v 20 says that some of the Egyptians were by this time acknowledging the word of God. Is this why a mixed multitude went up also with them Exo 12:38 out of Egypt?

9:7       We might be surprised at the way that Pharaoh hardened his heart in the face of God’s repeated actions. However we do well to think about ourselves. How often do we rationalise things that happen rather than see God’s hand at work in our lives?

It has been estimated that the plagues took place over a span of about nine months. The (first) Passover took place in the spring (April), and we are now only dealing with the seventh plague. Thus, the plague of hail must have occurred in winter, probably January. The clue is in the barley v.31. There was a winter variety and a spring variety of barley. The ripe barley mentioned must have been the winter variety.  The wheat and rye (spelt), which was an inferior kind of wheat, ripened about one month after the barley (v.32).

9:4      Pharaoh is being reminded that whilst Israel have suffered some of the plagues this is one for Egypt alone. The fact that God could work so specifically should have caused Pharaoh to appreciate that Yahweh was actually in control of events in Egypt - yet  he still resisted! But we are not much better some of the time are we?

9:12  We read repeatedly of Pharaoh's heart being hardened and, understandably, look upon it as something detestable.  However, the hebrew word used (chasaq) is often used in a positive sense.  For example, Joab exhorted his troops to be of good courage (1Chron 19:13), which is this same word.  So it has the connotation of being firm or resolute, which in some cases can be a good thing. Psa 27:14:  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

It's quite instructive to see the many different ways in which this word is translated.

Psalm 63 - The title says that David was in the Wilderness of Judah. However whilst David was there fleeing from Saul this Psalm is not talking about that time for David speaks of himself as 'king' :11 therefore this Psalm relates to the time when David was fleeing from Absalom.

62:12 It is interesting to note that God is merciful because He renders according to works. God's judgement is not with respect of persons. He judges righteously.

63:2 So when David speaks of having seen God in the sanctuary he is commenting upon the time when he went and 'sat before the Lord' (2 Samuel 7:18)

62:4 In blessing with the lip and cursing with the heart the wicked shows himself to be double minded. This highlights the requirement of absolute integrity in His servants – we cannot be double minded when it suits us and honourable when appropriate. (James 1:8)

63:6 David was resting at Mahanaim on the bed provided for him (2Sam 17:28) and this period of reflection allowed him to put the rebellion of Absalom into perspective.

Psalm 62  This Psalm would have been written by David in connection with the uprising of Absalom against him.2Sam 15-18

Psalm 63  It appears that this Psalm was also written during Absalom's uprising. From V.1 it is referred to as "the morning Psalm" The prayer reflects David's personal faith and trust in God.

62:3 The destruction of the wicked is likened to a collapsing wall.  This imagery is reminiscent of the destruction of false prophets in Ezekiel (Eze 13:14,15).

63:9,10 echoes Luke 13:31,32.

62:2,6               Notice twice David says that God only is his rock. David trust is in his God implicitly – there is no one else.

63:1 David calls upon God (Heb. elohim mighty one (or ones)), his God (Heb. el means strength).  El was coupled with another word shaddai means almighty and used by Yahweh to reveal Himself to Abraham (although, as explained before, Abraham knew the name Yahweh without understanding its full implication) (Gen 17:1).  Here, Yahweh changed Abram's name to Abraham as He made a covenant with him to become the father of a mighty and everlasting nation.  Implicit in that promise is the power and willingness of Yahweh to protect His chosen people.  The prefix of shaddai is another Hebrew word shad meaning breast.  Often the protective power of Yahweh is shown as a mother hen gathering her chicks to her breast under the shadow of her wing.  And so, when David talks of his God el is he not perhaps talking of el shaddai as he rejoices in the comfort and safety of Yahweh's protection (63:7 see also Matt 23:37).

David had been into the temple and seen the splendour of God. This is clear from 63:2. Yet, though he was overawed by it, he knew the splendour of the temple was only a shadow of the true splendour of God. And so in v1-2 he declares that though he had seen the sanctuary, his thirst and need for God was completely unsatisfied.

