Comments for May 18

v. 9-11 - It seems amazing doesn't it that this woman of Jericho could develop a correct perception of the power and glory of God and display such amazing faith in Him, when his own chosen people so often chose to ignore that. There have always been individuals who recognise these things. God's way is for individuals - Ex.18:11, 2Kings 5:15, Ecc.8:12

v.4 - It is clear from v.9 that she did in fact know where these men were from. So here, it seems, we see one of the rare occasions when it is right to lie so that God's people might be protected from evil.

v.9,10 Rahab, in commenting upon the drying up of the Red Sea is remembering events 40 years earlier. Further, the inhabitants of Jericho would have heard about the way in which Israel had dealt with Sihon and Og and would doubtless have been able to see the pillar of fire by night and cloud by day across the river Jordan.

Here the two spies make reference to the commandments given with respect to the keeping of the Passover.

Rahab's deliverance was typical of Israel's deliverance from Egypt.

:13 It is as if Rahab is requesting that Joshua and Caleb disregard the command of Moses (Deuteronomy 20:16) because of her provision for them. Whether she knew what Moses had said or not we cannot know. It may be that Joshua and Caleb had told her what was to happen to the inhabitants of the land of Canaan. However her request is based upon a faith in the God of Israel. She could well have echoed the comment of Abraham 'wilt thou destroy the righteous with the wicked?' (Genesis 18:23)

2:18 'scarlet thread' is the same Hebrew as Gen 38:28 'scarlet  thread'. Boaz was descended from Pharez Ruth 4:18-21 and he was the twin to one with the 'scarlet thread' tied to his wrist  Gen 38:28 -that is Zarah - when he was born.

V.21  The scarlet line was a sign and pledge of safety to Rahab's house, not unlike the blood painted on the door posts and lintels of the houses of the Israelites while they were in Egypt. As long as Rahab and her family remained in the house they would be safe.

Rahab used the name of Yahweh (Josh 2:9-13).  How did she know it?  From her recounting what God had done 40 years previously at the Red Sea, news must have travelled well, and far.  She told the spies that the Jericho-ites were terrified of what Israel was going to do to them (Josh 2:11).  That news would make Joshua's heart leap for joy, we can be sure.

2:1   Num 25 records the behaviour of the nation in Shittim when Moses was still alive. this chapter records the events of the two spies who travelled to Jericho from Shittim. The contrasts should give us great food for thought. two men left Shittim to risk their lives (through faith) contrasts with the majority in Shittim who were more concerned with sexual immorality. There are contrasts being presented The daughters of Moab / Rahab.  The people's behaviour / The spies' faith.  The people, on the border of the land losing their inheritance / the two spies in the land securing the inheritance. Doubtles with thought more can be seen.

V.6,12-23 - v6 - linen, a symbol of righteousness, is made of flax (Rev 19:7-8) and the bride of Christ (those who are one with/in Christ) will wear fine linen representing the righteousness/righteous acts of the saints; v12 - I agree with the remarks previously made by Peter Forbes and others about "a true token" and the connection to the scarlet line (v15,18; Gen 38:28-30) not unlike the Passover ultimately connecting to Christ's sin covering sacrifice that offers hope to Jew and Gentile (Ruth 4:18-22); v12,14 we have three mentions of "kindness" or "kindly" [and all are the Heb. word "chesed"<2617> meaning "kindness, kindly, mercy, merciful, favour, pity", etc.] and in v14 they are connected with "truly" [Heb. word "emeth"<571> means "truth, trustworthiness, true, stability, certainty, assured, establishment, faithful, right, sure, veracity", etc.] while we see other insightful combinations of "mercy"<2617> and "truth"<571> in Psa 85:9-12 and Prov 16:6 where it refers to salvation, the land, truth springing out of the earth, the land shall yield her increase, the purging of iniquity, etc.; v13 - Rahab showed mercy to save the spies and others and wasn't selfish; v14 we read "our 'life' [Heb. "nephesh"<5315> means "a breathing creature, life, person, soul", etc.] for yours" thus suggesting the mortality of the soul; v15 - possibly the city wall was not unlike the womb (Gen 38:28-30) as a possible symbolic barrier keeping in captivity to sin that needed to be breached with a means of escape; v16 - mention of 3 days reminds us of the death and resurrection of Christ; v21 Rahab sent them off in a different way (James 2:25), perhaps a way that went against the natural inclination of the flesh (we have to take in and tie ourselves to Christ); v22 again the mention of three days and we have the blind pursuers searching "all along the road" NIV, "all the way" KJV (i.e., the broad way Matt 7:13 that leads to destruction); v23 we read of the two men crossing the Jordan perhaps echoing Jew and Gentile offered mercy through baptism in Christ and the welcome in "camp", "the land" (i.e., the Kingdom of God on earth) we hope for when we give an account to Joshua/Jesus.

A DIFFERENT VIEW
 
What a change! Less than forty years earlier, twelve spies had been sent into the land of Canaan to see what it was like. They came back with the report that it was a beautiful and fruitful land. But ten of the spies put a spirit of fear into the hearts of the Israelites, saying, "We can't attack these people; they are stronger than we are." And they said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size ... we seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes and we looked the same to them." (Num 13:31-33)
 
Now it was a completely different story when the two spies returned from Jericho. Instead of spreading fear because of the size or the number of the people, they came back with this report: "The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us." (Josh 2:24)
 
The perception of the people had changed. Instead of being ruled by fear and seeing the signs that fed their fear, they were now standing in the strength of the LORD and the signs they saw fed their faith. Even in the days of the first spies, the Canaanites must have been shaking in their shoes after seeing what the LORD had done to Egypt. The circumstances hadn't changed but the way Israel saw them had. Let us always choose to view our circumstances through the eye of faith.

2:10When reflecting upon Rahab’s knowledge of the crossing of the red Sea 40 years ago we should think about her age. She was of child bearing age – She bore Boaz – Matt 1:5 some time after the entry into the land. We maybe should, therefore, conclude that she only knew about the crossing of the |red Sea second hand, being too young, or maybe not even born when the event happened.

CHOSEN PEOPLE
 
What an amazing 'coincidence' it was that the spies, of all the places they could have gone, ended up at the house of Rahab. She was the one person in Jericho who had the faith to accept the spies, to help them and to put her trust in the Living God. Had the spies gone somewhere else they may well have been turned in to the Jericho Police, but here at Rahab's house they were not only kept safe but also able to save another person for God's kingdom.
 
