V.31 Here we have a lesson for each one of us. Hezekekiah's offense was not so much in the display of his military stores and treasures, as in not giving to God the glory both of the miracle and of his recovery.

V.9 The consequences of Hezekiah's earlier distancing himself from the influence of Assyria are now being realized.  Sennacherib sent spokesmen to taunt Hezekiah in Jerusalem while he laid siege to Lachish. 

Lachish was located about 20 miles (32 km) south-west of Jerusalem.  Pictures of Sennacherib's successful campaign in Lachish were carved in the wall of his palace in Nineveh.  These carvings are now in the British Museum.  Sennacherib took Lachish in 700 BC.

32:31  In saying that God left Hezekiah "to try him" we are seeing the recurrence of the way that God works with his people. For example Deut 8:3 speaking to Israel in the wilderness. If God were to hedge His servants about all the time so that they were never tempted then the servant would never learn his own strengths and weaknesses.

v 1  the start of this verse mentions "..all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done...", & yet God then brings not one, but two, difficult tests on him - the Assyrians, & his life-threatening illness. We are reminded of Job, a righteous man Job 1:8 but who needed further character refining.

The way the narrative runs, it would appear that the threat to Jerusalem & the illness of Hezekiah are consecutive. Isaiah however, would seem to indicate that they were concurrent Isa 38:5,6

The pride of Hezekiah in showing off his wealth, reminds one of the pride of Nebuchadnezzar Dan 4:30

32:1 ‘After these things’ – an ominous phrase. Hezekiah had done so many things right. And now God is developing more ‘fruit’ in Hezekiah by providing a challenge for him to deal with that he might learn more about himself and learn even more to trust his God. We should not think that because we are doing things right that life will be easy. Rather, if Jesus words – John 15:2 - are to be understood we see that God seeks more fruit from those whoa re fruitful.

32:5 The building of the wall that Hezekiah is involved in here is spoken of by the prophet – Isa 22:9-10

32:31 Whilst the record says that with respect to the ambassadors of Babylon ‘God left’ Hezekiah the contemporary prophet Micah (4:1 warns of the impending Babylonian captivity – doubtless after the visit of the ambassadors.

32:11-16 Notice the emphasis ‘mine’ in these verses showing the self importance of the king of Assyria.

2Chron 32:3-4 - Hezekiah's tunnel was cut through 1750 feet of solid limestone, was 4 to 20 feet high, saved Jerusalem's water supply and was discovered in 1880; V.3 "fountains" [Heb. "ayin" (5869) means "eye, fountain (i.e. eye of landscape)'], V.4 "fountains" [Heb. "ma'yan" (4599) means "spring, a fountain"].

2Chron 32:22,24 - like Christ, Hezekiah was surrounded by Gentiles (Psa 22:16;Matt 27:54) and ill at the point of death but God delivered him.

Vs.4,9 Daniel was told to seal the words of his prophecy until the time of the end.  The time of the end began in the first century.  Nobody since Daniel until the end of the first century was able to unseal the book (about 600 years).  Only one person was capable of doing that, the risen Lord Jesus (Rev 5:1-5). 

Through Rev. Ch's 6-8, Jesus reveals that the seven seals are seven historical time periods spanning the first century until His return.  Daniel Ch. 12 is talking about the time of Christ's return.  It continues where Daniel Ch 11 leaves off. 

The confederacy of Gog invades Israel, bent upon its destruction (Ch. 11 c.f. Eze 38). The judgement will have taken place and the accepted ones, the Redeemed, will have been immortalized (v.2).  Jesus and the Redeemed will save Israel by destroying Gog and its confederates.

It important to understand what a large body of Christians believe concerning Daniel Ch. 12. They believe that time of v.1 refers to the Great Tribulation which will last three-and-a-half years (being the second half of the Tribulation of seven years). 

During the time of Tribulation, the Antichrist will establish himself in Jerusalem claiming to be ruler of the world.  This idea of the Antichrist, being a Jew who would set himself in Jerusalem as the king of the world, had its beginnings in the Catholic Counter-reformation. 

The Catholic Church at that time was being singled out as the beast and whore of Revelation, and the Pope as the man of sin and the false prophet.  They displaced this criticism by claiming that these things were talking about an Antichrist who will arise. 

Thus, when Christ appears in Jerusalem, claiming to be the king of the world, He will be denounced and opposed by millions of Christians who will see their prophecy coming true.  However, the Lord Jesus will destroy them (Rev 19:19,20). 

12:3  These words were spoken in Babylon. Daniel was taught in all the wisdom of Babylon. Yet that wisdom did not reveal to him the things of God. The wise spoken of here are those who have immersed themselves in the Word of God, not the word of men.

12:4 the running ‘to and fro’ echoes the way that God’s eye ran to and fro – 2Chron 16:9 helping us to understand that the running to and fro here is in the pursuit of information.

12:10 The wicked who do wickedly provides the basis for Rev 22:11. Despite the wisdom of God and the manifestation of His glory there are always men and women who prefer to ignore all of that and continue n their wickedness.

12:3 The Chaldeans were really besotted with ‘wise’ things – they had ‘wise men’ and astrologers’ to call on when there was a need for an explanation. However in things to do with God’s plan the book of Daniel shows them to be impotent. Daniel was ‘wise’ Dan 1:7. The wisdom of God is counted as foolish but the wisdom of the things of God makes us wiser than all the wise men in the earth.

12:7 we came across a man in ‘linen’ in Eze 9:2 these men were for the deliverance of the faithful. Likewise here. We should remember that the words of Ezekiel were spoken to those in captivity. Daniel, now near the end of the captivity, sees men in linen as deliverers also.

13:44  The fact that the Apostle preached to the gentiles on ‘the next Sabbath’ indicates, as suggested in May this year, that gentiles were regular attendees at the synagogue.

V.23 We note here, that the promise was "unto Israel". The promise was to David as King of Israel. Jesus came to Israel, and not to other nations. This agrees with the statement by Jesus "salvation is of the Jews"(John 4:22). Paul is speaking to those who he addressed as "Men of Israel". They had not yet turned to the Gentiles (V.46)

v 11 Paul causes Elymas to be blind, the same thing which had happened to him at his conversion. Does the phrase "for a time", also imply that Elymas would be healed, & be spiritually healed/converted as well?

13:7  The ‘deputy’ had a choice to make. Did he believe the teaching of Paul or the sorcery of Elymas. As always that is the choice. To believe the gospel or the works of the flesh.

13:47 The use of Isa 49:6 is interesting because a prophecy which seems to have its application specifically to Jesus is applied to the believers. They were the light to the gentiles as Jesus was. This highlights an important issue of God manifestation. The way we live either shows God’s glory to others or not. The choice is ours.

13:22 In saying ‘I have found David’ Paul is quoting Psa 89:20 and so his exposition to these Jews shows the importance of the promises to David to an understanding of the work f God in Messiah

13:25  In speaking of John ‘fulfilling his course’ we see language that one might associate with the work of a priest – Luke 1:8-