Non Gamstop Casinos
March 22

Reading 1 - Numbers 3

Click here to Listen
v.10 - In the context of priesthood there was no room for the stranger - this was to keep the purity of the worship. Where strangers could be tolerated as worshippers, they were not as worship leaders. Here was a select band, chosen by God to be a special people for himself. We also belong to a kingdom of priests and a holy people to God, though our priesthood is of a different order. We should ensure equally that the stranger does not infiltrate our leadership. Num.18:7, Eze.44:8, Acts 6:3,4, 1Tim.4:15,16.
Peter Cresswell
v.47-51 - The process here was like a taxation - the priesthood must have blossomed in many ways from this point onward - not only did it suddenly acquire a large number of assistants, it also acquired the financial ability to provide for the service and for the various needs that came along. The difference in the administration of the people from this point on must have been immense.
Peter Cresswell
v.6 The word rendered bring near, is properly a sacrificial word, and signifies the presenting of a sacrifice or offering to the Lord. As an offering, the tribe of Levi was entirely given up to the service of the sanctuary, to be no longer their own, but the Lord's. Often translated 'bring' in the context of bringing an offering. Leviticus 1:2 etc.
Peter Forbes
In setting out the responsibilities of the 'sons of Levi' structure is given to the tabernacle worship.
:40 The numbering of the firstborn and the taking of the sons of Levi instead of the firstborn was to remind Israel that they had been redeemed from Egypt and that the Egyptians had lost their firstborn in the process.
Peter Forbes
:40 In numbering the males 'from a month old' we realise that those born in the wilderness are excluded from this numbering (see 1:18) - reinforcing the point that the matter of numbering the firstborn is to remind Israel of the death of the firstborn in Egypt.
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Psalms 148, 149 & 150

To Listen
148 v. 5 - Let us praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded and we were created. Ps.33:6-9, Ps.95:5, Rev.4:11.
Peter Cresswell
149:3 - We tend (or at least I do) not to associate dancing with worship, but rather, if anything, with godlessness and the satisfaction of our own desires rather than God's, but this need not be true. There are a number of examples of the use of dancing in scripture (as here) where God does not express disapproval, and indeed the opposite seems to be the case. Exo.15:20 Judg.11:34 2Sam.6:16 Jer.31:13 Psa.150:4
Peter Cresswell

Psalm 148 Psalm 19 links creation showing God's glory with the power of the word of God to change lives. This psalm calls for praise from the whole of creation. We can surely join in this praise because we are a people near unto him (v15)

Psalm 149 :4 the beautification of the meek with salvation is associated with Isaiah 61:10 2 Chronicles 6:41 Psalm 132:9 so we see the beautification is identified with the giving of everlasting life and the priesthood.

Psalm 150 A fitting end to the book of psalms - so many of the Psalms have called for or been examples of praise. And now the Psalmist calls on us to praise the Lord with all our strength. Such praise comes from a right understanding of His might, power and mercy.
Peter Forbes

148:13 Whilst we might think that the Psalm is speaking of God's excellent name in the context of the majesty of His creation Hebrews 1:13 shows us that the one with the 'excellent name' is the risen Jesus who we know to have [Philippians 2:9] a name above every name. So even the majesty of creation is not as majestic as the work of salvation in Christ.

149:1 The 'new song' [Revelation 5:9] is on the lips of the redeemed. These are the ones who are 'the children of Zion' [Psalm 149:2]

Psalm 150 - The Psalms 146, 147, 148, 149, 150 all end with 'praise ye the Lord' in Hebrew 'Hallelujah' This is the end of all things. Whatever else we think we must realise that we have got to praise the Lord for all that he has done for us. Not merely saying the word 'Hallelujah' but transforming our lives into a 'sacrifice of praise' [Hebrews 13:15] Which is the song of the redeemed - [Revelation 19:1, 3, 4, 6]
Peter Forbes

148 - The recurring key word in this Psalm is 'praise' The whole of creation praises Him - so where do we stand? What do we think about our God? Do we praise Him at times other than when we are met together to worship Him?

149:4 In speaking of beautifying the meek with salvation we see words which are developed (Isaiah 61:10) indicating that the salvation will confer on those who are saved a priesthood. So Revelation 5:10 we are to be '… priests' in the kingdom so we had better learn now how to act like priest.

