July 14th One Year Bible Readings

1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17 ~ Romans 2:1-24 ~ Psalm 10:16-18 ~ Proverbs 19:8-9
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Old Testament - The theme of David being a "war" king stands out today in our First Chronicles readings.  In fact, we'll get a couple more chapters of David's wars coming up in tomorrow's readings.   The wars are what kept David from building the Temple of the Lord.  This duty will be passed on to his son Solomon, a "peace" king if you will. There are some great readings today in First Chronicles 17 about the Lord's covenant promise to David via the prophet Nathan!

There is an interesting thing to note in this message to David via Nathan from the Lord in verses 12 through 14.  In context these verses are about Solomon.  However, interestingly, the New Testament basically applies these verses to Jesus in Luke 1:32-22:  "He is the one who will build a house--a temple--for me. And I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will not take my unfailing love from him as I took it from Saul, who ruled before you. I will establish him over my dynasty and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever.'"  Think these are Messianic verses that can be applied to Jesus?

Today in 1 Chronicles chapter 17 verse 30 we read this prayer of King David – “There is no one like you, O LORD, and there is no God but you.” Have you ever searched for other "gods"? Have you ever really found those other gods? Have they ever delivered on anything? Do you believe there is no other God like the one true and living God that we read about in the Bible? Are you living your life in such a way that you are seeking to know more and more about the character, heart, and will of the one true and living God? Do you love God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit with all of your mind, soul and strength? Have you forsaken pursuing all other false gods for the remainder of your life? Will you leave the idols behind?

New Testament - Again... wow..  Paul's writings in Romans are so convicting and true.  So many verses in today's readings bring out so much.  One verse that stood out to me was 16 - "The day will surely come when God, by Jesus Christ, will judge everyone's secret life. This is my message."  This is powerful to consider.  Do you have a secret life?  Do you realize that Jesus will judge your secret life?  So, really, is there such a thing as a secret life after all?  It will all surely come out into the Light and be judged.  Do you have skeletons in your closet?  Will you confess those skeletons/sins to God right now and repent of them immediately?

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Romans titled "No Excuse for the Jews" is at this link.

Psalms - I love Psalm 10 verses 17 & 18 today: "LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless.  Surely you will listen to their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so people can no longer terrify them."  The Psalmist here tells us that God knows the hopes of the helpless.  Do we?  Do we care?  The Psalmist says God will listen to their cries and comfort them.  Are we listening?  Are we comforting?  God will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so people can no longer terrify them.  Should we do this as well?  Will we?  Will you?

Proverbs - We have a great Proverb in chapter 19 verse 8 today - "To acquire wisdom is to love oneself; people who cherish understanding will prosper."  Do you love yourself?  Are you continually acquiring wisdom in your life?  Do you want to prosper?  Do you cherish understanding?  Where are you seeking wisdom and understanding in your life today?

YouTube Video: Today's readings in Romans reminds me of Casting Crowns' song "Every Man:"

Do you believe there is hope for you?  Click here for Hope!

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

[MG]

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;he who cherishes understanding prospers.

What a reminder that seeking God's way for our lives is good for us! It is a blessing in and of itself. His laws are for our good--whether regarding gossip, sexuality, honoring parents, or anything else. When we pursue his way, it is better for us.

[Pat]

What really touched my heart today was the reading from 1 Chronicles 16-18. David wanted to build a temple of cedar in which to house the Ark. God, through Nathan, told David that he would NOT be the one to build the temple but instead after his death his son would be the one to construct the temple. Basically, David told God what he wanted to do and God said “No!” How did David react to this? Instead of being prideful, disappointed or angry, David praised God! How many times do we tell God what we want to do or want done instead of asking God what He wants? How many of us praise God when our plans don’t work out? I often say that I’m glad God listens to me but doesn’t follow my instructions. I, like so many others, have a tendency to tell God what to do, how to do it, and when to get it done. Thank goodness and praise the Lord that His wisdom is greater than mine and He replaces my wants with what I should have instead!

[Johnnie]

My takeaway today:
Romans 2:3-4
Do you think that God will judge and condemn others for doing them and not judge you when you do them, too? 4Don't you realize how kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Or don't you care? Can't you see how kind he has been in giving you time to turn from your sin?

We always have to remember not to judge others for many times they know not what they are doing...

[Edna]

IChr 17:18 "What more can I say about the way you have honored me? You know what I am really like." When I read verse 18, I cried because I thought about how God continually blesses me even though He knows what I am really like. Who among us can not praise God for his wonderful blessings to us? If we have nothing to praise God for, then we must be dead. Edna

[R]

I Chronicles 16:37-18:17

Part of message Nathan is told to give to David has totally enraptured me,

10 …" `And now I declare that the LORD will build a house for you--a dynasty of kings! 11For when you die, I will raise up one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong. 12He is the one who will build a house--a temple--for me. And I will establish his throne forever. 13I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will not take my unfailing love from him as I took it from Saul, who ruled before you. 14I will establish him over my dynasty and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever.' "

This is a message with a duel or multilayered meaning; it speaks to David’s near future and the distant future, eternity. I wonder if David understood this was not only talking about the generations from his body yet born who would die off, but the words spoke of someone who would be born into his line, Messiah.

I’m not sure if what I’m stating is correct but I think it could be possible when we search the scriptures for answers to our current personal problems, the words we find to address the issues, God’s Words, speak and point to a time to come, eternity.

