The Upper Room Daily Reflections: daily words of wisdom and faith of The United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Friday, 27 October 2017 "Gratitude"Today’s Reflection:
JESUS CALLS US to gratitude. He calls us to recognize that gladness and sadness are never separate, that joy and sorrow really belong together, and that mourning and dancing are part of the same movement. That is why Jesus calls us to be grateful for every moment that we have lived and to claim our unique journey as God’s way to mold our hearts to greater conformity with God’s own. The cross is the main symbol of our faith, and it invites us to find hope where we see pain and to reaffirm the resurrection where we see death.The call to be grateful is a call to trust that every moment of our life can be claimed as the way of the cross that leads us to new life. (Henri J. M. Nouwen, A Spirituality of Living)
From pages 47-48 of A Spirituality of Living by Henri J. M. Nouwen, edited by John S. Mogabgab. Copyright © 2011 The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. All rights reserved. Used by permission. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question: How do you see gratitude leading to new life?
Today’s Scripture: So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us. (1 Thessalonians 2:8, NRSV)
This Week: pray for someone recovering from surgery.
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Did You Know?
In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers. Call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center website.
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This week we remember: Rosa Parks (October 24).
Rosa Parks
October 24
Rosa Louise McCauley was born February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama, and grew up on a farm. She was a lifelong member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She attended the Industrial School for Girls, but was unable to finish secondary education because her grandmother and mother needed her care. In 1932 Rosa married Raymond Parks, an active member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He encouraged Rosa to work for a high school degree and to register to vote.Rosa Parks served as secretary of the Montgomery NAACP from 1943-1957, actively participated in the Voter's League, and was committed to the Civil Rights Movement. By the time she refused to give up her bus seat to a white rider, she knew the movement needed a catalyzing event to rally around. Parks was arrested with violating a segregation law on December 1, 1955, and the Montgomery Bus Boycott was quickly organized.
Parks is today remembered as "the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement." She traveled extensively as a motivational speaker, continued to work as a seamstress, and moved to Detroit where she died on October 24, 2005 at the age of ninety-two.
If Rosa Parks had taken the Spiritual Types Test, she probably would have been a Lover. Rosa Parks is remembered on October 24.
Image from Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Reading Room. Photograph by Associated Press, 1964.
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Lectionary Readings for Sunday, 29 October 2017
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Matthew 22:34-46
Scripture Texts: Deuteronomy 34:1 (vii) Moshe ascended from the plains of Mo’av to Mount N’vo, to the summit of Pisgah, across from Yericho. There Adonai showed him all the land — Gil‘ad as far as Dan, 2 all Naftali, the land of Efrayim and M’nasheh, the land of Y’hudah all the way to the sea beyond, 3 the Negev, and the ‘Aravah, including the valley where Yericho, the City of Date-Palms, as far away as Tzo‘ar. 4 Adonai said to him, “This is the land concerning which I swore to Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over there.”
5 So Moshe, the servant of Adonai, died there in the land of Mo’av, as Adonai had said. 6 He was buried in the valley across from Beit-P‘or in the land of Mo’av, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.
7 Moshe was 120 years old when he died, with eyes undimmed and vigor undiminished. 8 The people of Isra’el mourned Moshe on the plains of Mo’av for thirty days; after this, the days of crying and mourning for Moshe ended.
9 Y’hoshua the son of Nun was full of the Spirit of wisdom, for Moshe had laid his hands on him, and the people of Isra’el heeded him and did what Adonai had ordered Moshe.
10 Since that time there has not arisen in Isra’el a prophet like Moshe, whom Adonai knew face to face. 11 What signs and wonders Adonai sent him to perform in the land of Egypt upon Pharaoh, all his servants and all his land! 12 What might was in his hand! What great terror he evoked before the eyes of all Isra’el!
Psalm 90:1(0) A prayer of Moshe the man of God:
(1) Adonai, you have been our dwelling place
in every generation.
2 Before the mountains were born,
before you had formed the earth and the world,
from eternity past to eternity future
you are God.
3 You bring frail mortals to the point of being crushed,
then say, “People, repent!”
4 For from your viewpoint a thousand years
are merely like yesterday or a night watch.
5 When you sweep them away, they become like sleep;
by morning they are like growing grass,
6 growing and flowering in the morning,
but by evening cut down and dried up., 13 Return, Adonai! How long must it go on?