I wonder how often it is that God puts people in our lives - people like Rahab who need an opportunity to come to God. We are the people who can give them that opportunity. Just as the spies were obviously guided to Rahab's house, so we may be sent to the people whose paths we cross.
 
But all too often, we (me and anyone like me) miss those opportunities through fear, lack of courage, lack of commitment, lack of preparation, laziness or sheer selfishness. It is not by coincidence that we end up meeting people like Rahab. It is because God wants them to have the opportunity to become his children. He has prepared in advance good works for us to do. Let's not let him down but make the most of every opportunity to pass on his message of hope to the people he puts in our lives.

2:6 Flax, along with other vegetable produce, is at certain times spread out on the flat roofs of the houses to be dried in the sun; and, after lying awhile, it is piled up in numerous little stacks, which, from the luxuriant growth of the flax, rise to a height of three or four feet. It would be behind some of these stacks that Rahab would have concealed the spies.

2:2     The seeming casual mention of the ‘king’ of Jericho teaches us that the land was inhabited by many independent city states. They did form alliances with each other as we will see as we work through the book but the land was not an homogeneous country with a central rulership.

Rahab was saved because of her faith. She is recorded in the catalogue of the faithful (Heb 11:31). Rahab in Hebrew means proud. It is the name given to the mythical sea creature that became an epithet for Egypt (Psa 89:9,10; Isa 51:9).

It is ironic that Rahab saved the men of Israel who had, in effect, come into Canaan from Egypt (Rahab), the land of idolatry. Rahab, the idolater, had now become one of Yahweh's people. She would later marry Salmon (maybe one of the two spies she had saved). They had a son Boaz who married Ruth whose lineage became that of Jesus', the Messiah (Matt 1:5).

Josh 2 - the spies tell Rahab to hang the scarlet thread in her window - she tells them to go and hide 3 days v.16 well look at v.21 - as soon as the spies leave she binds the scarlet thread....she knew they would be gone for at least 3 days (before they returned) she acted on her faith IMMEDIATELY!! Love it!

2:6 The fact that Rahab was drying ‘flax’ on the roof of her house is an incidental indication that the entry into the land was at the time of Passover for it is that time of the year that flax is laid out to dry.

V.1 There are some commentators who would rather think of Rahab as being an inn keeper rather than a harlot.  The word harlot in Hebrew is zonah which indicates a female who has or does commit adultery (more likely the men she services are the adulterers).  In Modern Hebrew, zonah  plainly means prostitute - a woman who sells her body for sex.

The main objection is how could Salmon, a prince of Judah could marry a harlot to produce progeny in the line of the Lord Jesus (Matt 1:1,5)?  But, the Law did not prohibit men to marry harlots, except priests (Lev 21:7,14).  And, the Hebrew language leaves little room for doubt what zonah  means.

It is the mercy and power of Yahweh that should be recognized in raising one from a position of degradation to one of honour, as witnessed by her posting in the Book of  Faith (Heb 11:31).

2:1 The people camp in Shittim and then camp in Gilgal –4:19 which ‘journey’ is used by the prophet Mic 6:5 to remind the nation that even for a people so close to the land of promise there was the possibility of falling through disobedience.

2:3     Clearly the inhabitants at least of Jericho were aware of what Israel were planning and was on the alert to anything that might compromise the city. But he did not share Rahab’s faith..

2:4    Rahab risks her life for the two spies before she has spoken to them about being delivered from the invading Israelites. Thus we see that her faith was clearly based on what she had heard. She did not need to have her feelings confirmed by the spies.

2:2         The king of Jericho had his own intelligence officers who were able to advise him of Israel’s spies. However they were unable to thwart God’s plan. They could not find the spies because of a faithful woman. To ensure that His plans were fulfilled God ensured that the spies found a safe place of refuge, even though it was in a most unexpected place. This should be assurance to us.

THOU SHALT NOT! (except perhaps in some cases)

Sometimes we treat the Bible as a rule book and forget that the rules applied in the working examples (the people recorded in the Bible) are just as much a part of the Bible as the rules themselves. Take Rahab for example. She was a prostitute and few of us would condone that kind of behaviour. Even fewer of us would say that God would condone it. Furthermore, Jericho was doomed to destruction, meaning that God wanted everything in it destroyed, people and objects together (Josh 6:17). How do we get round that? But the fact is that Rahab survived, and God blessed her with a husband and children, and from her line Jesus appeared. We should perhaps spend some personal study time figuring out why this apparent complete disregard to God's "rules" was perpetrated by the spies, Joshua, and even ratified by God Himself, because if we don't, we might be in danger of condemning someone like Rahab if we were to meet them in our midst.

Jesus did that study. He came across women who had questionable behaviour. It seems that Jesus was more ready to apply the example of Rahab than the scribes and Pharisees were (the ones who read mostly the law, not the examples of how the law was applied). I'm not going to make this into a lecture about the Bible's stance on promiscuity, but I am saying that the Bible has sufficient apparent contradiction to signal to us that perhaps we need to dig a little deeper than just the commandments of "thou shalt not...".

We are told in v15 that Rahab's house was in the wall.  If we go on to read Josh 6:20 we can see the account of the fall of Jericho and how the Israelites gained entry in to destroy it.  Reading Josh 6:22-23 we have to asume that Rahab and her family were in her house at the time the walls fell and were rescued from the city after the Israelites had gained entry.  Thus Rahab's house must have been the only part of the wall to remain standing after the rest had fallen down.  

How do we think Rahab and her family were feeling as they saw or felt the walls collapse around them?  What faith and strength of character she must have had to persuade them to stay in the house and not run into the street, as instructed by the spies! (Josh 2:19).  No wonder God regards her as one of His truly faithful servants, worth of a mention in Heb 11:31!

May we pray that we will show a similar strength of character and faith in our Heavenly Father if we meet such adversity in the latter days before being saved from this evil world and brought into the Kingdom of our Lord!

2:11    Clearly the inhabitants of Jericho saw in the Exodus a powerful indication of Yahweh’s purpose – and still believed it 40 years later. Isn’t it a shame that Israel did have such long memories!

Josh 2:1

“… And they (spies) went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.”

