14 v.4 - Even though it was 'of the Lord' that Samson wanted to take a Philistine woman to wife he was not justified in his actions. The law was specific, Israel were not to marry strange women. [Deuteronomy 7:3] This is why Samson's parents were troubled. Notice also that the nation of Israel, who had been given the land, were in subjection, not to Yahweh but to the Philistines.

15:13 The way in which the men of Israel were going to deliver Samson to the gentiles, though not kill him themselves mirrors the way in which Israel treated Jesus. [Luke 18:32]

Here are some more links with the life of Jesus

Links with the crucifixion

chs 13 and 14 - TRUST HIM, HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING
Have you ever wondered why God called you to a specific job? You think that someone else you know would do it so much better than you do - if only they were here. Why didn't God get them to do it - they would have done the job with so much less effort and so much better than anything we ever did. Yet God knows what he is doing. I have often wondered why God chose Manoah to be the Father of Samson. Surely there must have been more faithful people in Israel than Manoah and his wife. He didn't seem to trust his wife when she told him that an angel had appeared to her; He had the angel repeat everything he told her; He thought they would be killed when he realised an angel had spoken to them; He gave in what seems like easily when Samson wanted a Philistine wife, and didn't say anything about Samson going through the vineyard when he was a Nazarite. Yet God chose this man to be the father of Samson. He probably had them most influence on Samson's life out of any other person. And Samson became one of the most successful and famous judges Israel ever had. God chose the right man for the job and Samson will be in the kingdom. And God chose you and I for the jobs we do because he knows what he is doing. He has chosen the right man for the job.

14:20 That Samson had a fellow who 'he had used as his friend' indicates that the word 'friend' is not used as we use it today. 'Friend' seems to be a title to describe someone with specific responsibilities - See also 2 Samuel 15:37 Psalm 41:9.

ch 15 - Etam is in the hill country of Judah about half way between Hebron and Beersheba. Some distance from the Gaza strip where the Philistines dwelt.

14:12-13 What was the purpose of Samson telling his riddle? There is no indication that he was required to make this challenge. If it was just to show his prowess and cleverness it backfired on him.

How often are we concerned to elevate ourselves in the sight of our brethren for our own benefit? Let the example of Samson here be a warning to us.

15:11 Samson seems to have taken revenge against the Philistines because of the way that the family of his father in law was treated. Even if this is what was happening Israel responded incorrectly in delivering up thei rjudge to them.

We do well to realise that we have to respond to situations correctly even if others in that same situation have compromised themselves.

Samson was a chosen, dedicated instrument of Yahweh.  He was appointed a judge (leader) in Israel to counteract the 40-year oppression of the Philistines.  Samson killed many Philistines. 

Some people become upset at the killing described in the Bible.  From a human, liberal point of view, this might seem distasteful, but Yahweh sanctioned His chosen ones to destroy His enemies and the enemies of His people.  Samson had Yahweh's approval to destroy the oppressors of Israel.   

It should be noted that Samson is recorded in the list of faithful ones and will, surely, be in the Kingdom (Heb 11:32).

14:2,3 Arranged marriage was the norm in the ancient Near East (and still is in many parts today).  Thus, Samson's parents played an important role in procuring his wife.  Even after marriage, parents still exerted control and direction over their children (15:1,2).

15:11-13 The action of the men of Judah in delivering Samson to their Philistine overlords  is a precursor of the Jews' delivering Christ to their Roman overlords for the same fear (John 11:48).

Release all your pre-conceptions about Samson. Empty your mind of what you know about his later life. Here he is, a young man, having been dedicated to the LORD from birth. Samson, just like Jesus, knew that God had a purpose with him, and he willingly went along with it. Samson was a humble, God fearing, special man.

In 13:24 we have a very similar description of the growth of Samson to the one we have for the boy Jesus (Luke 2:40). In 13:25 we read that the Spirit of the LORD began to move upon Samson. Then the chapter ends and we lay the bible down having read the day's portion. Now, lets forget the chapter division, and just read on... "the Spirit of the LORD began to move upon him.... Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman". It was the Spirit of the LORD which moved Samson to go there! Why?

In 14:4 we read "it was of the LORD". Samson was doing this because it was God's will. It was the beginning of the life for which God had prepared him. In v12 Samson deliberately does a very provocative thing in asking a riddle which no-one could solve, just as Jesus at times deliberately provoked the Pharisees during his ministry. Again, in 16:1, Samson deliberately goes to a city deep in Philistine country. Why else would he risk life and limb, if not for his ministry, and if not in faith? Are there any bible echoes to other men who went deep into enemy territory and lodged at the house of a harlot?

