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August 15

Reading 1 - 1Kings 10

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v1 - These 'hard sayings' or 'dark sayings' as they are elsewhere [e.g. Prov.1:6] are no problem to Solomon as he has wisdom from God for which he asked (and so can we - James 1:5). When we are confronted with hard sayings, what is our reaction - are we ready to give an answer? Psa. 49:4, Prov.1:5, Matt.13:11,35.
Peter Cresswell
v5 - We see how the wonder of Solomon's situation and wisdom left the Queen of Sheba speechless, as it were, so we realise that the glories of the Kingdom will have the same effect upon us (1Cor.2:9)
Peter Cresswell

v.1 'hard questions' 02420 is the word elsewhere translated 'riddle' 'proverb'. Here are all the occasions where the word occurs. Numbers 12:8 Judges 14:12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19 1 Kings 10:1 2 Chronicles 9:1 Psalm 49:4 78:2 Proverbs 1:6 Ezekiel 17:2 Daniel 8:23 Habakkuk 2:6 So there was more to the queen of Sheba's visit than just to test Solomon's knowledge. It is as if the queen of Sheba, knowing of Yahwehs's blessing on Solomon wanted rather to see the extent of his Godly wisdom.
Peter Forbes
10:14 The weight of gold coming to Solomon per year is 666 talents. The only other occasion where we find the number 666 is Revelation 13:18. What do we make of this link?
Peter Forbes
:24 The way in which the whole earth sought to Solomon to hear his wisdom (which was God given) is typical of the time when (Isaiah 2) all nations will come to Jerusalem to worship. It is a foreshadowing of the millennium.
Peter Forbes
1Ki 10:5 One writer (Caldecott, W.S. ‘Solomon’s Temple, Its History and its Structure’) argues that the dimensions so precisely given for Solomon’s temple do not allow for a normal staircase up to the third storey of the Temple façade, which may have been Solomon’s own area. He suggests the ‘ascent’ which so impressed the Queen was in fact the first circular staircase. Such stone staircases may be seen in some 11th C. British Castles, remarkable feats of engineering.
Derek Palmer

Reading 2 - Jeremiah 36

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v.5-8 - Baruch here was obviously a man of great faith. He had seen what had happened to Jeremiah himself as a result of saying these words to the people, but did he object? No, he went and did as he was told. There has to be a lesson here. Matt.16:24, 1Cor. 16:10.
Peter Cresswell
v.3 - We make a lot of fuss sometimes about whether it is appropriate to serve God out of fear or out of love. The implication behind God's words here (maybe) is that it doesn't matter. Different logic applies to different people and different situations.
Peter Cresswell
v.21-24 - So Godless and evil was Zedekiah that he had no regard to the inspired word of God! Think of the courage of Elnathan [36:25] who interceded with the king on behalf of the written word. How would we fare before the mighty in our land in defending the word of God from abuse?
Peter Forbes
36:9 This is the same time as Daniel 2:1 - So Jeremiah is speaking in Jerusalem whilst Daniel is in Babylon.
Peter Forbes
:1 Whilst this chapter records what happened and what Baruch did we learn nothing of his feelings. Chapter 45 fills out details of a conversation between Jeremiah and Baruch which indicates how he felt.
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - Mark 10

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v.5 - This claim of the 'hardness of your heart' was supported back in the words of Moses in the law - [Deut 9:6, 31:27, Neh.9:16,17]. This we are told not to do - Heb.3:8-10.
Peter Cresswell

v.5 - Notice that hard heartedness is first seen in Pharaoh Exodus 4:21 7:3,13 8:15,32 9:12,34 10:1,20,27 11:10 14:4,8 So when it is used to speak of how Israel behaved the message is very pointed. You are being like the oppressing Egyptians from whom you have been delivered. Deuteronomy 15:7 2 Chronicles 36:13 Psalm 95:8 Isaiah 63:17 Mark 10:5 16:14 John 12:40 Romans 2:5
v.7 - The pattern of the creation of Eve is utilised often in Scripture. Genesis 2:24 Matthew 19:5 -6 1Corinthians 6:16 Mark 10:7 - 8 Ephesians 5:31 Likewise the idea of leave / left ... father ... mother is found a number of times in Scripture. Genesis 2:24 Ruth 2:11 Matthew 19:5 Mark 10:7 29 Ephesians 5:31
v.23 - The phrase 'looked round' is only found in Mark's Gospel record. It is not to be found in any of the other accounts of the life of Jesus Mark 3:5,34 5:32 9:8 10:23 11:11
Peter Forbes
:2-12 The question, which was designed to tempt Jesus, may well have been a more than simply a trick question. If we think about it we realise that the answer from Scripture is clear. However the leaders were trying to rid themselves of Jesus. We know that John the Baptist had been imprisoned and then beheaded by Herod because he had testified against him about the taking of his brother Philip's wife [Mark 6:18]. Could it be that the leaders thought that in getting Jesus to answer this question they would be able to report him to Herod, thinking that he might suffer the same fate as that great prophet?
Peter Forbes
:10-12 That the disciples asked Jesus again about the matter of divorce indicates that Jesus' teaching surprised the disciples. In fact a parallel account (Matthew 19:10) shows the disciples dismay at Jesus words. They are astonished again (10:24) at his teaching. As we are very close to the end of the ministry of Jesus we gain an insight into the slowness of the disciples to understand his message.
Peter Forbes
If James and John were to sit next to Jesus in his kingdom, they would have to "drink the cup" that he would drink (35-38). If the rich young ruler was to inherit eternal life, he would have to "take up the cross" and follow Jesus (v21). If the desciples were to be the greatest, they would have to pluck out the eye, cut off the leg, and chop off the hand that caused the offence (9v34; 9v43-49).

These things all amount to the same thing. If you start to cut off all the flesh which causes you to offend, then you have to cut it all off. You have to cut your life off. The cup of Jesus was to cut off his life. The cross of Jesus was to die upon it. Were they prepared to do that?

In v24-27 Jesus gives them a hope. What is impossible with men, is possible with God. Through the cutting off of Jesus, they were to be allowed to forego the same. If only they would humble themselves, and forget their desires for grandure, they would be saved through him. Jesus tries to explain this in v43-45. God then provides a visual aid through blind Bartimaeus, who instead of trying to puff himself up in front of Jesus, cries out "Son of David, have mercy on me!" (v48). "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (Luke 18:14)
Robin de Jongh