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May 11

Reading 1 - Deuteronomy 28

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v. 1 - This promise, in, as it were, New Covenant form, also applies quite squarely to us. We also have the responsibility to listen carefully and respond appropriately. Luke 1:6, John 15:14, Gal.3:10, Jas.2:10,11, Rom.2:7.
Peter Cresswell
The contrast in this chapter - the black and white - is so marked. There is a way which God tells us is right and the way He would have us go, and there is another way. There are only the two. That which is not right is wrong - and each has the appropriate consequence.
Peter Cresswell
v. 1 - 14 The blessings for obedience
v.15 - 68 The curses for disobedience
The blessings are rarely seen being used in the prophets, however there is repeated appeal to the curses. The marginal reference in your Bible will highlight much of the use made of the curses elsewhere in Scripture. Much profit will come from personal study in this area.
Peter Forbes
28 : 62 Passages where the promise that Israel would be as the 'stars of heaven' occur. (Genesis 26:4 Exodus 32:13 Deuteronomy 1:10 10:22 Nehemiah 9:23)
Peter Forbes

The curses of this chapter had their fulfilment at the time of the Babylonian captivity - as well as at other times. The table below highlights some of the use made of this chapter by Jeremiah in the Lamentations.

she dewlleth … no rest
Lamentations 1:3
Her adversaries are the chief
Lamentations 1:5
Children are gone into captivity
Lamentations 1:5
Is removed
Lamentations 1:8
her king … among the gentiles
Lamentations 2:9
Eyes do fail
Lamentations 2:11
Women eat their fruit
Lamentations 2:20
Sodden their own … meat
Lamentations 4:10
as blind men
Lamentations 4:14
swifter than eagles
Lamentations 4:19
our eyes are dim
Lamentations 5:17

Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Song of Solomon 8

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References on Study Site
v. 6 - 2Tim.2:19 talks of the seal, but what of the 'love is strong as death'? Does your mind not go to Peter in John 21:15-19? What of Paul in Acts 20:24?
Peter Cresswell
v.7 - Here we see the love that is so strong that it stands above all. Ultimately, in eternal terms, love is stronger than death, and more to be feared. It is the love for God (which is a result of the love of God for us) that causes our house to be built on the rock, so that against it the waters and the floods have no power. Matt.7:24,25
Peter Cresswell
v.11 The 'vineyard' which Solomon let out is the nation of Israel which was ruled over by Solomon. He set judges and captains over the land. They had responsibilities to the King and ultimately to Yahweh. Jesus draws on this scene by linking Isaiah 5 and Song 8:11 together in Matthew 21:3 in the parable of the vineyard - it is clear why 'they perceived that he spake this parable against them [Luke 20:19]
Peter Forbes

Here are a couple of echoes from Proverbs 6

8:6 Jealousy Proverbs 6:34
8:7 If a man would give all the substance Proverbs 6:35

The Proverbs speak about the way that jealousy works in man.

Are we so jealous over our love of Christ?
Peter Forbes

:14 'make haste' quoted in Revelation 22:20 is the way that the bride, looking for her bridegroom, desires her lord. The servants of God should long for the return of Christ in the same way.
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - Acts 25 & 26

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25 v.7,8 - Here we see the potential for unrighteous judgement. The ultimate unrighteous judgement was that against Jesus of course, but it seems that many men of God are made to suffer this very thing. Let us remember that man's judgement counts for nothing. Ps.27:12, 35:11, Matt.5:11,12, 26:60-62.
Peter Cresswell

25 v.9 'willing to show the Jews a pleasure' marks the way that the authorities treated Paul during this time in his life as can be seen in the following passages Acts 25:3 12:3 24:27 Which actually reflects the way in which Pilate treated Jesus Mark 15:15

26 v.16 I know that we have made this point before but it bears making again. The disciples are told that they are witnesses to God's work with Jesus Luke 24:48 Which point they are not slow to point out in their preaching. Acts 1:8 22 2:32 3:15 4:33 5:32 10:39 41 13:31 22:15 26:16
Peter Forbes

25:9 The way in which Festus wished to please the Jews highlights that this man - a servant of Romans - was more concerned with appeasement than with truth and justice.

26:31-32 So the conclusion is that, like Jesus, the charges laid against him by the Jews are unfounded. It is important that we have the testimony of gentile rulers that this is so. No Jew can ever make the claim that the preaching of Jesus or Paul was illegal or against the state - which was the Jew's accusation. Actually it attacked their position - not what God had taught through Moses.
Peter Forbes

25:8 In answering for himself we see that Paul was not interested in seeking the best legal representation or even in using the Roman law to help him. His prime focus was the preaching of the gospel. A lawyer could not have done that for Paul.

26:31 So again the point is made that Paul had done nothing worthy of death. (23:29, 25:25 and here) - Just as Pilate said of Jesus (John 18:36, 19:4,6)
Peter Forbes