Sat 090328 pm 1Chr 8-12

1 Chronicles 8
8.1-5 Benjamin begat Bela
8.6-7 sons of Ehud
8.8-10 Shaharaim had children
8.11-28 by Hushim Shaharaim begot
8.29-37 the father of Gibeon
8.38-39 Azel had six sons
8.40 sons of Ulam mighty men of valor, archers, many sons and grandsons


1 Chronicles 9
9.2 The Nethinim were the Temple assistants.
9.3-9 Now in Jerusalem
9.10-13 Of the priests:
9.14-16 Netophathites were from a community close to Bethlehem.
9.17-27 the gatekeepers The Lord was with Phinehas, who had been the officer over them.


1Chronicles 10
10. 13 Saul died because of his unfaithfulness and because he consulted a medium.


1Chronicles 11
11. 3 according to the word of Samuel... He was definitely a heavy weight.
11.9 "The Lord of Hosts is an appropriate title for God in the context of his military victory.
11.11, 12, 20, 22 David's mighty men were guys that you didn't mess with.

• Jashobeam, chief of the captains, killed300 at one time.
• Eleazar was one of the ones who hid in the barley field and defeated the Philistines at Pasdammim.
• Abishai, brothe of Joab, killed 300 men. He was one the three that brought David water from the Philistine camp.
• Benaiah had lion like heroes of Moab, killed a 5 cubit (7.5') Egyptian with his own spear, and was over David's guard.

1 Chronicles 12
12.2 using both left and right hand... Now that is exceptional, and probably gave them an edge in battle.
12.8 Gadites,

• men of battle
• trained for battle,
• who could handle shield and spear,
• faces were life the faces of lions, and
• were as swift as gazelles...

12.23-37
Judah - 6,800 - bearing shield and spear, armed for war
Simeon - 7,100 - men of valor fit for war
sons of Levi - 4,600 -
Jehoiada, a valiant warrior, leader of the Aaronites - 3,700
Benjamin - 3,000
Ephraim - 20,800 - men of valor, famous men
half tribe of Manasseh - 18,000
Issachar - 200 chiefs - who had an understanding of the times, to know what Israel should do
Zebulun - 50,000 - went out to battle, expert in war with all qeapons, stouthearted men who could keep ranks.
Naphtali - 37,000 with shield and spear
Danites, 28, 600 could keep battle formation
Asher - 40,000 - could keep battle formation
Reuben, Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh - 120,000 - armed with every kind of weapon


12.38 who could keep ranks, with a loyal heart, & of one mind. With men like this it is little wonder that there was joy in Israel.

Fri 090326 pm Lev 26 - 1Chr 7

Leviticus 26

26.1-2 You shall make no idols and keep my Sabbaths

26.4-13 If you walk ... then I will

• 4 give rain
• 6 give peace in the land
• 9 look favorably and make you fruitful
• 11 will set My tabernacle among you
• 12 will walk among you and be your God

26.14-39 But if you do not obey

• 16 appoint terror over you & make my face against you
• 18 break the pride & harden skys and ground
• 23 send wild beasts
• 27 bring sword & pestilence
• 27 walk contrary n & scatter you among the nations

26.40-46 If they will confess ... then I will remember My covenant This is the nature of our hope that God will not cast us away nor abhor us and break His word with us.


1 Chronicles 7
7.1-5 sons of Issachar 22,600 mighty men of valor in their generation, ready for war, had many wives and sons
7.6-12 sons of Benjamin Bela 22,034 men of valor, Becher 22,200& Jediael 17,200 mighty men of vbalor fit to go out for war and battle.
7.13 sons of Naphtali I wonder why almost nothing is said about them.
7.14-19 descendants of Manasseh
2.20-29 sons of Ephraim

'Fri 090327 am 1Chr 5-6

1 Chronicles 5
5.1-10 sons of Reuben There is an interesting note about the birthright and a ruler coming from Judah. No mention of the number of fighters?
5.11-17 the children of Gad
5.18-22 sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh 47,760 men
able to bear the sword,
to shoot wit the bow,
and skillful in war,
who went to war.
they cried out to God in battle ... they put their trust in Him ...
They were not just trained, but actually went to war. Too many of us are well trained, but inactive. Then they didn't just go in their own strength but went trusting God and calling out to Him. Today, we often think we have it figured out and don't usually need God's help.
5.23-26 the children of the half-tribe of Mannasseh ... and they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers, and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land ... Now that "will preach."


