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February
21
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Reading 1 - Exodus 33 & 34
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Peter Cresswell
Peter Cresswell
34:7
'Unto the third and fourth generation
' might be taken as a general
comment about God's long suffering. We should be aware that the phrase
is rare in Scripture - here and Exodus
20:5 Numbers 14:18 Deuteronomy 5:9. Israel were to come out of Egypt
in the 'fourth generation' [Genesis
15:16]. So we might say that third generation was the generation that
died in the wilderness. That third generation died in Egypt because they
were not willing to cast away their idols Ezekiel
20:7-8 - read the context
- so the phrase is a specific reference to those to whom deliverance
from Egypt had been a possibility, the generation that died in Egypt and
the generation that died in the wilderness.
Peter Forbes
33:2 In promising to drive out the Canaanites et: we see that God is reminding Israel of what he had said to Abraham - Genesis 15:19-21 - which promise has figured earlier in the exodus.
34:29-30 The events of Moses face shining are used by Paul to highlight the fading nature of the law of Moses - namely that it was to pass away.
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Exodus
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Language
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2 Corinthians
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his
face shone
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4:6
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skin of his face shone
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3:7
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were
afraid to come nigh him
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3:7
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When the Israelites went to appear before the LORD at their feast days, on the Sabbaths or at personal times of dedication, we are told that "No-one is to appear before me (the LORD) empty handed." (34:20). At any and all of these times they were to bring an offering to God.
Sometimes we think that the Law doesn't apply to us anymore, but this is a principle we would be wise to follow. Just as the Israelites had to bring an offering to the LORD when they came before him, so we should also bring an offering when we meet with him. How often do we go to a Sunday Morning service completely unprepared? We go along, sit in our seats and expect to be fed, entertained or made to feel good. We haven't given any thought to what might be said, what we can do to make the service more effective, how we can encourage someone else, or even prayed a prayer of thanksgiving, praise or asked God to bless the meeting. If that is us then it seems that we are presuming to appear before the LORD empty-handed.
Instead let us make sure that when we meet with the LORD we bring our offering - whatever it may be. It may be the sacrifice of praise, the incense of prayer, a gift of encouragement, the willingness to work or even just simply having prepared our minds. "No-one is to appear before the LORD empty-handed."
Robert Prins
Jesus said, "Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15 v 13). Moses said, "The LORD your God will raise up a prophet like me from among you own people." (Acts 3 v 22) That prophet was Jesus and one of the ways that he and Moses were alike was in their great love and self sacrifice for their people.
When Israel turned away from the LORD and made and worshipped the golden calf, the LORD was so angry with them that he was ready to destroy the whole nation then and there. He said to Moses, "Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them." But instead of leaving God alone Moses stood in the gap to plead for his people's forgiveness and turn away God's wrath.
When Moses had seen for himself what the people had done, he went back up the mountain to confess and plead for their forgiveness. "But now, please forgive their sin - but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written." (v 32). There is no greater love than that - loving his people when all they deserved was to face God's wrath.
Jesus has done the same for us. He died for us while we were still sinners. He did it so that we could be forgiven and be made at one with God again. Would we do the same for our friends?
Robert Prins
Reading 2 - Psalms 90 & 91
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Peter Cresswell
Peter Cresswell
These two Psalms are Psalms of Moses.
Psalm 90 is a reminder to those in the wilderness who were going to enter the land to look at the wilderness journey as a process of instruction 'so teach us to number our days and apply our hearts unto wisdom' (verse 12). Those who did not die in the wilderness would only benefit from the wilderness experience if they thought about what had happened. We likewise will only benefit from our wilderness experience if we look to see God working in our lives.
Psalm
91 was given for the benefit of Joshua and Caleb. All of the promises
relate to what they could expect in the wilderness. Because they had been
faithful spies they would not die in the wilderness. However they would
see their contemporaries all die off one by one in the wilderness. So
read the Psalm and think of it being spoken to Joshua and Caleb. The language
will then come alive. Then think about the promise that we have 'It is
your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom' (Luke
12:32)
Peter Forbes
90:4 'A thousand years as yesterday' is quoted by Peter (2 Peter 3:8) to show that God is not slack with respect to His promises. He had told those who refused to enter the land that they would perish in the wilderness - but almost 40 years had passed and some were still alive. Why? Because He is looking for repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
91:14
This Psalm, written firstly for Joshua and Caleb, speaks of their deliverance.
They are the first people of whom the words of Deuteronomy
28:1 were to be fulfilled when they were told 'I will set him on high'
Peter Forbes
91v.4
- His Truth becomes our Shield and Buckler
God's Truth is that He is the Supreme power in all the earth, There is
no opposing power such as "The Devil". It is simply a term for any theory
that is or can be against God's Truth.
One of the ways a man can protect himself against false theory is to take
a breastplate of righteousness, made of faith and love. Personal righteousness
is based upon faith in God, and love expressed in loyalty to God's commandments.
The heart is protected, when it remembers the Law of God.
A man who puts on his feet the gospel of peace has them protected, because
they are enclosed within God's Truth; they are ready to run.
It is necessary to take the helmet of salvation. The helmet of salvation
means the head is protected by salvation,. or hope of salvation. The hope
of the gospel gives the spirit of a sound mind and does not allow destructive
thoughts to enter. The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God,
attacks the devil with God's Truth, the sword of the Spirit is the only
weapon of attack.. The head holds the sword very well against false theories.
It is sharper than a natural sword and divides things natural from things
spiritual. It cuts open the heart of man and shows the evil within.
There is doubtless truth in the belief that the sword of the Spirit protects
a man, but it is not the whole truth. Due to false theories, men sin -
which causes separation from God. Therefore salvation is far from man.
God sent a Redeemer who came from Zion, and righteousness upheld him.
He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and was clad with zeal as
a cloak. The Redeemer showed that there was a time of suffering and a
time of glory.
Christ is the Redeemer and he knew that faith is trust in God: he believed
God's Word when it stated that arrows of fire produced panic and terror
among ancient armies. However, panic and terror pass by the soldier of
Christ, who does not allow destructive thoughts to find entrance. Christ
was equipped in this way. For the joy set before him he despised the shame,
and endured the cross. He gave up his life in the confidence that his
flesh would rest in hope, and that on the third day he would rise again.
The arrows of fire are threatening false theories, which nullify the Word
of God. The defence is the shield. The buckler strapped onto the arm is
the Word of God, With such a defence the sceptic shafts of the devil fall
harmless to the ground.
The Word is effective in the exposure and destruction of false doctrine
and all thoughts that are contrary to the mind of God. It must be known
to be used. It can only be known with careful reading and meditation.
In time and with practice, the mind recalls statements of the Word which
are suitable to the occasion, which in turn puts away false theories.
Beryl
Butler.
Reading 3 - 1Corinthians 3
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Peter Cresswell
Peter Forbes