Hi folks, Due to covid I am not able to read with you in person today.

� Reading 1 - 1 Chron 22-25

22 - These readings are in Chronicles, and give us important information about David’s preparations for the Temple that Samuel does not contain. 1 Chronicles 22 begins those preparations, noting that David could not build the temple due to his participation in many wars (verse 8). As David fought these wars at God’s command and with God’s help this may be more about the need to bring peace and safety than a mark against David’s character. His place was to secure the empire, and then Solomon could build the Temple in an atmosphere of peace and safety (verse 9). The huge amount of gold and silver David stored up, from sources even outside of Israel, show how prosperous David’s reign was, and how good God is at keeping His promises.

23 - Chapter 23 begins some difficult reading. These lists of names are a struggle for the modern reader but the names are important because they detail the Levites involvement and service in the Temple. Some of it is from the Chronicler’s time, but it is all traced back to David. Note the change in duties with the new circumstances of being settled in the land (verses 25-26)

24 - Chapter 24 sets out the courses of the priests. By David’s time there were more priests than oppor- tunities to serve so the families were divided into 24 courses or divisions. Each course served one month out of the year, with the duties rotating among the men in their month. Verse 10 lists the eighth course, which was Zechariah’s course (John the Baptist’s father).

25 - Chapter 25 deals with the musicians. This is a good time to note that the instrumental music used in the Temple was ordered by God (2 Chron 29:25). Of course, attempts to appeal to the Old Testament wor- ship system in its physical Temple to prove instrumental music should be used in New Testament worship are folly. Should we offer sacrifices and burn incense as well? We should not be embarrassed by instrumen- tal music in the Old Testament or shy away from it. It was commanded of God and so it was used. If any- thing it shows that God is certainly capable of expressing a desire for that kind of music in His worship!

Psalm 78

This massive psalm of history is a wisdom psalm that rephrases the old saying “those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Psalm 78 says again and again “we must not repeat our history.” The psalm opens with a strong challenge to hear and learn (verses 1-8). “Parable” (verse 2) is the word that gives the book of Proverbs its name. It means a comparison. That is what the psalm does: it compares Israel’s rebel- lion to God’s faithfulness. Verse 8 is a marvelous, but sad, summary of so much of Israel’s history. The psalm then traces how God’s people forgot His works (verses 9-16), grumbled against Him (verses 11-31), and often engaged in fake repentance (verses 32-39). Important notes along the way include “Ephramites” (verse 9) is a term meaning all Israel because they were often the largest tribe. The parallelism of verse 22 is striking and a fine example of how that poetic device works. Line A (“did not believe in God”) is echoed and enhanced by Line B (“did not trust His saving power”). At verse 40 the psalmist recounts the Exodus (verses 40-53) and entry intro the Promised Land (verses 54-64), a time marked by faithlessness and ingratitude. Note the mention of Shiloh and the loss of the ark from 1 Samuel 4 (verses 60ff). The psalm concludes with hopes for better things in Israel’s future, and that hope is bound up in the choice of David as king (verses 65-72).

Week 22 - Romans 5-9

5 - Faith changes everything, even how we suffer (verses 1-3). How does the Spirit pour out God’s love in our hearts (verse 5)? By telling us of the cross (verses 6-8). Verse 12 begins a difficult section. Paul wants to illustrate how one person’s actions have affected all humanity. Who can Paul use to illustrate this? Adam and Jesus are the only possible choices. So Paul says that just as it was in Adam’s case where one man’s sin had such terrible effects even so now the act of the one man Jesus Christ has brought about a uni- versal effect. Notice Paul doesn’t write here of conditions. There is no talk of how we are condemned or saved. Thus, if we try to read more into chapter 5 we will end up in trouble. Let’s be content with Paul’s simple idea: just as one man’s sin had terribly destructive results so one Man’s righteous act has incredibly constructive results. Note verse 19 as it troubles some. Paul may mean here that all men are treated as sinners (i.e. all die physically).

6 - Verses 1-5 set forth how all are in Christ now via baptism. Note that if baptism is not necessary to salvation then Paul’s argument fails. In verse 6 some are charging Paul with loose theology that results in sin. Is the net result of being saved an indifference to sin? Absolutely not, Paul says! Instead we need to see ourselves as slaves of righteousness, not sin (verses 15-23).

7 - Paul is still answering the question of 6:15. He has spoken of a new relationship in Christ (6:18ff) and now speaks to the legitimacy of that relationship for Jews. They can “marry again” (be in Christ) be- cause they died to the Law (think of baptism, 6:1ff). Notice that we can’t blame law for our sins, it is our passions at work (verse 5). So verse 6 concludes: we cannot continue in sin, we now live in the Spirit. Verse 7 then begins a new question: since we had to be delivered from the Law is it evil? Paul says “Of course not!,” but the material it works with (the human heart) is rebellious and thus the Law is doomed to fail. Verse 11 reminds us of the Garden of Eden. Satan based his entire attack on the law of God. He used it to deceive Eve and kill her (spiritually). Paul concludes by talking about the “wretched man” who tries to do right, knows the Law is right, but still fails (verses 14-25). Such a person can never be right with God for he sins despite his efforts not to do so. There has to be a better way....

8 - The better way is found in Jesus (verse 1). A liberation has taken place because Jesus is greater than the sin power personified in the last chapter (verses 2-3). In verses 5-11 Paul talks of how these freed people live: they follow God’s will instead of selfish desires. Paul then goes on to talk about the relationship we have with God when we are “in” the Spirit (verses 12-17). This language throws some but Paul isn’t speaking of something mystical or based in feelings. The Bible speaks freely of knowing God and being in God or Christ (note John 15:1-7; 1 John 2:24). This just means to be in relationship with God, to submit to Him and be controlled by Him. So it is here. We are controlled by the Spirit (who uses the Word to teach us what we need to do so we can do right, verse 16). This will lead to a glory that all Creation is waiting for (verses 18-24). As we wait the Spirit helps us, even with our prayers (verses 24-25). These verses have been subject to much debate as to “how” the Spirit does this, but we don’t know. Let us just rejoice that He does! Verse 28 does not say everything is good but that God can work good through anything, even tragedy. Verse 29’s reference to predestination does not mean individuals are predestined, but that those who will choose God will be chosen by Him. All of this works together to assure the person who follows the way of faith, who is Spirit-led and controlled, will have victory (verses 31-39) for God is working for him!

9 - But what of those who are still trying the Law way to be justified, Paul? Chapters 9-11 deal with this question, particularly since it appears Gentiles were disdaining Christian Jews as somehow inferior since they were a minority in the church. Remember, Romans is about unity. The key verse is verse 6. A true Jew is one who receives God’s word (see 2:28-29). Indeed, there were physical descendants of Abraham, like Esau (verses 11-14) that God did not use. God works as He will (verses 19-24). The rejection of the Jews was even prophesied (verses 25-31), so don’t criticize God and how His Gospel works!

Applications from This Week’s Readings

These are difficult chapters. Much remains here that we may not fully understand in one reading. How- ever, several truths are clear. We cannot be right with God by our own righteousness or efforts (ch. 7). We need Jesus and we need to be controlled by the Spirit (ch. 8). If we will follow Jesus God will do more than we can imagine to see to it we are saved. If we won’t follow Jesus we may well end up like obstinate and stubborn Jews who missed the Kingdom due to their self-righteousness (chs. 9-11). So we need to ask: am I truly seeking Jesus? Am I Spirit-led, i.e. do I let Scripture command my life? Am I trusting Jesus or my own righteousness? Focus then on the end of chapter 8 and thank God for His mercy, care and decisive actions that will bring us home to Him!