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July 21

Reading 1 - 2Samuel 6

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v. 8 - The more we learn about this man the more 'human' traits we find that we can relate to ourselves. Here David is angry with God. He could not see that what Uzzah did was worthy of death, and this caused him to be afraid of the Lord that day - frightened that God would bring retribution on him for his anger against Him, presumably, and frightened to continue in case something else happened. I find it comforting that this man of whom God thought so highly, could possess these aspects to his personality, and still be approved because of the state of his heart. There is only one other recorded incident of a man of God being angry with God, and that is with Jonah (4:1-9).
Peter Cresswell
v.9 - This fear, which is borne of our own misunderstanding of God's ways which are higher than our ways, is familiar to all of us. I find it somewhat of a comfort that David had this problem too.
Peter Cresswell
v.16 - The last time that we saw Michal associated with David she lowered him down from the window to save his life [1 Samuel 19:12] She did this because of her love for him. Now she 'despised him in her heart'. She had regressed spiritually apart from David. She had ideas of grandeur for David. Hence she was unhappy because he removed his kingly robes to don the 'linen ephod'.
Peter Forbes

The use of language from Deuteronomy 12

his place
Deuteronomy 12:11

Shows that David understood that God had actually chosen a specific place where he would place his name. It was this that drove David to bring the ark to Zion.
Peter Forbes

:3 When David put the ark on 'a new cart' are we right in assuming that David did this out of ignorance of what the law of Moses stipulated?

If David had not known that the ark should be carried by the priests -which is unlikely - it is certain that the priests knew what the law required and they would doubtless have told David.

Can we think of a reason why David would do this in contradiction of the express teaching of the law of Moses?
Peter Forbes

DANCING FROM THE HEART
Michal was disgusted. David had been bringing the ark back into Jerusalem. They sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf every six steps, everyone was rejoicing - especially David, they sacrificed more offerings and David gave gifts of bread, dates and raisins to all the people. But that wasn't what disgusted Michal. It was the fact that David was only wearing a linen ephod and dancing with all his might before the LORD. David's reply to her was this. "It was before the LORD … who chose me … (that) I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of I will be held in honour."
David and Michal were looking at the same situation from two different points of view. David's actions were from the heart. What he did stemmed from his heartfelt worship and praise and fear of God. Michal was looking in from the outside. All she saw was her barely dressed husband making a fool of himself in front of the rest of the kingdom. David danced before the LORD. The general people seem to have seen David doing a good thing rather than disgracing himself. The lesson for us is to be like David and to act from a pure heart and not to worry about what people think. God knows what is in our hearts. David knew that.
Robert Prins
RIGHT THING, WRONG WAY

David's plan was a good and godly plan. David's life was lived in a good and godly way. He was described as a man after God's own heart. God was with David in everything he did, and God had blessed him. With so many positive things going for David, it is hard to see how he could go wrong.

David wanted to bring the ark of God up to Jerusalem - it was part of God's plan to have the temple and the ark at Jerusalem - but the way David did it was wrong. The Law of Moses specifically stated that the ark of the LORD must be carried by its poles, on the shoulders of the priests. Maybe David did not know this, or maybe he had forgotten this particular law, but whatever it was, he had the ark put on a new cart to move it, and when Uzzah reached out his hand and touched it, he was struck dead. David had done the right thing in the wrong way.

Can we be sure we are doing the right thing in the right way? Could it be that we have not read God's word for so long that we have forgotten the right way to serve him? Let's not make the same mistake as David. Even though we are doing the right thing, let's make sure we do it the right way.
Robert Prins

Reading 2 - Jeremiah 11

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v. 19 - Whilst this verse is quite clearly prophetic of the time of the crucifixion of Christ, it is also something which was personal to Jeremiah, who shared this rejection - ch.18:18, see also Ps.35:15.
Peter Cresswell
v.4 - Egypt is referred to on three occasions as an iron furnace - here, Deut.4:20, 1Kings 8:51. Consider also these two verses in Ezekiel as well int his context, where the same two hebrew words occur in close proximity: Eze.22:18,20
Peter Cresswell

Jeremiah draws Israel's attention to the covenant that their parents had agreed to just before they entered the land.
Quotations and allusions to Deuteronomy

Out of the land of Egypt the iron furnace Jer.11:4/Deuteronomy 4:20
said so be it [amen] Jer.11:5/Deuteronomy 27:15 etc:
and do them Jer.11:6/Deuteronomy 27:26
imagination Jer.11:8/Deuteronomy 29:19
which I commanded Jer.11:8/Deuteronomy 27:1
to hear Jer.11:10/Deuteronomy 27:9
to escape [Heb to go forth] Jer.11:11/Deuteronomy 28:19
they shall cry ... not hearken unto them Jer11:11/Leviticus 26:31

Peter Forbes
11:5 In using 'amen' - so be it - Jeremiah is forcefully reminding Israel how they agreed to the words of the covenant by assenting 'amen' after each clause (Leviticus 27:15). The lesson for us is clear. We should be aware of the commitments that we have made.

Peter Forbes
:14 This is the second of three times (7:16 here 14:11) when God tells Jeremiah not to pray for the people. So Jeremiah has been speaking God's words of judgement against a sinful people - and so he prayed for their deliverance - even when he had been told to stop! How do we feel about those in the world who are in darkness?

Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - Matthew 22

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v. 5 - Notice that the servants, in making their excuses about attending the wedding (of Christ and the bride) actually state the nature of their idolatry. His farm ... his merchandise. We must be careful that we do not love the things of this life so much that when we are called to that wedding, we do not make light of it and return to the things in which we have become accustomed to put our trust. Gen.19:14, 25:3, Matt.13:22, Acts 24:25.
Peter Cresswell
v.19 - Jesus asks them to 'show me the tribute money' and the record says 'they' brought it. The Pharisees were so antagonistic to the Roman state they would not be carrying the tribute money. The Herodians were so willing to bow to Rome that they would be the ones who produced the money. But think about it. Rampant patriots of Rome working together with vigorous opponents to the Roman occupation.
Peter Forbes
22:12-15 The parable - spoken against the leaders - left them speechless as the man in the parable. So they sought to trap Jesus in his own words! See the way of the flesh. Because they had no answer, rather than acknowledge that Jesus was a teacher sent from God they sought to undermine his teaching by trapping him in his teaching.
Peter Forbes
:31 In saying that at the bush God spoke ' unto you' we see a most powerful testimony that even though in the first instance Scripture was written or spoken many years ago it has a lasting and all embracing relevance. The same point is taught in Romans 4:23-24.
Peter Forbes
In 21v43 Jesus told the Jews how the vineyard was to be taken away and given to "another nation bearing the fruits of it". Here in the parable of the wedding feast he reinforces what he has just said, in the hope of gaining their repentance. V3-4, the sending of the servants relates to the prophecy of Jeremiah in 7v13 "but you did not listen". Jer 7v15 "and I will cast you out of my sight" relates to the parable v7, and Jesus' own words in Matt 23v37. This should have been such a clear warning to the scribes and Pharisees, if they had known their old testament. But instead of repenting, they were angry with Jesus and plotted against him v15. Is it possible for us also to be this blind?
Robin de Jongh