Comments for November 18

5 v.7 Expecting repayment with usury of the people of the Lord was against the law of Moses - Exo.22:25, Lev.25:36, Deut.15:2,3, 23:19,20, 24:10-13, Psa.15:1,5, Eze.22:12, 45:9, Luke 6:35. It is, as we see in the last reference, against the law that Christ introduced too. We need to let the underlying attitude here infiltrate all of our thinking towards our brethren and sisters.

5:7 The nobles, in exacting usury of their brethren were violating the law of Moses Exodus 22:25. Nehemiah in calling for them to restore that which they had taken was calling for a spiritual revival. Thus we can see that it can be that there is a spirit to work in the ecclesia and at the same time there can be those with a different spirit.

ch.6 Because Nehemiah would not walk into the trap that Sanballat and his company were attempting to set for him Nehemiah 6:1-4 he changes his approach and begins to slander him instead. Nehemiah 6:6-7. Thus his true motive can easily be seen.
However the plot had not ended. Sanballat had hired a prophet of the Lord - but again Nehemiah, because of his trust in his God would not follow his plans.

6 v.9 - Let us, like them, turn to God at all times for our strength and not try to go forward in our own.

5:14 This verse demonstrates that Nehemiah was in Jerusalem for 12 years from the time he first arrived until he returned. Such was his commitment to the work of rebuilding the physical and spiritual life of the city of Jerusalem.

6:18 The relationship between Tobiah and Shechaniah did not only corrupt them. It had an impact of the rest of Judah - so we see that our actions do not only affect our own lives. Others maybe caused to stumble because they see the things that we do.

BUT I PRAYED, 'NOW STRENGTHEN MY HANDS'
As the wall neared completion the enemies of the Jews got more and more desperate to stop the work. We read that "They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, 'Their hand will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.'" But Nehemiah prayed a short and specific prayer for the time, "Now strengthen my hands." God answered his prayer and strengthened both his hands and the hands of those that were working on the wall. It was completed in record time. From start to finish they took only 52 days. Nehemiah gives all the credit for this to God.
There have been times in my life when I have been doing the Lord's work, when the task and the opposition have seemed too great to carry on. In the end God has always seen me through it - but I wish I had thought of praying this prayer, "Now strengthen my hands." Maybe next time I will remember. But there are times like this in the life of every believer - if not yet - it will come. Remember this prayer at that time, "Now strengthen my hands," and then get on with the work God has given us to complete.

5:6 Do we think 'anger' is becoming for the servant of God? If we doubt this then think on these examples of anger. Exodus 32:19 Numbers 11:1 1 Samuel 20:34 Mark 3:5. Clearly anger is appropriate in certain circumstances. Maybe we do not get angry often enough when we see the things of God being undermined.

6:9 Whilst it appears that Nehemiah was in control of events in that he did not fall into the trap Sanballat had laid for him we should appreciate that he was still afraid of his actions. The fact that we are doing the right thing does not remove anxieties about how things will work out.

TEST THE SPIRITS.

The opposition to the rebuilding of the wall was so great that the enemies of the Jews, as they got more and more desperate, tried every trick in the book to stop Nehemiah and the rest of the Jews from building. Nehemiah was tested in almost every way possible as they tried to get him off the job into a place where they could kill him. They invited him to deserted places to 'talk', and sent letters to him accusing him of traitorous motivation, and they even stooped to making someone Nehemiah should have trusted give him bad advice.

So how did Nehemiah manage to avoid all these temptations and resist being led from the job? I believe there were two things that helped.
Firstly, the fact that Nehemiah had an aim, was totally determined to do the job that God had set him and would not be distracted until the work was completed helped him to avoid the temptation.
And secondly, Nehemiah was equally determined not to sin. So when instructions or suggestions came telling him to do something that was wrong, he knew straight away that it was not from God.

So let us also be so dedicated, involved and determined not to sin that nothing will distract us from doing the work of God.

Neh 6:15-16. With the wall now completed, do we realize that the wall would have been just short of 3 miles long. This would have required huge scaffolding and the using of many burnt stones, which would have required a lot of preparation to make the mortar stick. We must appreciate the amount of work that this must have been before we see how large an undertaking this would have been. If there were approximately 40 building sections,(CH.3) then each building group would have averaged about 80 yards apiece. This would have allowed 2 miles of wall.

5:1-5 In contrast to those who built the walls suffering privations there were some who were still more interested in gaining wealth - even when it meant impoverishing their brethren and violating the law (Exo 22:25) Such self centredness is not limited to those in Nehemiah's day.

We can be self centred and selfish by ignoring the needs of our brethren and sisters.

6:4-5 We may resist opposition a couple of times. Nehemiah, on the other hand, had to deal with the same opposition five times. There had already been those (Hag 1:2) who excused themselves from working to build the temple when there was opposition. How easy it would have been for Nehemiah to excuse himself on the grounds that the opposition was a sign from God.

