11/21 Reading (1 Chronicles 10-12; Romans 8)

1 Chronicles 10: Entire chapter is about the death of Saul. The story pretty much matches what we read in earlier text (1 Samuel).

1 Chronicles 11: David is made king of Israel. David and his men then capture Jerusalem from the Jebusites. The rest of this chapter then focuses on David and his warriors. It’s a really long list. The CEB study bible (p. 638 OT) includes a sidebar here focusing on the difference between this version of David becoming King and the original version found in Samuel. This version makes David look much better because there is no discussion of the fighting between the tribe of Judah and the remaining house of Saul.

1 Chronicles 12: Chapter 12 is a flashback focusing on the time prior to David’s rise to being the king. As with the story in chapter 11, this chapter puts David in a more positive light.

I really want to read more about who was the Chronicler.

Romans 8: Enter the Spirit. According to Paul, we were set free by the Spirit:

So now there isn’t any condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 God has done what was impossible for the Law, since it was weak because of selfishness. God condemned sin in the body by sending his own Son to deal with sin in the same body as humans, who are controlled by sin. 4 He did this so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us. Now the way we live is based on the Spirit, not based on selfishness. 5 People whose lives are based on selfishness think about selfish things, but people whose lives are based on the Spirit think about things that are related to the Spirit. 6 The attitude that comes from selfishness leads to death, but the attitude that comes from the Spirit leads to life and peace. 7 So the attitude that comes from selfishness is hostile to God. It doesn’t submit to God’s Law, because it can’t. 8 People who are self-centered aren’t able to please God. (CEB Study Bible, Romans 8.1-8)

It was easier to just include scripture above and discuss my thoughts. Paul argues here that what made the law week was us. We took something that was meant to be righteous and ruined it because of our selfishness. Now, with God sending Jesus down to become human, and Jesus dying and rising from the dead, sin was handled. Paul then makes it clear that it’s important to refrain from being selfish. Living a self-centered life will lead to death whereas living a life with the Spirit of Jesus Christ will lead to eternal life.

The chapter ends with emphasis on the role the Spirit plays in our lives. The Spirit will help us during easy and difficult times only if we let that happen.

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