Thoughts on the Bible Readings October 3rd (1 Chronicles 17, Ezekiel 29, Galatians 3, 4)

1 Chronicles chapter 17 outlines the covenant Almighty God made with David. David's heart desired to build a magnificent temple for his beloved LORD, but the prophet Nathan told him that was forbidden. The reverse would be the case - Yahweh would build for David an eternal house through his offspring. God has never been concerned with the trappings of where He was worshipped. Rather it is about how He was worshipped. After David was dead and buried this unique seed (offspring) would reign. This meant that Solomon was not the subject of the words. The kingdom of this son would be eternal. David's throne was finally ended about 587BC by Nebuchadnezzar. Our Lord Jesus Christ was the seed spoken of - Luke 1verses 31-35. The kingdom would be set up in David's presence (2 Samuel 7verse 16) necessitating David's resurrection - cp Isaiah 55 verses1-4 and Acts 13 verse 34. Upon receiving this covenant David, acting as a High Priest, went into the tent containing the ark and SAT before Yahweh - the book of Hebrews makes much of this as does Psalm 110 which was composed at this time of David's enacted parable. David reveals that the application was far in his future and that his son would also be the Son of God. With Yahweh's blessing THAT house would thrive - see 2 Samuel 23 verse 1-7, 18-29. Ezekiel 29 deals with our Sovereign's judgments on Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar. The capture of Egypt and its treasures were "wages" for he and his army for their unrewarded efforts against Tyre. Verses 1-5 tells us of the pride of the Egyptians for which the LORD God was to punish them. Verses 6 repeats one of the prominent themes of the book - over 60 times - "they shall know that I am Yahweh". Verses 6-12 says that Egypt would be waste for 40 years. The river was affected by the LORD's judgment and their pride was destroyed. Verses 13-16 tells us that after our Sovereign's humbling of Egypt they were to be partially restored and would from that time on remain a base nation. Verses 17-20 says that the sacking of Egypt was ordained by God to recompense Nebuchadnezzar's army for the failure to receive any reward in the besieging of Tyre. The last verse is prophetic of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as the horn to be raised up in Judah. The prophecy of Zechariah provides details of this.
In Galatians 3 Paul says that his readers must have been bewitched to turn from the evidence, seen in himself, of Christ placard before them as a crucified one. He asks the Galatians if had they received the spirit gifts through works of law, or by the hearing of faith. Verses 6-9 cite the Scripture from Genesis 15:6 - Abraham could DO nothing but believe and trust God. What Abraham did was to believe to God. And our Heavenly Father counted that belief to Abraham as righteousness. The gospel, says Paul, was taught to Abraham in Genesis 12 verse 3, when he was told "In you shall nations of the earth be blessed" - see Romans 4 verse 13. Paul actually quotes a hybrid of Genesis 12:3 and Genesis 22 verse 18 - as Peter likewise does in Acts 3 verse25. All the Law of Moses could do was curse those who were subject to it and prove to them the utter sinfulness of human nature. The other thing that the Law did was to curse a sinless man who was hung on a tree in crucifixion - that was our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, the Law had to be annulled. Any law that brought condemnation on a righteous man, must be revoked. Verse 16 says that the promise was about one specific seed alone, the Christ. To be saved the one requirement is faith and the acknowledging of one's belief by becoming one with Christ through baptism. Whoever is baptised becomes clothed with Christ and receives by imputation Christ's righteousness. Verses 26-29 establish that in Christ there are no gender distinctions, no social strata differences and no racial discrimination. All equally receive the salvation offered in Christ Jesus and are each one an heir of what the Almighty promised in His Son. Chapter 4 tells us that to attain to sonship we must as children first go through training, whose appointments are of the father until the time determined. Christ came in the fulness of time for the purpose of redemption in general; and particularly for those under the Law to liberate them from the curse. From verses 8-20 Paul expresses his concern for the Galatians servile adherence to days and rituals, which have only a negative effect on spirituality. The chapter concludes with an allegory regarding the sons of Sarah and Hagar, about the freedom in Christ in contrast to the slavish servitude to law.