July 11th One Year Bible Readings

1 Chronicles 11:1-12:18 ~ Acts 28:1-31 ~ Psalm 9:1-12 ~ Proverbs 19:1-3
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Old Testament - Today in First Chronicles chapter 11 we read about David's Mighty Men!  I do love reading about the story of his men who went to the well in Bethlehem to bring David that water that he so loved - when Bethlehem was occupied by the Philistines!  These men were no joke.  They risked everything to please David.  I wonder about this in our lives today.  Are we as dedicated to Jesus as these Mighty Men were dedicated to David?  Are you willing to risk everything for Jesus?  However, keep in mind that we don't need to do un-called for risky things for Jesus - like these Mighty Men didn't have to get that water from the well.  But their zeal for David is impressive.  I just pray we are at least that zealous for Jesus.

Today in 1 Chronicles 12 verse 18 we read - "Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who later became a leader among the Thirty, and he said,  "We are yours, David! We are on your side, son of Jesse. Peace and prosperity be with you, and success to all who help you, for your God is the one who helps you.""  Related to this verse, Tyndale's One Year Bible Companion has the following answer to the question of 'How did the Holy Spirit work in Old Testament times?' - "When there was an important job to be done, God chose a person to do it, and the Spirit gave that person the needed power and ability.  The Spirit gave Bezalel artistic ability, Jephthah military prowess, David power to rule, and Zechariah an authoritative word of prophecy.  Here the Holy Spirit came upon David's warriors.  The Spirit came upon individuals in order to accomplish specific goals.  Beginning at Pentecost, however, the Spirit came upon all believers, not only to empower them to do God's will, but also to dwell in them day by day."

New Testament - Today we finish the book of Acts!  Romans begins tomorrow!  Interesting segment in today's readings when Paul encounters the snake on the island of Malta.  Everyone first believes that justice is being done, and that Paul will die by the snake.  When he doesn't die, they then decide he is a god.  Interesting...  They were first cursing him, then suddenly worshiping him.  I wonder if we do this in our lives too?  Do we sometimes curse things one minute and then worship them the next?  Do we sometimes even do this with God?  Let us pray for consistency in our lives and actions, in particular in the area of Who we worship.

We then read in today's readings about Paul arriving in Rome and beginning to preach the Gospel just 3 days after he arrives!  Paul wastes no time.  He is so focused on preaching the Gospel that he makes it happen no matter what.  I think we would do well to pay attention to Paul's zeal for the Gospel.  Why do you suppose Paul was so zealous for the Gospel?  Should we be zealous for the Gospel today like Paul was back then?  Are you zealous for the Gospel today like Paul was back then?

Okay, in Acts chapter 28 we have a very important verse for all of us to pay attention to.  Verse 28.  These are Paul's last words recorded in Acts.  Commentaries suggest that this verse is actually the main point of the book of Acts.  So if you remember nothing else from the book of Acts, remember the book was about this:  "So I want you to realize that this salvation from God is also available to the Gentiles, and they will accept it."  Seems like such a simple verse...  But do you see the weight of it?  Do you believe that salvation from God is available to all?  Have you accepted this salvation?  Perhaps now is a good time for us to remember Paul's acceptance of this salvation on the Road to Damascus earlier in our Acts readings, as painted by the artist Michelangelo below in the year 1544 -

Bible.org's commentary on today's Acts readings titled "Paul in Rome" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 9 verse 9 stood out to me today - "The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble." When you are in trouble, do you run to God for shelter?  Or do you look elsewhere?  Where will you ultimately find true peace and rest from the storms of life?  Do you believe that the Bible can be a haven for you in the midst of the storms of life?

Proverbs - Today in Proverbs 19 verse 2 we read: “It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.” How does this Proverb speak to you? I know it is very convicting to me – particularly the part about being hasty. I am someone who oftentimes finds myself “hurrying.” And when I am hurrying, I am usually worrying. And at this point I am missing everything else going on around me. I’m living in my “own private Idaho”. I am missing the Way. I do believe that God is a passionate God and wants us to be passionate people – particularly for things that are of importance to God, such as serving the poor. But, I don’t think that God wants us to be zealous and hasty people who do not really know what we are zealous and hasty about. We need godly knowledge. Where do you suppose we can obtain godly knowledge? (hint – the Holy Book. . . :) How about you? Are you zealous? What are you zealous for? Are you seeking godly knowledge in your life each and every day? Are you hasty? Are you ever missing the Way because of your haste?

