Dec 2 2012

Nearing Year End \ Week 47 summary posted

Israelites of the Old Testament look toward the coming of the Messiah — Malachi 3:1-5, Isaiah 53

As December has now arrived, it seems hard to believe that 11 months have passed since this blog started on this Bible reading plan. We began literally “In the beginning” in Genesis, reading the first promise of the Messiah (Genesis 3:15) and, therefore, the first hints of God’s plan for man’s salvation. Truly, one could not follow even this easy plan without seeing that the Bible is one story, with a beginning, a middle, and soon we will find, and end as well. We read of the ancestry, birth, life, and sacrificial death of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The focus o the Scripture now is clearly on looking ahead to Jesus’ return, as we all are; and we still have a month of the New Testament left of getting the “big picture” of the Bible.

Summing Up

Each weekend, I am now posting a small PDF of one week of chapter summaries (on the website’s “Summaries” page), current to the beginning of the previous week. I have posted the summary for Week 47 (November Week 3) of the schedule I am following. This short PDF document contains condensed comments about Romans 15, Acts 21, 22, 23, and 24, with hyperlinks to the ESV version of each chapter for listening or reading, and joins the summaries for other weeks already posted there.

/Bob’s boy

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image © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog. All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility. When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com. For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Aug 30 2012

Mark 11 – The Triumphal Entry

As Jesus approached Jerusalem by way of Bethphage and Bethany, He sent two disciples to get a colt for Him to ride on – fulfilling Zechariah 9:9. Jesus tells them where it will be and what to say when someone asks why they are untying it (including that it will be returned immediately). On the way, He is hailed as the Messiah (verses 9-10). “Hosanna” in verses 9 and 10 comes from an expression found in Psalm 118:25 (“Save us, we pray, O Lord”), which when translated into Greek becomes “Hosanna.” In verse 11, He entered the Temple in Jerusalem, just to look around, then they left for the day. When He returned the next day, He would again cleanse the Temple, driving out the money-changers and those who sold animals. Verse 17 quotes both Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11.

The following day, He saw a fig tree in leaf, even though it was not the season for figs. But the leaves were an outward sign that promised fruit. Yet there was none. The analogy of this to God’s people is hard to dispute. So Jesus declared that no one would eat fruit from it again; and in verses 20-21, His disciples saw that it withered to its roots. Verses 23-25 do not mean that everything we want will be given to us if we pray with enough faith. We must remember what the scripture says about motives in prayer (James 4:3), and about praying according to God’s will (1 John 5:14).

Bethphage area, on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, near Bethany. This was on the way from Jerusalem to Jericho.

The chief priests, scribes and the elders all come to challenge Jesus, demanding to know what gives him the authority to do the things he is doing. He cleansed the Temple of what was going on right under their noses. But more than that, the question also seems to be of a general nature, in order to strengthen their case against Him. His refusal to answer unless they told Him by what authority John the Baptist had baptized was calculated, as He knew they would not answer (verses 29-33). By saying that the baptism was of man, they would anger the crowds who believed John to be a prophet. But if they said it was of God, they would be admitting that John spoke the truth when he said that he was the one preparing the way for the Messiah (John 1:23 and Mark 1:7-8).

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Jul 10 2012

Isaiah 53 – The Suffering Servant

In chapters 46 -53, the prophet Isaiah introduces four “Servant” songs. The fourth, the Suffering Servant begun in chapter 52:13-15, continues here in chapter 53. It is considered one of the most important prophecies of Jesus in the Old Testament. Twelve verses that foretell the most important event in mankind’s history! The people are expecting that the Messiah as king will lead them to military and political greatness – possibly becoming a great world power. Isaiah says that when he arrives, they won’t even get it. The “Arm of the Lord” in verse one refers to God’s power in action. This verse is referred to in John 12:37-38, and John goes on in 39-41 to quote Isaiah 6:10, elaborating on their blindness, and the hardness of their hearts. Verses 2-3 show that he will be an outwardly unimpressive man from humble beginnings, rather than a majestically handsome ruler from the elite. The “dry ground” of verse two refers to the fallen kingdom of David.

The heart of the song is verses 4-6, as he bore the sins of the world though he was himself innocent – pierced for our transgressions (also see Matthew 8:17). The event of the crucifixion of Jesus could not be better summed up by these verses. Notice the words “pierced, crushed, chastisement, wounds.” Isaiah stresses how much God punished the rejected servant for the sins of all. Verses 7-8, led like a lamb led to slaughter or a sheep that before its shearers is silent – innocent, yet submissive.

The prophecy of verse 9 (“And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth”) is fulfilled in Matthew 27:57-60. Verses 10-12 make it plain that it was the will of God to crush Him; and the result is not regret, but a sense of triumph and accomplishment. The crux of verse 10 – “he shall see his offspring” (the new Israel); “he shall prolong his days” (the resurrection); “the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand” (God’s plans are carried out).

Isaiah points ahead to the greatest act of love ever done for man!

