Other comments on this day's readings can be found here.
Reading 1 - Num 5:11-31
"As the sin of adultery is particularly defiling and
destructive of the relations existing between Yahweh and Israel -- which are
typified by the husband and his wife (Isa 54:5; Lev 20:26) -- and as such sin is
disruptive of the very foundations of the social order, the whole subject is
dealt with in this chapter at a length proportionate to its importance [vv
11-31]. However, Scripture does not reveal one instance where this law was
invoked by a jealous husband, so it is evident that it is designed to illustrate
spiritual adultery and Yahweh's viewpoint towards it.
"Considered in that light, this strange law become prophetic
of Israel's relationship with Yahweh her spiritual Husband, and His treatment of
her as exhibited by the words and actions of Hosea, the prophet of enduring
love.
"Through Moses, Israel was warned that it must have no other
God: 'for Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God' (Exo 34:14). The Law
relating to the Trial of Jealousy reveals the responsibility resting upon the
nation because of its privileged position as Yahweh's bride, and the
consequences of spiritual adultery" (HPM, "Christadelphian
Expositor").
Reading 2 - Pro 2:1-5
"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands
within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look
for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will
understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God" (Pro
2:1-5).
"The exhortation in the Proverbs is God speaking. Whatever
proximate sonship and fatherhood there may be in the Proverbs, their ultimate
origin is God, and their aim the instruction of His sons. And Proverbs, with
other parts of the 'Living Oracles', must not be limited in its application to
Solomon's day. 'Ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto YOU', says
Paul [Heb 12:5]; it is the Father's word to you, His sons. How persuasive is God
in His counsels; how endearing in His address. To each of His children He says,
'My son' " (John Carter, "Letter to the Hebrews" 258,259).
Reading 3 - Luk 16:13,14
"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one
and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You
cannot serve both God and Money" (Luk 16:13).
How we handle money reveals much about the depth of our
commitment to Christ. That is why Jesus often talked about money. One-sixth of
the gospels, including one out of every three parables, touches on money and
stewardship. Jesus dealt with money matters because money matters!
For some of us, though, it matters too much: "The Pharisees,
who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus" (v 14). They were
highly "religious", but they could not see how money and its pursuit and
acquisition could hold anything less than the preeminent place in a man's life,
and for any man to question that preeminence was for them an undeniable proof of
his folly.