It took 52 days to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem (Neh 6:15). That’s just over 7 weeks of very hard manual work.  It was the broken down wall which pained Nehemiah so much when he was still working in the palace in Shushan (Neh 1:3). Now he was “home”, and the job was done. Nehemiah is a great example of a single-minded and God-fearing leader.  He led from the front.

5:14 Nehemiah here points out that he lived the truth as well as proclaiming it. His integrity was unimpeachable, he never accepted these offerings. It appears that the servants of the governor (V.15) usually extracted goods from the people, but Nehemiah's servants had not done so. Because of the fear of God.

6:1 Tobiah allied himself with Sanballat to hinder Nehemiah and the restoration of Jerusalem. 

There had been intermarriage of some remnant Jews with non-Jews and there had been extensive worship of foreign gods. This group lived in Samaria and became known as the Samaritans.

The returning Jews' deep hatred and mistrust of these idolatrous half-Jews, at this time, passed down through the ages to form the backdrop to Christ's dealing with the Samaritan woman and his parable of the Good Samaritan etc.

What made matters worse for Nehemiah and company were the relationships of Tobiah and Sanballat, by marriage, to the returning Jews. Tobiah's son, Johanan, had married the daughter of Meshullam, who had helped Nehemiah build the wall (3:30; 6:18).  Sanballat's daughter married the high priest's grandson (13:28). 

This was divisive as family loyalties clashed with the common goal of completing Yahweh's work.  Thus, this enemy drew a number of people away.  

We must make sure that family allegiances, in our ecclesias, are not allowed to detract from unity and the work of the Truth. 

5:9 The quotation ‘fear of our God’ from Lev 25:36 is most appropriate for the situation in hand. The passage in Leviticus is encouraging Israel not to take usury of their brethren so that their brother can live ‘with thee’ – echoed in the way that the wall was built recorded in Neh 3:2 etc:

6:14 A lesser man than Nehemiah would not have left things in God’s hands but would have sought to deal with Sanballat himself.

5:9 Nehemiah we would suggest, is alluding to Deut 10:12. Human nature being what it is, requires the fear of failure or punishment as well as the offer of blessing. The fear of God enhances reverence; a godly attribute befitting the relationship of weak, sinful mortals before their Creator. Nehemiah's godly conduct is said to be " because of the fear of God" (V.15). Of what value was it to build a wall to keep the alien and the world outside, and thou act like an alien inside the wall?

5:19 Despite his enthusiasm for doing the work of God it seems that Nehemiah does not think highly of himself. He, in prayer, asks God to remember him for good. Not for his actions.

6:3 What an incredible response by Nehemiah. Yet he shows no arrogance, despite his successes in his work. It was also a very tactful response.

6:1 In 4:3 we saw that Sanballat and Tobiah could only mock. Now another enemy joins the opposition. He has a plan. Verse 2 gives us the plan. So the opposition was an ongoing thing which changed as time passed. Just as Nehemiah and the people had got used to dealing with one problem another arises. That is just like our lives. However we should not simply lament our situation but, as Nehemiah said, recognise that we are doing ‘a great work’ and not be knocked off course in our building the temple of God – the ecclesia.

6:1,10,14 Nehemiah had the physical difficulty of rebuilding Jerusalem.  Added to that was the constant opposition of Sanballat and Tobiah.  Now we see another oppositional person to deal with, Geshem (Geshem means rain in Hebrew). 

But, probably the most heartbreaking situation was that prophets within Nehemiah's assembly turned out to be false, and in the pay of Sanballat and Tobiah.  Shemaiah, a descendant of Zerubbabel; and Noadiah, together with other prophets, were the troublemakers from within. 

But, Nehemiah trusted in Yahweh, and Yahweh guided him through. This is a valuable lesson for us.

5:1-4 The return from captivity and the rebuilding the city of Jerusalem was all part of the fulfilment of Bible prophecy. However this did not mean that the people were guaranteed an easy time. But notice the difficulty that the people had was worsened, rather than eased, by the behaviour of their brethren.

5:7 Exacting usury from a fellow Jew was forbidden under the Law (Exo 22:25).

5:14 The twentieth year of Artaxerxes was in 446 BC.

5:15,17,18 The people were obliged to furnish the table of the governor. But, Nehemiah declined to be a burden to the people. Instead, he furnished his own table and invited 150 of his brethren to dine with him.

Nehemiah acted as governor for 12 years in this manner. He must have been a man of means to be able to afford such a table. He would have acquired his means in Babylon. Perhaps the position of cupbearer to the king was well paid.  The king might have also rewarded Nehemiah from time to time for his valuable service.

6:2 Ono was a town in Benjamin about 30 miles (48 km) north-west of Jerusalem.

6:6 Gamshu (KJV) was Geshem.

6:10,12 Shemaiah had been bribed by Sanballat and Tobiah to frighten Nehemiah.

6:14 Noadiah and other prophets had also been bribed by Sanballat and Tobiah to frighten Nehemiah.

The enemy from within is more difficult to deal with than an external enemy.

6:18 These inter-marriages had taken place before Nehemiah came to Jerusalem. But, Nehemiah was left to deal with the negative results of such alliances.

