Reading 1 - Genesis 9 & 10

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ch 10 - The 'table of nations' given in this chapter provides the basis for the way in which the world was populated and provides the key to whom is being spoken about in prophecies about the nation. For this reason it is worth spending time drawing your own family tree based on Genesis 10.
Peter Forbes

9:11 In saying that He will no more destroy the earth with a flood demonstrates that the flood was universal. There are regular local flood which cause destruction indicating that if the flood was local the promise that God gave here has not been kept.

10:6 Mizraim is Egypt The word translated 'Mizraim' here is translated 'Egypt around 600 times 'Egyptian' or 'Egypt' In fact there are only four times when it is left transliterated as 'Mizraim'
Peter Forbes

Genesis 9:16 -  "And the bow shall be in the cloud;" - When we see a rainbow, standing as we do upon the earth, we only see that part of the bow that stretches upwards toward God. However, if you have been in aeroplane and seen a rainbow, you will have seen a complete circle, connecting heaven and earth, just as Jesus Christ was the connection between God and mankind. From where God sits in the Heavens, He sees the complete bow, rich in colour, and never ending - just like His gracious covenant with mankind. What lesson can we draw for ourselves, that we only see "half a rainbow?" To fully appreciate the great covenants of God, one must "dwell in the Heavenlies with Christ" - Col 3:1-2. Most people do not even begin to appreciate the value of God's covenants of promise, because they allow "earthly" things to restrict their vision of God's principles, hence most people only ever see "half a bow". But they do get to see a most important part - the part that points to God - so really, they too are without excuse.

Genesis 10:8 -  "And Cush begot Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth." - The world's first monarch also established the Kingdom of Men. Nimrod was a rebel; that is, he believed he knew "a better way" - but then rebels always do. Not for him, the covenants of promise spoken to Adam, Eve, Enoch and Noah. Nimrod is the 13th from Adam (scripturally 13 = the number for rebellion) and in effect he became the first "Pope" - he brought "church" and state together to become earth's first "God King".  He was ultimately deified and a Triune Doctrine grew out of Father, Mother, Child, when Semaramis, Nimrod's wife gave birth to baby Tammuz some time after Nimrod died. Semaramis claimed baby Tammuz (who is believed to have been born on December 25th) was Nimrod re-incarnated. The false religion established by Nimrod and embellished by Semaramis became the foundation religion for all that is apostate and against God's Truth.

Thought:- "God makes a promise... FAITH believes it; HOPE anticipates it; PATIENCE awaits it."
Cliff York

Reading 2 - Psalms 11, 12 & 13

To Listen

12:6 - The Psalmist has a high regard for the words of God. Do we regard the Scripture in the same light?

Psa13 - When we are low and despair we should take comfort in that the Psalmist often had similar feelings. This Psalm is far from unique in showing a despondent Psalmist.
Peter Forbes

11:4 That the Lord is in His holy temple we see that he is in control. Habakkuk recognised this and saw that it required that the earth be silent because of it (Habakkuk 2:20)

12:1 In an evil society where laws are flouted and even changed to allow evil actions we should not look to the politicians to sort things out. David understood that God is the only one who can help. We should share his attitude realised that the problems of this evil world will only be resolved when Jesus returns.

13:3 When David asks God to 'lighten' 0215 his eyes we see that David uses a word which is often translated in ways which simply mean giving natural light. However there are occasions when it is used to speak of perception or enlightenment - 1 Samuel 14:29 'enlightened' Psalm 19:8 'enlightening' - so David, when confronted with despair, sought to God for help.
Peter Forbes

Psalm 12 - COMPARING TONGUES
There are two types of tongues in this Psalm. There are the tongues of the godless and there is the tongue of the LORD. We read in James that even though the tongue is a small part of the body, it makes great boasts, it can be a world of evil among the parts of the body, corrupting the whole person and setting the whole course of his life on fire. The tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
People with godless tongues are described as speaking lies to their neighbours, their flattering lips speaking deception. They have boastful tongues that malign the godly.
It is truly a difficult thing to control the tongue and often we can catch it saying bad things - but we often catch it too late.
God's words, on the other hand, are described as flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. He always speaks the truth, he always keeps his promises - he is the very opposite of the ungodly. God is our only standard of perfection, the standard we must aim for and Jesus is our example. Let us aim to speak as Jesus would speak, speaking truth, being honest and humble. Let us use our words to build each other up to the glory of God.
Robert Prins

Psalm 12 - "To the chief Musician upon Sheminith" - This which appears at the head of Psalm 12 is actually a subscription to Psalm 11. "Sheminith" = 'the eighth" and tells us that this Psalm 11 will have it's positive fulfillment on the "8th day" - ie.after the Millenium or "7th day", when all flesh shall be cut off forever, and God will be all, and in all - 1Cor 15:24-28.