Take pity on your servants!
14 Fill us at daybreak with your love,
so that we can sing for joy as long as we live.
15 Let our joy last as long as the time you made us suffer,
for as many years as we experienced trouble.
16 Show your deeds to your servants
and your glory to their children.
17 May the favor of Adonai our God be on us,
prosper for us all the work that we do —
yes, prosper the work that we do.
1 Thessalonians 2:1 You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not fruitless. 2 On the contrary, although we had already suffered and been outraged in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage, united with our God, to tell you the Good News even under great pressure. 3 For the appeal we make does not flow from error or from impure motives, neither do we try to trick people. 4 Instead, since God has tested us and found us fit to be entrusted with Good News, this is how we speak: not to win favor with people but with God, who tests our hearts. 5 For, as you know, never did we employ flattering talk, nor did we put on a false front to mask greed — God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek human praise — either from you or from others. 7 As emissaries of the Messiah, we could have made our weight felt; but instead, we were gentle when we were with you, like a mother feeding and caring for her children. 8 We were so devoted to you that we were glad to share with you not only God’s Good News but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
Matthew 22:34 but when the P’rushim learned that he had silenced the Tz’dukim, they got together, 35 and one of them who was a Torah expert asked a sh’eilah to trap him: 36 “Rabbi, which of the mitzvot in the Torah is the most important?” 37 He told him, “‘You are to love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’[Matthew 22:37 Deuteronomy 6:5] 38 This is the greatest and most important mitzvah. 39 And a second is similar to it, ‘You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’[Matthew 22:39 Leviticus 19:18] 40 All of the Torah and the Prophets are dependent on these two mitzvot.”
41 Then, turning to the assembled P’rushim, Yeshua put a sh’eilah to them: 42 “Tell me your view concerning the Messiah: whose son is he?” They said to him, “David’s.” 43 “Then how is it,” he asked them, “that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord,’ when he says,
44 ‘Adonai said to my Lord,
“Sit here at my right hand
until I put your enemies under your feet”’?[Matthew 22:44 Psalm 110:1]
45 If David thus calls him ‘Lord,’ how is he his son?” 46 No one could think of anything to say in reply; and from that day on, no one dared put to him another sh’eilah.
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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 Verse 1
[1] And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,
And Moses went up — When he knew the place of his death he chearfully mounted a steep hill to come to it. Those who are well acquainted with another world, are not afraid to leave this. When God's servants are sent for out of the world, the summons runs go up and die! Unto Dan - To that city which after Moses's death was called so.
Verse 2
[2] And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,
All Naphtali — The land of Naphtali, which together with Dan, was in the north of Canaan, as Ephraim and Manasseh were in the midland parts, and Judah on the south, and the sea, on the west. So these parts lying in the several quarters are put for all the rest. He stood in the east and saw also Gilead, which was in the eastern part of the land, and thence he saw the north and south and west.
The utmost sea — The midland sea, which was the utmost bound of the land of promise on the west.
Verse 3
[3] And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.
The south — The south quarter of the land of Judah, which is towards the salt sea, the city of palm-trees - Jericho, so called from the multitude of palm-trees, which were in those parts, as Josephus and Strabo write. From whence and the balm there growing it was called Jericho, which signifies, odoriferous or sweet smelling.
Verse 4
[4] And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.
I have caused thee to see it — For tho' his sight was good, yet he could not have seen all Canaan, an hundred and sixty miles in length, and fifty or sixty in breadth, if his sight had not been miraculously assisted and enlarged. He saw it at a distance. Such a sight the Old Testament believers had of the kingdom of the Messiah. And such a sight believers have now of the glory that shall he revealed. Such a sight have we now, of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, which shall cover the earth. Those that come after us shall undoubtedly enter into that promised land: which is a comfort to us, when we find our own carcases falling in this wilderness.
Verse 5
[5] So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
So Moses the servant of the Lord died — He is called the servant of the Lord, not only as a good man, (all such are his servants) but as a man eminently useful, who had served God's counsels in bringing Israel out of Egypt, and leading them thro' the wilderness. And it was more his honour, to be the servant of the Lord, than to be king in Jeshurun. Yet he dies. Neither his piety nor his usefulness would exempt him from the stroke of death. God's servants must die, that they may rest from their labours, receive their recompense, and make room for others. But when they go hence, they go to serve him better, to serve him day and night in his temple. The Jews say, God sucked his soul out of his body with a kiss. No doubt he died in the embraces of his love.