Nehemiah attitude in with the Governor bread reminds me of the same principle with Daniel in chapt 1 ,we see as Nehemiah chose not to partake because the bondage was heavy on the people. Like wise Daniel chose the children who had no blemish and had them eat of his wine and meat and he ate beans and drank water   for ten days and it showed the beautiful out come as quoted before in

5 This chapter summarises events which took place over a twelve year period – the time that Nehemiah was not in Jerusalem between his first and second visit.

Neh 5:6-11 - the usury and slavery perhaps reminds of how the religious leaders or nobles of Christ's day enslaved the Jews keeping them from the new covenant in Christ (Matt 5:17;Matt 28:1-15); also reminds how Jesus was angry at the money changers for taking financial advantage of their own  people (Matt 21:12-13); Jesus paid the tax for others and himself (Matt 17:25-27); Jesus feeds us freely (Matt 14:16-21;John 6:27,51) while promising to return (Acts 1:9-11) and establish a kingdom on earth with Jerusalem as capital (Isa 2:1-4;John 10:9).  

Neh 5:14-15,17 - Jesus, like Nehemiah, make their subjects burden light (Matt 11:28-30).

Neh 5:5,8,9 - both did away with slavery (Rom 8:1-3);

Neh 5:18 - both Jesus and Nehemiah provided bread and wine for themselves and others (Matt 26:26-27).  

Neh 5:16 - faithful workers did not acquire any land (Heb 11:13-16).

Neh 6:6-7 - false talk to get other authorities involved (Luke 23:1-3;John 19:12-15).

Neh 6:10-13 - attempts to betray Nehemiah and Jesus by his brethren for money; Nehemiah would not go in the temple as he was not a priest while Jesus was the temple (Matt 7:15-20;John 2:19,21).

Neh 6:15-16 - God was with them in rebuilding the walls (Neh 6:9;James 5:16 - "...the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.").

6:6    appealing to the words of another – Gashmu here – lends no weight to a claim. Its only validity will come from the verification of what was claimed to have been said.  We should take care, when presenting an argument, that we do not appeal to the word of others not present to bolster our case.

5:14-15   Here we gain a little insight into how things were before Nehemiah came. Those who ruled the people required the people to sustain them. Not so Nehemiah. There is an important reason for that. Receiving payment from the people potentially would compromise the ruler.

5:11       It was not good enough to just stop exacting usury. That which had been taken wrongfully had to be returned as well.  Our miss behaviour has consequences. Repentance is often only part of what is required.  Trying to correct that which has been done as well is often also necessary.

5:13      In shaking his lap Nehemiah is dissociating himself from those who took usury. A little like the later Jesus uses  injunction to shake off the dust – Mark 6:11 – from those who will not listen to the gospel message .

Usury forbidden

"Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth." Neh 5:3

The word "dearth" here is used as "famine" most of the time in the old testament. At the time of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph, the famine in Canaan was so severe that it necessitated the family to move somewhere less badly affected. Remember also the story of Naomi, who had to travel to Moab because of famine. It is clear that this land could be badly affected by famine. Given that these famines occurred periodically and lasted perhaps a year or two, taking people's lands, vineyards, and houses could be seen as the deliberate grabbing of assets by the nobles and rulers. Once the famine was over and the land producing again, they would now have income by charging interest on the money they owed -- which meant the farmers were effectively renting their own land.

The law of Moses specifically forbids this, see Exodus 22:25.

REMEMBER ME FOR GOOD - v.19

We may not face any of these trials which the Jews, but we all have our on trials in different ways. Through all the thick & thin, through all our ups & downs, through all our triumphs & failures, we need to keep staying true unto God and not allow the flesh to overcome us through it all. Though we may fail, we will never fall in the Lord. Though we live in this world, we should never set our desires only upon it. We must always keep our eyes on Jesus and our hearts on reaching that city whose builder and maker is God. May it be that God will remember us for the good we've done - and in the grand finale - be bidden a place in His kingdom.

6:1       In saying that there was ‘no breach’ allusion is made to Isa 58:12 where there is a promise of one who would repaid the breaches in the city of Jerusalem.

5:17      Whilst we might think that those who were with Nehemiah in the land of Israel had all returned from Babylon it is clear from this verse that Jews who had fled to the countries around Israel had also returned. They probably returned as a consequence of the blessings of God which came through Cyrus and Darius.

6:12       The hiring of ‘Shermiah’ is rather like the way in which Balak hired Balaam.  In so doing the one seeking to inflict wrong is distanced from the one being attacked, The one hired being a person more likely to be able to obtain the desired objective. Hopefully we never use such behaviour to obtain our own ends.

6:12      It would appear that the covering of the head was a sign of rejection – see Est 7:8.

A HIGHLIGHT OF A GREAT CAREER

This may have been the highlight of Nehemiah's career as the governor of Judah. The wall was certainly a great achievement, but what Nehemiah sacrificed for the good of his people may have been even greater.

When it came to his attention that many of the people were on the brink of starvation and slavery, Nehemiah took action. Not only did he address the problems of inequality among his people, but he refused to take the taxes he was entitled to as the governor. Not only that, but out of his own pocket he helped feed those in his community who were not so well off.

