v. 7 - 'snare' here operates the opposite way round from the way it is usually presented - usually the word is used to warn Israel against making agreements with other nations and therefore becoming ensnared with their idolatry - Ex.23:33, 34:12 Deut.7:6. By the time we get to Josh.23:13, God has turned the tables on them completely, and now they are ensnared, deserving to be. They were further to be ensnared by the advent of God's Son - as prophesied in Isa.8:14 see also Rom.9:32,33

An obstinate person is very hard to be won over. Exo 10:7 reports that Pharaoh’s servants tried to persuade him that God was destroying Egypt, but he only partially responded.

The word locusts in Hebrew is arbeh which means many.  This aptly describes the marauding masses that covered the land.  There was an outbreak of locusts in West and North Africa.  One swarm column in Morocco was measured at 230km long by 150 m wide, containing an estimated 69 billion locusts.  Harvest losses due to this outbreak were valued at up to $2.5 billion.
 
Darkness covered the land for three days.  The number three signifies completeness, entirety.  Egypt, the epitome of sin, was encompassed with darkness.  Thus, sin was nullified. Jonah was engulfed in darkness for three days in the belly of the great fish.  This, of course, foreshadowed the interment of Jesus in the tomb for three days.  Jesus nullified sin by overcoming it.

10:2      Teachings the sons and son’s sons actually becomes a feature of how God wants Israel to teach His laws, for example Deut 4:9

V.29 Pharaoh would not see Moses or Aaron again because the tenth and final plague was coming next.  Ten is a number, used in the Bible, to show completeness (e.g. Gen 18:32 (Ten, the number agreed upon at the completion of Abraham's discourse with the angel); Est 9:14 (Ten, the complete number of Haman's progeny, which being killed meant completing the destruction of Agag); Matt 25:1 (Ten virgins represented the (complete) ecclesia).

Psalm 65 - We might think that :5 of this Psalm is speaking only of the future salvation of man. However :9-13 shows that God's salvation extends to the harvest that we take so much for granted year in year out.

64:4 In shooting in secret the wicked seek to overthrow the just without anyone knowing who it is who has done the deed. It is rather like sending unsigned letters accusing individuals. The law was designed to prevent this sort of thing. Two witnesses were required who would both testify openly (Deuteronomy 17:6)

65:4 The blessed man is a recurring theme in the Psalms. Psalm 1:1 32:3 34:8 89:5,12 94:12 112:1. There is value in looking at all the things that are said about the blessed man.

64:6 Whilst ‘love covers a multitude of sins’ (James 5:20, 1Pet 4:8) the wicked are searching for things to cast against the righteous. Herein is a warning for us. It is so easy to look for faults in others rather than look for the best in our brethren.

65:5,8  The two fold mention of those who are distant to Israel maybe speaks of the call of the gentiles and the effect God can have on them. He is the salvation of gentiles but the far of those who do not respond to Him.

Psalm 64  A prayer of David for deliverance from evil men, and a statement of confidence in God's final judgement of them.

Psalm 65  In this Psalm we have a song of joy and praise, probably used at the Feast of the Firstfruits, to give thanks for God's abundant and undeserved blessings.

64:4,7 - to take the comment above a stage further, here we see a facsinating contrast.  God will indeed deal with those who shoot an arrow in secret at the perfect in like manner.

It's a lovely idea that God crowns the year with His goodness (Psa 65:11) The previous two verses speak of the seasons, with God enabling the seed to grow, and how He waters the earth. The harvest is the gift of God. It is the result of His kindness and blessing.  As a community we usually shy away from the idea of a "Harvest Festival", but it's a good thing to stop and thank the Lord for all His provision. Without Him, and His blessings on the earth, where would we be?

64:9      And so whilst the ‘wicked’ have been shooting arrows ‘in secret’ :2 their evil will be seen by all eventually. A consequence of this will be that ‘all men’ will recognise the majesty of God.

64:2The ‘secret counsel’ characterises the wicked. Loving darkness their plans are hatched in secret. They are the ones who gossip and speak behind the backs of others. Where do we fit into this scheme of things?

64:2 In asking God to ‘hide’ him from the wicked David is recognising that it is not in his own power to escape the evil intentions of the wicked. How often do we thing that we can save ourselves from problems rather than rely upon God?

65:8 Even those who live in the remotest places can see the creation of Yahweh which testifies to His existence and power (Rom 1:19,20).

65:7 In linking together the stilling of the waters and the stilling of the people we learn that waters represent people. This gives us a principle which we see used elsewhere in Scripture – Rev 4:6

ch 15 - A key word in this chapter is 'gentiles' As you read the chapter highlight the word. This will help you to gain a better insight into the structure of the chapter and the thrust of Paul's argument.

16:5 In speaking of 'the church which is in their house' we gain an insight into New Testament life in Christ. No large ornate buildings. Not even small halls owned by the church. They simply met in homes of believers. Look also at Acts 2:46 1 Corinthians 16:19 Colossians 4:15

15:6 In speaking of our God as ’the God of patience’ Paul is voicing a wonderful truth. But if He is patient how should we be?

16:13 Is this ‘Rufus’ the same one as Mark 15:21? Of course we cannot know. However he is the only one mentioned in Scripture.

15:1 Paul further exhorts us to defer to our brethren.  The strong should help the weak.  This applies to both physical and spiritual situations.  If done in the Spirit of Christ for salvation's sake, then all will benefit.  
 
16:17 We must keep our eye on the ball for those causing divisions.  What happened in the first century can happen today.  And so, we must discern that what is said and done is correct (1John 4:1). 

Notice Paul talks about offences (KJV).  These offences are doctrinal stumbling blocks or impediments to the Truth.

Personal offences towards our brethren should, of course, also be avoided, but sometimes that is difficult.  If we can agree not to hit below the belt then we should be alright.
By the same token, no one should wear his/her belt around his/her forehead.

15:5     In speaking of the Father as ‘the God of patience’ Paul is reminding us of a characteristic of Him that we should wan to manifest – most appropriate when considering how we interact with other brethren and sisters.

15:2 Pleasing our neighbour is the principle ‘love thy neighbour as thyself’ Lev 19:18

15:8   The circumcision that Jesus was the minister of was not the circumcision in the flesh but rather the circumcision of the heart.  In speaking like this of Jesus those who wanted to require circumcision of the gentiles would be brought up with a start as Jesus never mentioned circumcision as an act that should be observed.

15:12 Jesus is the root of Jesse through being the root of David (Rev 22:16).

16:3 Pricilla is the diminutive form of Prisca (2Tim 4:19).

15:27 links in with 11:11-18. This is the debt that we Gentiles are under. And this appears to be why Paul said in 13:8 "owe no man anything". He was reminding the Gentiles of their unpaid debt to Israel and persuading them to provide for the Jewish converts in Jerusalem (v25-29).