DBRP_Jul08_2014 2King5-6 Ps125 John11b

Today we hear two more chapters containing fascinating miracles performed by Elisha. The one about Gahazi getting the gifts from Naaman, and the vision shown to a nameless servant about the chariots of fire surrounding Elisha both have interesting spiritual significance to ponder.

 

The first verse of this psalm is one that our family has sung for years. Gale and I learned the song that we sing from a tape from a Canadian church called St. Margarets, a place we have never been to. That was when we were in Papua New Guinea around 1977, when David was two. Those who trust in the Lord are secure!

 

In today's reading, Jesus works his biggest miracle yet, and the Jewish leaders become even firmer in their plans to kill Him.

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DBRP_Jul07_2014 2King3-4 Ps124 John11a

Thanks to these readers for helping today: Tabiya Saint Louis, Luke Fields, Rebecca Hinkle, and Laura Montgomery.

 

Today we hear of the many miracles done by Elisha, supplying water for three armies on their way to Moab for war, helping the widow of a prophet, the woman from Shunem, purifying Jericho's water, and supplying food during a famine.

 

I keep being amazed how people (and particularly those in America) don’t seem to learn anything from the amazing things that are happening in our times. The last verse of this psalm expresses the lesson that I thing we should have learned by now.

 

Today's reading contains another of Jesus' seven major 'I Am' statements: “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”

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DBRP_Jul06_2014 2King1-2 Ps123 John10b

Today we hear of the final amazing prophecies of Elijah, and then how he took leave of the prophets and particularly, his successor Elisha. Elisha quickly shows that he is Elijah's successor.

 

This psalm has an important similarity with Ps. 121 which said,

1 I look up to the mountains—

does my help come from there?

2 My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth!

This psalm tells us how to ‘look’.

 

Today we hear the whole of chapter 10 of John. Our Shepherd calls us by name. He knows us thoroughly, just like He and the Father know each other. He goes before us and leads us into a rich and satisfying life. He is our great and good Shepherd because he has sacrificed his life for us.

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DBRP_Jul05_2014 1King21-22 Ps122 John10a

Today we hear stories that show that King Ahab indeed “sold himself to evil,” including the story of Naboth's vineyard. And also we hear of Ahab's friendship with King Jehoshaphat of Judah. And we hear how the prophecies against Ahab were fulfilled.

 

Consider how exciting it would have been to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. And let’s all keep ‘marching to Zion’.

 

This is a place where our chapter divisions in our Bibles probably do not serve us well. In the original manuscript by John, there would not be any separation between what Jesus said to the Pharisees to answer their question about spiritual blindness, and this chapter. In fact, in John’s day they didn’t even have spaces between words. So in all likelihood, there was not even a new line to start this teaching. So let’s envision Jesus giving this teaching while the previously blind man and the Pharisees were listening.

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DBRP_Jul04_2014 1King19-20 Ps121 John9b

What a cruel surprise it must have been for Elijah to give such an irrefutable display of God's power before the people, but then to have to flee for his life because of Queen Jezebel! Note in today's readings how God deigned to speak twice to King Ahab. And the reason was, God wanted it known to Ahab and to us that He is not a territorial God. God also gave amazing, symbolic revelations of Himself in the story of His appearing to Elijah at Mount Sinai. And Elisha, Elijah's successor, is introduced.

 

Today's Psalm of Ascent is the lovely Psalm 121.

 

Today I read John 9 in the Good News Bible, because that is the version I read and appreciated this story in way back in High School. I note that it is still a very good translation. In this story, we see that, not only does Jesus tell parables, but He arranged circumstances to actually act out this highly symbolic story. I think one may see a link with this verse from the book of Hebrews:

The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) 

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DBRP_Jul03_2014 1King17-18 Ps120 John9a

Wow, there are quite a few names here that I read with a different pronunciation than is normal in English. Hope it doesn't put too many of you off! Today's reading is one of the most dramatic in all of Scripture: The time the prophet Elijah confronted King Ahab. Remember that in the New Testament James uses this story to encourage us that we are no different than Elijah and that we should pray fervently like him.

 

Today we have the first of the Psalms of Ascent. The HCSB Study Bible says this about the Songs of Ascent: 

These psalms were designed for pilgrimage processions to celebrate seasonal feasts in Jerusalem. The hymns contain numerous references to Jerusalem or Zion, the temple, Israel, peace, and adversity. The 15 songs, adapted from ancient hymns heralding the blessings and salvation of Zion, may have been sung on the 15 steps leading up to the temple.

 

Remember that in John 8 there was a tense stand off between Jesus and the religious leaders. The people took up stones to kill Jesus. John places this story here to again illustrate the opposition to Jesus. 

 

Ever since I was in high school this has been my favorite chapter of the Bible. This dates from the time that I found a tract from the American Bible Society in the rack in the foyer of our church. So in Indonesia also, I have made this chapter into a little book containing our translation. I like giving this chapter out to people I meet. Why? It is not because it answers people’s questions. It is because this chapter makes people ask the most important questions.

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DBRP_Jul02_2014 1King15-16 Ps119k John8b

We've arrived at the narrative of the different kings of Judah (including Benjamin) and the kings of Israel (consisting of the 10 other tribes, sometimes called the northern kingdom). The kings on the Israel side change more rapidly and are 100% bad, while there is a mixed record among the kings of Judah. It will help your understanding to observe the section headings (which I do not read), and to try to remember which kingdom is being talked about. Note in today's reading how prophecy is fulfilled again and again. And although Baasha fulfilled the murderous prophecy against the house of Jeroboam, in chapter 16 verse 7, the murders he committed were still counted against Baasha as sin.

 

I love this verse, which was the last verse from yesterday’s reading:

160 The very essence of your words is truth;

all your just regulations will stand forever.

Today we have the last two stanzas for Psalm 119, and a special guest reader whom I thank. His name is Caleb Sellers, with Pioneer Bible Translators.

 

Just as with Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman, again it is obvious that He is not just reacting to his critics, but is leading the argument toward his own purposes— in this case, toward his own self-disclosure. And in today's reading the argument comes to a tense dramatic climax with Jesus telling the Jewish leaders that they are following their father's example and that their father is the devil. Finally Jesus closed with this self-disclosure, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!” Jesus knew that this would anger all his critics and in fact lead to his own death.

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