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March 18

Reading 1 - Leviticus 26

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v. 11,12 - comes in a discussion about the benefits of faithful following. Naturally speaking, we are creatures of sin and therefore abhorrent to God by definition. Here God is saying that there is a way for him not only not to abhor our sinfulness, but also to dwell amongst us. This has to refer to Jesus - obviously - as all of the law, we are told, brings us to Jesus in some way [Gal.3:24]. Jesus is the place where God has chosen to put his name [Deut.14:23, 16:2, 26:2]. In Jesus, we also share this honour, and God, as he has promised right through scripture, will dwell with us. This fits with the 'Zion' theme that we have referred to a number of times lately. Ex.25:8, 29:45, 1Kings 8:13,27. Ps.76:2, 78:68,69, 132:13,14 2Cor.4:6
Peter Cresswell
v.21 - There is a relationship here between sin and the promised curses. The point should maybe be made though, that the sin created an increase in the plague. The plague - the one we all have - the frailty of human flesh, was there anyway. God simply says he will increase it if they turn against Him.
Peter Cresswell
This chapter and Deuteronomy 28 present the same message. This chapter is the giving of the blessings and curses to Israel. Deuteronomy is a summary and development of what was said here. It would appear that Leviticus 26 was given at Sinai. Deuteronomy 28 was spoken to Israel in the plains of Moab just prior to their crossing the Jordan to take up possession of he land about forty years after they were at Sinai.
26:6 lie down ... afraid Proverbs 3:24
26:12 and ... my people 2 Corinthians 6:16
26:13 broken the bands of thy yoke Hosea 11:4
26:22 I will send wild beasts among you 2 Kings 17:25
26:25 I will bring a sword Isaiah 1:20
26:25 I will send the pestilence Jeremiah 24:10
26:26 I have broken the staff of your bread Isaiah 3:1
26:26 ye shall eat and not be satisfied Micah 6:14
26:31 I will not smell ... odours Amos 5:21
26:33 I will ... draw a sword after you Amos 9:4
26:40 If they shall confess their iniquity Nehemiah 1:9
The above is far from an exhaustive list of times when the language from Leviticus 26 is used in Scripture. It highlights the sorts of ways in which it is used. A further study would be to look at the use made of Deuteronomy 28 as well and try to work out why the spirit on one occasion uses the language of Leviticus and on another uses the language of Deuteronomy. One thing is clear from this chapter - the curses are used by the prophets more than the blessings. On hearing the words of the prophets the people should have recognised the words of Leviticus and appreciated that what was happening to them was because they were astray from their God.
Peter Forbes
:6 the promise that they would lie down and not be made afraid which, as we noticed last time we read Leviticus, is quoted [Proverbs 3:24] Now in Proverbs the man who receives this blessing is for the man who takes hold on wisdom [Proverbs 3:13] If Israel were wise they would serve God faithfully and the blessings and not the cursings would befall them.
Peter Forbes
:44 In saying 'I will not cast them away' God is providing some comfort for those who had heard the curses and knew that they would suffer them. Jeremiah (31:37) and Paul (Romans 11:2) both quote this passage to show God's long term care for Israel.
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Psalms 137, 138 & 139

To Listen
137 v.4 - How many of us try to do just this? We accept a life surrounded by the pleasures and entertainment of the world which is piped into our houses, and try to sing the Lord's song against this background. If Christ remains away I suppose it will get worse still, but now more than ever in the past, there is the potential to feel comfortable with man's environment, whilst at the same time trying to give praise to God. We should stop and take stock and assess our position before God and make sure we are not alienated by our chosen position. Ec.3:4, Isa.22:12, La.5:14,15, Hos.9:4, Am.8:3, Isa.49:21.
Peter Cresswell
138:2 - Even though God 'dwelleth not in temples made with hands', we still have a responsibility to seek Him out where He will be found, and through Jesus we now have the opportunity to approach directly into His presence. David has the desire here to worship toward God's Holy Temple - a picture of Jesus and a picture of the effect of the work of Jesus in bringing about for us the possibility of approaching close to our Heavenly Father, even though we are sinful flesh.
Peter Cresswell

Psalm 136 Consider reading this Psalm with someone else. One ready the refrain 'for his mercy endureth forever' and the other read the words preceding the refrain. In so doing you will see how the Psalmist is stating many of the ways in which God's mercies are seen.

