Reading 1 - Leviticus 9 & 10

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9:1 The 'eighth day' - so Aaron and his sons have been consecrated now. We are just over a week after the erection of the tabernacle and the sons of Aaron are ready to begin the great work. The detail of the chapter marks that the work was done exactly according to the commandment given in Exodus 29

10:1 'strange fire' shows the first violation of the details of Exodus. For in Exodus 30:9 Israel were commanded not to offer 'strange incense' consequently Nadab and Abihu died 'before the Lord'. 50% of the priest who were the sons of Aaron died in one moment. Consider how this would affect the operation of the Law of Moses.
10:3 So Israel learnt that Yahweh would 'be sanctified in those that come nigh me'. Our prayers are incense Psalm 141:2 Revelation 8:3 - 4. The lesson is clear with respect to our worship of the Father.
10:9 - 10 The prohibitions laid upon Aaron are represented to the priests who will officiate in the temple that Ezekiel describes - Ezekiel 44:21 - 23.
10:12 - 19 The fact that Eleazar and Ithamar had not eaten the offering because of the distress at the death of their brothers shows that even the observance of the Law of Moses was not just a mechanical observance of ritual. The feelings of the offerer affected the appropriateness of the offering.
Peter Forbes

9:23-24 The appearance of the glory cloud and the fire to consume the sacrifices demonstrated that Yahweh had accepted the offering of the people in making the tabernacle and it's furniture. The tabernacle has now been erected and accepted by God - but it is about to be spoilt by Nadab and Abihu.

10:19,20 The word 'accepted' is translated 'content' in :20. So we see that there is a relationship between God accepting the offering and the way a person thinks about what he is doing. It is not good enough simply to go through the motions. We have to have a heart prepared for the service we are doing as well. Israel had learnt this [Exodus 35:5,21,29] when they were instructed as to how they were to give to the building of the tabernacle. The lesson is so obvious for us today.
Peter Forbes

9:1 Having finished their consecration Aaron and his sons can now start the work. Whilst, after the tabernacle had been reared up, they would have wanted to get on with the work immediately they had to wait according to the provision of God that they might be fitted for the work. Likewise our life now is our preparation time - when Christ returns we will, through God's grace, be able to be 'kings and priest' (Revelation 5:10) so we should take care that this time of preparation is sued properly.

ch 10 - We should not assume that Nadab and Abihu were being openly rebellious against God. That they were drunk is beyond doubt. However we shod enquire why it was. The tabernacle had been made over a period of about 9 months. All that they had been looking forward to had come. They, and the rest of the people for that matter, would have been in a state of great joy. There was a feeling of great excitement and expectation - wine was drunk and the distinction between what was right and what they wanted to do out of a feeling of joy was blurred.

We must take care that our worship is according to God's instruction and not simply a reflection of our emotions.
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Psalms 108 & 109

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Psalm 108 We might think that David won his battles by his own strength, or that his victories were a foregone conclusion because he was the Lord's anointed. However David viewed things differently. He, when coming against his enemies, realised that the victory was the Lord's. vs10,11

Psalm 109 This Psalm is prayer for the overthrow of the counsel of Ahithophel who, along with Absalom, sought to overthrow the throne of David toward the end of his life. As such Ahithophel stands as a patter of Judas, who betrayed Jesus. So we have the betrayal of two of the Lord's anointed ones. This is why the psalm is quoted in the New testament and applied to Judas [:8 Acts 1:20] So as we read the Psalm we learn of David's feelings at this time and can gain an insight into how Jesus felt at the betrayal of his 'familiar friend' Judas.
Peter Forbes

109:16 the needy man with the broken heart is David. We gain something of an insight into the depths of David's depression over Ahithophel's treachery in the words of Psalm 55:12-14 which is another Psalm about the Absalom uprising. Consider how David was devastated because it was his 'friend' who had done this. Now reflect on the damage we cause when we let our brethren and sisters down.
Peter Forbes

108 - In this Psalm we have a salutary lesson for all nations that think that they control their own destinies. They all belong to Him (:8-9) He will eventually subdue these nations through the work of Jesus when he returns.

109 - Judas Iscariot followed the pattern of Ahithophel so Peter (Acts 1:20) quotes Psalm 109:8. So if we appreciate the feelings that David had when Ahithophel betrayed him we can imagine the way that Jesus felt about Judas.
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - 2 Corinthians 1 & 2

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The repeated use of the word demonstrates that the Apostle had a great concern that the brethren and sisters in Corinth appreciated the way in which they should respond because of the love that they had experienced through the sacrifice of Jesus.

2:7 comfort
So we see that the brethren in Corinth are encouraged to draw on their understanding of the comfort that they have received in Christ to help them to understand how they should respond correctly to the repentant sinner in their midst.

Peter Forbes

1:11 We should remember that our prayers for others are actually valuable - but we should tell those for whom we pray that we are praying for them.

2:1 Some of us cause consternation just by our presence. Paul had already caused heaviness to the Corinthians and did not want to do so again - even though he had things about which he had cause to reprove them. Do we think about the impact our words will have on others before we say them?
Peter Forbes