I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
Jehoshaphat had given each of his sons valuable gifts and control over some of Judah’s fortified towns. He named his eldest son, Jehoram, to succeed him as king. However, when Jehoshaphat died and Jehoram became king, Jehoram had his brothers all killed. Jehoram followed the example of his father-in-law, Ahab, and was wicked in the sight of the Lord. Jehoram built shrines in the hill country of Judah and led the people to worship of other gods than God. The kingdom of Edom and the city of Libnah revolted against Jehoram’s rule and we are told that Edom gained its independence (the passage does not say whether or not Jehoram was able to reassert his rule over Libnah).
The prophet Elijah sent Jehoram a letter telling him that God had condemned him for his failure to follow the example of his father and his grandfather. Elijah told Jehoram that God was going to strike his people, his wives, his sons and his possessions and that Jehoram himself would die of a very painful intestinal disorder. Soon after the Philistines and some Arabs allied and attacked Judah. They sacked Jerusalem taking Jehoram’s wives and sons, excepting only his youngest son, Ahaziah (a variant of Jehoahaz). Shortly after that Jehoram began suffering from a very painful intestinal illness which got continually worse until he died of it very painfully.
Ahaziah, Jehoram’s son was made king upon Jehoram’s death. Ahaziah made members of his mother’s family, the family of Ahab, his advisers and did much evil at their advice. At the advice of his mother and her family, Ahaziah joined his uncle, King Joram in the battle where Joram was wounded. Ahaziah visited with Joram during his convalescence and was there when Jehu overthrew and killed Joram. Jehu captured and killed Ahaziah as well. Upon Ahaziah’s death, his mother, Athaliah, seized the throne and began killing off the remaining male heirs to the throne. Ahaziah’s sister rescued Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, and hid him. Ahaziah’s sister was married to the priest Jehoiada, so she took Joash to the Temple where the two of them raised him.
When Joash was seven, Jehoiada led a rebellion against Athaliah to make Joash king. He plotted with the priests and Levites and five army commanders. When everything was in place, Jehoiada crowned Joash king in the Temple. Athaliah, hearing the commotion came to investigate. Jehoiada ordered the soldiers to seize her and take her out of the Temple to kill her. Once Joash was firmly established on the throne, Jehoiada led a religious reformation and brought the people back to worshiping the Lord.
Paul continues discussing how some Jews had rejected God’s good news and how this led to the gospel being preached to the Gentiles. He says that if their rejection led to reconciliation with God for the rest of the world, will not their acceptance lead to even more wonderful things? Paul goes on to say that if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be holy and the Patriarchs were holy. However, some of the branches were broken off and branches from a wild tree (Gentiles) were grafted on in their place. This allows the grafted branches to experience the holiness of the roots. However, it is not basis for those who were grafted on to boast, because if God cut off native branches, he can surely cut off the grafted branches.
There is much in this passage. However, the thing that most speaks to me today is Paul’s emphasis that the Jewish people still have a place in God’s heart. We, as Christians, should always remember that God first made His promises to the descendants of Abraham. This reads to me that Paul is saying that we should have a desire to spread the Gospel to all people, but most especially to the Jewish people. At the very least, this passage condemns those who claim to be Christian but have a hatred of Jews.
This is the psalm which Jesus referenced when He hung upon the cross, just before He died. Today’s portion of this psalm is one of both great despair and of faith. The writer is in great distress and calls out to God. He has been calling out to God for some time and has not experienced relief. Yet, he acknowledges that God is holy and has rescued all who called on Him in the past. Despite the great despair that the psalmist expresses, he also tells us that he has faith that God will bring about great things from his suffering, that his suffering will be worthwhile in the end. This was the message that Jesus was trying to give to His disciples as He hung on the cross. He was telling them that while both He and they were feeling despair, they should keep the faith because God was faithful and would work things out for the good of those who loved Him.
The integrity of the godly brings a blessing on those who come after them, whether those who follow share in that integrity and godliness or not.