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April
22
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Reading
1 - Deuteronomy 5
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here to Listen
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v.24
- With hindsight we can relate this verse to our position now in Christ,
who has opened up for us, in a similar way to the way that Moses opened
it up for the Israelites, a direct way to speak to God. The Israelites of
old were too frightened and apprehensive. They knew that if they saw God
they would die, and yet here was a reminder of an occasion when they 'saw'
and certainly heard God, and were very frightened but lived. See also ch.4:33,
Gen.32:30, Ex.33:20, Jud.13:22. We have access and are told that fear
is not to enter into it - through faith we are expected to overcome this
fear and become bold -
Heb.10:19, 1John 4:17.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.3
- It has always been the case that the covenant was for all generations
- Gen.17:7
- so it is always true to make the statement that is made here. For each
person who is alive at any one time, God's covenant is for them, but for
those who have died, their time is over. So let us praise God while we have
life. Deut.29:10-15,
Psa.105:8-10, Matt.13:17
Peter Cresswell
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v.
22 'thick darkness'
is a description of the manifestation of Yahweh at different times.
Exodus
10:22 20:21 Deuteronomy 4:11 5:22 1 Kings 8:12 2 Chronicles 6:1
So when it is used to speak of the day of the LORD Joel
2:2 Zephaniah 1:15 We see the day of the LORD is a day of His glory
being manifest. It is not just mindless punishment. Interestingly His glory
is seen in the punishment of Judah. That is, He is justified by His actions.
Peter
Forbes |
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5:5
In saying 'I stood between' when referring to the mater of the golden calf
Moses is showing that he was a mediator. Jesus is the mediator of the new
covenant. (Hebrews
12:24) Moses was the mediator of the old covenant.
Peter
Forbes
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:9
The 'Third and fourth generation' being punished is a characteristic of
the wilderness journey. (Exodus
20:5, 34:7, Numbers 14:18) - The third generation perished in Egypt
(Ezekiel
20:8) and the fourth generation perished in the wilderness. See Genesis
15:16.
Peter
Forbes
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In
the very last verse of this chapter Israel are instructed to "walk
in all the ways" that God had instructed them. Amos
3:3; records "Can two walk together, except they be agreed"
the answer to this rhetorical question is no. To walk with and to be led
by God means that we should be one in mind and purpose with him. Scripture
makes it perfectly clear that man without God cannot direct his own steps.
We have an example in the New Testament of two individuals who "walked
with God"and were blessed in the process, It is recorded in Luke
1:6; that Zechariahs and Elizabeth, "were both righteous before
God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless".
These were sinners just like the rest of mankind but show us that to walk
with God is to obey his commandments and ordinances I.e. all the duties
of the faith made known to them, and this was not just an external observance,
what motivated them was a sincere love for God and a sincere regard for
his law. This is the hallmark of all those who "walk with God".
Rog
and Ruth Sharpe |
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Reading
2 - Ecclesiastes 1
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here to Listen
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v.10
- The point that Solomon is making here is not that no-one ever invents
anything that did not exist before - even in Solomon's day this would clearly
have been untrue - but that human nature will never improve, and that each
generation will not learn from the mistakes of the previous one. His writings
are designed, as far as possible, to encourage those who are wise to notice
this trait of human nature and work on it privately and seriously within
themselves, thereby allowing God to shape our hearts and our lives towards
everlasting peace in his kingdom. Matt.23:30-32,
Luke 17:26-30, Acts 7:51, 1Thes.2:14-16.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.4
substantiates the point we were making above, that we are but transcient
beings in the eternity of God's purpose, unless, of course, we choose to
accept His offer of a part in it. The whole issue of Ecclesiastes is to
discuss and examine the futile nature of the work we do in this life, and
to make us realise, by stark contrast, the wonder of the life to come. 2Pet.3:10-13
Peter Cresswell
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v.2
'vanity of vanities' as a phrase only occurs twice in the book of Ecclesiastes
here
and 12:8
And nowhere else in Scripture Notice how 'all is vanity' is seen at the
beginning and then once at the end of the book.
here,1:14 2:17 3:19 12:8 This phrase does not occur outside the book
of Ecclesiastes. The phrase and word seem to be marks of the objective of
the book.
v.13
The seeming all embracing phrase 'under heaven' has a quite specific use
in Scripture. The following references demonstrate the universality of Yahweh's
judgement. Genesis
6:17 Exodus 17:14 Deuteronomy 7:24 9:14 25:19 29:20 2 Kings 14:27 Not
that it always speaks of the whole world as a place but rather that the
judgement that is to come is complete Thus the use here
extends this principle to speak of those things which are happening in His
domain. The two New Testament references
Acts 4:12 Colossians 1:23 expand the theme to show that the Father is
indeed concerned with salvation for those who will see that life without
Christ is vanity. 'travail' here
2:23,26 3:10 4:4,6,8 5:14 The cyclical nature of our experience has
been generated by our creator that we might learn from it. Those experiences
are actually part of His chastening. Hebrews
12:11 Therefore
these things which, from a natural point of view, are profitable. However
it requires a particular frame of mind to benefit. We must have the frame
of mind which acknowledges that our Father chastens us. Hebrews
12:5-8
Peter
Forbes |
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1:13
Exercised therewith is quoted in Hebrews
12:11 in the context of chastening. This teaches us that the circumstances
of life are used by God to develop in us a character which pleases Him.
