Bible in a Year Blog

1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17 + Romans 1:1-17 + Psalm 9:13-20 + Proverbs 19:4-5
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Old Testament – I think today's readings in First Chronicles could be called "Famous Dave!"  As indeed, David moves into his role as the King of Israel in today's readings and we read about his growing fame and support amongst the tribes!

In chapter 13 we read about David bringing the Ark back to Jerusalem – which was good in intention, but poor in execution…  God is clear in Numbers 4:5-15 that the Ark was to be moved only by the Levites and only by using carrying poles.  No one, not even the Levites were to touch the Ark itself.  David ended up following the Philistines example of moving the Ark on a cart, rather than following God's command.  Thus, in verses 9 & 10 we read  – "But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark. Then the LORD's anger blazed out against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God."  I wonder if we are like David was in this chapter in our lives today – how often do we have "good intentions", but poor execution?  How often do we take shortcuts on things God has been very clear on?  Even if these shortcuts seem like they are good ideas, why do we take them?  Why do we take the risk?

New Testament – Today we begin the book of Romans! What a great book we have coming up! We’ve been reading about Paul’s missionary journeys, the storm at sea, and being in chains for the Gospel in Acts. Now get ready to read and study some of Paul’s teachings first-hand! Some commentaries say that the book of Romans is a “Bible within the Bible.” And others: “The most profound book in existence.” Personally, I think we need to obviously consider all 66 books of the Bible to be the Bible and the entirety of the Bible to be the most profound book in existence. But, yes, Romans is a profound book of the Bible no doubt! Martin Luther said this about Romans: “It is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. It can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it is dealt with, the more precious it becomes.” Not a bad quote for us to jump into the book of Romans this week! Let’s go!

Romans
Author: Paul
Place: Corinth
Date: A.D. 57/58
Content: Paul was in Corinth on his third missionary journey and was planning to go to Rome, but had never been there before. This letter was written to introduce himself to the church and to summarize his theological teachings. For the latter reason, it is the most systematically organized letter of Paul. He begins by showing the universal sin of man. Neither Gentile nor Jew has any legitimate claim upon God because sin has invalidated any appeal. But God in his mercy stepped in, while we were still sinners, and opened the way back to himself (Romans 5:8). From this may come a victorious Christian life. Paul then deals with the place of the Jews in God’s plan (Romans 9-11), concluding with a series of ethical exhortations.
Theme: The righteousness of God, his righteous dealings with the world, and the righteous plan of salvation are the focus of this book. God is seen to be the great and holy God of the universe who cannot relax his laws because they are based upon his nature. But consistent with those laws, he devised a plan of salvation for Jews and Gentiles alike that sent his Son down from heaven to die for the sins of the world. Now anyone who trusts in Jesus will be saved (Romans 10:9) and be given the power of God over sin in his life. From God and his love nothing can separate the believer. (Romans 8:38-39) (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 24)

More commentary on Romans is at these 3 links –
https://bible.org/seriespage/1-introduction-book-romans
https://bible.org/seriespage/6-romans-introduction-argument-and-outline 
https://bible.org/seriespage/1-introduction-romans
Bob Deffinbaugh says at this link directly above – “If you can reason your way through Romans, you will have the Gospel under your belt. . . . As you begin this study, I would challenge you to review the Book of Romans often in your mind, seeking to trace its argument from the very first chapter to wherever your study has brought you. It is my hope that you will then seek to apply what you have learned in your own life, and to share the message of the Gospel it contains with those who are lost and without hope, apart from the faith this Epistle describes and defines. May God bless you in your study of this portion of His Word.”

Bible Project: Here is a terrific video introduction the book of Romans!

How powerfully strong are Paul's words in Romans chapter 1 verses 16 & 17 today!  In fact, the NIV Study Bible's commentary says that these two verses are the theme of the entire book of Romans:  "For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes–Jews first and also Gentiles. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life.""  Do you believe these two verses to be true?  Are you not ashamed of the Good News about Jesus Christ?  Do you believe that God makes us right in his sight by faith?

Bible.org's commentary on today's Romans Chapter 1 readings is at this link.

Psalms – Psalm 9 verse 18 is so true and powerful: "For the needy will not be forgotten forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed."  This is a great reminder that God's heart is for the poor in this world!  If God's heart is for the poor – should our heart be for the poor too?  How is your heart for the poor these days?  How do you remember the poor and their hopes?

Proverbs – It is interesting to consider the Psalm verse about compared to Proverbs 19 verse 4 today: "Wealth makes many "friends"; poverty drives them away."  This is a true Proverb.  I am intrigued by "friends" being in parentheses – what type of friends do we attract with wealth?  Will they still be there when the wealth is gone?  I do think it's true that poverty drives "friends" away.  If the poor do not have many friends, then should we be a friend to the poor?  How could we be a friend to the poor?  Was Jesus a friend to the poor?  What type of poor was Jesus a friend too – poor in spirit; poor in wealth; poor in health; all of the above?  Should we emulate Jesus in his friendship to the poor?

