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August 9

Reading 1 - 1Kings 3

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v.3 - How many of us would have this written about us during our lifetime? It is a serious requirement that we love the Lord. Deut.6:5, 10:12. Deut 10:16 & 30:6 associate this with the 'circumcision of the heart' which we are exhorted to in Jer.4:4, Rom.2:29, Col.2:11.
Peter Cresswell
v.25 - The wisdom of this judgement was not so much in the nature of the judgement itself, but in the ability to perceive the reaction, particularly of the mother who had just, albeit accidentally, killed her own child.
Peter Cresswell
v.7 - The phrase 'go out and come in' carries with it the sense of judgement for Solomon desired to be able to judge Israel 2 Chronicles 1:10 But did not know how to do this 1 Kings 3:7. Thus we can see what is meant by both Moses and Joshua when they speak of coming in and going out. Deuteronomy 31:2 Joshua 14:11
Peter Forbes
Notice :5 The Lord appeared unto Solomon in Gibeon and :15 then Solomon came to Jerusalem. We will remember hat in the days of David there were two systems of worship. There was the tabernacle at Gibeon (1 Chronicles 16:39) and the ark which was in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 16:37). This details in Solomon's life confirms that this state of affairs continued for many years in the reign of David.
Peter Forbes
:5 'ask what I shall give thee' is quoted (Matthew 7:7) by Jesus indicating that the injunction of Jesus is in some way conditional. One should ask for things consistent with His will.
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Jeremiah 30

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v.9 - There is an absolutely clear and straightforward prophecy of Christ here that surely no-one could miss, and yet so many students of the Old Testament amongst the Jews of the time of Jesus were totally blind to it. We are students of the word. Let us be sure that our traditions and blinkered approaches do not blind us to the truth. Isa.55:3-5, Eze.34:23, 37:23-25, Hos.3:5.
Peter Cresswell
v.8 - One day God will also do this for us. We need to persevere so that we are still His when this time comes.
Peter Cresswell
v.10 - Yahweh promises the faithful that they, one day, will be able to live without fear. In the context of the blessings and curses the first promise is made [Leviticus 26:6] Which is repeated in the days of the Assyrian invasion [Micah 4:4] And again in two of the contemporary prophets in the days of Josiah [Jeremiah 30:10 46:27 Zephaniah 3:13]
Peter Forbes
30:3 And so Jeremiah continues, by the Spirit, to develop the restoration theme which has just been introduced in the last couple of chapters. Amidst all the doom and gloom there is a wonderful message of hope for those who are willing to submit to the instruction that they should submit to the king of Babylon.
Peter Forbes
:11 In saying 'I will correct thee' Jeremiah shows again that God is not intent upon destroying Israel. This is the thrust behind the repeated use of Deuteronomy 28 which we have noticed as we have gone through the prophet's message. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). He views us in the same way.
Peter Forbes
GOD'S COMPASSION

Many of the prophecies of Jeremiah have a very negative feel about them. His prophecies seem to repeat the same thing over and over again, telling Judah of their sin, urging them to repentance, and warning them of the coming doom. However, this prophecy is different. No, God has not changed his mind about the punishment for sin, but Jeremiah looks beyond that to the time when God sees Israel and Judah oppressed in a foreign land, and has compassion on them. He promises to return them to their own land and settle them in peace and prosperity.

The time Jeremiah spoke of was partially fulfilled when the captives returned from Babylon in the days of Zerubbabel, but it will only be completely fulfilled when Jesus returns from heaven as their king, to save his people. Israel were disciplined - and their punishment was harsh - but God was always ready to bring them back at the first sign of their repentance, and to show his compassion to them.

