GN-Day165 2 Samuel 14; Psalm 113; Romans 15

Daily GNT Bible Reading Podcast

2SAMUEL 14:There is more than one way in which David did not obey God’s instructions for kings. The big one, of course, is the Bathsheba affair, but God had already said that kings should not have lots of wives. David’s daughter Tamar was raped by her half brother Amnon. And after two years, Absolom (Tamar’s brother) murdered Amnon.

PSALM 113:This is a song praising our incomparable God.

ROMANS 15:Paul continues what he was ‘on about’ in yesterday’s reading. We must accept other believers even though we don’t agree on prohibitions, practices, or rituals. Disputes over these things often come from our differing backgrounds.

GNT Translation note:[The psalmist uses ‘his name’ as a metonymy for God himself. To us in English, it sounds like idolatry to praise a name rather than the Person of God Himself.]Ps. 113:1 Praise the Lord! You servants of the Lord, praise [him//his name]! 2 May his name [be held in reverence//be praised], now and forever.

[Another way is to just go directly to the topic of the metonymy: “May He be praised …”3 From the east to the west [let the name of the Lord be held in reverence//praise the name of the Lord]!====Rom. 15:1 We who are strong in [our belief in Christ//our belief in the freedom we have because of our union with Christ//the faith] ought to help the weak to carry their burdens. We should not please ourselves. 2 Instead, we should all please other believers for their own good, in order to build them up in [believing//the faith]. 3 For Christ did not please himself. Instead, as the scripture [quotes the Messiah’s words to God//says], “The insults which are hurled at you have fallen on me.”13 May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your [believing//faith] in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit.