| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| @February 25, 2024 | ESV (2016) | M’Cheyne Plan 2024 |
Exodus 8
Exodus 8:15 (ESV) 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.
Pharaoh pleaded with the Moses and Aaron to plead to the Lord on his behalf that the plague of frogs be taken away from himself and from his people. Moses cried to the LORD for their removal and He did according to he word of Moses. However, once there was a respite from the plague, Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron. It is a wonderful example of how a heart can turn when burdens are lifted and we enter a time of ease and prosperity. As much as we think it best to live without struggle, there is no growth to be found in such seasons.
Luke 11
Luke 11:21–22 (ESV) 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.
In this context, Jesus is speaking of Himself as the stronger man who overtakes Satan and takes away his armor. A couple things stand out here. First, there is an ongoing spiritual battle happening. The language of “attacks” and “overcomes” denotes that this battle is active, albeit entirely lopsided in strength. Another takeaway is that Satan is strong. He is by no means some weak entity. He is foxlike in guile and has been at this for a very long time.
Job 25–26
Job 25:2 (ESV) 2 “Dominion and fear are with God; he makes peace in his high heaven.
This coupling of dominion and fear seemed noteworthy. They are terms that declare His greatness and sovereignty. The Faithlife Study Bible Notes says, “When the Hebrew term pachad, meaning “fear,” is used of God, it describes a response to displays of His power (Exod 15:16; 2 Chr 20:29; Isa 2:19). The Hebrew word mashal means “to rule,” and refers to God’s reign over His creation.”
1 Corinthians 12
1 Corinthians 12:29–31a (ESV) 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
Through rhetorical question, Paul is making known that not everyone shares all spiritual gifts and that the higher gifts are to be most desired. The “higher gifts” are not those that are particularly showy or bombastic but the ones most useful and timely.
Carson on Luke 11
[Luke 11:24-26] is thematically tied to another large strand of Scripture. Evil cannot simply be opposed—that is, it is never enough simply to fight evil, to cast out a demon. Evil must be replaced by good, the evil spirit by the Holy Spirit. We must “overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). For instance, it is difficult to overcome bitterness against someone by simply resolving to stop being bitter; one must replace bitterness by genuine forgiveness and love for that person.
Carson makes a good point that removal of evil should not be to achieve emptiness but to replace it with good. Because of the prominence of evil in this fallen world, any vanquishing of evil will be temporary unless good takes its place.
Resources
- J. I. Packer et. al, The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016)
- D. A. Carson, For the Love of God: Volumes 1 & 2 (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2006; hosted on thegospelcoalition.org)
- Faithlife Study Bible (Lexham Press, 2016)
- Believer’s Bible Commentary (Thomas Nelson, 2016)
- CSB Study Bible Notes (Holman Bible Publishers, 2017)