Verse 6
[6] And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.
He — The Lord, buried him either immediately, or by the ministry of angels, whereof Michael was the chief or prince.
Of his sepulchre — Of the particular place where he was buried: which God hid from the Israelites, to prevent their superstition and idolatry, to which he knew their great proneness. And for this very reason the devil endeavoured to have it known and contended with Michael about it, Jude 1:9. God takes care even of the dead bodies of his servants. As their death is precious, so is their dust. Not one grain of it shall be lost, but the covenant with it shall be remembered.
Verse 7
[7] And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
His eye was not dim — By a miraculous work of God in mercy to his church and people.
Verse 8
[8] And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
Thirty day's — Which was the usual time of mourning for persons of high place and eminency. 'Tis a debt owing to the surviving honour of deceased worthies, to follow them with our tears, as those who loved and valued them, are sensible of the loss, and humbled for the sins which have provoked God to deprive us of them.
Verse 9
[9] And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.
Wisdom — And other gifts and graces too, but wisdom is mentioned as being most necessary for the government to which he was now called.
Upon him — And this was the thing which Moses at that time asked of God for him.
Verse 10
[10] And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
Whom the Lord — Whom God did so freely and familiarly converse with.
Verse 12
[12] And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.
Moses was greater than any other of the prophets of the Old Testament. By Moses God gave the law, and moulded and formed the Jewish church. By the other prophets he only sent particular reproofs, directions and predictions. But as far as the other prophets came short of him, our Lord Jesus went beyond him. Moses was faithful as a servant, but Christ as a son: his miracles more illustrious, his communion with the father more intimate: for he is in his bosom from eternity. Moses lies buried: but Christ is sitting at the right-hand of God, and of the increase of his government there shall be no end.
Psalm 90:1-6, Verse 2
[2] Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Thou — Thou hadst thy power, and all thy perfections, from all eternity.
Verse 3
[3] Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
Turnedst — But as for man, his case is far otherwise, though he was made by thee happy. and immortal, yet for his sin thou didst make him mortal and miserable.
Saidst — Didst pronounce that sad sentence, return, O men, to the dust out of which ye were taken, Genesis 3:19.
Verse 4
[4] For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
Past — Indeed time seems long when it is to come, but when it is past, very short and contemptible.
A watch — Which lasted but three or four hours.
Verse 5
[5] Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
Them — Mankind.
Away — Universally, without exception or distinction.
A sleep — Short and vain, as sleep is, and not minded 'till it be past. 13-17 Verse 13
[13] Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
Return — To us in mercy.
How long — Will it be before thou return to us? Repent thee - Of thy severe proceedings against us.
Verse 14
[14] O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Early — Speedily.
Verse 17
[17] And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
The beauty — His gracious influence, and glorious presence.
In us — Do not only work for us, but in us,
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 Verse 1
[1] For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
What was proposed, 1 Thessalonians 1:5,6, is now more largely treated of: concerning Paul and his fellowlabourers, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12; concerning the Thessalonians, 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16.
Verse 2
[2] But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
We had suffered — In several places.
We are bold — Notwithstanding.
With much contention — Notwithstanding both inward and outward conflicts of all kinds.
Verse 3
[3] For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
For our exhortation — That is, our preaching. A part is put for the whole.
Is not, at any time, of deceit — We preach not a lie, but the truth of God.
Nor of uncleanness — With any unholy or selfish view. This expression is not always appropriated to lust, although it is sometimes emphatically applied thereto.
Nor in guile — But with great plainness of speech.
Verse 5
[5] For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
Flattering words — This ye know.
Nor a cloak of covetousness — Of this God is witness. He calls men to witness an open fact; God, the secret intentions of the heart. In a point of a mixed nature, 1 Thessalonians 2:10, he appeals both to God and man.
Verse 6
[6] Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
Nor from others — Who would have honoured us more, if we had been burdensome - That is, taken state upon ourselves.
Verse 7
[7] But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
But we were gentle — Mild, tender.
In the midst of you — Like a hen surrounded with her young.
Even as a nurse cherisheth her own children — The offspring of her own womb.
