2KINGS 19-20:
The writer of 1 & 2 Kings was very brief about the sins of the people of Israel (in both kingdoms) until what we heard yesterday. He seems to have saved the moral of the story until chapter 17. And then we have the wonderful contrast with Hezekiah in chapter 18. Then the Asyrian king mocked the God of Israel at the end of chapter 18. We hear God's answer today.
PSALM 132:
It would appear that Solomon wrote this Psalm of Ascent, as part of it was quoted by him at the dedication of the temple.
JOHN 15:
Yesterday we heard Jesus promise that He would send our Advocate/Comforter/Helper, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the one who literally ‘comes along beside’ and will lead us into all truth and be with us forever. And I think it is really due to Him that we can have “a peace that the world cannot give or understand.”
GNT Translation notes:
Ps. 132:14 [He says,] “This is where I will live forever; this is where I want to rule.
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John 15:4 Remain [joined as one//united] to me, and I will remain [joined as one//united] to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains [joined to//in] the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain [joined to//in] me.
[When talking of the organic unity of a branch and a vine, we don’t say a branch ‘in’ a vine, do we?! Greek says it that way. But it is much more natural it English to say a branch is ‘joined’ or is ‘connected’, and various other words. Because of this, we also tend to miss out on the meaning of ‘in Him/Christ’ that comes up so often in the New Testament. The meaning is NOT that we are ‘inside’ Him, but that we are joined as one with him.]
5 “I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain [joined to//in] me, and I [with//in] them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me.
6 Those who do not remain [joined with//in] me are thrown out like a branch and dry up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned.
7 If you remain [joined to//in] me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it.
16 You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him [for the sake of my glory//in my name].
NLT translation notes:
Ps 132:2 He made a solemn promise to [You/the] LORD.
He vowed to [You,] the Mighty One of Israel,
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John 15:4 Remain [joined to//in] me, and I will remain [joined to//in] you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain [joined to//in] me. (Similarly in 5-7.)
[When talking of the organic unity of a branch and a vine, we don’t say a branch ‘in’ a vine, do we?! Greek says it that way. But it is much more natural it English to say a branch is ‘joined’ or is ‘connected’, and various other words. Because of this, we also tend to miss out on the meaning of ‘in Him/Christ’ that comes up so often in the New Testament. The meaning is NOT that we are ‘inside’ Him, but that we are joined as one with him.]
16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, [for my name’s sake/for the sake of my glory//using my name].
[This promise is NOT about ‘dropping’ or ‘using’ Jesus’ name! Ending a selfish prayer with, “in Jesus’ name” does not transform it into a good prayer. We don’t simply ‘use’ Jesus’ name and cash in on this promise! God can tell the difference when people unselfishly pray for things in the cause of bringing glory to Christ.
This must be one of the worst mistakes in the NLT! This translation shows that the translator has been affected by modern Christian culture and did not consider what this really means. But then, I must admit, every translator, including me, falls in this regard from time to time, and that is why it is said in the NIV introduction, “No translation is perfect.”]
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