As part of David's God-arranged education, now he found himself the subject of the pop songs of the day. And more than that, he was compared to the king, and came out better! Surely God was teaching him all these lessons so that he could handle any situation when he later became king.

V.14 Although David operated under great duress with Saul, he was successful in all that he did.  The KJV describes this as behaving wisely. The word wisely comes from the Hebrew word sakal. It conveys the idea of circumspection and intelligence, the result of which is success.  In Modern Hebrew, the word means brains, as in intelligence. 

David, therefore, could be described as using his head or keeping his wits about him.  He had been anointed king by Samuel but, nevertheless, he respected Saul as his master while he patiently waited for his time to come.  We are exhorted to do the same thing with our overlords, even if they are overbearing like Saul (Eph 6:5; Col 3:22; 1Tim 6:1;Titus 2:9; 1Pet 2:18).   

V.29 "Saul was yet the more afraid of David"  because Providence had visibly favored him, by not only defeating the conspiracy against his life, but through his royal alliance paving his way to the throne.

18:5,14,30         Notice that even though catapulted into high society David’s head was not turned by his circumstance. He continued to ‘behave wisely’.

18:4      Notice that whilst David declined the offer of the armour of Saul – 1Sam 17:38 – David accepted the offer from Jonathan.

18:26 Notice that initially David thought it not appropriate to be son in law to the king but his feelings changed – 11Sam 18:26 – when he realised that he would not have to provide a dowry which he could not afford. Of course he did not realise that Saul was planning his downfall.

V.6 The modern equivalent of these women would be cheerleaders.  It was the job of these women to lead victory parades.  They were also used at funerals (but in a more subdued way).

V.9 the word eyed in Hebrew is avan which means viewed with jealousy.

V.13 This was an outward honor. Saul was really trying to get David out of his court so that he would not have to bump into him on a daily basis.

V.17 Saul had reneged on his original promise (1Sam 17:25).

V.19 And now, Saul reneged on his promise to give Merab to David.

V.25 Saul hoped that the dowry for Michal’s hand in marriage would result in David’s death. Later, David would employ something similar by sending Uriah into the heat of battle for the hand of Bathsheba (2Sam 11:14,15).

V.27 The translation of two hundred is wrong as the Hebrew word from which it is translated is mayah which means one hundred.  The Septuagint agrees with this, and David seems to qualify it as such (2Sam 3:14).

18:2 The relationship between Jonathan and David provides a pattern for the relationship that should exist between brethren in Christ – Col 2:2

Developing these two names we see another example of a play on words as we saw in Chapter 41

Notice the ideas in the rest of the verse.

Jerusalem occupies a prominent place with Yahweh.  In the KJV, Jerusalem is mentioned 811 times which punctuates this fact.  Ultimately, Jerusalem will become the capital of the world from which the Lord Jesus will reign.  Meanwhile it is a contentious place, with several parties laying claim to her.  Before peace of the Kingdom is attained, she will be attacked, but Yahweh will defend her (Zech 12:2,3).

62:4  Isaiah has already (Isa 49:14, 54:6,7, 60:15) spoken of Israel as ‘forsaken’ so this message must have been a comfort – a time was to come when all the troubles would be over. See also 62:12

62:10 In encouraging Israel to ‘cast up …’ the prophet, echoing what he has already said – Isa 57:14 – is encouraging Israel to prepare for God’s deliverance.

62:3 The idea of a ‘crown of glory’ is picked up in Mal 3:17 as ‘jewels’ A wonderful prospect for the faithful.

There is a heavenly Jerusalem described in scripture (Heb 12:22; Rev 21:2).  This is not to be confused with the physical city whose past, present and future location is fixed.  The heavenly Jerusalem refers to the immortalized saints (The Redeemed) who will help Jesus rule when He brings His new order of government to earth. 

62:2 The ‘new name’ is picked up in Rev 2:17, 3:12 as part of the wonderful benefits of being approved of Christ.

Isa 62:11-12 - The ["Savior" (NIV) "salvation" (KJV) Heb. "yesha" (3468)  meaning "liberty, deliverance, prosperity, safety, salvation, saving"] comes, brings his reward with him, they will be called the Holy People, the ["redeemed" (NIV,KJV) Heb. "ga'al" (1350) meaning "redeem, to be the next of kin and as such buy back a relative's property (i.e. marry his widow, etc.), purchase, ransom, revenge(r)"] of the Lord - perhaps an echo in Rev 22:12,3.

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V.1 See Psa 102:13-17.

V.2 See Isa 11:10.

V.3 Jesus will rule the world from Jerusalem, the capital of the world (Isa 9:6,7; Luke 1:32,33). The royal diadem belongs to Him (Eze 21:26,27).

V.5 In the Kingdom, the bridegroom will be Jesus and the bride will be the Redeemed. The new Jerusalem is symbolic of the redeemed (Rev 21:2).

V.6 See Eze 3:17; 33:7.

V.9 In the Kingdom, each one will have eat and drink of his own produce, and will praise Yahweh (Mic 4:4,5).

