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May
17
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Reading
1 - Joshua 1
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here to Listen
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v.5,9,17
- It was recognised by God that Joshua, taking over from one of the greatest
leaders of all time, and certainly from one of the closest to God, would
need a deal of encouragement. God would also realise of course, that we,
and all other generations reading this in the future, would also need a
deal of encouragement. So let us take it. Josh.3:7,
Matt.28:20, Acts 18:9,10, 2Tim.4:17, Heb.13:5.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.18
- The law has no compromise - no shades of grey, as it were - there was
death for disobedience. Full stop.
Peter Cresswell
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1:7
We might think be strong and very courageous was a necessary
exhortation to a nation going to battle but we notice that the strength
and courage are to be manifest in keeping the law of God, not in military
matters. Of course we should expect this as it is God who was going to fight
for them. They did not need to rely on their own strength
Peter
Forbes |
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So this is the culmination of a forty year wait. All the males who were
standing in Shittim knew that they were going to pass into their inheritance.
This anticipation doubtless caused them to say 1:16
'All that thou commandest us we will do
' We, in a way, make a similar
declaration at baptism. How long did it take before that initial enthusiasm
wore off?
Peter
Forbes
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Joshua
appears as the leader of Israel. We might think this is because he was one
of the faithful spies. Whilst this must be part of the story another element
is that Joshua had always been closely associated with Moses. He is spoken
of as Moses' 'minister' at the beginning of the wilderness journey (Exodus
24:13)
Peter
Forbes
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We may
ask the question "How would speaking about and meditating upon God's
law cause Joshua's way to be prosperous with good success?" The answer
is that this speaking and meditating would enable him to observe and to
keep and always to have God's Word there at the forefront of his mind (Deut.6:8,9)
during the difficult period of leading God's people into the land. During
this time, speaking and meditating would constantly bring to mind what God's
requirements were, and for the nation this would be the difference between
blessing and cursing (Deut.28:29).
This is a great spiritual lesson for ourselves. Speaking about and meditating
upon God's word in all our ways will keep us on that straight and narrow
path which leads to life. Psa.119:105,
Mal.3:16,17, Psa.1:1-3. (Blessing not cursing - Gal.3:14).
Roger
Sharpe |
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Reading
2 - Isaiah 7
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here to Listen
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v.15
- The concept of the butter and honey, which begins here apparently as symbolic
of the righteous food of Christ, is extended to include us in v.22.
We surely are amongst those that are 'left in the land' in a spiritual sense.
Let us realise what a great mercy God has for us and be thankful and rejoice,
that it might be said of us that it was said of Jesus - Luke
2:52.
Peter Cresswell |
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Carrying on from the above comment, notice (v.22)
that the implication is that butter is available due to the abundance of
milk. This promise that includes us then, is of better than the milk and
honey from before, as we would expect, because it refers to God's kingdom
on earth.
Peter Cresswell
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v.14
'Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and thou shalt call his name
Immanuel' is a passage we usually take to speak of Jesus. [Isaiah
7:14 Matthew 1:23] However the phrase has been used before [Judges
13:3,5,7] to
speak of the birth of Samson. We should be alert to earlier uses of phrases
and ideas which are later presented as prophecies because the earlier use
may thrown light onto the prophecy in the New Testament that we are reviewing.
Peter
Forbes |
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7:1
Having taken us to the end of Ahaz's life we now move back to an earlier
time in his life - when he was offered a sign (7:11)
he refused it - because of his Godless manner of life.
Peter
Forbes
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:3
Shearjashub means a remnant shall return The name passes into use in Isaiah
as a recurring refrain (10:21,
36:2) The later uses draw upon the historical detail given here.
Peter
Forbes
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This chapter
concerns the judgements coming upon Samaria and Damascus. "God's word
shall not return to him void". God's judgements did come upon the northern
kingdom and Damascus as prophesied by Isaiah (2Kings
15:29, 16:9). God is patient and longsuffering. He shows forbearance
in his character, decisions and actions. Above all, he waits patiently for
the people to turn to him for salvation. The lesson for us is that although
we may try God's patience (Isa.7:13),
he continues to be patient with sinful people (Acts
13:18) and will
delay his punishment. If we are being led away from our high calling in
the Lord Jesus Christ, let us turn to and seek the Father whilst he may
be found (Isa.55:6)
Roger
Sharpe |
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Reading
3 - 1Thessalonians 1 & 2
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here to Listen
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1
v.9,10 - The return is a strong element of the content of these 2 letters
to Thessalonica. It comes through again and again. Surely after studying
these books, we can be in absolutely no doubt that Jesus will return to
establish that which God has promised for those that follow faithfully -
eternal life on earth. This should sharpen our watchfulness. We are living,
surely, in times when our watchfulness is more and more required. 1Thes.4:16-17,
Gen.49:18, Job 19:25-27, Isa.25:8-9.
Peter Cresswell |
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1v
3
without ceasing 5281 Patience is seen as a virtue which is to
be developed in the Christ like believer
Luke
8:15 21:19 Romans 2:7 5:3,4 8:25 15:4,5 2 Corinthians 1:6 6:4 12:12 Colossians
1:11 here 2 Thessalonians 1:4 3:5 1 Timothy 6:11 2 Timothy 3:10 Titus
2:2 Hebrews 10:36 12:1 James 1:3,4 5:11 2 Peter 1:6 Revelation 1:9 2:2,3,19
3:10 13:10 14:12
That it is mentioned so many times presses upon us the importance of the
virtue and yet how difficult it is to attain.
2
v.9 Paul worked
with his own hands so that he would not be a burden to the ecclesia at
Thessalonica. He had recently established the ecclesia at Philippi [16:12]
and so soon after he had established the ecclesia there they send financial
aid to the apostle [Philippians
4:16].
Peter Forbes
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ch.1
- It is only the two letters to the Thessalonians where we find 'Paul
Silvanus and Timothy' writing together.
2:2
The mention of being 'shamefully intreated at Philippi' refers to the
details contained in Acts
16:22
Peter Forbes
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1:2
In saying that he 'always' gives thanks to God Paul is reflecting what
Jesus said about prayer (Luke
18:1). He is not saying that he prays for the brethren and sisters
at Thessalonica all the time. He is speaking of a way of thinking about
praying for each other.
2:3-5
Deceit and flattery are common currency amongst those of the world. The
danger is that we might lower ourselves to speak in similar ways. The
danger is that flattery tends to endear one to the person being spoken
to and so the temptation is to flatter so that we will be liked whereas
the requirement of Scripture is that we always speak the truth.
Peter Forbes
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We should
never ever underestimate the power of a good example, especially the one
which says of the Thessalonians that the word of God was effectually working
within them (2:11). These brethren and
sisters through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ were allowing the word to
work within them, and this in the midst of much affliction and tribulation
(1:6). This example had
provoked much response (1:8). These believers were
being imitated by the whole ecclesial world. What a wonderful commendation
this is. God willing, we also can be examples, we can be patterns for others
to copy (1Tim.4:12,13)
Roger Sharpe |
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