March 30, 2015

MARCH 30

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Deuteronomy 13-15

Look for recurring words, phrases and themes. There are some big themes that God is emphasizing for Israel.

Deuteronomy 13

Vs. 1-5 It's interesting that the example mentioned here is where the words of the prophet come true and God allows it to happen. Wouldn't miracles be a case for listening to what he says? Paul ups the ante on this and says in Galatians 1:8, But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. I’ll bet Paul was thinking of this portion of Deuteronomy.

I really don't think we grasp the consequences of sin and separation from God. Truth is vital and far more important than our experience. That is why the Bible is important. This thing on earth is happening so slowly and invisibly as to put us to sleep. Reality, however, remains unchanged. In spite of what we feel, there is a contest for the souls of men being waged every day. Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:20, O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge...”

By the way, this would have been someone like Balaam.

Vs. 6-11 Now this rule was only for Israel as they were a nation under God's rule. This is hard for us to choke down, I know, but the lessons of the wilderness taught them that, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:6, a little leaven leavens the whole lump. How much cancer is acceptable? What God is setting up here is a "perfect" society that He knows won't work. It won't work, not because it is a "perfect" society, but because there is something in mankind, inside of each person, that rebels against God. By the end of the book of Judges, everything will have fallen apart. Sin will be shown to be sin.

Vs. 6-7 Notice that the enticement is to worship gods they have never worshiped. If the argument is raised that they were told not to worship the gods of Canaan, then they might say, “I know, those were really bad and awful, but this god is from far, far away and is OK. It is from a place called ‘USA.’ Now we’ll press this button here and watch the idol ‘boot up.’” (I’m trying to be funny.)

V. 10 These gods were in contrast to the God they did know, who saved them. Notice how important their salvation was. As long as they treasured what God had done for them, they would be safe.

V. 11 If they did this, it would have a good effect in the entire land.

Vs. 12-18 Moses has gone from addressing the false messenger, to the false loved one, to the false city. This will happen at the end of Judges and the tribe of Benjamin will almost be lost. It is a very sad and conflicted story. But I’m sure this was repeated throughout Israel. In fact, one of those stories at the end of Judges shows the entire tribe of Dan going “idol.” I think it is for this reason that the tribe of Dan is not mentioned among the 144,000 in the book of Revelation.

Since Christ, the power of the gospel and the love of God is the only thing that works in a pluralistic, relativistic, lost world. Society today doesn't give a parent or employer many rights on limiting the freedom of the people they are responsible for. As disciples of Christ, the truth we bring is wrapped in spiritual power and in the love of Christ working through us. Sin rebels against law. It is not so powerful when confronted by the love and grace of Christ. Today our work is not to shape people or nations by activism, but by working and witnessing and praying "under the radar" to see people come to Christ.

1 Timothy 2:1 - First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Deuteronomy 14

Vs. 1-2 These verses attest to their great privilege on the earth and launches this chapter on being a distinct people for the Lord on the earth. Here, they are told not to copy this pagan custom of mourning for the dead.

Vs. 3-21 Since God says in the NT that all foods are clean, this was a law showing their “differentness” among the nations. It was the equivalent of them eating with a fork and a knife instead of their fingers or blowing their noses instead of picking them.

V. 21a Again, it showed a sense of propriety and "rightness" to their customs. I definitely wouldn’t lament that I couldn’t eat road kill or something that just fell over and died.

V. 21b As often as this is mentioned, I wonder if this was just a point of propriety or respect or if it had something to do with Egyptian/pagan ritual or superstition.

Vs. 22-29 This section is about the tithe and in that there is a link between only offering the tithes at the tabernacle and the provision for the Levites. In giving the tithes, there is the underlying value that this is important. But why? Does God need food? No. So do they give because of raw obedience? That only takes you so far. Valuing the presence of God at the tabernacle was faith. Providing for the Levites was also faith, because they scattered around the country and taught the people spiritual values. They were the "Sunday school teachers" of Israel. If the people lost the value of being a spiritual nation, they would stop coming to the tabernacle and they would stop providing for the Levites. These two "rules" showed what the people truly valued in their hearts. And, their tithing showed they understood that God was providing for them.