1 Chronicles 6
6.1-29 the sons of Levi Who can forget Phinehas? Asariah apparently ministered when Solomon built the temple. Hilkiah reminds me that some of these priests served under difficult times spiritually. There seems to be more individuals mentioned in this section than most.
6.31-48 men whom David appointed over the service of song A long linage (over 20 if I am counting it right) given for Herman the singer. Asaph was mentioned in about ten of the Psalms. It would be interesting research any musical significance of being on the left hand or right hand.
6.49-52 Aaron and his sons offered sacrifices
6.54-81 dwelling places ... given by lot to the sons of Aaron Surely some geography buff has made a map of this.

Thurs 090326 pm Victorious Praying 1Chr 1-4

I am not sure why the Daily Walk puts 9 chapters of 1 Chronicles geneologies on the same day, but I am going to look for names I recognize and tid bits around the edges.


1 Chronicles 1
1.1 Adam, Seth, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, shem, Ham, and Japheth.
1.5-6 sons of Japheth.
1.8-15 sons of Ham. 1.10 Cush begot Nimrod.
1.17-28 sons of Shem
1.19 Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided I wonder what this refers to.
1.29-31 Ishmael
1.32-33 sons born to Keturah
1.34-36 sons of Issac
1.39-43 sons of Seir I wonder why it mentions Lotan's sister Timna?
1.43-54 Kings of Edom It is interesting that some of the names had "Baal" in them and that Pai's wife, Mehetabel was mentioned.


1 Chronicles 2
2.1-2 sons of Israel
2.3-16 sons of Judah The Lord killed Er. Tamar, the daughter-in-law was mentioned. In verse 7 Achar is Achan. Chelubai is Caleb in verse 9. Salma must have been quite a father to have a son of the character of Boaz. Joab was David's nephew?
2.18-24 sons of Caleb, the son of Hezron
2.25-40 sons of Jerahmeel Why was an Egyptian servant mentioned in verse 34?
2.42-55 the decendants of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel It is curious that Caleb's concubines, Ephah & Maachah were mentioned. Who were the Natophathites? Verse 55 has a interesting mention of scribes, the Kenites, and Hammath the father of the house of Rechab.


1 Chronicles 3
3.1-9 the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron... The six wives were mentioned.
3.10-16 Solomon's decendants
3.17-24 sons of Jeconiah



1 Chronicles 4
4.1-23 sons of Judah It is noteworthy that out of the middle of nowhere we have this prayer of Jabez. I bet someone could write a book on it. :o) The "that I may not cause pain" part is especially good for us to pray. It's kind of like the doctor's "first do no harm" thing.
4.14 interesting that he mentioned craftsmen.
4.22 The records were ancient Seems kinda random.
4.24-43 I wonder why the text mentions that Shelah's brothers did not have as many children and whywas that?


A Journey to Victorious Praying by Bill Thrasher


I read "Chapter 25: Discovering God's Purposes While You Wait"
In prayer God is seeking to ...

• get us under His loving authority.
• get us dependent on the Spirit.
• get us walking in the light.
• develop a love motivation.
• teach us to live for His glory.

Paul prayed to be able to visit Rome and ended up going as a prisoner. He was "willing to make any adjustment in his life to fulfill God's will."

Wed 090325 am 2King 23-25

Returning to Holiness: A Personal and Churchwide Journey to Revival by Dr. Grefory Frizzell


I read chapter one, which was an introduction for how to use the book. It had some good scriptures about the imortance and practice of intraspection and confession


2 Kings 23
23.3 A Biblical basis for rededicating your life to follow the Lord and keep His commandments? Maybe we need to get some pillars in our sanctuary for people to stand by and covenant before the Lord. :o)
23.4-24 A long list of the evil places and things that he rooted out of the land. It is noteworthy that these events were the precurser to verse 25.
23.25 Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all... This is a favorite verse and hopefully a growing aspiration and practice in my life.
23.31-32 ...reigned three months ... did evil in the sight of the Lord...


