Do we ever feel that there is so much to do for the Lord and time is running out?

13:9-24 The repeated ‘one’ at the end of each verse means that we are reading a list. Now that is obvious! The point is that the cataloguing of the defeated kings forms a legal document of possession.

13:2-6 Having summarised the work so far we now read, sadly, of what had not been achieved by the end of Joshua’s life.

13:1  We might imagine the great man Joshua being depressed at the thought that ‘there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed’ however this is true for all servants of God. We reach the end of our lives and we are still so conscious of how far we fall short of the stature of the risen Christ.

V.9 The expression the city that is in the midst of the river (KJV) seems odd.  It is with the word river that the difficulty lies.  River is translated from the Hebrew word nachal which essentially means a stream, but which also includes the valley that the stream is in.  And so, the real understanding is that the city lies in the valley in which there is a stream.

V.13 The phrase until this day (KJV) refers to the time Joshua wrote these words, which would be near the end of his life (100+ years old).

"Ekron inscription"

Josh 13:3 - in 1993 stone ingraved evidence was found of Ekron along with five of its Philistine rulers.

ch.17 The list of nations and cities [Isaiah 13:1 15:1 17:1 19:1 21:1,11,13 22:1 23:1 30:6] that is destroyed by the Babylonians provided Israel with a short term fulfilment which should have taught them that Yahweh would keep His word with respect to the other things that he had promised. However they did not believe and so eventually were taken captive by Babylon.

18:1-2 The language of these verses indicates that the Ethiopians were a sea faring nation in the time of Isaiah.

This chronological list of places mentioned in this chapter marks a relentless progression towards Jerusalem. The Valley of Rephaim is just outside the walls of Jerusalem.

17:6 That the 'gleaning grapes' are to be left leaves some comfort that the nation will not be totally destroyed.

18:5 This farming metaphor marks the point that the destruction will be before the nation has risen to its peak.

17:7-8 It is tragic that Israel tended not to see their problems until they had been punished by God. It was the punishment which eventually caused them to turn back to God and away from their idols.

18:6 Despite the way in which the nation spoken of in the earlier chapter behaved - violent and lacking in mercy - God will eventually overthrow them.

Syria had long been an enemy of Israel. Now their downfall is forecast.  But do note that there seems to be a part of Isaiah 17 which speaks of Israel. We cannot be certain, but it looks as though Isa 17:4-11 is directed to Israel, eg Isa 17:7,10.

17:14 The language of ‘eventide’ and ‘before the morning he is not’ echoes the destruction of the firstborn in Egypt on Passover night.

17:10-11 So Judah are reminded – again – that their calamity is because of their unwillingness to trust God.

18:1  Ethiopia, also termed Cush, is present-day Sudan. They had an anti-Assyrian policy as had Hezekiah. However, Yahweh warned Judah not to make an alliance with Ethiopia to combat the common enemy.  And so, naturally, He frowned upon the alliance of Israel with Syria against Assyria. To put reliance in other nations makes the statement to Yahweh that He cannot be trusted.

17:5 Whilst the ‘burden’ is about Damascus we should realise that the ‘valley of Rephaim’ is a valley outside Jerusalem, on the west, and so would have immediate meaning to the Jews in Isaiah’s day.

3:2 - 5 describes the attitudes and behaviour of brethren and sisters in the last days. Paul is not warning Timothy about how unbelievers would behave. Unbelievers have behaved in this way all through the ages. Paul had already warned the brethren and sisters in Ephesus that 'of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things ...' Acts 20:30. The warning is the same for ourselves. We should not be looking at the world for the fulfilment of these words. Sadly we should be prepared for these things in the ecclesias. Not that we should instigate a witch hunt. We should take the warning of the Apostle to heart and be wary lest we are led astray by such errors when they are paraded as truth.

4:2 'exhort ... with all long suffering ...' The point of exhortation is that those spoken to are in need of the word. If this is so it is probable that the problem being addressed will not be resolved with the first or even the second presentation of the message. This is so even if the recipient recognises the word of exhortation as relevant and wishes to implement it in his life. Therefore whoever exhorts must recognise this fact - that is he must be 'long suffering' and be willing for the word to grow in the 'good and honest heart'

3:1 'Perilous' <5467> is found (Matthew 8:28) translated 'fierce' - the only other use of the word. Hence we can develop a clearer understanding as to what the word means.

ch.4 - These three echoes of Stephen's last words

May indicate the impact that the dying Stephen had on Saul of Tarsus.

