Comments for November 17

v.6 - Having a mind to work is so important. Working together in the way that these people did is a good good way to achieve this aim, but nevertheless, even individually, it is an attitude that we ought to cultivate. Ps.110:3, Phil.2:13

4:9 They both prayed and watched. We cannot assume that because we have asked a prayer that we no longer have any responsibility to do anything. We are 'workers together with God' 2 Corinthians 6:1

v.3 - The analogy of a fox is very appropriate here as the fox which is indigenous to the area - the Syrian Fox - is a nuisance more or less exclusively by its raiding of ripe grapes from the vineyards. So a fox is the last thing the 'vineyard' of Israel would want to see.

4:20 In saying 'our God will fight for us' quoting Exodus 14:13-14 they were seeing this work as being similar to the deliverance from Egypt.

DEALING WITH OPPOSITION

So many of God's people have faced opposition. Nehemiah and the Jews in Jerusalem who were busy building the wall were no exception. Building the wall was no easy task. It was heavy work and the builders were amateurs whose only qualification to build the wall was their zeal for the city. Not only that, but their building materials were limited - there was more rubbish than stones. Because the work was so hard, the insults and threats received from the enemies of the Jews must have felt even more cutting. It must have been so tempting to give up or fight back. But no, they approached their troubles in a completely different way.

Firstly Nehemiah prayed that the insults poured on them by their enemies would be turned back on their own heads. Then, when the threats got more serious, we read, "But we prayed to our God." After they had prayed they did what they could do to deter the threats.

If only we would do the same more often ourselves. There is no better help we could get than the help of God. There is no stronger defence than God's protection and there is nothing better to put our trust in than our powerful and living God. So when we face times of opposition or trial, let's do the best thing first. Let us pray.

4:1-5 Notice the way that Nehemiah responded to the ridicule. He did not respond in kind but rather took the matter to God in prayer. In this he was like many earlier men of God who did not take vengeance or seek redress themselves.

Herein is a lesson for us when we feel that we are being opposed in the work of the truth.

4:23 The difficulties caused by those who opposed the building made life really difficult for Nehemiah and those that worked with him. So they slept in their work clothes, only undressing to wash.  One wonders how much inconvenience we are willing to tolerate in the work of the gospel.

It has been said that man proposes, but God disposes. In Neh 4:15 we read that God had brought the enemies’ counsel to nought, enabling the Jews’ work to proceed. In a similar way, we must ensure that we are on God’s side.

V.10 In our work today there is also much rubbish to hinder us. We must not waver because of pressure and difficulties from both within and without. The work must have been exhausting and heart breaking for Nehemiah, by his integrity he carried on, likewise with us these trials will prepare us for the kingdom. 

V.1 Sanballat, the governor of Samaria, was a Moabite. Tobiah was an Ammonite, and probably the servant of Sanballat. They had been rejected from helping to build up Jerusalem. And now they were angry and vindictive.

They thought that they had a right to participate in the rebuilding because of marriage ties with the Jews. Sanballat’s daughter had married the son of Joiada, who was the son of Eliahiv, the high priest.

Learning about this, Nehemiah chased away Joiada’s son (Neh 13:28). Tobiah had married the daughter of Shechaniah, the son of Arah. His son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam, the son of Berechiah (Neh 6:18).

Also, Eliashiv had furnished Tobiah with accommodation in the temple (Neh 13:7). Thus, Sanballat and Tobiah became oppositional to the returning Jews. Having being given aid by Jerusalem's high priest, and then having it taken away, they became a major thorn in the Jews' side. Added to that, Sanballat, being governor of Samaria, could control the flow of traffic towards Jerusalem.

4:6Having ‘a mind to work’ in the things of God is more important than having the worldly skills that some might think are necessary – how often do we hear ‘I could not do that …’ or similar words. God’s assessment is according to what a man hath, not what he doesn’t have - 2Cor 8:12

V.20 In this exhortation to the people Nehemiah was alluding to the words of Moses in Deut 3:22. "Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you".

4:14 In response to the antagonism and warring of the enemies Nehemiah, rather than encouraging the people to go out and fight against these enemies encourages them to trust in God. Whilst this might seem a very passive action it is just the sort of thing that God seeks from His servants Moses told the people Exo 14:13 "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD,"

4:7 Ashdod was one of the principal cities of the Philistines, along with Gaza, Gath, Ekron and Ashkelon, these were all bitter enemies of the Jews. When apostasy set in through their alien marriages, we see that the language of the Ashdodites was used rather than using their native tongue of Hebrew.(Neh 13:23-25)

4:3 Notice that Tobiah is with Sanballat. This is the way of mockers. They seem to think that there is strength in numbers. In reality each of them is encouraging the other in a hopeless situation! So if we come up against a number ‘mocking’ they are no more effective than an individual unless we allow ourselves to be intimidated with numbers.

The example of Sanballat and Tobiah, and the problem of mixed marriages, should give us food for thought.

What was true of natural Israel is also true of spiritual Israel. Ecclesias cannot sanction marriages between believers and unbelievers (2Cor 6:14).

Even if the unbelieving partner promises to learn the Truth, the marriage cannot go ahead.

Care of Yahweh's business must be taken first. Any laxity in this matter must be firmly opposed, as scripture is very clear on this matter.

4:1 Notice Sanballat’s approach. He ‘mocked’ Nehemiah’s response is interesting. He prayed to God. We so easily rise and respond to mockers. We should realise that the mocker can do little else.

V.2 As governor of Samaria, Sanballat had soldiers at his command.

V.3 It was common for foxes to live around ruins. Tobiah was insinuating that the Jews were so feeble that even a fox could break through what had been re-built.

V.6 The half refers to height and not to length.