Worship Video: Today's readings in Romans remind me of Matt Maher's song "Christ is Risen:"

Do you believe that Christ is risen? Click here to meet the Risen Lord!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." Romans 1:16 TNIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you are not ashamed of the Gospel in any way, shape or form. Pray that you proclaim the Gospel throughout your life in every way. Pray that you fully know and believe that the Gospel is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.

Comments from You:  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

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:

1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17

Regarding Mike’s statement, “good in intention, but poor in execution… “ , I’m going to be harder on David then Stacey. I don’t see what David did or didn’t do regarding moving the Ark from Kirjath-Jearim to the City of David as an act done out of ignorance with good intentions. There is a saying, “The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions.”

David had been King of Judah, in Hebron for seven years, he had been anointed king while still a teenager and in all those years, David had vast experience with getting the Mind of God. He did not learn that while running from Saul but in tending his father’s sheep. David had a deep relationship with God way before Samuel came to his house looking to anoint one of Jesse’s son as king. I am not writing this to poke holes and criticize what David did or didn’t do, but to learn from his mistakes.

1) David consulted with his army commanders and with the political leaders about moving the Ark, but he did not consult the Levities and the Priests. They, the commanders and political leaders, either remembered stories of how the Philistines sent the Ark back after they captured it or they were witness to the event, either way the Philistines were used as a model for transporting the Ark. Lesson: Don’t use the world as a model for handling the things of God.

2) David failed to follow a command given by Moses for all kings to do, study the Word!!

14 … Then you may begin to think, `We ought to have a king like the other nations around us.'… 18"When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy these laws on a scroll for himself in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19He must always keep this copy of the law with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the LORD his God by obeying all the terms of this law. 20This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. This will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.

If David had kept this commandment, he would have known how the Ark was to be transported. Lesson: Make the study of God’s Word a lifestyle.

So often, we have the Word right in front of us but we fail to read what is in the Book, especially in the United States. And if we do read it, we read portions and don’t take in the Whole Counsel of God. We convince ourselves that it is too difficult, too inflexible or too dry to keep our interest, not realizing that understanding only comes by seeking understanding. Our children are sent to school to learn the fundamentals of reading, math, science and hopefully the arts which upon graduation from High School and College the why of all the learning will make sense. How often do we say, “If I knew then what I know now …” because we realize the foundation for our life was poured in our youth. New construction is always easier then reconstruction.

David’s failure cost someone else their life. My failures cost others their lives. It may not have been the actual cessation of their natural life, although that could have happened and I didn’t know, but life to the fullest could have been delayed or totally blocked by decisions I made from ignorance because I failed to get complete information.

Also, take note of the Ark sitting in Obed-edom’s house for three months bringing a blessing on the entire household. Now the Ark had sat in Kiriath-jearim for almost 100 years and nobody was getting blessed, why? This speaks so powerful to me because I killed off God in my own mind and tried to get others to kill Him off also. For almost twenty years, I raged, cursed and ridiculed people reading the bible on public transportation because of what “church folks” did to me. I judged God and Jesus by those who claimed to be His disciples. I saw no blessings associated with the God they said they believed in and served.

How many people in Israel thought God was just the God in the Box in Kiriath-jearim, because they saw no evidence of changed lives? I am not talking about material things but behaviors and mannerisms that cry out, “They have been with God!” Can people look at me and say, “She has been with Jesus.”

Grace and peace,
Ramona

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With regards to David and moving the Ark of the Covenant: There are many things we "should" know from the Bible, but we really don't get a handle on them until we are faced with a test. David's position and influence had just increased by finally becoming the king. With the new status and increase in influence, God requires more of him in the area of faithfulness to God's Word and counsel. 1 Cor 4:2, Luke 12:48

Many of us try to take on new roles and use our old ways of doing things. When God does grant increased favor to us by putting us in leadership roles, the best thing that we can do is seek His Word on how to carry out the new mission. It is at these times that we can expect our knowledge of God's word to be tested by a refiner's fire. These trials and testings do show what we have been building on the foundation of Christ. 1 Cor 3:9-15 and 1 Pet 1:6,7 We do get the opportunity through times of testing and failure to get on our knees in humble prayer to find out from the Lord what we thought we knew needs to be replaced with a real and correct response to what was already spoken in His Word. We often miss out on some of the best direction from God because we write off some of His scriptures consciously or unconciously with an attitude of "that doesn't apply to me" so I'll just skip that requirement. One of the best examples of that in my experience is about tithing. For many years I missed the blessing of tithing by saying that it was Old Testament and it really didn't apply to me. So although I gave a lot of money to the church, I missed out on all of God's blessings and benefits as "I did it my way". I have been seriously tithing and giving offerings now for 3 years and am fully experiencing the blessings of God. Are God's blessings financial? There are truly financial rewards to tithing as you cannot outgive God. But God's real blessing over the tithe is that it puts Him in first place as Sovereign. When He is honored in His rightful place as God and I am in my rightful place as humble and obedient to His Words, then life just seems to bloom and blossom everywhere around me.

Stacey

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