14:8,9 Samson scooped honey from the dead lion. Was this a violation of the Nazarite vow, or did the prohibition only apply to human bodies (Num 6:6)?

15:1-2   he response of the father of Samson’s ‘wife’ provided the ‘occasion’ against the Philistines spoken of in Judg 14:4.

14:4 It is interesting to note that the Philistines were not on the list of devoted nations to be utterly destroyed (Deut 7:1-3).  Therefore, relationships and matrimony were not absolutely prohibited to Israel.  Remember though, that Samson's marriage was orchestrated by Yahweh for the purpose of discomforting the Philistines.

14:14 The Philistines, lacking a spiritual mind, were , like the leaders in Jesus’ day, silenced by the riddle (parable). The woman, who was not a true believer, was not able to expound it either. However she ‘beguiled’ Samson as the serpent did Eve.

14:1 The city Timnath (KJV) should properly be rendered Timnah as more modern version do.  Timnah was a city located in northern Judah.  It is the place where Judah and and his daughter-in-law Tamar had their affair (Gen 38:12-14).

14:20 This was no friend (KJV) of Samson’s.  He was the best man (ESV).  This man was often termed friend of the bridegroom (See John 3:29). Betrayal and treachery had been done by giving Samson’s wife away.  It would be revenged.

15:4,5 Samson took out his vengeance on the Philistines for having his wife taken away.

15:6 This, in turn, provoked the Philistines to incinerate his wife and her father.  Thus, justice was done for their betrayal of him.

15:7 Personal wrongs against Samson had been righted, but, as a judge in Israel, he still had more business with the Philistines (15:8,15).

Samson a type of Christ:

The birth of Samson and Jesus announced by an angel (Judg 13:3;Luke 1:31). Named by his mother (Judg 13:24;Luke 1:31).  Delivering his people (Judg 13:5;Matt 1:21;Heb 2:15).  Child grows and is blessed by God (Judg 13:24;Luke 2:40).  Overcoming the beast (Judg 14:5-6;Lev 26:22;Deut 32:24 "also send the teeth of beasts"; Prov 28:15;Dan 7:3-14).  Receiving strength from God (Judg 14:19;Psa 80:17). Possessing the gate of enemies (Judg 16:3;Gen 22:17-18). Betrayal (Judg 16:5-6;Matt 26:15-16). Bound, blinded/blindfolded and mocked (Judg 16:21,25;Matt 27:2;Luke 22:63-65). Victory over sin's power (the Philistines) through a sacrifical death (Judg 16:30;Heb 2:14-16;9:26). Connected with the sun ["Samson" (8123) means "little sun, sunlight, like the sun" (Judg 13:24;Psa 19:4-5;Mal 4:2)].  A rest connected with family (natural/spiritual) and his father ["Manoah" (4495) means "rest" (Judg 16:31;Matt 11:28;Heb 4:1,4,8-11;Gen 2:2-3;Exo 34:21;Luke 6:5;2Pet 3:8;Psa 90:4;Rev 20:4;Matt 5:5;Rev 5:9-10;22:12)].

Some of the above gleaned from The Gospel in the Book of Judges by Ian Giles, pps. 115-118; and from Judges and Ruth by Harry Whittaker, pps. 153-155. 

15:11 The men of Judah had sold themselves to the Philistines in declaring them as their ‘rulers’. God gave them up to their aspirations.

9:7 Throne of David
16:5 Tabernacle of David
22:22 Key of the house of David
37:35 Defend for David's sake
38:5 The God of David thy father
55:3 The sure mercies of David

God worked in Isaiah's day because of what he said to David.

Vs.5-8 It is interesting that Yahweh sealed His promises voluntarily with a sign.  Contrast this with Gideon's asking Yahweh for two signs of confirmation (Judg 6:36-40). 

V.10 Hezekiah reigned about 716-687 BC.  He began his reign when he was twenty-five years old.  Therefore, he was thirty-nine when he was sick - in the prime of life.

Hezekiah was responsible for writing some of the Psalms.  An example of his writing follows his recovery (vs.10-22).  Hezekiah was also a forbearer of the Lord Jesus (Matt 1:9,10). 

V.6-7 Deliverance of Hezekiah and Jerusalem from Assyria was promised and sealed by a token that God would fulfill His promise and that the king would "on the third day   go up unto the house of the Lord" (2Kin 20:5, 8) Hezekiah was given a choice as to whether the shadow on his sundial would miraculously go backward or forward (V.9), the king choosing the former as the greater miracle (V.10).

