Proverbs 3-4
The teaching of the "father" continues in Proverbs 3 as the child is admonished to remain faithful and loyal to God. Hesed is the Hebrew word for loyalty and it marks the relationship between God and Israel. In the Book of Ruth it is hesed that spurs Ruth to remain loyal to Naomi. Proverbs is demonstrating the need for such loyalty and when one exhibits this loyalty to God, they are blessed.
One does not act for the approval of this world or fellow humans, one acts for the approval of the Lord. Yet even to fall short of the Lord is not necessarily a bad thing, for if God reproves the act of a human it is because God loves humans as a father loves a son. If God did not care, then it would not matter what humans do.
To honor God is the first step in finding Wisdom, and to find Wisdom brings a new level of life. It is a richness that cannot be compared to by any other treasure in the world. Through Wisdom we can find joy and happiness. This Wisdom is part of Creation, in fact, God has woven Wisdom throughout all of Creation, it is part of the fabric of the universe.
The father continues his lecture in vs. 21 and urges the child to learn about true security which is found in God and not in possessions of this world. To find this security enables us to rest at ease waking or sleeping. This security is also seen in how we treat others, for if goodness flows from us, then we demonstrate that what we have is a gift from God who will only bless us further for our goodness.
Proverbs 4 opens again with the instruction of the "father" to a child who now speaks of wisdom that passes down through generations. This is timeless wisdom that is the mark of "good" families. Just as the father listened to his father and found wisdom, so he instructs the children to find wisdom and hold on tight. Prize her, and cherish her and you will not be let down.
The need to cherish wisdom is then demonstrated by the temptation to walk the path of the wicked. Turn from the path of Wisdom and only trouble will find you. "Do not swerve to the right or the left, turn your foot away from evil."
Psalm 89
The subject matter of Psalm 89 deals with what seems to be the abandonment of a Davidic king by God, but that comes closer to the end of the psalm. It opens with a recitation of God's steadfast love and faithfulness seen in the covenant with David.
The scene shifts to a divine council where Creation is remembered and the works of God to control and overwhelm chaos. The mighty Lord then scatters enemies before him. The universe and Israel rejoice at this work of God.
The psalm then recounts the terms of the covenant with David with its familiar themes of steadfastness and faithfulness. This leads to the main complaint, it would seem that God has broken this covenant and the people are bewildered. This lament voices the concern of the people and seeks to know how long will this continue?
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2 Chronicles 21-23
Jehoram becomes king and kills all his brothers, which the chronicles seems to blame on his wife, who was the daughter of Ahab. While God saw his wickedness, God did not act because of the covenant that was made with David. One sign of God's displeasure is seen in the revolt of Edom, which had been conquered by David, but revolted under Solomon. It might have been re-conquered but now revolts again.
Word of Jehoram's behavior reaches Elijah in 2 Chronicles 21, who has been primarily a prophet to the northern kingdom, Israel. Having heard of Jehoram's behavior, Elijah informs Jehoram of his sin against God. Jehoram has not walked in the ways of Asa or Jehoshaphat, instead he has walked in the ways of Ahab and Israel. Therefore a plague with come and ravage his house. In addition, God raises up the Philistines to raid Jerusalem and take away many of Jehoram's possessions, including his sons.
Finally the plagues comes, Jehoram succumbs in a rather painful way and no one really misses him. "He departed with no one's regret." Evidently, Jehoram was not well loved by the people of Judah either.
The taint of Ahab continues in Judah, but now with the lone son who was not taken by the Philistines, as Ahaziah now reigns after the death of Jehoram in 2 Chronicles 22. Like his father, he walked in the way of Ahab, again the taint is through Ahab's daughter and Ahaziah's mother, Athaliah. Ahaziah joins with his relative, King Jehoram of Israel in war against the Arameans but Jehoram is injured in the battle.
Meanwhile, God has already chosen for Jehu to be the source of judgment against the house of Ahab. When Ahaziah goes to visit the stricken Jehoram, Jehu slays the entire entourage and wipes out all the house of Ahab. Judah is now without a king and Athaliah is the regent. She seeks to consolidate her own power by putting to death any other claimants for the throne. However, she is thwarted by her granddaughter Jehoshabeath, who hides Joash who goes into hiding.
There is a slight difference in how Joash becomes king on 2 Chronicles 23 as opposed to the similar story told in Kings. In Kings, it is more a military coup, but the chronicler sees this more as a religious inspired revolution that involved all of Israel. The Levites and faithful take up arms and protect the boy king who is then given the covenant in the temple and becomes king.
When Athaliah hears of the commotion, she goes to the House of the Lord (not smart) and Jehoiada, the chief priest, has her arrest, taken out of the Temple and then killed. He then summons the people who destroy the temple to Baal that Athaliah helped support, and the priest to Baal, Mattan, is killed. A renewal under Joash and Jehoiada begins in Judah.
Ephesians 4
The gift of Jesus Christ is to be in community and in the unity of the body. All gifts have been given to proclaim the Gospel. The author urges the community to pursue this unity, to use its gifts to support and nurture one another. As one, the community will be able to withstand the deceit and trickery of the world and to know the truth.
The Gentiles have moved from an old life, in which they are left to the whims of this world. Now, through Christ, a whole new life has been opened to them, a life of the knowledge of God. They must embrace this new life and not turn back. The author closes the chapter with examples of this new life.
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