|
 |
March
29
|
|
|
|
|
Reading
1 - Numbers 11
Click
here to Listen
|
v.2
- We have here a throw-away sentence but it of amazing proportions in recognising
the power of God over things that can cause man great heartache. Anyone
who has ever had anything to do with large scale fire-fighting will appreciate
this verse. Moses prayed - and the fire was quenched. That is amazing. And
this fire was so out of hand (in human terms) that it was killing people
who couldn't escape from it in time on the edge of the camp (v.1).
Would this also have caused the people to be extra-awed by the pillar of
fire that represented God at night?
Peter Cresswell |
|
v.6
- We have an insight here into human nature which is quite frightening.
We know that we can quickly get fed up with the same food every day. We
also know that this was the greatest of all food in the physical sense -
angel's food [Psa.78:25].
The obvious parallel is with our daily reading of the word. Where should
we look to find this discipline? If we are reading this we have probably
overcome this problem, so how do we help others to do the same. Our spiritual
well-being relies on our constant drip-feeding of God's word in our lives
throughout our lives to the end. I have met very few who find this easy.
I know I don't. Let us, like Jesus, who built his life around His Father's
Word, and so overcame the wiles of the devil "It is written ..."
strive to stay in constant contact with it to the end of our lives.
Peter Cresswell
|
|
v.
5
Despite the fact that we are so familiar with this complaint of Israel this
list of food is only found in this place in Scripture.
Peter
Forbes |
|
11:1
And immediately the people complain! There is no indication of complaint,
though there was rebellion - with the golden calf - whilst they were settled
at Sinai with all the activities of making the tabernacle to occupy their
minds. As soon as the work of building the tabernacle (the ecclesia in type)
ceased the idle hands and minds looked for things to complain about.
Peter
Forbes |
|
:5
There are six items that Israel lusted after - the number of man. Compare
this with Deuteronomy
8:8 where the fruits of the land of Canaan are enumerated - 7 of them
The number of completeness.
Peter
Forbes |
|
|
Reading
2 - Proverbs 7
Click
here to Listen
|
v.
4 - Does this refer us back to the times when Abraham and Isaac said
this of their respective wives? Surely it points forward to the words of
Jesus in Matt.12:49,50
and Luke 11:27,28,
encouraging us to choose our friends (brothers and sisters) carefully.
Peter Cresswell |
|
v.14-23
- The power of this picture is so great. God, through Solomon, purposely
uses man's most vulnerable lust to show how easy it is to be taken away
from the truth by those who deceive with fair speeches. So much of what
this harlot says is designed subtly to ease the young man into a sense that
what she is doing is right. v.17
picks up language used elsewhere [Psa.45:8,
Song 4:14, John 19:39] of Jesus and his resurrection - the words are
fair but on this occasion the intention is evil. Let us learn this powerful
lesson and take heed.
Peter Cresswell
|
|
v.
15
the word translated 'diligently seek' is used a number of times in proverbs.
Proverbs
1:28 seek <07836>
me early <07836>, Proverbs
7:15 diligently
<07836>
to seek <07836> Proverbs
8:17 seek <07836>
me early <07836> Proverbs
11:27 diligently
<07836>
seeketh <07836> Proverbs
13:24 betimes
<07836>.
And also in other parts of Scripture. Job
7:21 seek <07836>...
morning <07836>, Job
8:5 seek <07836>
... betimes <07836>, Job
24:5 rising <07836>
betimes <07836>
Psalms 63:1 early
<07836>
will I seek <07836> Psalms
78:34 enquired
<07836>
early <07836> Isaiah
26:9 seek <07836>
thee early <07836>: Hosea
5:15 seek <07836>
me early <07836>. A review of it's use in Scripture helps
us to understand what the proverb is telling us.
Peter
Forbes |
|
:11
The 'stubborn' woman attracts the son who will not listen to the instruction
of the father. Israel were to stone the 'stubborn' son [Deuteronomy
21:18-20] who would not listen to the instruction of the Word. So the
'stubborn' woman attracts the 'stubborn' son.
Peter
Forbes |
|
|
The 'woman'
of this chapter is clearly 'foolishness' but she portrays herself in ways
which make her appear as if she is 'wisdom'
|
|
tapestry
|
Proverbs
32:22
|
|
|
Myrrh
and Aloes
|
Song
of Solomon 4:14
|
Error
can so often seem to be true - this is because the flesh tries to justify
what it wants to do.
Peter
Forbes
|
|
|
Reading
3 - Luke 21
Click
here to Listen
|
v.
4 - The word translated penury (husterema
5303), we can see from its use elsewhere 1Cor.16:7,
2Cor.11:9 (lacking),
2Cor.8:14,
9:12 (want) that
this implies criticism of the rich, not only for their pompous approach
to giving to the temple, but also of their inability to see and therefore
supply for the need of the widow. We need to make up that which is lacking
- both materially and spiritually in ourselves and in others - Col1:24
(behind), 1Thes.3:10
(lacking)
Peter Cresswell
|
|
v.
24
'until the times of the gentiles are fulfilled' is reflected in the language
of Paul when he says [Romans
11:25] 'until
the fullness of the gentiles be come in'. Jerusalem will not be free from
oppression until [Romans
11:26] 'all Israel
shall be saved'.
Peter Forbes
|
|
21:20
Jerusalem encompassed with armies answers to (Matthew
24:15) 'the abomination of desolation
' so Luke explains what
is meant by the words in Matthew.
Peter Forbes |
|
Against
the repeated use of 'ye' (21:6,
8, 9, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 30, 31) we have one 'they (21:17)
indicating clearly that the prophecy would not all be fulfilled in AD 70
even though it had a major application then.
Peter Forbes |
|
:32
Generation:
Christ analysis of the generation in the first century was evil,perverse,adulterous,untoward,
and faithless. Do we see any difference in our generation? The lesson is
clear, and so we warned to WATCH, or in otherwords, to remain sleepless(Mk13:35,
1Thess 5:6, Rom 13:11)
Matt
Drywood |
|