2 Kings 24
24.3 The results of our sins often outlive us.
24.19 He also... Hello? Does anybody have a clue what is going on? Why do we just not "get it" so often?


2 Kings 25
25.7 Wow! That was "cold blooded!"
25.27-30 I am curious as to why this was included and what its significance is. It reminds me of God's mercy and ends the book with a small ray of hope.

Tues 090315 am Acts 4 Lk 15

Acts 4
4.8-12 Peter's confession is choice.
Rulers of the people
and elders of Israel,
that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
whom you crucified,
whom God raised from the dead,
by Him this man stands here before you whole.
This is the 'stone which was rejected by the builders,
which has become the chief cornerstone.'
Nor is there salvation in any other,
for there is no other name under heaven
given among men
by which we must be saved. Peter calls them out. He names them specifically, contrasts their rejection of Christ with God' s approval by raising Him from the dead. He emphasized that the "builders" had rejected their only hope for salvation.
4.29 grant your servants boldness... It is instructive that they did not pray for the persecution to stop, but that they would be bold to press through with boldness.
2.32 one heart and one soul... This is a good standard to aspire to and a great mindset to work toward.


Luke 15
15.1 It's a good thing that this Man receives sinners.
15.20 I love the lost and found stories in this chapter. saw him and felt compassion. It is something that we "older brothers" have to remember and keep in mind. There is a difference between feeling compassion and approving of foolish sinfulness.

Mon 090323 pm 2King 21-22

2 Kings 21
21.9 But they paid no attention, and Manasseh seduced them... It is interesting that they were seduced after they paid not attention to the law.


2 Kings 22
22.11 It happened when he heard the book of the Law... I am afraid that too often, too little if anything happens when we read the book of the Law.

Mon 090323 am 2King19-20 Luke 13-14

2 Kings 19
19.4 It is curious to me that Hezekiah, a king who did according to all that his father David had done, would tell Isaiah the Lord your God. I wonder why he didn't say the Lord my or our God.
19.22 An interesting reference by Isaiah to God as the Holy One of Israel. This expression is also common in the book of Isaiah.
19.28 A good prayer for ungodly rulers.


2 Kings 20
20.13 was attentive to them This is an intriguing thing to think about. Who am I attentive to? How? and Why?


Luke 13

13.3, 5 Wow! a pretty hard response to catastrophes.
13.14 I think of how ridiculous the ruler of the Sabbath and wince at how often we try to regulate ministry in similar ways for the sake of order.
13.34-35 This is a favorite verse. O, that the Lord would give me, that I would allow myself to have, that same kind of burden and heart!


Luke 14
14.18 But they all alike began to make excuses... If there is one thing we all have a gift for, it is making excuses.
14.26 I don't think we understand this very well today.
14.34 It is about the TASTE. It was not the healing or preserving qualities, but the fact it just makes things taste better. Christians should make the situations they are in richer and more pleasant.

Sun 090322 pm 2King 12-18

2 Kings 12-18


I was at the Weekend to Remember conference in Tulsa and thought that it would be in bad form to bring a laptop when I was supposed to be completely focused on my wife and marriage. However, a couple things did stand out.


17.7-12 It was pretty sobering to read God's descriptions of sin that lead to their being conquered by the Assyrians. Verse 9 was especially thought provoking. It referred to what Israel "did secretly against the Lord ... that were not right."


18.32-35 The comments by the Assyrian Rabshakeh about the Lord not being able to deliver may have just been generic comment about about the tendency of country to trust a god, but they bought the threats to a whole new level.

Fri 090320 pm The Blue Parakeet Ch 3

The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible by Scot McKnight

Chapter three:
"...many of us, instead of taking the longer but more rewarding path of reading the Bible as a story, want a shortcut...
Shortcut 1: Morsels of Law
Shortcut 2: Morsels of Blessings and Promises
...there are all kinds f wonderful blessings ... and there also are days of doubt, defeat, disobedience, and darkness.
Shortcut 3: Mirrors and Inkblots
Sees Jesus as being like themselves
Shortcut 4: Puzzling Together the Pieces to Map God's Mind ...

Well, I have to go and Anna needs to take this book back to Moody, so I'll have to wait until this summer if I am going to get back to it.

