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August 5

Reading 1 - 2Samuel 23

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v.2 - This admission, straight from the mouth of 'the sweet Psalmist of Israel', makes it quite clear to us that these Old Testament writers were not writing their own words. It is a very important truth and worthy of our meditation. The fact is picked up in the New Testament - Matt.22:43, Mark 12:36, Acts 2:31.
Peter Cresswell
v.4 - the light - such a theme of scripture. Let us be sure that, like David, we walk in the light. Prov.4:18, Isa.60:1-3,18-20
Peter Cresswell
v.5 - These are most poignant words. David realised that he had received wonderful promises about his family, but his sons had not lived up to the promises. However he was still convinced of the everlasting nature of the promise - he looked for the Messiah even though he now knew that Solomon was not the son promised in 2 Samuel 7.
Peter Forbes
23:4 The mention of 'tender grass' is like the 'mown grass' (Psalm 72:6) linking this Psalm which is for Solomon with these last words of David. Chapter clearly showing that David saw Solomon as a fulfilment of the promises of 2 Samuel 7.
Peter Forbes
:34 David's reliance on the family of Ahithophel is seen here, Not only was Ahithophel David's counsellor. Ahithophels' son was also one of David's mighty men.
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Jeremiah 26

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v.3 - Like Israel, we too have two options. These words are spoken to us as well as them. See also ch.18:7-10 and 36:3. Every individual has a chance to make the choice between life and death. God makes this offer - and this threat - to each one of us. Israel's response is there for a lesson. Isa.1:16-19, Eze.18:27-30, Jonah 3:8-10, 1Kings 21:27-29.
Peter Cresswell
v.3 - There are many who have a problem with the way this, and other similar passages, is worded. It is worded as though God does not know the outcome, when it is clear from other places that He does. Surely the reason for this is so that it makes sense to us, and that we see that we each have the responsibility to look after our own life. It may be a foregone conclusion in the mind of God, but this does not preclude our efforts, hence His choice to present this the way He does.
Peter Cresswell
v.1 - By introducing this messages as 'in the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim' we know that we cannot be any more than 22 years from the final overthrow of Jerusalem.
Peter Forbes
26:6 The mention of Shiloh - repeating the earlier warning 7:12,14 - was powerful because God had rejected Shiloh because the priesthood was corrupt just as it was in the days of Jeremiah.
Peter Forbes
:4 Another quotation from Deuteronomy 28:15 'if ye will not hear'
:18 This comment about what Micah said provides us with data which dates Micah 3:12.
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - Romans 15 & 16

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Summary of the Book Old Testament References
16 v.20 - A reference here right back to Gen.3:15, and surely looks forward to the kingdom, which God can describe as happening 'shortly' from his position of immortality. 1John 3:8, Rev.20:1-3.
Peter Cresswell

15 v.4 - <5281> Patience is seen as a virtue which is to be developed in the Christ-like believer Luke 8:15 21:19 Romans 2:7 5:3,4 8:25 15:4,5 2 Corinthians 1:6 6:4 12:12 Colossians 1:11 1 Thessalonians 1:3 2 Thessalonians 1:4 3:5 1 Timothy 6:11 2 Timothy 3:10 Titus 2:2 Hebrews 10:36 12:1 James 1:3,4 5:11 2 Peter 1:6 Revelation 1:9 2:2,3,19 3:10 13:10 14:12 The great emphasis in this selection of passages demonstrates that not only is it a virtue but, by implication, is very difficult to develop.

16 v.23 - Erastus figures in the work of Paul as a companion of Timothy Acts 19:22 When Paul wrote from Rome he was still working with Erastus Romans 16:23 And is still associated with the work at the end of Paul's life 2 Timothy 4:20
Peter Forbes
15:3 In speaking of Jesus quoting Psalm 69:9 we are forcibly reminded that Jesus was not self centred in his life. He willingly took upon himself the criticisms against God. In other words living the gospel requires us to identify with God and be wiling to accept that when people blaspheme Him we should be hurt by those things said.

16:20 bruising satan echoes Genesis 3:15 which speaks of the seed of the woman destroying the serpent. Now we know that it was Jesus who 'destroyed him that hat the power of death [Hebrews 2:14] however we should not think that therefore we have nothing to do. Notice that Paul says 'under your feet'. We have to destroy the flesh in our own lives also.
Peter Forbes

Ch.15 - I wonder if the Church at Rome had not been giving aid to the struggling Jewish believers Jerusalem? Paul mentions in 1v13 that he desires "fruit" from them, even as he had had it from the other Gentiles. In 15v26-28 he calls the gift of aid to Jerusalem "fruit". I wonder if he is referring to the same thing? In Philippians 4v15-17 he again refers to items of aid as "fruit", and in Titus 3v14 he calls the meeting of the needs of our brothers and sisters "fruitfulness".

I wonder if this is why he lists the old testament references in v8-12, which are all linking the salvation of the Gentiles in with the Jewish patriarchs such as Moses, David, and especially Jesus, as if to say "your salvation is bound up with that of the Jews, so help them!". In v26-27 he says that the Gentiles are debtors to the Jews for this reason, and if indebted to them for their salvation, then the least they could do would be to minister to them in material things!

ch.16 - What does Paul mean in verse 20? Who is Satan, and how will he be crushed under the feet of the brothers and sisters?

I wonder if the initial fulfilment of this is the subjugation of the Jews who had been hounding and pestering the brothers and sisters, trying to get them to turn back to the law. This seems to be what Christ is talking about in a similar context in Rev 2v9, and 3v9 "I will make those of the synagogue of Satan.. come and worship before your feet".

Maybe more importantly, is the link of this verse to Genesis 3v15. Is Paul saying that even as Jesus crushed Satan under his feet in his death and resurrection, so we by association with him will do the same? Is he telling the brothers and sisters to patiently live out their lives, knowing that sin and death (or Satan) will have no more hold over them? Rev 2v7 "To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."
Robin de Jongh