Psalm 137 Whilst in Babylon Israel knew that Babylon was to be destroyed - and by implication they were to be freed. They, even whilst in Babylon, had scriptures to prove this (eg: Isaiah 13:19 Jeremiah 29:10 )

Psalm 138 If God has magnified His word above His name (v2) how do we value it? Is it something we can take or leave at will? Is it something that we read with love and joy, or do we try to make it's message fit our own preferences?

Psalm 139 David, on realising that God knew everything about him, including all the things he did concluded that he was fearfully and wonderfully made. When we appreciate that our God knows everything about us - the things we say, do and even think - how does that make us feel? Are we afraid of Him? How would we behave if someone we loved and respected knew everything that we thought or did?
Peter Forbes

136:5 That God made the heavens by 'wisdom' or 'understanding' RV is echoed in Proverbs 3:19 and Job 39:26 implies that God makes the hawk fly by His wisdom. That 'wisdom' which God shows also conceived of the salvation that is available through faith in the risen Jesus. If we, in our wise foolishness think that the universe came into existence by accident then what do we think about the wisdom of salvation through Christ? Or is that, like it was to the Greeks, foolishness 1 Corinthians 1:18

137:5 In desiring not to forget Jerusalem the Psalmist is showing us where his heart is. Of course he is not thinking simply of a physical location but rather all the things of God which are tied into the place. It is for this reason that Solomon anticipated that men would pray towards Jerusalem 1 Kings 8:30, 35 and why Daniel disregarded the king's command [Daniel 6:10]

139:1-13 If we could develop the intensity of understanding that David had about the all pervading presence of God in our lives then surely we would find it easier to resist temptation?
Peter Forbes

137:8 The way in which Babylon was to be rewarded forms the basis for Revelation 18:6 which speaks of the destruction of 'Babylon'

138:4 In saying 'all the kings …' the Psalmist is looking to the kingdom when it will be said to the kings 'kiss the son …' (Psalm 2:12)

139:15 In saying that he was 'curiously wrought' David is quoting Exodus 26:36 which speaks of the breastplate worn by the high priest. David realised that mankind has been created for a work. That work is to reign as 'kings and priests' (Revelation 5:10) with Jesus in the kingdom.
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - Luke 9

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v. 5 - which is expanded in the next chapter (10:10-12) seems very odd to our ears. We live in a society where tolerance is the key word. We are taught to tolerate practices which are contrary to God's teaching and we do it without thinking - we are taken along by society and we, being human, have a tendency to align ourselves with 'human rights' issues. We have no rights as human beings except the right to death. Maybe this passage from Luke will help us to get that in perspective - help us to realise that our allegiances should be based on the right motives. Neh.5:13, Acts 18:6, Mt.10:18.
Peter Cresswell
9:1 Whilst this appears to be the first time that Jesus had empowered his disciples to heal etc: we must realise that we are quite a long time into the ministry of Jesus. It is just before the transfiguration (9:28)
Peter Forbes
:54 James and John seemed unable to deal with the idea that others than they were able to work with Jesus. Jesus' reaction is clear and decisive. We maybe should ponder our view on the way that we react to others who preach the gospel of Christ. Not to suggest that it does not matter what we believe but Jesus' reaction should counsel caution before condemning those speaking of Christ out of hand.
Peter Forbes
THE MARK OF A GREAT MAN
Today's great men are the ones who are in powerful positions, the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of England, President and Prime Minister of Russia and successful business people like Bill gates and Rupert Murdoch.
But today's great men are there because they have climbed their way to the top, doing all they have to do to get there and using anyone they need to use on the way. More often than not they are power or money hungry and willing to do anything to get what they want.
Jesus tells us of a different type of great man. "He who is least among you - he is the greatest." And he spoke about children, who, as far as greatness goes are least of all. The great man is the one who can welcome a child, make him feel at home and wanted, who has time for him, putting the needs of the child ahead of his own. The great man is the one who is the servant of everyone else, putting the needs of others first.
The difference between the great men of today and the great men of God is that today's me will have had their time - and it ends in death, but God's great men will live for ever. Be great for God.
Robert Prins