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April
16
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Reading
1 - Numbers 35
Click
here to Listen
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v.
20,21 - What a responsibility to be the avenger of blood. You had to
kill a man - that was bad enough, but you had to kill a person who had wronged
someone close enough to you for you to be the avenger of his blood, without
hatred. What an amazing requirement. Our thoughts go back to Cain, who killed
out of jealous hatred. Gen.
4:5,8. Joab,
2Sam.3:27
follows this law, and is therefore justified in killing Abner for the blood
of Asahel.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.10
- The human side of the pressure of his punishment must have been really
gruelling for Moses. Those who aspire to such heights as he can fall with
just one mistake. This action of instructing the people from God about what
they should do when they possess the land must have been irksome to that
side of him that must have felt the most bitter disappointment at his own
non-inclusion. We most certainly have so much we can learn from this man.
Peter Cresswell
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v.
6
Six cities of refuge - not seven or five - because they were for manslayers.
Six is the number of man as you doubtless know.
Peter
Forbes |
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35:25,28
That the man slayer was to remain in the city until the death of the high
priest before he was allowed to go free typifies the saving work of Jesus.
That is why we have 'fled for refuge' (Hebrews
6:18).
Peter
Forbes
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:33
The way in which man slayers are to be dealt with has an effect upon the
land. Not in a literal sense as if the spilling of blood on the land would
corrupt the physical land. Rather the way in which God's laws were applied
affected the way in which the heathen round about viewed the God of Israel.
(Deuteronomy
4:6)
Peter
Forbes
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David
asked Solomon to deal with Shimei (1
Kings 2:8,9)Solomon used the same principle of safety by isolation.
However, Solomon, in his wisdom, knew that such a man as Shemei would, sooner
or later, betray himself (1
Kings 2:36-46). Thus the avenger was justified.
Michael
Parry |
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Reading
2 - Proverbs 26
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here to Listen
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v.
12 - The phrase 'wise in his own conceit' is a direct reference to the
man who feels that he can manage without God - this is the ultimate in denying
God's power and therefore fits the category of blasphemy against the Holy
Spirit, which is unforgivable (Matt.12:31-32).
The fool is therefore better off than that. See also Rom.12:16,
1Cor.3:18,19, Rev.3:17.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.1 - Maybe this verse is played out best in the character of Haman in the
book of Esther
see Esther
3.
Peter Cresswell
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v.
7
'parable' is the word translated 'proverb' This indicates that the understanding
of parables and proverbs is not for 'fools'. They are designed for the 'wise'
that is those who are 'instructed unto the kingdom of God' [Matthew
13:52]
Peter
Forbes |
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:11
The description of the do's behaviour which is typical of the dog advertises
the way in which folly begets more folly. Once one is set on a course of
foolishness it becomes more and more easy to continue in that way. Peter
[1
Peter 2:22] says these words are relevant to brothers and sisters in
Christ so we cannot dismiss the words just because they are in the Proverbs.
Peter
Forbes
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:17-19
Here the wise man is commenting upon those who passing by, poke their nose
into things that they do not understand. Such actions actually cause great
trauma.
Peter
Forbes |
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WISE
IN YOUR OWN EYES
"Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him."
The beginning of this chapter of proverbs is a real fool bashing section.
Solomon almost seems to go out of his way to denounce fools with the strongest
pictures he can - cutting off your own feet, tying a stone in a sling, a
thorn-bush in the hand of a drunkard, a dog returning to it's vomit - all
describe fools in their particular actions. But there is more hope for a
fool than for the person who is wise in his own eyes. The person who is
wise in his own eyes is unteachable. They are the opposite of the quality
of meekness that God desires of us. They are proud, never listening, always
believing that their opinion is the best, and forgetting that the source
of all knowledge and wisdom comes from their creator, the LORD God of heaven
and earth. There is hope for a fool because a fool can learn and change.
But the man who is wise in his own eyes has, as far as he is concerned,
already made it.
We need an antidote to this dreadful disease. Pray for wisdom - real wisdom,
God's wisdom. Be humble and never compare our wisdom with the wisdom of
men, but rather with the wisdom of God. Read Job
38 - 40 and discover for yourself that God alone is wise.
Robert
Prins |
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Reading
3 - John 8
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here to Listen
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v.1-11
is one of the greatest lessons that we can have in forgiveness. Here Jesus
forgives an act that was clearly worthy of death under the law. By comparison
we each commit acts daily that are worthy of death under the law of sin
that we have in our members, and yet we know that we are assured of forgiveness
as long as our heart is right. This was surely the case here with this woman.
Here Jesus, (v.7)
in his dealings with the scribes and pharisees is putting into practice
the words from Prov.26 that we read above (v.4,5).
Peter Cresswell
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v.
9
The fact that nobody answered Jesus marks the fact that they were condemned
by his words. This happens on a number of occasions. Matthew
22:46 Mark 3:4 12:34 Luke 14:4 20:26 40 John 8:9
Peter Forbes
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:6
The issue of Jesus writing on the ground has exercised the minds of Bible
students for years. What did he write? We often ask. Well, like many before
me I do not know either. However there are a number of interesting links
with Jeremiah 17
So an
investigation of that chapter will instruct us as to what Jesus wanted
his antagonists to learn which is far more instructive than speculating
about what he wrote.
Peter Forbes
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:59
In saying that Jesus 'hid himself' we have a quotation from Isaiah
8:17 which is very telling. Jesus was not simply avoiding a problem.
He was behaving appropriately toward those who like Ahaz, in Isaiah's day,
had turned away from God.
Peter Forbes
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