Having dealt with other sons of Abraham - Ishmael and Esau we now return to the children of the promise. However the focus is on Judah because the purpose of these genealogies is to show the line of the kings of Judah.

chs 1 and 2 - GROWING
"Cush was the father of Nimrod, who grew to be a mighty warrior on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD, that is what it is said, 'like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.'" So says Genesis 10 v 8 - 9 and it is echoed in 1 Chronicles 1 v 10.
The point I want to make from this is that Nimrod did not begin to be a mighty warrior before the LORD. We do not even know if he had a gift in that area, but what we do know is that he grew to be a mighty hunter and warrior. It was a skill that Nimrod developed through practice, patience and perseverance. It also appears that his motivation to be a mighty warrior was to please the LORD.
When we look around us we will always be able to see someone who is better than us in nearly everything we do. That can be depressing. However, we can take the lesson from the life of Nimrod and have his attitude as our one. When we see a need or an area of service to the LORD we can devote ourselves to, no matter how good or bad we are at it, let us persevere at it and grow in it. Practice makes perfect. So set your mind to it and grow in the power of the LORD.

V.17 There is some confusion from the text whether Jether was an Ishmaelite or an Israelite (2Sam 17:25). David's sister Abigail was married to Jether.  Whatever his origin, he was considered part of Israel.   David, obviously, had no compunction in appointing Amasa, Jether's son, to command of his army, regardless of his heritage (2Sam 19:13). 

Also, consider the case of Uriah the Hittite.  Whether he was a Hittite mercenary or just of Hittite ancestry does not really matter.  He was an officer in David's army and, in fact, was cited as one of David's elite warriors (2Sam 23:39).  Moreover, Uriah was married to a granddaughter of a priest of Israel.  How's that for national acceptance! 

Although Israel did not actively proselytize, it was willing to accept a confession of faith to Judaism from outsiders on occasion.  That the royal line of David and Jesus was established through outsiders, such as Rahab and Ruth, underscores Yahweh's commitment to include the Gentiles in His plan of salvation (Isa 11:10).

2:16 The detailed relationship between David and three of his mighty men can be seen clearly here.

2:1 The order in which the sons of Jacob is given is not the order of birth. Though Reuben who was the firstborn is first in the list. The sons of Leah are listed first – Gen 25:23. The sons of the two concubines are next listed – though Rachel’s sons are mixed in with them.

2:6 The ‘Zimri’ here is actually the ‘Zabdi’ of Josh 7:1

Of particular importance:

Vs.1,2 Israel’s tribal leaders are listed.

Vs.3-15 The line of Judah down to David.

V.16 The three sons of Zeruiah were always called the sons of Zeruiah (e.g. 2Sam 3:39).  There is never any mention of their father in scripture.

A warrior family

We see in v13-17 the family of Jesse. Note that Abishai, Joab and Asahel are part of that family. They are Jesse's grandsons, and all of them "mighty men" in David's army. Likewise Amasa, who became the general over Israel's army under Absalom. So Jesse's family was a mighty family of warlike tendency. And this expains something strange in the account of David and Goliath, where Saul asks "who's son is he?" (1Sam 17:55-58) even though he already knew David and had him as his music player. The fact is, Saul was hugely afraid of anyone who could usurp his throne, and was enquiring as to whether David's family was strong enough to do this. This is why, when these fears had fully taken hold of Saul, he referred to David as "the son of Jesse" (1Sam 20:27-31).

2:34-35 Just a note that we should be aware that we are reading of mixed marriages. Whilst no comment is made here – because this is genealogical data – we should not assume that the relationships are acceptable to God.

V.6-8 This parable was applied in four ways: (1) The LORD would give up people to fire, famine, sword, and exile (Matt 21:33-41). (2) He would set His face against His people because of sin (Psa 34:16). (3) His chastisement was purposeful; His aim was to rescue His people from idolatry, to cause them to know that He is the LORD, the creator, and the redeemer. (4) He would make Israel's land utterly desolate (Eze 14:13)

V.6 Yahweh talks about the destruction of Jerusalem in terms of the metaphor of the vine.  The vine, of course, was symbolic of Israel whose only function was to produce fruit for Yahweh. 

Grapes were summer fruit, being ready to be picked August/September.  Yahweh showed Amos a basket of summer fruit and declared Israel ended (Amos 8:1,2).  In 586 BC, Zedekiah was captured; Jerusalem was burned; and the temple destroyed.  This occurred in August, the time of summer fruit.

The vine is often a symbol of Israel (see Psa 80:8-16 and Isa 5:1-7 etc). So the Lord in today’s chapter tells Ezekiel to speak of the vine.  Even when it is alive, and bearing fruit, the wood of the vine was not able to be used for carpentry. How much more when the vine is dead?  This is a very powerful message of Israel, soon to be deported from their land.

15:4  In asking ‘is it fit for any work?’ Ezekiel is moved to ask a very pertinent questions about the vine tree. It is only of any use in providing fruit. The wood is of no value for anything except to be burned. This is true of man. His only value is to be found in bringing fruit to the glory of God - John 15

V.2 Israel, like its symbol the vine, had but only one use - to bear fruit, for Yahweh.  We too, as servants of Yahweh, have no other vocation but to bear fruit (Rom 7:4). 

And, unless we think of ourselves as more important than we should, let us remember the words of our Lord: So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do (Luke 17:10) (KJV).