It has been said that nature forms us, sin deforms us, the world conforms us, prison systems try to reform us, education informs us, but only the Word can transform us. If we dress like the world, act like the world, and talk like the world and nothing we do can be viewed as differing from those in the world then we are of the world; we have not allowed the Word to transform our lives.

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), a German philosopher, atheist, existentialist, nihilist, challenged the foundations of Christianity. He is quoted as saying, “If you want me to believe in your Redeemer, you are going to have to look a little bit more redeemed.” God took this Canaanite woman, a pagan living in darkness, and changed her. This chapter is a marvelous example of the transforming power of the Word achieved through faith.

Rahab had heard of the miracles of how the LORD delivered the Jews from the hand of their enemies (vv. 9-11), and by faith in the God of Israel she hid the Jericho spies at the peril of her own life. Unlike the other inhabitants of Jericho, she had a heart that was hungry for God. While outwardly she appeared to be a vile person living in the depravity of sin, God knew her heart (cf. 1Sam 16:7). The spies did not accidently end up at Rahab’s house, but this whole incidence was designed by God to demonstrate His magnanimous grace to a gentile prostitute, and to highlight the saving faith of one whose descendants include the line of David and to Christ, himself (Matt 1:5).

Rahab’s faith is lauded three times in the New Testament (Matt 1:5,6; Heb 11:31; James 2:25)! Abraham’s faith and works were credited to him as righteousness, and here we have Rahab mentioned in the same breath! (James 2:23,25; cf. Gen 15:6). Rahab was perceptive, intelligent, and well informed who demonstrated a remarkable faith in a transformed life.

While the world keeps looking for new definitions of the Gospel, what we really need is a new demonstration of the Gospel – a generation of people who live transformed lives. Human goodness, no matter how wonderful, is never a substitute for the new birth – a transformed life. We must be born again (John 3:7). If any man be truly in Christ, he is a new creation (2Cor 5:17).

2:16     When Rahab told the spied to go to the mountains we have to conclude that she sent them east further into the land of Canaan as the land from Jericho right to the river Jordan is a flat plain.

2:3-5    It says something for the character of Rahab that the people sent form the king believed her words without even bothering to search her house.

2:9       Rahab’s “I know” is a consequences of what others had “heard” This is the evidence that she was a woman of Faith as Heb 11:31

Josh 2:3-5

“And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee… And the woman took the two men, and hid them…And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.”

This narrative in no way sanctions lying. When the king of Jericho found out the spies when to Rahab, he sent his messengers to her. She told them she didn’t know who they were or where they went. Rahab, rather, was described as being justified (James 2:25; cf. Heb 11:31). Rahab’s lie was justified by her faith, as the chapter will show.

We had a similar situation in our day when Corrie ten Boom hid the Jews in her home to protect them from the Nazis. When the Nazi soldiers came to her home, she denied that she knew anything. Did she do the right thing?

We have the example of the Hebrew mid-wives who feared God and told Pharaoh, “…Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.” They spared the boys by claiming they came too late. They have the testimony that God dealt well with them (Exo 1:15-21).

Paul, in Rom 3:7 writes: “For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?” This begs the question, “When is lying not a lie?” To rightly answer this question, we need to look at the 9^th Commandment not to “bear false witness” (Exo 20:16). To bear false witness is to lie about someone or something. False is the Hebrew word, sheqer, # <8267> from shaqar, # <8266> – “deal falsely, be false, deceit, cheat, lie” (cf. Lev 19:11; Prov 6:16-19; Acts 5:3-5; Rev 21:8). Hypocrisy is also associated with deceit (guile) and lying because the person pretends to be better than s/he truly is often because of their envy (1Pet 2:1).

It’s been around 30 years since I asked a sister if she would lie to protect a life. She replied she would never lie. Hmmm, I wonder if she would have felt that way if it was a question of saving her children’s lives? I am just so happy and grateful to the Hebrew midwives, Rahab, and for Corrie ten Boom, Oskar Schindler, and others who risked their lives to save many Jewish lives from Nazi atrocities!

The fact is, there is a difference between deliberately lying with the intent to harm or mislead and not telling the truth to protect someone and opposing evil, just as the Bible cites a difference between justified and unjustified homicide (Num 35:11-28).

I have encountered the argument in regard to Rahab telling lies to the soldiers that Scripture condones lying if it's in a good cause; with the incident of Jacob deceiving his father to obtain the promised birthright (Gen 25:23) being used as 'proof of concept' as it were.

Indeed, it cannot be denied that Rahab told a blatant lie to the soldiers that came to her house and received no recorded condemnation in Scripture for doing so, but she told the lie to protect the lives of the spies.

And that's the key to me: the lie was told to unbelievers and was used to save the LIVES of Yahweh's chosen people. Rahab was a woman full of faith in Yahweh (Josh 2:9-13) and we read in Hebrews 11:31 that Rahab was commended and is in the gallery of the faithful for "receiving the spies with peace". James agrees with the Hebrews statement about her in chapter 2:25; "Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?"

But please note that in both these New Testament references to Rahab, not a word of commendation was made about her lying, simply that "she received the spies in peace" and "sent them out another way" and that she was commended in Scripture for her faith in Yahweh and how she ACTED upon her faith. And we know there are copious references in Scripture exhorting us be honest with each other and with Yahweh and what the result can be when we're not honest with Him (Acts 5:1-6) and we are specifically told to "lie not one to another" (Col 3:9).

So three points come out of this incident to me:

1) We are specifically commanded not to lie TO EACH OTHER or to be "economical with the truth" i.e. brothers & sisters must be strictly honest and open with each other at all times, especially as we have (or should have) no need to lie to or deceive each other as none of us would put each other in mortal danger by telling the truth to each other, and:

2) whilst it is understandable to tell lies to protect the lives of brothers & sisters from worldly persecution, Rahab only lied to those outside the Truth and only did so to protect the lives of Israelites (those she regarded as "brothers & sisters" if you like). She did not lie to the spies and she certainly did not lie for her own advantage or her own protection, or to berate her brother or sister to other brothers & sisters.

3) Scripture is ENTIRELY SILENT about Rahab telling lies about the soldiers whereabouts. What she WAS commended for was her faith in Yahweh and acting upon it, and for "receiving the messengers, and sending them out another way" Rahab WAS NOT commended for telling lies or for deceiving the soldiers - no matter how high her motive may have been.

2:21   Of course Rahab did not know how long it would be before the city of Jericho would be taken by Israel. So it would seem that the scarlet line was tied to her window from the day that the spies gave it to her until the time of the overthrow of the city.

