Chapter 4 - The emphasis on the ark continues in this chapter - 4:5, 7, 9, 11
However we should not think of the ark as a sort of talisman which preserved Israel. It was a manifest token that Yahweh was with Israel. As such He entered the land before them to lead them in. Rather like Jesus is our forerunner (Hebrews 6:20)

3:17 That the children of Israel passed through Jordan 'on dry ground' would doubtless remind the people of what they had heard from their parents - that they had crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. They should, then, have recognised that God was going to deliver the land into their hand as He had delivered their fathers from Egypt.

4:12 We know how many passed over from these tribes
Reuben - 43,730 - Numbers 26:7
Gad - 40,500 - Numbers 26:18
Manasseh - 52,700 - Numbers 26:34

3:4 'early in the morning' is when many faithful men began their service to God Gen 22:3  Abraham is one example. The lesson for us is clear. There should be no delay in starting the work of God, even if the task is not appealing to us.

4:19 the 10th day of the 1st month was the day on which the Passover lamb was to be selected. Exo 12:3  So everything about the Passover this year was done in the land. The wilderness experience was now over.

3:7        Joshua was doubtless seen by many as insignificant when compared to Moses who had led them for forty years. God assures Joshua that the people will see that God is with him as He was with Moses.

The Jordan River was a natural defensive barrier for the people who lived in Canaan.  The Israelites crossed the Jordan in spring (5:10).  During this time, the river was in its flood stage (3:15).  The width of the river could range anywhere from a couple of hundred yards to one mile.  No wonder the inhabitants of Canaan were astonished and fearful at the news of Israel's crossing (5:1).

3:1, 4:19 marks the crossing of the river Jordan. Num 22 - , Num 25 records events that took place at Shittim before Israel crossed Jordan.

4:1 ‘Passed over’ is <05674> - ‘abara’ possibly indicating that John baptised at the same spot where Israel crossed Jordan – John 1:28

With Christmas only one day away, this is a part of the Bible that we often hear quoted at this time of year. Yet it is a very important part of scripture because it foretells of the birth of the Messiah, the savior of the world. It tells of his mission and his achievement and also of the future role of the child who was to be born.

It is a good thing so many people remember the birth of Christ at this time of year because it provides us with plenty of openings to show Jesus to people in a way they have never seen him before – in a way, with God’s blessing, that will be life changing to those who hear.

At Christmas most people remember the birth of Jesus, in a manger, in Bethlehem. They remember the shepherds, the angels and the three wise men. Our job is to shift the paradigm to show, not only the child, but the man, the savior, the sacrifice, the love, the resurrection and the future hope of his kingdom established in peace and righteousness. That is what the gospel is all about. Tell the whole story today.

V.14 Branch and rush We have just read the phrase Head and tail which is representative for the highest and lowest. (Deut 28:13-14) We now have another image for the same thought (Isa 19:15) The branch is elevated on the top of the tree, the rush is on the ground..

Isaiah's main prophetic thrust is concerned with Assyria as the divine instrument to punish Yahweh's reprobate nation.  However, Isaiah does give ultimate hope to Israel (and by extension to the Gentiles) of the Messiah. He begins this chapter (vs.1,2) with such a promise.  His words are qualified by the gospel record (Matt 4:12-16).  Certainly, Israel had languished in spiritual darkness and oppression for 400 years between Malachi and Matthew.  And so, with the birth of Christ, the promised Messiah, faith had been answered and hope renewed to those who had waited, such as Simeon (Luke 2:25-32) and Anna (Luke 2:36-38).

9:6  The word translated ‘wonderful’ is the same word that is translated ‘hard’ Gen 18:14  showing that what God is promising here is a development of the promise to Abraham of the promised seed of the woman – the Messiah.

9:12  "For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still." Is a recurring phrase in this chapter :17,21showing that God, even though angry with Israel is still looking for repentance.

9:6 The way that Isaiah prophesies ‘a son is given is picked up in John 3:16 ‘God ... gave ... his son’

Isa 9:6-7 - Jesus Christ is a servant of, not equal to, his Father God; but he has the right to represent God and is a reflection/manifestation of God - Isa 7:14 (Immanuel means God is with us);Isa 42:1;Phil 2:6-7 (NIV helps clarify v.6);John 14:28;Matt 25:39;1Cor 15:24-28;John 10:31-36;John 17:21-23;1John 3:21,23;John 8:54-55. 

A new world government will be on the Son of God's shoulders and he will rule from King David's throne - Isa 9:6-7;Matt 28:18;Luke 1:32;1Cor 15:24-25.

Isa 9:6 First Principles>Sure Mercies of David>Government
Here is a verse which prophesies about the comin of Jesus and that he will govern God's Kingdom on earth.
For more information about the government of God's Kingdom, go to Matt 19:28

9:9 Indeed Samaria did give heed to the gospel message – John 4:39 has Samaritans responding to the preaching of Jesus and is recorded as something that the apostles rejoiced at – Acts 8:14

Paul exhorts the brethren to be watchful and vigilant about the coming disaster in 70 AD, which occurred about twenty years after this letter was written.  It is not that the brethren were ignorant of what was about to pass (vs.1,2) - they were fully acquainted with Jesus' predictions on the matter (Matt 24:1-22).  Nevertheless, there was a need to re-focus the mind and to bolster faith.  And so, too, it is for us.  We need to exhort one another constantly for the same reasons (Heb 10:25). 

5:1 When the disciples asked Jesus – Acts 1:7 - about the times and seasons they were told that it was not necessary for them to understand them at that time. There were more important matters at stake. Now, some years on, it seems that Paul doe not need to discuss them because the brethren understood how things would happen ‘as a thief in the night’. So the details of the time are not necessary for the Thessalonians either.

5:5 The ‘light’ / ‘darkness’ ‘day’ / ‘night’ motif have their origins in the creation narrative in Genesis.

5:3     The ‘peace and safety’ cry may well have been the cry of Jews in Jerusalem when Titus, the Roman general, left off his siege of Jerusalem in AD 70. The sudden destruction would be his return and final overthrow of the city. Whilst Thessalonica was a long way away from the city of Jerusalem and the events of AD 70 had not yet happened the events associated with the fall of Jerusalem would serve as a powerful warning to brethren and sisters in Thessalonica about complacency.

Vs.2,4 The return of Jesus to the earth will come as a surprise to the world at large. However, to those believers who are expecting and watching, His return should not be a surprise.

V.27 Here is another example that Paul spoke and wrote with the authority of the Lord, and that he did not just express his own personal opinions.

5:4 The brethren were not in darkens seen though they did not know the day nor the hour. This is an important point to understand. Our preparedness for the return of Jesus is not conditional upon knowing when he will return. It is a consequence of understanding what manner of persons we ought to be.

5:27 That Paul charged that the letter be read to ‘all’ indicates that there was a possibility that it might have been taken as a personal letter to the one who received it.