May 4th

Numbers 11     Isaiah 1     Psalms 48     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Numbers 11

The part of Numbers we’ve been looking at over the last couple of days is retelling some of the story that we’ve already heard in Exodus and Leviticus. It’s in the earlier years of Israel’s time in the wilderness, they are about to set off from Mount Sinai where God gave them the law. Reading the first few books of the Bible, which each give account of Israel’s wilderness years, can sometimes feel a little repetitive but it’s a bit like reading the same news story in several different papers –each version and account has something unique to say. And isn’t it the case that so often it’s the basic things about God that we need to be reminded of again and again?

Numbers today reminds us of the importance of looking to God for guidance – the Israelites did this by following the exact moves of the cloud. Sometimes I wish we had a God-Cloud to follow, it would make tricky decisions a bit simpler – we’d just wander after it in whatever direction it took. Surely if we had a giant cloud then we’d never do anything wrong, we’d never mess it up? Being a Christian would be a piece of cake…

But that’s not the impression we get from the final bit of Numbers 11:1-3. This seems harsh because of the matter-of-fact way it describes God dealing with rebellious people, I don’t find it easy stuff to read and I’m sure you don’t. But let’s remember the context: God had saved them; He’d given them His Heart; He’d come to dwell among them and guide their every move to protect them like a dad protects his kids. And they still abused their relationship with Him.

Let’s be honest, clear guidance from God doesn’t mean we always do what He says. I’ve lost track of the number of times in my life God has spoken and I’ve been a typical Israelite – rather than rejoicing and obeying I’ve just complained and dragged my feet.

Sometimes we can get so hung up on what God hasn’t told us yet, that we forget to do what He has told us. The reality is God has given each of us really clear instructions on how to live. He arrives as Jesus and shows us more clearly than a cloud ever could.

Let’s be reminded of this truth again today. God never guides for the sake of it. He asks us to obey Him. Will we?

Reflections this week are written by a lay member for the staff team

May 3rd

Numbers 10     Song of Solomon 8     Psalms 46-47     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Song of Songs 8

Have you ever had that one friend who constantly talks about their boyfriend or girlfriend? No matter what situation or circumstance you’re in, you can guarantee that by the end of the conversation they will have mentioned their name at least 20 times, shared countless ‘funny’ stories and reminded you of how smart/attractive/caring they are. It’s pretty obvious to all involved that they’re in love. Our friends may not put it quite as explicitly as Songs of Songs does, but reading the passages today it’s obvious that they all revolve around the idea of love.

There are many different interpretations of Songs of Songs. Some see it as a literal love letter between Solomon and a woman, other’s say it depicts the relationship between God and Israel, others still, see it as a picture of Jesus and the Church. Whichever interpretation we take, they all promote the integral truth that we as humans were created for relationship with one another; we were designed to love others and be loved.

What is love? Well we only know what love is because God first loved us. In the cross we see a visual representation of Jesus’ choice to love. The love God has for us isn’t dependent on ourselves, it isn’t affected by our failures, even by our successes.

I’m sure there are people in all our lives we could be a little more loving towards. Perhaps today make an effort to be more outwardly loving, even to those who we might, even subconsciously, feel don’t deserve it!

Reflections this week are written by a lay member for the staff team

May 2nd

Numbers 9     Song of Solomon 7     Psalms 45     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Psalm 45

Psalm 45 is a wedding song. It celebrates the wedding of a mighty king. Some believe it was for Solomon. It was written by the Sons of Korah (not the band, although they do sing it!) a musical family from the Levites (Exodus 6:24). 

This psalm is also a termed a "Messianic psalm" because it foretells of Christ the Messiah and His bride, the church. It is believed to be about Jesus because Solomon was not a warrior (45:3-5) and the King is addressed as God (45:6). Hebrews 1:8-9 confirms it is a Messianic Psalm.  It is all about the splendour and majesty of Jesus!

This is an amazing psalm. It gives us snapshots of who Christ is and who we are because of him. The question is, what should we do with all of this? When studying the Bible, there are two questions we want to ask when you look at a piece of Scripture. So what? and Now what? As I thought about those questions, two answers came screaming out of the text. The truth about Jesus matters and  as the bride of Christ, we have a wedding to look forward to.

Today fix your eyes on who you are because of Christ. Jesus has chosen you as his bride. He loves you. He paid the incredible cost of his death for you. Your wedding to him, the most joyful day of your life, is just around the bend.