38:15 In ‘going softly’ Hezekiah is behaving like Ahab – 1Kin 21:27  – the lesson is that we should look for the good in individuals and copy that. Whilst Ahab had been an evil king he did repent and it was that which Hezekiah copied.

38:8 The going down of the shadow is echoed in Psa 102:11 which seems to be a Psalm written by Hezekiah about his illness.

38:17 Here Hezekiah is responding to the words of the prophet who told him that his prayer had been heard – 2Kin 20:5

Hezekiah means the might of Yah.  It was Yahweh's might that turned death into life for Hezekiah.  It will be the same power that will give eternal life to the faithful followers of the Lord Jesus.

38:18 In saying ‘they that go down to the grave cannot hope for thy truth’ Hezekiah is expressing his sorrow that in death he will not be able to meditate in God’s word.

V.8 See 2Kin 25:9-11. Note, that only the shadow was mentioned and not the sun.  The miracle was done locally on the sundial, and so nobody’s day was disrupted by any cosmic changes.

Set your house in order

Hezekiah was a man of considerable power, wealth and authority. A king. But that didn't bring immunity. Now we see him in private, weeping bitterly. Isaiah's words had broken him.

Sometimes we hold our tears back for days, months, or even years. Hezekiah had been ill for some time as his condition and the condition of his besieged city worsened. The reality of the seriousness of the situation had been dawning on him but he hadn't allowed it to surface.

All too often we hide our sorrow because of an attitude of "it will be ok". But sometimes this just isn't true. Everyone loses loved ones. In those occasions despite our prayers things won't be ok. And because we are programmed by our society to believe always in happy endings, when reality strikes it can be a devastating blow.

We ought not to take from this passage the lesson that God heals our ilnesses. He does, but plainly this is not the lesson here, because Hezekiah was only given an extension to life, not complete healing. The lesson instead is that there comes a time in everyones life when there's no more to do but weep bitterly and put ones house in order. Maybe God will heal for a time, or maybe that's not His plan. Isaiah's words to Hezekiah suggest that he hadn't done that, and his 15 years life extension was so that he could complete his work of bringing his house, Israel, back to God. In comparison we have Jesus who prepared meticulously for his own death, making sure that the disciples would be cared for (John 17). He then wept bitterly just as Hezekiah did, and faced it by faith in God.

38:8 Whereas Ahaz had declined a sign from God – Isa 7:11 – Hezekiah was given one without him even being asked. Ahaz needed to be shown that Yahweh was in control For Hezekiah it was the guarantee of what he already knew because of his trust in God.

1 v.8 The word 'ordain' 2525 can be seen, from its use in the New Testament, to encompass rulership and judgment. Matthew 24:45,47 25:21,23 (made) ruler Luke 12:14,42,44 (made) judge / rule Acts 6:3 7:10,27,35 appoint / made Acts 17:15 conducted Romans 5:19 made Titus 1:5 ordain Hebrews 2:7 5:1 7:28 8:3 set / ordained / maketh James 3:6 4:4 is 2 Peter 1:8 make. The use in the epistles indicates that, when appointment was made, it was at the father's instigation, not man's.

2 v.7 named 'just' / 'righteous' individuals [Spoken of by God]: Genesis 6:9 Noah Matthew 1:19 Joseph [Mary's husband] Mark 6:20 John the Baptist Luke 1:6 Zacharias & Elizabeth Luke 2:25 Simeon Luke 23:50 Joseph of Arithamaea Acts 10:22 Cornelius Hebrews 11:4 Abel 1 Peter 3:18 Jesus 2 Peter 2:7 Lot. Can you think of anyone else who is named as being 'just' or 'righteous' in Scripture? A review of the lifestyles of these individuals will help us to understand how we should behave.

1:5-7 From the list of things that the believer has to do we realise that baptism is the beginning, not the end of the journey.

