Jul 23
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12:1-17 ‘“If any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it”, declares the Lord’(17). We must not look out to the world and say, ‘That’s what’s happening “out there”’. We must loo… Read more »
Jul 12
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26:1-25 Saul and David were very different. David was wise. He had respect for ‘the Lord’s anointed’(11). This was grounded in ‘the fear of the Lord’ which ‘is the beginning of wisdom’(Psalm 111:10).… Read more »
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7:1-8:3 ‘Stop believing these deceitful words, “We are safe! This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!”’(4). For many, the place of worship has become more import… Read more »
Jul 11
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1:1-19 To understand Jeremiah’s story, we must look ‘behind the scenes’: ‘The Word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the wombI knew you, before you were bornI set you apart; I ap… Read more »
Jul 8
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20:1-42 ‘Jonathan loved David as he loved his own soul’(17). He was ready to die for David (30-33). This is real love and true spiritual fellowship: ‘Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay… Read more »
Jul 5
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61:1-11 ‘The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me... to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour’ (1-2). Jesus has fulfilled these words (Luke 4:18-21). Jesus has come, ‘proclaiming the Good News of God’.… Read more »
Jul 3
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15:1-35 Saul chose convenience rather than obedience. He did what he wanted - not what God commanded (3,9). Saul was disobedient. God was not pleased with him (10). Saul made big claims for himself: ‘… Read more »
Jul 1
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56:1-57:10 ‘My House will be called a House of prayer for all nations’(56:7). God is gathering His people together ‘from every tribe and language and people and nation’(Revelation 5:9). ‘Salvation com… Read more »
Jun 24
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49:1-26 ‘I, the Lord, am your Saviour, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob’. We are not to keep this to ourselves. God wants ‘all mankind’ to ‘know’(26). ‘Jesus, the Name to sinners dear, the Name… Read more »
Jun 22
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1:1-28 Hannah ‘wept’. Hannah ‘was no longer sad’(7,18). What made the difference? No child had been born. She had not even conceived. These things did not happen until later (21). Why was there such a… Read more »
Jun 20
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1:1-2:23 Ruth meets Boaz. It seemed like a ‘chance’ meeting - ‘she happened to come... ‘(2:3). It was more than that. God was at work. Ruth had committed herself to the Lord (1:16-17). She was being g… Read more »
Jun 19
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21:9-22:21 God has given us a glimpse of a future which is heavenly, eternal and glorious: ‘the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God - It shone with the glory of God’. Is this ‘ete… Read more »
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In Genesis 3:1, we read of ‘the serpent’. Here he is again - ‘that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan’. He is a powerful enemy. He ‘leads the whole world astray’. He is a determined enemy. ‘Da… Read more »
Jun 10
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41:1-29 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you... I am the Lord your God who... says to you, Do not fear; I will help you... I Mysel… Read more »
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36:1-37:20 Hezekiah is facing a very powerful enemy - ‘Sennacherib, king of Assyria’(36:1). Hezekiah prays for deliverance - ‘O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand’. He prays for salvation - ‘O Lor… Read more »
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17:1-18:13- Things are not going well - ‘every man did that which was right in his own eyes’(17:6). People were doing what suited themselves. Micah was trying to ‘get the best of both worlds’. He was… Read more »
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9:1-49- Things were going from bad to worse! The people of Israel had forgotten ‘the Lord their God’(8:34). ‘The enemy’was ready to ‘come in like a flood’(Isaiah 59:19). Abimelech - Gideon’s son by ‘… Read more »
Jun 9
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6:11-7:14 ‘We are weak but He is strong’(Church Hymnary, 418). In himself, Gideon was weak (15). In the Lord, he was ‘a mighty warrior’. Gideon was full of questions. God said to him, ‘Go... I will be… Read more »
Jun 8
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32:1-20 ‘Abandoned... deserted... a wasteland...’(14). Can such a desperate situation be turned around? Yes! When ‘the Spirit is poured upon us from on high... the wilderness becomes a fruitful field’… Read more »
Jun 6
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1:1-2:5 ‘You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? (Galatians 5:7). Everything seems to be going well - ‘From victory to victory His army He shall lead till every foe is vanqu… Read more »
Jun 2
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25:1-26:9 ‘O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your Name... You have done marvellous things’(25:1). We remember what God has done for us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Savio… Read more »
Jun 1
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‘See how great He is!’(4). These words refer to Melchizedek (1-3; Genesis 14:18-20). Melchizedek has ‘neither beginning of days nor end of life’. He ‘continues a priest for ever’. He ‘resembles the So… Read more »
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18:1-19:51 ‘How long will you be slack to go in and take possession of the land, which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?’(18:3). God has given us so much: ‘His divine power has given u… Read more »
May 29
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‘He was useless... now he has become useful’(11). This is the story of Onesimus (the name means ‘useful’). A runaway ‘slave’, he became ‘a beloved brother... in the Lord’(16). It appears that Onesimus… Read more »
May 28
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19:1-20:6 ‘The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt My people, Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel my heritage”’(19:25). ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek... you are all one in… Read more »