V.10 There was much rubble to clear before the wall could be built.

V.22 Those people who lived outside Jerusalem were used to going home after work. But, Nehemiah had them sleep within the walls of Jerusalem for safety.

4:4 In despising the work of Nehemiah and his helpers those opposing him were in fact also opposing God. Hence Nehemiah could reasonably expect his prayer to be answered. We need to be clear in our prayers that we are concerned for God’s position rather than simply making requests which focus on our own desires.

Neh 4:1 - in modern times when true believers go to weekly memorial services, take the Bible seriously, worship Christ as a figurative wall of protection from the world and its ways there can be mocking, ridicule and sometimes persecution. We need to constantly strengthen our spiritual defences to protect against such adversaries.

 Neh 4:2 - Sanballat and the army of "Samaria" [(8111) means "watch station, watch mountain"] watched but they had poor spiritual understanding of they saw. Similarly, not all will seek protection in Christ when he returns to earth ( Rev 17:14). Neh 4:4 - when faced with insults and trouble the Jews didn't respond in kind but turned to God in prayer (James 5:13). Neh 4:9 - they prayed and set a watch day and night (similarly, Peter was told to watch and pray Matt 26:41); believers are to pray without ceasing (1Thess 5:17), self examine (1Cor 11:28) and be on watch day and night (Matt 25:13).

Neh 4:10 - "...The strength of the bearer of burdens is decayed..." (Christ will give us rest and his burden is light Matt 11:28-30).

Neh 4:14-15 - credit given to God for having brought their counsel to nought; be not ye afraid (Isa 41:10;43:5) - believers don't have to worry or be afraid either as God knows our needs (Matt 6:28-34;Matt 7:9-11).

Neh 4:9,17-18,21 - prayer plus devoted action in doing the Lord's work.

Neh 4:9,22,23 - staying awake with clothes on perhaps echoes waiting for Christ (Rev 16:15).

Neh 4:22 - (coupled with "habergeon" v.16, perhaps we have an echo in 1Thess 5:5-8); V.22 "lodge within Jerusalem" - the chosen ones were to take their rest in Jerusalem - perhaps this reminds us of a future rest (Heb 4:1-11).

4:15    Nehemiah had made careful provision to protect the city against the ‘adversaries’. However he still realises that the deliverance was ‘of God’.  We are required to plan but must always realise that God is the one whose will is fulfilled.

4:5     Whilst those from Samaria were not in covenant relationship with God their words and thoughts were still sin’. God does regard the opposition of men to His will and does take care of His children, though at time it might not appear so.

1. Neh 4:4 - NIV "a land of captivity" - figuratively being in bondage to sin and death.

2. Neh 4:6 - rebuilt the wall with all their heart to keep out the enemy - we have to build up our defenses against sin, our sinful nature and the temptations of the world which surround us.

3. Neh 4:9,11 - praying to God (Eph 6:17;1Thess 5:17) and constantly guarding against our enemy (sin); our enemy is always ready to attack us at our weakest point.

4. Neh 4:16,22 - busy doing the Lord's work while at the same time guarding against the enemy (sin).

5. Neh 4:16,21,23 - natural weapons echoing spiritual weapons (Eph 6:10-17).

6. Neh 4:23 - being clothed/covered by Christ (Gen 3:21;1Cor 15:53).

7. Neh 4:20 - the trumpet and Christ's return (1Cor 15:51-52).

8. Neh 4:14,20 - God will fight for His children (Zech 14:3;Eze 38:22-23).

9. Neh 4:23 - living water and spiritual refreshment (John 14:13-14;6:35).

4:2      We remember that Samaria had been repopulated – 2Kin 17:24 - by non Jews who had no regard for the God of Israel.  Now we see them opposing the repairing work instigated by Nehemiah.

Envious nations - then and now

All of the traditional enemies of Judah are represented in v7. You'll notice that nothing has changed to this day:

Sanballat - From Samaria, the former capital city of the ten tribes of Israel, now the West Bank

Tobiah - Ammonite, descended from Lot (Gen 19:36-38), now Jordan (Amman is Jordan's Capital)

Arabs - The various nomadic Arabian people, see Isa 13:20

Ashdodites - Ashdod is a Philistine city, now the Gaza strip

What is particularly striking is that here we have all the strife being generated because of the Jews trying to rebuild Jerusalem. This is still the case today, well over two thousand years later. The same ethnic groups object to Jewish settlement or claims to Jerusalem. The same groups complain when they build homes or defend themselves. It is almost as if time has stood still.

4:4       The idea of bringing punishment upon his own head has been  seen many times in Scripture 1Sam 25:29, 1Kin 2:32, 2Chron 6:23, Neh 4:4, Psa 7:6, Eze 17:13, 33:4, Joel 3:4,7, Obad 1:15

4:10    The comments and abuse of the opponents of the work took their toll on the workers.  We do well to realise that unhelpful words can demoralise even the most enthusiastic worker for God.

WHAT ARE THESE FEEBLE JEWS DOING . . is the cry of SANBALLAT the HORONITE [A native of horonaim, or of one of the two Beth-horons, the "upper" or the "nether" . . a SAMARITAN LEADER and official of the Achaemenid Empire of Greater Iran, who lived in the mid to late 5th Century BC and was a contemporary of Nehemiah.] 

which cry echoe's down the corrodor of time right to the condemnation of CAIN when his sacrifice was found unacceptable to the Elohim, it is the cry of one REJECTED by the CREATOR, one who is UN-REPENTANT, the result of which is REBELLION.  NIMROD whose name means [TO REBEL] are a type of this interogation by those OUTSIDE the household of FAITH.  TODAY in IRAN and the world at large, we hear the same cry, and it ramains as ignorance and fear feed the flames of discontent, envy and hatred, and justifying their wicked designs to overthrow the RIGHTEOUS.  Having thus established the pattern we examine the skeleton at large four questions are asked: 

1.  Will they fortify themselves? 

answer:  YES, throught the power of GOD, and the PROMISES MADE to AbrAHAM, and the PROPHETS . . Amos 9:11, [Roth]

     In that day will I raise up the pavilion [His High habitation] of DAVID, that is LYING PROSTRATE, and WALL UP the brEACHES of them, and HIS RUINS will I RAISE UP, and I WILL BUILD IT as in the days of AGE PAST TIMES. 

