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June 7

Reading 1 - Judges 2 & 3

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2 v.10 - How quickly this turnabout can happen. What a responsibility we have to ensure that the generations following us if Christ remains away do not turn away as these did. Here we have an example of just how easy it is for a God-fearing generation to die out and leave nothing. Deut.4:10, 6:7, 11:19, Ps.34:11, 132:12.
Peter Cresswell
3:4 - We too are surrounded on every side by those who God has sent to test us. We need constantly to look seriously at the example we have in the children of Israel and be sure that we heed the warnings that they didn't. It is him that overcomes that is saved. The temptations around us are God's way of providing the opportunities for us to do just that that we might be saved, not by our efforts, but by His grace. 1Cor.10:6-14
Peter Cresswell

2 v.3 - That the nations were to be thorns in the side of Israel was predicted [Numbers 33:55] and seen to be fulfilled twice in their history, here and [Joshua 23:13] It is interesting that the angel here draws together two passages from different parts of the law to make the point. This demonstrates that whereas the books of the law are separate and distinct they are all part of the one message. Though doubtless there were other times when this warning came true.

3 v.1 - The concept of God proving Israel is seen throughout Scripture Genesis 22:1 Exodus 15:25 16:4 20:20 Deuteronomy 8:2 16 13:3 Judges 2:22 3:1 4 The Psalm is interesting in that it shows the Psalmist desiring to be 'proved' - do we seek chastening? [Psalm 26:2]
Peter Forbes

That the time of the Judges was to 'prove' Israel can be seen 2:22 3:4 and as such continues the way in which the wilderness journey was to develop the character of the children of Israel (Deuteronomy 8:2)

There are 13 Judges mentioned in the book of Judges. Of some we know very little. Of others we know something of what they did and of others we know something of their spirituality.

We might tabulate the judges according to this method thus:-

No Information
Event Described
Spiritual State Described
Othniel
Ehud
Shamgar
Deborah
Gideon
Abimelech
Tola
Jair
Jephthah
Ibzan
Elon
Abdon
Samson

Peter Forbes
2:2 Here we have a composite quotation from Deuteronomy.
'ye shall … this land' Deuteronomy 7:2
'ye shall … their altars' Deuteronomy 12:3

So the instruction of Moses at the border of the land is being re stated.

3:5-7 This description of the behaviour of the children of Israel becomes characteristic of how they behaved right throughout their time in the land. It is as if being given the land was an opportunity to corrupt themselves. The same thing happened when Israel returned from Babylon as seen in Nehemiah.
Peter Forbes

MOTIVATION

It never fails to amaze me how the faith and courage of one person can change and motivate a whole nation. Ehud is a great example of this sort of man. It must have taken a huge amount of faith and courage to go into the jaws of death, hoping that the circumstances would be right to see his plan through, hoping that he wouldn't get caught, and to have followed through with his intentions.

Ehud, with his outstanding faith and courage, killed Eglon, the king of Moab, the motivator behind Israel's oppressors. There was no-one there to help Ehud, no-one to come with him, and no-one to rescue him if he got into trouble. Ehud stood out from the rest of Israel as a man who was prepared to put his faith into action. But as soon as the deed was done and Israel saw that his faith and courage had paid off, they all rallied around him, followed him and defeated the Moabites. They killed 10,000 Moabite men, a feat that Ehud could never have achieved by himself. But if Ehud had not started the process, Israel would still have been in bondage.

We too can have the motivating force of Ehud if we just put our faith into action and trust in the LORD our God. When others see how God has worked for us their faith will be strengthened and as a united body we will be able to do great things in the strength of the LORD.
Robert Prins

Reading 2 - Isaiah 31

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v.5 - Here we have reference to the way that God 'bare them on eagles' wings' (Ex.19:4, Deut.32:11), and also to the passover, where the angel of death preserved the Israelites by passing over them but not over Egypt. Ex.12:27, Ps.37:40. The two ideas are brought together here and demonstrate the overall power of God's salvation. We should take courage.
Peter Cresswell
v.6 - like so many verses in Isaiah seems to be aimed at the gentiles and the way in which God will open up the way of salvation to them having given the Jews so many chances which they have blown. I am struck as I read it this year more than ever before at the number of references there are to the inclusion of the gentiles in God's purpose.
Peter Cresswell
v.1 - ‘horses’ and ‘chariots’ were both items which Solomon brought out of Egypt [1 Kings 10:29] so the downward slide began early in the time of the kings. The king set the tone. If he could do something then the people would be inclined to follow. The point being that if one is prominent then one has to be extremely careful to avoid setting a bad example.
Peter Forbes
31:3 Israel never really learnt that the nations round them were but 'flesh' - they seemed to think that the gods of the surrounding nations were more powerful than Yahweh is. Consequently they regularly failed - through lack of faith. The gods of this world often seem so powerful to us. The warning is clear for us.
Peter Forbes
:8-9 This was fulfilled when the Assyrian army was destroyed in one night outside Jerusalem by God (2 Kings 19:35)
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - James 1

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v.2 - This certainly doesn't mean that we should enjoy following our own desires, but instead that we should joy in the enduring of these temptations (v.12) which brings about our eternal reward. The joy aspect is in the fact that God has seen fit to test us. It proves to us that we matter to him. Anyone who has been in this situation will know how much v.5, which appears not connected, is indeed closely related to this situation. There is nothing like the realisation of the dependence which we have on God to make us desire wisdom. Matt.5:10-12, Rom.8:17-18, 35-37, 2Cor.12:9-10.
Peter Cresswell
v.1 - James clearly wishes to identify with his audience as he speaks of '... brethren ...' some 15 times. [James 1:2,16,19 2:1,5,14 3:1,10,12 4:11 5:7,9,10,12,19]
Peter Forbes
1:14 Whilst we might use this verse to 'prove' that there is not a personal devil James wrote the passage, by inspiration, for a different purpose.. The passage binds us all as sinners and explains that it is our own fault. The way that we think can destroy us.
Peter Forbes
Patience is a key word in the letter
1:3, 4,
5:7 (twice), 6, 10, 11 (twice)
Peter Forbes