Non Gamstop Casinos
August 2

Reading 1 - 2Samuel 19

Click here to Listen
v21 - Shimei's cursings are recorded in ch.16:5-13. This was a sin against the Lord's anointed, as Abishai points out, knowing that he has good support from David himself for this argument. He knew this first hand from 1Sam 26:9-11. And yet this time he is reproached, and Shimei forgiven.
Peter Cresswell
v.12 - This language, also used in ch.5:1, goes back in its origins to Gen.2:23 and the words of Adam when Eve was created. It talks of a close connection as of marriage.
Peter Cresswell
v.31 - Barzillai was one of those who helped David by providing sustenance for him in the wilderness [2 Samuel 17:27-29] He did this when it seemed that the king was going to be overthrown. As the king returned to Jerusalem he went part of the way with him [2 Samuel 17:32] but did not seek honour for himself. It was sufficient to him that he had been a friend of the Lord's anointed. How often do we help our brethren when they are in need? How often are we willing to forego honour and have that honour conferred on other brethren and sisters instead?
Peter Forbes
19:1 David's behaviour is bad here. He now shows his unhappiness that the deliverance he sought had been granted. Joab's concern was that the people would lose confidence in David. So despite David's feelings Joab's counsel was good.
Peter Forbes
:37 There is no record in the historical books that David's gift to Chimham was kept however there is a little comment (Jeremiah 41:17) which implies that it was - a little 'undesigned co-incidence'
Peter Forbes
GRACE

Grace is to be given something we don't deserve. Grace should also provoke in us a response of humility, thankfulness and sacrifice.

Mephibosheth recognized the grace that had been given to him by David. His words deserve our attention. He said, "All my grandfather's descendants deserved nothing but death from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?" (2 Samuel 19 v 28)

We may think that we are not under grace in our lives. We may think that we have got to where we are by hard work, savings and effort. But in reality, we, like Mephibosheth, are nothing. We are sinners and deserve the punishment for our sins - death. Through Jesus, however, we have been offered a place at his table where we can receive forgiveness for our sins and a life that we did not deserve. We could never earn it for ourselves, it is only by God's grace that we have such a gift.

Let's recognize the grace we have been given, be humble, thankful, and pour out our love for our Lord, the giver of our grace.
Robert Prins
It is noteworthy, that although Shimei was spared by David at this time, his disobedience later is rewarded with death. 1 Kings 2:8, David charges Solomon with these words "...you must not let him (Shimei) go unpunished; you are a wise man and will know how to deal with him to bring his grey head down to Sheol in blood."
Matt Drywood

Reading 2 - Jeremiah 23

Click here to Listen
v.1,2 - We find ourselves in this position with regard to preaching the word. Each one who knows the truth is responsible to preach it - to make it available to those with whom they come in contact. May we not be accused of 'scattering the flock and driving them away' as the pastors of Israel were. Eze. 34:2, Zech.11:17.
Peter Cresswell

v.5 - As Bro. Peter points out below the word branch 06780 is significant. Here is a table showing all of its 12 occurrences in scripture, which is quite instructive

