Non Gamstop Casinos
July 1

Reading 1 - 1Samuel 13

Click here to Listen
v.14 - This chapter (v.1) is in the second year of Saul's reign, and already he has fallen foul of God's commandments and is told that he is to be replaced by 'a man after God's own heart'. The power went to his head and he began to make decisions without consulting the Lord. Let us beware that we do not fall into the same trap. This rule is not just for kings - remember we too will be kings and priests in the age to come [Rev.1:6, 5:10].
Peter Cresswell
v.4 - Saul is quick to tell Israel that he had triumphed over this Philistine garrison when in fact it was Jonathan. We will all know from experience that this is the way of humankind when in power. Our employers take the glory for our successes, etc. But this will not always be the case. One day all things will be done to the glory of God. He will not take it, we will give it willingly.
Peter Cresswell
v.14 During only the second year of his forty year reign. [Acts 13:21] Saul is told that the kingdom will be taken from him.
Peter Forbes
13:19 The absence of a 'smith' in Israel was a serious problem for a nation who trusted in their own strength. A point worth noting is that the Philistines did have smiths. So whilst Israel were still in the Bronze Age the Philistines were in the Iron Age. This destroys the evolutionary idea that there are clear metal 'ages'. Here we have two nations adjacent to each other in different 'ages'.
Peter Forbes
:2 That Jonathan was over 1,000 men at this time indicates that he was at least - say - 20. But at this time David was but a little child, if born at all. So this detail causes us to appreciate that there was a large age gap between Jonathan and David. Jonathan was by many years David's senior.
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Isaiah 56 & 57

Click here to Listen
56 v.6,7 - It is hard to believe that those in Jesus' and the Apostles' day who knew their Scriptures really well could not come to terms with the concept of the inclusion of the Gentiles, when so much of this last part of Isaiah emphasises that very point. Here, v.3, 44:5 etc.
Peter Cresswell
57 v.15 - It is a great lifetime challenge to us all to learn to be contrite and humble as God would have us be. Humility is gained not by dwelling on its acquisition but by giving reverence to God and his great acts of salvation and dwelling on Hid greatness which emphasises our own unworthiness, being exercised to wisdom by his chastening hand, and so giving our lives to Him willingly. Psa. 34:18, 51:17, 113:4-6, 138:6.
Peter Cresswell

56 v.3-5 - The promise to the eunuch is that his inability to father children will no longer bar him from family relationships. In Christ the family of God will be his children. One wonders whether Philip extended his discussion of Isaiah 53 [Acts 8:30-35] to the relevance of this passage to the eunuch.

57 v.6 - 'under every green tree' catches the aspect of false worship which Yahweh condemned [Deuteronomy 12:2] which was practised by the nations around Israel. [1 Kings 14:23 2 Kings 16:4 17:10]
Peter Forbes

56:7 The promise that people will be brought is the basis for Jesus' words (John 10:16) and the words of Paul (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Those who are 'brought' enter the temple - and go no more out (Revelation 3:12)

ch. 57

peace peace
Acts 10:36
that is far off
Acts 2:38
and I will heal him
Ephesians 2:17

The use of this verse in the New Testament highlights the way in which Isaiah speaks of the presentation of the gospel message and is, in fact, echoing his own words (26:3) 'perfect peace' showing that his 'peace' is only attainable through acceptance of the gospel - the good news.
Peter Forbes

57:1 The death of the righteous is also mourned in a contemporary prophet (Micah 7:2) - but their removal is a blessing as they are to not see the evil that is to come on the nation.
Peter Forbes
WHEN THE RIGHTEOUS DIE We all ask "Why?" when we hear of good people, believers, whose life is suddenly taken before we consider that their time is up. The mother of four who was killed in a car crash, the enthusiastic young brother with so much potential killed in a tragic accident, a devoted father of three and follower of Christ suddenly taken by cancer. It doesn't seem right. There was so much more for them to do. It makes us all ask why.
But God never makes mistakes. He has planned the day of our birth and the day of death. God knows best. One of the answers may be found in the first two verses of this chapter. "The righteous perish, and no-one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those that walk uprightly enter into peace; They find rest as they lie in death." Those devout, righteous and Godly people are sleeping and resting until that glorious day when Jesus returns to usher them into his kingdom. No longer are they burdened by sin, they can not be disturbed by wicked people, they have completed their time of testing.
May he return for all of us soon.
Robert Prins

