Non Gamstop Casinos
July 23

Reading 1 - 2Samuel 8 & 9

Click here to Listen
8 v.2 - Some strange language here. To measure with a line meant to divide the land for inheritance purposes. It seems here that David offered them 2 alternatives: either their land could be divided in 2 (2 lines), which would require that they died, or it could all go one way, in which case they could be kept alive as servants. It is a fulfilment of Num.24:17, though there had already been a fairly final sounding fulfilment in Judges 3:29,30.
Peter Cresswell
9:1-8 - We have an example here of how we should actively seek those to help. David went out of his way to reward someone who had been Jonathan's, because of his love for him. We have love one to another, so we have many opportunities to respond in a similar way to David. Do we?
Peter Cresswell

8 v.1 - The phrase 'and it came to pass after this' is a recurring phrase in 2 Samuel. [2 Samuel 2:1 10:1 13:1 15:1 21:18] It marks the introduction of a new topic which is related to the previously mentioned event. There may be years between the events but they are thematically linked.

9 v.3 - Notice that David wished to show 'the kindness of God' to the house of Saul. This was not merely a generous spirit because he was now king. He wished to manifest that attribute of God. How often do we think of doing something in order that the father can be manifest in our actions?
Peter Forbes

ch.8 - The list of David's conquests in this chapter and the gathering of :7 the shields of gold :8 exceeding much brass and :10 vessels of silver gold and brass were part of the spoil that David was gathering for the house that was to be built by his son - hence he 'did dedicate (it) to the Lord' :11

ch.9 - There seems to have been quite a link with Lo-Debar and Ammiel. Bathsheba was the 9:5 daughter of Ammiel (1 Chronicles 3:5).
Peter Forbes

8:13 The battle referred to here is spoken of also in Psalm 60

ch 9 - We commented when looking at Jonathan's love for David (1 Samuel 13) that Jonathan was doubtless much older than David so we might conclude that Mephibosheth, even though treated by David like one of his own sons, would have been significantly older than any of David's children.
Peter Forbes

SHOW KINDNESS

This chapter begins with a question similar to one we should ask ourselves on a very regular basis. "David asked, 'Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?'" As David asked this, he had a specific covenant in mind that he had made, to show kindness to Jonathan and his family for ever. If we have given ourselves to Christ we have also made a commitment to love our neighbour as ourselves - in other words, to show kindness to anyone who crosses our path.

So let's ask ourselves the question, "Is there anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jesus' sake?" What is the answer? Yes, of course there is! There are hundreds of ways we can show kindness every day. A smile, a greeting, gifts, practical help, encouragement, listening and sharing are just a few of the ways we can show kindness to anyone. Let's show a little kindness - or a little extra kindness, in our lives today. And let's do it now, because often the opportunity will pass and the kindness will be lost.
Robert Prins

Reading 2 - Jeremiah 13

Click here to Listen
v.11 - God uses so many different pictures to try to show Israel what he has wrought for them, but they do not listen. We must learn by their bad example. The words spoken to them in Exo.19:5,6 are now spoken to us 1Pet.2:5-9. So let us take heed of the warnings that Jeremiah gives to us.
Peter Cresswell
v.4,5 - The Euphrates is used as a symbol of Babylon. We have a symbol here of those who were close to God, as a man's girdle cleaves to him (v.11), but have rejected Him, being sent instead to their fate of captivity in Babylon. See also ch.51:63,64, Psa.137:1, Mic.4:10
Peter Cresswell
v.1-9 - This enacted parable must have taken quite some time to act out. The Euphrates was some few day's journey away and Jeremiah made the journey twice. Additionally time must have elapsed whilst the garment 'marred' in the hole it was placed. Thus we see that God is willing to spend quite some time teaching us just one lesson.
Peter Forbes
13:13 In saying that the kings and priests would be filled with drunkenness we see a deplorable state of affairs. Strong drink was not for kings or priests who were involved in the service of God. So we see how far astray they were and how impossible it was for them to give right judgement.
Peter Forbes
:22 That Israel might even ask why their troubles were come upon them highlights the fact that they just did not see that God worked in their lives and that He kept His word. We have seen many times how that Jeremiah has already told them that the curses of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 are coming upon them. They should have known that their behaviour was the reason for their problems.
Peter Forbes
BITTER TEARS - Jeremiah loved his people Israel. They were all acting wickedly and he was the only one who was righteous. God had determined to destroy them. But Jeremiah loved them so much that he couldn't help warning them over and over again of God's judgements that were looming over them. "Hear and pay attention," he says, "Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings the darkness, before your feet stumble." Jeremiah's message is urgent and heartfelt. He says, "But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears, because the LORD's flock will be taken captive." Jeremiah wanted his people to return to the LORD and be saved. He prayed for them and even accepted their guilt as his own, saying, "We have sinned," and pleading for forgiveness for his people.
Just as Jeremiah lived in the last days before the judgement of God on Judah, so we live in the last days before God judges the earth. Do we have Jeremiah's heart that wants everyone to be saved from the coming judgement? Do we pray for them? Do we ask forgiveness for them? Do we weep bitter tears when they ignore the truth?
Learn a lesson from Jeremiah today.
Robert Prins

Reading 3 - Matthew 24

Click here to Listen
v.2 - These verses definitely refer to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, but there are so many aspects of this chapter that refer to events that are still future, that it must have a relevance to us in these last days. If you want to see just how close the world could be to a fulfilment of passages like Zech.14:2, subscribe to Mike Pearson's Middle East Update, which will show you just how possible it currently looks.
Peter Cresswell
v.38-39 - The lesson of Noah's day is not that people were particularly immoral. People have always eaten .. married etc:. The point Jesus is making is the suddenness of the flood is a pattern of the suddenness of his coming. This can be seen in the language of verses 40-41.
v.42 - The exhortation which follows from the Olivet prophecy and the warning of Noah is 'watch ...' This reinforces the point that being prepared is the message.
Peter Forbes
24:15 The abomination of desolation is the Roman invasion - we know this from the parallel passage Luke 21:20
Peter Forbes

The 'Olivet Prophecy' actually repeats substantial elements of Jesus' earlier teaching to his disciples.

:17-18 Luke 17:31
:23 Luke 17:23
:28 Luke 17:37
:37-38 Luke 17:26-27
:40 Luke 17:36
:41 Luke 17:35
:43-51 Luke 12:39-46

Peter Forbes

Jesus has finished his condemnation of the scribes and pharisees with the phrase "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." Verse 1 of this chapter shows us that he was in the temple at the time, but was it the temple he was speaking about? The desciples seemed to think so, because "his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.". Jesus tells them of how not one stone would be left on top of another. (v2) This was of course literally true, and you can go and visit Jerusalem today to see the piles of stones alongside temple mount.

But we are leaving out the verse immediately following his comment. 23v39 "For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth,…" Was Jesus speaking of himself, and how they would destroy the temple of his body? (John 2v18-22)

A further point to ponder:

The question of the desciples in verse 3 was obviously misguided, because it attracts the response from Jesus "Take heed that no man deceive you". Did the disciples think that the coming of Jesus, and the end of the world was to be very soon? Jesus goes to great lengths to let them in gently on the fact that the "time of the gentiles" was to come in the intervening period. (v6, 8, 14).
Robin de Jongh