branch
bud
that which grew
spring/springing
grew

Peter Cresswell
v.5 - 06780 Branch [Isaiah 4:2 Zechariah 3:8 6:12] are all prophecies of the coming and work of Jesus. The promise of the branch [Jeremiah 23:5 33:15] Forms the basis for what Zechariah is told [Zechariah 6:12 13] Zechariah speaks of the fulfilling of the 'good word' [Zechariah 1:13] which was spoken by Jeremiah [Jeremiah 33:13]
Peter Forbes
23:1 The sheep of my pasture quotes Psalm 79:13 - the third time we have noticed that this Psalm is quoted in Jeremiah (Chapter 11 and Chapter 14 being the two other places). Maybe a careful reading of this Psalm against the background of the destruction by the Babylonians would be profitable.
Peter Forbes
:15 Wormwood and gall quotes Deuteronomy 29:18 as in Chapter 9. So Jeremiah is restating a warning which he has already given. God's message does not change.
Peter Forbes
FAITHFUL TO THE END
"Teenage rebellion, sexual immorality, anger, violence - and that's just Christians." So begins an ad on Christian radio for a course on how to counsel people from their problems. But it is also a very sad reflection on the state of people in the church - whatever church - in these last days. In 1 Timothy 4, Paul gave Timothy a list of things to watch out for happening among believers in the last days. Some of those things may be done in secret, but it does happen and we have been warned that it will happen. It was the same when Jeremiah lived in the last days of Judah in the land. The prophets, the men who all the people were looking up to for direction, were prophesying lies by Baal, leading the people astray, committing adultery, strengthening the hands of evildoers and encouraging wickedness.
But we must stay faithful to the Lord and faithful to his word even when everyone around us is going astray. We are living in the last days so let us not get carried away with the crowd and caught out doing evil. Remain faithful and true to the Lord and he will faithfully reward us at the return of Christ.
Robert Prins

Reading 3 - Romans 10 & 11

Click here to Listen
Summary of the Book Old Testament References
11 v.1-4 - Here we have clear teaching in the New Testament that Israel still have a place in God's plan. The inclusion of the gentiles, while being brought about by Israel's own waywardness, has not excluded them. The example of Elijah in the wilderness here seems an odd one for God to choose to use through Paul, but it emphasises for us that this analogy is appropriate and opens up to us a new area of study, looking at this part of the life of Elijah in this context of the saving of a remnant of Israel along with the saints in the kingdom. 1Sam.12:22, Ps.89:32-37.
Peter Cresswell

ch.10 - The way in which belief / faith and righteousness is developed in this chapter forces us to realise that faith is an emotional response to factual data. Once this faith is manifest it produces 'confession' v10. Israel's problem was that the word they read was not 'mixed with faith' [Hebrews 4:2]. We must beware lest we make our appreciation of Scripture too legalistic and forget the mercy of God. However, on the other hand, we must beware lest our 'faith' is not based on reason.

11 v.5-6 - Israel's failure to appreciate that they were to be saved by God's grace should stand as a warning to us. We are part of the 'remnant according to the election of grace'. As such we must realise that our salvation is based upon God's grace and not our own works. Romans 5:15 Ephesians 2:5,8.
Peter Forbes
Chapter 10
Continuing the theme of God's children being the ones promised, not the ones born as Abraham's sons Paul now develops the argument that keeping the law as a ritual is of no value either.. If Christ is not seen in the keeping of the law then it is futile.

11:25 In speaking of blindness until the fulness of the gentiles be come in Paul is reflecting Jesus' words Luke 21:24 'until the times of the gentiles be fulfilled'. So the call of the gentiles is linked to the treading down of Jerusalem. So, as Paul has said elsewhere [11:20] we should not be high-minded because of being called.
Peter Forbes

ch.10 - Following on the comment from Chapter 3 and our comment the first time we read Romans this year we see that Israel's problem was that they thought by their actions they could justify themselves rather than understanding that by their actions they, inevitably, condemned themselves.

11:1 'God hath not cast off His people' affirms the truth of Leviticus 26:44, Psalm 94:14 and Jeremiah 33:20-21, amongst other passages. However these passages should not be taken to indicate that Israel were, in some way exempt from punishment. Leviticus 26:44 makes the promise against a long list of punishments that will flow if the nation are disobedient. The assurance is given there lest anyone might think that in punishing Israel God would destroy them.
Peter Forbes

Is it really as simple as 10v9? Is it really as simple as John 3v14-15, and as easy as Mark 16v16? What about Acts 2v21? Could it really be that simple?

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price….. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near… let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isa 55v1-7)

I suppose it's hard to understand, because "there's no such thing as a free lunch" in our world, but then again, what does the next verse say? (Isa 55v8-9)
Robin de Jongh