July 24th One Year Bible Readings

2 Chronicles 11:1-13:22 ~ Romans 8:22-39~ Psalm 18:37-50 ~ Proverbs 19:27-29
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture on DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) or OneYearAudioBible.org ~

Old Testament - In Second Chronicles chapter 11 today we read about Jeroboam appointing his own priests who served at pagan shrines and encouraged idol worship!  Think this was a smart idea...?  This led the Levites to abandon their homes in Israel and head south to Judah.  Just imagine the spiritual vacuum this departure of the Levites left in Judah... maybe this is kind of like the spiritual vacuum that happens in our lives today when we don't go to church for a while??  :)  This sin of Jeroboam unfortunately plays itself out over and over in the northern Kingdom until its destruction.  Below is a sad image of Jeroboam leading the Israelites into the sin of worshiping a golden calf:

Today in Second Chronicles chapter 12 we read about Egypt invading Judah.  Why?  Because Rehoboam and all of Israel abandoned God's Law.  You will notice often in Chronicles the patterns of obedience=blessing and disobedience=punishment.  In chapter 12 we're going into punishment...  Verse 9 tells us: "So King Shishak of Egypt came to Jerusalem and took away all the treasures of the Temple of the LORD and of the royal palace, including all of Solomon's gold shields."  Bible History Online says this about Shishak: "Shishak's invasion of Judah has been confirmed by archaeologists. Shishak's own record of his campaign is inscribed on the south wall of the Great Temple of Amon at Karnak. In his campaign he presents 156 cities of Judea to his god Amon."  Image below is courtesy of Bible History Online and shows "Shishak Smiting His Captives":

A map with a good overview of the Divided Kingdoms of Israel and Judah at this point in our readings in Second Chronicles is below:

New Testament - Tyndale's One Year Bible Companion has a very interesting Q & A today on Romans 8 verses 24-25: "Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you don't need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently." Tyndale's commentary says:  "In Romans, Paul presents the idea that salvation is past, present, and future.  It is past because we were saved the moment we believed in Jesus Christ as Savior; our new life (eternal life) begins at that moment.  And it is present because we are being saved.  But at the same time, we have not yet fully received all the benefits and blessings of salvation that will be ours when Christ's new kingdom is completely established.  That's our future salvation."   This is pretty amazing to consider that our salvation is past, present and future!  Do you appreciate being saved from your past?  Are you living fully for God in the present?  Are you waiting patiently and confidently for the future?

Today in Romans chapter 8 verses 27 through 29 we read these famous words of Paul’s: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Do you believe that we are more than conquerors through our relationship with Jesus? Does it encourage you to know this? Are you living your life in such a way that truly reflects that you know that you are more than a conqueror? Do you believe that there is absolutely nothing in this world that can separate you from the love of God because of your relationship with Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Romans titled "From Groaning to Glory" is at this link and "Comforting Questions" is at this link.  A fun image for Romans 8:28 from today's readings is below:

Psalms - Today we finish up Psalm 18.  (Psalm 19 tomorrow!  So excited! :)  The closing verse 50 of Psalm 18 today is powerful - and I believe can apply to both David and Jesus: "You give great victories to your king; you show unfailing love to your anointed, to David and all his descendants forever."  Are you a spiritual descendent of David?  Do you believe that God shows you unfailing love?  Do you think that God's Word, the Bible, shows His unfailing love for you?

Proverbs - I love Proverbs 19 verse 27 today: "If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you have turned your back on knowledge."  I am afraid that listening seems to be a lost skill in our world oftentimes today.  We have a hard time slowing down enough to actually listen to someone else.  To stop thinking about our own self and to listen to someone else.  And, if this is the case, then how much harder do you suppose it is for us to actually quiet the distractions around us to listen to God?  Have we stopped listening to instruction?  Are we turning our back on knowledge?  Now - I do think the discipline of reading, studying, and meditating on God's Word, the Bible, is something that helps us get our listening skills back in fine-tuned shape.  I do applaud you for going through the One Year Bible, so that you can listen to God on a daily basis.  But let us be ever vigilant to keep listening to instruction.  Let us not turn our backs on knowledge!

Worship God:  I think this video and song ties in very well with the transformation we're reading about - and hopefully experiencing - in the book of Romans.  The great thing about this video is that the artist, Brandon Heath, opens and closes the song with some great comments.  Be forewarned - this video just might make you cry...  Beautiful stuff.  Enjoy Brandon Heath's "I'm Not Who I Was."  And as you watch this video and listen to the song, take some time to reflect on how God has changed you over time...  Does this song tell the story of who you are today too?

Are you who you were?  Click here to become who you were meant to be!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 (NIV)

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

[John A.]

Romans 8:22-39

There are two things in these verses that are important to me:

1) When we pray to the Father; we pray imperfectly. That is OK. It is a learnin g process getting to know the will of God.

