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February
10
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Reading
1 - Exodus 19 & 20
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here to Listen
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19v.5-6.
Famous words here! And yet it seemed that even this did not provide sufficient
motivation for the Children of Israel to desire to be close to God and to
obey his commandments. However, it can for us. We have the advantage of
hindsight - to learn from their mistakes. We can take great comfort from
these words, knowing that God still offers the same promises to faithful
followers throughout the ages. Rev.1:6,
5:10 Tit.2:14, 1Pet.2:5-9. Consider also in this context, both for natural
and spiritual Israel - Deut.33:4,
Isa.61:6, Rev.20:6
Peter Cresswell |
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2002
20
v.6 - Those of Israel who could read between the lines may have realised
here God's intention to save all those that love him, not just Jews. There
are so many times, even this early in the history of the people, when God
demonstrates His foreknowledge that He would have to look elsewhere to make
up a people to Himself.
Peter Cresswell
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| 19:1
We are now three months into the wilderness journey and we arrive at Sinai.
Numbers
33:15 is this same time. Actually Numbers 33 provides a very useful
summary of the wilderness journey and it is useful to use it as a basis
for fitting the events of the wilderness journey as recorded in Exodus and
Numbers into a time frame.
20:12-17
We might think that this is the list of commandments that Jesus speaks
to the young man [Matthew
19:16] about. However, on comparing the Exodus list with the one in
Matthew we notice that Exodus
20:17 'Thou shalt not covet' is not quoted by Jesus. Actually this
is the one commandment that the young man was unable to say that he kept.
His difficulty doing what Jesus asked shows this.
Peter Forbes
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19:5
In calling Israel a 'peculiar treasure' we are introduced to a concept
which is used elsewhere in the Scriptures for example 1
Peter 2:9 - see also Exodus
19:6 'kingdom of priests' which Peter also uses 1
Peter 2:9
20:5
The specific mention of 'third and fourth generation' catches a phrase
only found in the books of the Exodus - Exodus
34:7 Numbers 14:18 Deuteronomy 5:9. So does it refer to the generation
that died in Egypt (the third generation Ezekiel 20:9) and those who came
out of Egypt (the fourth generation Genesis
15:16)
Peter Forbes
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CLIMBING
MOUNTAINS
If we count them up and read between the lines we find that Moses went up
Mt Sinai at least six times in this short chapter. Considering he was over
80 years old, it was quite a feat!. It was up the mountain that God chose
to communicate with Moses. We can also think of other people: Abraham, David,
Elijah and Jesus, who all spent time with God up on a mountain.
To get to the top of a mountain requires dedication and determination. Mountain
tops are not for people who give up easily. They are for God's hard working
servants. Mountain tops also help us to get a perspective on life. From
the top of a mountain we can see ourselves and our lives more like the way
God sees us, when we view the smallness of the people and futile business
far below. And by the time we get to the top of the mountain we are free
from distractions. People, problems and the easy sinful life all tend to
stay at ground level and the clearness of the sky and horizon bring us nearer
to our creator.
We all need time up a mountain more often than we take it. We may not be
physically able to climb a mountain but we can climb a spiritual mountain
to free us from distractions, give us perspective and bring us together
with our creator.
Climb a mountain today.
Robert
Prins |
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Exodus
19:6 - "And
ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and an holy nation" - We
often think of ourselves as Kings and Priests in the future age - and
sometimes we might clothe ourselves with the power that the prospect of
becoming a King might give us. God said specifically that we shall be
a "kingdom of priests" - in other words, our first duty
is Priesthood. What does a godly priest do? See Hebrews
5:2, and we learn that a priest was to have compassion on the ignorant,
and on those who have slipped from the way; and he is fully aware that
in that condition, apart from the grace of God, is he himself. For we
are all weak and need the care, concern and companionship of others. God's
family is functional because each cares for the other - not as a ruler
or policeman - but as a priest and (dare I say it) a Good Samaritan. Israel
as a nation was called out by God to be a Royal Priesthood through whom
God might heal the nations. Their commission was to bring God to all nations
and all nations to God. They failed! Are we any better?
Cliff
York
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Reading
2 - Psalm 73
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here to Listen
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v.17
- We are in the sanctuary of God - we are in Christ. This gives us too the
insight to understand how the end of people is dependent upon their obedience
and performance before God. Ps.27:4,
63:2, 77:13, Eccles.8:13,14, Luke 12:20.
Peter Cresswell
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2002
v.21-24.
Having been told that David was a 'man after God's own heart', and given
that we too would like to bear that title, it is worth looking in David's
words for help in attaining this situation. It seems that we have some of
that help here. We too can be guided with the counsel of God, if we allow
it. Psa.16:7,
25:9, 32:8, 48:14, 143:8-10, Prov.3:5,6
Peter Cresswell |
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In
this Psalm the Psalmist foolishly looks at the wicked and considers their
prosperity before coming to his senses. We run the same danger. We have
neighbours and work colleagues who seem to be doing so well for themselves.
It is so easy to be envious of them. v17
association with the things of God is the only antidote to such thinking.
Peter Forbes |
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:9
The epitomy of the wicked is the beast (Revelation
13) who also has a 'mouth speaking great things' So we see that the
individual wicked are likened to that great system which opposes Christ.
Peter Forbes |
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Psalm
73:1 - "Truly God is good to Israel, (even to such as are
of a clean heart)" - Asaph begins his song by drawing our attention
to his conclusion. So often this happens with Hebrew poetry, song and
prophecy. The end is shown, then the process taking us there is examined.
This is exactly how the book of Revelation unravels before us, as does
Isaiah and other prophecies.
Psalm
73:6 - "Violence covereth them as a garment" - in
other words, these manipulators and controllers in the Ecclesia get away
with murder.
