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June 1

Reading 1 - Joshua 18

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v. 3 - The blame here is placed squarely on the shoulders of the people. The reward was there for them - they just had to make the effort to go and claim it, and yet they couldn't be bothered. The lessons for us as we strive (or do we?) towards the kingdom are quite clear, aren't they? (v.9, Prov.2:2-6, 13:4, 15:19, Matt.20:6, John 6:27, Phil.3:14, 2Pet.1:10,11).
Peter Cresswell
v.10 - Casting lots is a great act of faith. Maybe this explains our reluctance to use this method for decision making ourselves. Perhaps we don't have the faith to believe that God will make the decision even if we ask Him to.
Peter Cresswell
v.1 The setting up of the tabernacle at Shiloh marked a further development in the conquest of the land. Up to this point the tabernacle had, presumably, been at Gilgal. Whereas there is no indication [or is there?] that the tabernacle was to be reared at Shiloh it remained there until the evil of Eli and his sons.
Peter Forbes
18:4 Arise go through the land Genesis 13:17
The use of the language of the promise to Abraham - like we saw in chapter 14 further reinforces the importance of the promises to Abraham when we think of the conquest of the land.
Peter Forbes
:1-2 Notice that the land was subdued but seven tribes which had not received their inheritance. Doubtless there were still pockets of resistance against Israel even though the land was subdued.
Peter Forbes
GET UP AND GO!
Was it a mark of frustration that made Joshua say, "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your Fathers, has given you?"
Israel had just completed a 5-year campaign to take the land. Now what were they waiting for? God had given them the land - they already had it. All they had to do was to settle in it. Instead they mooched around wondering what to do next, until Joshua took the initiative and divided up the rest of the land.
God has given us special gifts, talents and opportunities. We already have them. We have opportunities to encourage people, to show them the gospel, to praise God, to work in the ecclesia, to serve, to give gifts, to show the example of Jesus in our lives, to be compassionate.
So what are we sitting around waiting for? Are we waiting for a Joshua to tell us what to do? Are we waiting for someone to organise a roster or make a plan? That plan took 5 years coming for Israel. If we sit around waiting, think of all the opportunities we will miss. So the lesson is this: Don't sit around waiting, Get up, take possession of your gifts and use them.
Robert Prins

Reading 2 - Isaiah 24

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v.23 - The power that God has over the 'powers that be' on earth is epitomised in this verse. It is quite a common allegory too. ch.13:10, 30:26, 60:19.
Peter Cresswell
v.1 - We all do well to remember that it is the Lord that does all things. The mass destruction that is spoken of here is an 'act of God' - but it is also true that all things that happen, especially to those that love Him, are acts of God from which we are obliged to learn lessons if we are to overcome.
Peter Cresswell
24:13 The whole of this chapter speaks of an earthquake - probably the earthquake which took place in the days of Uzziah [Amos 1:1] and echoes earlier earthquake language of Isaiah [2:19, 21]
Peter Forbes
24:18 That the earthquake in the days of Uzziah was a terrible event is marked by the use of language from Genesis 7:11 'the windows from on high are open' and the mention in Zechariah 14:5. The use of Genesis 7:11 shows that the earthquake was not a 'chance' happening - rather it was judgement from God.
Peter Forbes
:7 The 'new wine mourneth' echoes Habakkuk 3:17 which is Habakkuk 's comment on how he will react to the Babylonian invasion so we may conclude that Isaiah 24 looks to the Babylonian invasion.
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - Hebrews 6 & 7

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6 v.7 - The idea of good seed bearing good fruit, contrasted with seed bearing evil fruit (v.8 on this occasion) is quite common. The extra aspect here in v.7 is the rain. Notice the on-going nature of the feeding. Regular feeding, the drip-drip method, daily watering - that is what we need in order to receive blessing from God. Isa.55:10-13.
Peter Cresswell

6 v.4-6 draws on the experience of Israel in the wilderness. Because they refused to enter into the inheritance their was no other option than for them to die in the wilderness. The list of quotations from Hebrews highlights the verbal links with Scriptures which speak of this time.

Chapter 7 - The way in which Melchisedec is used in Hebrews, and in particular in this chapter, highlights the importance of taking account of the detail in Scripture. Without the inspired comment here we would probably not give Genesis 14 and Psalm 110 much attention. The lesson is clear. We should weigh all the words of Scripture carefully.
Peter Forbes

6:7 earth drinketh in the rain Deuteronomy 11:11
6:7 dressed Genesis 2:15
6:7 receiveth blessings from God Deuteronomy 28:3
8:8 Cursing Genesis 3:17-18

The three quotations listed above show that the entry into Christ can provide the blessings offered to Israel as they were about to enter the land of Canaan, but that falling away leads to the curses of Eden resting upon us.

7:14 In observing that Jesus was of 'Judah' we are shown how the king / priest aspect of Melchisedec is fulfilled in Jesus.
Peter Forbes

6:6 This verse is not saying that if we have a lapse of faith we will not enter the kingdom. Paul, speaking to Jews, is saying that if they return to the law of Moses then they will have no hope. This is because they would have automatically have rejected the sacrifice of Jesus.

7:3 In saying that Melchisedec 'abideth a priest continually' and speaking of him 'without father and mother' is to emphasise the continuing nature of the office of priest after the order of Melchisedec - not the life of the man. The absence of father or mother highlights that access to the priesthood after the order of Melchisedec is by election, not birth.
Peter Forbes