Justin Houtz

1 Chronicles 22, 1 Peter 3, Micah 1, Luke 10

DateVersionReading Plan
November 26, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

1 Chronicles 22

David made preparations for the building of the temple, gathering together people and materials prior to his death. David then called to his son, telling him that he had it in his heart to build the temple. However, the LORD came to David and told him that the temple was not to be built by him because he had shed so much blood. As a result, the responsibility would be given to David’s son, Solomon. David spoke a blessing over Solomon that the LORD be with him and that Solomon would succeed in building the house of the LORD. David charged Solomon to be obedient and courageous, careful to observe the statutes and rules that the LORD had commanded Moses. David also commanded the leaders of Israel to help Solomon and to set their mind and heart in seeking the LORD, “that the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the LORD.” (1 Chron. 22:19b)

1 Peter 3

Peter gives instruction on the conduct to be seen within marriage, first addressing wives and that they are to be subject to their husbands even if they do not obey the word. By seeing the good conduct of their wife, some husbands may be won without a word. “Even when a woman’s husband is an unbeliever, she should still respect him as her head. This will be a testimony to him of her faith in Christ. Her conduct as an obedient, loving, devoted wife may be used to win him to the Savior.” (BBC).

Peter then shifts focus to husbands, telling them that they are to live with their wives in an understanding way. They are to show honor to the woman as the weaker vessel since they are co-heirs with them of the grace of life. “Weaker partner denotes physical weakness and should not be taken to mean that wives are morally or intellectually inferior to their husbands. Husbands are typically stronger physically.” (FSB).

Finally, Peter addresses the people as a collective group, admonishing them to “have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” (1 Pet. 3:8b). There are not repay evil for evil or retaliate reviling, but to bless others in accord with their calling that they may be a blessing. “Peter quotes Psalm 34:12–16a to confirm that God’s blessing rests on the one who refrains from evil deeds and evil speech, and practices righteousness.” (BBC). Peter tells the people that they are to have no fear of those who seek their harm but instead to “honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet. 3:15). By their gracious response to opposition, they will bear faithful testimony to hope they have been given in Christ. This they are to do with a good conscience so that, when slandered, those who revile their good behavior may be put to shame. However means we are to suffer, it is better to do so while doing good rather than evil.

The chapter concludes with a gospel-rich explanation of “Christ’s example of innocent suffering at the hands of this world’s citizens. Jesus’s innocent suffering, death, and resurrection/exaltation are the foundation for the salvation and vindication of believers.” (FSB)

1 Peter 3:18–20 (ESV) 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.

“Verses 19, 20 constitute one of the most puzzling and intriguing texts in the NT. It has been made the pretext for such unbiblical doctrines as purgatory on the one hand and universal salvation on the other. However, among evangelical Christians, there are two commonly accepted interpretations. According to the first, Christ went to Hades in spirit between His death and resurrection, and proclaimed the triumph of His mighty work on the cross…The second interpretation is that Peter is describing what happened in the days of Noah. It was the spirit of Christ who preached through Noah to the unbelieving generation before the flood…This second view best fits the context and has the least difficulties connected with it.” (BBC)

Micah 1

“It was a time of prosperity, and Micah denounced the wealthy, who were oppressing the poor, and warned of impending judgment.” (ESV)

“Micah predicts that God is going to judge Samaria and Jerusalem fr their sins; the result will be much suffering and weeping.” (The Bible: A Reader’s Guide)

Luke 10

Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples to go two-by-two into every town He was about to go and instructed them on how they were to carry out their ministry to others. If they entered a town and the people did not receive them, they were to wipe the dust from their feet, “a gesture of judgment against those who rejected the apostles and their message about Jesus.” (FSB).

Jesus declared woe to Chorazin and Bethsaida—towns in Galilee near Capernaum—who had rejected Jesus despite having seen Him perform miracles and heard His teaching. It would be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon who, if they had seen and heard the same things, “would have plunged themselves into the deepest repentance” (BBC)

Upon return of the seventy-two disciples to Jesus, they told Him in amazement that even the demons were subject to them in His name. Jesus responded by telling them that He saw Satan fall like lightning and that He had given the disciples authority over serpents, scorpions and all the power of the enemy. However, the disciples were not to rejoice over their power over the evil spirits but rather to rejoice that their names were written in heaven.

In the same hour, Jesus spoke to the Father in prayer, thanking Him that He had “hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children” (Luke 10:21). Everything has been handed over to Jesus by the Father and no one knows who the Son is or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. ”God…is above human understanding. The Son knows Him perfectly, and the Son has revealed Him to the weak, the base, and the despised people who have faith in Him (1 Cor. 1:26–29). Those who have seen the Son have seen the Father. The only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father has fully told forth the Father (John 1:18).” (BBC)

The Lukan account then shifts to a lawyer who put Jesus to the test by asking Him what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asks the lawyer what is written in the law and the man recites Deut. 6:5 in saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” The man then asked Jesus who is his neighbor. Jesus responded with the illustration of a man who was beaten and left for dead, ignored by a priest and a Levite until a journeying Samaritan helped him. Jesus asked the lawyer which of the three were proven to be the man’s neighbor and the lawyer said it was the one who showed mercy. In confirmation to his answer, Jesus told the lawyer to go and do likewise.

Continuing on, Jesus entered a village and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. The woman’s sister, Mary, sat and listened to Jesus’ teaching while Martha was distracted with much serving. Martha confronted Jesus about Mary not helping and Jesus told Martha that she was anxious and troubled about many things. Mary was in the right and that “Martha’s exclusive focus should be the same as her sister’s—discipleship, an eternally commendable choice (it will not be taken away from her).”

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