2:2 God had prepared the heart of a woman in Jericho in readiness for the spies. Yahweh did not forget her. When Jericho was taken provision had already been made for her by God. So she married into the tribe of Judah.

2:6 Whilst it is evident that Rahab had made preparations to hide the two spies it would appear that the house was not searched.

We read in verse 1 that Rahab was at that time a harlot or prostitute and as such, men arriving at her house and leaving at all hours would be a common sight. Consequently, the spies arriving at Rahab's house would not have aroused much suspicion and thus made an ideal place for the spies to hide. It seems likely however, that the spies were followed to Rahab's house and this is how word of their presence reached the king of Jericho.

I have heard it said that the reason why Rahab's house was not searched by the soldiers was because she may well have told them she was 'entertaining' a un-nameable man of high military rank and thus the soldiers would feel afraid to enter the house for fear of reprisal by a senior officer.

It is also interesting to note how the power of Yahweh to save even extended to the likes of Rahab in her circumstances - because only He could see what was in her heart and used her faith and her circumstances to a) save her and her family (Joshua 6:25) and b) execute His judgement on a wicked, sinful city.

There are lessons for us here in regard to our attitude to those in the world. Whilst we need to keep ourselves unspotted from the world (James 1:27) we should not pre-judge and condemn those who are seeking to find the Gospel whilst living in circumstances we would find offensive or unacceptable.

2:1 The phrase “the land, even Jericho” implies that Jericho was typical of the land as a whole. They could extrapolate their findings from Jericho and apply them to the whole land. A reason for this is revealed in the speech of Joshua at the end of the book where he indicates that there had been representatives of the seven nations of the land in Jericho at that time: “and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites” (Josh. 24:11).

2:23-24 So now we have two, not twelve spies. In contrast to events 38 years earlier. These two spies are faithful like Joshua and Caleb. One might conclude ta they were well aware of the “evil report – Num 13:33 – that the ten spies had given on that fateful first occasion the land was spied out.

2:13 All the inhabitants in Canaan were to be killed –Deut 20:18. Whether Rahab knew that or not is immaterial. She was fearful for her and her family’s lives. But why did the spies disregard the commandment of Moses? The answer is clear. Rahab was different from the rest of the inhabitants in the land. She had faith in Israel’s God. God’s grace overrules law.

God’s law dictates that all die. However God’s grace violates that law for those who have faith in the sacrifice of Jesus.

2:1-2Whilst the two spied came “secretly” to spy out the land they were, clearly, noticed. Though there is no indication that after they left Jericho that they were spotted again. It seems, on this occasion, the spying out the land was confined to just Jericho.

2:4 By this point in time Israel had taken control of the land on the east of Jordan, removing the giant Og. Doubtless this was well known to the inhabitants of Jericho. Doubtless as a precaution guards were about the city looking for any unusual activity. Hence the arrival of two men was noted and reported back to the king.

2:1 Joshua ... sent two men secretly ... as spies, saying "Go view the land, especially Jericho"

Why did Joshua send the spies, and why secretly? Why did not God stop Joshua, given that  Jericho did not need to be surveilled for its military weak points because God had chosen to destroy it miraculously?

Answer: Rahab. 

Joshua probably sent the two spies secretly in case they came back with a pessimistic report like the spies gave 38 years previously. The spies would be looking for the layout of the city so that Israel could plan the military strategy that exploits Jericho's weak points. God could have prevented all these risks by telling Joshua that he was going to miraculously destroy Jericho without any military strategy at all. But then Rahab would have been destroyed. God rearranges events to protect people of faith, like Rahab.

2:1 And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab

Rahab was likely an ex-prostitute.

Reasons: 

1. She appears to now be making an income from processing flax (2:6)

2. Her premises might now have  been converted into an inn for commercial travellers since it was on the outer wall of the city. The spies would likely want to attend an inn for accommodation rather than a brothel.

3. No other employees (fellow prostitutes) appear to be in her premises suggesting that she could act without other employees knowing what was happening to the spies, thereby giving her confidence in making her lie to the servants of the king regarding the spies without being found out.

4. Her family trusted her (2:13, 6:23) indicating that she was a reformed person

5. Many people are referred to in Scripture, including Rahab (James 2:25; Hebrews 11:31),  by their first circumsstances and long after they had experienced change  eg Simon the leper (Mark 14:3).

6. Her faith was on display (2:11-13) which would be incompatible with a person simultaneously  engaged in prostitution.

2:14 "Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then ... we will deal kindly and faithfully with you"

As well as Rahab telling a lie to protect the spies (2:4,5), the spies are suggesting that Rahab should continue telling lies about the spies' business (2:14, 20) after the spies had gone.  Imagine if a neighbour, the next day,  had enquired about all the commotion with the Kings servants at Rahab's place. If she told the truth then she would have disobeyed the spies command. She would need to lie to the neighbour. 

v.1-3 - Mahershalahashbaz means 'plunder speeds' or 'spoil hastes' (compare Zeph.1:14). Isaiah was instructed to give this name to his son as a prophecy of the sudden attack on Damascus and Syria of the Assyrian army. This is not by any means the only time that sons have been named as prophecies. Another example is in Hos.1:8,9.

v. 14 - Romans 9:33 'Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.' Draws on the following passages in Isaiah [8:14 28:16] The bold text is from Isaiah 8, as the integration below shows.
Romans 9:33 Behold, I lay in Sion
Isaiah 28:16 Behold, I lay in Zion
Romans 9:33 a stumblingstone and rock of offence:
Isaiah 8:14 a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence
Romans 9:33 and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Isaiah 28:16 he that believeth shall not make haste.

v.9 We have here not only another encouragement not to be taken in by the temptations of the world, but also an exhortation to remind us that it is God that defends us - i.e. if we gird ourselves, as opposed to allowing the power of God to gird us, we aim for destruction. We must rely on God for all things.

8:8 The warning that the invading river (army) would go to 'the neck' was what actually what happened when the Assyrians came through the land in the days of Hezekiah. Jerusalem was surrounded and then the army was slain in one night.

:1 Maher-shalal-hash-baz means In making speed to the spoil he hasteneth the prey and as such echoes sentiments already spoken (5:19) 'Let him make speed and hasten his work'

V.22  Jeremiah uses the phrase "Thick darkness" Jer 23:12  Driven onward, as by a sweeping storm, the rejection by Israel of their king was followed by all these calamities. 

