Azariah, king of Judah, (2Kin 15:1-7), is the same as Uzziah in today's chapter (2Kin 15:13,30-34), and in 2Chron 26 and in Isa 6:1.  He had leprosy, and Jothan his son actually reigned while his father was unclean.  There's a lovely connection here with Isa 6:1.  If leprosy is a type of sin, then when sin died (ie when Uzziah died), Isaiah saw a most wonderful vision of the Kingdom, with Jesus sitting on the throne. We know that it was Jesus because of the comment in John 12:37-41.

15:4 Like Amaziah in the previous chapter Azariah (who is Uzziah) did not remove the high places even though he was a good king. And the people worshipped on the high places. We must et a good example to others. It is not good enough leading a Godly life but not taking account of the needs of our brethren and sisters. We must try to create an environment where they will not be tempted by the things which we allow.

15:12 The word which had been spoken by Jehu is recorded in 2Kin 10:30

V.13 Uzziah is a contracted form of Azariah and means the Lord is my strength.

Vs.19,29 The Assyrian kings were now becoming progressively more active in the affairs of Israel.  Pul is mentioned.  It is debateable whether Pul is the same person as Tilgath-Pileser II, or his predecessor. 

Tilgath-Pileser II reigned from 745-727 BC and had skirmishes with Israel that were not so grave.  However, his successor, Shalmaneser IV imposed a three-year siege on Samaria which inflicted great hardship. Shalmanezer IV died in 722 BC, and it was his successor, Sargon, who completed the siege in 721 BC. 

Sargon came to power at the same time that Merodach Baladan ascended to the Babylonian throne.  Sargon, also, took into captivity almost 28,000 people from Israel.  Sargon was the father of Sennacherib.

15:25 This ‘Pekah’ is the one mentioned in Isa 7:1 as confederate against Judah so we should be aware of this historical record when we read Isaiah 7 at least.

V.5 The Chronicles' account tells us the reason for Azariah’s leprosy (2Chron 26:16).

V.8 Jeroboam II had reigned for forty-one years.  His reign brought the most prosperity that Israel had experienced.  During his reign, the prophets Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Jonah (who was cited in yesterday’s reading) operated.  Zachariah, by contrast, only reigned six months and accomplished nothing.

Between the death of Jeroboam II and the reign of his son Zachariah, there was an interregnum (period of time between two successive rulers) of about ten years.  During an interregnum, a regent is appointed to oversee the affairs of state in lieu of a monarch.

Vs.9,10 Zachariah followed evil after his forefather Jeroboam I.  He was assassinated, which brought an end to the line of Jeroboam I.  Amos’ words were fulfilled (Amos 7:9).

V.12 With the death of his great grandson Zachariah, Jehu’s line had now been extinguished according to promise, after the fourth generation on the throne (2Kin 10:30).

V.13 The murderer of Zachariah, and the fulfiller of prophecy was Shallum.  Interestingly, Shallum means retribution. Shallum reigned only one month before he was assassinated by Menahem.  Menahem reigned for ten years.

V.22 Pekahiah, Manahem’s son reigned for two years before he was assassinated by his captain Pekah.

V.29 Now the Assyrians are becoming involved in the affairs of Israel and Judah.  Tomorrow, we shall see the unfolding of prophecy given by Isaiah.

15:23 Pekahiah is one of the two kings – Isa 7:16– that is mentioned. He associated with Syria to threaten Judah.

15:23 Pekahiah is one of the two kings – Isa 7:16– that is mentioned. He associated with Syria to threaten Judah.

v.1 - 4 This enacted parable marks the ways in which Israel are to be scattered. That Jesus says 'the very hairs of your head are numbered' Luke 12:7 picks up the fact that the hairs in Ezekiel represented the children of Israel who God knows individuals. The scattering of the Jews was, as well as punishment, was because God cared for them and was seeking their repentance.

v.10 The horrible description of the abominations that are to take place were predicted - Deuteronomy 28:53 as punishment for turning away from keeping the Law of Moses.