Our big achievements are all well and good, but it is our care for the poor and love for each other that God is really interested in. Nehemiah achieved both the big achievements and care for his people. Let's not get so carried away with big plans that we forget to love one another.
 

THEY KNOW IT, BUT WON'T ADMIT IT

As Christians, the influence we have on the people around us probably goes much further than we think it might.

As the Jews built the wall under the leadership of Nehemiah, they encountered fierce opposition from the people around them. But rather than giving up, they kept on, and in less than two months the wall had been completed. Nehemiah tells us of the reaction to the completion of the wall from the people around them in these words: "So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realised that this work had been done with the help of our God." (Neh 6:15-16). Not that they probably would have admitted it, but they knew that it was God's hand that had done this great work.

How much of God do unbelievers around us see in our lives? Are they left in no doubt that God is working in us - even if they refuse to admit it?

6:17-18          The nation had not been united in their work and the disunity was due to association by marriage with the family to Tobiah. One presumes that the “many letters” sent by different individuals were an attempt to minimise the opposition. Nehemiah’s approach was more effective. He was not compromised by marriage and he prayed to God.

6:19   Is our life of service so faithful that we could, with confidence, ask God to remember us for good on the basis of what we have done for our fellow believers?

6:14 Nehemiah was not just dealing with non-Jews who were seeking to undermine the work. It seems from the mention of prophets and a prophetess that there were Jews also who were trying to undermine Nehemiah’s work. Why would they do that we might ask. It is clear from the record that their morals had been corrupted by Nehemiah’s gentile enemies. This is against the background of a nation that were disregarding the Law of Moses by charging usury to their brethren – 5:1-11

6:3-4 Notice Nehemiah’s response to the suggestion that he met with those he describes as “0ur enemies” (:1). He does not debate the matter with them. He simply stated what he is doing and asks them for an explanation as to why he should spend time with them. That is a very effective way to deal with suggestions that do not fit in with the things of God. Rather than disagree maybe it is more effective just to ask “Why should I do (whatever you are suggesting)?”

5:4-5  The sad thing is that those who were trying to “pay their way” were being taken advantage of by their fellow Jews! The point being made by those disadvantaged was that the ones taking advantage of us are our own family! We might not behave in exactly the same way to our fellow believers. However we can show the same selfish spirit. This would be seen if we tried to take advantage of another even in a discussion. We might use our superior reasoning ability to overwhelm another even when we know their idea is a good one just because it does not fit in with our own ideas.

h 6:2 Having attempted to prevent the building of the wall and been frustrated in their attempt the wall of the city is now complete. However the opposition does not stop. Clearly Nehemiah is seen as the driving force and so there is an attempt to single him out and kill him. Doubtless the enemies of God thought that silencing the one man would hamper the work.

5:7 You are exacting interest, each from his brother

The rich Jews were charging interest of their poor brethren. This was contrary to the Law but probably okay by Medo-Persian law.  Our motivation in all dealings with others is not legality, but morality. Is what I am doing honouring to God? Notice that Nehemiah's attitude to helping others was based on  the fear of God "Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God..? The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people ... But  I did not do so, because of the fear of God ... Remember me for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people" (Nehemiah 5:9,15,19).

The fear of God should be our rule in everything. Would God remember me for good by my actions with others? How will I respond to Jesus if he were to ask me, “How did you spend your time, money and energy glorifying God?"

6:12 ... because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him

Money and family relationships often warp our thinking. I once heard of a wise brother's advice regarding relationships: “If a man does not favour his children in an ecclesial dispute, that man can be trusted in everything!”

6:7  the charge written in the open letter that Nehemiah has appointed prophet and a king in Judah were obviously not true. However, like so many accusations that might be made there is an element of truth in them.

There were at eat two, maybe three, prophets in Jerusalem and – Zech 6:11 – Joshua had been crowned.

Sufficient to allow the enemies to fabricate a false story.

5:5  Having recently returned from captivity in the land of the Chaldeans bondage was placed on some of the “sons and daughters”. How disheartening was that! The heartless Jews who were more concerned with their own status and wealth than the fellowship of their brethren were destroying the unity of the community in Jerusalem.

v.3 - The concept of passing down the knowledge of God from generation to generation goes right through scripture. We are even told that Pharaoh's heart was hardened (Exo.10:1-2) that the experience might be such that it would be remembered as the glory of the eventual deliverance might be passed down from father to son for ever.

1:4 the locust hath eaten Deuteronomy 28:38
1:5 the wine ... is cut off Isaiah 32:10
1:6 whose teeth ... a lion Revelation 9:8
1:7 laid my vine waste Isaiah 5:6
1:10 the land mourneth Hosea 4:3
1:10 the new wine is dried up Isaiah 24:7
1:12 vine Isaiah 5:5
1:12 joy is withered Isaiah 24:11
1:14 sanctify a fast 2 Chronicles 20:3
1:14 assemble ... all the inhabitants 2 Chronicles 20:13

1:4 the locust hath eaten Deuteronomy 28:38 is the beginning of the evidence that Joel provides to prove that Judah have gone astray from their God. Deuteronomy 28 promises blessings to Israel if they were faithful but curses and punishment if they were unfaithful. The language quoted here is from the section of the curses.

