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July
25
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Reading
1 - 2Samuel 11
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here to Listen
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v.11
- Uriah's attitude here is that of a good man - a man of principle and self-discipline.
Notice he prefaces his argument with words that are very similar to David's
own thinking regarding the dwelling of the ark of the Lord, ch.7:2.
Uriah is saying that he will not exalt himself to this state (as David has
done - with his house of Cedar) while others are not afforded the same privilege.
A laudable attitude. Matt.10:24-25.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.3
- Uriah is mentioned again in 2Sam.23:39
as being one of thirty seven honourable men that David lists. As Uriah was
killed in the incidents we read of now, this must place ch.23 historically
before this chapter.
Peter Cresswell |
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Consider
the time scale involved in the events of this chapter. David planned his
sin and it's execution. On a number of occasions he could have backed away
from his sin. He did not. How often do we plan to sin and carefully execute
the plan so that no one knows?
Peter Forbes |
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11:3
Bathsheba as well as being the daughter of Ammiel (1
Chronicles 3:5) is also the grand daughter of Eliam (2
Samuel 23:34) Eliam = Ammiel (see margin)
Peter Forbes
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:2
Maybe we see a reflection of David's walking on the roof of his house in
Psalm
101:2. The attitude of David in the Psalm contrasts with what happened
in this chapter. Maybe the Psalm was written after David had learnt his
lesson from this event and had repented. How often do we reflect on our
failures and use them to help us to chart our way forward?
Peter Forbes
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Reading
2 - Jeremiah 15
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here to Listen
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v.1
- The reference here to Moses and Samuel reflects on the times when these
men have pleaded on behalf of the people. Here it is clear that the state
of the people is such that even such pleadings could not be heeded now.
Ex.32:11-14,
Num.14:13-20, 1Sam.7:9, 12:23.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.2
- We have here (borne out by ch.14:12)
evidence that it is possible to go beyond redemption. It is possible to
reach a point where whatever you do, God will no longer forgive. We must
pray that we never reach that point ourselves.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.6
- Whilst we might have difficulties understanding how Yahweh could repent
we have plenty of Scripture which shows that he does. [Genesis
6:7 Exodus 32:14 Deuteronomy 32:36 Judges 2:18 1 Samuel 15:35 2 Samuel 24:16
1 Chronicles 21:15 Psalm 135:14 Jeremiah 26:13 19 Joel 2:13 Amos 7:3 6]
And some which shows that He will not [Jeremiah
15:6 Zechariah 8:14]
Once we appreciate that Yahweh is full of mercy we will appreciate that
he will repent of judgement that He has pronounced if He sees repentance
in those who are to be judged. It is only when he has repented time and
time again and the people are still stiff necked that he become 'weary
of repenting' and the judgement follows.
Peter Forbes |
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15:1
We might wonder why Moses and Samuel are singled out for mention here. Both
Moses and Samuel had the best interest of the nation at heart. Moses interceded
for Israel at the incident of the golden calf and Samuel pleaded with Israel
not to have a king like the nations around them. Thus these two are excellent
examples of men who were not self seeking which contrasted with the leaders
to whom Jeremiah was speaking.
Peter Forbes |
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:2
'such as
sword' and 'such as
captivity' are quoted (Revelation
13:10) so the beast out of the sea in Revelation is behaving in the
same way as the oppressor of Israel in Jeremiah's day - the oppressor in
Jeremiah's day was Babylon, as we know so we are given an insight into the
way in which Revelation uses the Old Testament.
Peter Forbes |
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Reading
3 - Matthew 26
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here to Listen
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v.6-15
- It seems that this incident with the costly ointment was just the last
straw to Judas. We know that it was Judas himself that offered the objection
(John
12:4,5) and we
also know why (John
12:6). It is
possible that Judas could have belonged in this household, as scripture
takes pains to tell us that he is Simon's son (John
6:71, 12:4, 13:2,26).
If so the person doing this act (Mary -
John 12:3) would
have been his sister - thus enraging him further, as that is the way human
emotions are.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.25
- Judas asked, but knew what he had already planned with the priests. Maybe
he was testing the water to see if Jesus knew his plans.
v.30
- You will remember that there is a vast amount more information in John's
account about the events in the upper room.
v.31
- 'smite
the shepherd ...' quotes [Zechariah
13:7] Examine
the context and you will see the aptness of this passage. It is one of judgment
- that was to come in AD 70 and deliverance.
v.46
- There must be a time gap between verse 46 and 47.