This is the stage that all worshippers of "things" must come to. No matter how splendid the buildings we worship in, the robes we wear, or how eloquent our services, how beautiful our songs, these are all shadows and not the real thing. The real thing, the real beauty, described in v6-11 is that we can come and approach God no matter where we are in prayer and ask whatever we desire. This true splendour of God was demonstrated in David's life in the way he was delivered from all his troubles. And fittingly, he describes this as the true "taking refuge under the shadow of your wings" (v7), a reference to the wings overshadowing the mercy seat in the sanctuary which David had seen (Exo 25:20, 2Sam 7:18).

62:8 We speak of ‘pouring out our heart’ when we want to confide in someone, generally when we are in great distress. We know the value of doing this with a friend. However do we ever think to do the same to God.

62:12 ‘thou renderest ... his works’ is quoted by Paul in Rom 2:6. There he emphasises the judgement of God. Here the Psalmist emphasises the mercy of God. We do well to remember that because God renders according to our works we really should ‘do’ the right kind of works. That is we should be doing works of faith being ‘doers of the word’ – James 0:22

Psa 63:4  Thus will I bless thee while I live, because (Isa 38:18) the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. (Ecc 9:10)for there is  no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

David acknowledges his mortality and imparts a sense of urgency to his work. See also Psa 88:11

13:14 In saying 'out ye on …' Paul shows that life in Christ is not a list of things that should not be done. The evil in our minds is to be replaced - not just removed.

14:4 Whilst it is so easy to look at our brethren and fault them in our minds when they are not living as we think they should Paul makes it very plain that God is 'on their side' - He is able to lift them up. Surely this should be our attitude. If our brother is failing we should seek to restore him rather than denigrate him. Using a secular saying 'Don't kick a man that is down'.

13:13 The word translated ‘honestly’ is translated ‘decently’ (1Cor 14:20)

14:7 We do well to remember this. We tend to think that we can organise our lives to suit ourselves. But we are not out own (1Cor 6:19)

Two threads run through these readings: love and judgement.  We should remember that we cannot love God without loving our brethren (1John 4:21).  We all face a final judgement - how well we have treated others will determine how well we are treated (Matt 7:2).

13:2     In this age where we are encouraged to fight for our rights, when men and women protest against the taxation regime in our country, it is very hard to keep ourselves separate from these protests. Appreciating the way in which Abraham viewed the land of Promise Heb 11:9

Rom 13:1-7 we so often make excuses for our criticism of current rulers. We have to remember that Paul makes these comments in the context of the corrupt Roman rulers of the day, probably Nero at this time of writing.

Rom 14 we often think that we are in a position of strength when we take offense at someone else, or when we judge someone else. Paul tells us that that we are actually weak when we do so, and so we should see this as an opportunity to grow in faith ourselves rather than to criticise, and to help another grow in faith by not criticising.

14:13 our attitude & actions are a matter of choice and not of rights.

13:4 In saying that the magistrate is ‘the minister of God’ we see the teaching of Dan 4:17 applied.

14:6-7  In the Roman world, before the destruction of the temple, Jewish believers would really struggle to cast off all elements of the Mosaic law. Paul is counseling the Romans brethren to make allowances for such difficulties. This is not to say that wrong doctrine was acceptable but that the brethren had to discern between things which were matters of principle and things which were not and act accordingly. It is so easy for us to elevate our own views to matters of principle. We must take care lest we fall into the trap of these brethren in Romans.

Creative bookkeeping

Choosing to pay tax is easy because we simply have to do it. In the UK our tax is taken straight from our wage before we ever see the money. And when we go shopping, a percentage is added on to our bill without us being able to complain. But when it comes to filling in our tax return are we completely honest about what we declare? If we are self employed do we declare all our cash income? And if our accountant appears to be getting creative with the books on our behalf, do we gently steer them towards complete honesty? These things can be difficult and test our faith.

Paul says the answer is to become grateful to our rulers (13:1-7). It is a change in mindset which will make paying taxes much easier to bear.

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Have you noticed how all the long list of negative commandments in 13:9 are summed up in the positive "love your neighbour as yourself"?