Romans 2:1-24

Knowing the “law” and doing what is required are not synonymous. This is what I here Paul saying in this passage. How many times have I said these words, “O, I know that,” and then acted like the knowing of exempted me from executing what I knew.

Psalm 10:16-18
18 You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed,
so people can no longer terrify them

What is it about “orphans and the oppressed” that societies and cultures look to exploit, and what is it about societies and cultures that give rise to oppression? It must be either pride, lust or greed from within banded together to attack and plunder a vulnerable people but they are venerable to God. So going against them is fighting against God.

Proverbs 19:8-9

If the act of acquiring wisdom, actively seeking it out, is the physical evidence that one loves themselves, then those who shun wisdom and are desirous to frolic in folly, then they are self-hating folk.

[John]

Romans 2:1-16

Chapter 1: Reveals the unrighteousness of man
Chapter 2: Reveals the self-righteousness of man

IMPORTANT: Paul is not addressing Salvation here, he is talking about God's Judgment. He is not addressing anyone who has been saved in Christ. He is still in the preamble showing why mankind needs the Gospel.

Five Principles of God's Judgment:
1) God's judgment based on truth.
2) Judge according to man's deeds.
3) Sin without law will perish without law. Sin in the law will be judged by the law.
4) Not hearer's of the law, but doers of the law. are justified (righteous).
5) If no law, but follow a natural law written in their hearts, their conscience will be their witness before God.
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Paul thouroughly showed the unrighteousness of man in chapter 1.

There is discussion on whether Chapter 2 is addressing moralist, Jews, or both.

Regardless, there were people who would say, "You go Paul, those people you are talking about in Chapter 1 are wicked. They need help."

JUDGMENT IS GOD'S BUSINESS NOT MANS
Not so fast Paul says, in opening chapter 2:
Don't be so fast to pass judgment on the people described in Chapter 1. By passing judgment you show you know right from wrong (moralist) or the law (Jews).

You are condemning yourself because you know right from wrong (or the law) and yet you to do the same types of things. Because YOU think you are good person - do you think your sins are going to be missed by God? Do you think because you prosper that God is ok with your life? You should be on your knees thanking God and seeking Him.

Instead mankind is stubborn and has an unrepentant heart (turned from God) and is storing up wrath until the day of God's Righteous Judgment.

[God's judgment will be based on Truth. The Truth has been revealed in Jesus Christ. All the fancy machinations of man to try and justify themselves will be for naught. The Truth is - you reject Jesus - you are condemned. It is just a matter of what will be the judgment. Doesn't matter how many times you pray, how many rituals and rites you perform, how much you give to charity, how many times you do inherantly good acts, etc. - ME]
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The next part is important, because some people will claim - Aha! Paul is talking about "salvation by works". No. remember Paul is talking about judgment. He is creating the need for the Gospel.

God "will give to each person according to what he has done."

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

To the Jews and moralists who have knowledge of the Law and "right and wrong". God will judge you by what you did - and HERE are his STANDARDS.

If you steadfastly do good - seeking to reflect the glory of God, earn God's honor, and seek purity (incorruptable life) - well - you get eternal life.

[Problem is just like the Law in the Old Testament this standard is impossible for man to achieve. Second Problem the self-righteous addressed in this chapter are not seeking God. There has to be another way - and Paul reveals it later in Romans. - ME]

But if you reject God, seek your own way, do the same type of things listed in Chapter 1 - you will receive wrath and anger. Because no one can satisfy God's high standard above - all fall in this category.
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Paul wraps up this section before addressing the Jews specifically by:

Knowing the Law or not knowing the Law - you will be judged.

If you know the law only if you obey it will you be declared righteous - just as impossible as the "good" standard above.

If you don't know it - you obey some kind of ethical code based on innate knowledge of being in the "image" of God. Your conscience will be your testimony.

Paul's prognosis is not good for anybody that rejects God. There are no excuses.

I have a question for God and Paul when I see him: Are the "absolutes" of all who sin apart from the law - pointed at the Roman Empire's populace, civilized world of the time, or everybody everywhere? I truly don't know, and probably will not resolve this question in my lifetime.

NOTE: I still think that in the jungles, islands, and tundras etc. that if inhabitants are seeking God to the extant they understand their revelation of God - God will judge fairly and justly.
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Disclaimer:

There is an alternate explanation of verse 7 - but to me it takes a lot of mental gymnastics to make the "explanation fit". I prefer to look at this as a logically progressing argument - hence I took a straightforward approach on verse 7. The idea being there is no way the self-righteous can justify themselves before God.

Also, I am journaling here, and working my way through Romans. If someone thinks I am way off base - it will not hurt my feelings to point out disagreement.

[Mei]

This is a good reflection because we have to remember that there are many christians out there who are disappointed with God and looking for some help. And that help sometimes should come from us, the church. I'm hoping that my cartoon devotionals does help to comfort some brothers and sisters, and your blog is certainly very endearing.

[Jenny]

I agree, regarding the Romans readings, Wow!...very convicting! We need Christ's provision and imparted righteous bcos we are all condemned aside from His atoning sacrifice! I'm guilty! we all are! There is so much to ponder in Romans. We will start Romans at church in two weeks. I cant wait!! I will love to have further teaching on this awesome book!

[Amrita]

That ssong was really very challenging and inspiring.What am I doing to spread the WORD