A Jew would know the blessings and cursings and on hearing Joel quote the curse about the locusts should have appreciated that their current experience was a demonstration of their faithfulness. The fact that their God was bringing the curses to pass on them should also have taught them that they worshipped a loving God who would forgive if repentance was manifest.

v.1 - Joel's father's name - Pethuel - means 'vision of God', though it seems it was his son in the end that fulfilled the appropriateness of this.

The use of language from Judges 6:5 'Palmerworm' 6:5 'without number' should have taught Israel that God can save by a few - He did so in the days of Gideon.

THE DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR
The day of the LORD is coming! It is near. There is a real urgency about this message from the prophet Joel. The day of the LORD could be here at any moment - and you are not ready. You need to repent and plead with God for deliverance from the day of his wrath, Joel told the people of Israel - and you need to do it now before it is too late!

This message to the people of Israel and Judah is just as applicable to us in our lives today. In the days Joel spoke, Israel and Judah were about to be taken into captivity. Nations had invaded them and had sapped their strength and the final day of the LORD was just around the corner.

We know that we live in the last days. Nearly everything God has said will happen before the return of Christ, has happened. When the rest begins to happen we may find ourselves caught up in what is going on, and it may be too late for us to do anything about it. The day of the LORD is coming for us. The message is urgent because we must act while we still have the time - but time will run out.

Will you be ready for the day of the LORD?

1:17-18 The rotten seed, the fires, the lack of pasture would all seem quite natural to the Godless man. However the faithful would see them all as signs that God was displeased with them - see the use of the curses of Deuteronomy

1:12 In speaking of the vine being 'dried up' Joel is drawing on the way in which Isaiah speaks of the way in which God had dealt with His vineyard Isa 5

V.13 The priests were to gird themselves in a token of repentance (Isa 32:11, Jer 4:8). This was to set an example for the people, and to acknowledge that their guilt was greater because they were God's ministers.

V.1 Joel means Yahweh is God . Scholars disagree on the exact dates of Joel's prophecy.  Some put him in 835 BC when Jehoash began to reign (2Kin 11:21).  Others say that he prophesied in 870-865 BC during the reign of Joash.

Joel prophesied to Judah and his theme concerns the Day of Yahweh.  The Day of Yahweh consists, of course, of the second advent of Christ and the Kingdom (2:30-32), but it also concerns the intervening events of Yahweh's dealing with His people Israel (v.15). 

I understand that the mention of 4 different insects in Joel 1:4 is a poor translation, because in English we do not have appropriate words. What was intended were the 4 stages in the growth of a locust: baby, child, teenager and adult.  In other words there will be successive invasions on the land of Israel, each one getting worse. The Romans did indeed bring the worse trouble in AD70, when the Jews were dispersed worldwide. Of-course this last invasion could also represent the northern host to come against the land in the last days.

1:7        Laying the vine waste echoes Isa 5:6

Parts of this passage tie in perfectly with Hosea 14 which you might have read yesterday. The grain in v17 is withered and shrivelled and the vine in v12 is dried up. In Hos 14:7 the grain is revived and the vine back in growth. Most of the symbols in these two chapters are used by Jesus in his teaching. He was the one who came to revive Israel and bring renewed growth, but they didn't realise it.

1:5,12 The cutting off of the ‘new wine’ is like Isa 24:7 The withered joy is seen in Isa 24:11 possibly indicating that Joel was contemporary with Isaiah.

V.4 The enemies of Judah are not specifically stated in Joel's prophecy.  There is a hint that Judah would have many different invaders.  Four different developmental stages of the locust are discussed, which suggests that there would be four invasions.  Locust in Hebrew is arbeh which means many.

1:6 The way in which the invader is described as having teeth ‘are the teeth of lions’ is picked up as a description in Rev 9:8 to described the invaders spoken of there.

Vs.3,4 Joel urged Judah to tell subsequent generations of the invasions suggested by the four different insects. This suggests that the four invasions of Judah would be over an extended period of time.

For the identification of the four invasions of Judah, Jamieson suggests: The Hebrews make the first species refer to Assyria and Babylon; the second species, to Medo-Persia; the third, to Greco-Macedonia and Antiochus Epiphanes; the fourth, to the Romans.

Vs.6,7 These verses are talking about actual locusts coming into the land and devastating the vegetation. Joel’s prophecy intertwines both the plague of real locusts and the figurative use of the insect to depict invading nations.

V.8 Virgin is a poor translation. The Hebrew word betulah indicates in this verse, a young woman, or a bride. A virgin, in the exact sense would be expressed by the Hebrew word almah (e.g. Isa 7:14).

V.15 The Day of the LORD applies to many situations, but they all involve judgment. For Jews, judgment would come upon Judah with the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. It would also come upon Jerusalem in 70 AD.

