrong.

Vs. 29-48 When everything was finished, Israel had lost 65,000 soldiers, plus Israel destroyed at least 20,000 people in the towns of Benjamin. Only 600 people of Benjamin were living. Just think, an entire tribe was reduced to 600 men. In Numbers 26:41, before the people crossed the Jordan, Benjamin numbered 45,600 people. This means that Israel killed at least 45,000 men of Benjamin.

John 3:22-4:3

This is another one of those rich sections of Scripture with the gospel in it.

Vs. 22-24 No one knows where this was, but it is supposed that it was directly east of Shechem (see the map for Judges) on the Jordan River. Many of John's disciples stayed with him and became "johnites," instead of followers of Jesus.

Vs. 25-30 This conflict led John the Baptist to set the record straight.

V. 27 This is a very interesting statement for church planters and for those who puzzle over church growth, especially for churches who are "right," but reaching no one, criticizing bigger churches who are “wrong,” but ministering to people. Obviously, there are some standards for evaluation of truth and error, but within the believing church, this is a good statement to keep in mind before we blast our brother.

Jesus will use this "bride" imagery later, after Matthew's dinner for Jesus, to ease the tension with these disciples as the Pharisees try to pit John's followers against Jesus. Somehow this talk got back to Jesus and He used it.

V. 30 This is the famous statement that older church leaders need to be preparing to make. Making disciples means equipping and installing the next generation of leaders, now. For older leaders their joy should be complete, not in holding power until it is pried from their lifeless fingers, but from seeing those who they have trained go beyond them. In this case, John hadn't mentored Jesus; he had gone before Him and borne witness to Him.

Vs. 31-36 These verses seem to be a commentary by the writer, the apostle John. What a meaningful statement in such few words. Notice how true belief is defined in the context of these verses. To believe in, but not obey Jesus, is not to believe. Jesus will really expand on this on His next Passover visit in John 5.

Notice that not to obey/believe Jesus is equal to having never seen life. How ironic to have lived on earth for years, but never to have seen life.

John 4:1-3

This is setting us up for tomorrow. This is why Jesus left Judea and went to Galilee. Tomorrow we will see that Jesus took the short-cut.

As disciples following our Lord in the harvest, our privilege is in seeing someone come to Christ and finally to know life. Nothing beats that. Then to see them become a disciple, who makes disciples, who makes disciples in the harvest, is what makes our joy full.

Psalm 104:24-35

Continuing to expound on God's glory from yesterday.

Vs. 24-26 This is sort of like what God says in Job. His wisdom in all aspects of creation is beyond our understanding.

Vs. 27-30 Every creature on the earth is utterly dependent on God, regardless of their number or their obscurity. The same holds true for mankind.

Vs. 31-32 This shows that the joy of the Lord and the fear of the Lord can stand side by side.

Vs. 33-35 Verses 33, 34 and the end of 35 show the proper response of people to God. The sinners and the wicked are those who ignore God. You can understand why the psalmist thinks they should be removed. When they are removed, then all of mankind will be totally free to give God the glory He is due.

Matthew 13:41-43 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Proverbs 14:22-24

In v. 24 I understand that wisdom is the wealth and crown of the wise. There are a lot of people who are wise in Christ and "rich," who are not rich in money; and many of them live in the third world making disciples, who make disciples, who make disciples, hungering now for the sake of His kingdom.

Please Read the Following Disclaimer

I'm writing the Reading Notes to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and are interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church, that is, groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples, who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal and important discipleship manual we have and it is the key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here, or what we are to be doing, or whom we are to be following. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us, as disciples, focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, making disciples in the harvest.

If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC). I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge Commentary would be a good idea.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the ESV Bible.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background, theological training and my personal study.

I'm doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a supplement, a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we will keep following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Being in the Word every day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the essential essence of being and making disciples.

May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples.  Dan

The daily installments of the Reading Notes can be found at http://fencerail.blogspot.com/

If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.

If you would like a full presentation of discipleship read Simply Disciples*^{Making Disciples}.

Or if you are struggling with insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.

Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018

The One Year Bible © by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All charts/graphics/outlines from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C. Cook.

© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.

All rights reserved. Publisher permission required to reproduce.