Reading 3 - Revelation 21 & 22

Click here to Listen
22 v.16 - Here Jesus describes himself as a star. Surely this refers, amongst other things, back to Isa.60:3, demonstrating not only that Gentiles would come to visit the infant Jesus led by his star, but also that all Gentiles can come freely to the light of the gospel which is revealed in him. Num.24:17, Matt.2:2-10, Luke 1:78, 2Pet.1:19.
Peter Cresswell

21 v.10 - Jesus was taken up into a high mountain and shown all the kingdoms of the world [Matthew 4:8]. However he resisted the temptation. He, 'for the joy that was set before him' [Hebrews 12:2] resisted the temptation because he could see from this mountain spoken of in Revelation 21:10. Visions of the kingdom are a great antidote to temptations.

ch. 22 - The culmination of the purpose of God. A review of the Old Testament quotations in this chapter shows how many of the strands of the purpose of God are drawn together. Thus it can be seen that any elements of what we call 'first principles' actually relate to the consummation of all things.
Peter Forbes

carried me ... to a great and high mountain ... city
Eze 40:2
the gates ... names ... tribes of Israel
Eze 48:31
east three gates
Eze 48:32
north three gates
Eze 48:31
south three gates
Eze 48:33
west three gates
Eze 48:34
reed to measure
Eze 40:32
to measure ... the gate
Eze 40:6
wall
Eze 40:5
the ... gates
Eze 48:31


And so the temple which Ezekiel saw forms the basis for what John was shown. John is shown that this temple Ezekiel saw forms a pattern of the glorified saints. Truly the 'house of David' which is made up of people.

the tree of life
Gen 2:9
And there shall be no more curse
Zech 14:11


Drawing together the narrative of the 'fall' and the final words of the Old Testament we have the plan of God set out simply and yet comprehensively.
Peter Forbes


I will give to him that is athirst ... water
Isa 55:1
I will be his ... and he shall be my son
2Sam 7:14

And so all of these wonderful things that God is willing to give to the faithful are based on promises that he made to David - as seen in the quotation from 2 Samuel 7:14. Notice how tie passage in Isaiah 55 continues also to speak of the 'sure mercies of David'.

that is athirst come ... the water
Isa 55:1


And yet another link with the promises to David - remember Isaiah 55 speaks of 'the sure mercies of David' (Isaiah 55:3)
Peter Forbes

THE OLD ORDER OF THINGS HAS PASSED AWAY
These last two chapters of the Bible tell us about the very last things that will happen in the world as we know it. For those of us who believe it will not be the end, but the beginning of a whole new and exciting time, at one with God, sharing a peace that will last throughout eternity. Part of the description is of a bride prepared for her husband, pure and white, ready for the wedding. In the same way we will be entering a new life - no longer distant from our husband not having known him intimately, but joined together in an intimate relationship, sharing a new life just as a bride and her husband do. It is like leaving home for the first time and going to a new and secure life - on an exciting new adventure with the perfect spouse. We cannot imagine what God has in store for us because our minds are so limited now. But what we do know is that he loves us and that the future - this new door of eternity that opens - will be more than we could ever expect and better than we could hope for. Now is your chance to head for eternity because it will be too late to decide at the time.
Out with the old … in with the new!
I'll see you there!
Robert Prins
LIVING WITH GOD

He is the one who created the universe, who holds the key to the unlimited secrets of nature and who can control he earth's most powerful forces with a word from his mouth. He is the artist who paints sunrises, sunsets and rainbows, who hung the stars in the sky and keeps everything running in perfect order. He is also the one who loves us, knows us and all we do, who cares for us, and who wants us to be his. He is the God who wrote us such a fantastic love letter - his word, the Bible, inviting us to share in the glory he will reveal, offering to forgive our sins and giving us the hope of everlasting life.

We have such an awesome God and in all that, the best is yet to come. God will dwell with us!

"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

He will live with us in person! The thought of living with God (or having God live with us) is the ultimate in things to look forward to. May we all be at one with him and there to share in that ultimate experience.
Robert Prins