PSALMS
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Psalms 72 and 73
Psalms 73: 23 – 28
Nevertheless, I am continually with thee.
The psalmist discovers the attitude that leads to the triumph of faith. In this life with all of its problems, our greatest good is intimate communion with GOD. Let the wicked prosper, our hope, treasure and life is GOD HIMSELF always with us, guiding us by HIS Word and SPIRIT, upholding us by His power, and afterwards receiving us into the glories of heaven. Like the apostle Paul, our motto as we face life’s anxieties should be, For to me to live is CHRIST, and to die is gain.

OLD TESTAMENT
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Numbers 17: 1 – 18: 7
Numbers 18: 1
Bear the iniquity.
The priests and Levites were held responsible for any offences or desecration against the tabernacle of the LORD. They had to take great care to serve GOD and do what the LORD required.

NEW TESTAMENT
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Acts 27: 1 – 20
Acts 27: 7 – 12
Acts 27: 7 – 9
The ship could not sail directly to Italy.
The strong west wind was against it. So, it travelled very slowly along the coast and it was difficult to sail. At last, they reached a harbour and they stayed there. They waited for the wind to change. But it was now late in the year. People did not sail during the winter because it was too dangerous. Luke records that ‘it was now after the time called Yom Kippur’ (verse 9). Yom Kippur was a special day when *Jews asked GOD to forgive their *sins. Paul was travelling in *AD 59. In *AD 59, Yom Kippur was on the 5th of October, so there was not much time left to sail.

Acts 27: 10 – 12
The men on the ship had to make a quick decision.
They had to decide whether to sail or not. Fair Haven was a bad place to stay during the winter. Winds blew into the harbour from the east and northeast. That made it difficult and dangerous for the ships there. Also, it was not near a big town. But Paul had travelled often by sea and he had a lot of experience. He advised the men to stay at Fair Havens. He said that it was too dangerous to sail.​

Captain Julius did not follow Paul’s advice. Julius agreed with the ship’s captain and with the owner. Probably, the owner wanted to deliver the grain on time. So, they decided to continue their voyage. They wanted to sail to Phoenix, which was a safer harbour. There was more shelter there from the bad weather.