Kingdomtide Readings

Sun	The Second Commandment WLC 107-110, WSC 49-52
Mon	OT: 1 Chronicles 13 NT: Galatians 1 Psalm 31
Tues	OT: 1 Chronicles 14 NT: Galatians 2 Psalm 32
Wed	OT: 1 Chronicles 15 NT: Galatians 3 Psalm 33
Thurs	OT: 1 Chronicles 16 NT: Galatians 4 Psalm 34
Fri	OT: 1 Chronicles 17 NT: Galatians 5 Psalm 35
Sat	NT: Galatians 6 Psalm 36

Last week’s Old Testament readings collapsed most of David’s rise to power and consolidation of his throne—issues covered from 1 Samuel 16 through 2 Samuel 6—into three chapters.  In this week’s readings, comparably speaking, the Chronicler spends more time on David moving the ark to Jerusalem and preparing to build the Temple for the LORD.  The readings culminate with David’s psalm of praise in 2 Chronicles 16:7-36, God’s promise to give David an eternal house in 17:1-15 (cf. 2 Sam. 7) and David’s resultant psalm of praise in 17:16-27.  These passages are key to the Chronicler’s intention to remind the returnees of the touchstone of God’s promises, namely that the Davidic dynasty would be everlasting, and that God would dwell among His people.  These promises would ultimately find their fulfillment in Christ Jesus, David’s descendant who promised His disciples that He would be with them, even unto the end of the world (Matt. 28:20).

The New Testament readings go through the entirety of Paul’s letter to the Galatians.  The First Missionary Journey started bringing Gentiles into the Church, but with that the question arose as to what obligations these new believers had toward the Mosaic Law.  Paul’s letter to the Galatians was probably written after the conclusion of the First Missionary Journey in AD 49 or 50, as he started receiving reports from the new churches regarding the influence of Judaizers who came to the churches after him.  Paul’s angry tone in this letter reflects the fact that a key impact of the Judaizers’ teaching was to create divisions among the churches as people began to pride themselves on their righteousness or denigrate others for not being as observant.  Paul wrote to remind them that they are justified not on the basis of their works, but on faith alone.  Galatians sets the stage for the Council of Jerusalem.

The Psalm readings continue their sequential progression, covering this week Psalms 31-36.  The Confessional readings will cover the Second Commandment.