2:1-3 In using the word 'shall' we can conclude that the problems that Peter is anticipating have not yet manifest themselves in the ecclesias. By the time Jude wrote the problems we manifest. His keyword in this context is 'are'.

ch 1 - Notice the key phrase 'these things' in this letter
1:10, 12, 15, 3:17
The 'these things' are contained in the list (1:4-7)

2:5 Notice 'person' is in italics. Read the text as 'eighth preacher of righteousness' and then review Genesis 4:26 - 5:29 Noah was the eighth who called 'upon the name of the Lord'

1. 4:26 Enos
2. 5:9 Cainan
3. 5:12 Mahaleel
4. 5:16 Jared
5. 5:18 Enoch
6. 5:21 Methuselah
7. 5:25 Lamech
8. 5:28-29 Noah

2Pet 1:2. The word knowledge epignosis (1922) is not only an interesting word, but it is one of the keys to this epistle. It is used three times in the opening chapter (v.2,3,8) then again in 2:20. It means discernment, acknowledgement, real knowledge. It is with this type of knowledge that Peter not only wrote, but also spake. Peter was given the “Keys of the Kingdom”, this is what Peter is referring to. He used this knowledge and understanding on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and also with Cornelius and his household (Acts 10) We must have this understanding if we are to develop the qualities written of in the next few verses.(4-7)

2Pet 1:12. Once again we come across a key word in the epistle. “remembrance” tupos (5179) which means a die struck, a stamp or a scar. These things must be remembered for ever, as an image is stamped on a coin. The same word was used by Thomas when he said he would not believe until he saw the scars on Christ’s hands. (John 20:25) Peter is imprinting the readers minds of everything he had witness during Christ’s ministry. Our minds must be imprinted the same way, we can not afford to forget, even for a moment.

1:1 In calling himself a 'servant' Peter is now very different from the time when he did not want the Lord to wash his feet (John 13:8)

2:13 Those who Peter speaks of are brethren and sisters as they 'feast with you' - language which speaks of the breaking of bread (Jude 1:12)

1:16,17 refers to the transfiguration of which Peter was a witness (Matt 17:1-5).  Peter says that this experience confirms what the prophets wrote.  Believers, therefore, should pay attention to these writings (1:19).

2:4 In the Bible, angels (Gr. aggelos = messenger) can refer to both humans and divine agents (See Jude 1:6).  But, here they refer to the false prophets and teachers of 2:1. The fact that these human angels sinned make them subject to death (Rom 6:23).  If they were divine angels, they could not die (Luke 20:36).  The fact that divine angels cannot die means that they cannot sin.  And so, these false religious leaders are (now) dead (in hell = the grave) awaiting the judgement of the Lord Jesus when he returns to the earth ( 2Tim 4:1; 1Pet 4:5).  

1:1Apart for 2 occasions – Matt 16:18, Luke 5:8 – the only other place where Peter is given the full name ‘Simon Peter’ is in the gospel of John where the name appears 17 times. Does anyone have any idea why that is so?

2:10-11Peter is alluding to Korah, Dathan and Abiram but using them as an example of those in the ecclesia who are self centered and unwilling to take account of the feelings and position of others.

1:3  Peter’s description of what has been given to us and how shows us that it is only through knowing God. The only way in which we can know God is to read about Him and learn about His character from the way in which the Scriptures record the way in which He has dealt with our fellow men.

1:2   Peter was writing to the ‘church in Babylon’ 1Pet 5:13 so maybe this is why he uses Nebuchadnezzar’s phrase ‘peace be multiplied unto you’ (Dan 4:1, Dan 6:25) – to make the contrast between what Babylon claimed and God’s offer to us. Of course Babylon vanished off the scene. God is still here!

1:5-7 The desirable qualities listed here are similar to those of Paul's fruit of the Spirit in Gal 5:22,23.

2:3 In speaking of some ‘making merchandise’ or other believers we see that there were some in the church whose only concern was money. We might find that difficult to imagine but it was the motivation for Judas who sold his lord for money. Human nature does not change. The problems of the first century can easily manifest itself today.

1:21 we read that prophecy came by holy men 'moved' by the Holy Spirit, the same Greek word for 'moved' is used in Acts 27:15-17 for 'driven' and Paul writes how the ship was 'driven' by the great storm winds.  This helps us to appreciate the power of that moving by the Holy Spirit and reminds us of Jeremiah Jer 20:9.

Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2Pet 2:5). He worked, and he preached, and the ark grew but his converts did not. Over 100 years of preaching, and only 7 people responded, and they were his own relatives! Wouldn’t we be disappointed! But we must persevere. Don’t forget that the ark had to be big enough to take all the people who listened to his preaching – wouldn’t he have looked stupid if 100 people responded, but there wasn’t room for them!

So must we continue to tell people. Whatever else we do as individuals or as an ecclesia, we must open our meeting rooms and invite people to come in. We must give them an opportunity.

2:22The rather nauseating comment about the dog returning to his own vomit, whilst describing the way dogs sometimes behave is actually quoting Prov 26:11