2.  Will they sacrifice?

answer: YES, THEY were successful in COMPLETING THE WORK, but that it was by FAITH that the work was finished, but it did not continue and as in the time of Solomon was lost, UNTIL the STONE of DANIEL which was CUT OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN shall brEAK in Pieces and CONSUME --- These False religions ie;  the REBELLIOUS and NIMROODIAN.

3. Will they make an end in a DAY?

Nehemiah 4:8 And they conspired, ALL OF THEM together, to fight aainst JERUSALEM,  - - and to cause it harm: 

9, Howbeit we PRAYED unto our GOD,  --set a watch against them DAY and NIGHT, because of them.

Joel 3:14:  [Rotherham] MULTITUDES - MULTITUDES, in the vale of strict decision, for NEAR is THE DAY of ~YAHWEH~ in the Vale of STRICT DECISION. 

Zechariah 4:10, [Rotherham] FOR who hath despised THE DAY of small things:  YET shall they REJOICE when they see the plummet - STONE in the hand of ZERUBBABEL, [these seven] !  The Eyes of ~YAHWEH~ They are -- RUNNING TO and FRO throughout ALL THE EARTH.

13.  And He spake unto me saying:  "Knowest thou not what these are: 

       And I said, "NO my Lord.

[These are the TWO annointed ones who stand near the LORD of ALL THE EARTH.    

4. Will they bring to life the STONES bring to life the stones out of the heaps of dust, when [they] have been burned up?

answer:  YES!  EZEKIEL 37:5-6 [Rotherham] "Thus saith my Adonai [Lord] ~YAHWEH~ unto these BONES,  - -  LO I am about to bring unto you--- SPIRIT - -  and YE SHALL LIVE: 

Yea I will lay upon you  - - - SINEWS,

And Bring up over you  -- FLESH,

And Cover over you -- SKIN,

And Put in you  -- SPIRIT,

AND ye shall -- LIVE.  THEN SHALL YE KNOW that I am ~YAHWEH~

4. 

WHAT ARE THESE FEEBLE JEWS DOING . .

     Is the cry of SANBALLAT the HORONITE [A native of horonaim, or of one of the two Beth-horons, beth meaning well as in a well of water, the "upper" or the "nether" . . a SAMARITAN LEADER and official of the Achaemenid Empire of Greater Iran, who lived in the mid to late 5th Century BC and was a contemporary of Nehemiah.] 

     Which cry echo's down the corrodor of time right to the condemnation of CAIN when his sacrifice was found unacceptable to the Elohim, it is the cry of one REJECTED by the CREATOR, one who is UN-REPENTANT, the result of which is REBELLION.  NIMROD whose name means [TO REBEL] are a type of this interrogation by those OUTSIDE the household of FAITH.  TODAY in IRAN and the world at large, we hear the same cry, and it ramains as ignorance and fear feed the flames of discontent, envy and hatred, and justifying their wicked designs to overthrow the RIGHTEOUS. [please read Psalm 1] 

     Having thus established the pattern we examine the skeleton at large, FOUR questions are asked: 

1.  Will they fortify themselves? 

answer:  YES, throught the power of GOD, and the PROMISES MADE to AbrAHAM, and the PROPHETS . .

Amos 9:11, [Rotherham]

     In that day will I raise up the pavilion [His High habitation] of DAVID, that is LYING PROSTRATE, and WALL UP the brEACHES of them, and HIS RUINS will I RAISE UP, and I WILL BUILD IT as in the days of AGE PAST TIMES. 

2.  Will they sacrifice?

answer: YES, THEY were successful in COMPLETING THE WORK, but that it was by FAITH that the work was finished, but it did not continue and as in the time of Solomon was lost, UNTIL the STONE of DANIEL which was CUT OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN shall brEAK in Pieces and CONSUME --- These False religions ie;  the REBELLIOUS and NIMROODIAN.

3. Will they make an end in a DAY?

Nehemiah 4:8 And they conspired, ALL OF THEM together, to fight against JERUSALEM,  - - and to cause it harm: 

                   9, Howbeit we PRAYED unto our GOD,  --set a watch against them DAY and NIGHT, because of them.

Joel 3:14:  [Rotherham] MULTITUDES - MULTITUDES, in the vale of strict decision,

      for NEAR is THE DAY of  ~ YAHWEH~ in the Vale of STRICT DECISION. 

Zechariah 4:10, [Rotherham] FOR who hath despised THE DAY of small things: 

                   YET shall they REJOICE when they see the plummet - STONE

      in the hand of ZERUBBABEL,  [these seven] !  The Eyes of ~YAHWEH~ They are -- RUNNING TO and FRO

      throughout    ALL THE EARTH.

13.  And He spake unto me saying:  "Knowest thou not what these are: 

       And I said, "NO my Lord."

       THEN said He,

"THESE are the TWO ANNOINTED ONES, --Who stand near the Lord [Adon or POWER] of ALL THE EARTH."     

