Vs.8-10 The people of Jabesh-Gilead, in the allotment of Gad, did not answer the call of their brethren.  For that, they were annihilated, with the exception of 400 marriageable virgins.  These went to supply wives to the Benjaminites.  But there was a shortfall of 200 wives.  These were supplied by the kidnapping of the virgin dancers of Shiloh who were celebrating the Passover. 

Contrast the procurement of wives from Jabesh-Gilead with those from Shiloh.  In the first incidence, the wives were spared from destruction and became the legitimate spoils of war.  In the second incidence, the dancers were snatched from their families during a happy occasion and taken away. 

V.22 The kidnappers expected complaints to be forthcoming.  How would the families be appeased?  They would probably be satisfied with the realization that their daughters would be recipients of a fine inheritance.  The territory of Benjamin, which was formerly occupied by over 40,000, would now be occupied by only 1200.  What an inheritance!

21:22    So the fathers of the girls had to be ‘favourable’ because the rest of the tribes behaved foolishly in making the rash vow. How often do our brethren and sisters have to suffer the consequences of our foolish words or actions?

V.6 The nation would not allow one of its members to disappear.  Benjamin had been punished, but its demise would be unthinkable.  And so, too, with us: we cannot permanently shut out any member or ecclesia from the spiritual family of Israel.  We might sanction, but we must always leave the door open for recovery.  Moreover, we should be proactive in restoration efforts.   

Judg 21:25 "..Israel had no king..." ties in with the 2nd reading today Isa 43:15  "I am the LORD....your king"  The problem was in the attitude of their hearts - they thought & acted as though they had no king, & particularly, the LORD was not King of their hearts & minds. So we should ask "who is our king, to whom we look for example & leadership?" The answer is in the 3rd reading 2John 5,6,9

21:7  They are concerned as to where Benjamin can find wives but at the same time they were happy to marry the Canaanites – Judg 3:7. Remember the events of these latter chapters record events which took place at the beginning of the time of the Judges

21:5  Even though the nation ‘repented’ it does not follow that their subsequent actions were acceptable. Having make a ‘rule’ which they felt unable to break, even though they now knew it was a silly rule, they devise another silly ‘rule’ to resolve their problem. Are we ever like that?

V.25 The tenor of the times, where there was no (moral) leadership, is again described. However, Israel always had a king who has given moral leadership.  That King is Yahweh.  In our Isaiah reading, for today, He reiterates that fact (Isa 43:15).

21:8 That Jabesh-Gilead did not come possibly indicates a more spiritually minded group of men. They did not want to meddle in a matter that was not their concern.

V.1 Mizpah (Mizpeh KJV) means watchtower.  There are several towns in the Bible called of this name. The Mizpah mentioned here was a town in the territory of Benjamin.  It became a center for the gathering of Israel when there was a national emergency (another example. 1Sam 7:5,16).

V.8 Jabesh-gilead was a town in the Gilead region of the tribe of (East) Manasseh. Jabesh means dry. Later, this town became memorable when Saul delivered Jabesh-gilead from the Ammonite king Nahash (1Sam 11:11).  In return, the men of Jabesh-gilead took care of the bodies of Saul and his sons (1Sam 31:11-13).

V.19 Shiloh means place of rest or the peaceful one. Shiloh is a city in the territory of Ephraim. An early Messianic reference to Shiloh is found in Gen 49:10. Contrast this with Isa 9:6.  

43:24-25  When the Jewish leaders told Jesus that only God could forgive sins – Mark 2:7 – they might have had this verse in mind. However Jesus, by forgiving sins, showed that he was the one spoken of in this verse.

V.5-6 What comfort and hope this gave the faithful among them; those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. The first exodus would lead to the second exodus. This great exodus has begun, but it can only be appreciated by those who read and study God's word. There are those who read, and are blind, refusing to recognise that the nation of Israel is still God's witness and servent. The witness of Israel shows that this is a grave misunderstanding "He that scattered Israel will gather him and keep hom as a shepherd doth his flock"  Jer 31:10.

43:5-6 The specific mention of the four points of the compass is used by Jesus – Luke 13:29in exactly the same order as we see them here.

43:4The words ‘I have loved you’ are quoted by the prophet Mal 1:2 where the prophet is clearly quoting Isaiah’s words. Remember that Malachi prophesied after the children of Israel had returned from Babylon and so they should have been aware of the words of the prophet Isaiah.

Vs.24,25 Israel had sinned and displeased Yahweh.  And yet, He was prepared to forgive Israel's sins . 

The same applies to us. Yahweh is merciful, but, note the phrase for mine own sake (KJV).  Yahweh does things for a purpose - His purpose.  All things (including people) which are in Yahweh's self-interest will live - all others will die.  Yahweh answers to no-one. 

43:10 The continued existence of Israel is the evidence that the people of the world can see to show that God exists.

In this chapter, Yahweh talks about:

-Saving Israel

-Bringing Israel back to the Land

-Charging Israel to be His witnesses

-The Babylonian invasion

- Israel’s extrication from Egypt

- Praise of Himself.

V.7 All those who belong to Israel bear Yahweh’s Name (Isa 44:5).  Those so named have been created for the glory of Yahweh (v.21).

Those of Spiritual Israel (the true disciples of Jesus) have the same conditions of name and praise attached to them.  Those accepted into the kingdom will have Yahweh’s Name on their foreheads (Phil 2:11; Rev 14:1).

V.27 This verse reminds us that we are all sinners (1Cor 15:22).

43:2 The promise that deliverance from ‘water’ and ‘fire’ can be seen fulfilled in Jesus’ healing work – Matt 17:15 when Jesus healed the boy who was cast into the fire and water by his illness.