The whole of the book of Ecclesiastes is teaching us that God works n our
lives. If we see His hand we see a point in life. If we do not see His hand
then life seems pointless.
Peter
Forbes
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:1
Whilst there is some discussion as to who wrote Ecclesiastes the way
that the 'preacher' describes himself as 'son of David, king in Jerusalem'
we are safe in concluding that Solomon is the author of the book.
Peter
Forbes
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Solomon
in this chapter has recorded how he had applied his heart to "search
out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven" and
goes on to say that "this is a sore travail that God has given to the
sons of men to be exercised therewith". This word travail is only found
in the book of Ecclesiastes but it is clear from the way this word travail
is used that this is speaking about the curse of God place upon man in the
garden of Eden. What this is implying is that man left to his own devices
cannot find out the wisdom of God. Divine wisdom, Proverbs tells us is that
which is given by the Lord God for "out of his mouth cometh knowledge
and wisdom". This true wisdom only comes through that which God has
revealed. Through prayer and regular consistent reading of his word we can
grow in knowledge and understanding.Solomon began to flaunt and abuse the
wisdom of God. In doing this he showed that he did not fear the God of Israel
and it took a lifetime for Solomon to come to the conclusion that Gods wisdom
can only be discerned and reflected by those who fear him and obey his commandments.
Rog
and Ruth Sharpe |
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Reading
3 - John 17 & 18
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here to Listen
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17
v.3 - Jesus prays first for all flesh, as every human being has the
chance to turn to him, that they might know him, although later in v.
25 this prayer
is more specifically aimed at those he knew had already responded and would
continue to respond (Judas has gone now) ch.13:30,
leaving Jesus the opportunity to speak all of the deep and wonderful words
of chs.14-16 to them, which were not appropriate to Judas, and allowing
him now to pray for them specifically. He prays for us here too. Let us
remember that.
1Chr.28:9, Ps.9:10, Isa.53:11, Jer.9:23,24, 31:33,34, 1John 5:11,12,20.
Peter Cresswell |
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17
v.17
By asking the Father to sanctify his disciples 'though thy truth' and
then commenting 'thy word is truth' Jesus indicates the route through
which our sanctification comes. There is no mystical operation on our
minds. What is required is our application to the Scriptures.
18
v.1 The crossing
of the Cedron matches David's flight from Jerusalem from Absalom 2
Samuel 15:23
[the only other occasion in Scripture when crossing the Cedron is mentioned].
The gospel records wish us to see Jesus identifying with David. So when
Jesus goes to prayer he withdraws a stone's cast [Luke
22:41] which
echoes Shimei 2
Samuel 16:6.
Jesus words 'thy will be done' Matthew
26:42] echo
the sentiments of David's realisation of God's involvement in his life
[2
Samuel 15:25-26].
Peter Forbes
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17:9,
11 We might think that Jesus, having spent the night in prayer, actually
chose the disciples himself we see here that actually he realised that
they had been given to him by his Father. Do we think that God is involved
in providing for our needs or do we think that we achieve everything by
our own efforts?
18:17,
25, 27 We are all familiar with the fact that Peter denied his lord
three times. However there is a stark contrast between Peter and Judas.
Judas betrayed his lord - the betrayal of Judas is alluded to elsewhere
in Scripture (1
Corinthians 11:23) whilst the denials of Peter are never mentioned
again.
Peter Forbes
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17:2
'hast ... all flesh' quotes Psalm
8:6 beginning the New Testament application of this Psalm to the lord
Jesus.
18:12
In binding Jesus we see fulfilled the type seen in Isaac (Genesis
22:9) Another link with the offering is 'and it was early' quoting
Genesis 22:3
Peter Forbes
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In
John
17:1; we are told that Jesus "lifted his eyes up to heaven"
and prayed to his father.
Why did Jesus do this? Well this was the night before his crucifixion and
yet Jesus' concern was not for himself, for this prayer reflects his love
and concern for his disciples and for those who would believe the gospel
through their preaching. In understanding this background it is quite possible
that Jesus was focusing on one of the promises made to Abraham. Gen
15:5; And God Brought Abraham Forth and said to him "Look now toward
heaven and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them and he said unto
him, so shall thy seed be". The prayer of Jesus harmonises beautifully
with the promise God made to Abraham. Jesus was looking forward to the time
when this seed being one with him and his father, would be with him and
behold his glory in the coming Kingdom of God.
Rog
and Ruth Sharpe |
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