Verse 8
[8] So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
To impart our own souls — To lay down our lives for your sake.
Matthew 22:34-46 Verse 34
[34] But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
Mark 12:28; Luke 10:25.
Verse 35
[35] Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
A scribe asking him a question, trying him — Not, as it seems, with any ill design: but barely to make a farther trial of that wisdom, which he had shown in silencing the Sadducees.
Verse 37
[37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Deuteronomy 6:5.
Verse 39
[39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Leviticus 19:18.
Verse 42
[42] Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
Luke 20:41.
Verse 43
[43] He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
How doth David then by the Spirit — By inspiration, call him Lord? If he be merely the son (or descendant) of David? If he be, as you suppose, a mere man, the son of a man?
Verse 44
[44] The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
The Lord said to my Lord — This his dominion, to which David himself was subject, shows both the heavenly majesty of the king, and the nature of his kingdom.
Sit thou on my right hand — That is, remain in the highest authority and power. Psalms 110:1.
Verse 46
[46] And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
Neither durst any question him any more — Not by way of ensnaring or tempting him.
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Matthew 22:34-46
Scripture Texts: Deuteronomy 34:1 (vii) Moshe ascended from the plains of Mo’av to Mount N’vo, to the summit of Pisgah, across from Yericho. There Adonai showed him all the land — Gil‘ad as far as Dan, 2 all Naftali, the land of Efrayim and M’nasheh, the land of Y’hudah all the way to the sea beyond, 3 the Negev, and the ‘Aravah, including the valley where Yericho, the City of Date-Palms, as far away as Tzo‘ar. 4 Adonai said to him, “This is the land concerning which I swore to Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over there.”
5 So Moshe, the servant of Adonai, died there in the land of Mo’av, as Adonai had said. 6 He was buried in the valley across from Beit-P‘or in the land of Mo’av, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.
7 Moshe was 120 years old when he died, with eyes undimmed and vigor undiminished. 8 The people of Isra’el mourned Moshe on the plains of Mo’av for thirty days; after this, the days of crying and mourning for Moshe ended.
9 Y’hoshua the son of Nun was full of the Spirit of wisdom, for Moshe had laid his hands on him, and the people of Isra’el heeded him and did what Adonai had ordered Moshe.
10 Since that time there has not arisen in Isra’el a prophet like Moshe, whom Adonai knew face to face. 11 What signs and wonders Adonai sent him to perform in the land of Egypt upon Pharaoh, all his servants and all his land! 12 What might was in his hand! What great terror he evoked before the eyes of all Isra’el!
Psalm 90:1(0) A prayer of Moshe the man of God:
(1) Adonai, you have been our dwelling place
in every generation.
2 Before the mountains were born,
before you had formed the earth and the world,
from eternity past to eternity future
you are God.
3 You bring frail mortals to the point of being crushed,
then say, “People, repent!”
4 For from your viewpoint a thousand years
are merely like yesterday or a night watch.
5 When you sweep them away, they become like sleep;
by morning they are like growing grass,
6 growing and flowering in the morning,
but by evening cut down and dried up., 13 Return, Adonai! How long must it go on?
Take pity on your servants!
14 Fill us at daybreak with your love,
so that we can sing for joy as long as we live.
15 Let our joy last as long as the time you made us suffer,
for as many years as we experienced trouble.
16 Show your deeds to your servants
and your glory to their children.
17 May the favor of Adonai our God be on us,
prosper for us all the work that we do —
yes, prosper the work that we do.
1 Thessalonians 2:1 You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not fruitless. 2 On the contrary, although we had already suffered and been outraged in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage, united with our God, to tell you the Good News even under great pressure. 3 For the appeal we make does not flow from error or from impure motives, neither do we try to trick people. 4 Instead, since God has tested us and found us fit to be entrusted with Good News, this is how we speak: not to win favor with people but with God, who tests our hearts. 5 For, as you know, never did we employ flattering talk, nor did we put on a false front to mask greed — God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek human praise — either from you or from others. 7 As emissaries of the Messiah, we could have made our weight felt; but instead, we were gentle when we were with you, like a mother feeding and caring for her children. 8 We were so devoted to you that we were glad to share with you not only God’s Good News but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
Matthew 22:34 but when the P’rushim learned that he had silenced the Tz’dukim, they got together, 35 and one of them who was a Torah expert asked a sh’eilah to trap him: 36 “Rabbi, which of the mitzvot in the Torah is the most important?” 37 He told him, “‘You are to love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’[Matthew 22:37 Deuteronomy 6:5] 38 This is the greatest and most important mitzvah. 39 And a second is similar to it, ‘You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’[Matthew 22:39 Leviticus 19:18] 40 All of the Torah and the Prophets are dependent on these two mitzvot.”
