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July
5
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Reading
1 - 1Samuel 17
Click
here to Listen
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v.13
- Remember David's three eldest brothers were there, watching him. They
were amongst those that were 'greatly afraid' (v.11).
I wonder what this did for their faith, especially Eliab, after getting
angry with David (as I am sure any of us would have done) in v.28.
Here was an early demonstration of the reason that David was chosen above
his brethren.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.8
- Throughout the stories of the Bible we are given example after example
of how we should not fear even the strongest of men if we fear the Lord.
Here is another example, and also a demonstration of the way in which man
will organise the circumstances so that they fall in his favour. The Philistines
had a great advantage in fighting the war in this particular way, so they
arranged it. It is what we all do all the time - we arrange circumstances
so that we might get our own way - so that the odds are on our side. There
is a lesson to learn for all here.
Peter Cresswell |
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The section
1
Samuel chs.16 - 21
catalogues David's growing alienation from the people that mattered to him.
In 1
Samuel 16:13 David
is anointed. In 1
Samuel 17:51
he kills Goliath and is welcomed into the king's court as Jonathan's friend
1
Samuel18:1,2,5.
However his popularity became the things which caused Saul to 'eye' David
1
Samuel 18:8.
By 1 Samuel 19 Saul is seeking to have David slain 1
Samuel 19:1.
Mical lowers David down out of the window 1
Samuel 19:12
and he fled to Samuel who was unable to answer his concerns 1
Samuel 19:18.
We then see David fleeing from Samuel and is then spurned by the priests
1
Samuel 21. This
catalogue of events has as it's terminus David the anointed king living
the life of a fugitive.
Peter Forbes |
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17:33
In telling David that 'Thou art not able to go against this Philistine'
Saul had fallen into the trap of the nation of Israel when they were at
the border of the land for the first time. They add (Numbers
13:31) 'We be not able to go up against this people'. They and Saul
had forgotten that the battle belonged to Yahweh. David had not and so was
willing to go - not in his own strength but in the strength of 'the living
God' (1
Samuel 17:26)
Peter Forbes
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:49
The language 'fell upon his face to the earth' quotes 1
Samuel 5:3,4. Not only is the Philistine god destroyed and cannot stand
before Yahweh their champion, likewise, cannot stand. Israel did not recognise,
in the judgement of Dagon, the power of their God - David did.
Peter Forbes
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Reading
2 - Isaiah 61
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here to Listen
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v.3
- The word for 'planting' - matta'
[04302] - is used
6 times in scripture, all in prophecy, as listed here. Each occurrence is
quite interesting. Enjoy the study. Isa
60:21, here, Eze.17:7, 31:4, 34:29, Mic.1:6.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.10
- Yet again we see the concept of the covering - the covering for our sin
- that which allows us to stand before God's throne and be classed as righteous
by His grace. This covering is our salvation. It is good that we are reminded
of it in so many places.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.2-3
Notice the origin of Jesus words [Matthew
5:2] Blessed
are they that mourn. The focus of concern in Isaiah is Zion.
Those who mourn for Zion because of its Godless state are the ones
who will be blessed when Yahweh comforts
Zion.
Peter Forbes |
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61:1-2
was fulfilled in the work of Jesus - He told us so Luke
4:18. However built into this message is a wonderful picture of redemption
'proclaim liberty' quotes Leviticus
25:10 - the release of the slaves which prefigured the redemption of
the slaves of sin.
Peter Forbes |
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:6
In saying that the nation are to be named 'the priests of the Lord' we see
Israel restored to that circumstance they enjoyed before they made the golden
calf (Exodus
19:6) . This also is to be the status of the redeemed in the kingdom
(Revelation
20:6)
Peter Forbes |
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Reading
3 - Matthew 6
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here to Listen
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v.
2
- Having glory of men is one of the greatest temptations. It feeds the ego.
It is a requirement of human pride. There is a great practical lesson here
showing one of the ways to develop that illusive quality of humility. Let
us determine to do good works, but let us also determine never to let others
know what they are - and then try not to be proud of ourselves for achieving
it! Luke
11:43, 20:46, John 5:41-44, 7:18, 1Thes.2:6.
Peter Cresswell |
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See also
'What
Shall We Eat'
in Study Papers.
Peter Forbes
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6:9-13
The Lord's prayer is represented (Luke
11:2-4) towards the end of the ministry of Jesus. So this general teaching
is represented to his disciples later in the ministry as a personal instruction.
Peter Forbes |
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:19
In speaking of the 'moth' and 'corruption' Jesus is not simply saying that
earthly treasures fail. Rather, by quoting Hosea
5:13 Jesus is teaching that God will take away riches.
Peter Forbes |
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DO
NOT BE LIKE THE HYPOCRITES
As we live a Christian life it is very easy to begin to live a hypocritical
life, making sure that when we are in public we put on a good Christian
face. Some people come to the Sunday service with a smile and graciousness
plastered all over their faces, yet they have just been arguing with their
spouse or shouting at their children minutes earlier (and I am guilty of
that). Jesus points out three things we need to be careful about when it
comes to hypocrisy, they are in giving gifts, praying and fasting. When
we give gifts we should do it quietly remembering that what we are giving
is between God, us and the person who is receiving the gift. The only reason
anyone else needs to know is so they can praise us for it and then we will
have had our reward from them instead of from God.
The same goes for prayer. Prayers are between us and God. Even public prayer
should be a simple and humble affair speaking personally to God and not
the audience who may hear us.
Fasting is also between God and us. We do not need to enhance our hunger
for the show because we know that God sees.
So let us not "Put on" a Sunday face, but really and truly live
it seven days a week.
Robert
Prins |
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| What
did Jesus mean when he said lay not up for yourself treasures upon
earth? The answer seems obvious, but looking at the rest of the context
we do not see any reference to storing up of money or goods. Is it possible
that he means something different?
The context
is Jesus telling the people, especially the Pharisees, that they ought
not to make long prayers in order to show others how pious they were,
or make a show of it when they fasted or gave alms. Jesus comment
on this in v5
and repeated in v16
is: they have their reward. Jesus means that they have their
reward here and now, on earth, and will not attain to a heavenly reward.
This is of course what he means when he says e do not lay up treasures
on earth. Building up ones own righteousness in the sight of others
is storing up treasure on earth, and has its own reward. The reward Jesus
talks about is the corruption of moth and rust, signifying the decaying
and eventual removal of this evil self righteousness way of doing things.
Verse
21 shows how utterly misguided someone can be in his whole outlook
on life when he believes he is doing right, but is in fact storing up
treasure on earth. His whole body is dark, because his heart is in the
wrong place. This is a very subtle thing, and just as the enthusiastically
religious Pharisees fell foul to it without realising it, so can we. The
answer to it is humility, shown in Jesus words in
verses 12-15. We have to realise our own sinfulness, repent of it,
ask God for forgiveness, then forgive others using the measure with which
we have been forgiven of God.
Robin
de Jongh
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