Justin Houtz

1 Chronicles 28, 2 Peter 2, Micah 5, Luke 14

DateVersionReading Plan
November 30, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

1 Chronicles 28

David gathered all tribal officials and officers of divisions to Jerusalem where he presented a charge to build the temple of the LORD and to observe and seek out all His commandments. David recounted how he desired to build the temple himself, but God told him that he may not build the house himself because he was a man of war and had shed blood. Instead, this assignment would be given to David’s son, Solomon.

David then charged Solomon to know and serve the God of his father with a whole heart. He assured Solomon that the LORD would be found if earnestly sought but forsaking Him would result in being cast off forever. David told Solomon to be both careful as the LORD had chosen him to build a house for the sanctuary, to be strong and do it.

David proceeded to give Solomon the plan for the temple and its various components with instruction on measurements and materials. Everything regarding the temple was made clear to David “in writing from the hand of the LORD” (1 Chron. 28:19). “God’s hand is often spoken of as an example of anthropomorphism (describing God with human features).” (FSB). David urged Solomon to be strong and courageous because God is with him and to perform all the work of the service of the LORD until it is finished. David told Solomon that the divisions of priests and Levites would be with him for the work to be done along with any willing man of skill. The officers and the people would be wholly at Solomon’s command.

1 Chronicles 28:18 (ESV) 18 for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

“The chariot, that is, the gold cherubim (v. 18), according to Unger, probably means ‘the cherubim as the chariot upon which God enters or is throned.’” (BBC)

2 Peter 2

Continuing from the previous chapter and that “no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man” (2 Pet. 1:21), Peter then spoke of false prophets who also arose among the people, secretly bringing destructive heresies, denying the Master and bringing destruction upon themselves. Peter recounted multiple instances of judgment such as fallen angels, the flood in the time of Noah and the condemnation of Sodom and Gomorra but also the preservation of Noah and the rescue of righteous Lot. “The conclusion is that the Lord knows how to deliver the godly and to punish the ungodly. He can rescue His people from trial, and at the same time reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.” (BBC)

The false religious leaders are bold and willful, not trembling as they blaspheme the glorious ones, a level to which not even the angels stoop. “These apostate religious leaders resemble irrational animals. Instead of using the powers of reasoning which distinguish them from animals, they live as if the gratification of their bodily appetites is the very essence of existence. Just as many animals seem to have no higher destiny than to be killed and butchered, so the false teachers lunge forward to destruction, heedless of what is their true calling—to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” (BBC)

Peter compares the false teachers to “waterless springs and mists driven by a storm.” (2 Pet. 17). They speak loud boasts of folly and entice passions of the flesh, promising freedom but are themselves slaves. It to whatever overcomes a person that they become a slave. So bad is it that they would have been better off not knowing the way of righteousness than to learn of it and turn back from the holy commandment given to them. Peter quotes Prov. 26:11, declaring true what had happened to these false teachers, that “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” (2 Pet. 2:22)

Micah 5

Judah is told to prepare for a siege by the Babylonians. “This may refer to Sennacherib’s taunting Hezekiah or Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliating Zedekiah.” (BBC). But then Micah specifies “Bethlehem Ephrathah”, that from there will come “one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” (Micah 5:2). These reference the coming Messiah, pointing to His deity and eternality. He “shall stand and shepherd the flock in the strength of the LORD” (Micah 5:4), setting forth “His care for Israel and His worldwide dominion” (BBC).

The remnant of Israel shall be among the nations, and her hand shall be lifted over her adversaries, all her enemies shall be cut off. “In that day, Israel will have been purified. It will no longer trust in horses and chariots or fortified cities. Sorcerers and soothsayers will be abolished. Carved images and sacred pillars—pagan shrines—will be destroyed. Enemy nations will be punished with God’s vengeance.” (BBC)

Luke 14

The chapter begins with an instance in which Jesus went to the house of a ruler of the Pharisees on the Sabbath. They were watching Jesus carefully and there was a man before Him with dropsy. Reading their minds, Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, asking them, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” (Luke 14:3). They did not speak and Jesus healed the man and sent him away. Jesus then turned to the Jews and “reminded them that if one of their animals fell into a pit, they would certainly pull him out on the Sabbath day.” (BBC)

Luke recounts two of Jesus’ parables, one of a wedding feast and another of a great banquet. The former, describing how one should take a seat of lower status, illustrates how those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. The parable of the great banquet illustrates the ingratitude of entitled invitees and how “True hospitality (hosting a dinner or a banquet) will be blessed by the Lord if you invite those who cannot return the favor.”

Jesus then spoke to the great crowds that accompanied Him, telling them of the great sacrifice that is required to be His follower. If one is unwilling to go so far as to hate his father or mother or bear his own cross to come after Jesus, he cannot be a disciple of Jesus. “It is necessary to calculate the cost to be a disciple of Christ. Like a person who does not foresee the full cost of building a tower and suffers ridicule for starting something he cannot finish, a disciple must understand what it will take to complete the Christian life before he makes the commitment.” (FSB).

The chapter concludes with Jesus’ teaching on the goodness of salt, a picture of a faithful disciple. However, He asks them, “if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?” (Luke 14:34). “The picture is of a disciple who starts off brilliantly, and then goes back on his vows. The disciple has one basic reason for existence; if he fails to fulfill that reason, then he is a pitiable object.” (BBC)

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