31:8 'Fear not nor be dismayed' passes into Biblical use as an exhortation to be faithful as Yahweh will deliver. (Deuteronomy 31:8 Joshua 8:1 10:25 1 Chronicles 28:20 2 Chronicles 20:17)

Vs.19,21,22,30 A song is a potent memory device.  Think of how many lyrics to songs (hymns) you can easily bring to mind.  A text set to music is easier to learn and retain than a text alone.  Moses composed a song and taught it to the Israelites as a future witness against them when they sinned.  The full song will be read tomorrow in (Deut 32:1-43).  The song will be performed again in the Kingdom as a reminder of sin and Yahweh's grace (Rev 15:3). 

Moses must have felt very sad when God told him that Israel would forsake God (Deut 31:20). There's an interesting parallel in Acts 20:29,30, where Paul told the elders of Ephesus at Miletus that after his departing grievous wolves would not spare the flock. But, the really sad part there, was that the elders wept most of all because they wouldn't see Paul again, (Acts 20:36-38)  - they wept for the messenger and not for the message.

31:2       Going out and coming in is the language of a shepherd caring for his flock and passes into Biblical use – for example with David  1Sam 18:16

31:6 ‘He will not fail thee nor forsake thee’ is quoted in Heb 13:5 to show us that this promise to Israel also applies in our own lives. So whenever we think that Israel should have trusted God because of this promise we should reflect on our own lives and ask whether we always trust our Father.

31:19   That Moses was to ‘write this song’ is not so that Israel would have something enjoyable to sing. Singing actually fixes things in the mind more securely than simply reading – how many of us know the words of hymns which are based on Scripture better than the actual words of the Bible? The writing of the song was to help to fix the way that God was dealing with them in their minds.

31:4 This is the last time that Moses mentions the way in which Sihon and Og had been dealt with. The first occasion was in Deut 1:4. Some ten time in the book of Deuteronomy is this point made. So we see that the taking of the land East of Jordan was a major event which Moses uses to show that truly God would deliver the inhabitants of the land of Canaan into Israel’s hands.

V.2 Moses had three periods of his 120 year old life:

1) He lived as an adopted son of Pharaoh for the first 40 years of life (Acts 7:23-25). 

2) He lived in Midian with Jethro’s family from 40-80 years of age (Exo 2:15, 7:7).

3) He guided Israel in the wilderness from 80-120 years old (Josh 14:10).

Moses life journey of 120 years parallels Noah’s witness of 120 years before the flood.  Both men are mentioned in the roll of faith (Heb 11:7,23,24).

V.7 Joshua (Heb. yeshuah) means Yahweh saves.

Joshua is a type of Christ.  They both brought salvation to the people of God.  Their commonalities are:

(1) The name is common to both.  Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua.

(2) Joshua brings the people into the possession of the Promised Land, as Jesus will bring His people into the kingdom ((Heb 4:8,9) ).

(3) As Moses was succeeded by Joshua, so the Law was succeeded by the Gospel (the things concerning the kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12)).

In v9-10 we see that Moses wrote and delivered the law to the elders of Israel before his death. This was OK while they were camped together, because anyone could have come to read it or enquire of one of the priesthood. But what about when they were scattered all over the land? How would they hear the message then? Moses' answer was to command them to have it read every seven years when they gathered together at the feast of the year of release (v10). They had to remember it. But can you imagine hearing (and remembering) 240 pages of Bible text in one holiday! God's answer was more realistic: a song (v19-22) "for it will not be forgotten in the mouths of their descendants".

The intention, of course, was to have Levites in every city and village who would teach the people God's laws. It could be a daily study for them as it is for us. But God was looking ahead to a time where He knew the Levites would be chased out of Isreal; which happened in the time of Jereboam (2Chron 11:13-16). During those days the song was literally the only reminder of God's word that they had.

3 v.18 Isaiah 3 draws on language from other parts of Scripture 05914 Proverbs 7:22 stocks Isaiah 3:18 tinkling ornaments 07720 Judges 8:21,26 ornaments Isaiah3:18 tires 08597 Exodus 28:40 beauty Isaiah 3:18 bravery - Bad translation Deuteronomy 26:19 honour Isaiah 4:2 comely Ezekiel 16:17 fair. To describe the wantonness of Israel in the way that she had turned the beauty which God had given her into an abomination.

