NL-Day172 2 Samuel 22; John 3

2SAMUEL 22:
We near the end of David’s story. God gave him victory over Sheba and the house of Saul. The killing of seven of the descendants of Saul seems harsh and past the ‘statute of limitations’ to us. But God arranged that revenge in response to untold injustices that were wreaked by Saul against the Gibeonites. Note: God takes notice of covenants made and wants us to do what we promise in His name.

David’s song of praise in chapter 22 closely follows Psalm 18. Because of this long poetic section today, we skip a day reading from the Psalms.

JOHN 3:
John’s Gospel is unique in having the story of the wedding at Cana, which we heard yesterday in chapter 2. The coming to Galilee and working a miracle there seems to have been significant for John, as he later highlights when this happens a second time. John moved the story of the cleansing of the temple to the beginning of his Gospel. I think that a likely reason for this is because he wanted to highlight the conflicts between Jesus and ‘the Jews’, as John calls the religious leaders. Note that in verse 19, Jesus doesn't say, “I will destroy this temple …” but “Destroy” (imperative), as a challenge to the Jewish leaders. At the time the challenge was given, no one in the audience understood the figurative meaning, that the temple He intended was his own body.

NLT Translation notes:
2Sam.22:35 He trains my hands for battle;
he strengthens my arm [enabling me] to draw a bronze bow.
42They looked for help, but no one came to their rescue.
They even cried to [You,/the] LORD, but [You/he] refused to answer.
====
John 3:11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you [refuse to//continue to//won’t] believe our testimony.
13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But [I,] the Son of Man[, have// has] come down from heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so [I,] the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15 so that everyone who believes in [Me/him] will have eternal life.
16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
[Exegetes and commentators disagree on where to stop Jesus’ quote. I believe that verse 16 and following is John’s narration. John suddenly breaking in with narration is a frequent feature of his Gospel. There is another example in this chapter. I think that John the Baptist’s quote ends at verse 30 not at the end of the chapter. So I differ with NLT’s quote marks for the last paragraph.]
18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in [the Son//him]. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.
29 It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I [(like the best man)] am filled with joy at [Jesus’//his] success.
30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.   [end quote]
[Ancient Greek has no quote marks. I feel John the Baptist’s quote ends at verse 30, and 31-36 are the writer’s narration.]
34 For [Jesus, the One//he is] sent by God[, //. He] speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit.
36 [0/And] anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.