8:10 'God is with us' plays on the name 'Immanuel' of Isa 7:14

This chapter of Isaiah is quoted several times in the new testament. Elements of it apply to Jesus, such as v14-18. When we look at the context, however, we would not easily see why Jesus is mentioned here. Were it not for the quotes in Hebrews, we would probably never have seen it.

The historical context of the chapter is extremely exciting. Big things were happening at this time! In 7:1-2 we see that Syria had come up against Israel to fight against it. The hearts of the people were overcome with fear (v2). Immediately God sends Isaiah to encourage Ahaz the king and his people, by offering a way out (v4). Isaiah tells him that God will not allow Syria to prevail (v7). As a token of His intent to save them, God offers Ahaz a sign, much the same as the signs given to Gideon and Hezekiah, in order for him to gain courage and faith. Ahaz refuses the sign!

This is the exciting part, and the exhortational point. God has shown Himself willing and able to save! He has offered a miraculous sign to help with Ahaz's faith... and Ahaz has turned Him down! Following on from this, even more amazingly, we find that Ahaz instead hires Assyria to come and protect him from Syria (2Kin 16:7). We have to understand that what Ahaz is doing is substituting God with man. He is trusting in the might of men rather than God. He demonstrates this even more completely by taking the silver and gold of the house of God, and using it to hire the armies of Assyria (2Kin 17:8).

How stupid and faithless a thing to do, but how often do we do the same? We do not command the forces of a country, as Ahaz did, but we can surely make the same mistake within the confines of our own lives. Whenever we trust in ourselves or other men or women, rather than God, we make the same mistake. It can be a very simple and subtle decision, such as deciding to work a few hours extra on a university or work project, whilst missing reading our bible for the day. We have made a conscious decision for relying on ourselves to provide food and money, rather than relying on God to do it. If we deny ourselves those few hours, we might feel we will fail the college course, or lose that career opportunity, yet God has said man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (of God). We ought to trust that God is able and willing to keep His promise of Matt 6:33, yet this is extremely difficult!

So, really, we should not be too scathing of Ahaz, yet use his example to warn ourselves. God's reaction to His rejection by Ahaz was not a good one. God promised to bring about the downfall of Ahaz by the very person he had hired to save himself (8:6-8, 7:17,20). Now, as to what this historical setting has to do with Jesus, I haven't a clue but it must fit in somehow! These are the things that we can set about finding out for ourselves, when we set aside a few hours to pore over the word of our saviour God, and consume it like our daily bread (8:3, 10-17).

STRONG WARNING
 
"The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people." (Isa 8:11)  It is not often through Isaiah's prophecy that we read of the strong hand of the LORD, but here it is, grabbing us by the shoulders and saying, "Pay attention!"  We know that Isaiah did pay attention to the warning God gave him, and he could just as easily have left this personal warning out of his record, but it has been put in our Bibles, not for his benefit, but for ours. 
 
If God reached down with his strong hand and grabbed us and shook us so that we would wake up and pay attention, I am sure we would.  We would not want that experience repeated if he had to reach down and remind us later!  So let's pay attention now to the warning he gives.  He warned Isaiah not to follow the way of this people.  We must follow this instruction too.  We work, go to school, socialise, and live in the world - but we must not be like them in their attitudes toward God, their selfishness, their fears, or their relationships with others.  We must live by the standards God has set for us. 
 
I would have thought that Isaiah, being a godly man, would not have needed this warning, but the fact that God gave it to him is evidence that he did need it.  Even if we are godly people we need to take heed to this warning too.  It is so easy to follow the ways of the people and all too often we do it without even noticing.  No matter how good we think we are, we need the reminder  If a good man like Isaiah needed to be warned not to follow the way of the people, we too must sit up and take notice.

V.17 The remnant will wait for the Lord (Isa 25:9) and look eagerly for Him in the long period of the nation's rejection preceding the return of David's promised seed who will establish that kingdom that we all pray will be set up in the near future.

The prophecy in Is8:1-4 is remarkably similar to the one in the previous chapter (Isa 7:14-16).Are they the same?  We often hear that the child of ch 7 was Hezekiah  -  but is he really Mahershalalhashbaz, Isaiah’s own son?

8:6  The ‘waters of Shiloah’ is a reference to the Gihon spring in Jerusalem. Israel refused the waters of God’s providing and sought ‘waters’ elsewhere. Therefore the Assyrian would come ‘like a flood’.

V.8 This prophecy is precise and exact. As a man beset by flood waters does not drown, because his head is still above water, so Jerusalem was to escape universal devastation. We see a similar message as God spoke to Moses just before his death. "The LORD will not fail thee nor forsake thee" (Deut 31:6; 23)

V.20 - It matters what we believe and preach. If anyone's teachings are not in accord with what the Bible says, "they have no light of dawn" NIV (perhaps "light of dawn" refers to the light of being in Christ and in his resurrection of hope). We are to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth John 4:24. If we genuinely worship in doctrinal truth then we should be directed to strongly emphasize the spirit of love. And if we truly have the love, we will want to obey our Heavenly Father and strive to rightly handle His Word.

8:12  The ‘confederacy’ that Judah should not fear was between Israel and Syria – Isa 7:2

8:10 This is an early indication to Hezekiah that the Assyrian invasion would not be successful against Jerusalem.

If a person does not speak according to God’s Word s/he has no light within (v.20). The Hebrew word for light is shachar which means early or morning light. Jesus said that he was the light of the world (John 8:12). By extension, the followers of Jesus are also the light of the world (Matt 5:14). It is no coincidence that Jesus is called the Morning Star (Rev 22:16). Jesus is the true shachar.

FAMILY PLAN

God's ultimate plan with the earth is to fill it with his glory. He wants us to help bring that about as we tell people about God and open their eyes to the salvation God has offered. God's plan for our children and families is the same. He created marriage so that the marriage would provide children, and the children in turn, would honour him. Malachi says, "Has not the LORD made them (husband and wife) one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking a godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth." (Mal 2:15)

Isaiah and his children add to our understanding of what God expects from a "godly offspring," as we play our part in filling the earth with the knowledge of God. Isaiah said, "Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion." (Isa 8:18) Isaiah's family was a living, moving illustration of God's message to his people.