When the people came to offer the tithe of their crops, they were to celebrate before the Lord. This is kind of interesting because v. 26 suggests a feast and a celebration. Before the Lord, held in check by their love for God, they could buy any food and drink wine or "strong drink." There is the balance between the occasional being "merry of heart" and being a perpetual drunk. Drunkenness means being given to being drunk. There is a positive rendering of being mildly intoxicated that God doesn't seem to judge; for example, Ruth 3:7 - And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down.

Vs. 28-29 Here was an exception to going to the tabernacle. On the third year, they brought their tithes into their own towns, invited the Levites who lived in the area and then held a feast for the Levites and all of the poor and needy. More on this in the next chapter.

Deuteronomy 15

Vs. 1-6 Now, this would never work today. Apparently, not only was the 50^th year the year of jubilee, where lands would revert back to the owners and slaves, but also people who had sold themselves to someone, because they were poor, would be set free. This canceling of debts and freedom of servants also came every seven years during the Sabbatical year. Today this would mean the credit card companies would cancel your bill every seven years!

Note that v. 6 gives the reasoning for this. If the people obeyed, God would so super-bless Israel that they would have so much that they would be sinning to hold back and not give freely. They were not to try to get rich, but to be openly generous with what God gave them. This sounds like some of the things Jesus said to His disciples.

Notice also that in v. 4, it says they would not have poor people, but in v. 11 it says they would always have poor people. So what does that mean? I believe it means that God would work things out so that there would always be people who needed help from others. This would be to test the hearts and generosity of the people. Personally, I would rather have been on the giving end of that process than on the end where God pulled the rug out from under me to put me on the receiving end to test the hearts of others. But it is obvious that God was going to do this. I think this goes for today too and extends to health care costs and to the protection of the helpless. Lots of wisdom is needed in all of this, but the point seems obvious; God keeps some people in a state of need to see if the surrounding society is humble and willing to care and share.

The contradiction in vs. 4 and 11 is dissolved in that God would bring people to the place of being poor, but Israel would meet their needs so that they would no longer be poor. That would be pretty cool.

Vs. 7-11 Again, remember that this wasn’t true, genuine slavery. People were free after six years. Imagine today if someone was out of work and destitute. Mercedes comes along and says, "We'll give you a job, food and a place to live if you'll sign a 6-year contract." Isn't that nuts! Who would say no?

Vs. 12-18 In fact, if the situation were really good, at the end of six years, the "slave" could say he wanted to stay on permanently and could retire from there. The nations back then were largely farming communities. Help was always needed. The people were to be generous and actively help people by signing them on to work. God said He would bless them for that. For the provision of six years of food, clothing and shelter, a poor person worked. Not a bad set up for the poor. No local government was involved and no taxes were levied on the people to give aid to the needy.

Vs. 19-23 are again that test of heart and security in God's provision. Animals were valuable, yet as the animals gave birth, the first of those animals suitable for sacrifice had to be given back to the Lord. Sacrifice and gratitude were built into every day of everyone’s lives. Those men and women of faith who realized they were set free and now blessed because of the promise to Abraham would love much and give back to God out of joy and thanks. To everyone else, sacrifice would be a religious duty. When we get to Malachi the people were not giving God the best, because they were pressed by hard times. It's hard to give when it hurts, but it really is hard to give if we don't believe or trust God.

I am so impressed in all of this, that God kept telling the people to remember they had been slaves and were now free. They were free because of God’s amazing grace and His desire to bless. Do we work in the harvest following Christ for any other reason? He loved us. How do we know? He set us free, dying for us while we were still enemies. As disciples making disciples in the harvest, we need to love the Lord and we need to remember that we were lost, but saved and found by His grace. A good song to listen to in this connection is "Remember Your Chains" by Steven Curtis Chapman.