Psalm
73:9 - "their tongue walketh through the earth" - Those
in control are a law unto themselves. They do and say as they like.
Psalm
73:17 - Until I went into the sanctuary of God" -
But Asaph worked in the sanctuary. It is possible to be in the
Ecclesia, yet be far from God. Whenever we feel that God is not close
to us, we must ask ourselves - "Who moved?" For it is certain that God
did not.
Psalm
73:28 - "thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from
thee" - Sadly there are those who once had a relationship with
God at some time in the past, but now they have transferred their affections
elsewhere. Jesus warned of this in Matthew
24:45-51. The faithful and wise servant ultimately became the very
servant who created and enforced new rules, laws and restrictions on his
brethren because of his fear that the Lord had delayed His coming.
Cliff
York
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Reading
3 - Mark 6
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here to Listen
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v.11
- This concept of shaking of the dust of the feet - a symbol of having
nothing to do with their godless ways - is quite widely used. Acts 13:50,51,
Look also at the parallel passage to today's chapter in Luke
10:10,11. There
was more than just an act here. On both of these occasions the shakers
off of dust
made it quite clear to their onlookers what the purpose of the exercise
was. They spoke out for God, even in the face of these enemies. Sometimes
it was not the feet, but a garment - Neh.5:13,
Acts 18:6.
Peter Cresswell
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v.7
That Jesus 'began' to send the disciples out in pairs indicates that this
was an ongoing thing.We must conclude from this that the disciples were
not with Jesus all the time of his ministry as they were away from him
healing at least from time to time. Matt.10:16-23.
It is part of Jesus' warning to the disciples about the dangers associated
with their charge to go out in twos.
v.13 We should note that the disciples did perform miracles, clearly in Jesus'
name, though there were occasions when they were unable to heal. Matt.17:19,
Mark 9:28.
v17-29 This is in parenthesis. The events had occurred earlier and are now
being presented to explain Herod's paranoia. This makes one wonder why
the death of John is not mentioned at the time. Maybe it has something
to do with his words; 'He must increase and I must decrease' John
3:30.
v.20 named 'just' / 'righteous' individuals [Spoken of by God] - Genesis
6:9 Noah, Matthew 1:19 Joseph [Mary's husband], Luke 1:6 Zacharias &
Elizabeth, Luke 2:25 Simeon, Luke 23:50 Joseph of Arithamaea, Acts 10:22
Cornelius, Hebrews 11:4 Abel, 1Peter 3:18 Jesus, 2 Peter 2:7 Lot.
v.34
Occasions where the absence of a shepherd is lamented Numbers
27:17, 1 Kings 22:17, Psalm 119:176, Jeremiah 50:6, Matthew 10:6 15:24,
Mark 6:34. In speaking of people as being sheep without a shepherd
we are seeing a theme which runs through Scripture. Numbers
27:17, 1 Kings 22:17, 2 Chronicles 18:16, Matthew 9:36. Thus it is
easy to see why Jesus is presented as the 'chief shepherd' - 1
Peter 5:4.
Peter
Forbes
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:44
The feeding of the five thousand is one of the few miracles recorded in
all four gospels. From this alone we should realise it is an important event.
John [6:2]
says it was Passover time when the 5,000 were fed [6:10].
So Jesus had his own 'passover' with the people. They were able to eat of
the 'manna' of Jesus' providing as an indication of his saving power. He
was able to sustain them in the 'wilderness' though it is clear that the
religious leaders were not - the people were [6:34]
'as sheep not having a shepherd'.
Peter Forbes |
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:7-12
Whilst Jesus sent the disciples out with 'power over unclean spirits' the
first thing we are told they did was to preach 'that men should repent'.
The healings were not the major part of the preaching of Jesus and the disciples.
The prime aspect of the message was the need for repentance.
Peter Forbes |
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Mark
6 - There are two feasts recorded in this chapter. One a feast of
death that ends with a head on a plate as dessert, and the other a feast
of life that ends with 12 baskets of bread (symb. the family of Israel)
in a desert, to be shared by the followers of Jesus with all those who wish
to join God's family.
Mark
6:20 - "For Herod feared John" - He also feared
his wife Herodias, but he would not fear God. "He did many
things gladly" - except repent of his wicked actions by confessing
and forsaking his evil ways.
Mark
6:23 - "Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee,
unto half the kingdom" - These are an echo of the words of Great
King Ahasuerus to his Queen Esther. Who does Herod think he is? He is
not even a shadow of Ahasuerus, and this young girl is certainly no Esther!
And, surely John is worth more than half a kingdom!
Mark
6:26 - "yet for his oaths sake... he would not reject her"
- What about his original marriage oath? He readily broke his
original marriage oath so that he might take his brother Phillips
wife to himself. He rejected his first wife to take this one to himself.
Why is he now so ready to reject John and God, but not his wife? Herod
is quite prepared to take John's head so that he could save his face.
Mark
6:27 - "he went and beheaded him in the prison" - So
John the forerunner of Jesus (Joshua) lost his life prematurely in unnatural
circumstances in the very same region as Moses was laid down to rest by
the angel of God, also in premature and unnatural circumstances -
Deuteronomy
34:5-7. Moses too, was a forerunner for a Joshua (Jesus).
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A
Golden Thread:- Called by the God of Heaven to become
a Royal Priesthood, it is none the less possible to let that calling slip
and to begin the envy the ungodly for their (seeming) prosperity. Best
we deal with those thoughts as John did and forthrightly announce God
to those with whom we have to do, even if it costs us our life, as it
did John. Herod actually did John a good turn, for in one smooth stroke
he did for John what John had spent a life time trying to do - that is,
to separate a Godly mind from a body prone to sin and death.
Cliff
York
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