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June 9

Reading 1 - Judges 6

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v.15 - How many times have we made an excuse like this to avoid doing something which we know would be a good work for God. How many of us say 'I am not good enough', someone else will have to do it. When we feel like this, we should not be afraid to ask God for a sign. But we must, of course, ask in unquestioning faith that he will respond. Other people felt inadequate, just as we do. Moses [Exo.3:11,4:10], Jeremiah [Jer.1:6], Mary [Luke 1:34], so we are not alone.
Peter Cresswell
v.1 - The 'black and white' nature of following God is clear throughout scripture, as is the consequence of our action. We can follow God's ways and lead to life or we can follow our own ways and lead to death. The Bible presents no other option. Consequently when the people did not follow God, they did evil and had to be punished. God has not changed today. The punishment for evil is still death with no further hope.
Peter Cresswell
v.1 The refrain 'and the children of Israel did evil ...' runs through Judges in a lamentable way. [Judges 2:11 3:7 12 here 10:6 13:1] Of the twenty seven references to Midian in the book of Judges all of them relate to the time of Gideon. Therefore the comment in [Judges 8:28] that the Midianites lifted up their heads no more is seen to be so in the time of the judges.
v.3 The association between the Midianites and the Amalakites is only seen at this time in the book of Judges [Judges 6:3 33 7:12]
Peter Forbes

There are a number of similarities between the way that Gideon spoke to God and the way that Moses responded at the burning bush

Cried unto the Lord
Exodus 3:7
I brought you up from Egypt
I sent thee
Exodus 3:10
wherewith shall I save Israel
Exodus 3:11
Surely I will be with thee
Exodus 3:12
Shew me a sign
Exodus 3:3
Rose up fire
Exodus 3:2
Alas … I have seen an angel
Exodus 3:6

Peter Forbes
6:12 We might think the phrase 'the Lord is with thee' is a common phrase in Scripture. It is not. It is only seen here and 2 Samuel 7:3 and Luke 1:28. 2 Samuel 7:3 is Nathan speaking to David whilst Luke 1:28 is the angel speaking to Mary. The Luke reference matches the context of Judges 6:12. On both occasions they are the words of an angel. One wonders whether Mary thought about the words to Gideon.
Peter Forbes
SURE OF GOD'S PLAN

Like Gideon, we can sometimes feel lost, confused or even just not confident of what God's plan for our life really is. Sometimes it seems that all our reasoning cannot tell which direction we should go in our lives and we need specific help from God to make those choices. Gideon felt that way on a number of occasions.

First he asked for a sign that God was really talking to him at his initial calling, and the sign that was given to him was that of the offering being miraculously burned up and the angel disappearing. Sometimes he will give us a sign too and if we are willing to recieve it, we cannot ignore it. He still works in the same way today.

The second sign God gave Gideon was with the fleece. It was to answer a question - "If you will be with me then ... " The first night, as Gideon had asked, the fleece was wet and the ground was dry, and the second night the fleece was dry and the ground was wet. We too can ask for this sort of sign when we need God's guidance. We can ask, "If such and such happens then I will take it as a sign to do so and so." Many people, including myself, have found this really helps (although sometimes the answer can be very challenging.)

Let's not be afraid to ask God for direction as long as we are prepared to listen for the answer and act on the direction God has given us.
Robert Prins

Reading 2 - Isaiah 33

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v.5 - Here we have Zion again, which we have shown over the weeks to refer not just to the city, but to Christ and those who are in Christ, especially when acting in the role of priests and kings. Here we have a picture of the fulfilment of that concept. Isa.2:11,17, Exo.9:16,17, Isa.57:15, Eph.1:20,21.
Peter Cresswell
v.20-21 - This chapter has been one of condemnation of the people for their wicked actions and yet the fact is still there that they can look on the good things - they can look to Zion and see that salvation is there. Likewise we, whatever the circumstances, even if we have turned against God, can look and see Jesus and the fulfilment of the sure promises of God and so turn our hearts to Him. Deut.12:5, Psa.125:1
Peter Cresswell
v.9 - The mourning earth echoes an earlier lament of Isaiah [24:4], which was suggested related to the earthquake in the days of Uzziah. Isaiah is now looking back to that event and using it as a warning to Judah.
Peter Forbes
33:22 The 'lawgiver' echoes Genesis 49:10 showing that the work of God (in Christ) is actually a fulfilment of the promise to Judah by Jacob.
Peter Forbes
:8 The covenant which was broken was the one which Hezekiah made with the king of Assyria (2 Kings 18:14-17)
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - James 3 & 4

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3 v. 5 - Oh how true this is. How wrapped up we are in our own pride. How often do we use our tongues to glorify God, rather than ourselves? Here is something to work on for the rest of our lives, as we are told, v.2 that it will make us perfect (see Peter's comment below), and this should be our aim. 2Pet.2:18, Jude v.16, Rev.13:5-6.
Peter Cresswell

3 v.2 - Consider the way that the word 5046 'perfect' is used in the New Testament. [Matthew 5:48 19:21 Romans 12:2 1Corinthians 2:6 13:10 14:20 Ephesians 4:13 Philippians 3:15 Colossians 1:28 4:12 Hebrews 5:14 9:11 James 1:4,17,25 here 1John 4:18] Having noticed that the word is used three times in James we should recognise that this is a major theme in the letter. This is another case of James returning to the same, or a related point, later in his letter. [James 1:26 here] The idea of using a 'bridle' to control the tongue is seen in a number of places in Scripture. [Psalm 32:9 39:1 here]

4 v.2 - James introduces the need for personal prayer in the context of tribulation. We have the assurance that He will hear our prayers. [James 1:5,6] However the problem that the brethren had was that their prayers were selfish. [James 4:2,3] Thus were not being answered.
Peter Forbes

3:3 we put bits in the horses mouths Psalm 32:9
The quotation from the Psalm - a Psalm which recounts David's response to the forgiveness of his sin with Bathsheba after his period of stubborn rebellion - stands as a powerful warning to us. The horse is controlled by the bit because it will not respond willingly. How do we fare on the point of willing obedience?

4:1 The explanation that wars and fighting come from 'within' is because of what James told us (1:14).
Peter Forbes

3:9 At time one would not think that we were made 'in the similitude of God' (quoting Genesis 1:26). Clearly the likeness we bear is determined by how we think. It is not just outward appearance.

4:4 The quotation 'adulterers and adulteresses' from Leviticus 20:10 seems to be a very harsh judgement upon his brethren and sisters however James is focusing on the way that the believer compromises his fellowship with God by his association with the world. He is not speaking of physical immorality which doubtless the brethren, and we for that matter, would say we were not involved in. So the charge James makes could well be just as applicable to us also.
Peter Forbes

WISDOM

When we think of wisdom we can tend to think of some of those ultra clever people - Einstein, Pythagoras, Newton and so on. But anyone can have wisdom. If they just ask God, he will give it to them - you and me included! James tells us in chapter 1 v 5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." But in receiving wisdom it does not mean that we will be able to pass every exam that comes our way or be given special knowledge like Einstein, Pythagoras and Newton. If that is what we want we need to ask for intelligence. Wisdom is better than intelligence. Wisdom is knowing how to live. Wisdom is making right decisions. Wisdom is treating people right. Wisdom is living a life that is pleasing to God. So James says, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom."

Wisdom produces a good life, good deeds and humility. The person you see practicing these three godly qualities is a wise person indeed. Let's ask God for wisdom and then show it in our own lives as we live well, do good deeds and practice humility.
Robert Prins