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July 6

Reading 1 - 1Samuel 18

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v.5,14 - We are told that David 'behaved himself wisely'. This is definitely something we ought to copy. But let us beware that it is not an easy ride. Look at David's suffering here at the hands of human jealousy [v.8-12]. We are told that if we pray for wisdom in faith, we will be granted it [Jas.1:5] - but having wisdom does not shield us from the world. Let us not be misled - the closer we are to God, the more likely we are to be persecuted in this life. [Prov.3:12, Heb.12:6].
Peter Cresswell
v.9 - Here begins the great moulding of David's life. All those who are called are givne this opportunity - to respond well or badly to the chastening of the Lord. How we respond to our chastening determines the state of our heart. Wisdom is a lifetime acquisition. We gain it from the experiences God places before us, if we will.
Peter Cresswell
v.4 - in giving David his robes Jonathan was indicating that he knew that David, and not he, was to be the next king over Israel. This he actually vocalised later to encourage David 1 Samuel 23:17.
Peter Forbes
18:1 That the soul of David and Jonathan were knit together is echoed in Col 2:2. So the love and willingness to sacrifice seen in Jonathan and David should be manifest in the lives of the believer today.
Peter Forbes
Notice the way that the record emphasises David's 'wise' behaviour (:5, 14, 30)
This contrasts with Saul's 'fear' of David (:12, 29)
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Isaiah 62

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v.6 - Who are they? Are you one? Each of us should be. ch.52:8, Eze.3:17-21, 2Tim.4:5, Rev.3:2,3, 16:5.
Peter Cresswell
v.1 - Here is something we can all echo. We should not rest until we rest in Jerusalem for ever - Psa.132:13,14
Peter Cresswell
v.4 - Hezekiah’s wife was called Hephzibah for that was the name of Manasseh’s mother. [2 Kings 21:1] - Hezekiah was Manasseh’s father.
Peter Forbes

Developing these two names we see another example of a play on words as we saw in Chapter 41

Hephzibah
my delight is in her
Beulah
married

Notice the ideas in the rest of the verse.
Peter Forbes

:11 We have seen, in our reading of Isaiah (in the notes for previous chapters on previous years) that the language of Isaiah is used by Zechariah to encourage the returning exiles. 'Say ye … salvation cometh' is the basis for Zechariah 9:9, which itself speaks of the lord Jesus Christ. So the way that Zechariah is used in the New Testament gives us confidence to say that Isaiah 62 is also speaking of Christ.
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - Matthew 7

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v.1 - There is a great lesson in this small phrase. It is the essence of the covenant with which we are associated - based around love for God and for each other. God is the judge, and we should respect that. We need also to look after our own salvation, for which we desperately need not to be judged when the time comes for us to be taken. Isa.66:5, Eze.16:52-56, Rom.2:1-2, 14:10-13, 1Cor.4:3-5, Jas.3:1, 4:11-12.
Peter Cresswell
v.2 - We do well to note the words of Jesus here. Jesus' exhortation requires that we appreciate our own failings when we pronounce judgment on our brethren and sisters. This is not to be taken as a licence to allow error. Rather is it a reason to show compassion. Jesus tells a parable to reinforce this point. [Matthew 18:21 - 35]
Peter Forbes
7:21-24 Whereas many would like to see Jesus' teaching as 'gentle Jesus meek and mild' right here at the beginning of the gospel record Jesus presents this non compromising message about the importance of following the correct teaching of Jesus.
Peter Forbes
Remember in January we said that the sermon on the mount, spoken to the disciples, formed the basis of Jesus teaching to the disciples in Luke 11-14. Note these links.
7:7-10 Luke 11:9-11
7:13 Luke 13:24
Peter Forbes
A SCREEN DOOR ON A SUBMARINE
What strikes me from reading this chapter (and the previous few chapters), is the emphasis on living the life. It is about hearing the word of Jesus and putting them into practice. Rich Mullins wrote a song based on that verse in James that says, "Faith without works is dead." The song says that faith without works is about as useless as a screen door on a submarine! We are not saved by our works, but without them we show that our faith is as good as dead. Each little story Jesus tells in this chapter is about doing, it is about actions and gives us positive steps on how to live the life. Take note of all the actions presented to us. Do not judge; keep asking; keep knocking; keep seeking; treat others as you would like them to treat you; follow the narrow road; you will be recognised by your fruit (your actions); those who do what your Father in heaven wants will be in the kingdom; the man whose house was built on the rock was the one who heard Jesus words and acted on them. Much more than belief is required. The Christian life is a life of action. It is so much more than words and knowledge, it is love and good deeds, or, like a submarine with a screen door, we will sink, never to rise again.
Robert Prins
Verse 6 doesn't seem to make sense in the context of the first five verses. What has the giving over of your pearls to swine got to do with removing the plank from your eye? Jesus is making the point that the people were being hypocritical in their approach, culminating in verse 5 where he plainly calls his audience hypocrites. In Verse 6 Jesus is pleading with the Israelites to turn from their hypocrisy, and turn back to God. Their "pearl of great price" is the exalted position they have as God's people, which can be seen in similar parables such as the treasure in the field. They had the "kingdom of God" in their grasp!

"Why should you throw this treasure away?", Jesus is saying. The Isrealites were about to throw it away, because the axe was laid at the tree (Matt 3v10), and the tree would be cut down if they didn't repent. See how similar these verses are to Luke 21v24. Jesus was pleading with the people to start forgiving one another, to turn back to God, and to stop despising their inheritance, lest God would take it from them and throw it to the Gentiles. This was the mission of Jesus, prophesied of in Malachi 4v6 "lest I come and strike the earth with a curse".
Robin de Jongh