But, the end-time application of the Day of the LORD will occur when Yahweh renders judgment on the nations and people which oppose Him. The action shall be taken by Jesus and the Redeemed (Rev 19:15).

1:10 The way in which the wine dries up and the oil languishes is echoed in Isa 24:7 highlighting, along with the other links with Isaiah 24 that we have shown in earlier years, a link between the events of the two chapters.

1:8-10  Notice that even though the land is desolate the people should be lamenting because their worship of God has been compromised. Fellowship with Him is far more important than material possessions.

1:20    The drying up of the rivers is contrasted by the prophet – Joel 3:18 – when he speaks of the blessings of the kingdom age.

1:2  The fact that the ‘old men’ needed to listen to Joel’s message highlights a real problem in Israel. The ‘old men’ should have been teaching their children Deut 4:10

1:6   ‘without number’ when speaking of the enemy as grasshoppers, echoes Judg 6:5. On that occasion Gideon was fearful of the large number but God delivered the nation. 

1:10   The sorry circumstances of the land described here can see seen described similarly in the contemporary prophet  Hos 4:5

1:6      In describing Israel’s invading army as “without number” God is reminding the nation of the Midianite invasion we read of in Judg 6:5.

1:5       The call to the drunkards to awake is like the call of the Apostle – 1Thess 5:7.

1:12   The way in which the land is presented as unfruitful because the people are Godless highlights the fact that the physical creation and man’s response to it are linked.  As the prophet said – Isa 45:18 – Creation was done by God that the land would be inhabited by Godly people.

1:4 the way in which invading nations are seen as locusts is seen again in Amos 7:1.

1:3 the way that the destruction that was to come was to be told to the children who would tell their children and so on is exactly how the good Law of Moses was to be passed down – Deut 4:9

1:5  “Awake ye drunkards” is a call to not be complacent. God was at work in the land of Israel and His actions were not noticed. We might ask “How aware are we of God’s activities in the world and in particular the Middle East”? We cannot know exactly events will open out. However we must be aware that He really is at work today. Knowing this should give us great confidence in an uncertain and troubled world.

1:11  We might ask why the husbandmen should be ashamed. The answer is clear. The poor harvest was a judgment from God which the people, including the husbandmen should have recognised.  God did promise poor harvests for the nation if they were disobedient – Deuteronomy 28:22-24

1:4 What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten

Assuming that these four events represent four different destructive events of Israel, the four events could be:

1. The Assyrian overthrow of the northern Kingdom and the almost overthrow of Judah

2. The Babylonian overthrow of Judah

3. The Roman destruction of Israel in AD 70

4. The destruction and near annihilation of Israel under Gog.

1:15 The “day of the Lord” ultimately looks to the time of the return of Jesus Christ to re-establish the kingdom of God on the earth. Is it something we look forward to with confidence and enthusiasm or is it, in our eyes, going to be a day of “destruction”? The outcome is going to be determined by our attitude to observing His commandments now,

v.22 - This small verse carries with it so much. Consider the following passages in the context of this verse - ch. 4:12, Exo.23:7, Isa.33:15, Matt.17:26,27, Rom.12:17, 1Cor.8:13, 10:31-33, 2Cor.6:3, 8:20, 21, Phil.4:8, Jude 1:23.

5:6 Much of the warnings in the letter relate to the impending destruction of Jerusalem in Ad 70. 'let us not sleep' in the context of AD 70 takes on new meaning. Paul is alluding to the parable of the virgins which was spoken at the same time as the 'Olivet prophecy'

5:7 the 'night' catches 'at midnight the bridegroom cometh' Matthew 25:6

5:13 be at peace among yourselves echoes the words of Jesus (Mark 9:50). How many more quotations of Jesus' words from the gospels do you see in the New Testament letters?

:22 'Abstain from all appearance of evil' matched 1 Thessalonians 4:12 'walk honestly …' and is one of the most difficult things to do. We have to try to put ourselves in the position of someone who may be critical of us and view our actions and thoughts from their perspective. The natural reaction is to think 'I have no evil motive' but that is not the issue. What others might think is important.

5:8 The attire which the brethren and sisters were to put on match details of what Paul said to the Ephesians,

There is not a significant difference between the breastplate in both passages for it is faith which brings righteousness (Gen 15:6)

V.8-22 - the dual importance of living in the light (with uplifting mutual encouragement) and seeing the light (v.21).

V.11 "edify" (3618) oikodomeo to build, to construct, a house builder. The exhortation comes to us load and clear, we must encourage, build up others, build up the ecclesia. what a wonderful example Paul provided , not just to the first century ecclesia, but to us today.

Vs.1-11 Following on from Joel's consideration of the Day of the Lord, Paul likewise exhorts the Thessalonians on the same subject. 

In terms of Yahweh's dealing with Israel, this could be referring to Jerusalem's demise in 70 AD.  In terms of end time prophecy, it could  refer to the second coming of Christ.  Of course, it could have a dual application. 

5:3 ‘travail …’ catches the language of Jer 13:21 where Jeremiah is warning about the Babylonian invasion – a pattern of the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.

