Other comments on this day's readings can be found here.
Reading 1 - 1Ch 15:20,21
Some of the strange words of 1Ch 15:
"Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah
and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth" (v 20):
"Alamoth" is the plural of "alma", which may mean: a hidden
one, a covered one, or a virgin (Isa 7:14; Gen 24:43; Exo 2:8).
According to Thirtle, in his work "The Titles of the Psalms",
"Alamoth" appears as a subscription -- or "postscript" of Psa 45 (not as it
SEEMS to be: a superscription -- or "introduction" -- of Psa 46).
Probably this means that Psa 45 was assigned to be sung by a
choir of maidens (1Ch 15:20), or else they provided accompaniment for it. Such a
designation is appropriate to Psa 45, which was plainly a wedding hymn (Psa
45:9,14). The "maidens" described in the psalm (called also "kings' daughters"
and "honourable women": v 9) are the counterpart of the "daughters of Jerusalem"
or "Zion" in Song 1:5; 2:7; 3:5; etc.
And so there were, it is supposed, other psalms and temple
songs that were especially composed and prepared for the "maidens'
choir".
*****
"And Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and
Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith" (v
21):
"Sheminith" is the plural of the Hebrew for "eight, or the
eighth". Possibly (this can only be guesswork!) it was used here as a reference
to circumcision, performed on the eighth day (Gen 17:12; Lev 12:3; Luk 1:59;
2:21; Act 7:8; Phi 3:5). Since, of course, males only were circumcised, this may
indicate a "male choir" -- the counterpart of the "maidens' choir". And of
course, other psalms and temple songs were especially arranged to be sung by the
males.
Reading 2 - Eze 27
"The record of Tyre has a peculiar relevance for our day, for
those areas in which she excelled and was the envy of the entire ancient world
are precisely the fields in which every modern nation seeks superiority. But
Tyre has a message for our age, and it is that riches without God are unable to
satisfy the heart of man and often keep many from dependence upon God. Has not
this spirit invaded the church, and does it not pervade the lives of too many
Christians?" (Thomas Constable, "Expository Notes").
Reading 3 - Luk 24:45
"Then he opened their minds so they could understand the
Scriptures" (Luk 24:45).
A man needs more than the printed page of the Bible and a good
memory to make him wise to salvation. He needs a mind opened to give earnest
heed to the heavenly message. He needs eyes opened to behold wondrous things out
of God's law. He needs Christ in his heart. And when this takes place, he steps
by faith into a world in which no shadow of gloom or fear can isolate him from
the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. This then must be our faith. The
resurrection of our Savior is more than a fact to believe in; it is also a
reality to live by: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of
God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal 2:20).