Vs.1-3 Ezekiel is enacting the end of a Nazarite vow (Num 6:18).  The nation which was once (and ought to be still) separate unto Yahweh is now disavowed.  The behavior of the nation has now alienated it from the grace of Yahweh. 

And so, Ezekiel demonstrated the proportioning of his shaved hair to various treatments as indicative of the nation's fate: part to be destroyed in the city; part to be killed in conflict; part to be scattered into exile.  And there was another part: a remnant of faithful to be saved. 

Amongst widespread wickedness there have always been a few faithful whom Yahweh has saved.  We are in a similar position, surrounded by wickedness, and needing deliverance by Yahweh (2Thess 3:2,3).  

Jerusalem’s punishment was to be seen by surrounding nations (Eze 5:14,15). Whereas when Israel came out of Egypt, and walked for 40 years in the wilderness, God punished them in private.  Everyone aged 20 and above who came out of Egypt (apart from Caleb and Joshua), died before they crossed the Jordan into the promised Land.  But who noticed?  Num 1:46 is virtually the same as Num 26:51.  That time the surrounding nations would not know what was happening.  Now, when Jerusalem is to be destroyed in Ezekiel’s day, everyone is to know.

5:17 Ezekiel speaks of ‘sword famine and pestilence’ and so is presenting the same message which Jeremiah had predicted many times before the Jews were taken captive – Jer 14:12  etc: - Jeremiah uses the words 15 times out of the 24 times the words are used together in the whole of Scripture – Ezekiel uses the words 7 times so we can see how these are thematic phrases in these two prophets. Jeremiah who warned of impending judgment and Ezekiel who was in Babylon as part of that judgment.

5:2 In saying that He would call for a sword against Israel the prophet is quoting Lev 26:33

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5:15 In that God’s judgements would be an ‘instruction’ to the nations round about Israel we see that the way that Israel behaved reflected upon their God. The same is true of our behaviour.

V.7 Jerusalem and Judah had not only emulated the idol worship of those nations round about, but had shown an unquenchable thirst and lust for idolatry not experienced by the surrounding nations.

V.10 Cannibalism had been predicted as one of the curses that would come upon Israel should they sin (Deut 28:53).

Vs.14,15 This answers to the curse of Deut 28:37.

V.17 See Deut 28:21,26.

5:15 ‘reproach’ and ‘taunt’ catches the promise of the judgements of God spoken of in Deut 28:37

1:17 to turn the hearts ... children Malachi 4:5
1:18 I am old ... in years Genesis 17:17
1:19 Glad tidings Isaiah 40:9
1:25 to take away my reproach Genesis 30:23
1:28 highly favoured Ephesians 1:6
1:28 the Lord is with thee Judges 6:12
1:28 blessed ... among women Judges 5:24
1:31 shalt conceive and bring forth a son Isaiah 7:14
1:33 And he shall reign for ever Micah 4:7
1:33 there shall be no end Isaiah 9:7
1:37 with God nothing shall be impossible Genesis 18:14
1:38 handmaid Psalm 116:16
1:42 blessed art thou among women Judges 5:24
1:46 my soul doth magnify the Lord 1 Samuel 2:1
1:48 for ... his handmaid 1 Samuel 1:11
1:48 all generations shall call me blessed Psalm 72:17
1:49 He that is mighty hath done great things Psalm 126:2
1:49 holy is his name Psalm 111:9
1:50 And his mercy ... generation Psalm 103:17
1:53 he hath filled the hungry 1 Samuel 2:5
1:54 in remembrance of his mercy Psalm 98:3
1:68 Blessed ... his people Psalm 106:48
1:69 horn of salvation Psalm 18:2
1:71 that we would ... us Psalm 18 title
1:72 to perform ... Abraham Micah 7:20
1:74 delivered ... enemies Psalm 18 title
1:76 thou shalt ... his way Malachi 3:1
1:79 to give light ... death Isaiah 9:2