We might not be called to be special signs and symbols like Isaiah's family were, but we can still follow their example. As a family, we should be living examples of God's truth in action. In the way we live and the things we say, we should point other people to the God we serve.

8:7 The Assyrian ‘flood’ had taken Hoshea captive in the north and now Isaiah prophesies of the Assyrian invasion of Judah. The Assyrian did, in fact, take ‘the fenced cities of Judah’ –2Kin 18:13. It is against the background of this victory by the Assyrians against the cities of Judah that we must review Hezekiah’s faith.

Vs.5-8 The waters of Shiloah, the gentle fountain in Jerusalem will be overpowered by the great waters of the river (Euphrates).  In other words, Judah will be overrun by the Assyrians under the command of Tiglath-pileser, then Shalmaneser, then Sennacherib.

 V.12 the confederacy was the combination of Israel and some Syrian forces.

As others have indicated, we have (in Christ) a stumbling stone and rock of offence to some - but he is the cornerstone calling believers (living stones) out of darkness - Isa 8:14-15;Rom 9:30-33;10:4;1Pet 2:4-9

Isa 8:12;1Pet 3:13-14.     Isa 8:14;1Pet 2:7-8.     Isa 8:17-18;Heb 2:13.

8:12 The phrase ‘neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid’ is quoted –1Pet 3:14-15– to encourage brethren in the first century. This these words spoken to Judah so long ago actually are relevant to us today.

 8:8  The way that the Assyrian would come upon Israel is later uses as a description of how he would be destroyed by the Babylonians – Nah 1:8,12

Isa 8:13

“Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.”

There is no doubt that God wants us to fear Him, and that fear is a quality we must learn (Psa 34:11). Let me state that learned fear is not the kind of fear we experience in everyday life. We are not to fear as the world fears (Isa 8:12).

God wants us to love Him, but He also wants us to fear Him (Deut 6:1-5,13). Why should then the command to fear God bring dread? Perhaps it is because human tendency is to replace fear for love of God only. Learned fear, as opposed to the “fight or flight” response, is a powerful motivator to love God and keep His commandments regardless of the intensity of life’s daily pressures. A godly fear of God and love of God cannot be separated from our relationship with Him!

8:8      That the Assyrian would “fill the breadth of thy land” is later – Hab 1:6 – used to speak of the Chaldean invasion. However on that occasion the whole land was ‘covered’ – not just to the neck.

Isa 8:5-8. Two questions today -

8:4    Hoshea, the king of the northern kingdom,  was taken to Assyria in the 6^th year of Hezekiah – 2Kin 18:10 so we can conclude that this child that was to be born to Isaiah and his wife was born early in the reign of Hezekiah which helps to date this chapter. 

ALL IN

Serving God is not just something we do on a Sunday morning or at certain times of the week. He wants more than once in a while. It's a whole life thing. At home, at work, at school, at church, whether we are alone, with family or friends, dedication to God should be our top priority twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week.

Serving God is also a family thing. If we are completely dedicated to God, our dedication will flow through into our children. It has to be a family affair - we can't leave our wives or husbands or children out of such a huge part of our lives.

This was certainly the case for Isaiah. He was a man, who, when God said, "Whom shall I send?" answered with, "Here am I. Send me!" (Isa 6:8). His wife joined his work and was known as the prophetess. (Isa 8:3). And he brought up his children so that he, his wife and his children would all be shining examples of a God fearing life. Isaiah said, "Here I am, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion." (v.18).

So let us follow Isaiah's example, dedicating ourselves to the Lord, and leading the way for our families to willingly dedicate their lives to him too.

8:19-20          In the days of the prophet the nation were warned that God’s word was the source of information about God and that the idols and those associated with them were useless. The warning is just as true to us today. Our only source of knowledge about God is from His word.

1. Isa 8:1-4 - "a large scroll" was witnessed and would draw plenty of public attention; Isaiah's first son was named Shear-Jashub which means "a remnant will return" indicating God's care for His remnant, but here we find the second son is named in advance Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz which means "speed the spoil, haste the prey" or "quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil" indicating the king of Assyria would plunder Damascus and Samaria (because of its apostasy) before the child could say "My father" or "My mother"; V.3 Isaiah's wife was a prophetess.

2. Isa 8:6-8 - V.6 "this people" refers to Israel; V.6 "Shiloah" refers to a fountain between the upper and lower parts of Jerusalem from which flowed a little brook (Neh 3:15;2Kin 20:20;John 9:7-11;Gen 49:10;Isa 61:1-2;Luke 4:17-21;John 7:37-39;Jer 2:11-13,17-19), Israel's refusal of the waters of Shiloah was their rejection of the word of the Lord sent by His servants the prophets and as a result be conquered by Gentile nations including during Christ's first advent; Vs.7-8 the flood waters of the river refers to the invading Assyrian army (perhaps this also has application to a future Assyrian Gogian host); V.8 "reaching up to the neck" of Judah as the head of Judah (i.e. Jerusalem) did not drown during the Assyrian invasion; V.8 "will cover the breadth of your land. O Immanuel" meaning the Assyrian would have no right to be there (Lev 25:23 - since the land is God's, the Immanuel child of promise would be the natural heir to the throne, to rule the land on God's behalf) - Immanuel in Isaiah's time was reflected in Hezekiah but the true Immanuel (means "God is with us") will be the second coming of Christ who will manifest his Father God and rule his Father's kingdom on earth (Matt 5:5) from Jerusalem and after conquering sin and death turn over rule to his Father (1Cor 15:20-28).

3. Isa 8:9-10 - this could have application to the Assyrian in Isaiah's day and perhaps a future Assyrian Gogian host; "God is with us" is the meaning of Immanuel which would primarily refer to Christ (Psa 2:7-8;Rev 2:26-27) with a secondary echo of Hezekiah; in each case a powerful confederation of enemy peoples is broken to pieces for God is with the remnant not the confederation though they act as God's Gentile punishing agents for those rejecting God's ways. 

4. Isa 8:11-13 - don't walk in the way of ungodly people who fear a threatening confederation of invaders yet don't fear or reverence God; separation from the national apostasy is demanded by God (2Cor 6:14-18); V.12 "fear"<3372>, "their fear"<4172>, "be afraid"<6206>; V.13 "your fear"<4172>, "be your dread"<6206>.