2 John v.7 In John's first letter he speaks of the 'antichrist' [1 John 2:18,22 4:3] as he does here. Whilst we may develop great ideas about the antichrist and notice that evangelical churches do likewise John is quite clear. In his day the 'antichrist' was at work and there was more than one of them. It was anyone who gainsaid the teaching of Scripture with respect to the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 John v.1 Gaius, from Macedonia [Acts 20:4] was baptised by Paul [1 Corinthians 1:14] and then seems to have accompanied Paul for a while [Acts 19:29 20:4] and then hosted Paul whilst he was at Rome [Romans 16:23]. From the commendation John gives he must have been an avid worker. Oh that we could receive the commendation that [v5] we do faithfully all that we do.

2John v9 The 'full reward' is like the 'full reward (Ruth 2:12) that Boaz wished on Ruth for her faithfulness. Ruth is the gentile bride - like us - who is to receive the full blessing of God as long as we 'look to ourselves'

3John v10 'prating about us with malicious words' seems to quote Matthew 5:11 - but Jesus is speaking of opponents of the truth - so Diotrophes must have been a really problematical individual. He was a brother who was full of self importance (:9)

2John:10 Harsh words indeed. However they show the danger of association with those in error. But John is not counseling us to separate from brethren over trivial issues.

3John:3 Do we think that we should rejoice when we hear of others being faithful to the gospel? We do rejoice at the time of a baptism - but does that rejoicing continue when we see faithful walk?

2John 1. “TRUTH” is set forth and emphasized. We would suggest this to expose the false teachers(v.7-9) The exhortation in v.9 is not only to hold fast to sound doctrine, but also to avoid that which is not.

3John 10. We see that there were five offences against Diotrephes.
       Prating. ( a tattler) 1Tim 5:13
       Use of malicious words.
       Did not receive the brethren.
       Forbid others to offer hospitality.
       Cast members out of the ecclesia.

2John 1:2 'dwelleth' <3305> continues the theme we noticed in John 14 and 15 and also in 1John .

3John 1:3 Walking in the truth' shows that we have to be active, not passive, in our spiritual development. Eph 5:2 shows that we should 'walk in love' demonstrating that our walk has to be in association with others. We cannot walk alone towards the kingdom. We have to interact with others.

2John 1:5 The commandment is simple 'love one another'  which echoes what Jesus said (John 13:34, 15:12,17) but putting it into practice is another matter! The disharmony evidenced in the New Testament shows how difficult it is. Maybe we can think of examples in our own lives which show how difficult we find this commandment.

3John 1:5-6 It seems that Gaius was 'not forgetful to entertain strangers' (Heb 13:2) and that his hospitality was well known in the community. His hospitality had been towards brethren who were traveling in the service of the Gospel. Gaius' generosity had meant that these traveling brethren could do their work without charge to the ecclesias  they visited.

2:7 The spirit of the antichrist was alive in the first century.  When the Lord returns to cleanse the earth, he will be opposed by religious authorities.  Ironically, in their rejection, they will call Him the antichrist.

3:9,10 Dissention was also alive in the first century ecclesia.  There were strong-willed, self-important characters such as Diotrephes who wreaked havoc.  John was determined to confront Diotrephes.  We, too, should not be shy to confront those who would disrupt the peace of Christ's body in their preaching false doctrine or showing bad behavior.

1:3 Notice it is ‘truth and love’ it is all too easy to insist on truth in such a harsh and judgmental manner that we forget all about love. God blends both these characteristics perfectly. Exo 34:6 and that is the ideal that we should endeavor to emulate.

1:7 So Gaius did the things he did because of his love of the Father. Doubtless he enjoyed showing hospitality. However he did not show hospitality for his own benefit, or even for the benefit of those who he helped. He was motivated by a love of the Father and His son.

2John 1:1 In speaking of himself as ‘the elder’ the writer introduces himself by his status, not his name. The only other letter which is not introduced by the name of the author is Hebrews.

1:3      A little point but John is typical in the way he sends greetings from God and Jesus – no greetings from the Holy Spirit – quite a powerful point against the doctrine of the trinity. If God is three in one then why do not all three elements send greetings?

2John 1:12 Clearly the ‘children’ are not the literal children of the one to whom John writes. Her status is like that of a ‘mother in Israel’ who cares for the younger in the flock. This is the responsibility of all faithful believers.

a) There are a lot of modern comments about an “antichrist”, often made by those who know little of the Bible. But there is a simple explanation in 2John 7. An “antichrist” is someone who denies Jesus came in the flesh.

b) 3John 5-8 says some lovely things about Gaius. He obviously really loved the work of Christ, and helped and supported both the brethren and strangers. John says that if he continues in such things “thou shalt do well”. This can be brought forward to our day, for the ecclesia need US.

2:9 The doctrine of Christ (KJV) sounds like there is just one principle of Christ.  This phrase is better translated the teaching of Christ (ESV), because the whole spectrum of His instruction is meant.  That means His personal teaching plus the teaching of the apostles. The apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit just like the writers of the Old Testament (2Tim 3:16; 2Pet 1:21). And, because Jesus references Himself in the Books of Moses and the Prophets, the Old Testament should also be read (Luke 24:27).

2:1; 3:1 John was called an elder. That designation was both spiritual and physical, for John was a very old man (probably 90 years old) when he wrote these letters in about 90 AD. Not long afterwards, he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos where he penned Revelation. It is probable that John was the only apostle to die a natural death, while the others were killed violently.

3John 1:2 We know that the love of money is the root of all evil. However there is nothing wrong with having wealth. It is the way it is used. So John, knowing what Gaius was like, was concerned that he would have god health and a degree of prosperity so that freed from those worries he could give himself to the service of God. What about ourselves? If we have good health and sufficient for all our needs do we strive for more or thank God and give ourselves over to His service?