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March 27

Reading 1 - Numbers 8 & 9

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8:7 - The only other occasion when anyone had to shave their hair off in order to undergo this ceremonial cleaning was the law concerning the leper in Lev.14:8,9, though the concept of cleansing with water is associated with quite a few sacrifices, especially the one involving the ashes of the heifer Num.19:17-19, which is picked up purposely in Hebrews 9:13 to show that it, like the rest of the law, was insufficient for salvation. We also see the picture of baptism here Ps.51:2, 1Pet.3:21.
Peter Cresswell
v.11 - This provision is, as far as I can recall, unique, demonstrating just how seriously the people were to take this particular feast. There was a supplementary passover held the next month - still on the 14th day, for those who legitimately missed the first one. Notice that this did not provide an optional passover. Any who were clean and able to partake of the first one were to do so or be cut off from the people (v.13).
Peter Cresswell
9 v.1 This chapter is going back in time to the time spoken of in Exodus 40:17 And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first [day] of the month, [that] the tabernacle was reared up. and is the same time as Numbers 1:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first [day] of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
Peter Forbes
Chapter 8
The tabernacle has been reared up. Now details of the operation of the tabernacle system of worship have to be give.

8:1-3 Instruction about lighting the lamps - which were followed.
8:4 This mention of how the lamp stand was made echoes what Israel were told to do (Exodus 25:31) One wonders why this detail is repeated here.

9:1 We are still in the first month of the second year so we cannot be very long after the tabernacle was reared up. From 9:2 we might conclude that we are still before the 10th of the month when the Passover lamb would be selected.
Peter Forbes

8:19 So the Levites were a gift from God - though they probably thought that they were giving themselves in service. In like manner God gave Jesus the disciples (John 17:9)

9:14 The provision for the 'stranger' to partake of the Passover is one of the many indications in the law hat gentiles are to be able to benefit from the deliverance from sin and death that God effected for Israel. But, of course, any stranger - gentile - who wanted to avail himself of the deliverance had to accept the constraints of the commandments of God.
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Proverbs 5

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v.15-18 - Says 'keep your manner of life within those who belong to God through Christ', here presented in the context of your immediate family. Deut.33:28, Ps.68:26, Gen.24:60.
Peter Cresswell
v.8 - The principle were are encouraged to follow here involves us not just avoiding evil but actively walking away from places where it might lurk - this is a spiritual lessons as much as (if not more than) a physical one. Our minds should walk away, as it were, from lustful thoughts and desires, and not linger so that they miught develop into sin.
Peter Cresswell
v.18 'the wife of thy youth' is quoted twice Malachi 2:14, 15. The context of the proverbs is the danger of being enticed by the 'strange woman'. Malachi, using the warning of Israel and the daughters of Moab [Numbers 25]. As Israel were corrupted with the daughters of Moab then the priesthood was corrupt in Malachi's day - the time of Nehemiah. The exhortation, using Proverbs 5, is that false religion, though appealing, ends in death.
Peter Forbes
There are a number of echoes of language from this chapter in Song of Solomon
:19 roe Song of Solomon 2:9
:19 her breasts Song of Solomon 4:5
:20 be ravished Song of Solomon 4:9
These links show that the 'woman' of Proverbs is trying to entice the young man away from his true wife. That is the young man is likely to forsake the gospel if he meddles with worldly things.
Peter Forbes

There are a number of phrases from this chapter quoted in Malachi.

lips keep knowledge
Malachi 2:7
strange woman
Malachi 2:11
Wife of thy youth

Malachi 2:14

The wisdom of God should teach a man to avid foolishness - even the priests in the days of Nehemiah (The context of Malachi's prophecy) were not immune to the lure of 'folly'. Are we any better?
Peter Forbes

ADULTERY
It is dark and no one can see. The door is shut and no one can get in. A man and a woman are alone in the room, hearts beating and allowing themselves to get carried away. Her husband and his wife have no idea what is going on. For the moment it is exciting as passions are aroused, but afterwards it will be bitter. It will change the relationship between the husbands and the wives, it will fill them with an overwhelming sense of guilt and they will carry the secret with them for the rest of their lives, burdened by the knowledge of their unfaithfulness and sin.
When Joseph was tempted like this, his reply was "How can I do this and sin against God?" Then he fled from the situation.
David fell into a similar temptation with Bathsheba and the consequence of that followed him for the rest of his life.
Samson was also tempted by Philistine women. Eventually they cost him his eyes and his life.
So let us follow the wisdom given to us by Solomon and follow the example of Joseph to stay faithful to our God, our husbands and wives. Be captivated by the love of your own wife. Our ways are in full view of the LORD and wicked ways lead to death.
Stay Faithful.
Robert Prins

Reading 3 - Luke 19

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v. 8 - Here is an example of the way we should feel when convicted by our own conscience in the presence of God. Here was a man who by this short and apparently hasty little speech shows wonderful repentance. He may have been an apparently irretrievable sinner, but Jesus knew he was ready to renounce his sins. One almost wonders whether he was around when Jesus spoke the words recorded in Luke 3:8-13, or 11:41 or 12:33 or 16:9 or 18:22-23. It is quite a theme in the previous teaching recorded by Luke, and so it is appropriate that Luke records this incident with Zacchaeus.
Peter Cresswell
v.10 Seeking out the 'lost' is a theme in Luke Luke 5:31,32 15:4,32 19 which draws upon Ezekiel 34:16 which shows us that the religious leaders were not seeking the 'lost'
Peter Forbes
19:28 'ascending up to Jerusalem' marks the end of the journey which we noticed started in 9:51 where Jesus 'steadfastly set his face towards Jerusalem'.
Peter Forbes
19:11 We have an indication here that the disciples, at least, were in a state of heightened expectation. Doubtless they thought that with the impending Passover and the fact that Jesus was 'Christ' - the realisation they had at the transfiguration - would cause them to have an expectation that Jesus, especially as he had set his face towards Jerusalem (Luke 9:51) was going to overthrow the Romans shortly.
Peter Forbes

:8 Zaccheus, the superintendant by order of the Romans to extract taxes from the Jews(vs 2), was seeking a change and to make right for previous actions as per the Law(Ex 22:1). He was saved by the spirit of his works, not by the Law itself.

:20 There is a strong irony in this word for napkin, ie. sweat cloth, since this servant avoided the neccessary toil and lost his pound.
Matt Drywood