Luke 8:40-9:6

Luke 8:40-56

V. 41 This was back in Capernaum. Jesus was popular there and remember that Jesus just healed the servant of the centurion who built this synagogue. For Jairus to come to Jesus was one thing, but to fall at His feet meant that Jairus was desperate and believed Jesus could help.

Vs. 42-48 This was a God-planned fiasco. I’m sure when it happened Jesus smiled, knowing His Father was designing a situation in which many hearts would be revealed. I need to smile more.

This is the first time I’ve ever noticed that the woman was sick as long as Jairus’ daughter had been alive. They were both 12, in a manner of speaking.

Unlike us, Jesus was not upset, anxious about the delay, or embarrassed by Peter’s remark. I need to learn to abide in the Lord.

Vs. 49-50 This was Jairus’ test of faith and by allowing Jesus to come to his house he was showing faith.

Vs. 51-56 Reading Mark’s account, I have a feeling this went very quickly once Jesus got the mourners outside. He didn’t want to draw attention to the event. I’ll bet it was only seconds after entering the room that Jesus had her on her feet.

Luke 9:1-6

And now we have another twelve. This is just coincidence….I think.

To understand the chronology here a little better, read Matthew 9:27-34, then Mark 6:1-6 and finally Matthew 9:35-38.

It seems to me that the dramatic nature of these healings and the second rejection in Nazareth somehow added to the decision to send the Twelve out. Their confidence would have been high.

To read a more complete version of this, look at Matthew 10. Matthew was one of those disciples.

Psalm 71

This psalm and the next four are pretty long, and it's easy to get lost in the alternating thoughts of crying out and confidence and desiring justice and praising God. I'd suggest you choose something(s) to underline; for example, the pleas (rescue me, be not far from me, etc…) or the praises.

This looks like it could have been written by David later in life and just before the fight with Absalom’s army.

Vs. 1-3 This is vintage David. God was his refuge.

Vs. 4-11 Here you have the cry for rescue. David asks God to hold him now in his old age and failing strength as He did when David was young. Once again, David’s enemies thought God would not save him. They forgot that God’s grace was upon David.

Vs. 12-24 Notice how often David says he will testify to the Lord and notice how many ways he says he will do this.

I find v. 20 interesting, You who have made me see many troubles….will revive me again. Even David realized that God led him into troubles, to show him that he could depend on God and that God would revive him again. That is a good lesson for a disciple to learn. He leads us to bring praise from our mouths. So let’s do it.

Proverbs 12:5-7

I don't know. I guess I'd rather hang with the righteous dudes. So what does real biblical righteousness look like? Just, fearless, compassionate, and enduring. Jesus put it like this in Luke 6:47, Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like…

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link ^{http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/.} If that doesn't work, go to http://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 complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find it in my book:  Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

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 to ^{dgkachikis@gmail.com.}

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

March 29, 2015

MARCH 29

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

In Deuteronomy 8:3 we read why God gave Israel the manna. This is also the portion of Scripture Jesus used in His confrontation with Satan. I remember a time last year when there was snow on the grass, but it wasn't a solid blanket, but patchy little puffs all over everything. I wonder if that's what the manna looked like. As I thought about it and what God was teaching Israel, I was thinking how much I need all those lessons today in my life. Here's some of what struck me.

God could still do today what He did for Israel then, and He could meet all of my needs instantly if He chose to. So, I'm really very secure, whether I feel secure or not. In the wilderness, the people weren't allowed to gather the manna and store it up for security. They had to be secure in God, every day. They couldn't work the fields or make gardens because they never knew when they would be moving. Their lives were focused each day on the mercy of the Lord, learning of Him, waiting each day for His provision. God intentionally fed them like this, little by little, showing His power and showing that their security was in Him. They were to learn that man doesn't live by bread alone, nor by savings, nor by work, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Being secure in God's daily care and eternal power seems to be what God was also teaching David as he was living in caves and running from Saul.