3:16 'reproof' is the same word that is translated 'evidence' (Hebrews 11:1). So we see that Scripture provides us with evidence or proof. Whilst we tend to think of this in the context of proving our doctrines are correct - which indeed is important - we should ralise that the proof we find shows us how we should live 'that the man of God may be furnished …'

4:2 Paul is not suggesting that 'Out of season' preaching means that we should speak to unbelievers when they are not willing to listen or are busy doing something else. Rather Paul is insisting that brethren and sisters ought to be spoken to whenever it is necessary. Whilst we cannot and should not expect the unbeliever to give heed to the gospel message as his first priority the believer should be willing to 'drop everything; when the gospel is being preached to him.

3:15 Timothy knew the scriptures 'from a child' because of the faith of his mother and grandmother (2Tim 1:5)

4:1 In charging Timothy with a task Paul echoes the responsibilities already given (1Tim 5:21). The letters to Timothy were personal letter designed to help Timothy to help the ecclesia at Ephesus. In saying 'I charge you ...' Paul is highlighting the force of the commission that Timothy had received. Obedience to the responsibilities was not an option, it was an obligation.

3:6  In describing believers as ‘laden with sin’ Paul quotes Isa 1:4  where Isaiah reproves Judah for the wanton way she disregarded God’s law – with devastating results. Paul’s warning, by using Isaiah, is that just as God worked in Israel’s experience in the past He will do so in the lives of the believers in Ephesus.

4:14 Whilst Alexander the coppersmith had wronged Paul the matter was left in the hands of God. Paul, by saying this, is encouraging Timothy – and ourselves – to remember that the Lord is the judge.

3:5 That those ‘false accusers’ had a ‘form of godliness’ meant that they were to be avoided because they looked like faithful brethren but their attitude belied that. However as we are so easily taken in by outward appearance they were to be avoided.

3:5  That those ‘false accusers’ had a ‘form of godliness’ meant that they were to be avoided because they looked like faithful brethren but their attitude belied that. However as we are so easily taken in by outward appearance they were to be avoided.

3:7    The way in which ‘ever learning’ is contrasted with ‘never coming to the knowledge of the truth’ is not to be taken as a reason for not studying Scripture. The ‘truth’ is not a set of propositions to be learnt. It is a way of life which has to be lived. Those who Paul warns against are those who take great delight in simply talking abut what they think they know about Scripture.

4:1 The ‘charge’ was ‘instruction’ as the word translated ‘charge’ <1263> carries the sense of ‘testify – Acts 2:41. So Paul is appealing to Timothy’s acceptance of Scripture. Thus scripture, and not the words of man, were what Timothy was to think about when reflecting upon his responsibilities – likewise us.

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3:5 Today churches talk of Jesus and the Gospel but deny the power of our Lord and His Word because they follow myths instead of the Word of God (the Bible) (3:16).  The Word of God is true (John 17:17). Those people who deny the truth of God’s Word live in darkness (Isa 8:20).

3:8 Jannes and Jambres are the magicians who opposed Moses (Exo 7:11,22).

4:3,4 We live in that time. People want spirituality in their lives and turn to New Age philosophies or liberal churches and synagogues to satisfy their superficial cravings.  These people want to be soothed now. Therefore, few are interested in what the God of the Bible has to say. 

However, He is the only one with a permanent plan for humankind.  Long after the New Age adherents are gone, those who believed Yahweh and followed His Son Jesus will be living in eternal bliss.  And so, the choice is to be stroked now or to work on gaining salvation which will last forever (4:7,8).

3:11 Paul, speaking of his deliverance from persecution, quotes Psa 34:19 – a Psalm in which David instructs those who are suffering persecution as he was. The Psalm was written as a consequence of him fleeing from Achish – 1Sam 21:10-15 – in the Psalm explaining to those who would listen that it is better to fear God than it is to fear man.