41 Then, turning to the assembled P’rushim, Yeshua put a sh’eilah to them: 42 “Tell me your view concerning the Messiah: whose son is he?” They said to him, “David’s.” 43 “Then how is it,” he asked them, “that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord,’ when he says,
44 ‘Adonai said to my Lord,
“Sit here at my right hand
until I put your enemies under your feet”’?[Matthew 22:44 Psalm 110:1]
45 If David thus calls him ‘Lord,’ how is he his son?” 46 No one could think of anything to say in reply; and from that day on, no one dared put to him another sh’eilah.
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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 Verse 1
[1] And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,
And Moses went up — When he knew the place of his death he chearfully mounted a steep hill to come to it. Those who are well acquainted with another world, are not afraid to leave this. When God's servants are sent for out of the world, the summons runs go up and die! Unto Dan - To that city which after Moses's death was called so.
Verse 2
[2] And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,
All Naphtali — The land of Naphtali, which together with Dan, was in the north of Canaan, as Ephraim and Manasseh were in the midland parts, and Judah on the south, and the sea, on the west. So these parts lying in the several quarters are put for all the rest. He stood in the east and saw also Gilead, which was in the eastern part of the land, and thence he saw the north and south and west.
The utmost sea — The midland sea, which was the utmost bound of the land of promise on the west.
Verse 3
[3] And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.
The south — The south quarter of the land of Judah, which is towards the salt sea, the city of palm-trees - Jericho, so called from the multitude of palm-trees, which were in those parts, as Josephus and Strabo write. From whence and the balm there growing it was called Jericho, which signifies, odoriferous or sweet smelling.
Verse 4
[4] And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.
I have caused thee to see it — For tho' his sight was good, yet he could not have seen all Canaan, an hundred and sixty miles in length, and fifty or sixty in breadth, if his sight had not been miraculously assisted and enlarged. He saw it at a distance. Such a sight the Old Testament believers had of the kingdom of the Messiah. And such a sight believers have now of the glory that shall he revealed. Such a sight have we now, of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, which shall cover the earth. Those that come after us shall undoubtedly enter into that promised land: which is a comfort to us, when we find our own carcases falling in this wilderness.
Verse 5
[5] So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
So Moses the servant of the Lord died — He is called the servant of the Lord, not only as a good man, (all such are his servants) but as a man eminently useful, who had served God's counsels in bringing Israel out of Egypt, and leading them thro' the wilderness. And it was more his honour, to be the servant of the Lord, than to be king in Jeshurun. Yet he dies. Neither his piety nor his usefulness would exempt him from the stroke of death. God's servants must die, that they may rest from their labours, receive their recompense, and make room for others. But when they go hence, they go to serve him better, to serve him day and night in his temple. The Jews say, God sucked his soul out of his body with a kiss. No doubt he died in the embraces of his love.
Verse 6
[6] And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.
He — The Lord, buried him either immediately, or by the ministry of angels, whereof Michael was the chief or prince.
Of his sepulchre — Of the particular place where he was buried: which God hid from the Israelites, to prevent their superstition and idolatry, to which he knew their great proneness. And for this very reason the devil endeavoured to have it known and contended with Michael about it, Jude 1:9. God takes care even of the dead bodies of his servants. As their death is precious, so is their dust. Not one grain of it shall be lost, but the covenant with it shall be remembered.
Verse 7
[7] And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
His eye was not dim — By a miraculous work of God in mercy to his church and people.
Verse 8
[8] And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
Thirty day's — Which was the usual time of mourning for persons of high place and eminency. 'Tis a debt owing to the surviving honour of deceased worthies, to follow them with our tears, as those who loved and valued them, are sensible of the loss, and humbled for the sins which have provoked God to deprive us of them.
Verse 9
[9] And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.
