DAY 164
Old Testament reading: 2 Chronicles 13-16
2 Chronicles 13 provides previously unknown details of the reign of Abijah, formerly called Abijam in 1 Kings 15. While the earlier account says little of Abijah other than to refer to his wickedness, the Chronicles detail his defeat of Israel with the help of God. Abijah’s main argument against Jeroboam is that he has perverted the priesthood and worship of the Lord God. Though Judah was outnumbered 2 to 1 and was ambushed from behind, God fought on her behalf and Israel loses half a million “choice men.” While one might think that the Lord’s intervention was not so much an approval of Abijah as it was a condemnation of Jeroboam, the Chronicler says that “Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lord God of their fathers” (13:18). It is unclear why the previous account has nothing to say of this event. As is often the case, the passage of time, (not to mention the years of captivity), had given Ezra perspective. Or perhaps it is mentioned to encourage the exiles to return to God with all their heart. For if God will deliver a wicked king such as Abijam when he relies on Him, surely God will help these penitent exiles rebuild as they return to their homeland.
New Testament reading: 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy 1-3
If there is any command given to the church that is more ignored or disregarded than 2 Thessalonians 3:6, I’m not sure what it might be. Congregations of God’s people who practice church discipline with any degree of regularity or consistency are rare as hen’s teeth. I well remember two of my favorite preachers commenting on this topic. Regarding our inconsistency in the practice of church discipline, Johnny Ramsey said, “There is more taught in the New Testament on church discipline than on the Lord’s Supper.” Preaching at the 1998 Faulkner Lectures, Frank Chesser said, “With regard to obligation, there is no difference in Mark 16:16 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6. Yet brethren hold the former as a Divine imperative and the latter as an option.” Paul upheld the practice of church discipline as a matter of true faithfulness (2 Cor 2:3-11, cf v 9). It is not possible to attain the holiness demanded by God without discipline (cf Heb 12:5ff)!
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