5. Isa 8:14-15 - (2Kin 16:8-16) the altar Ahaz had made of the Assyrian idol Ashur was mounted on the stone base of Solomon's original altar and thus it became a stone of stumbling somewhat echoing Christ though for nonbelievers; Christ, the true altar and sanctuary, would be set aside in favor of false worship; Isaiah was to lean on God only, who in Christ would afterwards be for "a sanctuary" (i.e. a place where God is manifested for approach in worship), though Christ would be a stone of stumbling to both houses of Israel (Exo 25:2-9;Matt 21:42-45;Rom 9:31-33;1Cor 1:23;Psa 118:22;1Pet 2:3-9); V.15 circa AD70 many were crucified outside Jerusalem.

6. Isa 8:16 - the testimony and the law (Rev 19:10;Rom 10:4;Rev 12:17;14:12); "my disciples" refers to God's faithful believers, there would be a faithful remnant in Israel, in Immanuel's day they would be the disciples of Jesus.

7. Isa 8:17;Deut 32:20 - the Lord hiding His face from the house of Jacob. 

8. Isa 8:18 - a bright future for Isaiah's disciples, the faithful followers of Christ, and those who repent when Christ returns (Dan 12:2;Isa 26:8-9;Matt 6:10;Matt 5:5;Isa 2:1-5;Isa 25:7-9).

9. Isa 8:19-20 - a prominent feature of Israel's apostasy was witchcraft and necromancy (Exo 22:18;Lev 20:6,26;Deut 18:9-12); unfortunately much of modern "Christianity" believes believes the first lie (Gen 3:3-4) that we don't die, that the dead remain alive with souls and spirits, and thus they continue with ancient myths that are not supported by the Bible.

10. Isa 8:20-22 - the sad plight of those who don't seek the light (Matt 7:7-8).

8:6-7  Because the people did not trust a river – the spring Gihon – God said he would use the same sort of event – a river (of people attacking the land) to punish them.

8:14      When Isaiah is inspired to speak of “both the houses of Israel” he is talking of both Israel who had probably just gone into captivity to Assyria and Judah to whom the prophet was speaking at the time. As the prophecy is about Jesus we see that even though the northern kingdom has been taken captive they are going to be involved in the rejection of Jesus.

8:21     The absence of food was one of the curses that God said he would send on unfaithful Israel – Deut 28:24– but instead of producing repentance Isaiah speaks of the nation cursing God.  We should be careful to recognise that when unpleasant things happen in our lives that we curse God for our misfortune.

8:22   the mention of “darkness” takes us back yet again to the narrative about the vineyard in  5:1-7. On this occasion to  5:30.

8:21     the way in which Israel are presented as cursing God is reflected – Rev 16:11 – in the behaviour of God’s enemies when judgments from God come on them.

8:4 here Isaiah encouraging words follow on form what we saw in Isa 7:2

8:1-4 Ahaz had refused to ask for a sign in Isa 7:12. He was given a sign then and now he is given another one. The very name of Isaiah’s child would serve as a constant reminder of Ahaz’s fear of Syria and the northern kingdom of Israel. But then the threat would be removed by God as the child grew.

8:2  Two witnesses were used – Uriah and Zechariah. That there were two fulfilled the requirement of the Law of Moses which speaks of witnesses in a criminal matter – Num 35:30 but the principal applied in all aspects of life

8:11-13  The “confederacy” was Israel in the north and Syria wo joined together against Judah. The focus should not be on the enemy confederate against Judah. Rather God should be the one that was feared It is a case of deciding to fear the one who could be seen or trust the God who could not be seen.

3 v. 3-5 - It is quite clear here that Paul's concern is that the afflictions which came upon the apostles could shake the faith of the people here. He therefore took steps to prevent that. This, surely, has interesting implications for us. We may take steps to ensure the spiritual well-being of those who are being afflicted and tested in their faith, but what of those who are just observers of these things? Do we support them? How we should be is described in these passages. Ps.112:6, Ac.2:25, 20:24, 1Cor.15:58.

3 v.5 Having established the ecclesia at Thessalonica the Apostle Paul did not leave them to his own devices. His concern was that they should grow in Christ and not fall away from the gospel. To this end he 'sent to know their faith'. How much care to we take of those who we have 'taught the truth'?

4 v.9 The exhortation to 'brotherly love' is set against the warning against 'fornication'. The brother who loves will not 'defraud' [4:6] or 'despise' [4:8]. Thus 'holiness' [4:7] is not a theoretical issue but has real application in day to day living.

3:4 That Paul told the brethren that he expected affliction indicates that he explained why he had suffered as he did when he was with them - and by implication that they should expect the same sort of treatment. One would think that such comments would be a deterrent to those to whom the gospel was being preached. But clearly it did not deter the brethren.

4:1 That walking to please God is a description of Enoch. Hebrews 11:5 tells us that he pleased God and Genesis 5:24 tells us that he walked with God . Enoch 'walked' in an evil time - this matched the situation that the brethren and sisters at Thessalonica were experiencing.

3:9 Do we thank God because of the faith of brethren and sisters who we know? Paul did for the brethren at Thessalonica.

4:16 'The Lord … with a shout … with the trump of God' quotes Psalm 47:5. The Psalm speaks of the kingdom (Psalm 47:7)

1Thess 3:2. Paul’s reference to Timothy here as being a fellow labourer along with Tychicus as a fellow servant (Col 4:7) and Aristarchus as a fellow prisoner (Col 4:9) shows how close the Apostle was with his brethren. The root word from which this word comes from SUN (4862) is a very close word ( together with)(companionship). As we read this along with the reading from Nehemiah describing the work that was undertaken in the rebuilding of the walls, as the workers toiled together in this work, they must have developed a similar closeness as they worked shoulder to shoulder labouring together on such a large project. Can you imagine how spiritually uplifting it would be to work with your brethren and sisters for 52 days. Not many of us have had that opportunity, but look forward to the kingdom age when we will have that opportunity to be co-workers, doing the work of our future King.

1Thess 4:1. Paul had delivered the gospel both by precept and example.(2:7,13) The message is now to be preoccupied with their spiritual development. Paul’s desire for their continued spiritual growth is not just an after thought, it is an urgent and serious appeal. If we are to avoid the distractions of the world our hearts and minds must be concentrated in another direction, namely, that of enriching our spiritual understanding and seeking to give it our fullest application.