Vs.11,12 The proclamation of the Gospel will have reached all parts of the world before Jesus returns (Mark 16:15; Rom 10:18).  Jesus is coming soon, and He has His reward with Him (Rev 22:12). Those found acceptable at judgment will become the Redeemed, the new Jerusalem never to be forsaken (Rev 21:2).

62:6 The watchmen who do not keep silent until Jerusalem is a praise in the earth are likened to the disciples of Jesus - Luke 19:40 – who are amongst those praising Jesus when he entered Jerusalem on the colt.

Remember in January we said that the sermon on the mount, spoken to the disciples, formed the basis of Jesus teaching to the disciples in Luke 11-14. Note these links.
7:7-10 Luke 11:9-11
7:13 Luke 13:24

"Why should you throw this treasure away?", Jesus is saying. The Isrealites were about to throw it away, because the axe was laid at the tree (Matt 3v10), and the tree would be cut down if they didn't repent. See how similar these verses are to Luke 21v24. Jesus was pleading with the people to start forgiving one another, to turn back to God, and to stop despising their inheritance, lest God would take it from them and throw it to the Gentiles. This was the mission of Jesus, prophesied of in Malachi 4v6 "lest I come and strike the earth with a curse".

Matt 7:6  This has always been a difficult verse to determine what are "swine" and the "dogs". The pig was classified as unclean under the law.  Lev 11:7  The term dog was used by the Jews to describe Gentiles. Matt 15:21  Both are animals which have no appreciation of the benefits of being clean. 2 Pet 2:22  The follower of Christ must decide when to speak and also when to forbear. This is the responsibility of the Divine privilege of being called by God. We must not hoard pearls, but should not scatter them like garbage in the pig's trough, where they will be trampled in the mire. 

We must remember at all times that God is working in us, and His grace calls.  

V.1 The Greek word for judge used here and in most places in the New Testament is krino.  It carries the judicial meaning of condemnation and also the meaning of discernment and decision making.  For example, Acts 4:19 conveys discernment while Acts 13:46 shows (self) condemnation.  In Rom 14:13 the word is used twice; the first has the meaning of condemnation while the second the invitation to decide.  And that pattern continues throughout the New Testament. Thus, we are urged to judge in the sense of discernment and decision making, but not in condemnation.  We are to leave that to the righteous judge when he returns (Acts 17:31; 2Tim 4:1; Heb 10:30).

The wolf and the lamb also come together in Isa 11:13, but in this instance, the wolf shall dwell with the lamb - and they shall not hurt or be hurt - in all God's holy mountain.

The Words of God are a series of contrasts between light and dark since Genesis 1 was penned.

7:24,26The issue is 'doing' God's word, not just talking about it. As James 1:22 says 'be ye doers of the word and not hearers only'

7:6 In implying that unholy things are for ‘dogs’ Jesus is restating what is said in Exo 22:31

7:8       The context requires us to understand that God will not simply give us whatever we ask for.  Holiness has to be the state of the one who asks. He will, therefore, ask ‘according to His will’ 1John 5:14.

V.7 Asking Yahweh for something must be based on certain things.  The one who makes a request must ask in accordance with God's will; ask in faith; have the right motivation; and have the intention to use whatever is received wisely in the service of Yahweh.

7:3 It is far easier to see the faults of others than to see what we need to correct in our own lives. Jesus is not advocating ignoring the errors of others though. He is teaching to look at ourselves first.

V.6 We should not talk about the Gospel to those who are incapable of understanding it; or to those who are hostile towards it.

V.12 James calls this the royal law (James 2:8).  

Vs.13,14 The world is the broad way. It is well illuminated with neon signs beckoning people to partake of this or that pleasure. It is easy for the flesh to amble down this boulevard. But, that way leads to death.

On the other hand, the narrow way can be uncomfortable.  This tortuous path needs faith, commitment and effort to stay the course.  But, eternal life awaits those who continue until the end (Matt 10:22).

Vs.16-20 The fruits of these false teachers do not mesh with the Word of God.  Such was the case of the Pharisees: They professed to be the keepers of the Law but they were hypocritical (Matt 15:7-9; Eph 4:14; 2Pet 3:17).

Vs.21-23 There are going to be some shocked individuals at the judgment. Let us hope that none of us is one of them.

Vs.24-27 All those who truly follow Jesus will be tried.  But, if anyone has a solid faith, based on Jesus, he/she will remain firm, whatever the trial (1Pet 1:6,7). But, if anyone’s faith falls apart under trial, then he/she has, in effect, denied his/her master, the foundation of faith. That person will lose his/her reward (2Tim 2:12).  

7:12 Jesus’ teaching here provides a practical example of the law’s teaching – Lev 19:18 - thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Tony Pezzulo observed a church bumper sticker that read "looking for imperfect people" and he noted in a recent talk, "we are imperfect people" and we should examine ourselves (1Cor 11:28;2Cor 13:5) and be "not quick to judge (others), but quick to help." (Matt 7:1-5;Matt 6:12,3;Matt 15:21-37;Acts 4:32-37;Acts 5:12-16;2Cor 8:1-15).