Here the two spies make reference to the commandments given with respect to the keeping of the Passover.

Rahab's deliverance was typical of Israel's deliverance from Egypt.

2:1       The events recorded here are at the same time as those recorded in Num 25 – so whilst the two spies were risking their lives the congregation were committing fornication – and many lost their lives!

2:10When reflecting upon Rahab’s knowledge of the crossing of the red Sea 40 years ago we should think about her age. She was of child bearing age – She bore Boaz – Matt 1:5 some time after the entry into the land. We maybe should, therefore, conclude that she only knew about the crossing of the |red Sea second hand, being too young, or maybe not even born when the event happened.

2:2     The seeming casual mention of the ‘king’ of Jericho teaches us that the land was inhabited by many independent city states. They did form alliances with each other as we will see as we work through the book but the land was not an homogenous country with a central rulership.

2:6 The fact that Rahab was drying ‘flax’ on the roof of her house is an incidental indication that the entry into the land was at the time of Passover for it is that time of the year that flax is laid out to dry.

2:1 The people camp in Shittim and then camp in Gilgal –4:19which ‘journey’ is used by the prophet Mic 6:5 to remind the nation that even for a people so close to the land of promise there was the possibility of falling through disobedience.

This chapter of Isaiah is quoted several times in the new testament. Elements of it apply to Jesus, such as v14-18. When we look at the context, however, we would not easily see why Jesus is mentioned here. Were it not for the quotes in Hebrews, we would probably never have seen it.

The historical context of the chapter is extremely exciting. Big things were happening at this time! In 7:1-2 we see that Syria had come up against Israel to fight against it. The hearts of the people were overcome with fear (v2). Immediatly God sends Isaiah to encourage Ahaz the king and his people, by offering a way out (v4). Isaiah tells him that God will not allow Syria to prevail (v7). As a token of His intent to save them, God offers Ahaz a sign, much the same as the signs given to Gideon and Hezekiah, in order for him to gain courage and faith. Ahaz refuses the sign!

This is the exciting part, and the exhortational point. God has shown Himself willing and able to save! He has offered a miraculous sign to help with Ahaz's faith... and Ahaz has turned Him down! Following on from this, even more amazingly, we find that Ahaz instead hires Assyria to come and protect him from Syria (2Kin 16:7). We have to understand that what Ahaz is doing is substituting God with man. He is trusting in the might of men rather than God. He demonstrates this even more completely by taking the silver and gold of the house of God, and using it to hire the armies of Assyria (2Kin 17:8).

How stupid and faithless a thing to do, but how often do we do the same? We do not command the forces of a country, as Ahaz did, but we can surely make the same mistake within the confines of our own lives. Whenever we trust in ourselves or other men or women, rather than God, we make the same mistake. It can be a very simple and subtle decision, such as deciding to work a few hours extra on a university or work project, whilst missing reading our bible for the day. We have made a conscious decision for relying on ourselves to provide food and money, rather than relying on God to do it. If we deny ourselves those few hours, we might feel we will fail the college course, or lose that career opportunity, yet God has said man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (of God). We ought to trust that God is able and willing to keep His promise of Matt 6:33, yet this is extremely difficult!

So, really, we should not be too scathing of Ahaz, yet use his example to warn ourselves. God's reaction to His rejection by Ahaz was not a good one. God promised to bring about the downfall of Ahaz by the very person he had hired to save himself (8:6-8, 7:17,20). Now, as to what this historical setting has to do with Jesus, I haven't a clue but it must fit in somehow! These are the things that we can set about finding out for ourselves, when we set aside a few hours to pore over the word of our saviour God, and consume it like our daily bread (8:3, 10-17).

V.17 The remnant will wait for the Lord (Isa 25:9) and look eagerly for Him in the long period of the nation's rejection preceding the return of David's promised seed who will establish that kingdom that we all pray will be set up in the near future.

The prophecy in Is8:1-4 is remarkably similar to the one in the previous chapter (Isa 7:14-16).Are they the same?  We often hear that the child of ch 7 was Hezekiah  -  but is he really Maher-shalal-hash-baz, Isaiah’s own son?

8:6  The ‘waters of Shiloah’ is a reference to the Gihon spring in Jerusalem. Israel refused the waters of God’s providing and sought ‘waters’ elsewhere. Therefore the Assyrian would come ‘like a flood’.

V.8 This prophecy is precise and exact. As a man beset by flood waters does not drown, because his head is still above water, so Jerusalem was to escape universal devastation. We see a similar message as God spoke to Moses just before his death. "The LORD will not fail thee nor forsake thee" (Deut 31:6; 23)

V.20 - It matters what we believe and preach. If anyone's teachings are not in accord with what the Bible says, "they have no light of dawn" NIV (perhaps "light of dawn" refers to the light of being in Christ and in his resurrection of hope). We are to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth John 4:24. If we genuinely worship in doctrinal truth then we should be directed to strongly emphasize the spirit of love. And if we truly have the love, we will want to obey our Heavenly Father and strive to rightly handle His Word.

8:12  The ‘confederacy’ that Judah should not fear was between Israel and Syria – Isa 7:2

If a person does not speak according to God’s Word s/he has no light within (v.20). The Hebrew word for light is shachar which means early or morning light. Jesus said that he was the light of the world (John 8:12). By extension, the followers of Jesus are also the light of the world (Matt 5:14). It is no coincidence that Jesus is called the Morning Star (Rev 22:16). Jesus is the true shachar.