The lists for the rest of the chapters will not be as extensive as this one. It is the case that these are far more quotations in this chapter than in all the rest.
The events preceding the birth of Jesus - the announcements to Elizabeth and Zacharias, Mary in this chapter and Simeon and Anna in chapter 2 - show a tremendous outpouring of the holy spirit. This ended the silence that had existed from the time of Malachi - a period of some 400 years.
The outpouring of Elizabeth, in the way that it uses the language of Hannah, highlights the bitterness of Elizabeth in her barrenness and her joy at conceiving. I do not think that her joy was simply at the thought of having a son. Rather like Hannah she rejoiced that the Lord had chosen her to bear a male who was to further the purpose of God.
Zacharias, with loosed tongue, rejoices in the language of Psalm 18. Psalm 18 replicates the language of 2 Samuel 22.
The fact that Zacharias uses the Psalm and its historical background - a point made obvious by the use of the Psalm title - shows us that the setting up of David, in preference to Saul who was seeking David's life, patterns the birth of Jesus and also John.
1:79 Notice he involvement of the gentiles in the purpose being stated right at the beginning of the gospel. Of course this reflects the Old Testament teaching as can be seen by the quotation from Isaiah 9.

The stage is set. You enter the holiest of holies to offer up incense for the sins of the people. Thousands of people are in the courtyard of the temple praying for forgiveness and salvation. An angel of God appears, shining, splendid, and magnificent, announcing that your prayer has been answered.

You think "which prayer?". The one for the people, or my own daily prayer for a son? Then your heart leaps when you think of an echo to these words - the angel who came to Sarah, barren and old, announcing the birth of a son of promise!! What else could it be! This is it! I'm going to be the father of the messiah!

Then the words, cutting in their disapointment. "and he shall go before him...to make ready a people prepared for the Lord". Then the mistake of showing your own un-belief "How shall I know this? For I am an old man..". And the rebuke of the mighty Angel of God "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God!!..." and the punishment "you will be mute... because you did not believe my words."

John, in all his glory, signified an old, barren, fruitless priesthood, which could never bring life, because the one thing that was lacking was faith. The bearing of the holy seed went instead to a teenage girl, accused later of adultery, and shunned by society. Why? "Blessed is she who believed...those things which were told her from the Lord" (v45). This son was to be a son of Abraham, who believed what God told him, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

1:28   When Mary was told that she was "highly favoured" we have a stark contrast with Gen 3:16 were Eve was told of the sorrow of childbirth.

1:3 The claim to ‘perfect understanding’ is a claim to be inspired – John 14:26

1:3     ‘Most excellent’ is a title used of Roman officials – Acts 23:23, 24:3, 26:25 – implying that this gospel was sent to a roman official.

Vs.32,33 The scriptures could not be more plain in telling us that Jesus is coming back to earth to rule (See Isa 9:6,7).  The reward of His faithful followers will be to rule with him (Rev 20:6).  The so-called reward of souls floating off to heaven, at death, is nowhere to be found in scripture. 

1:3‘from above’ <509> is a word which is elsewhere translated at ‘from the top’ Mark 15:38‘from Above’ John 19:11. The John reference in particular shows that the word can be used to speak of God given. Thus we see that Luke is claiming that his writing is from God.

V.31 The name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew Yeshua which means Yahweh saves.

Vs.46-55 Mary’s song parallels Hannah’s song (1Sam 2:1-10).  Samuel was a Christ-type.  Like Jesus, He was a son of promise; and a Nazarite, wholly dedicated to the service of Yahweh.

V.60 John is the Greek form of the Hebrew Yochanan, (a contraction of Yechochanan meaning gift of God).

1:6  That both Elizabeth and Zacharias were ‘both righteous’ is a wonderful model for a husband and wife team of believers.