Fri 032009 am 2K 11 Lk 12 Blue Parakeet Ch 2

2 Kings 11


11.2 The text doesn't say, but I wonder how Athaliah missed Josiah. Did she overlook him, or just couldn't find him? Anyway, it was a brave aunt and a plucky priest who saved the day.


11.18 We are in a different dispensation and time, but it is interesting that Mattan, the priest of Baal was held to a different level of accountability than the regular worshippers.


It almost seems that Israel was chaffing under the extreme Baal worship and associated it with the tyranny of Athaliah so that they wanted to destroy the Baal worship as soon as she was gone.


The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible by Scot McKnight


The idea seems to be that we tend to pick and choose what we want and basically tame the Bible for our purposes. He says the Bible should make us a little uncomfortable.


In chapter two he talks about three ways people read the Bible. First, is to "read and retrieve." He says on page 26 that, "What we've got in the pages of the New Testament are first-century expressions of the gospel and church life, not permanent, timeless expressions." That statement has an element of truth in it, but concerns me because it seems to open the door for writing off what we don't like at "cultural" and could open the door for "rethinking" key doctrines. The second is "Reading through Tradition," allowing a set of beliefs guide your interpretations. He talks about "the great tradition" and "traditionalism." The third was "Reading with Tradition." Considering what has been believed in the past against what the Bible says.


Luke 12
12.1 Hypocrisy is pointless in the long run.


12.4 This verse ought to be preached on every one in a while.


12.13 I hadn't thought much about the inheritance context for the Parable of the Fool. I should think about including this passage in my will if I ever get enough money for it to be an issue.


12.26 Could we paraphrase this, "Don't worry about what you can't change?"


12.45 I fear the Church is drifting in this direction.


12.58 ...make an effort to settle... Compromise isn't right for every situation, but there are definitely times when it is a desirable thing.

Th 090319 pm 2 King 9-10

2 Kings 9
9.31 Wicked as she was, you have to appreciate her cutting sarcasm and whit.
9. 34 After what Jehu said in verse 22, it is curious that he would want to see to her burial. I guess it was a "professional courtesy" or something.


2 Kings 10
10.10 "Know now that nothing shall fall to the earth of the Word of the Lord which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Ahab..." I like the expression about words falling to the ground. And, it is impressive how confident Jehu was in bringing about the violent end God had prophesied for Ahab's house.
10.15 I love "Jehonadab the son of Rechab."
10.29 This is the saddest verse in the chapter. (Well, this one and 31 combined.) It's not enough to have a great start. Lord, help me to finish well.

Th 090319 am Victorious Praying Ch 23 2Kg 6-8

A Journey to Victorious Praying


Finished chapter 23, on fasting, and read 24, on waiting on the Lord. Thrasher said that waiting on the Lord was not as much an activity as an attitude and suggested that when the Lord rebuked Martha, it was her distracted, worried, and bothered attitude, not her service, that was called into question.


2 Kings 6


6.18 blindness I wonder if this might have been some kind of lack of awareness instead of an inability to see anything. I can't imagine someone agreeing to be led to a military mission if they couldn't see. This kind of blindness would be a good illustration of the spiritual blindness of the lost today. They just don't have a clue. I need to check the Hebrew sometime to see if that is the case.


2 Kings 7

7.2 "you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it." What a sad punishment. I want to see and taste.
7.19 "Now look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?" He lacked Abraham's faith. We don't have to have a solution in mind to have faith.


2 Kings 8
8.1 Preachers often criticize Ruth for doing the same things. It seems that Elijah wouldn't have to her to live elsewhere if it was against the law to do so.
8.10 This is a hard one to figure out.
8.18 Be very careful who you marry!
8.26 Scary music time in the movie. Athaliah was "a real piece of work."

Wed 090318 pm 1King 4-5

1 Kings 4
Four miracles in this chapter and the two about men have to do with eating. Probably not very significant, but interesting.


1 Kings 5
5.7 Am I God to kill and make alive..? This is a great questions for me sometimes when I get prideful and self sufficient.
5.13 A friend like this is a treasure!

