Date | Version | Reading Plan |
---|---|---|
October 16, 2024 | ESV (2016) | M’Cheyne Plan 2024 |
1 Kings 19
Ahab, king of Israel, told Jezebel that Elijah had killed all the prophets of Baal with a sword. Jezebel then sent a messenger to Elijah that he would die as the prophets did at that time the next day. Fearful, Elijah ran for his life and came to Beersheba. “Elijah presumably flees from Mount Carmel (1 Kgs 18:42). He runs a distance of approximately 125 miles (200 km)—plus a day’s journey (v. 4)—in less than 24 hours.” (FSB) He journeyed further and, sitting under a broom tree, asked the LORD to take his life. It is the same idiom Jonah spoke after God took away the shade He had provided in Jonah 4:8. An angel touched Elijah twice, telling him to rise and eat, strengthening him for forty days to go to Horeb. “Thus fortified, the prophet traveled in the strength of that food 200 miles in forty days and … nights to Mount Horeb (Sinai), where God had given the law to Moses.” (BBC)
While in a cave, the LORD came to Elijah and asked what he was doing there. Elijah responded that the people had forsaken His covenant, thrown down His altars, killed His prophets and were seeking to take away Elijah’s life. The LORD told Elijah to stand on the mount before the LORD and the LORD passed by in dramatic fashion. After the wind, earthquake and fire was the sound of a low whisper. Upon hearing it, Elijah wrapped his face in his cloak and stood at the entrance of the cave. Elijah confessed his jealousy for the LORD, that the people had forsaken the LORD and were seeking to take his life. In the final portion of the chapter, the LORD told Ezekiel to go to the wilderness of Damascus where three men were to be anointed: “(1) He would anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. The disobedient nation of Israel would be punished by this king. (2) He would anoint Jehu to be king over Israel. Jehu would execute God’s judgment on the house of Ahab. (3) He would anoint … Elisha as his own successor.” (BBC)
1 Thessalonians 2
Paul spoke of how his coming to the church was not in vain. Despite having suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, Paul and his companions had boldness in God to declare to them the gospel in the midst of conflict. Paul demonstrates his ministry to be courageous and successful in the face of bitter opposition and outrageous treatment, even including imprisonment. Paul’s aim was not to please man, but God. Though they were entitled as apostles of Christ, they did not come to the church with words of flattery or expecting financial support. Realizing that the new converts were as children, Paul conveyed his approach to them as a nursing mother. In affectionate desire, Paul and his companions shared with them not only the gospel but their very selves.
Paul admitted that his labor would not to be a burden to them while proclaiming the gospel of God. Paul exhorted and encouraged them to walk in a manner worthy of God who called them into His own kingdom and glory. Paul thanked God that they had accepted the gospel not as a word of men but a word of God. The Philippians had become imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that were in Judea. “The only difference was that the Thessalonians suffered at the hands of their Gentile countrymen, whereas the believers in Judea were persecuted by the Judeans.” (BBC) The Jews killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, driving them out and hindering them from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved. “In their opposition to the will of God, [the Jews] were carrying on where their fathers had left off: always to fill up the measure of their sins. It was as if they were determined to keep the cup of their guilt full at all times…But their doom is pronounced, for wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.” (BBC)
Daniel 1
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (605-562 BC), came to Jerusalem and besieged it in the third year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah. Nebuchadnezzar brought the king of Judah and some vessels of the house of God to be placed in the treasury of his god, a “fulfillment of Isaiah’s prediction when Hezekiah showed them to the Babylonian king a century beforehand (Is 39:2, 6).” (CSB Notes). Nebuchadnezzar commanded his eunuch to bring some people from Israel who were endowed with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. “Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Their Chaldean names were Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.” (BBC) They were assigned a daily portion of the food that the king ate and of the wine he drank.
Daniel, however, resolved that he would not defile himself by eating and drinking the kings food. This alarmed the chief of the eunuchs, to whom Daniel responded that he and his friends should be given vegetables to eat and water to drink for ten days. After such time, their health was to be compared to the youths who ate the kings food. After the ten days, Daniel and his friends were seen to be better in appearance. “The fact that Daniel and his friends looked better and healthier is not a biblical endorsement of vegetarianism (Gn 9:3). Rather, God in his providence made them healthy and strong.” (CSB Notes)
God gave Daniel and his three companions learning, skill in all literature, wisdom and understanding in all visions and dreams. Among all whom the king spoke, none was found to be like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus, referring “to the year Babylon came under Cyrus’ control 539 BC. Cyrus became king of Persia in 559 BC.” (FSB)
Psalm 105
This praise psalm recounts Yahweh’s work on behalf of Israel from a very positive standpoint—in this regard, it could be classified as a historical psalm. After an introductory note of praise (vv. 1–6), the psalmist follows the events from the Pentateuch, beginning with Yahweh’s covenant with Abraham (vv. 7–15). He describes how Israel came to Egypt and grew in number (vv. 16–25), and emphasizes Yahweh’s miraculous signs as he describes the exodus (vv. 26–38). He shows how Yahweh protected the Israelites during the wilderness years (vv. 39–42), and concludes with Israel’s entry into the promised land (vv. 43–44). (FSB)
Resources
- J. I. Packer et. al, The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016)
- Faithlife Study Bible (Lexham Press, 2016)
- Believer’s Bible Commentary (Thomas Nelson, 2016)
- CSB Study Bible Notes (Holman Bible Publishers, 2017)
- The New American Commentary (Brentwood, TN: Holman Reference)
- The Bible: A Reader’s Guide (Sterling Publishing, 2011)
- Henry, Matthew, and Thomas Scott. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003)
- Constable’s Notes