How does God teach that same thing to us without taking us through similar experiences? It makes me appreciate my present situation and makes the day seem like something God has designed rather than a random mess. Life might not look "normal," but I am totally secure and taken care of by God's daily provision. Our Lord is an amazing teacher, and His Word is strength and health to the heart.

Deuteronomy 11-12

Deuteronomy 11

It seems to me that this chapter concludes the introduction of the sermon. Moses restates 6:1-9 in vs. 18-21.

Vs. 1-7 Notice how often it talks about loving the Lord. The people were not slaves; they were saved. Their salvation should have made them grateful. They were to follow and obey out of that love for God. Moses tells them to consider what they saw. This was God's teaching and discipline. They were now to pass this on to their children who didn't see what God had done. They had seen how God used His power to free them from Egypt and destroy Pharaoh's army. God also disciplined a family of the Reubenites. Both events showed God's great power. One instance was deliverance and the other punishment. They needed to lay this to heart, as do we. They also needed to pass these things on to the next generation. In a sense, they were to make disciples.

Vs. 8-12 These instructions are being given out of love so the people will be strong, and not only win the land, but hold on to it. Notice again in v. 9 that the promise to Abraham is mentioned. The fact that God's eyes were on this land was a good thing, if they obeyed. If they obeyed, God would water the land and they wouldn't have to irrigate it like they had to in Egypt. That would be a good thing if they obeyed.

Vs. 13-17 This seems like it should have been an easy thing to have loved the Lord. Loving the Lord was in contrast to worshiping other gods. That would have been a "no-brainer" except that the worship in Canaan was very sexually oriented. And too, even for us, worshiping other things is easier than we think. I was reading Ephesians 5 this morning where Paul says that a person who is covetous is really an idolater. Even the Corinthian church had fallen into idolatry. We can all understand the cause/effect relationship here. Why would God bless the people if they were worshiping something else? The real question is, "How could they worship anything else when God was so big and real?" But now they had visual help. They had the manna each morning and the pillar of fire and pillar of cloud. Once they were in the land, they would have the feasts and the worship at the tabernacle. They would have to follow God by faith in the promise to Abraham and by obeying the law.

Vs. 18-25 There is a lot of restatement here, but it is very passionate, both from Moses and from God. God really, really, really wanted to bless them. Notice that when He tells them to lay up these words in their hearts, Moses also tells them how to do this in vs. 18-20.

V. 22 Notice again the restatement of loving the Lord and the promises that follow. It is obvious that we are nearing the end of a very important and passionate argument.

Vs. 26-32 In the context of the Mosaic covenant, there would be these blessings and curses. We'll read about this event later in Deuteronomy and we'll see it done in Joshua. It will be a testimony to the people. Actually, the people will testify to their need to obey and what will happen if they don't obey. The words will come out of their own mouths. This generation will obey, but apparently not in teaching their children.

V. 30 As Israel is receiving this command, Moses reminds them that in order for them to get to these two peaks, God will already have brought them into the land.

Though we are not under the blessing and curses, as disciples, there is something for us to learn here too. Even the best of us fall, and sometimes we have a hard time recovering. Sin and discouragement have an incredibly acidic effect on our hearts and minds. Not only that, Satan is the accuser, standing before God telling Him we deserve judgment. Satan shares this with us too. In fact, Satan, like Balaam, lures us into sin so that God will have to punish us, knowing that God would never punish us if we didn't bring the punishment on ourselves.

