Justin Houtz

1 Chronicles 24–25, 1 Peter 5, Micah 3, Luke 12

DateVersionReading Plan
November 28, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

1 Chronicles 24–25

In chapter 24, “The Chronicler continues describing David’s preparations for temple worship (see note on 1 Chron 23:1–26:32). Here, David organizes the priests, who were responsible for religious duties associated with the temple (Exod 28:1–43 and note). He organizes them into 24 divisions.” (FSB)

In chapter 25, “David now organizes the temple musicians into 24 divisions, just as he did the priests (1 Chr 24). While David organized the Levites and priests so they could fulfill their duties as spelled out in the law (23:28–31; 24:19), there were no instructions in the law regarding musicians. According to 2 Chr 29:25, God commanded David about the musicians through the prophets Gad and Nathan.” (FSB)

1 Peter 5

Peter addresses the elders as a fellow elder himself and partaker of the glory to be revealed. He exhorts them to shepherd the flock faithfully, to be examples and that when the chief Shepherd appears, they “will receive the unfading crown of glory.” According to the BBC, “we don’t know too much about the promised crowns of Scripture…But we do know that they will be ample recompense for any tears, trials, and sufferings we have experienced down here.” (BBC).

Peter then speaks to those who are younger and that they are to be subject to their elders in humility, quoting from the Greek version of Prov. 3:34 that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Pet. 5:5b). They are to humble themselves under the might hand of God so that He may exalt them at the proper time. They should also remain vigilant to the attacks of the enemy who is “like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8). Peter calls them to resist the enemy, firm in their faith, and that they suffering they experience is shared by brothers around the world. God will be faithful to restore them after this short season of suffering to confirm, strengthen and establish them.

Peter concludes his letter with a final greeting, naming Sylvanus specifically and regarding him as a “faithful brother” (1 Pet. 5:12). “Silvanus (or “Silas,” Ac 15:22–32; 16:19–40; 17:1–15; 18:5; 2Co 1:19; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1) may have helped Peter write this letter as his secretary (cp. Rm 16:22), but more likely he was the letter carrier. Peter conveyed greetings to his readers from the church in Rome, i.e., from she who is in Babylon, and also from Mark, my son—Peter’s son in the faith, not his biological son.” (FSB). Peter tells them to greet one another with a holy kiss of love and closes with a benediction of peace to all who are in Christ.

Micah 3

“In this chapter Micah declared that corrupt rulers, prophets, and priests plagued God’s people. Political and judicial leaders perverted justice, and the spiritual leaders perverted God’s word.” (FSB)

“God condemns Israel’s leaders for their injustice and oppression and condemns the prophets who prophesied lies instead of the truth. Disaster is coming.” (The Bible: A Reader’s Guide)

Luke 12

Luke 12:16–21 (ESV) 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

“This parable is about the danger of greed, measured by the abundance of possessions (v. 15). The rich man was infatuated with hoarding his goods. In his self-centered perspective (there are at least ten self-references in vv. 17–19), he thought this was an effective strategy for a long life of leisure and pleasure. But God views such an outlook as foolish and shortsighted. When a person dies—which could be at any time—’you can’t take it with you.’” (FSB)

Jesus’ parable of the rich fool struck me in particular today. The man was amassing wealth and rather than thinking about all he could bless with his abundance, he initiated a building project to upgrade his barns so that his wealth could be stored. The BBC puts it well in saying, “He could have saved himself the expense and bother of this tremendous construction project if he had just looked on the needy world about him, and used these possessions to satisfy hunger, both spiritual and physical.” (BBC). How often this is us, viewing God’s plentiful provision as that which we are to store for ourselves instead of offering it back to Him in sacrificial giving for God-honoring and kingdom-expanding purposes. Of course, this can be done wrongly as we know from the instance of Judas saying that Mary’s pound of expensive ointment could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor (John 12:4-5). However, with the right heart and proper understanding, we are to be good stewards of what we have been given, willing to sacrifice the additional earthly comforts our surplus may provide and be mindful of how it could glorify and witness to our Lord in supplying the needs of others.

Resources