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March 10

Reading 1 - Leviticus 17 & 18

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17:10-14 - talks about the eating of the blood with the meat, which God did not allow, because, it says, it is the life. Eating the blood represented eating the life of the creature, apparently. This is emphasised throughout scripture Lev.3:17, 7:26,27, Eze.44:7 etc. It has been a principle since man started eating meat in Gen.9:4 and even goes through into the New testament - Acts 15:20,29. Does this mean that this applies to us too?
Peter Cresswell
v24 - For all the unsavouriness of the content of this chapter there is a very serious issue at stake. As followers of God in a society that accepts many of the practices that are condemned here, we must make a personal stand to look after our own salvation by standing aside from even the thought of these things. We must learn what it is that defiles us, so that we can remain undefiled and so by God's grace inherit the kingdom. Matt.15:18-20
Peter Cresswell

17:7 This was because Yahweh knew that Israel were already into devil worship.
17:10 The eating of blood was part of the devil worship.

18:5 which ... shall live in them Romans 10:5 Galatians 3:12 This passage, whilst appearing to state that Israel had to keep the letter of the law in fact is showing that 'the law is not of faith' Galatians 3:12 but contrasts with 'the righteousness of faith' Romans 10:5
18:6 - 19 The repetition of 'nakedness' repeatedly draws on the fallen state of Adam and Eve who were ashamed of their nakedness. Not because it is a sin to be naked but that an awareness of nakedness is a consequence of sin. The nakedness of others should not be uncovered because we cover our nakedness to advertise our sin and it is not for others to judge us in this matter.
18:25 The concept of the land vomiting out the wicked inhabitants is the basis for the warning to Laodicea in Revelation 3:16.
Peter Forbes

17:11 So because the life is in the blood it is the blood that makes atonement. There is a relationship between the two which points to the 'blood of Christ' [1 John 1:7]

18:25 In speaking of spewing lukewarm disciples out of his mouth [Revelation 3:16] Jesus is drawing on the warning that Moses gives to Israel that if they are unfaithful they will be vomited out of the land. So Jesus' warning is stark in telling those he rejects that they will not be in the kingdom.
Peter Forbes

17:1-3 So we see that even the killing of animals for consumption as food was regulated by the law of Moses.

ch 18 - A number of times the language of this chapter is re-presented in Ezekiel 22 to condemn the Elders of Israel in captivity. Each of the prohibitions given here that is used in Ezekiel is shown to have been violated

:7 Ezekiel 22:10
:9 Ezekiel 22:11
:15 Ezekiel 22:11
:19 Ezekiel 22:10
:20 Ezekiel 22:11
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Psalms 119 v. 41-80

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v.42 - Here is a principle for us to take really seriously. We all need a way to answer him that reproaches us. It is God's mercies and salvation in his word, from which we need constantly to feed, and the trust in that word, that will give us the confidence to answer our enemies. Let us work and study to that end. Remember him that bore our reproach. Ps.71:10,11, 109:25, 56:4,10,11 Matt.27:40-43, 2Sam.7:14.
Peter Cresswell
v.48 - The concept of meditation is all important. We will not obtain salvation by simply knowing. We must dwell on what we know and this will turn it to action. Psa.1:2, James 1:22-25
Peter Cresswell
vs 49-50 provide an example of how David took heed to the word that he might not sin against his God. He remembered the promises that his God had made to him and this knowledge provided comfort in troubled times.
Peter Forbes
:49 'remember the word' is another part of this psalm which Jesus takes up John 15:20
Peter Forbes
:62 Praying 'At midnight' is seen also in Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25).
Peter Forbes
v.62 - There are many reasons we cannot sleep at night - maybe it is medical, maybe our children keep us awake or we are woken by noises, the weather or unquiet thoughts. And some of us have more sleepless nights than others. But the question is, where do we go when our sleep goes from us? Where do our thoughts go? What do we think about? What do we say to ourselves or to someone else?

The Psalmist may have had a problem with sleepless nights but through this Psalm we know exactly where his thoughts were as he lay awake. He said, "At midnight I rise to give you thanks." What better use could we give to an overactive mind (or a mind that is forced to be active), than to think of all the wonderful things that God has done for us and then to give thanks and to praise him for what he has done? There have been times when I have been woken during the night and have laid in bed feeling sorry for myself, counting all the things that were going against me (and often what was going to go against me). But a much better use of my time would have been to count my blessings because there are so many more to count, and then to give praise to my maker for all he has done for me.

So next time we are sleepless, let's count our blessings (not sheep) and give thanks to our shepherd, our creator, for what he has done.
Robert Prins
FORSAKING GOD'S WORD

There are so many positive things we could say, but there was one verse that struck me for its relevant and urgent message to us today. The reason I write about this is because I feel the same as the Psalmist - but more than that - I want people to realise what they are missing out on if they forsake God's law. The Psalmist says, "Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law." (Psalm 119 v 53)

Too many people forsake the law of God. They say they are Christians, they go to church, they live good "Christian" lives, but never open the Word of God to read it. How are we expected to live as Jesus lived if we don't refresh our minds as to what he was like? How can we obey the commands of the Lord if we have forgotten what they are because of not reading them? Our reason for living is to bring glory to our creator, and we cannot do that effectively if we forsake his message to us and never read it.