So, how do you know if it is God humbling, teaching, or chastening you, or if it is Satan and your own fallen nature tearing you apart? Satan and self always tell you there is no more grace for you and that you are a failure. God never does that. This is why reading your Bible through is so important. Did Jacob deserve grace? Does Israel deserve grace? Wait until we get to Judges. Will David, the murderer, deserve grace? Or will Solomon, the idolater, who sacrificed his children, or Manasseh, who did worse than all of them and brought irrevocable judgment on his people, deserve grace? But they all received it. After repentance, even after falling into sin for the millionth time, God looks on us as a Father, encouraging our next step in obedience with His grace. And He will use us, just as God used all of those men after their repentance. Satan and self will destroy you and make you unfit to be used by the Lord. God will restore you. There may be consequences that you'll have to deal with, but you couldn't be loved more, and you will never be shunned by Christ. Look at Paul, the murderer, who remembered what he did right up to the end of his work in the harvest. Paul was an example of how Jesus will lift the fallen and bless them for His glory, just like us. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:16)

If you had a child who had done everything wrong and made every mistake, as a parent, would you condemn them to failure and self hate, or encourage them to health and obedience? And if they obeyed, would you rub their noses in their past failures or lead them on to restoration and success? This is what the Pharisees couldn't stand about Jesus, blessing a woman who had been a terrible sinner, or asking a tax collector to be His disciple.

Deuteronomy 12

V. 1 This seems to be a key verse. So, after loving God, what did He want them to do?

Vs. 2-7 This would be very hard for Israel. First, they had to destroy all of the idols and places of worship. Some of the idols would be made out of precious metals. Some of these places might look nice, like a place where you'd want to come and meditate. But second, they themselves could only worship and offer sacrifices at the tabernacle. This was one way God wanted them to love Him. They were to come to only Him and then to come to Him only where it was appointed. The people in Canaan worshiped their gods on every hill and under trees. It is interesting that later when we read about the kings who followed God, many of them still allowed the people to sacrifice and worship in the hills and not in Jerusalem. No one had the guts to say "No."

Vs. 8-14 This is sort of like the tree in the garden. They could do all sorts of other things, but worship and sacrifice needed to happen in God's presence in the place He designated. Notice in vs. 7 and 12, there was to be rejoicing in God's presence as they celebrated their sacrifices.

V. 8 This is the refrain at the end of the book of Judges.

V. 9 This is the "rest" talked about in the book of Hebrews.

V. 10 Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, quotes this.

Isn't it interesting that the phrases from Deuteronomy were used so extensively in the rest of the Bible and people actually knew these verses? Now you do too.

Vs. 15-19 Up until now, if any domestic animal was killed to be eaten, it had to be brought to the tabernacle. That wasn't far away since they all camped around the tabernacle. Once they were in the land, the tabernacle would be too far away. Now they could kill the animal at the house, but there was one act of paganism they were not to take part in, and that was the drinking of the blood or eating the bloody, undrained meat. God had been getting the people away from this during the wilderness wandering. Now they would just have to obey.

The offerings, on the other hand, had to be made at the tabernacle. Along with the offerings, they were to share with those who served at the tabernacle. They could always have feasts at home, but their worship was to be a celebration before the Lord at the tabernacle.

Vs. 20-28 Notice the repetition regarding the blood of life. This was a big deal for God, mentioned as far back as Noah. The repetition was important here. God was allowing them to slaughter their cattle for food, but with His guidelines.

V. 20 This verse links Jabez (1 Chron. 4:10) to this time of the conquest of the land.

Vs. 26-28 But here we are talking again about the sacrifices and worship. Notice that v. 28 brings them back to being careful to do what God is saying. They needed to obey for the sake of their children.

Vs. 29-32 This brings the chapter full circle. Again, these instructions seem like a no-brainer. Why would you want to understand why a pagan people offered their children in sacrifice? How could you be enticed to do that? And yet Solomon will.

I think Deuteronomy is incredible. And what is really interesting is that most of what God is saying to the people is exactly what we need to hear and apply to our hearts. We are not better than these people, and even with the Spirit, we are not above falling into the same traps. The Corinthians did. Maybe there are some innocent looking things in our culture that we don't need to become a part of. After all, we are here on mission, following Christ. As disciples in the harvest, we need to be careful how we walk, making the most of our time; because the days, as Paul said, are evil.

