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July
17
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Reading
1 - 2Samuel 1
Click
here to Listen
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v.14-16
- Even this 'son of a stranger' (self confessed - v.13)
was expected to know the principle of not slaying the Lord's anointed, even
though he did what seems to us to be the humane thing in relieving him of
his suffering in accordance with his own desire and at his command. As a
result of his action he is worthy of death, it seems. We need to take heed
here that we always reverence the Lord's Anointed, for whose return we wait
with patience. 2Pet.2:10
Peter Cresswell |
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v.14-16
- This incident also shows us the worth of human life. In God's sight, and
therefore in ours if we follow His will, as it clearly was in David's, human
life is of no consequence unless the person is called of God. We find this
almost impossible to accept as society around is tolerant of all things.
I am not suggesting we should go around killg people(!!) but that we should
develop an awareness of the place that human flesh holds in the eternal
order of things, and respond accordingly.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.2-10
- This Amalekite clearly did not know the temperament of David. David had
refused twice [1
Samuel 24:3-4 1 Samuel 26:8]
to kill Saul even though he was encouraged to believe that God had delivered
Saul into his hand.
Peter Forbes |
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tell
it not in Gath
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Micah
1:10
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eagles
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Micah
1:16
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The death
of Saul, even though he had been rejected, was a terrible disaster for
Israel. It was 'of God' (1:12)
- in a similar way the Assyrian invasion in the days of Hezekiah is so
described.
Peter Forbes
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:16
'thy mouth has testified against thee' forms the basis of Jesus' judgement
(Luke
19:22) in the parable of the man going into a far country.
Peter Forbes |
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v.19
"...LET ME NOW RUN..."
It's amazing how the Kings were able to determine the nature of the news
by who was running.
Our conduct does not go unnoticed.
Matt
Drywood |
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It
is clear that the Amalakite was an opportunist.
He thought that if he presented Saul's crown and bracelet to David that
he would be rewarded. It was common knowledge that Saul was the sworn enemy
of David.
The Amalekite lied when he took credit for the 'humane' death of Saul (1
Sam. 31:4-6). His duplicity backfired on him and it cost him his life.
The lessons for us as believers are:
(1)That we should obey all authority (1
Pet. 2:17; Titus 3:1)
(2) We should always tell the truth (Col.
3:9; Eph. 4:25)
Michael
Parry |
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Reading
2 - Jeremiah 7
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here to Listen
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v.
23
- This command comes to us as well. Rom.16:26.
Let us heed it. 2Cor.10:5,
Heb.5:9.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.8-10
- It happened over and over that people created their own worship in the
name of the Lord, involving activities of which He did not approve. We must
go to great lengths to avoid thisand examine all that we do in His name
- which indeed is all that we do - and be sure that none of it furthers
an end of which He would disapprove.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.16
- pray not for this people [Jeremiah
7:16 11:14 14:11]
There is a chilling threat from Yahweh that He will not hear His people
in certain circumstances. [Isaiah
1:15 Ezekiel 8:18 Amos 5:23]
The Psalmist, appreciating this point, speaks to his God in prayer assuring
Him that he is aware of it. [Psalm
66:18] We must
ask whether we have this attitude. Our minds can be so polluted by the thinking
of the flesh and the evil of this world that our prayers become vain.
Peter Forbes |
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7:2
Jeremiah was called, on four times, to 'stand in the gate of the Lord's
house' (19:14
28:5 35:4) so we can presume that it was a place frequented by those
the Lord wanted to hear His words.
Peter Forbes |
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| :1
On a number of occasions Jeremiah stood 'in the gate of the Lord's house'
- (19:14
28:5 35:4). The gate of the Lord's house would have a prominent location
which would have been a busy spot where worshippers would have to pas into
or out of the temple. So Jeremiah's message was not spoken in a corner.
He was seen and heard by many. They had to hear what he said and were expected
to respond.
:33
Another quotation from Deuteronomy
28:26
Peter Forbes
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Reading
3 - Matthew 18
Click
here to Listen
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v.21,22
- This question appears to have been prompted by the preceding verses, where
Jesus gives instructions to the believers about how they should conduct
their own individual matters that crop up in everyday life where one needs
to repent and another to forgive. Peter, seemingly amazed by this radical
teaching, pushes Jesus further and asks just how often he should be prepared
to do this. Jesus' answer quite clearly means 'always' or 'as many times
as necessary'. The principles in this chapter are so out of character for
us as sinful human beings that if we are not careful, we tend to question
the wisdom of it, and in a sense, that is what Peter is doing here. Let
us be sure not to do that. Luke
17:3,4 makes
it quite clear.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.12
- The idea of wayward people being sheep who have gone astray is seen in
the following places in Scripture. [Deuteronomy
22:1 Isaiah 53:6 Jeremiah 50:6 Matthew 18:12,13 1 Peter 2:25]
Peter Forbes |
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18:22
seventy times seven quotes Genesis
4:24. Whereas Lamech wanted to be avenged 70 times seven Jesus is counselling
that our forbearance should be as great. The contrast is designed to remind
us how that the desires of the flesh for retribution must be overcome.
Peter Forbes |
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:8-9
The instruction Jesus gives here repeats some aspects of the Sermon on the
Mount (Matthew
5:29,30) but notice the order is reversed.
Peter Forbes |
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TWO
OR THREE
"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything
you ask for, it will be done for you by my father in heaven. For where two
or three come together in my name, there I am with them." - Jesus (Matthew
18 v 19 - 20).
This is a mind blowing promise Jesus has made, but I wonder if some of us
have not given it the attention it deserves. We often hear these verses
quoted at church in the context of communal prayers - but there is much
more to it than that. We need to get together, like-minded brothers and
sisters, to pray for specific needs, much more often than we do. Taken in
the context in which it was written, our prayers should be particularly
for people who are struggling with sin and temptation and for the removal
of the temptations that cause sin. All too often our prayers are far to
general, and yet when we pray a specific prayer like this together, we are
amazed at the answers that follow our prayer. This is where the promise
holds true. Jesus says, "It will be done for you." There is no
doubt! If what we pray is for the glory of God, it will be done.
So let's get together and pray. Small, like-minded groups praying for God's
glory to fill the lives of each other and the people we know. And may the
God of grace bless us all.
Robert
Prins |
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