4. Will they bring to life THE STONES bring to life the STONES out of the heaps of dust, when [they] have been BURNED up?

answer:  YES!  EZEKIEL 37:5-6 [Rotherham] "Thus saith my Adonai [Lord] ~YAHWEH~ unto these BONES,  - - 

        LO I am about to bring unto you--- SPIRIT - -  and YE SHALL LIVE: 

        Yea I will lay upon you  - - - SINEWS,

        And Bring up over you  -- FLESH,

        And Cover over you -- SKIN,

        And Put in you  -- SPIRIT,

        AND ye shall -- LIVE.  THEN SHALL YE KNOW that I am ~YAHWEH~

In all four expressions or interrogatives we see the pattern of the language and it is one which has been like the voice of the THREE FROG LIKE SPIRITS, and the VOICE of REBELLION and IGNORANCE.   BUT THANKS BE TO our GOD and our Lord Jesus Christ who hath opened the Scriptures in these latter days that we might receive the encouragement of the TRUTH, for the HOPE OF ISRAEL, are we not all together in ONE - -   ~YAHWEH~ Elohim Yisraail . . . chb

4:7      In speaking of  the different nations who joined against the work of Nehemiah we see a circle round Israel of opponents.  It is valuable to plot there nations on a map to see the isolation of Israel at this time.

4:16        So the Jews repairing the walls of Jerusalem had a standing army of necessity. Consider the impact of such a requirement on the productivity of the work in hand. It would have been more effective if the army had not been required. The work could have been achieved more quickly with no fear. The practicalities of daily living would have been easier. Now translate that to today where countries have armies and a weapons industry or requirement. If none of that was required the world would be a more stable and trouble free and prosperous place. Nations of the world take it for granted that they require an army and it is so easy to slip into the way of thinking that such an approach is normal. However when the kingdom of God is established things will all change – for the better.

4:9     Rather like Hezekiah – 2Chron 32:8 – who recognised that the multitude of Assyria was nothing compared to the power of God Nehemiah and the people pray to a God that can save.

4:7-9   Consider the amassed forces of the enemies. How does one respond to them? The answer is quite clear. One makes prayer to God. Can we learn from this example? When the odds against us seem impossible and we cannot work out our own solution we should turn to God. Actually we should turn to God even when we think we have the resources to solve our own problems.

4:21 there is a lesson for us in the fact that the amount of work that could be done was halved because of the need to defend their workers. The lesson is clear. Any tension of conflict impacts on the amount of work that we can do. So we should try to avoid conflict amongst ourselves when there is work to be don and just get on with the task in hand.

4:3-4 Notice the response to Tobiah and Sanballat. Actually there was no verbal response to them. Instead prayer was voiced to God.  How often do we feel the need to answer a critic or defend ourselves, as we see it, when we receive a verbal attack? We do well to consider whether a verbal response is a sensible thing to do.

VISION PLUS STRENGTH

It must have seemed like a job that was just going to waste everyone's energy, fail and burn. As the Jews started rebuilding the wall, their motivating factor was the vision of one man, Nehemiah. Other than that, all they could see was rubble, a task much to big to be achieved, and far too many problems to make it viable.

The biggest problems were not so much the lack of resources and the size of the job that needed to be done, it was the negative opposition from people. Their enemies began a propaganda campaign spreading doubt, weakness and lowering morale. In today's world it would have been the equivalent of press releases, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

It's one thing coping with enemies, but there was other opposition from within as well. People complained and lost the vision of what they could achieve with God's help.

In the end, God was with them and they achieved their goal.

So many things never get done because the task seems too big, too expensive, too hard, or there is too much opposition. Those were all reasons not to start building the wall. But God was with them. If God is with us, let's not let negativity or opposition slow us down, but press on, knowing that with God, the vision can be accomplished.
 

4:2   “What do these feeble Jews do?” is a typical way of trying to discourage individuals who have set themselves a task.  We should not think such a way of speaking is only found at a national level. We can be just as guilty as the Samaritans. Envisage the situation. Some individuals have a plan to do some preaching work. We think it won’t work and so we say that. Such a response is most discouraging. If we are not willing to help we should, at least, keep our thoughts to ourselves.

4:2 Samaria was not populated by people from one nation. They were not Jews but individuals placed there by the Assyrians. However by the time of the return of Jews from Babylon – around 100 years after the “Samaritans” were placed in the land they had coalesced into a nation which had an army.  No longer were they a group of individuals who had been displaced from their own homeland but seem to have become a united group.

4:6 for the people had a mind to work

Servants say "May I"; other people say "Must I"

4:21 So we laboured at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out

God could have destroyed Israel's enemies or let Nehemiah know that they would not attack – God didn’t.

Accept that nothing of value comes easy – God may not lift your burden, but he may strengthen your back instead. 

4:14  The encouragement that Nehemiah gives to those repairing the walls is similar to the words of Hezekiah –2Chron 32:7 – when he was encouraging the people against the Assyrian threat as the city was being strengthened. The circumstances of Hezekiah and Nehemiah are very similar.

v.2 - Further to the reference made by Bro. Peter below, the concept of the 'calves' of our lips refers clearly to sacrifice. Heb.13:15 is clearly the most direct cross reference but consider also Psa.69:30,31 and 1Pet.2:5,9

14:1 return unto the Lord Isaiah 55:7
14:2 calves of our lips Hebrews 13:15
14:3 in thee the fatherless find mercy Psalm 10:14

14:5 'I will be as the dew ...' uses the ideas of Proverbs 19:12 to contrast the wrath of Yahweh against Israel with the greatness of His mercy and love if they were to repent and turn to him. Israel was the 'foolish son' of Proverbs 19:13. Israel's 'contentions' [Proverbs 19:13] was unbecoming of a wife. Yahweh was the husband who had to tolerate the contentions.

v.9 tells us that whatever happens and whoever it happens to, all is under the righteous control of the Lord God Almighty. All life is His.