5:10 The ‘wake’ / ‘sleep’ here speaks of being alive or asleep in Christ awaiting the resurrection. And is not the same concept of ‘sleep’ as we find in verse:6. We must take care to not assume that when the same word is used that the same principle is being developed. The context will show us how to understand the words.

V.1 Paul is much less concerned about times and dates than he is for brethren to be constantly prepared for the day of the Lord.  Our preoccupation should be watchful, daily preparation without trying to pinpoint the exact day or hour as is the wont of some (Matt 24:42).

5:11   Notice that the ‘comfort’ has to be ‘together’. The way in which we meet together and talk to each other is to be a comfort to us. If we do not spend time with each other talking about God’s plan and His word we cannot be comforted together.

V.2 The return of Jesus to the earth will come as a surprise to the world at large. However, to those believers who are expecting and watching, His return will not be a surprise (v.4).

V.27 Here is another example that Paul spoke and wrote with the authority of the Lord, and that he did not just express his own personal opinions.

5:8 We have already seen that some of the language in this verse is similar to Ephesians 6. Additionally the idea of the breastplate can be found in Isa 59:17 where the ‘faith’ here represents ‘righteousness’ in Isaiah. Faith and righteousness are inextricably linked – Gen 15:6

V.3 This certainly applied to 70 AD. But, it also applies to the time of Jesus’ return, and the judgment of the nations (Matt 24:37-39).

Vs.9,10 If we are following the commandments of Jesus, we need not be afraid of judgment because Yahweh wants us to succeed (Luke 12:32; 2Pet 3:9).

V.14 Even if we have to admonish our brethren, we must approach the task with humility and patience (See 2Tim 2:24,25).

v9-11 Paul appears to be suggesting here that exhortations about judgement have no place in our ecclesia. Instead, he says "we have been appointed to obtain salvation!" That means that God has pre-ordained (commanded / appointed) that we will "live together with him (Jesus)" (v10). Judgement is only ordained for "those who do not know God, and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2Thess 1:7-9). We should be careful not to get confused and apply it to ourselves for whom there should be no fear (1John 4:17-19).

There is a great deal of confusion over this, partly because of the English word "judgement" which can mean either "condemnation" and "decision". So when we read "there is now therefore no condemnation for them that are in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:1), that's the same word translated judgement elsewhere. This verse is obviously saying that this judgement (condemnation) doesn't apply. Also from the mouth of Jesus himself it is abundantly clear that judgement (condemnation) doesn't apply to believers (John 5:24). What does apply to us is a judgement (decision) by Jesus himself. Does he know us or not? (Matt 7:23, Matt 25:11-12).

Our time should really be spent listening to how we might know Jesus and his teaching better, not worrying about condemnation. If he didn't condemn the tax collectors, harlots and other sinners who came to him, why do you think he would want to condemn you or me? The more we read and learn about his mercy and compassion, the less we will worry about this.

5:23 This is the second time in this letter that Paul has told the believers that he wishes for them to be preserved ‘blameless’. The first being 3:13

PATIENT WITH EVERYONE

"And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone." (1Thess 5:14)

Isn't it frustrating when someone is less capable, less motivated or less willing to take a risk than we are? What we really want to do with those people is to put a bomb under them and shock them into action. It would be nice if that worked, but usually it doesn't. Instead, let us follow the urging of Paul to warn those who are idle, encourage the timid and help the weak. These are the people that frustrate us, that make us want to do everything ourselves. They are often the people we think are holding us back from being all that we, or from all our team can be.

After explaining the way we should treat these different groups of backward people, Paul adds one more piece of advice that he urges us to follow. "Be patient with everyone." This piece of advice is not limited to one person or another, nor is it limited to any particular group. It is a blanket instruction for use in our dealings with everyone. Even when we think things are going backwards because of the idle, weak and timid people around us, we need to be patient with them all. It might be hard to have such patience with everyone, but because Paul urges us to do it, let's do it. After all, to someone else, it might be us who is considered idle, timid or weak. It is likely that we will need their patience.

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING

1Thess 5:17 - How is it that we are to pray without ceasing?

The context of this passage gives us a clue. This passage focuses on the attitude of the heart. "Rejoicing always" (v.16) is an attitude of mind, expressed in joyfulness and thankfulness. How do we rejoice and give thanks? Through prayer! Therefore, "effectual fervent prayer" is a proper attitude of the heart and mind. It expresses itself throughout the day with short silent prayers, which is vital in our communication with God. The attitude of praying without ceasing means an ever-open heart to the Lord’s leading. We can't always stop and kneel to pray, but our heart's attitude can always be to "pray without ceasing."


 

5:14   The very fact that Paul mentions different categories of brethren and counsels different approaches indicates that we must carefully review every situation we have to deal with. A ‘one size fits all’ approach is not the counsel of Paul. Rather treating brethren as individuals is the way we should behave.

5:24 It is precisely the faithfulness of God which enables us to trust His word. He makes promises which are, humanly speaking, impossible to keep. However experience teaches that He always keeps His word. This gives us confidence about the future. Therefore we should regularly reflect on His past performance of His promises.

