Non Gamstop Casinos
June 19

Reading 1 - Judges 21

Click here to Listen
v.25 - The events of this chapter are reported showing neither God's approval nor his disapproval until you reach this last verse, where his disapproval is clearly stated. Let us be careful that we ensure that we do not have a similar phrase tagged on to the end of our actions. Ps.12:4, Prov.3:5, 14:12, Mic.2:1,2.
Peter Cresswell
v.20-23 This story shows us, if nothing else, that God's provision might come from the most surprising of sources. Let us therefore be ready to look everywhere for the answers to our prayers, and not have a preconceived idea of what God might do.
Peter Cresswell
v.1 This oath goes beyond what the law of Moses required. It was folly in Israel as it would cause one tribe to vanish. So because they have made a foolish vow they have to resort to more folly. Would it not have been better to forgo the foolish vow? Of course having vowed they had to pay. [Ecclesiastes 5:4] Thus the making of rash promises is a folly we should avoid. We see the folly of rash promises and take not for ourselves.
Peter Forbes
21:25 This closing refrain which we have seen is characteristic of this period in the time of the Judges, though at the end of the book relates to early events in the time of the Judges. The scene is set of the book of Ruth which presents a very different picture of people in Israel and the coming of the gentile bride.
Peter Forbes
:19 The tabernacle was, at this time, at Shiloh (Joshua 18:1) We may conclude that the 'feast' was Passover.; Exodus 13:6 speaks of Passover as a 'feast to the Lord' - again a rare phrase in Scripture.
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Isaiah 43

Click here to Listen
v. 1 - To be called by name by God is the greatest aspiration we can have. Let us be sure that it is top of our list, that we might be one of his people, and be known by him. Heb.8:8-10, Tit.2:14, 1Cor.8:3, 13:12.
Peter Cresswell
v.8-10 - Those who can see the truth of the gospel are like blind who have had their eyes opened or deaf who have had their ears opened. The power of the truth transcends all that we know or have ever known. God's power is such that those to whom he gives the increase (1Cor.3:6,7) find themselves able to see and hear spiritual truth that others cannot comprehend at all.
Peter Cresswell
v. 2 ‘when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.’ Must have been a great comfort to Daniel’s friends [3:12]
Peter Forbes
43:21 That God has people who will show forth His praise explains why Peter (1 Peter 2:9) quotes these words as our obligation now. If we cannot show forth His praise now we will not be in the kingdom.
Peter Forbes
:14 So Israel were to benefit from being sent to Babylon - Hezekiah was right (Isaiah 39:8). That God does things for the benefit of His creation is seen often - Genesis 3:17, Micah 3:12 Exodus 20:20 Deuteronomy 8:2 etc:))
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - 2 & 3John

Click here to Listen
2John v.5 - Although the covenant is new under Jesus, and the new covenant is based on love - salvation by grace through faith, rather than by law - nevertheless the commandment to love one another has always been a fundamental principle of Godly living. Matt.22:39 etc., referring back to the law.
Peter Cresswell

2 John v.7 In John's first letter he speaks of the 'antichrist' [1 John 2:18,22 4:3] as he does here. Whilst we may develop great ideas about the antichrist and notice that evangelical churches do likewise John is quite clear. In his day the 'antichrist' was at work and there was more than one of them. It was anyone who gainsaid the teaching of Scripture with respect to the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 John v.1 Gaius, from Macedonia [Acts 20:4] was baptised by Paul [1 Corinthians 1:14] and then seems to have accompanied Paul for a while [Acts 19:29 20:4] and then hosted Paul whilst he was at Rome [Romans 16:23]. From the commendation John gives he must have been an avid worker. Oh that we could receive the commendation that [v5] we do faithfully all that we do.
Peter Forbes

2John v9 The 'full reward' is like the 'full reward (Ruth 2:12) that Boaz wished on Ruth for her faithfulness. Ruth is the gentile bride - like us - who is to receive the full blessing of God as long as we 'look to ourselves'

3John v10 'prating about us with malicious words' seems to quote Matthew 5:11 - but Jesus is speaking of opponents of the truth - so Diotrophes must have been a really problematical individual. He was a brother who was full of self importance (:9)
Peter Forbes

2John:10 Harsh words indeed. However they show the danger of association with those in error. But John is not counseling us to separate from brethren over trivial issues.

3John:3 Do we think that we should rejoice when we hear of others being faithful to the gospel? We do rejoice at the time of a baptism - but does that rejoicing continue when we see faithful walk?
Peter Forbes

NO GREATER JOY
Jonathan (my son) asked me this morning what I liked best about him. I had told him I liked his caring attitude toward others, but I had to think a moment before I answered what I liked best about him. My answer was that the thing I liked best was his love for God.
Now, in reading 3 John, I find that John had the same joy about his children (in this case he calls those he has brought to Christ, his children). He says, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."
This is also true of God, Jesus and the angels. We read that there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repents than over the 99 who need no repentance. The joy of someone accepting Jesus as their saviour and living a godly life is as good as it gets in this life - and it is an especially great joy if you have had some personal input that has encouraged that change or decision in a life. The greatest joy is still to come and that will be when we are accepted along with all the other faithful people into the kingdom. Until then let us work toward fulfilling that great joy of seeing our children walking in the truth.
Robert Prins