Wed 090316 am 2King 2-3

2 Kings 2 2.14 Where is the God of Elijah? With 50 sons of the Prophets looking on Elisha steps forward in faith. If God had not parted the water, he would have looked pretty foolish.
2.17 till he was ashamed It is too easy for people to redefine the paradigm and cajole us into being too embarrassed to stick to what we know is right. Are we not sure of ourselves, or is it just not worth making a fuss over?
2.24 mauled forty-two of the youths I am trying to get a picture of this scene in my mind. "Forty-two of them" may imply that there were even more. It must have been an ominous scene to have a crowd of "gang members" heckling and threatening the prophet. And was does that look like for two bears to maul 42 people. It must have been real mayhem.


2 Kings 3
3.13 What have I to do with you. God to the prophets of your father.
3.14 were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah
For someone raised with almost a "win the lost at any cost" / "Jesus is watching and waiting" background this seems like a very odd attitude to take. It should cause people who reject the Lord to sit up and take notice. I hope that I am always a Jehoshaphat.
3.18 a simple hing in the eyes of the Lord What a reassuring thought!
3,27 What a sad and pathetic scene this must have been. Spiritual darkness is tragic.

Tues 090316 pm Victorious Praying

A Journey to Victorious Praying
p. 134
Did He [Jesus] remind them, but not to miss devotions for the day. No, He asked them to pray because He knew how heaven works.
Andrew Murray said, “We understand that our true aim must not be to work much; and have prayer enough to keep the work right.”
p. 145
It is accurate to say that Jesus dose not command His followers to fast, but He certainly did expect fasting to be part of their lives.
p. 158
D.L. Moody used to say, “If you say, ‘I will fast when God lays it on my heart, you never will.”
I like Donald Whitney’s suggestion to have a fast of dedication as an expression of one’s willingness to fast as the Holy Spirit would direct.

Tues 090317 am 1king 3 - Luke 10 - Acts 3

2 Kings 1


1.6 "Is is because there is no God in Israel?" How often do we (I) act like there is no God? It is a thought to take with me today.


1.9 demanding--toast
1.11 come down quickly--toast
1.14 "But let my life now be precious in your sight." What a great example of humility that is.


1.18 "...the rest of the acts..." Here is yet another reminder of how much of what we do is relegated to statistics in some obscure book somewhere. What in my life is "Bible worthy?"


Acts 3


This morning we discussed Acts 3 in our staff meeting.
3.1 Peter and John went to pray. Good things tend to happen when we pray. The lame man was in "the path to prayer", a "hot spot" for God's grace.


He wanted money, but God had something much better in store. "...above all we ask or think..."


Jesus had probably walked by this man many times during his ministry, but the timing was important for Peter to preach.


3.25 Why does the NIV have "heirs" instead of "sons?" It seems to be the Greek word for son (Huios) there.


Luke 10
I am trying to read/hear a NT chapter each day in the ESV.


10.4 Wish peace on the house and let the Lord figure out if it deserves it.


10. 19 Serpents and scorpions seem to be an allusion to demons. Mark 16


10.33 he had compassion
10.37 showed him mercy
It is disappointing how hard-hearted we often are. I need to take the time to notice and to be moved.

Mon 0903316 pm - 1King 20-22

1 Kings 20
20. 28 Because they have said... God defends his reputation and Ahab falls short of "finishing the job." How typical of us.
20.35-43 Here's another example of the amazing creativity and effectiveness of the OT prophets in effectively making their point.


1 Kings 21
7 out of 10 commandments broken
v.2 #10 not covet
v.3 #5 disregard for parents/family
v. 9-10 #9 false witness
v. 13 #6 shall not murder
v. 13 #3 the Lord's name in vain?
v. 15 #8 shall not steal
All in a day's work.
21.25 Wow! What a distinction.
21.29 ...humbled himself... an interesting statement about such a wicked man. Is there a chance that this involved any real repentance since God took note of it and showed him mercy?


1 Kings 22
22.8 O that I would be that man!
22.13 The messenger was well intentioned, but was he a good friend?
22.32 Compare with 2Chronicles 18.31. Calling out to the Lord is a sign of a humble follower of God which was a contrast to Ahab. I guess nobody would ever expect Ahab to pray.
22.43-44 How painfully familar. Jehoshaphat's two sins (in the midst of a life of doing right in the sight of the Lord) were to allow sin to reside in the obscure places and to make peace with an open enemy of God.