FAMILY PLAN

God's ultimate plan with the earth is to fill it with his glory. He wants us to help bring that about as we tell people about God and open their eyes to the salvation God has offered. God's plan for our children and families is the same. He created marriage so that the marriage would provide children, and the children in turn, would honour him. Malachi says, "Has not the LORD made them (husband and wife) one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking a godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth." (Mal 2:15)

Isaiah and his children add to our understanding of what God expects from a "godly offspring," as we play our part in filling the earth with the knowledge of God. Isaiah said, "Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion." (Isa 8:18) Isaiah's family was a living, moving illustration of God's message to his people.

We might not be called to be special signs and symbols like Isaiah's family were, but we can still follow their example. As a family, we should be living examples of God's truth in action. In the way we live and the things we say, we should point other people to the God we serve.

8:7 The Assyrian ‘flood’ had taken Hoshea captive in the north and now Isaiah prophesies of the Assyrian invasion of Judah. The Assyrian did, in fact, take ‘the fenced cities of Judah’ –2Kin 18:13. It is against the background of this victory by the Assyrians against the cities of Judah that we must review Hezekiah’s faith.

Vs.5-8 The waters of Shiloah, the gentle fountain in Jerusalem will be overpowered by the great waters of the river (Euphrates).  In other words, Judah will be overrun by the Assyrians under the command of Tiglath-pileser, then Shalmaneser, then Sennacherib.

 V.12 the confederacy was the combination of Israel and some Syrian forces.

As others have indicated, we have (in Christ) a stumbling stone and rock of offense to some - but he is the cornerstone calling believers (living stones) out of darkness - Isa 8:14-15;Rom 9:30-33;10:4;1Pet 2:4-9

8:11The phrase ‘neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid’ is quoted –1Pet 3:14-15– to encourage brethren in the first century. This these words spoken to Judah so long ago actually are relevant to us today.

3 v.5 Having established the ecclesia at Thessalonica the Apostle Paul did not leave them to his own devices. His concern was that they should grow in Christ and not fall away from the gospel. To this end he 'sent to know their faith'. How much care to we take of those who we have 'taught the truth'?

4 v.9 The exhortation to 'brotherly love' is set against the warning against 'fornication'. The brother who loves will not 'defraud' [4:6] or 'despise' [4:8]. Thus 'holiness' [4:7] is not a theoretical issue but has real application in day to day living.

3:4 That Paul told the brethren that he expected affliction indicates that he explained why he had suffered as he did when he was with them - and by implication that they should expect the same sort of treatment. One would think that such comments would be a deterrent to those to whom the gospel was being preached. But clearly it did not deter the brethren.

4:1 That walking to please God is a description of Enoch. Hebrews 11:5 tells us that he pleased God and Genesis 5:24 tells us that he walked with God . Enoch 'walked' in an evil time - this matched the situation that the brethren and sisters at Thessalonica were experiencing.

3:9 Do we thank God because of the faith of brethren and sisters who we know? Paul did for the brethren at Thessalonica.

4:16 'The Lord … with a shout … with the trump of God' quotes Psalm 47:5. The Psalm speaks of the kingdom (Psalm 47:7)

1Thess 3:2. Paul’s reference to Timothy here as being a fellow laborer along with Tychircus as a fellow servant (Col 4:7) and Artistarchus as a fellow prisoner (Col 4:9) shows how close the Apostle was with his brethren. The root word from which this word comes from SUN (4862) is a very close word ( together with)(companionship). As we read this along with the reading from Nehemiah describing the work that was undertaken in the rebuilding of the walls, as the workers toiled together in this work, they must have developed a similar closeness as they worked shoulder to shoulder labouring together on such a large project. Can you imagine how spiritually uplifting it would be to work with your brethren and sisters for 52 days. Not many of us have had that opportunity, but look forward to the kingdom age when we will have that opportunity to be co-workers, doing the work of our future King.

1Thess 4:1. Paul had delivered the gospel both by precept and example.(2:7,13) The message is now to be preoccupied with their spiritual development. Paul’s desire for their continued spiritual growth is not just an after thought, it is an urgent and serious appeal. If we are to avoid the distractions of the world our hearts and minds must be concentrated in another direction, namely, that of enriching our spiritual understanding and seeking to give it our fullest application.

3:5 When Paul says that he is 'appointed' to affliction he is echoing the words of Jesus (Matt 10:17 and many other places)

4:5-6 The way that Paul speaks of defrauding his brother seems to speak of sexual immorality between brethren and sisters in the ecclesia - that is a brother may take the wife of another brother.

3:2This bit of historical information about Timotheus relates to the record in Acts 17:14-15.

4:3-4 Because it is the will of God that we are sanctified we should strive to avoid sin – in the case of the Thessalonians fornication. It is not simply a matter of resisting sin because we are commanded to. We should resist sin because sinning undermines the purpose that the Father has with us.

3:6 Notice that Paul is keen to commend the brethren and sisters in Thessalonica. How often do we praise our brethren and sisters when they do well? We are probably far quicker in criticising them!

3:8 The world seems to equate ;living’ with having a good time and enjoying oneself. However Paul shows how He viewed living and how we should also. To live is to be faithful to God.

4:5 We may wonder what Paul means when he says "Not in the lust of concupiscence <1939>" The ‘lust ‘ of this verse is the condition of being lustful. ‘Concupiscence’ is the active pursuance of that state of mind. We all have the propensity to desire. The evil is in the manifestation of that desire.