| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| @August 13, 2024 | ESV (2016) | M’Cheyne Plan 2024 |
1 Samuel 3
1 Samuel 3:1, 19-21 (ESV) 1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. … 19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. 21 And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
So much of this chapter surrounds Samuel’s calling as a true prophet of the LORD. Acts 3:24 speaks of him as the first of the prophets and Acts 13:20 as the final judge during the era of Israelite judges. In a time of spiritual drought, God spoke clearly and directly to Samuel and he responded with reverence and respect, beckoning the LORD to speak that he may be of service. It is Samuel’s posture of humility that warrants our attention and emulation, a heart of purity and full surrender to the LORD. May we see in Samuel how we are to be sensitive to the LORD’s prompting in our own lives, ready to answer in willing obedience with the heart of a servant.
Romans 3
Romans 3:9–12 (ESV) 9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
Paul makes clear that both Jews and Greeks are under sin, quoting Ps. 14:1-3 that no one is righteous and seeks after God. One can imagine how some Jews would not take well the message of their equality with Gentiles with regard to God’s judgment. While they had the advantage of having the law and covenants, Paul exhorts how there is no distinction between Jew and Greek because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. One of the many applications to draw from this is the great need for us to eliminate all discrimination from whom we share the gospel. Everyone is born into enmity with God and will dwell in everlasting separation from Him unless brought to conviction of sin leading to repentance and faith in Christ. The commission is then on us to bring the gospel of Christ as Lord and Savior; the One who lived as we could not, died in our stead, rose in victory over sin, Satan and death, ascended in glory and is now seated at the right hand of God.
Jeremiah 41
Jeremiah 41:1–3 (ESV) 41 In the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, one of the chief officers of the king, came with ten men to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. As they ate bread together there at Mizpah, 2 Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men with him rose up and struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor in the land. 3 Ishmael also struck down all the Judeans who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldean soldiers who happened to be there.
There is a lot going on in this chapter, so it seemed fitting to lean heavy on commentary in order to unpack the events described and its various players. The FSB provides a helpful summary of what we see unfold:
Gedaliah, the Judaean governor appointed by Babylon, is assassinated, and Mizpah becomes the scene of a chaotic massacre. Ishmael lures 80 pilgrims into the city, where he and his men slaughter 70 of them—sparing 10 who bribe them with the promise of food. The people who remained in Mizpah under Gedaliah’s protection are then taken hostage as Ishmael flees to the Ammonites. Johanan pursues, overtaking the group and recovering the hostages, but Ishmael escapes with eight men.
Psalm 17
Psalm 17:3–5 (ESV) 3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. 4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. 5 My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
David speaks of how the LORD had tried his heart, testing him and that he would find nothing, that he has purposed not to transgress with his mouth. David is not proclaiming himself to be wholly righteous, but of “relative righteousness in terms of being habitually faithful to God and avoiding behavior that characterizes sin and rebellion against God (1:1; 26:4–5; Ezk 18:6–8).” (CSB Notes) As with Samuel above, it is David’s purity of heart to walk in obedience that should capture our focus. David did this imperfectly and we will too, but by our receptivity to the Spirit’s guidance, our hearts are to be set on the desire to glorify the Lord in all that we do and walk in a manner worthy of our calling.