| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| August 28, 2024 | ESV (2016) | M’Cheyne Plan 2024 |
1 Samuel 20
1 Samuel 20:30–31 (ESV) 30 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.”
Saul responds in an angry outburst to Jonathan with regard to David’s absence at king’s table on the second day of the new moon when given reason that David went to Bethlehem for a yearly sacrifice. In his eruption, Saul shamed Jonathan’s mother, Ahinoam, calling her a “perverse, rebellious woman”. Saul compounded this insult with the threat that Jonathan’s kingdom shall not be established, an “indictment of Saul’s disconnect and paranoia” because the “kingship has already been taken from him, and it is not his to pass on.” (FSB) We see in this episode more of Saul’s flippant character, demonstrating his unfitness for the throne. Reading of Saul’s behavior is an opportunity for self-reflection and to ask LORD to reveal any such qualities within ourselves in need of confession and repentance.
1 Corinthians 2
1 Corinthians 2:10–11 (ESV) 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
Paul describes how God through the Spirit reveals the things of God to men. The Spirit is able to—and indeed does—search everything, even the depths of God. There can be no acceptance, knowledge or desire for God apart from the work of the Spirit. By His renewal of our hearts and guidance within us, we are granted the ability to understand the things that are spiritually discerned. With what gratitude we should acknowledge the Spirit’s gracious work to uncover the riches of Christ’s love and salvation found only in Him.
Lamentations 5
Lamentations 5:21–22 (ESV) 21 Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old— 22 unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us.
The author pleads that they be restored to the LORD, to renew their days as of old. There is no higher restoration for which we can ask than to be restored to right relationship with our Creator. Praise be to our God that this has been done through the redeeming, sacrificial work of our Lord Jesus Christ, taking upon Himself our sin and due wrath. The author closes his work with an expression of fear of rejection by God, answered already in Lam. 3:31 that “the LORD will not cast off forever”. For the saints, there is security of salvation and adoption as sons and daughters of the Most High God, assured in the understanding that He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Psalm 36
Psalm 36:7–9 (ESV) 7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.
Echoing the sentiment of Lam. 5, David reflects on the steadfast love of God. True refuge is only to be found in Him, in the shadow of His wings. There is feasting in abundance in His house and drink is provided from the river of His delights. He is the Fountain of all life—of renewal and vitality—and by His light we are able to see light. How great is our God, “the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them.” (Deut. 7:9b-10)