Read To Me Daily Semester 3Намуна

I hope that you have enjoyed this third semester of the Read To Me Daily reading plan. I want to remind you that if you complete all four semesters, you will have read or listened to the whole Bible. So I hope that you will sign up for the last semester, which is the longest of the four, having 116 days. In the NT, next semester will take you through Matthew, Jude, Hebrews, 2nd Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, 2nd Thessalonians, 2nd Timothy, 2nd and 3rd John, and Revelation.

1CHRONICLES 23-24:
In our reading in 1st Chronicles yesterday we heard a rather odd story about how “Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census.” But in 2Samuel 24:1 we read that “Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, ‘Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.’” So who was it— Satan or the Lord? And if the problem was caused by someone else, why was David and all Israel punished?!  

I think, in a place like this, we have to go back to what we learned in Job. God brings up a topic to Satan, Satan responds predictably, and God gives him permission to tempt and sets the boundaries. In other words, both God and Satan are involved. God does not tempt people to do evil, and God is in ultimate control. Satan is like a dog on a leash. And about the guilt that brought about punishment that David had to decide about: God’s sovereign knowledge and control does not negate David’s responsibility for his choices.

Why was the census considered a sin? This seems to be founded on the idea that Israel— according to God’s promise, was to be as many as the stars in the sky and the sand on the sea shore, in other words, uncountable. When Moses conducted a census, there was a money offering for the Lord given for every male counted. We don’t hear whether that pattern was followed in this case. However, clearly, making a military census would seem to indicate that David was trusting in numbers instead of God’s power. (See 1Chron. 27:23-24.)

PROVERBS 21a:
Here is the verse I chose to highlight from Proverbs for today:

Pro. 21:13 GNT If you refuse to listen to the cry of the poor,
your own cry for help will not be heard. 

TITUS 3:
Today in the last chapter of Titus, we continue with more true teaching for our spiritual health. We might consider a verse from yesterday’s reading (chapter 2:14) as a heading for all of today’s reading. That verse says,

Tit. 2:14 GNT He gave himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to him alone and are eager to do good.

Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, we worship You. May your gracious kindness work in our hearts. May we learn how we are to live by meditating on your overwhelming kindness to us. We used to lead ungodly lives, and we were the slaves of worldly passions. Now may gratitude for your kindness move us to give up ungodly living and passions. May we desire to be pure and upright— like You. Lord, make us eager to be seen as your people and eager to do good. May we care for your reputation in this world, so that we excel in self-control, and are able teach our fellow believers how to live without fault in the eyes of the watching world. Fill us with certainty that You are coming again. Help us always to keep our eyes on You, Lord Jesus.