It seems strong language, but the Psalmist describes those who forsake God's law as wicked, and the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God - they will not even be prepared for it. So let's open the Bible now and every day and listen to the message that God gives us, the lessons for our lives, and prepare our lives to be like him.
Robert Prins

Reading 3 - Luke 1

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v. 14 - Is this 'joy and gladness' for this woman who has conceived in her old age a reference back to Sarah, who laughed Gen.21:6 so that all who hear shall laugh with her? See also Prov.23:24
Peter Cresswell

v.6 People named 'just' / 'righteous' individuals by God: Genesis 6:9 - Noah Matthew 1:19 - Joseph [Mary's husband] Mark 6:20 - John the Baptist Luke 1:6 - Zacharias & Elizabeth Luke 2:25 - Simeon Luke 23:50 - Joseph of Arithamaea Acts 10:22 - Cornelius Hebrews 11:4 - Abel 1Peter 3:18 - Jesus 2Peter 2:7 - Lot. Righteousness is through faith Genesis 15:6 therefore we can conclude that all these were waiting for the promised seed.
v.18 Notice that whilst both Zacharias and Mary ask almost identical questions. v.18,34. The response to them differs considerably. Whilst Zacharias was struck dumb Mary received an explanation. This indicates that the state of mind of the two was different. Whilst Zacharias did not believe Mary did not doubt but wanted an explanation. The angel, which knew the hearts of both individuals, responded accordingly. We should realise that the angels know our thoughts also.
v. 28 the Greek 5487 translated 'highly favoured' is only found in one other place in Scripture: Eph.1:6, where it speaks of our exalted position in Christ as being like that of Mary.
v.39 tells us the Mary went to see Elizabeth in 'the hill country' to a 'city of Judah' This seeming casual detail tells us where Zacharias and Elizabeth lived for Joshua 21:11 tells us that Hebron was in the inheritance of Judah and was in the hill country.  The use of the precise language of Joshua tells us exactly where Mary went.

Below are listed Parables and Miracles as they appear in Luke's Gospel and where the parallel records are to be found. They provide a useful background to the study of this gospel

PARABLES IN LUKE'S GOSPEL
Matthew Mark Luke John
In 3 Gospels
The Sower 13:3 4:3 8:4
The Mustard Seed 13:31 4:30 13:18
The Wicked Vine Dressers 21:33 4:30 13:18
In 2 Gospels
The Leaven 13:33 13:20
The Lost Sheep 19:12 15:3
In 1 Gospel
The Two Debtors 7:41
The Good Samaritan 10:25
The Friend at Midnight 11:5
The Rich Fool/Bigger Barns 12:16
The Stewards and their Absent Master 12:41
The Barren Fig Tree 13:6
The Great Supper 14:16
The Lost Coin 15:8
The Prodigal Son 15:11
The Dishonest Steward 16:1
The Rich Man and Lazarus 16:19
The Unprofitable Servant 17:7
The Judge and the Importunate Widow 18:1
The Pharisee and the Publican 18:9
The Pounds 19:12

 

MIRACLES IN LUKE'S GOSPEL
Matthew Mark Luke John
In 4 Gospels
Feeding the Five Thousand 14:15 6:35 9:12 6:5
In 3 Gospels
Stilling the Tempest 8:23 4:35 8:22
Demons in the Swine 8:28 5:1 8:26
Jairus' Daughter 9:18 5:22 8:41
Woman with Issue of Blood 9:20 5:25 8:43
Paralytic Man at Capernaum 9:1 2:1 5:17
Healing Leper 8:1 1:40 5:12
Peter's Mother-in-Law 8:14 1:29 4:38
Restoring Withered Hand 12:9 3:1 6:6
Healing Lunatic Child 17:14 9:14 9:37
Blind Bartimaeus 20:29 10:46 18:35
In 2 Gospels
Centurion's Servant 8:5 7:1
Demoniac in Synagogue 1:23 4:33
Healing Blind and Dumb Man 12:22 11:14
In 1 Gospel
Miraculous Draught of Fish 5:1
Raising Widow's Son at Nain 7:11
Woman with infirmity 13:10
Man with Dropsy 14:1
Cleansing of 10 Lepers 17:11
Healing Malchus' Ear 22:49

Peter Forbes
1:5 Elizabeth - who was of 'the daughters of Aaron' seems to have been named after Aaron's own wife. Exodus 6:23
Peter Forbes
1:60 Maybe we might think that to call his name 'John' was unusual enough as Zacharias' family did not have a 'John' in it. However it appears that there is only one 'John' recorded in the Old Testament - Jeremiah 43:4 and you will see that this 'John' was hardly a good example to follow.
Peter Forbes