1Thess 5:1,2.

To what group of people will the Lord's coming be "as a thief in the night"?

Paul is here making a contrast between "brothers" (1Thess 5:1,4) and "the people" (1Thess 5:3). To the believers, then, who are spiritually awake (1Thess 5:5-8), the coming of the Lord will not be damaging and destructive to them as it will be to the people crying "peace and safety", but who, apparently, are unaware of God's Divine intervention in the form of Christ's return.

There are a couple of connotations to the phrase - "as a thief in the night". One is definitely a negative one, for note that the analogy is not that of a family member or a friend showing up late at night, but a thief. Nothing good happens to the person whose house is broken into and possessions taken by a thief. And so for those who ignore the Bible and its clear message, serious negative consequences await.

The 2nd idea - it seems to me - is that of unexpectedness. No one really expects a thief to break into his home. And this idea, to a certain degree, may apply to all - to those not only who are unaware of Christ's coming, but also to those who know it will happen and long for it. For if we are the generation that will ultimately be alive to witness his coming, can there be any doubt that we will be shocked when it really does happen? That may be one of the ideas within Jesus' parable of the 10 virgins (Matt 25:1-13). For in that story, all were asleep and all were awakened to the cry, "Here's the bridegroom. Come out to meet him." So shock and surprise is part of the picture for all concerned. The key difference there was that the wise ones had oil for their lamps and were willing to go. The foolish didn't and came along too late.

In a couple of other places in Revelation, Christ uses the same figure of speech in exactly the same way. Here they are -

Rev. 3:3. "Remember therefore what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you."

Rev. 16:15. "Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed."

Again we can show ourselves to be ready by being spiritually awake and spiritually clothed - by being baptized into Christ and by keeping Christ as our continual covering - by trying to follow his teachings and by continuing to seek forgiveness through him and by, as he said, faithfully enduring to the end so that we will be saved.

5:16-17       Paul is encouraging the Thessalonians to behave as he had told them already – 1Thess 1:3 –how he behaved.

APPOINTED FOR SALVATION.

I wonder if you have ever been to the Sunday morning service, and heard a talk about judgement, and how much we have to do to be good in the eyes of God, and then thought of your own personal failings over the previous week, and wondered if you are really good enough to be saved?

If so, try this on for size: "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that.....we may live together with him." (1Thess 5:9-10)

God planned for us to receive salvation. It's what He made us for. He has said "You are one of those I want to inherit the salvation I have prepared through Jesus Christ." God is not looking at us as if we are sinners. He is looking at us as the objects of His salvation and love. He has already forgiven us through Jesus, and He is there for us every step of the way. He wants us in His kingdom. You are His chosen child for whom He has prepared an inheritance.

I find these thoughts very encouraging. Instead of thinking about giving up because I am not good enough, it inspires me to live for God even more because He loves me so much.

He has appointed us to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us press on and receive it with joy.

5:20  “prove all things” was not an injunction simply for the Thessalonians. It is equally necessary today. When we preach the word or speak about its encouragement it is essential that we base our comments on what Scripture says rather than simply give anecdotes. Further our talking must be an extension of what Scripture says, not simply the addition of passages of Scripture to give our words a semblance of being what the Bible says.

5:9     In saying that we are not appointed to wrath Paul is returning to a point he has already made 1Thess 1:10. It is all too easy for us to form a view of God which causes us to fear the judgment. This should not be.

5:4    When Paul writes of those who are “feebleminded” he uses a word - <3642> - which is only used here in the New Testament. A consideration of the way that the word is made up shows what Paul is saying. The one who is “feebleminded” is one who is weak in making decisions – easily led.

5:17      We should realise that to pray without ceasing is not to pray every minute. Rather it is to not pray once or twice about something and then forget the issue being prayed about. The ceaseless prayer is prayers that are regularly spoken as long as the specific need exists. In Eph 1:16 Paul gives us an example of this sort of ceaseless prayer.

1Thess 5:23

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Spirit and soul and body speak of the tripartite nature of all human beings. This passage is often cited to prove that we are more than just physical beings; that we are also immortal. This passage is further used to validate the Trinity, man being created in the image of a triune God (Gen 1:26; Matt 28:19)!

Brother Robert Roberts in the Christadelphian, 1892, p. 178, reproduced without alteration, wrote: “Man is undoubtedly composite in constitution. Paul’s words, ‘Body, soul, and spirit,’ define the natural divisions of his nature, body, life [soul] and mind [spirit]. A carcase illustrates the first; an idiot, the first and second without the third; a full-grown efficient manhood presents us with the whole three in combined manifestation. None of the three exists as an individual abstraction by itself. ‘Body, soul, and spirit’ are but names descriptive of different aspects presented by the unit man; and if you destroy the man, where are the aspects? If you destroy the body, you necessarily destroy the life which is but a phenomenon manifested in or through the body.”

5:13     Twice, here and 1Thess 3:13 – Paul speaks of the high standard required of those who would be Jesus’ followers.

1Thess 5:12,13

“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.”