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July 26

Reading 1 - 2Samuel 12

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v.13 - Here we have the essence of God's forgiveness. David's repentant attitude brought him instantly back to his place of righteousness before God. It can be just the same for us. We may not be kings, and we may not consider our sins to rank in the same league as adultery and murder, but of course they do. We can be sure that we can be forgiven, and thereby, in David's own words, be blessed. Ps.32.
Peter Cresswell
v.10 - Here we see that part of David's punishment was that he should be a man of war all his life. This was a greater punishment than ever because it prevented him from doing that which was his heart's desire - to build a house for God.
Peter Cresswell
Now Nathan arrives on the scene some nine months after the first sin. By now David realises that he has sinned and wants to repent. Nathan provides the environment for confession. In this we see the love and Mercy of God. See David's reaction in Psalm 32 51 40.
Peter Forbes
12:13 What do we think about David's apparent instant repentance? David was ready to repent when Nathan came - Psalm 32:5 shows a willingness to confess his sin after he had been chastened by God (Psalm 32:1-5). God chastened David until he was ready to repent then he sent Nathan to speak with him.
Peter Forbes
David did repay 'fourfold' Four of his sons died.

2 Samuel 12:18 The child
2 Samuel 13:28-29 Amnon
2 Samuel 18:14 Absalom
1 Kings 2:24-25 Adonijah
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Jeremiah 16

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v.9 - This is a phrase that God gives to Jeremiah three times [7:34, here, 25:10]. It demonstrates an absolute breach that has been reached as the longsuffering of God runs out for these wayward people. The same language is picked up and applied to 'that great city Babylon' in Rev.18:22,23.
Peter Cresswell
v.2,9 - There is surely a connection here with the marriage aspect. Jeremiah in his own life is being forced to be an example to the people of how the joy of marriage would cease in their captivity.
Peter Cresswell
v.6 - Individuals 'made themselves bald' as a sign of abject rejection and despair. [Jeremiah 16:6 Ezekiel 27:31 Micah 1:16]
Peter Forbes

16:4, 13 provide two more quotations from Deuteronomy 28.

Carcasses shall be meat for the fowls
Deuteronomy 28:26
I cast … other gods
Deuteronomy 28:64

Israel, in Jeremiah's prophecy, are repeatedly warned that the curses of Deuteronomy 28 are coming upon them.
Peter Forbes

:19 From this verse we see the response of the gentiles when they hear God's message of salvation.
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - Matthew 27

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v.36 - There is a contrast of attitude here. These people had no respect - the sat and watched. Contrast this with the centurion in v.54, who Mark tells us (Mark 15:39) stood over against him, who said 'Truly this was the Son of God'. Cp. too Ps 1:1, 'sitting in the seat of the scornful'
Peter Cresswell
v.3-7 - I do not see these events taking place concurrent with the trial. I suggest that Judas went to the priests after Jesus death and threw the money down, and the field was purchased a little later still - but not that much later because of the way in which Peter speaks in Acts 1.
v.45 The darkness at the sixth hour - mid day - is a fulfilment of:- [Amos 8:9] Which was a mourning for an 'only son' [Amos 8:10] The word translated 'only son' is rare. It is the word used by Yahweh when requesting Abraham to offer Isaac. [Genesis 22:2] and is the 'darling' of:- [Psalm 22:20] Jesus quotes Psalm 22 in the next verse so it is reasonable to deduce that Jesus is seeing the relationship between Amos, Psalm 22 and Genesis 22.
Peter Forbes
27:28 The stripping of Jesus echoes the way that the brothers stripped Joseph (Genesis 37:23). We should be aware of the way in which Matthew make repeated quotation from earlier characters. These quotations show that there have been many faithful characters in Scripture - but of course Jesus was the only sinless one.
Peter Forbes
:25 Whilst the leaders were willing to have Jesus' blood on their conscience before his death after his resurrection we see the same men with different words on their lips.(Acts 5:28)
Peter Forbes
DEFENDING OURSELVES
There are times in everyone's life when someone perceives that you have done something wrong and then accuses you of it even though you have done nothing wrong. It is often brought about by jealousy, as it was when it happened to Jesus. As Jesus stood on trial before Pilate, the chief Priests and elders brought up accusation after accusation against him. Jesus chose not to respond to any of them. He made no reply - not even to a single charge. (See also 1 Peter 2 v 22 - 23). If anyone deserved to be defended, it was the sinless Son of God, but he let his accusers have free reign.
It is only natural to want to defend ourselves when we are falsely accused (or for that matter when we are accused at all, even for something we have done). But to follow the example of Jesus we must refrain from that urge, just as he did and then we can leave it to God to be the judge. God knows best and he knows all our actions and motives and those of our accusers. James says that "It is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God … If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. "(1 Peter 2 v 19 - 21), and, "Even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed." (1 Peter 3 v 14).
So next time let us follow the example of Christ more closely.
Robert Prins
In all the creations of God, man is the pinacle, and the crowning glory. What would you say was the lowest form of life? A worm?

Verse 46, Jesus as he hung on the tree quoted a verse from Psalm 22. He did this in response to the taunt from the Soldiers (v43), which is also found in this Psalm. It reveals to us very graphically what Jesus was thinking at the time of his death, because he was thinking Psalm 22. In Psalm 22v6 we have the thought of Jesus "I am a worm and not a man". I wonder if the words written in Job 25v4-6 came to his mind "How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman? How much less man, who is a maggot, And a son of man, who is a worm?"

Maybe these words gave him the strength to remain on the cross, because he knew couldn't be "pure" unless he put to death all of his fleshly will, and humbled himself totally under God's will. He did this the final time, right there on the cross, maybe by thinking these very words... I'm a worm. The lowest of the low. And so I will remain unless I put "the son of man" to death. "And being found in apearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of he cross" (Phil 2v8)
Robin de Jongh