Psalm 12:1-8 - The psalm furnishes good thoughts for bad times. Let us see what makes the times bad, and when they may be said to be so. Ask the children of this world, "What makes the times bad?" They will tell you  - "scarcity of money, decay of trade, and the desolations of war, make the times bad". But the Scripture lays the badness of the times on causes of another nature, 2Tim 3:1, etc.: perilous times shall come, for sin shall abound; and of this David complains. When piety decays times really are bad. He who made man's mouth will call him to an account for his proud, profane, dissembling, and blasphemous words. How bad, then are the days in which we live, with all its "Hollywood Filthy Talk". When the poor and needy are oppressed, then the times are very bad. God himself takes notice of the oppression of the poor, and the sighing of the needy. When wickedness abounds, and is countenanced by those in authority, then the times are very bad - Romans 1:29-32.

See with what good things we are here furnished for such bad times.

1. We have a God to go to, from whom we may ask and expect the redress of all our just grievances.

 2. God will certainly punish and restrain false and proud men.

3. God will work deliverance for his oppressed people.

God's help is given in the fittest time. Though men are false, God is faithful; though they are not to be trusted, God is. The preciousness of God's word is compared to silver refined to the highest degree. How many proofs have been given of its power and truth! God will secure his chosen remnant, however bad the times are. As long as the world stands, there will be a generation of proud and wicked men. But all God's people are put into the hands of Christ our Saviour; there they are in safety, for none can pluck them thence; being built on Him, the Rock, they are safe, notwithstanding that temptation or persecution come with ever so much force upon them.
Cliff York

Reading 3 - Matthew 7

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Matthew 7:2 - "and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." - It is so easy to carry around "a little measure" by which we measure the standards of others, in either speech, dress, piety or behaviour. Jesus warns us that that very measure may well be used to measure ourselves and our fitness for His Kingdom if hypocrital judgement has been our character throughout probation.

Matthew 7:23 - "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." - These, I think, are among scriptures most terrible and most sobering words. Every human being loves to hear words of comfort, encouragement, hope and consolation. Most of us spend a lot of time and energy manipulating (if that is the right word) circumstances and events to hear the words that mean so much to us. Example:- I bought my wife flowers this afternoon.... because I love her. And I must confess, I do like the words that she shares with me most times that I bring flowers home. What do you do, or not do, to hear meaningful words sincerely spoken just for you.

What person then, would wilfully do anything so as to receive the words that Jesus speaks here in v23.  Of course, no ordinary person who professes a love for God would wilfully strive to hear those words from Christ. Those who do, receive these words because they have never built a dynamic, working, trusting, family relationship with their Lord. "Why do you call me, Lord, Lord... and do not the things which I say" He remonstrates in Luke 6:46. The words here in Matthew, "I never knew you" can mean literally, "You do not belong to my family, I do not know where you come from."  No wonder in that day there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth!"

Are you part of Christ's family? Does He know you as His Brother or Sister? Do you live your life as if Jesus were sitting in the seat beside you, or walking with you as you go? Or would you have to ask Him to look the other way while you .......(you fill in the blanks).?  And would you have to ask Him to stand outside for an hour or two while you went inside and ...... (you fill in the blanks)?  Can you take Jesus everywhere you go? Can Jesus listen in on every conversation that you have?  Would you feel comfortable introducing Jesus to your friends? As we tell our children, Jesus does know everything that you and I do... and say - but the question is... Do you and I really know Jesus? And do we truly believe what we tell our children? To hear those wonderful words of Matthew 25:34, we must do what Jesus did in the next part of that chapter - Matthew 25:35-40.  Our actions and attitudes today toward our fellows, determines our destiny tomorrow. It is not rocket science... it's common sense.
Cliff York