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<SUNDAY-GLEANINGS>
<29 December 2002>

Contents:
-----------
1)  <Devotional> "Treasury of David - Psalm 19:3"- C.H. Spurgeon
2)  <Bible-Study> "Peace offerings" (Pt-2)-Charles E.Wigg
3)  <Bible-Study> "Dispensations - Innocence (Pt-1/2) - Stephen
4)  <From-the-Gleaner> "Top-stories-of-the-week" - Ben


1)  <DEVOTIONAL>
TREASURY OF DAVID - PSALM 19:3
C. H. Spurgeon

Verse 3. "There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not
heard." Every man may hear the voices of the stars. Many are the languages
of terrestrials, to celestials there is but one, and that one may be
understood by every willing mind. The lowest heathen are without excuse,
if they do not discover the invisible things of God in the works which he
has made. Sun, moon, and stars are God's travelling preachers; they are
apostles upon their journey confirming those who regard the Lord, and
judges on circuit condemning those who worship idols.

The margin gives us another rendering, which is more literal, and involves
less repetition; "no speech, no words, their voice is not heard;" that is
to say, their teaching is not addressed to the ear, and is not uttered in
articulate sounds; it is pictorial, and directed to the eye and heart; it
touches not the sense by which faith comes, for faith cometh by hearing.
Jesus Christ is called the Word, for he is a far more distinct display of
Godhead than all the heavens can afford; they are, after all, but dumb
instructors; neither star nor sun can arrive at a word, but Jesus is the
express image of Jehovah's person, and his name is the Word of God.

_______________________________________________________

2)  <BIBLE-STUDY>
THE PEACE OFFERING
LEVITICUS CHAPTER 3 AND CHAPTER 6:11-37. (PART-2)
Charles E. Wigg

MALE  OR  FEMALE: In Lev. 3;1, we are told that the animal that was
offered could be either male or female. The male suggests strength and
responsibility, whilst the female suggests meekness and submission. Both
features are seen in the person and sacrifice of Christ. In 1 Cor.5;4, we
are told of the power of our Lord Jesus Christ that would be with the
assembly as they gathered together at the command of the Lord Jesus,
through the Apostle to judge evil and to exercise discipline, of the most
solemn and severe nature, on the incestuous man. But in 2 Cor.10;1, when
about to challenge those who were seeking to turn the Corinthians away
from him, Paul said, " I beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of
Christ". The Lord Jesus said of Himself, " I am meek and lowly in heart",
( Matt.11;29.)

But whether male or female, the sacrifice had to be without blemish,
reminding us again of the sinless perfection of Christ which we have
expounded in earlier chapters.

IDENTIFICATION  WITH  THE  SACRIFICE:  As with the burnt offering, the
offerer was to lay his hand on the head of the head of the sacrificial
animal, typifying complete identification with Christ who gave Himself for
us. The same personal involvement and personal cost and grief are also
suggested here as we have seen earlier. This is emphasized in Eph.2;14,
where it is said, " For HE IS our peace", not only that He made peace, but
HE IS our peace. Thus we see the worshipper with his hand on the peace
offering's head. Then, as in the burnt-offering, and in each of the animal
sacrifices, the offerer shed the blood of the sacrifice. By nature we were
" enemies in our minds and by wicked works", (Rom.5;10, Col.1,21.) and if
we were to be reconciled to God, if there was to be peace with God for us,
then the precious blood of Christ must be shed. It could only be through
the death of God's Son that we could be reconciled. (Rom.5;1-11, 2 Cor.
5;18-19, Eph. 2;11-18, Col. 1;20-22.)

