Non Gamstop Casinos
April 15

Reading 1 - Numbers 34

Click here to Listen
v.19 - 28 - People chosen directly by name by God. Is this unique? By the end of all their work (Josh.19:51) these are called the 'heads of the fathers of the tribes'.
Peter Cresswell
We see in this chapter the fact that it is God that determines the borders of our kingdoms, as he has ultimate control of all things. There is much emphasis on the borders of lands - land is wealth in the eyes of man. In the eyes of God, all border changes are towards the fulfilment of His ultimate purpose.
Peter Cresswell
v. 11 Chinnereth is the ancient name for the Sea of Galilee here Deuteronomy 3:17 Joshua 13:27 19:35 After this the name does not occur again.
Peter Forbes
We now, on the borders of the land, see the first time that the borders of the inheritance are laid out in general terms.
:3 The south border
:6 The west border
:7 The north border
:10 The east border

:13 The land was to be inherited 'by lot' that is it was not left to the people to vie for the best piece of the land.
Peter Forbes

There is value, by using a map if necessary, in following the exact line of the borders. It will help to familiarise us with the areas where each tribe settled. After all it is to be our inheritance as well!
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Proverbs 25

Click here to Listen
v. 2,3 - This concept of there being things that God does not reveal is not exclusive to this passage. Deut.29:29 is quite clear. We are only allowed to know so much at this stage. Job 11:7,8, 38:4-40:2, Rom.11:33,34.
Peter Cresswell
v.6,7 - Here is a very simple example of the humility of mind that God requires of man. If we seek humility, as we should, let us praise the Lord our Father regularly, as the action of praise has the recognition of our own frailty paramount in its outworking.
Peter Cresswell
v. 1 The men of Hezekiah copied out some of the proverbs of Solomon. Proverbs 25:1 - 29:27 is the block of proverbs which they copied out. Therefore we should be looking for aspects of these proverbs which answer to Hezekiah's experience. Maybe we should look for instruction on how a king should behave.
Peter Forbes
:6-8 uses language which seems to be the basis for Jesus' words [Luke 14:8] in the parable.
Peter Forbes
:14 The clouds without rain is quoted (Jude 12) to speak of those who appear to have something to offer - actually they present themselves as having some status. However they are destructive. We must beware of anyone who is drawing attention to himself.
Peter Forbes
SEARCH IT OUT
"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of Kings."
The Bible is the Word of God. Inspired men wrote as God gave them the message. The word of God is perfect. There are no mistakes in it and it has been preserved for thousands of years and translated into our native languages so that we are able to read the message God had given us. But it is more than just a message from God to man - it is an invitation to become part of the family of God and to live with Him through eternity. Every page and every letter of this amazing book is there for a reason and it carries the signature of God. All the way through the Bible are patterns, types and prophesies that God has hidden from plain view and urges us to search out. The whole message of the Bible can be seen in what seem like simple stories in the text. Even lists of people's ancestors can tell their own incredible story if we just take the time to search out the jewels that God has hidden. Show your worth, honour and glory by searching his word today.
Robert Prins
There are many beautiful allusions which can be seen in the Proverbs.

In today's Proverb reading (25:11), a fitly (aptly) spoken word is likened to apples of gold in a picture (framework or border) of silver.

The Song of Solomon uses the figure of apples to describe sweetness, fragrance, and love (Song 2:3; 2:5; 7:8: 8:5).

Such attributes befit the aptly spoken word.

But why gold in a frame of silver?

Gold is the most precious of metals because it shines brightly and does not tarnish.

Gold represents the metal of tried saints (1 Pet. 1:7). Remember the exhortation to the Laodiceans (Rev.3:18)

Unlike gold, silver will naturally tarnish and if left alone will turn black. Blackness represents sin. The (silver) half shekel of the sanctuary for the ransom of the Children of Israel is indicitive of this reality. Silver is also associated with idolatry. For example, the statues of the goddess Diana (who was the Ephesian version of the Baylonian goddess Semiramis) were silver (Acts 19:24).

And so we have apples of gold in a framework of silver.

God's saints are found framed in a world of sin. Their responsibility is to shine untarnished amidst the surrounding ungodliness (Phil. 2:15). Their voice should be wholesome and Godly (Col. 3:8 ; Col. 4:6; 1 Pet. 4:11).

As with all endeavors, the spoken word should give glory to God (1 Cor. 10:31).
Michael Parry

Reading 3 - John 7

Click here to Listen
v. 2-10 - Was this a fulfilment of Amos 5:13-15? In Matt.10:16, Jesus sends his disciples and warns them of the same dangers. His advice to them at that time is interesting. Luke 10:3, Acts 20:29.
Peter Cresswell
v. 11 That the Jews sought Jesus at the feast even though he was not obviously there confirms that it was Jesus's custom to fulfil the requirements of the law that every male should appear three times in the year at the main feasts Exodus 27:13
Peter Forbes
7:50 Remember that Jesus had already spoken to Nicodemus (Chapter 3) and that this chapter contains a number of echoes of the language that Jesus used when speaking with Nicodemus. Here Nicodemus begins to show his true colours as a secret disciple of Jesus. The words Jesus has spoken to him are beginning to bear fruit.
Peter Forbes

:2 In saying that tabernacles' was near we have moved on about 6 months from the incidents in the previous chapter.
Passover was the 14th day of the 1st month (Leviticus 23:5) whereas Tabernacles started on 15th day of the 7th month (Leviticus 23:34)
Peter Forbes

WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT JESUS?
People were divided over who Jesus really was. Some thought he was a prophet. Others thought he could possibly be the Messiah and others were convinced that he was an expert liar. Not even his own brothers believed him. Yet those who did not believe, even thought they were the most knowledgeable and influential religious experts of the day, could not prove that Jesus was not who he said he was. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, the Messiah. They did not want to believe because he challenged their thinking and traditions and made them feel uncomfortable.
And so we can look through history and find that people have always struggled with the same question. Who is Jesus? A prophet? A liar? Or the Messiah? The important question to ask now is, who do you say Jesus is? Your answer will influence your actions. If you believe that Jesus is a liar then it is important that you prove your point beyond reasonable doubt. If you believe that Jesus is a prophet then you must learn from him. If you believe he is the Messiah then you must trust him, believe him and follow him, no matter what the cost.
What do you say?
Robert Prins
7:52 - "Search and look" - Jonah was the only Old Testament prophet from Galilee. He came from Gath-Hepher (2 Kings 14:25- winepress of the well). Hepher means- to pry or search out.
Matt Drywood