The important thing is the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and prays for us perfectly in the Will of God.

This does not mean we do not need to pray:

"That would contradict many other passages of Scripture, especially James 4:2, which says. "You have not because you ask not," (James 4:2b NIV). God does want us to pray, and we are constantly encouraged to pray. Jesus taught on prayer. In Philippians 4:6, Paul tells us that we are never to be troubled or anxious, but in everything, with prayer and supplication, we are to let our requests be made known to God." [Ray Stedman]

No, we are to pray - it is just nice to know that the Holy Spirit is always interceding for us perfectly.

[Some will asay that this prayewr is out loud in tongues. Others that the Holy spirit is praying silently within us. It doesn't mateer to me which view people take as the Holy Spirit IS praying. However, if the tongues are done in public - one should know that it needs to be translated for the people overhearing. I tend to think this kind of praying should be done alone in a private place].

[John A.]

Romans 8:22-39
[Continued]

Before I get to the second important thing to me in these passages. Let's review Exodus 6:6-8.

Exodus 6:6 "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.

Exd 6:7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.

Exd 6:8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.' "

This is the seven "I will" statements of God regarding the plan God has for Israel: redeeming them from Egyptians, Bringing the out (Exodus), and delivering them to promised land.

Since seven is the number of completeness in the Bible - one can say it is God's complete plan. Now use the Bible symbolism and substitue "world" for "Egyptians", "sin" for "yoke of the Egyptians", and "heaven" for "land". You will see that these verses are a foreshadowing of God's complete plan for redemption, justification, and sanctification/glorification of the believer.

Notice that it is not Moses, nor Aaron, nor any other OT saint that will perform these actions. In the foreshadowing,it is not you, me, Mary, apostles, pastors, nor any other person in our lives who will deliver us to glorification.

God Will - period. This is His work, not ours. Jesus is translated: Jehova is Salvation. Salvation is of God. AND all the steps are done by God.

[John A.]

test

[John A.]

Romans 8:22-39
[continued]

Passages on Assurance

Rom 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."

I have heard a lot of arguments about these verses. Watched them discussed in debates from youtube, google, etc. The verses are not corrupt as every ancient text scholar, secular or theistic, agrees the Greek text is undertandable. It says what it says. what does it say?

The verb tenses in Greek for foreknew, predestined, called, justified, and glorified are in aorist active indicative. So what?

Aorist active indicative indicates a completed action. Either done in a moment or over time. May be in the past, but does not have to be - so really a sense of timelessness.

It is an action, and God is the subject. God is doing each of these verb actions. If it is God and it is completed with a sense of timelessness, then it is truth.

God foreknew, God predestines, God calls, God justifies, and God glorifies.

This is called the "golden chain", and since God is doing the action and it is true - it cannot be broken.

This whole thing is about God, and not about us. God chooses, God saves, and God will develop our Christian walk.

Some say this isnot so. They do not claim it is 50/50 god and man. They like to say it is !00% God and 100% man. Problem with that is - if this is about God's glory and god does not share His glory (IS 42:8 and 48:11), then we have no role other than to submit as Christ did while He nwas here on earth. (After all Christ is our model is He not?}
=================================================================================
If God is in charge of each of our steps, and actually knew us before time began - If God sacrificed himself for us - if God has adopted us as His children when we believe -

then who can break that bond between us and God. Satan, humans, the believer - the answer: No one.

What God starts he finishes, no one can take us from His hand, God is big enough to do the job.

[John A.]

2 Chronicles 11-13:22

"13 VERSES 10-12

1. Abijah is telling them that they have not forsaken God, that their priests were of the lineage of Levite, and they are doing those things that God has told them to do. On the other hand, you are not!

2. Isaiah 45:9 says "Woe to him who strives with his Maker!.." You can try all you want and fight against the will of God, but you won't be successful. You will only be frustrated and discouraged. But when you don't strive against the will of God, you will find peace and comfort, you will find true joy. Why are so many people struggling today, in therapy and unhappy with life? Because they are striving with their Maker!

13 VERSE 18

1. Here is an important principle that we see throughout the Scriptures. The battle is never ours, it is always the Lords. Remember the night before Joshua and the children of Israel were about to have their encounter with the enemy in the land of Canaan, they were going against the mighty fortress of Jericho. And Joshua was out walking, looking at this city, pondering the battle that was quickly coming. And in Joshua 5:13-15 we read "And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, 'Are You for us or for our adversaries?' So He said, 'No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.' And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, and said to Him, 'What does my Lord say to His servant?' Then the Commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, 'Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.' And Joshua did so." God is the commander of the army, thus, as the enemy surrounds us, we can trust in Him, and walk by faith, and not tremble in fear."

http://www.ccmanitowoc.org/Library/Guglielmo-Joe/Studies/TH/14-2CH/TH1060.HTM