THE  BLOOD  OF  CHRIST  THE  BASIS  OF  FELLOWSHIP:  We are thus
constantly reminded that we were the cause of the sufferings and death of
our Lord Jesus Christ. How this knowledge should humble us, and constantly
move our hearts to worship! But in addition to this, the offering is to
teach us that there can be no fellowship between believers apart from the
shedding of the blood of Christ. Our collective enjoyment of peace and our
communion together are based only on the sacrifice of Christ, the
fellowship that we share together is the "communion of the blood of
Christ", ( 1 Cor.10;16.).  So the blood was shed, and sprinkled on the
altar round about, verse 2. The blood was seen by God, and testified to
the fact that the claims of righteousness had been satisfied, and His just
claims fully met, for without righteousness there can be no peace. The
Lord Jesus is first King of Righteousness, then King of Peace, ( Heb.7;2.)
The Kingdom of God is...."

Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Spirit", ( Rom.14;17.) The
offering also testifies  to me , first, of the dreadful cost by which a
sinner and a rebel like me, might be reconciled to God, and enjoy peace
with God. Further, it testifies of the wondrous grace and love of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that paid the price in full with His own precious blood, for
now we do have " Peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ",
Rom.5;1.) This is the individual basis of fellowship.  [To be concluded]
---
[Reproduced by permission]
_______________________________________________________

3)  <BIBLE-STUDY>
"DISPENSATIONS"
"DISPENSATION OF INNOCENCE" - GEN 1:28-3:24" (1 OF 2)
Stephen

STEWARD:  Adam (Gen2:16)

MAN’S RESPONSIBILITY:  Don't eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil or in that day shalt thou surely die. (Gen 2:17).

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES: Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth
and subdue it.  Have dominion over all living creatures. (Gen 1:28).
Maintain and guard the garden of Eden (Gen 2:15)

CHARACTER OF ENVIRONMENT
Perfection!
Trees were pleasant to the eye and good for food (Gen 2:9)
Four great rivers to water the garden (Gen 2:10)
"Good" gold and precious stones (Gen 2:11-12)
All were vegetarians (Gen 1:29-30)
Man was free to eat of every tree except the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil. (Gen 2:17).
Man was extremely intelligent and had a brilliant memory. He named (and
remembered the names of) all the animals. He exercised his free choice
(Gen 2:19-20)
Man had a personal and tangible relationship with God and was not ashamed
of even being naked before Him as they knew no evil. (Gen 2:25, 2:19,
3:8).
Man was able to commune with the animals (Gen 3:1) (Eve did not think it
strange that the serpent spoke to her).
Man and woman were truly equal; woman was a helper suitable for man.
Marriage was instituted in the perfect setting of this garden. (Gen
2:22-24).
Woman had no pain in child bearing nor sorrow in raising children.
Man did not have to toil, just tend and guard the garden (which was not
considered toil). The garden was watered by a mist and by the rivers which
flowed through the garden. There was no rain (Gen 2:6, 10)
The woman did not yet have a name.
Satan had already been cast out of heaven to the earth and could possess
the creatures. He possessed the serpent which at that time was not in the
form of a snake. (Gen 3:1, 14)

CHARACTERISTICS OF DECEPTION
The serpent did not exactly lie but instead questioned God's holiness and
credibility by asserting that God was withholding something good from
them. God deliberately wanted man not to know of good and evil. He did not
hide this fact, after all, Eve and Adam knew that the name of the tree
from which they were not to eat was called the Tree of the Knowledge of
Good and Evil. Satan perhaps also knew that Adam would not die physically
immediately and since after they ate it and did not fall down dead,
perhaps they thought they were safe? They did however discover that Satan
had not lied as far as giving them the knowledge of good and evil, but
they were now ashamed of their nakedness and hid themselves from God. They
died spiritually.

Eve (perhaps due to the beguiling of the serpent) added to what God had
commanded. She added that they were not to touch the tree but God did not
say this (or at least it is not recorded that He did). (Gen 3:3)

This form of deception is no different today but yet how we still fall
into its traps! Rather than trusting God's authoritative word, we believe
Satan's half truths. Often, Satan does not lie, but, God does not want us
to have this particular knowledge as He deems it not good for us. But, we
mustn't fool ourselves, sometimes he outright lies after all, he is the
father of lies (John 8:44).  [To be concluded]

_______________________________________________________

4)  <FROM-THE-GLEANER>
A-GLANCE-AT-THE-TOP-STORIES-OF-THE-WEEK
Ben

SAUDI ARABIA TO LET US USE BASES IN IRAQ WAR: Saudi Arabia would allow the
United States to use its air bases and an important operations center in a
possible war with Iraq, the New York Times reported on Saturday, citing
senior U.S. military officials.