Luke 8:22-39

Vs. 22-25 Do you ever think about being totally awed by God to the place of fear? Me neither. We need the Lord to restore this sense of awe to our hearts, and I think the place we find it is in the harvest, not special meetings at church or boat trips on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus shows His power where His passion is, in reaching the lost and dying, and making disciples, who make disciples.

Vs. 26-39 Matthew has two men here. It is the same event and both Matthew and Luke are accurate, but Mark and Luke only quote the spokesman of the demonic duo.

V. 29 Apparently Jesus had commanded a spirit to come out and it did. Jesus saw then that the problem was deeper. A Roman legion would have been 6000, but that isn't to say there were 6000 demons in him. It is interesting that we are told in Mark 5:13 that the herd of pigs was about 2000.

V. 35 Luke tells us that the man was sitting at Jesus' feet when the crowds came.

Vs. 38-39 This is really all the Lord asks us to do on earth. So what has the Lord done for you?

Psalm 70

Once again, those who seek the Lord like this are driven to their knees by need, so that, after waiting for His deliverance and crying out in desperation, they see and are awed by the salvation of the Lord. Then they declare to all men, from their hearts, that God is great. This is how God taught Israel, how He taught David, the disciples in the boat, and the possessed man. Why should I expect anything different if the Lord loves me and wants to use me as His disciple?

V. 1 This is the cry for help. This morning I was reading in Luke 18:7-8, where Jesus said, “And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Faith cries out and keeps crying.

Vs. 2-3 This is the usual gang of those who were lying against David and seeking to kill him.

Vs. 4-5 Verse 4 happens because of a heart like in v. 5. David was humbled before God and didn't seek help anywhere else. He learned this through suffering and God vindicated His servant. Amen.

Proverbs 12:4

Seriously, I never go a day without realizing how blessed I've been since I gave my life to Christ. I have only known the first part of that Proverb, and that is pure grace.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link ^{http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/.} If that doesn't work, go to http://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 complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find it in my book:  Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

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 to ^{dgkachikis@gmail.com.}

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

March 28, 2015

MARCH 28

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Deuteronomy 9-10

This morning I read Romans 11:25, Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Apparently, the response of the Gentile Christians to the grace they had received was pride and arrogance. Paul needed to remind them that they were no better than the Jews. God had simply shown them love and grace. Here in Deuteronomy, Moses and God didn't want Israel to forget who they were either. What was about to happen to them was all grace that they didn't deserve. That's good for us to remember as we follow in the harvest. This isn't about our morality or who knows more about God. Knowledge puffs up. Love builds up.

Deuteronomy 9

Vs. 1-3 Moses mentions that there were fortified cities, great armies and huge men (targets) to fight. These were the things that the ten spies had said to discourage the people and make them bitter. But this generation had already seen that it would be God who would fight for them. It's hard to fight a consuming fire.

Vs. 4-5 The reason God would thrust these people out was because of their wickedness and because of the promise to Abraham. It had nothing to do with the righteousness of Israel. Moses will now tell a little story.

Vs. 6-29 In fact, Israel was a very stubborn and rebellious people. The generation standing there listening to Moses wouldn't be rebellious, but they had the benefit of living through the results of their parents' sins over the past 40 years, living in the camp of death. These words would fall on fertile soil. That wouldn't be the case in the next generations.

Vs. 6-12 This should have been a great moment for the nation. Moses was on the mountain confirming the covenant. God, Himself, the Creator of the universe, was actually writing on the stones Himself. No other nation in the history of the world had ever experienced this. That is the point here, I think.

Vs. 13-21 Yet, at that very moment during their greatest privilege and God's revelation, the people had already broken the covenant and put themselves in mortal danger before God. Moses is trying to make them see the irrationality of what they did by making that calf. These people might have looked to Kadesh-barnea as the best example of their rebellion, but God and Moses led them back to the first and most irrational act they committed. This sin was still a part of them, and it has been a part of every heart, including ours, since Adam and Eve.

