| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| September 9, 2024 | ESV (2016) | M’Cheyne Plan 2024 |
2 Samuel 3
2 Samuel 3:38–39 (ESV) 38 And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The LORD repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!”
Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, had killed Asahel, the youngest son of Zeruiah and brother to Joab and Abishai. Abner had come to David who made a feast for Abner and his men and then sent him away. Directly following Abner’s departure, David’s servants arrived with much spoil and Joab was told that David sent Abner away. Joab confronted David and told him that Abner came to deceive him and to know all that he was doing (2 Sam. 3:25). Joab then sent messengers after Abner, without David’s knowledge, brought Abner back from the cistern of Sirah, took him aside privately and vengefully struck Abner in the stomach for the blood of his brother, Asahel (2 Sam. 3:27).
When David heard of Abner’s death at the hand of Joab, he declared himself and his kingdom guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner (2 Sam. 3:28). David mourned and told the people to tear their clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner (2 Sam. 3:31). David then told his servants that a great man had fallen in Israel, contrasting his gentleness as king with the severity of the sons of Zeruiah and the the LORD repay the evildoer according to their wickedness (2 Sam. 39).
David’s genuine sorrow for Abner’s death demonstrated his displeasure at the cruelty of the sons of Zeruiah (Joab and Abishai). The events of retaliation and retribution reveal the innate sinfulness of these men but also “God using the sin and intrigue of men to give the united kingdom to David. He makes even the wrath of men to praise Him (Ps. 76:10).” (BBC)
1 Corinthians 14
1 Corinthians 14:4, 18-19, 27-28 (ESV) 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. … 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. … 27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
Paul gives much instruction in this chapter as to when and how to speak in tongues. Admittedly, each time I approach this chapter, I am reminded of the very different approach my charismatic brothers and sisters take to the text. It seems clear to me that while Paul is certainly not denying the use of tongues, this gift must utilized in an orderly fashion. Drawing from 1 Cor. 12:31, the church is to “earnestly desire the higher gifts” which, as the BBC points out, are gifts that “are most useful rather than those that are spectacular.”
Ezekiel 12
Ezekiel 12:3–6 (ESV) 3 As for you, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile’s baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight. You shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. 4 You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile, and you shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as those do who must go into exile. 5 In their sight dig through the wall, and bring your baggage out through it. 6 In their sight you shall lift the baggage upon your shoulder and carry it out at dusk. You shall cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel.”
The repetition of “in their sight” in these verses is intriguing. Ezekiel was not only given instruction to go into exile but that this must be done in full sight of the people. What’s more, Ezekiel was told to cover his face so that he may not see the land because God was making him a sign for the house of Israel. As the FSB makes note, this covering of Ezekiel’s face is “Perhaps symbolizing the exiles’ ignorance of their destination or grief over the loss of the land (see 2 Sam 19:4–5). The image is repeated in Ezek 12:12 with reference to the king’s departure into exile.” The use of sight in these verses—and its intentional restriction—indicates how limited we are in this sense of the sovereignty of God to reveal to us exactly what and how we are meant to see.
Psalm 51
Psalm 51:17 (ESV) 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
God does not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. He does not desire sacrifices rooted in empty ritualism but that we come to Him with a broken and contrite heart. It is a grace of our Lord to illumine the depth of our sin and brokenness in order that we come to Him in our desperate need. The heart of the contrite He does not despise; the man mortified by his own sin, responding in repentance and faith to the God of salvation and the unmerited favor of His grace through Jesus Christ.