| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| September 7, 2024 | ESV (2016) | M’Cheyne Plan 2024 |
2 Samuel 1
2 Samuel 1:24 (ESV) 24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
David spoke a lamentation over the death of Saul and Jonathan, written in the Book of Jashar, a collection of Israelite poetry which has since been lost. David told the daughters of Israel to weep over Saul who clothed them luxuriously in scarlet and put ornaments of gold on their apparel. A couple things stand out in this verse. First, David’s sentiment reveals that the people experienced prosperity under the reign of Saul. Despite Saul’s misguided actions, the LORD still blessed the people with economic success. Second, David demonstrates great humility in honoring Saul as the LORD’s anointed. Through multiple campaigns, Saul pursued and sought to kill David, and yet David responded with heartfelt grief over Saul’s death and told the people to mourn the loss properly. What a wonderful example of godly virtue and character that David provides for us here.
1 Corinthians 12
1 Corinthians 12:24b–26 (ESV) 24b But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Paul makes clear that every part of the body of Christ has a role, even those who may think they have no need of other parts or others who think themselves unneeded. All this in order that there is to be no division in the body and that the members would care for one another. So closely intertwined are the members that if one suffers all suffers and if one is honored, all rejoice together. This section of Scripture is crucial to meditate on regularly as we can so easily fall into the snare of viewing ourselves as either self-sufficient or superfluous. We must be oft reminded of the unique giftings bestowed to each individual and how we impact each other as a church to live collectively unified in mission and purpose to glorify our Lord.
Ezekiel 10
Ezekiel 10:19 (ESV) 19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them.
Ezekiel describes whirling wheels, cherubim and the glory of the LORD along with their movement around the temple. With these passages admittedly difficult to interpret and process, the CSB provides some helpful insight:
The movement of God’s glory to the eastern gate anticipated its ultimate departure from the temple complex and Jerusalem (11:22–23). The east gate would also be the site of the final judgment for Jews (Zch 14:1–9). Jesus went to the mountain east of the city, the Mount of Olives, and ascended to the Father (Ac 1:9–12). God’s presence among his people was an indication of his favor toward them (Dt 4:29, 31). His absence, on the other hand, was a sign of his rejecting them (Dt 31:17–18). The ultimate privilege of faith is access to the presence of God.
Psalm 49
Psalm 49:16–20 (ESV) 16 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. 17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. 18 For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself— 19 his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light. 20 Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
The psalmist puts worldly prosperity in its place, urging one not to be afraid when a man becomes rich because his earthly glory will not join him in death. This man considers himself blessed while he lives but his soul will go to the generation of his fathers and will never again see light. What a harrowing picture this paints for anyone resting in their wealth for ultimate satisfaction and security. We take nothing of God’s creation with us when we reach the end of our days and stand before the Lord. The question is then what—or in Whom—we place our trust and faith as we approach the threshold between the temporal and everlasting. Those whose greatest treasure in this life is the Lord will receive the riches of His presence in the next, while those who place their treasure in material wealth have it stripped and will dwell in torment, separated from the Lord and His glory forever.