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May 27

Reading 1 - Joshua 13

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v.14 points out the unique status of the Levites. This status was brought about by their priesthood, and the fact that this gave them an inheritance (Deut 10:9, 12:12,19, 18:2). Their inheritance, like ours, was in the Lord. They were, in this respect then, members of a different covenant, much more like the one that we are under since the death of our testator. They were made worthy by God to enter the tabernacle. Their sins were covered in much the same way as ours. We are to be priests, though not after the Levitical order. However, it seems there is quite a bit here to think about. Num.18:22,23.
Peter Cresswell
v.1 - I don't know about you but I have to stop and remind myself just how much time passes as we read these events. Because they flow on one from the other in the pages of scripture, there is a tendency to think that much less time has passed than really has. It was a long drawn out and gradual process for Israel taking possession of the land - requiring much faith and determination. They did not have it easy, and no man would have seen it through from beginning to end as we can with our position of hindsight. We are greatly blessed and we should remember that.
Peter Cresswell
The borders of the inheritance of the tribes is spelt out. Our interest in the divisions is probably in proportion to our knowledge of the land of Israel. The list of places is not very informative unless we know where the places mentioned are. A good Bible map will make this, and other chapters which make mention of place names far more interesting and understandable.
Peter Forbes
This chapter starts with a summary of what had not been conquered yet - and Joshua was not old. As if the observation of Joshua's age along with the amount of land remaining to be conquered was to act as a spur to Joshua to finish the work.

Do we ever feel that there is so much to do for the Lord and time is running out?
Peter Forbes

:22 The death of Balaam actually took place when Moses was still alive (Numbers 31:1-8) demonstrating that the summaries contained in Joshua sometimes extend back to before the time of Joshua's leadership.
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Isaiah 17 & 18

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17:14 - Let us keep in mind the way in which God can remove our problems and our enemies overnight, as it were, and let us increase our faith in the fact that He will.
Peter Cresswell
18:7 - Given that Jesus is 'the place where the Lord shall choose' - mount Zion we have here a picture of those that labour and are heavy laden coming to Jesus to find rest. It is those who have fallen and acknowledged their sins that can be saved.
Peter Cresswell

ch.17 The list of nations and cities [Isaiah 13:1 15:1 17:1 19:1 21:1,11,13 22:1 23:1 30:6] that is destroyed by the Babylonians provided Israel with a short term fulfilment which should have taught them that Yahweh would keep His word with respect to the other things that he had promised. However they did not believe and so eventually were taken captive by Babylon.

18:1-2 The language of these verses indicates that the Ethiopians were a sea faring nation in the time of Isaiah.
Peter Forbes

17:1 Damascus
17:3 Ephraim
17:4 Jacob
17:5 Valley of Rephaim

This chronological list of places mentioned in this chapter marks a relentless progression towards Jerusalem. The Valley of Rephaim is just outside the walls of Jerusalem.
Peter Forbes

17:6 That the 'gleaning grapes' are to be left leaves some comfort that the nation will not be totally destroyed.

18:5 This farming metaphor marks the point that the destruction will be before the nation has risen to its peak.
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - 2Timothy 3 & 4

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3 v.7 - It is quite worrying that there can be people in this category, and even more worrying that we could be amongst them, if we have developed the wrong attitude to our learning. Ch.4:3,4 develops this problem, and brings it home to us that these people, as opposed to ch.3, which seems to be referring to the world outside the truth (though personally I'm not so sure about this and I am encouraged to see that Bro. Peter [below] is in agreement with me here!) are, or at least were, definitely amongst us, but turn away to listen to those who say what they want to hear. We have eyes to see and ears to hear - we must be sure that is what we do. Deut.29:4, Prov.14:6, Isa.30:10,11.
Peter Cresswell

3:2 - 5 describes the attitudes and behaviour of brethren and sisters in the last days. Paul is not warning Timothy about how unbelievers would behave. Unbelievers have behaved in this way all through the ages. Paul had already warned the brethren and sisters in Ephesus that 'of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things ...' Acts 20:30. The warning is the same for ourselves. We should not be looking at the world for the fulfilment of these words. Sadly we should be prepared for these things in the ecclesias. Not that we should instigate a witch hunt. We should take the warning of the Apostle to heart and be wary lest we are led astray by such errors when they are paraded as truth.

4:2 'exhort ... with all long suffering ...' The point of exhortation is that those spoken to are in need of the word. If this is so it is probable that the problem being addressed will not be resolved with the first or even the second presentation of the message. This is so even if the recipient recognises the word of exhortation as relevant and wishes to implement it in his life. Therefore whoever exhorts must recognise this fact - that is he must be 'long suffering' and be willing for the word to grow in the 'good and honest heart'
Peter Forbes

3:1 'Perilous' <5467> is found (Matthew 8:28) translated 'fierce' - the only other use of the word. Hence we can develop a clearer understanding as to what the word means.

3:11 out of them all the Lord delivered me Psalm 34:19
3:12 that will live Godly will suffer persecution Psalm 34:19

ch.4 - These three echoes of Stephen's last words

4:16 I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge Acts 7:60
4:17 The Lord stood Acts 7:56
4:22 be with thy spirit Acts 7:59

May indicate the impact that the dying Stephen had on Saul of Tarsus.
Peter Forbes

3:16 'reproof' is the same word that is translated 'evidence' (Hebrews 11:1). So we see that Scripture provides us with evidence or proof. Whilst we tend to think of this in the context of proving our doctrines are correct - which indeed is important - we should ralise that the proof we find shows us how we should live 'that the man of God may be furnished …'

4:2 Paul is not suggesting that 'Out of season' preaching means that we should speak to unbelievers when they are not willing to listen or are busy doing something else. Rather Paul is insisting that brethren and sisters ought to be spoken to whenever it is necessary. Whilst we cannot and should not expect the unbeliever to give heed to the gospel message as his first priority the believer should be willing to 'drop everything; when the gospel is being preached to him.
Peter Forbes