4:2 06780 Branch is a prophecy of Christ. So when the same word is used in other prophecies [Jeremiah 23:5 33:15 Zechariah 3:8 6:12] we can see that not only are these prophecies of Christ but each is part of a large picture which the Old Testament is painting for us.

3:18 Isaiah 3 draws on language from other parts of Scripture

To describe the wantonness of Israel in the way that she had turned the beauty which God had given her into an abomination.

3:1 Continuing the use of the curses which we saw in Chapter 1 'Lord of hosts doth take away the whole stay of bread' quotes Leviticus 26:26. Leviticus 26 is the earlier recording of the curses which are later repeated in Deuteronomy 28.

4:6 The 'tabernacle' is the lord Jesus Christ. We can follow the idea of God's provision of a man to be a 'tabernacle' - a place of sanctuary through Isaiah (32:2, 41:28, 63:5)

3:26 The desolate Israel will 'sit upon the ground' and will eventually rise from the dust (52:2) when Messiah comes.

4:4 'The spirit of judgement' by which the sins and filth are to be purged away was to be the Babylonian captivity. However in judging the sin of mankind through the righteousness of Christ sin is 'purged' eternally.

The Babylonian conquest and subsequent captivity of Israel caused devastation and hardship at that time.  However, Isaiah is looking forward to the latter days in which Israel will be decimated by Gog and its confederates.  He paints such a desperate picture of that time (4:1).  It is the Lord Jesus (the Branch) who will rescue them from this dismal situation (4:2; Zech 14:2,3).

3:5  Isaiah here describes the collapse of society in Israel which was a consequence of the people forsaking God. In society today there is no moral cohesion because God is not recognised as an authority.

4:1,2  The ‘day’ that is being spoken of is the day when Israel will ‘sit desolate’ – 3:26

3:14; 5:4,7 - God's vineyard is Israel though in Christ the potential harvest also includes the Gentiles Matt 21:33-44 who have an opportunity to be a "spiritual Israel" of sorts.

4:2-5 - in that day the "Branch" [Heb. "tsemach" (6780) means "a sprout, branch, bud, that which grew, spring (-ing)", etc.] of the Lord. And then we read of a final cleansing v4 and the Lord's presence and glory to be visible v5. Jer 23:5-6 the righteous "branch" [Heb. "tsemach" (6780)] will be a descendant of David, a king, he will be called The Lord Our Righteousness. This branch refers to Jesus when he returns to earth to rule the earth from Mount Zion. However Isa 60:21 refers to a different "branch" [Heb. "netser" (5342) means "in the sense of greenness as a striking color, a shoot, a  descendant, branch"] and this branch seems to refer to restored Israel or Israel in Christ and includes the Gentiles who through Christ are heirs according to the promises to Abraham Gal 3:26-29. 

3:2 The ‘prudent’ is actually the diviner <07080> - see Deut 18:10

4:4 The ‘filth of the daughters of Zion’ will be cleansed by the sprinkling of water Eze 36:25

3:1 The 18-month Babylonian siege of Jerusalem began in 589 BC until the fall of the city in 587 BC.  During those 18 months the food and water supply was greatly diminished. The people were starving and they turned to cannibalism (Eze 5:10).

Jews had cannibalized their offspring in the siege of Samaria (2Kin 6:28,29); and would do so again in the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD (Jer 19:9).

3:6 This shows the degradation of the situation. Leadership had disintegrated. Anyone who appeared to have wealth (having clothes in the Near East was a sign of wealth) would be asked to govern. This manpower shortage is echoed in 4:1.

3:16,17 The arrogant Jewish women parading around showing off their finery would be humiliated. As captives they would be stripped naked (Isa 20:4). See also Isa 47:3.

4:1 The chapter division between chapters 3 and 4 is, in fact, quite unhelpful. ‘that day’ of this verse is the day when the women of Isaiah 3 will lament their downfall.