14:1 God calls upon Israel to return to Him. Eventually they will do so when all Israel is saved. They will then acknowledge Him. They will actually acknowledge that the nations round about cannot save. (14:3)

14:1, 7 The recurring theme of Israel being called to and actually returning to God is seen in Hosea. (3:5 6:1 14:1, 7). Despite their rebelliousness and sinfulness God is seeking the repentance of His children and will be gracious as soon as repentance is shown 'from the heart'

14:4  That God's anger will be turned away contrasts with the recurring theme in Isaiah (5:25, 9:12,17,21, 10:4, 12:1) which ends in blessing

V.5 The root of the cedar penetrates the ground as deeply as their branches pierce the sky. The cedars are not only majestically beautiful, but immovably fixed and steadfast (Isa 10:34), just as Israel will be under the blessing of the Messiah during the millennial.

THE FRUIT OF OUR LIPS
 
Who or what receives the fruit of our lips?  Generally we talk about the things we are most passionate about.  Often the topic turns to work or sport, ourselves, politics, other people, health or the weather.  Jesus said that our mouths speak what overflows from our hearts.  In a way, then, our lips and tongues give away the secrets of what is closest to our heart.
 
As Christians, the one things closest to our heart should be the love of God our Father and the lord Jesus Christ.  Our lips should reflect the condition of our heart as they open up in regular thanksgiving, praise and prayer.  We should also hear our lips talking with other believers so that our hearts can be strengthened and so that we can be an encouragement to them.  And because of our love and thankfulness for our salvation, we will also hear ourselves spreading the truth as often as we are able.  Used in this way our lips will become fruitful, like abundant offerings of our best to our God.
 
Israel said to God, "Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips." (Hos 14:2)  Up until this time their idols had received the best from their lips and tongues.  If this is like us, let's also ask for forgiveness and offer God fruit dedicated to him, the best our lips can offer.

V.2 Israel had been engaged in idol worship. The idolatrous calves of Samaria had been referenced: kiss the calves (13:2). There the calves (Heb. eglah = heifer) had been kissed in reverence.

Now Israel is urged to return to Yahweh and render the calves of our lips (KJV).  The Hebrew word for calves here is par (bullock) which symbolizes strength (fruit). Thus Israel is encouraged to turn from idolatry to return reverence and service to Yahweh.

a) The wonderful picture of the kingdom is throughout this chapter. God will heal their backsliding (Hos 14:4), and will welcome them back, as did Hosea to Gomer in Hos 3:3-5.
b) I wonder if Jesus is thinking of Hos 14:8 “I am like a green fir tree”, when He was walking to His death, in Luke 23:31?

If Israel returned to God in repentance, then He promised to be "like the dew" to them (v5). The dew is different from rain in that it appears every day rather than every so often. Back in the days of Eden, when everything was still "very good", everything was watered by dew, and in the wilderness journey Manna appeared every morning with the dew. The point is made is that there was no variation in those days. No feast or famine.

The fulfilment of this promise can be found in John 15 where Jesus picks up these words. The vine mentioned in Hos 14:7 here applies to Jesus and his followers who are part of him. Their growth and fruitfulness are assured through Jesus (v5). The interesting conclusion to matching these two scriptures together is that the "dew" in Hosea becomes the "words" of Jesus in John, which are taken up into the vine to make it grow(v7). God was promising to feed and water His people every morning with this word which would assure their growth. This is why Jesus taught us to pray "give us this day our daily bread", reminding us of God's promise to feed us spiritual food each and every day.

14:2 ‘the calves of our lips’ is a ‘spiritual sacrifice’ as defined by Peter – 1Pet 2:5 – and is used in this way in Heb 13:15.

14:4The wonderful promise of healing from God for a backsliding people did not have much effect on Judah for Jer 31:22 shows that the call was still being made years later.

Vs.6,7 The full blessings to Israel will be administered during the kingdom age, when Jesus will reign as its king.

14:3 The repentance of Israel and turning away from idol worship will be fulfilled in the kingdom – Zech 13:2

GOD'S FORGIVENESS

How much sin is too much to be forgiven? What do we need to do to be forgiven? What will it cost us if we want to return to God? Are my sins too bad to be forgiven? Will God be able to forgive me?

The whole book of Hosea, and in particular the last chapter, give us a lot of hope when it comes to forgiveness from God. The sins of Israel were worse than most of us could manage in a lifetime, yet God's consistent call through the book of Hosea is that if Israel returned to him, he would forgive them. The sins they had committed were all in the worst categories: rebellion, prostitution; adultery, murder, idol worship, greed, laziness ... and the list could go on. Not only had they done them all, they had filled their lives perfecting their sinfulness.

Even though their sins were so bad and so many, God wanted to forgive them. All they had to do was to return to God, ask for forgiveness and repent of what they had already done. There was no payment for their sins required, there was no retribution, just an eagerness on God's part to forgive them and start again.

It's no different for us. If God could forgive Israel and do it willingly, he will do it for us too. So let's not worry that our sins are too big, too many or too costly to forgive, but return to God, asking for forgiveness, then repent, changing our way of life.

God wants to forgive. Let's give him the chance.

V.3 Asshur is the Hebrew form of Assyria.

V.5 See Psa 133:3.

V.6 The olive tree always remains green. Fragrant trees and flowers were associated with Lebanon (See Song 4:11).

V.7 Being under his shadow (KJV) is being safe, secure, and protected. Yahweh will provide shade for His people (Psa 125:5). Israel will revive and flourish (Psa 85:6).

14:1 So despite Israel’s consistent and long rebellion which Hosea has been outlining God is still seeking repentance. Indeed He is longsuffering!