YouTube Video: Today's readings in Acts reminds me of the new song by Third Day titled "Call My Name:"

Have you called God's Name?  Click here to make the call!

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

Comments

[R]

I Chronicles 11-12:18

Today in my readings, I seem to be focused on trivial things, or are they? Let’s see, Joab became David’s commander not because of his skill and loyalty but because he was the first to lead an attack against the Jebusites. (11:6). He and his brothers were loose cannons and David had trouble controlling them (II Sam 3:39).

I’m a little confused, and have been for awhile, about the “three” who were part of David’s Mighty Men. I’ve always seen the names of two, Jashobeam and Eleazar; however who is the third, is it David himself? As I read through the descriptions and exploits of the Mighty Men like David and Eleazar taking out an enemy’s, army while the rest Israel’s army fled (11:12-14), I was reminded of the verse in Zechariah,

"This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.” (4:6)

I have also noted that some of the men were more skillful in combat; however, those who received honor and tribute did not have the highest skills (11:20-25).

In the twelfth chapter, David picked up defectors from Saul’s army. Hmmm, how one is perceived in history is determined by who gets to right the final chapter. Did these men know that Samuel had anointed David King or did they just evaluate the character of the two men and choose accordingly?

Acts 28:1-31

In this chapter, I kept noticing how the number three kept coming up. Does it have a meaning, other than Jesus spending three days and three nights in the grave, or is it just a number that just happens to show up here?

1) On the Island the inhabitants welcomed and fed the shipwrecked crew for “three days.” (7)
2) They set sail again three months after the shipwreck (11)
3) While in at the Forum on the Appian Way Paul’s group met other believers at The Three Taverns.
4) When Paul arrived in Rome he waited three days and then invited the local Jewish leaders.

Mike you said then asked, “They were first cursing him, then suddenly worshiping him. I wonder if we do this in our lives too?”

I’m not sure of something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, judging, but I believe when we do what you have stated, we are doing the kind of “judging” Jesus warns us about: judging someone’s spiritual condition. I think we confuse judging someone’s spiritual condition with judging someone’s actions or behavior. We use the oft misquoted and misapplied, “Judge not or you will be judged,” and say, “Well we all sin so I’m not supposed to judge.” We have to make judgments everyday. We judge whether we will get out of bed or stay; we have to judge if we will come along side and join a particular group, behavior or job, or reject the association, conduct or offer.

Moreover, at the last day, everyone will be judged, either as unbelievers at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:10-12), or as believers at the Throne of the Lamb (Rev. 7:9).

Psalm 9:1-12

When I wrote above about judging I didn’t realize that the following was in this Psalm,

3 My enemies turn away in retreat;
they are overthrown and destroyed before you.

4 For you have judged in my favor;
from your throne, you have judged with fairness.

Proverbs 19:1-3

2 Zeal without knowledge is not good; a person who moves too quickly may go the wrong way.

I’ve heard this stated, “Motivation if good if you know what you are motivated toward. But what if you motivate an idiot?”

[Vance]

I Chronicles 11 (NKJV)
19
And he said, “Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.

NOTE: I am very impressed by David’s love for and loyalty to his men. May we, the Body of Christ, be known by this love and loyalty to one another. Regardless of particular Christian tradition (Baptist, Methodist, etc.)—we are one in Christ.

“They shall know you are My disciples because you love one another”, Jesus said in the Gospel of John.

Psalm 9 (NKJV)
9
The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

The Lord Jesus Himself is our ultimate refuge.

Romans 6 (Complete Jewish Bible)

verse 3
Don't you know that those of us who have been immersed into the Messiah Yeshua have been immersed into his death?

We have been IMMERSED into the Messiah—into Christ Jesus Himself because of God’s amazing and marvelous GRACE! (I Corinthians 1:30)

Consider this excellent note on the word: baptize

BAPTIZE: Strong’s Concordance, # 907; baptizo {bap-tid'-zo}

1) to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk)

2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe

3) to overwhelm

++++
Not to be confused with 911, bapto.

