July 11th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
1 Chronicles 11:1-12:18 ~ Acts 28:1-31
Psalm 9:1-12 ~ Proverbs 19:1-3

Old Testament - 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 starts 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?  Why or why not?  Are you zealous for the Gospel today like Paul was back then?  Why or why not?  (actually, as I type this I realize that not all of us are called to do the same thing Paul was called to obviously - but I'll still leave these preceding questions, as I think they are good for us to think about)

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

Psalms - Psalm 9 verse 9 stood out at me today - "The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble."  When we are in trouble, do we run to God for shelter?  Or do we look elsewhere?  Where will we ultimately find true peace and rest from 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?

What verses or insights jumped out for you in today's readings?  Please post up in the Comments section below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[Ramona]

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?”

Grace and peace,
Ramona