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May 28

Reading 1 - Joshua 14

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v.9 - God equally promises us an inheritance because we have wholly followed the Lord our God. The land - for us - is Jesus, who is Zion, and our inheritance - the whole earth. Num.12:3, Ps.37:11, Matt.5:5.
Peter Cresswell
v.11 - This comment is reminiscent of the comment on Moses at the end of his life in Deut.34:7. A direct blessing for faithful following that both of these men should be allowed to live into old age with all of their physical (and clearly mental) faculties intact.
Peter Cresswell
v.10 The simple mention of ‘forty five years’ by Caleb provides a valuable time marker. By this time in the book of Joshua Israel have been in the land for seven years. Caleb was 40 when he spied out the land for the first time. Israel wandered in the wilderness after this for thirty eight years after that so 85 - 78 [40+38] = 7
Peter Forbes
14:9 Whilst Joshua is reminding the people what Moses had said as recorded in Numbers 13:22 the language actually echoes what God said to Abraham (Genesis 13:17-18) confirming that the land was being given to them because of what God had said to Abraham.
Peter Forbes
We know that Joshua divided the land according to Moses' commandment. However notice how often Moses is mentioned in this chapter. (:2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11)
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Isaiah 19

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v.22 - We learn here that God smites nations in order to heal them. Equally this is true of individuals. Those that he loves he chastens, in order to bring them closer to him. Deut.8:5, Heb.12:7,8, Rev.3:19.
Peter Cresswell
v.6-8 - The word used for brook here (02975) is a word of Egyptian origin used often of the Nile. It is used exclusively in Exodus and in OT passages that refer back to Exodus - e.g. Psa.78:44, Isa.7:18 but then in one or two other interesting places - e.g. here, 23:3,10, 33:21 where the consideration of the social and commercial aspects of the Nile, as well as its place in Biblical history, add some extra insight to such passages.
Peter Cresswell
v.3 The Egyptians were just like Israel in the way in which they did not look to Yahweh. [Isaiah 8:19-20] Whilst one might not expect any better of the Egyptians the point is clear that they did not learn anything from the time that Israel were in the land of Egypt. Nor had Israel had any impact upon the Egyptians beliefs during the time of the kings which contrasted with how the nations should have responded to God on seeing the way in which Israel conducted herself.
Peter Forbes
19:11,12 The use of 'wise' and 'what the Lord of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt' echo the time of Joseph. None of the wise men in Egypt could interpret his two dreams - Joseph did - and he told him (Exodus 41:25) what the Lord had purposed upon Egypt.
Peter Forbes
:18 That 'five cities' speak the language of Canaan maybe reflect that Joseph presented 'five' of his brethren to Pharaoh (Genesis 47:2)
Peter Forbes
DISCIPLINE AND REPENTANCE
This is an interesting prophecy, the latter half particularly, which hasn't been fulfilled yet. I believe it speaks of the millennium period when Jesus is king and there are still mortal people, sinners, under his reign. It speaks of the blessings that will be given to Egypt and how that they too, although they are not Jews, will be a special race of people to God. For this reason he says that he will strike them with oppressors or a plague if they turn from him so that they will cry out and return to him. When they have turned back to God he will send them deliverers and will heal them. Egypt, Assyria and Israel will all receive this type of discipline because they are a special people to God.
We too have been chosen by God to be a people set apart for him. He cares for us in the same way as he said he will care for Egypt and sometimes he disciplines us in the same way too. So let us remember to always keep ourselves centred on the LORD our God - not to wait for those last minute punishments and reminders, but to turn to him early, to repent and by God's grace to be delivered.
Robert Prins

Reading 3 - Titus

To Listen
1 v.2 - It is a great comfort to know from the pen of the inspired writer this truth that God cannot lie. If God has to speak the truth (which stands to reason) then we can rely 100% on every word of scripture. Here lies our basis of faith. John 6:68, 1John 2:25, 3:2-3, Num.23:19, 1Sam.15:29, 1Thes.2:13, 2Tim.2:13, Heb.6:17,18.
Peter Cresswell

1 v.1 - Notice how often, when the phrase 'servant of God' is found in Scripture, it refers to Moses? Joshua 1:13 Joshua 22:5 1 Chronicles 6:49 2 Chronicles 24:9 Nehemiah 10:29 Daniel 9:11 Revelation 15:3 There are only two New Testament uses of the phrase which do not speak of Moses Titus 1:1 James 1:1 If we are to consider the phrase 'Servant of the LORD' we will find that the link with Moses is even more striking. Deuteronomy 34:5 Joshua 1:1,13 8:31,33 11:12 12:6 13:8 14:7 18:7 22:2,4,5 24:29 Judges 2:8 2 Kings 18:12 2 Chronicles 1:3 24:6 The only other man called a servant of the LORD' is David. Psalm 18:1 36:1

2 v.3-4 The injunction that the women should 'teach the young women' is powerful. The brethren really cannot teach the young women the qualities that they should manifest. The older sisters should be the teachers by example. Such a great responsibility gives lie to the notion that sisters are 'second class Christadelphians.' We have spoken before on this one, and I feel that you are in an excellent position to do this and I am sure that you do.

3 v.5 'washing of regeneration' - see Ephesians 5:26 to show that the regeneration is of the Word. 3:7 'justified by his grace' Other times we are told that we are 'justified by faith' Romans 3:28 4:2 5:1 9 Galatians 2:17 3:24 So how are we justified by his grace? It is by God's grace that Jesus died. If God had not been gracious then there would be no one to have faith in, thus we are justified by grace. The grace provides the medium through which salvation comes if we believe that medium works then we are justified.
Peter Forbes

1:3 That the salvation was manifest through preaching is so obvious that we might miss the implications. If we do not talk about the salvation in Christ no one else will hear about it.

Notice the emphasis upon 'good works' (2:7 3:1 3:8 3:14) . But notice that it is not the 'good works' of the social gospel.
2:7 associates 'good works' with 'doctrine'
3:1 associates 'good works' with obedience to the authorities
3:8 The 'good works' here are contrasted with (3:9) 'foolish questions'
3:14 Whilst the meaning of 'good works' here is less clear it certainly is not advocating 'doing good' as seen in those who feel that the gospel is simply being kind.

3:7 We understand that we are 'justified by faith' (Romans 3:28 5:1 Galatians 3:24) but by speaking of being 'justified by his grace' we see that Paul, by echoing the words of Romans 3:24 demonstrates that even though we are justified by 'faith' the work is of God.
Peter Forbes

1:16 So we see that a person's lifestyle demonstrates what they believe. Correct beliefs are manifest in correct living.

3:3 That Paul associates himself 'such were some of us' with those who are in error in Crete relates to the way in which Paul opposed Christianity because of his Phariseeism indicates that Judaisers were a big problem in Crete.
Peter Forbes