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April
19
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Reading
1 - Deuteronomy 2
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here to Listen
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However
much we like to think that we do things of our own free will, this chapter
leaves us in no doubt who was in charge here. God was deciding who should
have which parts of the world for their inheritance and there was no arguing
with it. Surely he oversees our lives the same way, as we are also his people,
and arranges what is best for us. We should therefore be astute and awake
to this possibility. Heb.12:6
Peter Cresswell |
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There is much in this chapter to show us that God had ordained just who
should have which borders. Some for these people and some (v.9,19)
for the children of Lot. It makes us realise that the current fighting and
unrest in the Middle East today is quite futile. This is God determining,
as He always has, who should own what.
Peter Cresswell
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Connections
with John 5
The healing
of the lame man is typical of Israel's travels in the wilderness. Just
as he had 'no man' [John
5:7] and needed
the Lord to save him Israel were not able to deliver themselves. Just
at Israel were delivered from the wilderness the man was delivered from
his infirmity.
Peter
Forbes
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2:1
We should remember that Deuteronomy is a recounting of what has happened
- we are reminded of this by 'we turned' etc and so on throughout the
whole of the book.
2:24
And so Israel are reminded that God had kept His word in the past - an
incentive to believe Him now when the nation were on the borders of their
inheritance.
Peter
Forbes
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In
this chapter we learn of part of the details of the journey around the coast
of Israel. (:4,
9, 18, 19, 24) So we can be sure what has happened so far in their journeying.
Peter
Forbes
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Reading
2 - Proverbs 29
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here to Listen
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v.
3 - To rejoice, or make glad, his father is a common phrase in Proverbs
[10:1,
15:20, 23:15, 24-25, 27:11].
The implications for us are obvious - it is a reference to our relationship
with God through Jesus, who was the ultimate in wise sons who made his Father
glad, whereby we are able to interact freely with Him. Luke
1:13-17.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.15
- There is so much in Proverbs to remind us that our children, like us,
are naturally wicked. The responsibility is on us to recognise this fact
and chasten them in the love of the gospel. (v.17,21,
22:6,15, 23:13,14, Heb.12:10,11)
Peter Cresswell
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29:14
Solomon reminded God that David was told that as long as his sons kept the
law he would not want a son to sit on his throne. [1
Kings 8:25].
This proverb indicates that faithfulness to God requires faithful judging
of the poor. Commitment to God requires a particular behaviour to men and
women.
Peter
Forbes |
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:1
The purpose of reproof is that the one being reproved changes the way he
behaves and thinks. He is 'exercised' in the chastening [Hebrews
12:11] The rebellious person does not profit from the chastening - rather
he becomes stiff necked and unsuitable for the kingdom of God.
Peter
Forbes
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:25-27
We have a progression through these verses. It is so easy to place confidence
in men who can be seen rather than in God who cannot. However, in the end
the visible man is unreliable whilst the invisible God is the one to trust.
Peter
Forbes
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Reading
3 - John 12
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here to Listen
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v.4-6
- There is quite a bit of evidence to suggest that Judas could well have
been Mary and Martha and Lazarus' brother (see Peter Forbes' comment below).
This is a typical comment here to be made from brother to sister - and we
are told his motivation too - a further insight into the mind of this man
who was chosen carefully for the task that he had in bringing about God's
purpose. Let us be sure that we are not that type of disciple. ch.6:70,71.
Peter Cresswell |
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It would
appear that Judas was Lazarus' brother and Mary and Martha were his sisters.
Judas Iscariot was Simon's son [12:4,
13:2]. Lazarus
was Mary and Martha's brother [11:21,32].
The meal took place in Simon's house [Matthew
26:2] As they
prepared the meal in the house we can conclude that it was their home as
well.
Peter Forbes |
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12:2-11
is in parenthesis. The meal here described which took place in Bethany took
place two days before the Passovers (Matt
26:2 Mark 14:1) it is recorded here out of chronological sequence because
John wishes us to link it with the raising of Lazarus. The meal was to commemorate
the resurrection of Lazarus which had taken place a few months earlier.
Peter Forbes
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:13-15
The twofold use of Scripture here:
'Hosanna ... name of the Lord Psalm
118:25
'Fear not ... colt' Zechariah
9:9
present two aspects of what was happening. The people shouted a Psalm that
related to Passover and the kingship of Messiah whereas actually even though
prophecies about Jesus (Zechariah
9:9) were being fulfilled the event they were involved in was not the
complete fulfillment of those prophecies.
Peter Forbes
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The
Pharisees held some very strong views. They were leaders in the time of
Jesus and held a great influence among the people and especially on their
followers. One of the official Pharisee beliefs was that Jesus was not the
Messiah because he performed miracles on the Sabbath and challenged the
Pharisee's authority. But the teachings of Jesus made so much sense, especially
as they were accompanied by so many amazing miracles that left no other
explanation other than that Jesus was the Messiah, many of the Jewish leaders
did believe. In fact, of all the Jewish leaders, it was the Pharisees that
ended up being the most readily converted to Christianity after the resurrection.
But here we read of a problem. "Yet at the same time many even among
the leaders believed him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess
their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved
praise from men more than praise from God."
Do we have the same thoughts they did? "I believe but ... I like doing
this; I like it this way; I can't change; It would make life too difficult;
I have family and possessions to think about ..."
Let's pray that God would move in our hearts to take away the excuses and
give us strength so that we will truly say, "I believe!"
Robert
Prins |
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