14:3  Asshur will not save us – Asshur is Assyria. Israel were taken captive, not saved, by the Assyrians.

14:6-7                  echoes two phrases in the Song of Solomon

Demonstrating that the Song of Solomon actually does have real life application. Here it is applied to the restoration of Israel.

14:4      This is the third time that the prophet has spoken of Israel “backsliding”. The previous two occasions – Hos 4:16, 11:7 – have seen Israel reproved for their behaviour but now God is promising that He will save them. They will repent and God’s anger will turn away, echoing the promise of the contemporary prophet –Isa 12:1

We have a connection between offering prayer, incense and sacrifice (Psa 141:2;Heb 13:15-16;Hos 14:2); we are to pray without ceasing and offer ourselves as living sacrifices, we are not our own, we were bought with a price (1Thess 5:17;Rom 12:1-2;1Cor 6:19-20).

14:9      The idea of walking “in them” – God’s commandments – draws on Deut 13:4.

14:4        Daniel had prayed – Dan 9:16 – for God to turn away His anger. The setting in Daniel is a realisation that the 70 years captivity in Babylon is nearing an end. In speaking thus Daniel is appealing for the fulfilment of this promise in Hosea.

14:1     In saying that Israel  had “fallen by thine iniquity” Hosea is returning to a point he has already made –Hos 13:9

14:9     “Who is wise” is quoted – James 3:13– showing that Israel’s wayward experience and God’s appeal to them is equally relevant in the first century. Likewise it has the same relevance for us today.

14:9     Hosea has explained how God will work for them.  Only those who have the ‘wisdom of God’ will appreciate what he is saying. That person is ‘just’ and this is demonstrated by the way he ‘walks’ that is orders his life.

14:3   The fatherless finding mercy echoes the words of the Psalmist – Psa 10:14

HE WANTS TO FORGIVE

Hosea's message to Israel was to return to God: Plead for His forgiveness; change your ways; acknowledge that the LORD is the one and only God in your life; and turn to Him with all your heart.

Even though Israel had so blatantly turned against God, even though they had been like an unfaithful wife and seemed completely unlovable, and even though their sins were piled so high they seemed unforgivable, this is what God said about them:"I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them." (Hos 14:4).

Have you ever found yourself in the same position as Israel? I know what it is like to be so full of sin that you wonder whether God could ever forgive, whether he could ever love you. But if God could do it for Israel, He can do it, and will do it, for you and me. He can and will heal us from our sins. He actually wants to forgive us. Though we may feel unlovable, He loves us freely and He will turn his anger away from us.

Don't leave it too late to come back to Him. Turn to Him today and experience His grace, love and forgiveness.
 

14:8 What a contrasts! It contrasts their “divided” worship –  10:2 – and speaks of the time when finally the remnant of the nation have repented and turned to serve God in His kingdom.

14:1 God’s mercy is seen in the way that, despite Israel’s rebellion, He calls them to turn to him. Later – Jer 3:1 – another prophet makes the same appeal to rebellious Judah who had not learnt from the errors of Ephraim.

14:5-7  The Song of Solomon speaks of the woman (Song 2:3) and the man (Song 4:1-14) in lovely ways. Hosea speaks of the time when Israel will turn to serve God faithfully. It is fitting, therefore, that Hosea was inspired to draw on language that Israel should have been familiar with to speak of themselves, These similes should also describe us and our relationship with the risen Christ. If they do he will recognised us as part of his bride when he returns.

14:2  In encouraging Israel to turn to God Israel were being reminded that God will forgive. Psa 103:12 shows what God is willing to do. All Israel needed to do was repent and ask for forgiveness.

14:9 The wisdom of God gives understanding. The wicked in Ephraim, by the very way they thought, could not understand God’s purpose. An idea picked up again in a later prophet – Dan 12:10

4:4-5 - This describes our situation in modern society so well. They must have had the same pressures that we have to turn towards those things which were acceptable to the world around them but were anathema to God. We have the same problem in our current society where fornication is not just tolerated but encouraged and expected. We each must make our individual stand against this idolatry.

3:7 Paul was comforted in his affliction by their faith. That is their confidence in the word provided support to Paul when dealing with his problems. See also 2 Corinthians 1:4 2 Corinthians 7:6, 17 3 John 3.

4:9 'taught of God' quoting Isaiah 54:13. One of the very few quotations I have identified from the Old Testament in 1 Thessalonians. The context of Isaiah 54:11 - 14 is that of blessings flowing out of tribulations just as can be seen in 1 Thessalonians 4.

ch.3 - The two mentions of Timotheus (:2 6) refers to the events of Acts 17:14,15 and 18:5 when Paul left Thessalonica in haste because of the constraints that the magistrates laid on him he left Paul and Silas there to continue building up the brethren. Acts 18 records their return to Paul with news on the development of the ecclesia at Thessalonica.

4:11 In encouraging the brethren and sisters to 'study to be quiet' the Apostle is not suggesting that quietness comes from an academic study of the Scriptures. Rather the word 'study' <5389> here carries the sense 'be ambitious' - see RV margin. Consider the two other uses of the word Romans 15:20 Yea, so have I strived <5389>2 Corinthians 5:9 Wherefore we labour <5389>

COMPASSION

How much do we care about each other?

Paul's love for the Thessalonians and his compassion toward them, make him stand out from the crowd as someone who really cared. Take note of the expressions he uses to show how much he missed the brothers and sisters in Thessalonica while he was away from them. He says, "But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you." (1 Thessalonians 2 v 17) And, "When I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith." (3 v 5)

Do we feel the same longing for our brothers and sisters in Christ as Paul felt for the Thessalonians? Does a separation feel like being "torn apart"? Do we intensely long to be together with our brothers and sisters again? Or does it make no difference? Do we make every effort to see them again? Or doesn't it matter too much if we miss a church meeting? And while we are apart, does there come a time when we can stand being apart no longer and we have to make contact to see how our brothers and sisters are doing?