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Jul 9 2012

Isaiah 11 – The Righteous Reign of the Branch

Isaiah 1:1 tells us that this prophet prophesied “in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah”. His call to ministry came about 740 BC – “in the year that King Uzziah died” (Isaiah 6:1). He lived at least until 681 BC, as he writes of the death of Sennacherib in Isaiah 37:37-38.

English: Isaiah; illustration from a Bible card published by the Providence Lithograph Company (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Isaiah 11 is a very short, but very important chapter in the message of God’s plan for salvation. Isaiah opens the chapter right away in verse 1 with the promise of the coming of the Messiah. The reference to being from the “stump of Jesse” – a greater David is prophesied (Ezekiel 37:24-25), a better king to serve (Hosea 3:5). Much imagery and evocative language follows, stressing that nothing will stand in the way of God’s plan (see verses 11-16). Paul refers to these verses, speaking about Jesus in Romans 15:8-13 – saying that “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

May 23 2012

2 Samuel 7 – The Lord’s Covenant with David

If you asked this blogger for an opinion of the most important passages in the Bible, it would be a tough task. But the seventh chapter of 2 Samuel would definitely make the short list. This is where God makes His covenant with David (although the word covenant itself is not used here, see Psalm 89). Again, this passage is so important, we will find it again in 1 Chronicles 17.

Nathan advises King David (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The chapter begins with David in his majestic home built of cedars, realizing that while God has made his kingdom great, David has not built a temple (a fine house) for God. At first, the prophet Nathan tells David to go ahead – “for the Lord is with you” (verse 3). But Nathan was wrong, and the Lord let him know that he should tell David not to do it. we will find out in 1 Chronicles 22:7-9 more reasons why God does not want David to build him a house. But that is not the important message the Lord wants delivered here.

Instead, the Lord proclaims that He will establish David’s house, raise up his offspring, and establish his kingdom forever (verses 12-16 – compare to the Hebrew writer’s words about Jesus in Hebrews 1:1-5). The comparison there seems similar to the explanation of the covenant with Abraham and his offspring that we find in Galatians 3:11-16 (especially verse 16), although Solomon is clearly the intended for the “short-term” kingdom. But the kingdom that will last forever will be of Jesus the Christ (Acts 2:25-34).

Notice the prayer from David in verses 18-29 – full of intimate feelings of humility, thanksgiving, honor and respect (David uses the phrase “O Lord God” eight times). Truly one of the great prayers of the Bible, and fitting to the momentous news he has received from God. David indicates that he understands the monumental result of this news, but is filled with wonder, that God has chosen him to do his this great thing through.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Feb 3 2012

Genesis 28 – Jacob Sent to Laban

Genesis 28 continues with Isaac sending Jacob to the family of his uncle, Laban (Rebekah’s brother) to choose a wife. Esau, seeing that his parents were not pleased with his taking Canaanite women as wives, takes another wife from Ishmael’s family – seemingly hoping to please them. But as verse 9 points out, this was “besides the wives he had.” So he kept the Canaanite women, and therefore, nothing really changed. Esau just didn’t “get it.”

Jacob’s Dream

This is the chapter best known for Jacob’s ladder. The important thing about this dream of Jacob’s is God’s repeat of the promise to Abraham and affirming in it to Jacob that ALL the nations of the earth will be blessed in his offspring (the Messiah to come) in verse 14. (We “hear” Jesus speaking to Nathanael in John 1:51 of seeing “angels of God ascending and descending.” that reminds us of this dream in verse 12). And this dream along with the conviction that God was with him increases Jacob’s faith. After he awakes, he takes the stone he had laid on during that dream and he later called that place Bethel. Jacob will return there in Genesis 35 at God’s instruction to build an altar.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

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Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog. All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility. When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com. For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.
/Robert

Jan 4 2012

Genesis 3 – The Fall

Genesis 3 is one of the most important chapters of the Bible for three very good reasons. The first and second are that this is where sin enters the world, but hope is given to us with the first prediction of the coming of the Messiah (Jesus) in verse 15. Everything was good. There was no death until this happened. Sin and death enter the world because they did not trust in what God had told them. The third lesson is the clearest example that males today can have of what is expected of them as a leader, and how grave the consequences can be for not living up to that.

Notice that verse 6 says that Eve ate some of the fruit and then “gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” Adam was right there, had been given CLEAR instructions of what was forbidden; AND he was given the responsibility to instruct, protect and lead his mate. Yet he was right there when it all happened, and he gave us the most dreadful example of leadership in history.

Then, to make matters worse (if they could get worse), when God confronts him, Adam blames Eve, then God himself for his sin! (verse 12 “..the woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the fruit, and I ate.”) Adam should have spoken up when the temptation arose, and said that God had told them what was wrong because it was best for them – not because God was trying to hold them back, as the serpent was saying. Adam’s failure to lead is one of the most important and most over-looked lessons for men in God’s word.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

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