We have seen David preparing for the temple right from the time of the promise (1 Chronicles 17) and now there is no doubt. Solomon is the one who is charged with the task of building it and the princes are commanded to support Solomon in that work.

David accepted the restriction on his building the temple, and willingly prepared for the work which Solomon was going to do.  For the next 8 chapters we read of David's work.  Many a lesser man would have dropped the whole project, and put his energies into something else, but David accepted God's ruling, and still worked as hard as he could for the new temple.  Sometimes disappointments come in our lives, and what do we do?  David's example could well guide us.

Vs.9,10 The House of the Yahweh had to be built by a man of peace (Solomon means peace).  Jesus, the greater David and Solomon, built a spiritual house based upon peace.  We are that House (Heb 3:6; 1Pet 2:5) and must be men and women of peace (Rom 14:19; 2Cor 13:11; Heb 12:4).  

Also, from the temple building, we could adopt the dynamic statement to urge ourselves to get busy in the Yahweh's vineyard: Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee (v.16).

22:13  David’s charge to Solomon ‘be strong and of good courage’ is the same charge that Moses gave to Joshua – Deut 31:6  – in similar circumstances. Both Moses and David were prevented from doing something they wanted to do and had to pass on the responsibility for the thing they wanted to do to others. Moses was barred from entering the land, David was barred from building the temple. Nevertheless both men did not rebel at the instruction of God, despite the certain disappointment they wanted the work of God to continue, hence the words of encouragement.

1Chron 22:12 David's plea to the LORD that Solomon be given wisdom and understanding to help him rule the nation must have lodged in Solomon's heart. On the night when God appeared to him and said: 'Ask what I shall give thee', Solomon's answer was almost exactly what David had asked.2Chron 1:7-12

22:18David’s charge to the elders who would serve Solomon was to remind them of the fact that God had marked the place of His choosing by quoting Deut 12:10

22:2-3 Notice that it was both Jews and ‘strangers’ – that is gentiles – who prepared the material for the temple. A foreshadowing of the church of God which is to be made up of both Jew and gentile.

V.8 Yahweh will not allow evil men to live.  David was an instrument of Yahweh in dispensing divine justice against evil men.  However, Yahweh would prefer that men repent of their evil ways and live godly lives (2Pet 3:9).  Divine offices and places of worship must be occupied by peaceful men.  Thus, Yahweh prevented David from building His temple.  

Vs.14-16 There is a wonderful metaphor which has been provided for us in these verses.  David had developed the groundwork for building the temple. But, the actual building (and maintenance) was left to him who followed (Solomon), who was provided with all the help he needed.  The only instruction that remained was: Arise and work! The LORD be with you! (ESV).

The groundwork for us has been set by Jesus, the greater David (Eph 2:20).  But, the actual building is left to him/her who follows (the individual member of Christ’s body) (Eph 2:21; 1Pet 2:5).  Help has been provided by Jesus and fellow brethren.  Now, our job is to build up and maintain the temple, as it is our responsibility to do so (Matt 11:29,30; 1Cor 3:16,17; 12:12-20; Gal 6:2). And so, all that is left for us to do is to work. 

May we be recipients of the following prayer: Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen (Heb 13:20,21) (KJV).

32:7 the judgement on Egypt matches the judgement that Isaiah prophesied of Babylon. Isaiah 13:10
The fall of Egypt was to be an object lesson to Judah. They has trusted in Egypt to save them from Babylon. However in seeking help from Egypt they became subject to them when they made Jehoiakim king 2 Chronicles 36:4

V.21 etc. The demise of the mighty, uncircumcised nations who once terrorized the inhabitants of the earth, is cataloged. Being uncircumcised is the state of not having flesh removed.  Anyone in this state is astray from Yahweh. 

This applies to the heart as well as the body (Acts 7:51), and we should endeavor to make sure that we cut off the flesh daily if we are to serve Yahweh acceptably (Gal 5:24; Col 2:11; 1Pet 4:2).  This way we shall avoid the same fate as the nations mentioned.

V.18 Why should Ezekiel be asked to wail for Egypt?  Why should he lament for a wicked nation doomed to destruction?  Yahweh does not take pleasure in the destruction of His creation (Eze 33:11; 2Pet 3:9).  He instructs His people to exercise the same attitude (Prov 24:17).  Yahweh will not hesitate to destroy the wicked because He cannot abide disobedience.  However, He does this with sorrow. 

Vs.7,8 The language here shows the loss of political power.  It is the same language that is used by Jesus to describe the state of political power at the time of His return (Matt 24:29).