Wisdom — And other gifts and graces too, but wisdom is mentioned as being most necessary for the government to which he was now called.
Upon him — And this was the thing which Moses at that time asked of God for him.
Verse 10
[10] And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
Whom the Lord — Whom God did so freely and familiarly converse with.
Verse 12
[12] And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.
Moses was greater than any other of the prophets of the Old Testament. By Moses God gave the law, and moulded and formed the Jewish church. By the other prophets he only sent particular reproofs, directions and predictions. But as far as the other prophets came short of him, our Lord Jesus went beyond him. Moses was faithful as a servant, but Christ as a son: his miracles more illustrious, his communion with the father more intimate: for he is in his bosom from eternity. Moses lies buried: but Christ is sitting at the right-hand of God, and of the increase of his government there shall be no end.
Psalm 90:1-6, Verse 2
[2] Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Thou — Thou hadst thy power, and all thy perfections, from all eternity.
Verse 3
[3] Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
Turnedst — But as for man, his case is far otherwise, though he was made by thee happy. and immortal, yet for his sin thou didst make him mortal and miserable.
Saidst — Didst pronounce that sad sentence, return, O men, to the dust out of which ye were taken, Genesis 3:19.
Verse 4
[4] For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
Past — Indeed time seems long when it is to come, but when it is past, very short and contemptible.
A watch — Which lasted but three or four hours.
Verse 5
[5] Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
Them — Mankind.
Away — Universally, without exception or distinction.
A sleep — Short and vain, as sleep is, and not minded 'till it be past. 13-17 Verse 13
[13] Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
Return — To us in mercy.
How long — Will it be before thou return to us? Repent thee - Of thy severe proceedings against us.
Verse 14
[14] O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Early — Speedily.
Verse 17
[17] And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
The beauty — His gracious influence, and glorious presence.
In us — Do not only work for us, but in us,
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 Verse 1
[1] For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
What was proposed, 1 Thessalonians 1:5,6, is now more largely treated of: concerning Paul and his fellowlabourers, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12; concerning the Thessalonians, 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16.
Verse 2
[2] But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
We had suffered — In several places.
We are bold — Notwithstanding.
With much contention — Notwithstanding both inward and outward conflicts of all kinds.
Verse 3
[3] For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
For our exhortation — That is, our preaching. A part is put for the whole.
Is not, at any time, of deceit — We preach not a lie, but the truth of God.
Nor of uncleanness — With any unholy or selfish view. This expression is not always appropriated to lust, although it is sometimes emphatically applied thereto.
Nor in guile — But with great plainness of speech.
Verse 5
[5] For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
Flattering words — This ye know.
Nor a cloak of covetousness — Of this God is witness. He calls men to witness an open fact; God, the secret intentions of the heart. In a point of a mixed nature, 1 Thessalonians 2:10, he appeals both to God and man.
Verse 6
[6] Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
Nor from others — Who would have honoured us more, if we had been burdensome - That is, taken state upon ourselves.
Verse 7
[7] But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
But we were gentle — Mild, tender.
In the midst of you — Like a hen surrounded with her young.
Even as a nurse cherisheth her own children — The offspring of her own womb.
Verse 8
[8] So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
To impart our own souls — To lay down our lives for your sake.
Matthew 22:34-46 Verse 34
[34] But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
Mark 12:28; Luke 10:25.
Verse 35
[35] Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
A scribe asking him a question, trying him — Not, as it seems, with any ill design: but barely to make a farther trial of that wisdom, which he had shown in silencing the Sadducees.
Verse 37
[37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Deuteronomy 6:5.
Verse 39
[39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Leviticus 19:18.
Verse 42
[42] Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
Luke 20:41.
Verse 43
[43] He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
How doth David then by the Spirit — By inspiration, call him Lord? If he be merely the son (or descendant) of David? If he be, as you suppose, a mere man, the son of a man?
Verse 44
[44] The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
The Lord said to my Lord — This his dominion, to which David himself was subject, shows both the heavenly majesty of the king, and the nature of his kingdom.
Sit thou on my right hand — That is, remain in the highest authority and power. Psalms 110:1.
Verse 46
[46] And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
Neither durst any question him any more — Not by way of ensnaring or tempting him.
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The Upper Room Ministries ®. Copyright © 2017
PO Box 340004
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004, United States
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PO Box 340004
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004, United States
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