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March
24
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Reading
1 - Numbers 5
Click
here to Listen
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v.
15 - Even though sacrifice could never completely remove sin (Heb.10:1-4),
there was this need to bring sins to remembrance in this way. There seems
to be a certain connection here with our bread or remembrance which we use
to remind ourselves of the atonement made by Jesus for our sins. Consider
these other Old Testament refs in that context and see if you think there
could be a point here or not - 1Kings
17:18, Eze.29:16.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.2-4
- These folk were expelled from the camp for what seemed to be no fault
of their own. We are tempted, being, as we are, somewhat sentimental folk,
to feel this is hopelessly unfair. We must learn not to question the demands
and the acts of the Almighty, who knows best. We feel a similar sense of
injustice over the way that we are instructed to view women in regard to
men. Our society does not tolerate any type of distinction, and yet God
has His reasons for making us act out an allegory in our lives. Ours is
to remind us of the place we all have as the bride before Christ. Theirs
was to remind them (and us) that God will not tolerate false worship.
Peter Cresswell
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v.
12 - 31
The trial of jealousy. The mixing of the dust of the tabernacle floor with
the water - Numbers
5:17 and the
causing of the woman to drink of it Numbers
7:24 is reminiscent
of the way that the golden calf was dealt with Exodus
32:20. In Exodus
Israel were committing spiritual adultery and Yahweh was showing that he
was a jealous God. I don't understand why the man was guiltless even if
his wife had not been unfaithful Numbers
5:31
Peter
Forbes |
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:11-31
If the woman was found to be guilty she was to be punished, but if not her
husband was guiltless. Why do we think this is? It does seem grossly unfair,
though clearly if it is part of God's law it cannot be unfair.
Peter
Forbes |
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| :11
No one got back to me with a suggestion as to why the wife might be
punished but not the husband - suggestions please.
:15
'iniquity to remembrance' is quoted Hebrews
10:3. Whilst Hebrews 10 is using the context of the sacrifices on
the day of atonement the use of Numbers
5:15 is relevant. Those who were going back to the law were forsaking
their new husband to return to the law - see Romans
7:1-4
Peter
Forbes
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Reading
2 - Proverbs 2
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here to Listen
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v.
4,5 - This theme will return time after time throughout proverbs. It
must have been close to Solomon's heart, as it is the thing that he asked
for from God, which pleased God so. His advice to us to seek after wisdom
is on-going and never ending from start to finish of his writing. God knows
the reluctance of the human mind to take these things on board and therefore
causes Solomon to write them over and over again. We should learn! Prov.3:14,15,
8:18,19, 16:16, 23:23, Matt.6:19-21, 13:44.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.6,7
- I am not denying that we receive wisdom directly from God, as Solomon
did, but it seems to me that the majority of the wisdom we acquire is by
virtue of God's chastening. God gives us experiences which lead to our recognition
of things about our lives in Him which fit us for the kingdom and make it
easier for Him to bestow His grace upon us, sinful creatures though we really
are. Heb.12:11,
if you are not fed up with me quoting it(!) says it all. But let us be not
just among those who are chastened, but among those who are exercised and
so acquire the available wisdom from each experience of our lives. If we
do not look for the wisdom in the grievous parts of our lives, we will not
find it, and the chastening will have gone unheeded.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.16
'strange woman' is a recurring theme in the book of proverbs [here
5:3,20 6:24 7:5 20:16 23:27 27:13].
There is value in evaluating the message in all these passage to provide
a composite picture of the influence of false teaching.
Peter
Forbes |
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:1
The idea of hiding God's word within oneself is a theme we should consider.
Not that we should hide the word away so that no one can see our commitment
to the gospel. But rather that the hiding of the word helps us in our life
in Christ - Psalm
119:11
Peter
Forbes |
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:4
The 'hid treasures' is the understanding of the gospel message - see Jesus'
use of the language in Matthew
13:44
Peter
Forbes |
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WHAT
IS WISDOM?
If we do everything we can to seek out wisdom as if it were a hidden treasure
so that we can be sure that we will find it. To find wisdom we need all
our strength and abilities, and we need to use them all in our search for
this treasure. Our ears need to be tuned to wisdom, our hearts need to be
applied to it, we need to call out, call aloud for it, we need to use our
eyes to look for it and then what will we find? We will "understand
the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God." (Proverbs
2 v 5). "Then you will understand what is right and just and fair
- every good path." (Proverbs
2 v 9). In another place it says, "The fear of the LORD is the
beginning of wisdom." (Proverbs
9 v 10).
In other words, the fear of the LORD makes up the main part of wisdom. Wisdom
is not just a matter of knowledge and making right decisions. To be wise
is to fear the LORD. It may be that when we started in our search for wisdom
we did not expect to find the fear of the LORD and it may seem disappointing
that it is not something much more profound. But the beauty of it is that
anyone - no matter how simple or clever they are - can find true wisdom.
When we find wisdom in the fear of the LORD we will also discover its lasting
benefits - the promise of everlasting life. Let's do everything we can to
get wisdom. It will be worth your while.
Robert
Prins |
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Reading
3 - Luke 16
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here to Listen
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v.15
holds a hard lesson for us. To be esteemed among men is a desire of us all
to some degree. Here Jesus gives it true perspective. God knows our hearts.
We may be able to fool our fellow men, but not God. Luke
11:39, 18:11, 20:20, Pro.20:6, 1Sam.16:7.
Peter Cresswell
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v.19-31
The parable of the rich man and Lazarus was told to the religious leaders
after Lazarus had been raised from the dead [John 11]. Therefore the mention
of 'Lazarus' and 'one be raised from the dead' would have had a very powerful
force when Jesus told the parable.
Peter Forbes
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16:13
Matthew 6:24
16:18
Matthew 5:32
16:14
That the Pharisees 'derided' Jesus is not surprising. It is the normal
response to someone who points out something we do not like. Rather than
acknowledge the criticism we attempt to 'rubbish' the person making the
observation - Character assassination, we call it today. It should not
be the way that the servant of God behaves.
Peter Forbes
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:1
We noted before that 'wasted' continues the theme of the lost son (15:13).
We note also that Jesus was speaking to his disciples. That individuals
can be 'lost' speaks to disciples of Jesus, not those who never knew him.
Peter Forbes |
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