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May 9

Reading 1 - Deuteronomy 26

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v.13 contains an attitude that we do well to culture. A number of other passages might help us to see that we have here a scripture-wide principle Ps.26:6, Acts 24:16, 2Cor.1:12, 1Thes.2:10, 1John 3:17-22.
Peter Cresswell
v.12 - The various things we have read about over the last few days that took place every 3 years must have interfered sometimes with the release that took place every seven years. Every 21 years they would co-incide. How would the people give their tithes of their goods when it coincided with a year of leaving the fields fallow? God's provision in the sixth year to go through to the eighth year must have taken account of this on these occasions.
Peter Cresswell
v.19 Holiness to the Lord. The principle of being holy to the Lord is seen in the High Priest's mitre. Exodus 28:36 39:30 However holiness was not an attribute that was a requisite of the High priest only. The nation were to be holy, making a difference between the clean and unclean Leviticus 20:26 In making vows, or paying tithes, Israel had to appreciate that what was being given was holy to the Lord Leviticus 27:14 21 28 30 32 The man or woman who made a Nazarite vow was to implement that principle of holiness to the Lord is all the days of their separation. Numbers 6:8 But in reality the whole nation were separated to God and thus should have been holy to the Lord all the time. Deuteronomy 7:6 14:2 21 here As Jeremiah states Jeremiah 2:3 This was the high calling of Israel - which sadly they had fallen from. So when we see Holiness to the Lord on the horse bridles and the pots holy to the Lord Zechariah 14:20 21 We see a picture of the kingdom of God where He, at last, is given the honour due to Him through the holiness of His people.
Peter Forbes
:5 In saying that he was a 'Syrian' and that there had been the sojourn in Egypt draws on Jacob's history to remind the Israelite that he was not in the land of Israel because of any right that he had. Rather he would realise that his possession of the land was because of God's goodness.
Peter Forbes
26:18 'special people' The concept of Israel [and us] being a special or peculiar treasure is a theme which runs through the Scriptures.

However notice how the same word is used in 1 Chronicles 29 and Ecclesiastes 2 to speak of monetary wealth as well. (Exodus 19:5 Deuteronomy 7:6 14:2 26:18 1 Chronicles 29:3 Psalm 135:4 Ecclesiastes 2:8 Malachi 3:17 Titus 1:14 1 Peter 2:9)
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Song of Solomon 6

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v.5-6 - Is there some significance in the mentioning of sheep and goats here? Both exist within the bride of Christ - with the need to be separated at judgement Matt.25:32. And yet in this situation it is the sheep that multiply more abundantly. Here the exhortation is clearly to keep it that way. Feed the flock of God. Col.1:4-6, 1Pet.5:2.
Peter Cresswell
v.4,10 - The army with banners may be an allusion to the army of heaven foretold for us in Rev.19:14-16 where the 'banner' read 'KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS'.
Peter Cresswell
v.13 'Shulamite' is the feminine form of 'Solomon'
Peter Forbes
6:13 There is often much discussion as to who the Shulamite is. The word is <7759> and is from <8010> Solomon. It has a Tav at the end which makes it a feminine noun. So if Solomon is the groom the Shulamite is the bride of Solomon. These things speak of Christ and the ecclesia.
Peter Forbes
:12 Amminadib <05993> is the same as Amminadab <05992>. She was the mother of the wife of Aaron Exodus 6:23. As names are rare in Song of Solomon we should investigate the history of this woman as far as it is given in Scripture.
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - Acts 21 & 22

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21 v.5 - It is relatively rarely that the presence of the wives and children is mentioned, but it is usually in the context of great happiness, as here, for although they were sad to see them go, it was because they were a source of happiness that they turned out in whole families to see them off. 2Chr.20:13, Neh.12:43, Matt.14:21.
Peter Cresswell

Acts 21 - 23 The visit to Jerusalem which is found in Acts 21 is the fourth time that the apostle has gone up to Jerusalem according to Acts. The other three visits are mentioned thus:-
1] Acts 9:26 [after his conversion]
2] Acts 11:27-30 [Paul and Barnabas take "alms" to the "brethren that dwelt in Judea"]
3] Acts 15:4 [The Jerusalem council]
We search in vain in the preceding chapters for the reason for Paul's great desire to go to Jerusalem. He knew that great trouble awaited him there. Acts 21:13 "Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus". Nevertheless he went. What was the motivation? We learn of the reason for the visit when Paul is before Felix. For he says, Acts 24:17 "Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings". This visit to Jerusalem was the culmination of a task that had been in the forefront of Paul's mind since the events recorded in Acts 11. Doubtless the journeys and places he visited on his way to Jerusalem was to advance the cause of the poor saints in Jerusalem.

ch.22 Paul is now before antagonistic Jews because brethren in Christ had sought to get him to show that he kept the law of Moses by involving him in the Nazarite vow of some men [Acts 21:20-25]. Whilst there was nothing inherently wrong in what they did their actions had a terrible consequence. From this time forward, from the details we find in Acts Paul was never a free man again. We should consider how our actions can impact on the lives of our brethren and sisters before doing anything which may be damaging to the lives of our brethren and sisters.
Peter Forbes

21:4 The information that Paul should not go to Jerusalem - information given by the Holy Spirit is interesting to think upon as Paul was going to Jerusalem to do good. He was carrying the funds collected by the ecclesias for the poor saints at Jerusalem. This shows that just because we are doing a good work we should not presume that we will be preserved.

22:3-21 This description of Paul's conversion is not a 'testimonial' as many evangelicals give testimonials. It was given to confirm the validity of Paul's claims and to highlight the force of his message. The 'blinding light' experience of Paul was unique - nothing like this happens today and so we cannot make a claim ourselves to such an experience no matter how powerfully we feel that we have been convinced that the gospel is true.
Peter Forbes

21:4 As the disciples 'through the spirit' said that Paul should not go to Jerusalem' was Paul resisting the Holy Spirit in continuing and going? Consider this option. The advice of the brethren contained information about what was going to happen to Paul in Jerusalem rather than a command forbidding him to go. In 16:5-7 we see the Spirit providing direction but there the Spirit 'forbad'.

22:2 The impct of Paul speaking in Hebrew is interesting. Were they unused to hearing Hebrew spoken in every day speech? The answer is probably yes. It was the language of the law. Greek was the language in general use in day to day matters.
Peter Forbes