| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| @July 25, 2024 | ESV (2016) | M’Cheyne Plan 2024 |
Judges 8
Judges 8:22–23 (ESV) 22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” 23 Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD will rule over you.”
Following Gideon’s defeat of the Midianites, the people requested that Gideon rule over them. The CSB Notes illuminate a couple of important elements in this situation. First is that Gideon did not directly deny that it was he who saved them from the Midianites. There is no overt ascription of the victory to God. Second is that while Gideon denied the request for kingship, he proceeded in acting functionally in the role of a king, asking for “a royal share of the plunder, gold earrings from every man, representing a symbolic token of submission to him.” (CSB Notes). The CSB Notes continues by saying, “The amount of gold suggests that the garment included an idolatrous image. Gideon’s intent was to glorify himself, founding his own cult like the Canaanite kings. The result was spiritually disastrous, ensnaring all Israel in prostituting themselves.”
Acts 12
Acts 12:8–9 (ESV) 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. … Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!”
Peter was seized and imprisoned by Herod the king who had “laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church” (Acts 12:1). An angel of the Lord came to Peter while in prison and took measures to free him. Peter responded in confusion, not knowing what was being done and thought he was seeing a vision. Later we see the same incredulity expressed by the people at the house of Mary when a servant girl, Rhoda, reported that Peter had been freed from prison and was standing at the gateway. These two instances convey a theme of puzzlement and disbelief threaded within the chapter. In this we see our difficulty in reconciling the miraculous with our pre-defined categories because such events do not neatly comport with our finite understanding. As we encounter similar situations, we must approach them with proper discernment—viewing them through the grid of Scripture—but also with humility and regard to our limitations.
Jeremiah 21
Jeremiah 21:3–5 (ESV) 3 Then Jeremiah said to them: “Thus you shall say to Zedekiah, 4 ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands and with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls. And I will bring them together into the midst of this city. 5 I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, in anger and in fury and in great wrath.
King Zedekiah sent Pashur to inquire of Jeremiah to see if the LORD would deal with them according to His wonderful deeds and make Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, withdraw from them. Jeremiah spoke to them a harrowing word on behalf of the LORD that no such deliverance would be given but that God would instead help the Chaldeans (Babylonians) in the besieging of Judah. By this, Jeremiah continues in faithfully carrying out his prophetic ministry of conveying the difficult truths to the people of Jerusalem. How much are we too called to express the unfavorable truth of sin as we share the gospel. Without the bad news of our radical corruption there would be no need or appreciation of the good news of salvation in Christ. May we then press into God to give us the heart and wherewithal to love on others with the proclamation of the full gospel.
Mark 7
Mark 7:26–29 (ESV) 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.”
I have often struggled with Jesus’ interaction with the Syrophoenician woman as it seems He dealt with her rather harshly. However, the BBC provides some helpful context:
We emphasize the fact that she was a Greek, not a Jew. The Jews, God’s chosen people, occupied a place of distinct privilege with God. He had made wonderful covenants with them, committed the Scriptures to them, and dwelt with them in the tabernacle, and later in the temple. By contrast, the Gentiles were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, without Christ, without hope, without God in the world (Eph. 2:11, 12)….It is important to see this in order to understand His dealings with the Syro-Phoenician woman. When she asked Him to cast the demon out of her daughter, He seemed to rebuff her.
