| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2024 | ESV (2016) | M’Cheyne Plan 2024 |
2 Samuel 4–5
2 Samuel 4:9–12 (ESV) 9 But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity, 10 when one told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 11 How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?” 12 And David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.
David had a similar response to Rechab and Baanah killing Ish-bosheth as he did in hearing of Saul’s death by way of the Amalekite in 2 Sam. 1. David ordered the Amalekite to be killed (2 Sam. 15) and now commanded his young men and they killed Rechab and Baanah. As the BBC rightly points out, “God would not lead men to break His law in order to enthrone His king. God was well able to fulfill His promises to David without enlisting the aid of murderers.”
1 Corinthians 15
1 Corinthians 15:42–44 (ESV) 42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
Paul uses the illustration of a seed being sown to contrast our default natural state with that of the eternal. While our present bodies are susceptible to disease and death, our resurrection bodies will be entirely free of such things. It is a great chasm that divides the dishonored body from the glorified and one we should take into earnest account, praising the Lord that out of His abundant grace we are granted a spiritual body.
Ezekiel 13
Ezekiel 13:22–23 (ESV) 22 Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way to save his life, 23 therefore you shall no more see false visions nor practice divination. I will deliver my people out of your hand. And you shall know that I am the LORD.”
The LORD through Ezekiel rebuked the false prophets who had led His people astray. They had disheartened the righteous falsely and encouraged the wicked to not turn from their evil way. The result would be removal of their ability to see false visions or practice divination and God would deliver His people out of their hand. By this the people shall come to know that He is the LORD.
We see so much of God’s provision and protection of His people and His righteous disdain for vile practices in this chapter. Sin and wickedness have no welcome in God’s presence and He is faithful to deliver the saints from the evil hands of those who seek their propagation.
Psalms 52–54
Psalm 53:1 (ESV) 1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
The heart of the fool proclaims that there is no God. According the the FSB, “The Hebrew word used here, naval, refers to someone who rejects God and chooses evil.” Without acknowledgement of God as Creator and Sustainer of all things, there is no objective moral grounding or foundation on which to build. All that remains is subjective, based on the shifting proclivities of sinful man. May we see the destruction that awaits the foolish and corrupt, taking up anchor on the firm foundation that is our Lord and plead with His Spirit to be led along the path of righteousness.