Justin Houtz

1 Chronicles 18, James 5, Jonah 2, Luke 7

DateVersionReading Plan
November 23, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

1 Chronicles 18

The chapter depicts David’s defeat of the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians and Edomites because “the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.” (1 Chron. 18:6b). In these defeats, David amassed great possessions and, even though he was not to build the temple, the CSB Notes states that “David accumulated much of the materials for the building and for the utensils during his lifetime.” The chapter concludes with a listing of David’s administration; David as king, Joab over the army, Jehoshaphat as recorder, Zadok and Ahimelech as priests, Shavsha as secretary, Benaiah over the Cherethites and Pelethites and David’s sons as chief officials.

James 5

James 5:7–8 (ESV) 7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

“The farmer illustrates the need of patience. He does not reap on the same day that he plants. Rather there is a long period of waiting. First there must come the early rain, causing the seed to germinate. Then at the end of the season is the latter rain, needed to bring the crop to successful fruition…The wrongs of earth will be made right when the Lord returns. Therefore His people should be patient, like the farmer. Their hearts should be established with the certainty of His coming.” (BBC)

How like the farmer we are to be, patient through the difficult circumstances of life and trusting that the Lord is bringing a harvest of righteousness.

James 5:13–16 (ESV) 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

“In every circumstance of life, we should go to the Lord in prayer. When in trouble, we should approach Him with earnest entreaties. In times of rejoicing, we should lift our hearts to Him in praise. He wants to be brought into all the changing moods of our lives. We should see God as the first great Cause of all that comes to us in life. We should not look into what Rutherford called the “confused rolling of the wheels of second causes.” It is defeat to allow ourselves to be victims of circumstances, or to wait for our circumstances to change. We should see no hand but His.” (BBC)

James underscores the importance of going to prayer for everything, petitioning our Lord for healing when suffering, praising Him when cheerful and everything in between. We are to pray without ceasing, coming to Him for all things, that we may abide in our beloved Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer and Savior.

Jonah 2

Jonah 2:8–9 (ESV) 8  Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. 9  But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD!”

“The Lord’s miraculous deliverance shows that he exists, unlike pagan idols. What I have vowed refers to a promised gift to God if he should answer prayer (Nm 21:2; 1Sm 1:11). Jonah promised praise and animal sacrifice. A fellowship offering was used to worship God at the completion of a vow (Nm 6:21; 2Sm 15:7–8; Pr 7:14).” (CSB Notes)

Jonah identifies the worthlessness of idols and that those who pay them regard relinquish their hope of steadfast love. There is only One in whom in whom this love is contained and from whom it can be received: our Lord Jesus who poured out His love in greatest sacrifice. May we turn from our futile pursuits—attempting to receive this love by any other means—and instead sacrifice all for Him in a life that declares that “Salvation belongs to the LORD!”.

Luke 7

Luke 7:3–7 (ESV) 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed.

The centurion sent Jewish elders to Jesus that He may heal his servant. “The Jewish elders were willing to intervene with Jesus because they considered the centurion a truly worthy man. Though he was a Gentile, he loved Israel and had spent time and money constructing a synagogue in Capernaum. The centurion did not consider himself worthy of being in Jesus’s presence, but he had faith that Jesus could heal his servant, even at a distance. He understood the spiritual authority Jesus commanded because he understood military authority (I … am … under authority, having soldiers under my command).” (CSB Notes)

The difference between the centurion and Jewish elders is striking. The elders ascribed the centurion’s merit to his national loyalty and helping them build their synagogue while the centurion responded in utter humility; not wanting to trouble Jesus, seeing himself as unworthy to host Jesus or even come to Him personally. The incident reinforces the oft-depicted theme in the NT, namely, that the Jewish leaders wrongfully placed their attention and value.

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