It seems that Nehemiah organised two choirs, at the dedication of the wall. One choir went this way, and the other one went that way, and then they met at the temple.  The singers and the instrumentalists would have made a wonderful duet, responding to each other across the city.  The completed wall had been Nehemiah’s goal, and now it was built he dedicated it to God.

12:31-40 With a map of the city of Jerusalem in the days of Nehemiah we can trace the way these two companied started out to meet at the temple.

Neh 12:27 - How curious that a wall be dedicated. This was certainly unprecedented in Judah or Israel's history. More recently in our Amos readings - Amos 1:7,10,14 - God said he would send a fire against the walls of Gaza, Tyrus and Rabbah, and also earlier in Israel's history, the wall appeared to be a symbol of trusting in man's strength rather than in God. How curious, then, to be associated with dedication and worship here.

12:31-40 This joyous occasion might cause us to forget that Jerusalem was surrounded by enemies. However it seems that the threat of these adversaries did not bother those involved. A far cry from when the walls were being built – Neh 4:18

12:27 The book of Nehemiah focuses so much on what happened in Jerusalem that we might tend to forget that there were Jews in other parts of the land. This mention of the Levites going to Jerusalem serves to remind us that the return was not just to Jerusalem.

12:31-40 we might imagine that the people, even if they did not sing the Psalm, were well aware of the words of Psa 48:1-14

Agree with Peter Forbes 2010 comment regarding Psa.48. Similarly, the words of (Psa 122;Psa 127;Psa 147;Psa 150) would perhaps have resonated as well.

4:1 Again we see Israel accused of breaking the Law of Moses Deuteronomy 24:14

To call Israel 'kine of Bashan' might appear rather crude. However there are other passages which use similar language Deuteronomy 32:14 15 Psalm 22:12 Jeremiah 50:11 A consideration of these passages will show that the language speaks of those who oppose truth. Thus the 'kine of Bashan' of whom Amos speaks must be the princes and rulers of Samaria.

4:7 Amos’ claim that God had ‘witholden the rain’ quotes Deut 28:24 thus the prophet is showing the nation that they were reaping the curses of Deut 28 because of their sinfulness.

In the process of refining His people God was bringing punishments against them. The picture we are given in v11 is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire. Here Lot and his daughters were literally "plucked out" of that fire and saved. In the same way God had brought various plagues and disasters upon them, presumably in which the wicked had been killed and the more righteous saved. Yet those who had been saved still didn't turn to Him (v11).

As a result of this Israel would be sent into captivity as prophecied in 5:27. But again God would use this as a refining process and cause some of the people to be "plucked out" and brought back to Israel. Amongst these people was Joshua the high priest, who in Zech 3:2 is described as a firebrand "plucked" from the fire. He is described as being clothed in filthy garments and this image is used by Paul in Jude 1:23 to bring the lessons home to us. Even in the 1st century Church there were people whom God was bringing through refining fire (Heb 12:29). Paul taught that we should "pluck" some of these out of the fire, making a distinction just as God had made a distinction in the past. Some people just don't want to be saved and would rather continue acting in the way described in Jude 1:16-19. 

4:2 God, in swearing by His holiness, is saying that His actions are guaranteed by His being separate from Man. That separateness is not simply a matter of being aloof. If is that He is different. He, by contrast to man, is consistent. Therefore His promises are always kept.

4:2In saying ‘sworn by His holiness’ the prophet is using language which God Himself used – Psa 89:35. In the Psalm the language is part of an assurance that God’s promises cannot be broken. In the Psalm it is linked with the promise to David that he would have a son who would also be God’s son. The house of David being the theme of the Psalm. Likewise Amos 9:11-12 speaks of the house of David indicating that it is also a theme in this prophecy, maybe indicating the reason for the phrase ;sworn by His holiness’

4:13  Israel needed to remember that the God they were contending with was the creator of the universe, not a creation of their own hands – like the idols that they worshipped at, for example, Bethel.

1:5  In speaking of the ;unfeigned’ faith of Timothy’s mother and grand mother his is truly speaking highly of them. See what he means by ‘unfeigned’ when he wrote to Timothy earlier – 1Tim 1:5

1:15 ‘all Asia’ picks up, and contrasts with, the impact of the preaching in Ephesus when the gospel was first preached there – Acts 19:10,26,37

1:6  So despite Paul’s confidence in Timothy he has to ‘stir up’ Timothy. So he was reticent in the work. It would appear that his reticence was due to opposition of brethren and sisters in the ecclesia. How often do we, by our attitude, dampen the enthusiasm of others?

2Tim 1:2 Here we see Paul referring to Timothy as "son" yet it is recorded that Paul had no family. This shows how close and intimate their relationship was and how passionate Paul felt about this young brother in the truth. See Matt 12:48-49 these verses indicate to us that our brethren and sisters are our true family.

1:12 There was a simple reason why Paul suffered as a believer – it was because of his calling in Christ. Whilst we are not ‘apostles’ we have a responsibility to teach and preach and so should be willing also, like Paul, to suffer persecution.

1:15 The effects of the preaching of Paul in Ephesus had been phenomenal. ‘all Asia’ believed – Acts 19:10,26,27 – but now there has been a great falling away. Maybe this is the specific reason why Jesus, through John, wrote to seven churches in Asia – Rev 1:11