READING FOR AUGUST 19, 2025: 1 KINGS 6, LUKE 11, PSALM 83 1 KINGS 6 Solomon’s Temple
READING FOR AUGUST 19, 2025 CONTINUED: LUKE 11, PSALM 83 LUKE 11 Mathew placed the Lord’s prayer into a larger context mostly about showy religiosity. Luke context’s is more about asking God for daily bread. Luke follows this prayer with a story about a man asking his neighbor for literal bread at midnight. Next comes a son asking for fish. The point is God wants us to pray to Him each day for what we need. What does Jesus think is the best request and what we need the most? “How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13).
Luke’s Lord’s prayer doesn’t include the phrase, “deliver us from evil,” but verses 14-26 are all about Jesus’s deliverance ministry. Notice how often Jesus is criticized by those on the side- lines for healing, forgiving, or in this case delivering people from demons. The folks receiving the blessing are happy, but critics are constant in their complaints. Are we in church who only observe but don’t participate in ministries ever guilty of this negatively? If so, we are in some rather infamous company. Even if we are silent, but not really involved, there is reason for concern: “The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters” (Luke 11:23).
In the rest this chapter, Jesus explains to the Jews how He relates to the Hebrew Scriptures (OT). He gives us an exciting approach to reading the Old Testament. Aspects of all great Old Testament heroes point to Him. Jesus says He is the greater Solomon and Jonah (vs. 31-32). Elsewhere we learn He is the greater Moses (Heb. 3:3), Isaac (Heb. 11:19), Adam (Rom. 5:19), and Noah (Matt. 24:39). On the other hand, for those who reject Jesus “the blood of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation” (Luke 11:50).
PSALM 83 Confederations of nations conspiring against Israel according to Asaph
Asaph tells God that the nations shown on the map in bold type have made a covenant to wipe out Israel. Some Bible teachers believe this is a prophecy of the end times. Given the many times fulfillment of prophecy has been a complete surprise, this writer takes no position. The 10 enemies have longstanding interaction with Israel: Assyria absorbed the northern Kingdom of Israel; Ishmaelites the descendants of Abram and Hagar; Edom the descendants of Esau; Amalek the descendants of Esau’s grandson and a concubine; Moab the descendants of Lot and his elder daughter; Ammon the descendants of Lot and his younger daughter; Philistia people of Canaan (Gaza); Gebal and Tyre people of the north on the sea coast; Hagarenes shepherds living west of Israel.
