Justin Houtz

1 Chronicles 11–12, Hebrews 13, Amos 7, Luke 2

DateVersionReading Plan
November 18, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

1 Chronicles 11–12

1 Chronicles 11:4–5 (ESV) 4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. 5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.

“The last stronghold of the Canaanites in the promised land was the citadel of Jebus at the peak of Jerusalem. This was considered virtually impregnable. Despite the defiance declared by the Jebusites, David motivated his troops to capture this prize, and his half nephew Joab succeeded. He used the water shaft to gain entry into the compound (2Sm 5:8). Joab was rewarded by being designated chief commander of David’s army, an office that he had held de facto all along. David moved the capital from Hebron to Jerusalem.” (CSB Notes)

1 Chronicles 11:17–19 (ESV) 17 And David said longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 18 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the LORD 19 and said, “Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

“This anecdote illustrates the respect that David had for his heroes. When David complained of thirst, three of his men risked their lives to break through the Philistine camp and make off with some water from the city of Bethlehem for the king. But David refused to drink it. He poured it on the ground as an offering to God, stating that if he drank it, it would be as though he were drinking the blood of these three heroes.” (CSB Notes)

1 Chronicles 11:23 (ESV) 23 And he struck down an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver’s beam, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.

The similarities between David vs. Goliath and Benaiah vs. the Egyptian are interesting. Both adversaries are described as very tall (Goliath only being slightly taller than the Egyptian) and the same description is given of their spears: “like a weaver’s beam”. The weapons used by David and Benaiah were also notably less powerful than their opponent; David with a sling and Benaiah with a staff.

Hebrews 13

Hebrews 13:3 (ESV) 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.

“Compassion should also be shown for the mistreated; again this doubtless means persecuted Christians. The readers should resist any tendency to shield themselves from the danger that such compassion might involve. For ourselves, we can broaden the application of the verse to include sympathy for all suffering saints. We should remember that we are in the body also and therefore subject to similar afflictions.” (BBC)

Paul gives instruction on the level of empathy we are to have for fellow believers in prison: “as though in prison with them”. Thinking of them in this way drives compassion for their plight as they are fellow heirs of the kingdom.

Hebrews 13:12–13 (ESV) 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.

“The application for the early readers of the Epistle was this: they should make a clean break with Judaism. Once for all they should turn their backs on the temple sacrifices and appropriate the finished work of Christ as their sufficient sacrifice. The application for us is similar: the camp today is the entire religious system that teaches salvation by works, by character, by ritual, or by ordinances. It is the modern church system with its humanly ordained priesthood, its material aids to worship, and its ceremonial trappings. It is corrupt Christendom, a church without Christ. The Lord Jesus is outside and we should go forth to Him, … bearing His reproach.” (BBC)

Amos 7

Amos 7:7–9 (ESV) 7 This is what he showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 8 And the LORD said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said,

“Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass by them; 9  the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”

“…[referring] to the destruction of Samaria by Shalmaneser. The plumb line speaks of the absolute uprightness of the judgment. God announced that He would not pass by … Israel in mercy anymore.” (BBC)

“The Hebrew word translated “plumb line” is unique to this passage, so the precise meaning is uncertain. Related words in other Semitic languages suggest a meaning of “lead” or “tin.” The association of the word with a wall in this context supports the meaning of “plumb line,” where a small metal weight is attached to a string to determine whether a wall is straight. The plumb line metaphorically represents an external standard to distinguish right from wrong.” (FSB)

Luke 2

Luke 2:8 (ESV) 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

“One should not romanticize the occupation of shepherds. In general shepherds were dishonest (Sanh. 25b) and unclean according to the standards of the law. They represent the outcasts and sinners for whom Jesus came. Such outcasts were the first recipients of the good news.” (NAC)

Luke 2:34–35 (ESV) 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

“Jesus was a spiritual divider of society (a sign … opposed). In considering the gospel about Christ, many in Israel ‘fell’ eternally due to unbelief and others rose by faith to eternal life. Mary would suffer great pain in watching Jesus be rejected and executed. How people respond to Jesus is the difference between pardon and condemnation, eternity in heaven or hell.” (CSB Notes)

Simeon’s blessing was followed by speaking directly to Mary about the profound impact of Jesus’ ministry and the revealing of many hearts. No other figure in history has caused more division than Jesus and, rightfully so, as the decision to follow or reject Him yields eternal consequences.

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