Justin Houtz

1 Chronicles 21, 1 Peter 2, Jonah 4, Luke 9

1 Chronicles 21

Satan incited David to wrongfully call for a census of the people. This displeased God who instructed Gad, David’s seer, to give David an option of punishment between 1) three years of famine, 2) three months of devastation by foes or 3) three days of the sword of the LORD, pestilence on the land. David selected the third option and God sent a pestilence on the land of Israel.

The angel of the LORD then commanded God to tell David that he was to purchase the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite in order to raise an altar. David asked Ornan for the threshing floor and expressed that he was willing to pay full price. Ornan offered the land to David as a gift, but David insisted that he pay the full price. The transaction commenced, David built and altar, presented offerings and the LORD answered him with fire from heaven. The LORD then commanded the angel to put his sword back in his sheath which marked the end of the angel’s threat upon Jerusalem. The chapter ends with the account that while “The ark was still in Jerusalem, and the tabernacle continued in Gibeon, but from here on, David no longer used the tabernacle. He performed his sacrifices on this threshing floor. Perhaps he was afraid the angel might come back if he left this site.” (FSB)

1 Chronicles 21:1 (ESV) 1 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.

“Satan is not mentioned often in the OT. When he does appear, he is the adversary of someone beloved by God (Jb 1:6; 2:7; Zch 3:1–2). The parallel passage in 2 Samuel makes it clear that Satan would not have been able to cause trouble for David if God had not let him (2Sm 24:1). The census itself was not an infraction of God’s law (Nm 1:2; 26:2). David succumbed to the sin of pride. This could have included thinking that the men of Israel were his to enumerate, not God’s, and that he could take refuge in military strength rather than God’s sovereignty. He also violated rules that God had given for carrying out a legitimate census. The law stipulated that each man who was counted had to donate a half-shekel to the temple treasury (Ex 30:11–16). God had decreed that a census taken without these provisions would be punished by a plague.” (CSB Notes)

1 Chronicles 21:11–13 (ESV) 11 So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Choose what you will: 12 either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” 13 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

“Although David … sinned greatly, he was quick to confess and humble himself before the Lord. When given a choice as to the penalty of his wrongdoing, he chose to fall into the hand of the Lord because he knew that He is merciful.” (BBC)

1 Peter 2

Peter exhorts believers to put away all malice, deceit and hypocrisy, telling them to feed on the pure milk of the word. As we come to Him—the stone rejected by men but right in the sight of God—we are being built up as a “spiritual house” (1 Pet. 2:5), a reference to the church. Peter uses Scripture to draw a contrast between believers and unbelievers, that those who believe in Him—the Cornerstone—will not be put to shame (ref. Is. 28:16) but for those who disbelieve, He is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense (ref. Is. 8:14), stumbling because they disobey the word as they were destined to do.

However, followers of Christ are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a people for His possession. We are God’s people who have received His mercy. Thus, we are to keep our conduct among Gentiles honorable that they may see our good works and glorify God on the day of visitation, referring to “any time the Lord draws near, either in grace or in judgment.” (BBC)

We are to be subject to every human institution, recognizing that have been were appointed by God. This we are to do in order to live as free people, in humble servitude to God and honoring everyone, thereby silencing the ignorance of foolish people. Our calling is to suffer because Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we might follow in His steps. He was without sin and no deceit was found in His mouth. He did not reciprocate reviling and did not threaten others when he suffered. He bore our sins that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. It is by His wounds that we are healed. We were once like straying sheep but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.

Jonah 4

Jonah was angry at the LORD for relenting of the disaster He was set to enact against Ninevah. Jonah prayed to the LORD and told Him that this was the reason he fled to Tarshish, knowing that the LORD is “merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.” (Jonah 4:2). Jonah asked the LORD to take his life and the LORD asked him if he did well to be angry.

Jonah then proceeded to go out of the city, sitting east of the city and making a booth for himself. He sat under its shade and looked upon the city until he would see what would become of it. The LORD appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah that it might provide shade and save him from discomfort. This pleased Jonah, but at dawn God appointed a worm to destroy the plant. The LORD also “prepared a sultry east wind which, together with the sun, caused the prophet to faint and to wish for death.” (BBC)

The LORD again asked Jonah if he did well to be angry and this time Jonah answered that he did do well to be angry, enough even to die. The final words of the chapter and the Book are of God, reminding Jonah that “if he had pity on the plant, how much more reason did the Lord have to show pity to a city with more than one hundred and twenty thousand children alone, to say nothing of much livestock.” (BBC) The BBC continues in saying that, “The lesson of this little book is that God loves the world—not just the Jews, but the Gentiles as well.” (BBC)

Luke 9

“Jesus sends out the 12 apostles and feeds the 5,000. Peter declares Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus predicts his death and resurrection, is transfigured, and heals a demon-possessed boy.” (The Bible: A Reader’s Guide)

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