MacArthur Daily Bible Reading Plan - December 9th - Fearfully Made

Hosea 9:1–10:15 Psalm 139:13–16 Proverbs 29:21, 3 John 1–14
- Israel has continued in prostitution, 9:7–8 The prophets were God’s inspired messengers and watchmen (Ezek. 3:17; 33:1–7), yet Israel considered them fools and madmen.
- Notice how humanity again rejects the messengers of God,
- They shall say to the mountains, “Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!” 10:8 cover us! . . . Fall on us! The captivity would be so severe that the people would pray for the mountains and hills to fall on them, similar to the last days (Luke 23:30; Rev. 6:16).
- You have eaten the fruit of lies, Because you trusted in your own way,
- Notice the direction people go, when they follow themselves,
- Psalm 139-13-16
- 13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
- Abortion issue - life continues at conception, abortion is murder,
- 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
- God's sovereignty over every detail is seen here,
- Proverbs 29:21 - pampering servants will have him as a son in the end
- 3 John 1 - The beloved Gaius from the Elder, 7because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth. 9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.
- Fellow workers in the truth, Diotrephes loves to put himself first, notice Paul, publicly exposes him for being against the gospel, does not receive the brothers,
- 11Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.
- verse 4, my children. The word “my” is emphatic in the original. John’s heart delighted in the proper conduct of his spiritual children in the faith. Those who walk (conduct) in the truth (belief) have integrity there is no dichotomy between professing and living.
- MacArthur's Note: Very interesting: Diotrephes’ character was the very opposite of the gentle and loving Gaius who readily showed hospitality. Diotrephes was also self seeking and opposed to God's authority Diotrephes was "Excommunicating people" Of course this is an act of discipline for the unrepentant you can not bar someone from Heaven as false teachers claim, though a true believer will show repentance,