V. 17 That covenant was broken, illustrated with Moses smashing the tablets. God would reestablish the covenant with them.

V. 18 This is the first time I’ve noticed that the reason Moses went without food for those 40 days was out of deep concern for the people.

V. 19 Moses had to plead for their lives.

V. 20 This is the first time we have heard that God was ready to take out Aaron.

V. 21 Their sin had been so vile, they couldn't even reuse the gold of the calf. Moses made them drink it, which also was ironic since God, not the calf, had given them the water.

Vs. 22-24 Now, Moses parenthetically relates the sin with the calf to the sin at Kadesh-barnea.

Vs. 25-29 Back to the calf. Moses went up on the mountain again to beg for God's mercy for Israel. Notice that the basis for God's mercy was the covenant with Abraham. This would have shown the people that they needed to put their faith in what Abraham had put his faith in. They would break the Mosaic Covenant but their hope was in the grace of God as seen in the promise to Abraham.

Deuteronomy 10

Vs. 1-5 On the basis of Moses' pleading, God's mercy and His remembrance of His promise to Abraham, God allowed new tablets to be cut and the covenant was reestablished. Verse 5 is a summary since the ark hadn't been built yet.

Vs. 6-9 This seems to be parenthetical, showing that even Aaron's death and the selection of the Levites to guard the tabernacle were a result of the sinfulness and rebellion of the people.

Vs. 10-11 It was when Moses came down off the mountain (and the tabernacle was built and the people were numbered and put in order) that God commanded Moses to lead the people into Canaan. You would think that after that fiasco with the calf, the people would have been obedient. This generation knew exactly what happened at Kadesh-barnea and had been suffering under it for the past 38 years.

I think the people got the idea. They had not been an easy people to lead. So much of what is written here testifies to the honesty and accuracy of this reporting. No great nation would ever air their dirty laundry like Israel is doing here. This isn't a testimony to them as a great people. It is a testimony to the love and forgiveness of their God.

Vs. 12-22 What things stand out to you in this section? I don't know about you, but this stirs my heart. What does God seek? At the top of His list is love. Love is a relationship. Even in marriage this is the key. You can break love down into actions or responsibilities like communication, faithfulness and service to one another; but these only help us try to grasp what love really is. What God really gives to us and wants from us is love. There are many religions and misrepresentations of "god" on earth, but none of them come close to the reality being expressed here. God is deeply clear and straightforward about wanting a relationship with us that is first and foremost a bond of love. This is the consistent message of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.

Luke 8:4-21

It is interesting that Jesus began to tell these parables after He was very popular. The Pharisees and scribes were beginning to explain His power by saying it was from Beelzebub, and His family thought He was out of His mind. This parable would have been a challenge to the people and it would have been instructive to the disciples, letting them know that there would be four kinds of people who would hear their messages too.

Vs. 4-8 This was said for the crowds and there were probably some people who got it.

Vs. 9-10 This is the blindness of the nation that was predicted in Isaiah 6:9. Oddly enough, Paul quotes this in Romans 11:8 and follows it by quoting Psalm 69:22, which is in our reading for today. You only get this by reading The One Year Bible.

The parables were meant to show who was seeking God and who really didn't care.

Vs. 11-15 Note that the real focal point of the parable and need for bearing fruit is expressed in what Satan seeks to prevent in v. 12: believe and be saved. People differ on their interpretations of the seed in the shallow ground and seed in the thorns. I have met professing believers in both soils. Who knows? The goal of the Word is not only faith, belief and salvation, but fruit that bears more fruit, or as we would say, disciples, who make disciples, who make disciples.

Vs. 16-18 These verses, for me, show that bearing fruit has something to do with declaring the truth publicly, treasuring it in our hearts and growing in the truth we have been given.