Let's evaluate our love and compassion for our brothers and sisters. Then we must follow the example of Paul and make sure that our brothers and sisters are in our hearts.

3:13 That Christ will come 'with all his saints' quotes Zechariah 14:5

4:14 'God will bring with Him' quotes Isaiah 56:7. Isaiah 56 speaks of the call of the gentiles so an appropriate quotation to an ecclesia where there are a significant number of gentiles. Jesus used this area of Isaiah 56 (:7) -Matthew 21:13) to highlight that the gentiles were to be included in God's plans

3:6 The time when Timothy came from Macedonia - that is Thessalonica - is recorded in Acts 18:5

4:11 In encouraging the brethren to 'do your own business' Paul is warning against one of the biggest problem that Adam's nature brings. That of being a busybody. This must have been a problem throughout the Roman world for Peter (1Pet 4:15) also warns about it.

3:4 The Thessalonians are reminded of the fact that these afflictions should not take them by surprise. The have been reminded of them by Paul. How these words resemble those spoken by Jesus (John 16:1-4) We have been warned of afflictions to come, we pray that when that day does come that they will serve to strengthen our faith.

4:16,17 These verses are taken by Evangelicals (particularly) to describe the rapture which will take place just before the Tribulation.  They reckon that raised believers together with believers who are living at the time will be taken out of the earth while the Tribulation occurs.  They believe that the Tribulation will be a seven-year period in which the Antichrist (a Jew) sets himself up as king in Jerusalem.  He will finally be deposed. 

Unfortunately, they have based scriptures, which are ascribed to Jesus, as belonging to the Antichrist.  Thus, when Jesus returns to earth and sets up His kingdom in Jerusalem, He will be opposed as the Antichrist.  He will not be deposed but He will instead destroy those who oppose Him.

Those who think that they will be taken out (caught up 4:17) at His coming (the supposed Antichrist) will be greatly surprised that they have not gone anywhere. 

3:10 Clearly Paul is concerned about the welfare of the brethren in Thessalonica – doubtless because of the way he was treated at Thessalonica and the fact that he had been barred from coming back to the city –Acts 17:9

4:8 The principle that despising man is equivalent to despising God draws on the teaching of Jesus – Matt 25:40

4:12 ‘them that are without’ is language that Jesus used – Mark 4:11 – to describe those who would not understand his teaching. So we would be safe in concluding that Paul is using the phrase in the same way.

3:5     It is reasonable to presume that the ‘tempter’ was in fact the authorities in Thessalonica who, having barred Paul from the city, would have tried to silence the ecclesia as well.

4:17 The reward of the faithful is in the Kingdom of God on earth. Numerous passages in the Bible support this. That is the reason Jesus in coming back (4:16). Even the millions of so-called Christians recite what is commonly known as the Lord's Prayer (Matt 6:9-13). And yet, they overlook Jesus words: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. This makes the location of the future hope clear. And so, no believer is going upwards to heaven.

The Greek word harpazo is translated here as caught up. The word hapazo does not denote any particular direction. In fact, the same word is translated, in the KJV, as caught away (Acts 8:39); catcheth (John 10:12); pluck (John 10:29). It is clear, then, that the meaning of harpazo is to take away. That is precisely what Jesus will do with His faithful followers when He returns. He will take them away to be with Himself, here on earth.

But what about those clouds? As well as being weather phenomena, clouds can be used figuratively to mean many people. Consider the cloud of witnesses (the faithful of Jesus) in Heb 12:1). And so, all the faithful of Jesus will be gathered by Him and taken to His side. Thus, the Kingdom of God on earth will, subsequently, begin.

3:3 As followers of Jesus, we should expect trials and persecution, which is divinely directed.

3:12 Abounding in love one toward another is a fulfilment of what Jesus taught was the first and second commandment – Matt 22:37-39. The way we behave towards others shows how we view God.

4:3 It should be remembered that for non-believers in Christ, all forms of sexual immorality were prevalent and acceptable. Indeed, these practices were part of pagan idolatrous worship. The danger for believers is to rationalise that because society says that a certain practice is o.k., then, it is o.k.

Today, society has accepted homosexuality as being o.k., for example. Every facet of the larger society agrees to this and promotes it. Acceptance of it is taught to schoolchildren. Anyone opposing homosexuality is called homophobic and is labelled as anti-social and anti-democratic, and is also in danger of human rights violations.

The true believer in Christ cannot shrink from opposition to homosexuality (or any other situation that violates the Truth). Yahweh has said it is wrong. We must stand firm in our beliefs even though we might have to take some bumps and bruises for upholding them.

4:11,12 Paul urges believers to keep their own counsel, live quietly, and to be self-sufficient. Or as a modern version puts it: Make it your aim to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living, just as we told you before. In this way you will win the respect of those who are not believers, and you will not have to depend on anyone for what you need (GNB).

4:16 Maybe Paul had in mind the words of Jesus – Matt 24:30-31– when he speaks of the trumpet.

3:3   The brethren had suffered much through the persecution of the Jews as recorded in Acts 17:5-9. However their initial enthusiasm should not be dimmed because of that persecution.   Tribulation was to be expected as Paul goes on to say in verse :4.

3:11   If the holy spirit is the third person of the trinity why is it missing from the call for direction in the lives of the believer?