15:6 So because Judah was not bringing fruit to God captivity was coming. This is the stark message of the prophet in this chapter. The truth of what Ezekiel was speaking of was confirmed that already Jehoiachin had gone into captivity. Remember Ezekiel’s prophecy is dated n terms of Jehoiachin’s captivity.

15:8 The land being ‘desolate’ is a fulfilment of the curse of Lev 26:34

V.6 Yahweh's people did not bring forth acceptable fruit, and so He destroyed them. The figure of the unproductive vine being burned is used.  The same figure is used of those who do not bring forth good fruit in the Name of Christ (Matt 7:19).

15:5 Israel were only of any value to God as His subjects who could praise him – that is, in the figure of the vine, they could bring forth fruit. This is exactly our position, we have nothing else to offer Him.

V.2 Israel was once Yahweh’s choice vine, but it turned into a corrupt plant (Jer 2:21). Yahweh, in His anger, wrought punishment on Israel for its disobedience (Jer 6:9; 8:13).

15:7 The dire situation of the nation is seen in the way that fleeing a ‘fire’ is no guarantee of deliverance.

11:20 the finger of God Exodus 8:19

The request of the disciples that Jesus might teach them to pray is a consequence of their inability to cast out the devil and Jesus' comment Matthew 17:21 that prayer and fasting were required to do the mighty work that Jesus was doing.
v.15 He casteth out devils by Beelzebub - A charge levelled at Jesus a number of times. Below is a list of the occasions where Beelzebub is said to be the God that Jesus is invoking. Matthew 10:25 12:24 Mark 3:22 Luke 11:15
It is difficult to be sure which of the accounts relate to the same times. However we can be sure that there are at least three times when this accusation is made and that Luke 11 is the last time.
The logic of Jesus' argument is unassailable. 'by whom do your sons cast them out'
v.30 Jonah was a prophet from Galilee for Gath Hepher is a village in the Galilee.

As well as drawing on the Sermon On The Mount - as commented on in the March comments - Jesus uses language in this section which he later uses in his teaching to the scribes in the last week of his life and also when speaking privately to his disciples

The preceding verse has Jesus using the phrase "the kingdom of God has come upon you" (v20) to describe his presence with them. He had used the same phrase when he sent out the twelve and the seventy two "the kingdom of God has come near you. But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city" (10v11-12). This is exactly the same context as our chapter, verses 29-32.

From this we can tell that the context of Jesus's words is the passing over of the kingdom of God by the pharisees, even though it had come so near them. For this they would be judged more harshly than Sodom and Gommorrah, or Nineveh. What he was telling them with the strong man, was what had made them pass over the kingdom of God. The reason was in verse 22 "the armour in which the man trusted". Jesus was the stronger man. He was coming, either to save or to judge. Those who trusted in their own armour saw no need to bow the knee to him. This is why Jesus says what he does in v23. Those who didn't put their trust in him, were in fact against him. The only way given for salvation was Christ, and not the law. The law wasn't strong enough. Jesus was.

Jesus illustrates exactly the same point with the eye of the body in v34-35. If the light within you is counterfeit, it won't do you any good, but worse still - it will stop you searching for the true light! How wretched was the situation of those scribes and pharisees, who had the light in front of them, yet preferred the darkness, believing it to be light! (John 1v5, 3v19).

11:51  The blood of Zacharias refers to the events recorded in 2Chron 24:20. Abel being, chronologically the first murder, Zachariah chronologically the last recorded murder in the Old testament.

V.2 Jesus said: When ye pray, say: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come (KJV). Do we pray for Jesus to return and set up the kingdom - today!? 

Or do we say, subconsciously: Could you please hold off Lord, I'm kind of busy at the moment.  That attitude is dangerous, because while we are busy we might miss the call - that would be a huge oops! (Mark 13:13). 

If we are eagerly waiting for, and expecting, the kingdom, we will not be taken unawares like a thief coming in the night (2Pet 3:10).  If that is our hope and desire, then we will miss nothing, including being in the kingdom (Matt 6:21).

PERSEVERANCE (v.9-10)

Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough, you are sure to wake up somebody. :)

11:23 Jesus makes it clear – we cannot sit on the fence. Men are either ‘for’ or ‘against’ him. Apathy is, therefore, the same as opposition.

11:32 Jesus is presented as ‘greater than Jonah’. There are a number of ways in which he was ‘greater than Jonah’. One is that he was willing to preach to sinners, Jonah preferred not to. Jonah knew that God was gracious – Jon 4:2 and so did not want to preach to Nineveh. Jesus, knowing the God was gracious, preached to sinners.

Vs.27,28 The Catholic Church elevates Mary to an exalted status above the Bible.  Jesus puts the Word of God (the Bible), and obedience to it, greater than Mary.  Who are you going to believe?

11:16 We remember that ‘the devil departed from him for a season’ – Luke 4:13 - after the forty days temptation in the wilderness. Here is another repeated temptation. If Jesus had succumbed to their temptation it would have been a little like turning the stones into bread – something to satisfy his own need to prove who he was.

V.20 It is interesting to note that the expression finger of God is used, by weather experts, to describe the most intense tornado. This category F5 tornado occurs infrequently (0.1% relative frequency), but with winds of 261-318 mph (416-510 kph) it is capable of incredible damage.

One can imagine the destructive power of this tornado as if it were Yahweh tracing His powerful finger across the land. Compare this imagery with David's request in Psa 144:5: Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke! (ESV).

11:30-31 The two events which Jesus cites are where gentiles respond to the message from God. This is the second time that he has drawn attention to the way in which two gentiles responded to God’s grace. The first time is in Luke 4:25-27