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May 5

Reading 1 - Deuteronomy 22

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v. 5 - Just one of a list of sundry laws. Apart from its significance for the evil of today's society (and this surely refers to full-scale sex change, rather than dressing up for a fancy dress party!) there is also the fact that this is picked up in 1Cor 11:4-7, and then the argument continues v. 8-15 - leading us to realise that this regards Christ and the Church.
Peter Cresswell
v.7 - It seems that there are a number of quite surprising occasions when this idea of prolonging their days comes along. It begins with 'honour thy father and thy mother' where there is a promise of long life as a result, but it doesn't stop there. It seems that the keeping of God's law is a way to long life - but what of those who we know to have been diligent Bible students and great doers of God's law who we know have died early? Surely there must have been some of these then as well? The implication is that God is not offering long life now, but in the kingdom.
Peter Cresswell
v. 25 Notice that the woman is presumed innocent. She would have to raise the matter with the elders of course or else the matter simply would not be known. Interestingly the man is presumed to be guilty on the word of one witness - the woman. This contrasts with the normal provision 'one or two witnesses' for the simple reason that one would not expect there to be more than one witness.
Peter Forbes
22:1 The teaching in the law regarding sheep going astray passes into Biblical use as a pattern of human behaviour. (Deuteronomy 22:1 Psalm 119:176 Isaiah 53:6 Jeremiah 50:6 Matthew 18:12,13 1Peter 2:25 etc:)

And is a basis for the parable of the 'lost' sheep. (Luke 15:4)
Peter Forbes

:6 One wonders if Pilate was aware of this requirement of the law (Matthew 27:24) when he publicly washed his hands of Jesus' death.
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Song of Solomon 2

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v.3 - The apple tree is not used very often, but it must represent the conception and life of Israel here, which is ceasing in Joel1:12 but is epitomised here in the glory of its birth and elsewhere makes the phrase 'apple of my eye' more significant - Deut.32:10, Ps.17:8, Prov.7:2, Lam.2:18, Zech.2:8.
Peter Cresswell
v.4 - We know this banner to be representative of Jesus, and we know that love is the ultimate aim in our relationship with God and with each other. This verse then is very significant in what it says. See also Psa.60:4, Isa.11:10, John 15:9-15, Rom.8:8-10, 28-39
Peter Cresswell
v.9 Hosea speaks of the way in which Yahweh reveals his will [Hosea 12:10] speaking of 'similitudes'. Which is presented as 'is like' in the Song of Solomon. Song of Solomon 1:9 2:9 17 7:7 8:14 Which shows that the Song of Solomon is part of the 'ministry of the prophets' and is thus far more than a simple love story. It is a prophecy of the bride and Christ.
Peter Forbes
2:8 Upon the mountains, echoing Judges 11:37 has the beloved like Jephthah's daughter, fulfilling her vow which was placed upon her by her father.
Peter Forbes
:2 In speaking of her 'love' as a 'lily' among the 'thorns' the maiden is correctly identifying Jesus as being very different from other men.
Peter Forbes
The expresssion 'apple of my eye' signifies someone or something favoured. Today we use it in our language more in reference to people than to things. I just want to point out that in the references Bro. Peter Cresswell quoted above, the term 'apple', as in the fruit, is not applicable. Deut. 32:10, Ps. 17:8 and Prov. 7:2 use the word 'ishon' which means 'pupil' (of the eye); Lam. 2:18 uses 'bat' which means daughter (of Zion); Zec. 2:8 uses 'baba' which could also signify 'pupil'. The idea of using the idea of 'pupil' is that it is always central to one's observation (focus of attention) whichever way one turns.
Michael Parry

Reading 3 - Acts 14 & 15

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14 v.3 - boldly - This describes the way that we must be today - in an evil world (as we certainly are). Let us not be frightened to speak out for the Lord. In fact let us, like them, seek out opportunities to do just that. ch.13:46, 18:9,10. The other point from this verse is the length of time. This wasn't just a quick one-night special effort in a village. Compare also ch.18:11, 19:10, 1Cor.16:8,9
Peter Cresswell

14:10 This is the second lame man that Peter has healed according to the Acts of the Apostles. The first being the man sitting at the 'beautiful gate' [Acts 3:7] Making the lame to walk was one of the signs that God was with Peter in his work. [ Luke 7:22] shows that such miracles were to be a sign to convince John the Baptist that Jesus was Christ.

Chapter 15 The issue of Jew and Gentile in the ecclesia raises it’s ugly head again. Paul was not the only Pharisee who believed. However those in Jerusalem wished to impose the law on the gentiles. In the ensuing discussion. Peter's appeal [Acts 15:7] seems to indicate that the Jews already knew of Peter's experience with Cornelius. In encouraging the brethren to reflect on the work of Jesus notice the order [Acts 15:11] 'we shall be saved, even as they.' The emphasis being that the gentiles were saved by grace, not the law of Moses. So a letter was sent [Acts 15:20] which laid some constraints upon the gentiles but did not require them to keep all the details of the law of Moses. Thus an accommodation was reached which pleased all - at least in discussion though the problem is to raise it's head again. Thus 'compromise' is possible on non fundamental issues. The prime focus is the unity of the body of Christ' and this decision had that as it's main focus. Notice that the letter was sent to specific ecclesias - those which had been involved in the problem [Acts 15:23] 'the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:' A lesson for us. Only involve those who are directly affected by any ecclesial problem
Peter Forbes

14:15 As a consequence of healing the lame man Paul and Barnabus were showered with honours by the people. This was in stark contrast to the persecution that they experienced in Antioch recorded in Chapter 13. Lesser men would have accepted the honours. Not Paul and Barnabus - as a consequence they were persecuted - Paul was actually stoned - in Antioch as well.

15:16 Peter's use of Jeremiah 12:15 and Amos 9:11 again forces the point that the gospel relates fundamentally to the promises of David - in fat it is the promise of the restoration of the house of David that is used to show that the gentiles would be called.

15:16 After this Jeremiah 12:15
15:16 I will return …doeth all these things Amos 9:11

Peter Forbes

14:1-2 There are three groups of individuals here

  • Jews Hebrew speaking Jews
  • Greeks Greek speaking Jews
  • Gentiles Those with no Jewish blood.

So the unbelieving Jews sought the help of non Jews to undermine the preaching of the Gospel to Greek and Hebrew Jews. How would this happen?

Jewish believers still had problems with the idea that gentiles should accept the faith. Maybe these gentiles were encouraged by the unbelieving Jews to emphasise the non exclusive nature of the gospel message.

15 - The events of the first few verses relate to matters in the ecclesia at Iconim and Antioch (Acts 14:21) Antioch is about 230 miles from Jerusalem so these brethren travelled quite some distance to stir up this matter about circumcision.
Peter Forbes

NOT TOO DIFFICULT

The law of Moses was full of rules and regulations to control just about every aspect of everyday life. To those who tried to keep it, it became a burden and they became in bondage to it. But the life in Christ should not be like that. When the early believers discussed this, James said, "We should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God." What he was saying was that we do not need to burden ourselves down with lots of rules and regulations because in Christ we are governed by principles rather than rules. However, he did say that there are four things we would do well to avoid.

  1. We should abstain from food sacrificed to idols.
  2. We should abstain from blood.
  3. We should abstain from the meat of strangled animals.
  4. We should abstain from sexual immorality.

These are four simple rules that it should be a pleasure to keep. The rest are summed up in one word, Love. So let's not burden ourselves with rules upon rules of how to live a Christian life, but make the walk easier for each other with encouragement in love.
Robert Prins