IRAQ'S BIO WEAPONS 'A SERIOUS THREAT; US:  biological weapons are among
the few capabilities Iraq has improved since being defeated by a U.S.-led
coalition in the 1991 Persian Gulf War, government officials say.

IRAQ SAYS US FORCE WOULD GET UNFORGETTABLE LESSON: The United States
planned for a possible war on Iraq and a post-Saddam order, but Baghdad
warned on Saturday it would fight any invaders through the streets and
teach them lessons they would never forget.

IRAQ WAR LIKELY EARLY FEBRUARY, ISRAELI GENERAL SAYS: Israel's military
intelligence chief told lawmakers any U.S. assault on Iraq is likely to be
in early February, parliament's spokesman said on Wednesday.


SADDAM SAYS US, ISRAEL FOMENTING CHAOS: Saddam Hussein said that Iraqis
were ready to fight a holy war against the United States, and he accused
Washington of using lies and military might in a bid to rule the world.

HAMAS: ATTACK WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE LIBERATION OF ALL OF PALESTINE: The
purpose of the talks between Hamas and Fatah, expected to resume in Cairo
in the next few days, is to reach an agreement on managing the intifada,
not stopping it, said head of the Hamas executive Khaled Masha'al.

HAMAS CALLS FOR MORE ATTACKS ON ISRAEL: The leader of Hamas told 30,000
supporters Friday that the group will keep carrying out suicide bombings
and shootings in Israel, despite talks between the Islamic militant group
and Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction on suspending such attacks.

SIX DEAD IN PALESTINIAN ATTACK IN JEWISH SETTLEMENT:  Two Palestinian
gunman opened fire in a cafeteria for religious students at a Jewish
settlement on Friday, killing four settlers before Israeli soldiers shot
and killed the gunmen, Israeli sources said.


PAKISTANI PREMIER CONDEMNS 'DASTARDLY' CHURCH ATTACK: Pakistani Prime
Minister Zafarullah Jamali on Thursday condemned an attack on a Christian
church which left three children dead and vowed to bring those responsible
to justice.

INDIA ACCUSES PAKISTAN OF BEING TERROR HUB: India accused Pakistan of
becoming a terrorist hub and said Saturday that Islamabad was doing little
to curb attacks by Islamic militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

US FEARS N.KOREA COULD BUILD 50 BOMBS A YEAR: North Korea could churn out
enough plutonium to build up to 50 to 55 nuclear weapons a year if all
three of its frozen nuclear reactors entered operation in coming years, a
U.S. government official said on Tuesday.

US WARNS NORTH KOREA OF ECONOMIC COLLAPSE: The Bush administration is
threatening North Korea with economic collapse if the communist state
continues with its nuclear programme. In a process it defines as "tailored
containment", the US says it will call on North Korea's neighbours and
allies to cut economic ties with the country.

UN: N.KOREA SITUATION 'VERY WORRYING: North Korea's moves to restart a
nuclear reactor that U.S. officials believe was used to make one or two
atomic bombs amount to "nuclear brinkmanship" and are "very worrying," the
U.N. nuclear watchdog said Thursday.


CLONING CLAIM PROMPTS CALL FOR BAN: The claim by a controversial company
linked to a UFO sect to have produced the world's first cloned human baby
has prompted calls for cloning to be outlawed in the United States.

BIRTH OF GIRL THROUGH CLONING: RAELIAN SECT: A baby has been born through
cloning, French scientist and member of the Raelian sect Brigitte
Boisselier has told AFP.

KROGER LETS SHOPPERS PAY VIA. FINGERPRINT:  Kroger Co. the largest US
supermarket chain, is offering some customers the opportunity to use
finger imaging as a method of payment in three of its Texas stores.

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