150 - 'Praise' is the keyword of this Psalm too. A fitting end to the book of Psalms. Our lives should be full of praise for the things that He has done for us in Christ.
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - Luke 13 & 14

Click here to Listen
13 v. 4 - There is an important lesson here that is throughout scripture - that the punishment does not match the crime, as it were. We receive punishment of all sorts chastening, illness and ultimately death, which may, as in the case here, be untimely, but we are reminded that this is not dependent upon the sin of the individual. Job's three friends got this wrong and it is so easy to fall into the same trap. We do well to remember that sinful nature in itself is the cause of evil and suffering and we have that, whether we like it or not. Luke 7:41,42. These things are 'common to man' - 1Cor.10:13
Peter Cresswell
13:34-35 Whilst these words are repeated during the last week of Jesus life [Matthew 23:37] this in Luke is an earlier occasion for Luke does not record the beginning of the last week of Jesus life until Luke 19:28. Therefore Jesus made the same lament on at least two occasions.
14:3 Occasions where the Sabbath day is recorded as the day when Jesus healed or taught. Matthew 12:1 Mark 1:21 2:23 3:2 6:2 Luke 4:16 31 6:1,7 13:10 14 14:3 John 5:9 9:14 The question 'Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day' whilst first being asked by the religious leaders [Matthew 12:10] Is turned on them by the lord when he asked the same question. [Luke 14:3].
Peter Forbes
13:24 Matthew 7:13

13:31 Thee suggestion that the Pharisees made that he should flee because Herod would kill him was doubtless meant to frighten Jesus off from the area. Jesus' cousin John had been beheaded by Herod already. Herod, on the other hand, had desired to listen to John (Mark 6:20) and later we learnt that he wanted to hear Jesus (Luke 23:8) so the Pharisees comment about Herod were an incorrect assessment of his mind further reinforcing the view that they were simply trying to frighten Jesus off.

14:34 Matthew 5:13

:13,21 The repeated use of 'maimed … blind' shows that the parable that Jesus told was to teach the Pharisee (:1) how he should conduct his feasts.
Peter Forbes

13:7 The 'three years' matches the 'three years' of Leviticus 19:23. But after three years the tree was expected to bring forth fruit that would be taken and used. We have now arrived at the moment of reckoning with Israel.

14:25 Again we see that Jesus did not make life easy for those who wanted to follow him. We might be inclined to minimise the commitment required of those who we speak to lest we dissuade them from following Jesus. He, on the other hand, emphasises the cost of discipleship at every opportunity. Have we got it right?
Peter Forbes

ch 13 - REPENT

About six thousand people were killed on Sept 11th 2001 in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the USA. Many have been asking, Why? God alone knows the reason and he knows exactly who was there. None of us may ever know the answers until God's kingdom is established on the Earth. However, what can be seen from this event is a picture of the judgement that will happen when Christ returns.

Jesus spoke about similar events in his own day. The tower of Siloam fell and killed 18 people. Pilate killed a number of people as they fulfilled their religious duties. Jesus said about all the people caught up in these tragedies that they were not worse sinners than anyone else and they were no more guilty than you or me. Then he said, "But unless you repent you too will all perish."

The same warning holds true for today also. Unless we repent, we too will face destruction just as those thousands of people in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on all the aircraft involved, perished. They were not worse sinners than the rest of us, but now are an example to us to repent and get our lives at one with God. Turn to him today before it is too late.
Robert Prins
ch 14 - EXCUSES

It is almost funny when we think about the excuses people made for not coming to the banquet God had prepared. Jesus had given them the invitation but "they all alike began to make excuses." (Luke 14 v 18)

"I have just bought a field and I must go and see it. Please excuse me." (v 18) A field is really only dirt, mud, grass, vegetables and hard work. Would we trade the banquel in the kingdom of God for a pile of mud and hard work?

" I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me." (v 19) This man wanted to trade the smell and taste of the banquet, for the smell of cows and the taste of dust. He preferred hard work and sweat more than the rest he had been promised in the kingdom. Would we trade God's gift for ten cows?

"I have just got married, so I can't come." This guy was prepared to give up his eternal life for the love of a woman who would grow old and die. Yet at the feast in the kingdom we will receive much more - perfect love, and eternal youth, with all the other believers throughout time. Would we trade God's perfect and fulfulling love, for a brief moment of happiness?

Our excuses don't add up to anything more than these ones. Are the things that keep us from accepting God's invitation really worth while?
Robert Prins