Justin Houtz

2 Chronicles 19–20, Revelation 8, Zechariah 4, John 7

DateVersionReading Plan
@December 17, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

2 Chronicles 19–20

2 Chronicles 19:4, 8, 20:3-4, 5, 35-37 (ESV)
4 Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
…
8 Moreover, in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites and priests and heads of families of Israel, to give judgment for the LORD and to decide disputed cases. They had their seat at Jerusalem.
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3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
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5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you
…
35 After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly. 36 He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish, and they built the ships in Ezion-geber. 37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made.” And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.

A significant theme throughout these chapters are the elements of Jehoshaphat’s faithfulness. He acted with a heart centered on the LORD, bringing people back to Him, appointing judges to maintain justice and equity, seeking the LORD first in times of difficulty and the like. However, from previous chapters and in the closing verses of chapter 20, we know that Jehoshaphat was by no means absent of sin and foolishness. In this we see that no matter how noble or virtuous any particular ruler may seem for a time, all will fall short of the glory of God. Only in Christ do we have a holy and righteous King who reigns supreme in perfect love and justice.

Revelation 8

Revelation 8:7 (ESV)
7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

The word “third” is repeated 14x in six verses in Revelation 8, making it a considerable theme in the chapter. I was not able to find in any of my available commentaries a reflection on the use of thirds pertaining to this chapter, but each usage of “third” seems to convey a significant portion (ex. “third of the earth”, “third of the sea”, “third of the ships”, etc.). Whether these thirds have a more specific meaning will perhaps be revealed at a later time.

Zechariah 4

“Zechariah’s fifth vision is a symbolic picture of the Spirit of Yahweh as He gives power to the anointed ones currently in view—probably Zerubbabel and Joshua. This vision has some similarities to the fourth vision, including a reference to seven eyes, a reference to a stone for the temple, and an emphasis on a historical person…In this vision, everything Zechariah sees holds significance. The vision is presented almost as if it were a dream, with an angelic guide explaining the fantastic imagery (compare Dan 8:18; 10:9–10). Zechariah is shown an unusual lampstand—one that is different from a typical menorah or temple lampstand. Zechariah asks three times about it and the two olive trees next to it. In the cryptic fashion typical of apocalyptic visions (compare Dan 7:15–28), the angel’s explanation offers little clarity, emphasizing simply that Yahweh has chosen Zerubbabel for this mission to rebuild the temple and that Yahweh Himself will overcome the worldly obstacles to its reconstruction.” (FSB)

John 7

John 7:2–5 (ESV)
2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him.

“The Lord’s brothers mentioned in verse 3 were likely sons born to Mary after the birth of Jesus, (some say cousins or other distant relatives). But no matter how close the relationship to the Lord Jesus was, they were not thereby saved. They did not truly believe on the Lord Jesus. They told Him that He should go to the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem and perform some of His miracles there so that His disciples might see what He was doing. The disciples spoken of here were not the twelve, but rather those who professed to be followers of the Lord Jesus in Judea.

Although they did not believe on Him, they wanted Him to manifest Himself openly. Perhaps they wanted the attention that would come to them as relatives of a famous person. Or more probably, they were envious of His fame and were urging Him to go to Judea in hopes that He might be killed.” (BBC)

John 7:22–24 (ESV)
22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

“If they circumcised a child on the Sabbath, in order to obey the law of Moses regarding circumcision, why should they find fault with the Lord Jesus for making a man completely well on the Sabbath? If the law allowed for a work of necessity, would it not also allow for a work of mercy?” (BBC)

Jesus calls out the hypocrisy of the Jews in that they were willing to circumcise a man on the Sabbath but were unwilling to accept that man’s whole body be made well on the Sabbath. The BBC rightly points out that, “The trouble with the Jews was that they judged things according to outward appearance and not according to inward reality. Their judgment was not righteous. Works which seemed perfectly legitimate when performed by themselves seemed absolutely wrong when performed by the Lord. Human nature always tends to judge according to sight rather than according to reality. The Lord Jesus had not broken the Law of Moses; it was they who were breaking it by their senseless hatred of Him.” (BBC)

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