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July
16
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Reading
1 - 1Samuel 31
Click
here to Listen
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v.
10
- The word used for 'fastened' here gives an extra barbaric aspect to this
act. It suggests that it was thrust through with one large stake. v.12
tells us that it was Saul's sons as well that were treated this way. Bethshan,
it would appear, was in the part of Asher that was owned by Manasseh (Josh.17:11),
and not in Philistine country - so this act was done to shame Israel, rather
than to glory over their victory before their own people. Hence the reason
that there is no opposition in v.12.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.4,5
- We see in the armourbearer an amazing show of dedication here to his master.
We are not given the insight to know his motives, but we can take the lesson,
that we too should be prepared to die with our master out of sheer dedication
to him, as we did at our baptism. We see also, in a way, I suppose, the
thief on the cross here, who died in faith with Jesus, copying his death
in a true state of faithful dedication.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.10
- In telling us that the body of Saul was fastened on the wall of Bethshan
we learn the extent of the Philistine domination at the end of the reign
of Saul.
Peter Forbes |
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31:11
Again we come across the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead. We met them before
(1
Samuel 11:1) and now Saul is dead, they make the arduous journey across
into enemy territory to recover his body and the body of his sons. Such
was the love of the men of Jabesh-Gilead for Saul. This further reinforces
the suggestion made in our comments on 1 Samuel 11 that Saul's ancestry
on his mother's side was in Jabesh-Gilead.
Peter Forbes |
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:9
The way that the Philistines cut of Saul's head and paraded it through the
land of the Philistines and put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth mimics
what David did with Goliath's head and armour (1
Samuel 17:51, 54)
Peter Forbes |
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Reading
2 - Jeremiah 6
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here to Listen
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v.10
- Considering the problems there were in the early church persuading the
Jews to recognise that circumcision was no longer a requirement to be in
covenant relationship with God, this verse must have been a very emotive
curse - to be accused of 'their ear is uncircumcised' is more than
just saying 'they won't listen'. Isa.28:12,13,
Eze.3:18-21, Matt.3:7.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.2
- The comely and delicate woman is soon condemned for her violation of God's
ways. Lam.2:1,13
Peter Cresswell |
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v.6-8
- Even though Yahweh had determined to bring the Babylonians against Jerusalem
there was still an opportunity for them to repent - hence v8
'be
instructed ...lest I make thee desolate'. Again we ask. Do we listen
to the chastening hand of God?
Peter Forbes |
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'and
ye shall find rest unto your souls'
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Matthew
11:29
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Jesus
used these words to encourage his disciples to lay aside the weights of
the world and accept the strictures of taking up the cross. It seems paradoxical
that taking up the cross will give rest. However it does now give rest
from the anxieties of the world and in the kingdom we will enter into
the 'rest' prepared for the servants of God (Hebrews
4:9)
Peter Forbes
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:12
Here we have yet another quotation from the curses of Deuteronomy
28:30
Peter Forbes |
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Reading
3 - Matthew 17
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here to Listen
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v.4
- The word tabernacle <4633>
occurs here and on 19 other occasions in the New Testament (listed at the
end). An interesting one is Luke
16:9 where it
is translated 'habitations'
in the context of what the mammon of unrighteousness are, by inference,
not able to supply. This, along with the refs. in Hebrews, leads us to a
greater understanding of Rev.21:3,
where the whole argument culminates. [here,
Mark 9:5, Luke 9:33, 16:9, Acts 7:43-44, 15:16, Heb.8:2,5, 9:2,6,8,11,21,
11:9, 13:10, Rev.13:6, 15:5, 21:3].
Peter Cresswell |
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v.5
- It is said of Jesus that the Lord was well pleased with him on two occasions.
At his baptism and at the transfiguration. [Matthew
3:17 17:5 Mark 1:11]
This highlights the importance of those two events. Peter refers to is in
his exposition of the transfiguration. [2
Peter 1:17] The
language is drawn from [Isaiah
42:1]
v.9
- There are a number of occasions when Jesus tells His disciples that they
should not make him known. [Matthew
8:4 16:20 17:9 Mark 7:36 8:30 9:9 Luke 5:14 8:56 9:21] On this occasion he does not want
the disciples to advertise that he is the Messiah. It is not that Jesus
does not want people to know that he was the Messiah but rather he wanted
the people to recognise this for themselves from the things which they saw
him do and heard him say.
Peter Forbes |
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17:3
Whilst we might think that the appearance of Moses and Elijah may be somewhat
arbitrary they occur together in Malachi
4:4,5 in a prophecy about the work prior to the coming of Jesus.
Peter Forbes |
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We
may discuss what actually happened - whether Moses and Elijah were actually
there or whether it was 'just' a vision. It is instructive to note that
the disciples are not presented as being concerned abut that. Rather they
are concerned with what Scripture says against the background of what the
scribes say (Matthew
17:10)
Peter Forbes |
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are startling similarities between the account of the transfiguration, and
the receiving of the law by Moses. The obvious one is that both men ascended
a mountain, received word from God, and came down with their faces shining
from beholding His glory. In v5,
God proclaims for a second time that He is well pleased with His son, but
this time He adds "hear ye him!".
Starting
at the formation of the nation of Israel, God had been trying to get them
to listen to him. It started with the ten commandments written in stone
tablets, and carried on right through the law and the prophets. Israel
had always been hard of hearing. God was finally sending His own son,
and telling them "hear ye Him!" (Mark
12v6). Jesus was the last, best, and most perfect way that God could
get His message through to His people.... the message that He was a gracious
and loving God who was worthy to be served. This is why Jesus was called
"the word made flesh" (John
1v14). He was a living, breathing, human demonstration of God's word
and His character. If they didn't heed that, then what would they heed?
(Luke
16v31)
A further point to ponder:
Hebrews
3v19 and 4v6 tell us that Israel could not cast out the people dwelling
in Canaan "because of unbelief". Do you think there are parallels
with Matt
17v20?
Robin
de Jongh
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