There are two sides to God: his justice and his mercy. By rights, Israel should have been totally destroyed for their wickedness, but God's mercy and compassion overrides his justice, and Israel have been promised blessings they could only dream of. In the same way, we deserve death for our sin, yet in compassion, we can be forgiven and share in the promises that Israel have been given for the future.
Robert Prins

Reading 3 - Mark 4

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v.12 - This is Jesus' speech regarding the use of parables, delivered to a chosen few after the departure of the multitudes. This suggests that the parables are a lesson for those who hear and perceive. It could be then that these 4 categories of people are all represented within those who claim to be true believers, and that it is not designed just to describe the effect of the seed on the entire world. Isa.32:20, 1Pet.1:24,25.
Peter Cresswell
v.3 - The parallel accounts of the parable of the sower Matthew 13:3 Mark 4:3 Luke 8:5. That the parable and its explanation is contained in three gospels marks the importance of both the parable and its interpretation. Jesus tells us that understanding this parable is the key to understanding all parables. Mark 4:13
v.9 - Having ears to hear is an Old Testament idea which passes into New Testament use. Deuteronomy 29:4 Ezekiel 12:2 Matthew 11:15 13:9 43 Mark 4:9 23 7:16 Luke 8:8 14:35
Peter Forbes
:12 This quotation from Isaiah 6:9 is most instructive. Whereas we might think that Jesus told parables to enable his audience to understand his message more easily actually the converse it the case.

Just as it was in Isaiah's day God was witnessing against those who were self righteous. The message spoken had one of two outcomes. Either it was spurned by the audience or produced a desire to ask further. The parables, therefore, were not the main message. They were the vehicle to stimulate the hearers to enquire more fully of the words of Jesus - :10 tells us that the disciples actually did ask 'when they were alone' so we see that the disciples were the ones eager to understand.
Peter Forbes

4:35 This is one of three passages (4:10 7:17) and here where the disciples privately enquire for enlightenment. This the purpose of the parables. Jesus wanted men and women to enquire more as to the meaning of his message.
Peter Forbes
GARDENING FOR LIFE

There were four different types of soil described in the parable of the sower and we have the ability to be any one of those at any time, according to the explanation Jesus gave of the different soils in the parable.

First there was the path where the seed fell. The people along the path have the word snatched from them as soon as they hear it. To avoid this we need to open our minds and our hearts to the Word of God and once we have heard it, to hold on to it and never let go. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Secondly, the seed scattered on rocky places receive the word with joy. But when trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, they quickly fall away. To avoid falling away in persecution or trouble we need to have a vision of the future and to be prepared in advance, knowing that we will stand firm no matter what happens.

The seed among the thorns is more subtle. Worries, riches, and other desires begin to take first place, choking the word and making it unfruitful. To avoid the word being choked from our lives we need to consistently re-evaluate the priorities in our lives and adjust our way of life to suit.

Lastly, some seed fell on good ground where it produced a good crop. Let's keep the soil of our lives in good condition so that the Word can grow in us and we will be fruitful servants for our Lord.
Robert Prins
There are in this chapter four parables likening the kingdom of God to a seed. Each parable gives a different aspect to that seed. Have you ever noticed that these parables don't actually have anything to do with a kingdom? The parables do not speak of a kingdom, or a country, or a rulership, or a second coming, or any of the things we associate with the Kingdom. So what is Jesus talking about?

The parables culminate in v32, where we see the seed growing into a tree. The symbol of his tree is lifted straight out of the book of Daniel (4v20-22) where it is speaking of the extent of the reign of king Nebuchadnezzar. This dominion was "to the end of the earth", that is to say world wide. But actually, if we look closely, we see that it doesn't speak of his kingdom, but of the man himself... Dan 4v22 "it is you.." and v23 the chopping down of the tree was the subduing of Nebuchadnezzar, but NOT his kingdom.

So where does that leave us? Well, the symbol of the tree was for the person, not the empire, so the same must be true for the symbol of the mustard tree, and of the other three parables. In these parables Jesus is showing how the kingdom is something that grows inside a person's mind and heart as soon as the word of the gospel has been planted in them. We should not think of the kingdom as merely an event of the future. The kingdom begins for us here and now.
Robin de Jongh