1Thess 4:13

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”

Grieving for loved ones is not healed by time as so often suggested. Indeed, the depth of our grief reveals how deep, full, intimate and all-pervasive the love was. It is often only in retrospect in pondering those beautiful memories that we fully realize the power of the love once shared. Love makes itself visible in pain. It is then understandable that these brethren would be sorrowful. Some were under the impression that these deceased loved ones would be excluded from the Kingdom, and so Paul corrects this mistaken notion (1Thess 5:10).

“I would not” actually reads, “We would not” and includes Silas and Timothy his fellow labourers.

“Them which are asleep” is in the present tense, and reads: “them which are sleeping.” Death is but a temporary sleep to those in Christ. We know the cemetery to be a place where we bury the dead, but the word, “cemetery” is the Greek word, koimeterion, and means a “sleeping place.”

Paul consoles the mourning relatives in telling them not to mourn as the others - the rest who are not in Christ. He does not say not to mourn or feel sorrow, but to sorrow with hope in mind - the hope of the resurrection. Reality can be faced, and a sincere belief in consolation, comfort and hope are to be found where our wounds hurt the most.

1Thess 3:13.

Who are the "saints" (K.J.V. & N.K.J.V.) or "holy ones" (N.I.V.) that Jesus will come with according to what Paul says here?

It seems to me that the only interpretation that really fits what Paul is saying here is that the saints are angels. For if his wish and prayer for the Thessalonian brethren is for them to be blameless and holy in the presence of God when Jesus comes with these holy ones, then these same beings with whom he comes can't include the faithful in Thessalonica. The order has to be 1) Jesus coming with the saints; 2) the faithful, including those in that ecclesia, being made blameless and holy, i.e. being granted eternal life at the day of judgment.

It is true that the Greek word "hagois" when used as a noun usually refers to believers and usually now, in their mortal lifetime. There is, though, one such usage identical to Paul's here. And that's Jude 14,15 where Jude cites the apocryphal book of Enoch.

"Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: 'See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones (same word - "hagios") to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against them.'"

The fact that Jesus is accompanied by angels when he returns from heaven is found in a number of passages including Matt 16:27; Matt 24:30,31; Matt 25:31; Mark 8:38; Matt 13:47-50; etc.

4:17    “caught up” does not imply going to heaven. It is the same word used in Acts 8:39 where Philip was taken away from the Ethiopian.

3:1-2   Even though Paul could not visit Thessalonica he did not forget them. He sought a means whereby he could fellowship them and learn about them. He sent Timothy who was not barred from visiting the city. When our path seems to be blocked it is all too easy to give up on a plan. We should try to see if there are ways round the problems that we perceive rather than simply think nothing can be done to help.

Our quest for faith

"Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith" 1Thess 3:10

Just a simple learning point from this verse. Do we see ourselves complete or still a work-in-progress? Paul felt that these believers still could be perfected; that there was something lacking in their faith. We also fall into this category too, I'm sure. But is there a tendency to have a conversion, followed by baptism, then to see our growth as complete? Paul doesn't subscribe to this. Nor is he of the opposite extreme, judging people by their lack of faith and casting them out. A lack of faith can lead to all kinds of other shortcomings so we're talking about people with all sorts of associated problems that may or may not have been affecting the functioning of the entire group of believers at Thessalonica. Paul's response is not to judge, but rather to pray for them and try if possible to help them in their quest for a more complete faith. We should be like Paul, identifying need in others and trying to supply it tactfully and in kindness.

3:10  We can conclude that Paul prayed that the prohibition laid upon him about visiting Thessalonica might be lifted. So we see that rather than flout the law of the land Paul prayed that the law might be changed. So we see a follower of Jesus cannot be involved in a protest movement – but has a more powerful voice than any “action group”.

Epistles to the Thessalonians – Paul’s Epistles to the Thessalonian brethren and sisters were probably the first letters he wrote to a European Ecclesia.  A recurring theme in every chapter in both Epistles is the importance of preparing for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This theme is as relevant today as it was to those to whom it was first addressed. "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night... what manner of people should we be..." 2Pet 3:10-11

3:6     We have to presume that Paul was the one who arranged for Timothy to visit the believers at Thessalonica in order to find out about their state.

4:1       It is all too easy to be idle in the things of God. Once Jesus is accepted as our saviour we can slip into a complacent way of thinking and behaving. Not that we consciously do wrong things. Rather we do not do anything to help us develop a Godly way of thinking.  Walking is an activity which, generally, has a purpose. Namely to move from one place to another. The walking that Paul says is essential is the journey from being like Adam to being like Jesus.

3:2      Athens is about 500 KM – 312 miles - from Thessalonica which gives us some indication of the distance Timothy travelled to visit the brethren there on Paul’s behalf.

4:7-8   So choosing an unacceptable lifestyle, if only for a while, is equivalent to despising God. If we could appreciate this every time we are tempted to do something which violates the principles of the gospel we would do well.

4:2 We might wonder how Paul gave commandments by Jesus Christ to the believers in Thessalonica. A way in which it is most likely that he did this was by giving them a copy of at least one of the gospel records.

3:1-2 “Out of sight out of mind” is a catch phrase used today. However we should not have this way of thinking when considering our fellow believers. It is all too easy to forget those we do not see on a regular basis. If necessary we should develop strategies to help us to remember others.

3:5 Twice, here and :1, Paul speaks of being so concerned for the believers in Thessalonica hat he took steps to find out how they were faring. He knew that they were having some problems due to some opposing the message. To what extent do we go to be informed of the welfare of our fellow believes?

3:1-2 How easy it would have been to forget the believers in Thessalonica given that Paul was not able to go and visit them. But notice his great longing. Consequently he sent Timothy who had not been barred from entering the city.

How much effort do we expend in order to overcome difficulties in seeing fellow believers?

3:8 Does the faithfulness of our fellow believers impact on our lives so much that we can say we “live” because of the faithfulness of others that we know?