V. 18 was said to the disciples and Jesus used this illustration with them a couple of times. I think Jesus is saying to all of us disciples, when the Spirit shares something with us, if we don't use it, we lose it.

Vs. 19-21 I don't think Jesus thought His family would show up here, but He used the situation to show the importance of what He had just said. To be in relationship to Jesus was not to be a blood relative or even a Jew. Those closest to Jesus, male or female, Jew or Gentile, Greeks and those who wish they were Greeks, are those who hear the Word of God and do it.

Just to say it again, as disciples, our "doing" of God's Word is following the Lord in the harvest. His commandments are not primarily so we can live morally pure lives on earth and get to heaven with a clean score card. We are to obey His commission and glorify the Father by bearing much fruit and so proving we are His disciples. We are to labor in the harvest making disciples, who make disciples, who make disciples.

Psalm 69:19-36

Remember, as you read this section, David's own suffering was given to him from God, to allow David to express some of what Jesus would feel in His last days in Jerusalem and on the cross.

Vs. 19-21 When I read this, I think of the Pharisees and Sadducees trying to humiliate Jesus. I think of Judas betraying Jesus. I think of Peter, James and John falling asleep as Jesus was praying in the garden.

Notice v. 21. Jesus was offered wine mixed with a narcotic, and then later, He was offered vinegar as He hung on the cross to keep Him alive until Elijah came to rescue Him. The people were hoping to see a miracle.

Vs. 22-28 This is David asking God to judge these people who were lying and pursuing him. Interestingly, Paul says that this happened to all of Israel in the form of hardness of heart and spiritual blindness. Verses 22-23 are quoted by Paul in Romans 11:9-10. Spiritual blindness led Saul and others to resist God, kill the priests, and pursue David. That same spiritual blindness led the nation of Israel to resist what God was doing in Christ and the church. The height of this blindness would have been seen in the crucifixion of Jesus. That generation was punished for rejecting their Messiah, as seen in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 A.D. and the scattering of the Jews.

Vs. 29-33 David became a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples (Isaiah 55:4). God disciplined and made David a great man though his suffering. He became proof of the grace and mercy of God.

Vs. 34-36 God had probably given David the idea of making Jerusalem, Zion, his city. And I'll bet in those years of running and hiding, David dreamed of the day he would bring the ark to Jerusalem. Yet this section has the hint of millennial glory. A day will come when Jesus will reign from Zion, and all nations will worship Him. Israel will glorify their Messiah and testify to His greatness and love.

Proverbs 12:2-3

Again, sometimes you can get a lot more out of a proverb like this, especially if you're using it for a short message for a group, if you take it apart and put the parallel pieces together. Take time to notice the couplets and the parallelism in the verses. The second verse usually advances the image of the first verse. In The One Year Bible they do a pretty good job of keeping these couplets together.

²A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
(and in all the storms of life the branches might get beaten by the wind and he may be refined by fire)
but the root of the righteous will never be moved.

but a man of evil devices he condemns.
(and although he might look successful and God might use this man for His purpose)
³No one is established (takes root?) by wickedness,

Especially in hard times or hard circumstances, it costs something to follow Christ in the harvest and to remember we are here on mission. Our witness is often shown most powerfully in honoring God where others don't, and facing the consequences. It is more important that the lost see Christ than for us to get a "deal" or a promotion. I know a guy from the Ukraine who came to Christ, because a fool took a beating for Christ in the Russian army in Siberia. The guy's branches definitely got broken, but his root never moved and God gave him unknown fruit. My friend Peter watched and thought, "It would have been so easy to have lied. What would possess a man to take a stand like this in such a dangerous place?" Peter found out.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://oneyearbibleonline.com/weekly-one-year-readings/?version=47&startmmdd=0101^. This version is set to the ESV but you can reset this to a different version or different language.

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 complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find it in my book:  Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

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 to ^{dgkachikis@gmail.com.}

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