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March
21
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Reading 1 - Numbers 2
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Peter Cresswell
Peter Cresswell
v.3 The position of the tribes around the Tabernacle.
Notice
the positioning of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. This provides the environment
for the uprising of Numbers 16.
Peter
Forbes
Peter Forbes
Peter Forbes
The way Israel camped in the wilderness is worthy of note. Right in the centre of Israel was their focus - the Tabernacle. All Israel were to camp around the Tabernacle, and, having it in their centre meant that wherever they were, it was right in front of them, directing their minds towards God and reminding them that they were God's chosen people expected to be holy and separate to him. But more than that, there was a special emphasis on the fact that they were to camp in their families. Each tribe had its particular place around the Tabernacle, and within each tribe, each clan and family were to camp and set out together.
There is powerful instruction in this for us. We as families need to work closely as a team. We need to stick together to support and encourage each other. We need families so that the older ones can teach the younger and the strong can support the weak. And most of all, as a family group, our focus needs to be on what is really important - on the LORD our God and his Son, Jesus Christ.
Israel did everything with and for their clans and families - both nuclear and extended families. Let us do the same because the road is much easier when we do it together.
Robert Prins
Reading 2 - Psalms 145, 146 & 147
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Peter Cresswell
Peter Cresswell
Psalm 145 :4 Praise is not something which only gives glory to God. It is a process of educating others also. In telling the following generations of the good ness of God we are praising Him. If we can speak of the way in which God has worked in our lives then those following on after us will find it easier to have the same confidence.
Psalm 146 Whilst we might use v3-4 to show that death ends all - the grave cannot praise God - in reality the purpose of the observation by the Psalmist is to plead with God that he might be allowed to live in order that he can praise Him.
Psalm
147 The contrast between God's care for mankind in verses
2-3 with His majesty as shown in v4
is amazing. That the creator of the whole of the universe could be concerned
to take care of men and women on this tiny planet. Such care, of so insignificant
people, against the magnitude of creation should humble us and at the
same time cause us to be so grateful to our creator.
Peter Forbes
Psalm
146 - Like the previous Psalm this Psalm describes the miraculous
works of Jesus healing the woman with the issue of blood.
:7
looseth Luke 13:12
:8
bowed down Luke 13:11
And also
the year of release
:9
relieveth Leviticus 25:35.
The work of Jesus was to show that the year of release was a shadow of deliverance from sin and death, not just a holiday away from the toil of the field.
Psalm
147 - In describing the work of God as this Psalm does we see that
God is concerned with both the great things of His creation [:4]
'he telleth all the starts' and the salvation of man [:3]
healing the broken hearted [:6]
and lifting up the meek [:9]
and feeding the birds. Our God is not narrow in His care but all embracing.
Peter Forbes
145:8 One of the many places in Scripture which quote the attributes of God (Exodus 34:6)
146:3-4 In speaking of the situation of the dead the Psalmist is not simply giving Christadelphians a proof passage to show that we do not go to heaven at death. The problem with death is that in death it is not possible to praise God. So the miraculous work of Jesus is described (:8-9) as a prelude to the time when He will reign for ever (:10) when those who have died might be raised to praise him for ever, enjoying everlasting life.
147:9
In saying that God feeds the ravens we see the origin of Jesus' words
(Matthew
6:26) but do we truly believe that God takes care of the birds? Or
do we think that they live using their natural instincts? Scripture teaches
that God cares for them and that this care He has for them should teach
us that He will also care for us. If we think that the birds take care
of themselves we will not truly appreciate the way that God cares for
us.
Peter Forbes
GODLY
QUALITIES
Let's try and grow our characters to be more like the character of God.
What a wonderful place the world would be if we could all act a little
more like the way God does. It would improve all our relationships, our
families, our communities, our churches, and the whole world! But we can't
change the world, we can only change ourselves.
If we want to have a character like God's what do we have to be like?
Here is a list of a few things that come from Psalm 145.
He has abundant goodness (v
7)
He is righteous. (v
7, 17)
He is generous and compassionate (v
8, 9)
Slow to anger and rich in love (v
8)
The LORD is good to all. (v
9)
He is faithful to all his promises. (v
13)
And loving toward all he has made (v
13, 17)
The LORD upholds all those who fall (v
14)
He lifts up those who are bowed down. (v
14)
Provides for our needs (v
15)
Satisfies our desires (v
16, 19)
He watches over all who love him (v
20)
Let's put those qualities into practice in our lives and become more like
the people God wants us to be.
Robert
Prins
Reading 3 - Luke 12
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Peter Cresswell
Peter Forbes
12:22 Matthew 6:31
12:24 Matthew 6:26-27
12:27-28 Matthew 6:28-30
12:29-31 Matthew 6:32-33
12:33 Matthew 6:20
12:58-59 Matthew 5:25-26
A major
focus of this chapter is that the disciples should not fear men :4,5,7,32.
A crucial point that the disciples needed to understand.
Peter Forbes
Peter Forbes