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June 25

Reading 1 - 1Samuel 4

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v.18 - It seems from verse 13 that Eli realised that the action of using the ark as if it were an idol, as a mascot in their battle, as it were, could have been a bad decision, so that when his worst fears were realised it was too much for him and he met his end. It is important that we learn the lesson never to try and make God into something we can see, but always to recognise his existence through our faith.
Peter Cresswell
v.7 suggests that the Philistines had quite an insight into the oneness and supremacy of the God of their enemies, Israel, but this illusion is shattered by v.8, when they clearly have no idea, equating the power which they observe to a multitude of gods, just like all other worship of the day.
Peter Cresswell
v.1 - Aphek This Aphek was situated in the tribe of Judah, and is probably the same as Aphekah [Joshua 15:53] It must be carefully distinguished from that near Jezreel, and another in Asher.
Peter Forbes
4:11 The bald statement that the ark was taken is explained (Psalm 78:60-61). Yahweh had forsaken Israel. That is the reason why the ark was taken.
Peter Forbes
:15 That Eli 'could not see reflected the situation of the people. They were blind to God's actions. Of course this was the fault of Eli and his sons. We read that he could not 'hear' either (1 Samuel 3:5 etc). The nation are in this state when Jesus came - hence his miracles.
Peter Forbes
SUBTLE IDOLS

Throughout the Old Testament, idol worship has always been one of the things that God comes down very strongly on. The Ten Commandments begin with, "You shall have no other gods before me," and "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything ... you shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God." (Exodus 20 v 3 - 5).

When we think of idols, we tend to think of things that are set up in direct opposition to God, but we have to learn that even the most holy things of God's design can become idols. Israel were supposed to be worshipping God, and, I am sure that many of them thought they were. But instead of worshipping God, it seems they had begun to worship the ark of God instead of God himself - after all, they could see the ark. The same happened later on when Israel began to worship the bronze image of the serpent on the pole, that was made by Moses.

"How terrible," we think to ourselves, "that these people could have turned from God this way." But do we do it ourselves? We can turn the Bible into an object of worship rather than its author; we can become church or family centered rather than God centered; we can live for doing good rather than living for God.

Let's make sure that we reserve all our worship and all our love for God.
Robert Prins

Reading 2 - Isaiah 50

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v. 6 - This verse, and those around it, are obviously in the context of Jesus and his work. They also, as such, carry lessons for us as we try to emulate his life in our own. Verse 4 particularly, we might look at and consider for ourselves. Here in verse 6, however, we have Jesus own teaching that we should offer ourselves to our enemies to do with as they will - the 'turn the other cheek' teaching. Matt.5:39.
Peter Cresswell
v.2 - The fact that water is such a basic requirement for life is used so much in scripture as a spiritual lesson for the faithful, who have been called by God to drink freely of that water that will bring eternal life - ch.55:1
Peter Cresswell
v. 4 The Lord Jesus was woken to learn of the Lord morning by morning. Instruction comes from the Word of God [Psalm 119:98] Herein is the value of regular - daily - Bible reading.
Peter Forbes
50:10-11 Notice the contrast between 'walketh in darkness' and 'walk in the light' John (1 John 1:6,7) echoes this language to speak of how we should order our lives. We have already seen (see note above) that Jesus took heed to the words of God - doubtless this chapter was a great help to him in helping him to order his steps.
Peter Forbes
:7 The setting of the face is echoed in Jesus (Luke 9:51) when he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem. 'Steadfastly' catches 'shall I not be confounded' in Isaiah 50:7
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - Revelation 10 & 11

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10 v. 6,7, 11v.15-18 - The seventh angel declares the time of the end, by saying (10:6) that there should be time no longer. What simpler picture could God have given us of the process of becoming immortal. Time is a boundary outside which we cannot imagine existence. So much of our life's structure, and even the structure of much of our language, is bounded by time. Eternal life will, of course, remove this. I can think of no other passage in scripture which states this so clearly.
Peter Cresswell

10 v.7 -The 'mystery of God' is the salvation which is available through God providing His son to die for our sins. [1 Timothy 3:16 1 Corinthians 2:7-10 Colossians 2:2-3]

11 v.11 - That 'the spirit of life from God entered into (the witnesses) and they stood upon their feet' is a great comfort to those who are afflicted.
Peter Forbes
seal up those things
Dan 12:41
lifted up his hand to heaven
Dan 12:7
and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever
Dan 12:7


10:7 has the fulfilment of the mystery of God - the gospel is now fully revealed. The use of Daniel 12 associates these events with the resurrection.

11:1 a reed Eze 40:3
11:1 measure Eze 40:5
11:1 altar Eze 41:22
11:2 the court which is without Eze 40:17


11:1 presents the temple of God. The quotations from Ezekiel highlight a fulfilment of those wonderful things which Ezekiel saw.
Peter Forbes


the mystery of God should be ... as he hath declared to his servants the prophets
Amos 3:7

John, by the Spirit, is reminding his readers of a fundamental principle of God's dealings with man - He keeps no secrets from His servants.

clothed in sackcloth
Psa 69:11

The way in which the servants of God are clothed like David was when he fled from Absalom shows an attitude of mind.
Peter Forbes