Reflections this week are written by a lay member for the staff team

May 1st

Numbers 8     Song of Solomon 6     Psalms 44     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Psalm 44

When I read Psalm 44 I see a similar pattern to many of the Psalms. Basically, the author is first saying how God through history has been on the side of His people and he has done mighty things, but now, it seems like God has fallen asleep and forgotten His people. Nothing is going right. Certainly God must be asleep or just not paying attention. The Psalmist says “Rise up and help us”. Wake up! Can’t you see things are falling apart here?! Rise up! 

Then the Psalm ends with “redeem us because of your unfailing love”.

I’m sure I’m not alone in sometimes wondering if God has gone to sleep, even if in my mind I may know better than to think that, my heart can certainly be tempted. So sometimes when I pray I might start out with what I know in my head, what my ears have heard, but once I get going what is in my heart starts to come out. Before I know it I’m telling God “wake up!!! Can’t you see what’s happening? Why don’t you fix this?”

It can be hard sometimes for us to remember the fundamental truths of our faith that God is alive, he’s working in us, and around us, and that he never sleeps! Spend some time today reflecting on what God has done in your life, in your families, friends and churches. Then spend some time giving thanks to God through prayer for his continued faithfulness.

Reflections this week are written by a lay member for the staff team

Apr 30th

Numbers 7     Song of Solomon 5     Psalms 42-43     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

I went to an art exhibition a few years ago entitled ‘peace’. Two pieces, stood next to each other, particularly ‘spoke’ to me. (if art can speak) The first was of a serene landscape, stillness was clearly in the air, nothing moved. The second was of a turbulent scene; things were moving and going wrong in the background, but in the foreground, a bird, on a branch, resting.

The psalmist here paints his picture with language that groans: my tears have been my food; my bones suffer mortal agony; my foes taunt me. His soul is downcast and he goes about in mourning.

I wonder what your view of peace is? Perhaps we’re all striving, at least in part, for everything to be peaceful, it will only be then that we can rest. Truthfully, few of us will ever experience that. There will always be things happening in our lives and around them that are unsettling, turbulent or just busy. I wonder if the key is to learn to rest, and be peaceful in Gods presence like that bird on a branch. My life is constantly busy, those who know me would think I don’t stop from the moment I wake to the second my head hits the pillow. How do I cope? Most mornings I pray and then I sit, silent, listening for God and resting. I notice the difference in my day when I don’t. Why don’t you find, even just 5 minutes, to sit in silence today, see what a difference it makes to your day.

Reflections this week are written by a lay member for the staff team

Apr 29th

Numbers 6     Song of Solomon 4     Psalms 40-41     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Psalm 40-41

As is often the case, these two Psalms provide us much comfort but also a challenge. How many of us can honestly say that in all aspects of our lives we ‘waited patiently for the Lord’. How many of us truly ‘care for the weak?’ Waiting patiently for God and caring for his flock are calls on our lives as Christians, I’m sure I’m not alone in not always managing this. Sometimes it is too tempting to want things in our own time, and not wait for God. One of the first Sermons I remember Paul preaching at Christ Church was about Abraham, and Hagar. Abraham didn’t wait patiently on the Lord so took things into his own hands. Paul asked the question and I ask it of you again, in what ways are you sleeping with hagar?

Many of you will recognize verses 1 to 3 as an expression of your own spiritual experience. Verses 6 to 8 however clearly speak of Christ (Hebrews 10:5-9). The apparent contradiction is resolved when we recognize that this is one of David’s psalms, springing from his own experience and yet looking forward to one who would fulfill it in a way he could not hope to. After all, we know that through the grace and predestinating choice of God that verses 6 to 8 are, in measure, true of us also.

My favorite verse in these two psalms is 41:11 “I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.” Ultimately this is what we must remember, ultimately the Lamb Wins.

Reflections this week are written by a lay member for the staff team

Apr 28th

Numbers 5     Song of Solomon 3     Psalms 39     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

On first reading Numbers 5 might seem rather shocking. But note how the judgement is left to God – He will judge the guilt or innocence of the wife. The husband is not to take things into his own hands, but to leave that responsibility with God. There is no presumption of guilt, but there is the inevitability of God’s perfect judgement. Numbers 5 tells us that an innocent wife has nothing to fear from the elaborate process described here (in fact she will receive a very public affirmation of her innocence), but a guilty wife must bear the consequences of her sin.

One day each of us will face a similar judgement: have we been faithful to God? In some ways God will be like the wronged husband: let down by somebody who has been unfaithful to Him. We may not have been publicly ‘caught in the act’ of our unfaithfulness to God but He will know the truth. And yet, through the redeeming power of the cross, we will be forgiven – it will be as if we were like a guilty Israelite wife who is taken through the process of judgement and yet amazingly it will end up as if we were innocent all along: no taint or suggestion of sin will remain. Amazing grace indeed!

(homegroup leader)