It is interesting that now Jesus has set his resolve there is no comment
about what he did or thought whilst the disciples were asleep. Neither does
he rebuke them for not watching with him. Now the conflict is resolved -
thy
will be done - the immediate need of fellowship from his disciples
is gone.
Peter Forbes |
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26:15
The covenanting pieces of silver echoes the way that the men of Judah betrayed
Samson. Evil men always behave in the same way.
Peter Forbes |
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:17-20
These verses record the events of a whole day! The rest of the chapter up
to v.56
deal with just part of the evening of that same day. Scripture focuses on
the things that are important.
Peter Forbes |
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v.
38-46 Jesus takes 3 of his disciples to Gethsemane, he wants their support
during his time of great sorrow, telling them to watch with him. The Segond
Bible (French version) may give us more insight: the French language have
4 different verbs for "go away", and two of them are used in this incident:
Jesus uses the verb "s'eloigner" (moves
away from) when he leaves them temporarily to pray the first and second
time. Jesus uses the verb "quitter"
(leaves) the third time he goes to pray. This verb is meant in the sense
of "abandon" an example is: he abandoned the hotel, or he is never coming
back. Why did Jesus not reprimand them the third time he returned to the
disciples. The answer is in Luke
22:43: "And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening
him" RSV. The answer is obvious, Jesus no longer needed the disciples as
a support system, he knew he could complete the mission which God had appointed
for him.
Beryl Butler. |
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| We
like to have a choice, but sometimes the very fact that we have a choice
to make, makes the choice very difficult. Jesus had a choice to make. His
choice was between the will of his Father, which was that he should die
for the sins of the world, or his own will, which was for the cup to be
removed from him. Wouldn't it have been easier for Jesus if he had not known
what hour his captors would take him? Wouldn't it have been easier for him
if it just happened suddenly, and if he couldn't do anything about it? But
God made sure he did know the time (v46),
and that he could do something about it (v53).
What
would have happened if Jesus chose to pass up the opportunity of being
the saviour of the world? Esther had a very similar choice to make, and
I think the council of Mordecai would have been the same to Jesus had
he been with him; "For if you remain completely silent at this time,
relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but
you and your father's house will perish" (Esther
4v14). Esther had been placed in her exalted position by God in order
for her to effect the salvation of the Jews, nevertheless she had to choose
whether she wished to go along with it or not. Choosing to go along with
it involved personal suffering for her, because their was the distinct
possibility that she would be killed for her efforts (Esther
4v11). The point is, that had she chosen not to be the saviour, God
would have provided another.
We need
to bear this in mind when we think of the struggle of Jesus in Gethsemane.
It was a very real and beguiling option for him to give up his struggle,
to forego all the pain and suffering, and to allow God to provide another
way to save His people. God would have provided another way, but He didn't
want it another way. God's will was that it would be Jesus dying shamefully
on a tree, and we all sometimes struggle to comprehend why salvation had
to come this particular way.
Naaman
had a similar choice to make. Why should the prophet want him to bathe
in a dirty stream? Why particularly seven times? Why did Adam have to
abstain from the tree in the middle of the garden? Why did Cain and Abel
have to sacrifice a lamb, rather than vegetables? Why did Saul have to
kill all the Amalekites completely, not sparing any thing or any one?
But God had simply said He wanted it that way. He admonished Saul "Has
the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying
the voice of the LORD?" (1Sam
15v22)
We all
have that choice to make too, and I'm sure we wish we wouldn't have to
make it. There are specific times in our lives where we have to consciously
decide to take the road of difficulty because we know it is God's will,
or to choose the easy path against His will. There is a whole list of
examples in Hebrews 11 of those who had the same choice to make. The one
that sums the whole thing up for me is Moses, who "CHOSE rather to
suffer affliction with the people of God,
esteeming the reproach
of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to
the reward." Heb
11v25-26. All these had to choose whether to stand and fight, and
so do we.
Robin
de Jongh
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