Month: May 2018

May 31, Reading 1 – Deuteronomy 10:12-11:32

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

To fear the Lord our God is to love Him! This fear is different from craven fear – it encompasses awe, respect, reverence. The phrase: our God is a burning fire, has the same meaning for fear – a healthy respect. Is your respect of God healthy or unhealthy?

SJA Notes

“Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.”

What a Heavenly Father we have, that even though He is Lord of all creation, He as set His heart in love for us!

And here, deep in the Old Testament, the Lord (and Moses) is clearly pointing to Jesus, who would bring about the new covenant.

The old (or current for Israel now) covenant is one of circumcision of the body.

But this was only ever a pointer to a better, deeper, more fuller covenant, one that Jesus brought in, that of the heart.

Oh that our hearts would be circumcised, no longer stubborn.

This is what Jesus does for us, what Jeremiah spoke of in Jer ch 31 v31 ->, “I will put my law within them, and I will write it [the new covenant] on their hearts.”

Praise our Lord God above for His grace and mercy to us. We were stubborn and hard of heart, but He called us, brought us into Himself in Jesus. He broke our hard hearts, circumcised the foreskin of our hearts and dissolved the stubborn refusal to acknowledge Him as Lord and Saviour.

This is what Moses wants for Israel, you can see it in his preaching.

It is good to be reminded of what Moses hammers home again and again to the Israelites. That this (above) is the God we serve, He has done great and terrifying things. So what else have you to do but to love Him, keep His charge, His statutes, His rules and His commandments always!

What else have we to do this day for our God, our King and Lord, who called us from darkness into light!

May 31, Reading 2 – Song of Solomon 1:1-2:7

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

In New Testament times, you had to be over 18 years of age before you were allowed to read this book. This meant that you were most likely married too. God never wrote a marriage manual for us, but He did cause to be written this love poem. It celebrates the joys of marriage and of sex within marriage. To understand the poetic metaphors used, you must SEE or PICTURE the various scenes or illustrations. This book is meant for couples to read out loud to each other the appropriate parts.

SJA Notes

“Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves.”

Song of Solomon is a book that can sometimes feel difficult to apply in life.

In one way it is an exclusive piece of content, specifically for marriage.

But this is God’s word, which means it is beneficial for all of God’s people across all of life (single, married, widowed).

And in this reality the book points us to Jesus. God’s word tells us that He is the groom and the church is the bride.

As with our earthly marriages, so with Jesus.

Our love is to be of exultation and rejoicing!

When at times it is hard to “feel”, we can find comfort and strength in faithfulness.

“Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves.”

Over time, little by little, layer upon layer, year after year – Taking the time to remember, to grow day by day – This is protection and sustenance in God’s good order.

Protection of marriage made under God, covenanted together with Him, a three-fold cord. Our thoughts being more and more brought into line with His, towards what true active love really is in God’s design.

And sustenance for our marriages, because we all grow tired each day, and being reminded to remember and actively call out the beauty of our beloved is beneficial and important and gives nourishment!

* Gracious Father,

Thank You for marriage.

Thank You for Jesus, the head of the church, the bridegroom.

Thank You for Your people, the bride.

Thank You that we look forward to that day when,

“… For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure …”

We long for Your return – Come Lord Jesus, Come!

Amen.

May 31, Reading 3 – Luke 9:18-36

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

When Peter finally comes to the point of seeing who Jesus is, Jesus begins to teach immediately about His death. Think on this: Moses gets into the Promised Land through and with Jesus!

SJA Notes

* Dear God, please shine the light of Your word into our lives today.

“This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

What does God want of us?

To listen to Jesus!

“This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

In a similar fashion to when Jesus was baptised in the river by His earthly cousin, here God the Father speaks from the heavens.

God speaks to Jesus’ disciples, who were pretty stressed out at the miraculous events they just witnessed.

Listen to Jesus!

This is for us today.

Let’s be encouraged to hearken to our King – To hear what Jesus tells us and do what He tells us.

* Gracious Lord God,

Thank You for Jesus, God in the person of the Son, our King and Lord and Saviour.

Please help us to listen to Him today.

Amen.