The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words.

Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped' (bapto) into boiling water and then 'baptised' (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary.

The second, the act of baptising the vegetable, produces a permanent change.

When used in the New Testament, this word more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism. e.g. Mark 16:16. 'He that believes and is baptised shall be saved'.

Christ is saying that mere intellectual assent is not enough.

There must be a union with him, a real change, like the vegetable to the pickle!

FROM: Bible Study Magazine, James Montgomery Boice, May 1989.

WHEN WE MEDITATE ON WHO CHRIST IS IN US AND OUR UNION WITH HIM -- this allows us to KNOW THAT WE KNOW for sure... the reality of the Risen Christ IN and THROUGH us.

Then, His Love and Authority will flow through us to others, living water flowing from Christ within us out to others.

John 7 (NKJV)
38
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Vance

[R]

1 Chronicles 11:1-12:18

Three things in this passage caught my eye and imagination: 1) The fickleness and instability of the people David was called to lead; 2) David’s rash vow to give the generalship to the “first” person to kill a Jebusite (so that’s how his nephew Joab became leader of Israel’s army); and 3) when God is with you in whatever endeavor it is, your power increases despite what those around you may have said.

Israel knew even while Saul was king that David had been anointed king by Samuel, yet most of the people failed to support David while Saul was alive. Some even betrayed David’s position while Saul was making a mad dash to kill David. We, knowing the Word of God, do the same thing today by following after those with the most glitz and glamour hoping to possible get some crumbs from the table of the pretenders to the thrown. With Jesus, we don’t have to go after the crumbs. Jesus is the entire loaf—The Bread of Life. Whatever power any leader has anyway has been given to them by God. So, though people may think they are the boss and that they have “juice,” all they really are, are paper tigers.

Regarding Joab: If he originally received his commission for killing a man and not because of his valor, loyalty to God and His Word, or strength of character, I can fully see why Joab continued to kill all those he thought were a threat to become leader of David’s army.

When God is with us and we are walking in the will of God and not our own will, nothing can block our progress: neither kings, bosses, politicians---no-thing. Amen and amen.

[MC]

Two things - (1) growing up I used to hear that story about defending the barley (or lentil) plot applied to the concept of defending Truth, but sometimes that idea is just used to mean sticking up for your own convictions without having an open mind to consider them in light of how someone else sees things. (2) That actually correlates with the reading from Proverbs about being zealous and hasty before having enough knowledge. I've seen a lot of damage done where people were too anxious to act on accusations toward someone, without taking time to ascertain the facts, and permanently alienated family and friends.

[Jenny]

I really enjoyed Acts, but I'm so thrilled to be starting Romans...an amazing book!
Prov 19:2 "It is not good to have zeal without knowledge" ...this spoke to me concerning those who have zeal, for example jihadists have great zeal, more then most Christians perhaps, but no wisdom/knowledge of truth. Many ppl have zeal, but hold on to their religions, such as catholicism; so much so, their traditions outweigh their trust in truth. their beliefs become more important than what the bible says. i recently got into a heated discussion with a friend who prays to saints, i gave her clear scriptures against this practice. She had no scriptural basis to support her "beliefs" and how dare i attack her "belief"s. I tried to share with it, its not my "beliefs" its the word of God that we must measure things with. The word of God is our final authority!

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good”. 1 Th. 5:21
--If we cannot prove what we believe, we shouldnt hold on to it. I rather be biblically correct then anything else. If I'm wrong, and truly a child of God, I will be teachable, open to truth.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. 2 Tim 3:16

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them”. Is. 8:20
---This is pretty clear!! I shared this verse with my friend but she didnt seem to get it, probly bcos exactly what this verse is saying! its my duty as a child of Christ to share the truth, in a loving yet firm way. If someone will not listen i wont persist, but i will pray for them. but sometimes we just cant keep quiet. We should care about God's opinion, not man's. If I'm hated for standing up for truth, well praise God! I'm honored!

[Kathie]

Hi Mike

I've been enjoying your blog and your podcast. But I've run into a problem - your podcasts are a day behind. I'm on Atlantic time - could that be the problem?

Thanks and God bless.
Kathie