It’s interesting to note that God did not give Ezekiel his prophecies against Egypt all at once.  Remember that Ezekiel was unable to speak unless God specifically opened his mouth (see Eze 3:26,27), and therefore to give greater effect to His message God gave the Egyptian prophecies in four sessions:
Eze 29:1 in the 10 year, 10 month, 12 day
Eze 29:17                         1                1    (this is recorded as the 27th year. It must refer to another dating system)
Eze 31:1           11            3                1
Eze 32:1           12           12               1
Whilst looking at dates, have you noticed how several of Ezekiel’s recorded times of God speaking do not follow concurrently?  See for example Eze 20:1, Eze 24:1, Eze 26:1.

32:7-8  The language used here by Ezekiel to speak of the overthrow of Egypt is rather like the language used when Egypt suffered darkness in the plague in the days of Moses. Exo 10:21

32:1 Whereas Ezekiel has spoken against countries up to this point he now turns his attention to an individual. Pharaoh embodied all that was evil in Egypt, as he had done in the days of Moses. Hence he comes in for special mention.

32:4 In speaking of leaving the Egyptians upon the land (dead) we see an echo of the plague of frogs – Exo 8:14 - when Israel were delivered from Egypt.

32:21-32 All the nations mentioned are presented as being in ‘hell’ the grave. Yes Israel is to continue, despite being in captivity at the time that Ezekiel spoke – Jer 30:11

32:3 Egypt, living along the side of the Nile, would have been great fishermen, using nets to catch fish in the Nile. So it is fitting that God is going to take them in a ‘net’.

3:6-8 Paul returns to the theme of the unity that should exist between Jewish and gentile believers. The wonder and magnitude of it all is stressed by Paul who views it a great honour that he should have been chosen by God as the minister to the gentiles. Now if he, a Jew, views it as such an honour the Jewish brethren at Ephesus should view is equally as an honour to fellowship their gentile brethren.

4:1 In calling himself 'the prisoner of Christ' Paul is stressing that his situation - imprisonment in Rome - is of God and not of men.
4:3 And again unity is the watchword.

3:14-20 Because of his understanding Paul prays to God that the brethren and sisters would appreciate what has been done for them.

4:12 Notice that the 'edifying of the church' is the reason for the gifts. Edification should be the reason for every action we take. see 1Cor 14:26.

4:14-16 Edifying contrasts with 'being tossed about'. It is either one or the other. As parts of the body of Christ we should be 'growing together'.

3:3 So we learn that Paul has already written to the ecclesia at Ephesus, though what he wrote is not available to us. Thus we see an aspect of his great care for them. He was involved in the formation of the ecclesia. Warned the elders (Acts 20:17-35) and then sent Timothy there to take care of them.

ch 4 - Notice the recurring 'walk' (:1, 17) that we saw in 3:1

In 3v9 Paul says a very similar thing to John1v1 "the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ.". Here we have Jesus in the beginning with God, and all things being created through him. In Proverbs 8v22 the same things are said, but of wisdom: "the Lord possessed me at the beginning...before there ever was an earth...I was beside Him as a master craftsman". Also 3v19 "the Lord by wisdom founded the earth".

What is the link between these two things? In Eph 3v10-11 Paul says that the reason for the creation in Christ is "that now the manifold wisdom of God might be known by the church". In John 1, that wisdom of God came and dwelled in bodily form in the character and actions of Jesus. This is now to happen in the same way with the Church. God's wisdom is being revealed to us, so that we, combining it with faith (v12, 17) and earnest prayer (v14, 20, Luke 11v13), will grow into that character, and thus exhibit love. This is how God, and Jesus, will inhabit us in the spirit...... if we let them.

Unity

Eph 4:3-6 - one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. It is a narrow road that leads to eternal life Matt 7:13-14.

Uplifting Talk and Christlike Behavior

Eph 4:29,31,32 - uplift with talk that benefits others; get rid of all bitterness, anger, slander, malice; be kind, compassionate, forgiving others as Christ forgave you.

3:12 Paul has been speaking in earlier verses of the majesty of the wonderful position gentiles can have with God. In speaking of ‘boldness’ he is making the point that even though God is so majestic He differs from earthly monarchs in that the believer can still have access to His presence.

4:15 Notice that ‘truth’ is spoken in ‘love’. How often do we, when we see an issue that needs to be addressed speak ‘truth’ in self righteous anger?

4:16 Notice that the ‘body’ is edified ‘in love’. So often we think we have to be forceful and maybe even aggressive with our brethren when they do not see things quite like we do. Such actions are not edifying.

3:17   Christ dwelling in the hearts of believers is the New testament counterpart to having the principles of the gospel written in our hearts – Prov 3:3, 7:3

3:19 The seeming paradox of knowing that which passes knowledge is making the point that human knowledge is so limited it cannot understand that which we know about God’s work of salvation in Christ. That knowledge can only come through revelation through the word of God.