|
 |
June
2
|
|
|
|
|
Reading
1 - Joshua 19
Click
here to Listen
|
Dividing
the country by lot was tantamount to saying that they were putting the decision
in God's hands. There are a number of scriptural examples of making decisions
in a way that to us seems random but with faith is quite obviously divine
- Urim and Thummim are a striking example [Exo.28:30].
It was a command of God to use this method to divide the land [Num.26:55,
33:54] and it is picked up again in Acts
13:19, so it
must have significance. We ought to think about the way we make our decisions
as there could be a lesson for us here. Acts
1:24-26.
Peter Cresswell |
|
v.51
- This took place in Shiloh (07887)
= "place of rest" and, as we know is also used in Gen.49:10
in the blessings recorded there. It is clear that the ultimate fulfilment
of all this is in Jesus - it is his coming that we yearn. Here in the division
of the inheritance of the land we have a semi-fulfilment of the prophecy
in Gen.49:10
though, as here the people, in Shiloh, are given their part in the promise
of God, just as we are in Christ, who is our "place of rest".
Peter Cresswell
|
|
v.51
And so the conquest, under Gods good hand, is over. The tribes each
have their inheritance. However this is not a time for sitting back and
taking ease. It marks the beginning of a new phase in the development in
the lives of the servants of God. We should not view attaining to the kingdom
as a time of taking our ease. Rather it will be a time when we can serve
God without having to worry about the limitations of the flesh which now
beset us.
Peter
Forbes |
|
|
19:51
Whilst it was Joshua and Caleb that were told that they would go into the
land we find if is Joshua and Eleazar who figure prominently in the division
of the land
See 14:1
17:4, 19:51, 21:1
So -
it would seem - Caleb was willing to take a back seat because God had
decreed it.
Peter
Forbes
|
|
So
the seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance are given
their possession.
:11
Benjamin
:1
Simeon
:10
Zebulun
:17
Issachar
:24
Asher
:32
Naphtali
:40
Dan
Peter
Forbes
|
|
I
think we have a relationship with the Lord in which He gives guidlines and
we have the discretionary ability to choose a path (free will). He, of course,
knows our motives and helps us if we ask Him, as long as hearts are right.
And so it was with the allotment of the Land. The Lord gave the guidlines
(Num.
26:55; 33:54) and it was up to Joshua (and Eleazar) to direct the distribution.
As with all human decision making, there would needs be adjustments (e.g.
Judah's lot was too big for them and so a portion was allotted to Simeon;
Dan's lot was too small for them and so they sought to enlarge it). The
Lord could have dictated precise allotment boundaries but He chose to leave
that responsibility to His servants.
And so with us. We are given the elements of Truth but it is up to us to
"work out our salvation..." (Phil.
2:12).
With the Lord's help we will be successful.
Michael
Parry |
|
|
Reading
2 - Isaiah 25
Click
here to Listen
|
v.6
- When the concept of a mountain, whether it is specifically Zion or
not, is used in this way, if almost invariably refers to the atoning work
of Jesus, and the fulfilment of God's plan as a result of that. (eg. ch.2:2,3).
It conveys the same picture of being lifted high that we have elsewhere
in the concept of the cross and of the banner etc. It makes us think of
phrases like 'every eye shall see him' (Rev.1:7).
If we read on in Isa to v.7-8,
it is quite clearly Jesus' work that is referred to here.
Peter Cresswell |
|
v.1
- Here we have praise. The Bible is full of praise of God for His goodness.
Are our lives full of praise? Do we take time to step back and wonder at
the love and mercy and grace of God in offering us salvation? v.4
provides the motivation for this particular outburst of praise - it is a
recognition of what God has done for those that follow him - who recognise
the power of his strength.
Peter Cresswell
|
|
v.8
He will swallow up death in victory is quoted in 1
Corinthians 15:54
along with Hosea
13:14 - remember
that Hosea is contemporary with part of the ministry of Isaiah. By linking
the passages together Paul gives us Divine support which allows us to see
Isaiah 25 and Hosea 13 as speaking about the same event.
Peter
Forbes |
|
25:9
Provides the basis for Thomas's comment 'my Lord and my God' (John
20:28)
Peter
Forbes
|
|
:9
Continuing last year's comment 'he will save' - the meaning of the name
Jesus - He will save.
Peter
Forbes
|
|
|
Reading
3 - Hebrews 8 & 9
Click
here to Listen
|
8
v. 2 - Here again we have Jesus - this time as the true tabernacle that
was pitched by the Lord, but again the Tabernacle was a focus of interest
- a place where all eyes went. Notice the idea that it was pitched by the
Lord, and not man. One of the things that made David a priest (after the
order of Melchizedek) was that he pitched a tent for the ark of God (1Chron.15:1).
As always, all this pointed forward to Jesus. ch.9:11,
23,24, 11:10, 2Cor.5:1-5.
Peter Cresswell |
|
|
8
v.10-12
is probably the longest single quotation in the New Testament from the
Old. [Jeremiah
31:33-34].
To those Jews who had not considered the forgiveness of sins as being
part of the Old Covenant it would have been a great shock to see the Apostle
using the Old Testament to highlight the value of the sacrifice of Jesus.
9
v.2-5 Describes
the tabernacle at one point in time. It was during the day of Atonement.
We know this because the 'golden censer' [9:4]
is in the most holy place. It was only taken there on the day of atonement.
Thus the Apostle is setting the scene. The sacrifice of Jesus is going
to be shown to be superior even to the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement.
Peter Forbes
|
|
|
8:1
Set on the right hand of
is another quotation from Psalm
110:1. So we see that the priesthood of Jesus after the order of Melchisedec
is crucial to the arguments in the letter to the Hebrews.
9:8
All the details and ritual of the Tabernacle and the day of Atonement
was to demonstrate one thing - that it was not the way to close fellowship
with God!
Peter Forbes
|
|
|
Chapter
8 provides a summary of where we have got to so far. Notice the point
that Paul wishes to remind the brethren about. Jesus is the high priest.
This is the major point of the whole letter. A highly relevant point to
make when many believers in Jerusalem had been priests - they were Levites.
(Acts
6:7 21:20)
9:6-7
Building on the description of the tabernacle on the day of Atonement
the contrast is now made between the daily ritual of daily sacrifices
and the annual work of the high priest - to make one fundamental point.
The Mosaic order did not give free access into the presence of God.
Peter Forbes
|
|