I have purposely left out the links with Ephesians because we will present them separately tomorrow.

Time spent following up the quotations will prove most useful.

Col 1:3. We see very early in reading of this epistle that thanksgiving is one of the main themes .
      1:3.Thankful for the ecclesias at both Colosse and Laodicea.
      1:12. Thankful for the hope of being a partaker of the inheritance of the saints.
      2:7. Thankful for “the faith” in Jesus Christ.
      3:15. Thankful for the calling in “the one hope.”
      3:17. Thankful for everything in “word and deed.”

Col 1:15. The word “IMAGE” 1504 EIKON is an interesting study. “Vines” explains the word best for us. The word involves the two ideas of representation and manifestation. (Gen 1:27 is worth noting) Where Adam failed, the Lord Jesus Christ succeeded. God is invisible, therefore the image has to be manifested.

Col 1:28. We see the phrase “every man” three times in this verse. This was important to Paul that all men, both Jew and Gentile realized that redemption could only be secured through Christ. Christ must be both in, and amongst them. The lesson still applies today for all of us. The wisdom the apostle writes about is not that which we put away and store in our mind, but, putting one’s mind in the correct order, so that perfect man can be developed in Christ. The perfectness is growth in Christ, spiritually mature, full-grown, or of full age. (Heb 5:14)

1:7 The mention of Epaphras and the following in both Colossians and Philemon shows that the ecclesia at Colosse was closely associated with Philemon.

Paul wrote this letter from Rome about 62 AD.

Vs.15-17  Some use these verses to claim the pre-existence of Christ.  The phrase itself is a contradiction in terms.  In any event, understanding the passage will dispel such nonsense.             

V.15 claims Christ to be the firstborn of every creature.  Indeed He became the firstborn, or first begotten, when His father raised Him from the dead (Psa 2:7; Acts 13:33; Rev 1:5). He is the first of all those (every creature) who will receive like treatment (1Cor 15:20-23).  

Now immortalized and sitting at His father's right hand, Jesus is controlling worldly events (Heb 2:8;10:12). That is what vs. 16 and 17 are telling us. 

1:4  Do we think that other brethren and sisters would think your ecclesia is memorable in the way it shows its faith and love? Before thinking that others in your ecclesia maybe let the ecclesia down consider how you might work to make the ecclesia more memorable in these areas.

1:9 It is so easy to think that we are wise just because we know ‘things’. However Paul gives the correct emphasis – wisdom is to be in ‘spiritual understanding’. It is now just knowing but understanding how, at a Scriptural level, to apply the things we know.

This first chapter of Colossians is hard to read in the AV. There are only 6 full stops! But the chapter speaks of the love Brothers and Sisters have for each other, and the love and wisdom the father has for us. It’s interesting to think over whether in Col 1:16-20 Paul intends us to read the first creation or the second. The first was when the world was made and Adam and Eve were put in it; and the second is when Jesus Christ started the new creation of his church. Both seem to fit.  The term “firstborn” is obviously the same as “firstborn from the dead” (= Jesus), in Col 1:15-18.

1:9    In Col 1:3-4 Paul has been thinking God for the brethren and sisters in Colosse. Now he prayers for them that they might continue in the faith. How easy it would be to thank God for them and then forget their needs.

About one year after Paul wrote this epistle, Colosse was completely destroyed by an earthquake. Laodicea was also destroyed. The cities were rebuilt, but Colosse became Chonos. Laodicea seems to have retained its name, as it is mentioned in Rev 1:11.

V.13 Some believe that the kingdom of God is a state within oneself. The Kingdom of God will be a real kingdom on earth when Jesus returns. He will be the king and will rule over all the earth. What is meant in this verse is that Jesus has brought us out of sin and placed us under His righteous leadership. If we live by His rules, then we will be eligible for entry into the Kingdom that He will bring when he returns to earth.

1:23 whilst God’s offer of salvation is open to all who will heed the message it is not unconditional. It is ‘if’ Israel in the wilderness were saved out of Egypt but all the men or war died in the wilderness because they did not believe. Jude 1:5 So salvation depends upon believing that God will keep His word.