3:3 When Paul says that he is 'appointed' to affliction he is echoing the words of Jesus (Matt 10:17 and many other places)

4:5-6 The way that Paul speaks of defrauding his brother seems to speak of sexual immorality between brethren and sisters in the ecclesia - that is a brother may take the wife of another brother.

3:2This bit of historical information about Timotheus relates to the record in Acts 17:14-15.

4:3-4 Because it is the will of God that we are sanctified we should strive to avoid sin – in the case of the Thessalonians fornication. It is not simply a matter of resisting sin because we are commanded to. We should resist sin because sinning undermines the purpose that the Father has with us.

SEXUAL IMMORALITY
 
Sexual immorality today is perhaps more permissible in society than ever. Among some groups of people it is almost expected that sexual immorality is part of every day life, and all the time the media - especially television and magazines - wear away at our consciences trying to make us think that immoral behaviour is normal and fun.
 
With the church, issues of sexual immorality are often kept hushed up wile we deal with topics that are "nicer" and more polite. But sexual immorality is something we must deal with both within our churches and in our own individual lives. Thank God that Paul had the courage to stand up and bring the issue out into the open!
 
By ignoring the issue of sexual immorality (which is usually hidden from sight and is a problem in many more lives than we would expect) we are playing Russian Roulette with the salvation of ourselves and our brothers and sisters. Paul sums up his instructions about staying pure and away from sexual immorality by saying, "Therefore he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit." (1Thess 4:8) In other places we learn that the sexually immoral "will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal 5:19-20)
 
So let's brush it under the carpet no longer, and urge each other to live pure lives for God.

3:6 Notice that Paul is keen to commend the brethren and sisters in Thessalonica. How often do we praise our brethren and sisters when they do well? We are probably far quicker in criticising them!

If we did not have 1Thess 3:1-6 we would not have a most accurate account of Paul’s travels. In Acts 17:13-16 Paul had to leave Thessalonica in a hurry, and he went down south to Athens. While he waited for them in Athens he walked around, found the city wholly given to idolatry, and then started to preach all by himself. But 1Thess 3:1-5 tells us that Silas and Timothy had come down to Athens, but Paul asked them to go back to Thessalonica because he was so worried about the new believers there. Then Paul went on to Corinth, and that is where Silas and Timothy joined him in Acts 18:5.

3:1     We see that Paul was unable to go to Thessalonica – Acts Acts 17:9-10. So being unable  to go himself he did not neglect the ecclesia but sent a trusted brother. Of course he was not idle at Athens as he preached on Mars Hill – Acts Acts 17:16-34

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).

3:8 The world seems to equate ;living’ with having a good time and enjoying oneself. However Paul shows how He viewed living and how we should also. To live is to be faithful to God.

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.

4:15  Prevent is a word which has changed its meaning in the English language.  Based on the Latin: pre, meaning before and vent having he idea of coming, originally, by coming before someone, you stopped them, or, as we would now say, prevented them from doing something.  The original idea is well captured by the ESV's use of precede.

4:5 We may wonder what Paul means when he says "Not in the lust of concupiscence <1939>" The ‘lust ‘ of this verse is the condition of being lustful. ‘Concupiscence’ is the active pursuance of that state of mind. We all have the propensity to desire. The evil is in the manifestation of that desire.

3:1      It would appear that Paul was unable to visit Thessalonica again because of the promise that Jason had given the authorities – Acts 17:9– The ‘security’ being that Jason promised that if Paul was freed he would leave the city never to return again.

4:10  The Thessalonians showed ‘brotherly love’ to others – 1Thess 4:9. However there is never justification resting on one’s laurels. So Paul encourages them to show God’s love even more.  However zealous we might be in showing the love of God we must realise that we never attain to the degree of Jesus’ and God’s love for us. Always strive to be more like Him and His son.

4:7-8   The principle of honesty towards others draws on the fundamental law “thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” – Lev 19:18– highlighting that it is not possible to love God without loving one’s brother – 1John 4:20

4:9  How are we “taught of God”? Jesus is the example. His ear was always open to the teaching of Scripture Isa 50:4. There is no quick, easy, way to learn. It can only come from regular reading of and reflection on Scripture.

God the avenger: The consequences of adultery and fornication

Paul uses strong language here to explain how God deals with fornication and adultery. It's worth all of us taking the time at it.

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God" 1Thess 4:3-8

What does he mean about "the Lord is the avenger of all such"? An avenger is someone who meets out justice on behalf of someone who can't defend themselves. What it means here is not that God punishes promiscuity, but that He avenges those who have been wronged by the act of promiscuity. For example, the brother whose marriage is defiled by another, or an un-married sister who is enticed or forced against her will, or the parent whose daughter is raped. God sticks up for these innocent parties and punishes the guilty most severely. We should be very afraid of that. "Avenge" is an old testament word full of meaning, taken from the law of Moses and shown in many "proof" examples. Here is a list of occasions where you can see which innocent parties were directly affected and how severe the consequences were for the perpetrator:

Dinah: Gen 34

Tamar: 2Sam 13

Bathsheba: 2Sam 11 and 12

Our society portrays untempered lust as the sole business of the couple that are attracted to each other; never considering the lives that can be wrecked as a result. God thinks otherwise, and he who goes against that is going against God Himself. Beware! (1Thess 4:8).

4:13   We should not underestimate the power of our hope. At funerals true believers seem not to be as distressed as those with no firm hope. However that confidence should not simply be confined to times of mourning. The awareness of the certainty of the resurrection should motivate us in all aspects of our lives.

3:6  In contrast to 1Thess 1:3 and , 1Thess 5:8 we do not read of “hope” here. Maybe this is part of the reason why Paul repeatedly in both letters to Thessalonica emphasises the return of Jesus Christ.

1Thess 4:15

"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep."

If the dead are raised to immediate immortality as some interpret one verse in Scripture like 1Cor 15:52, then this Scripture is false! They cannot be raised as immortals before us! Heb 11:40 states the same thing, "that they {the dead} without us should not be made perfect {immortal}."
The corrupted bodies in the grave will be raised in tact, but that body is still perishable, or corruptible because we know that those raised and rejected go back to their graves - to "outer darkness," as described in Matthew's gospel (Matt 22:13; Matt 25:30). Outer darkness is synonymous with the grave. Imperishable is synonymous with immortality because it is only with immortality that we become imperishable (cf. 1Cor 15:50-54).

4:13-18   It may be that the Thessalonians had not fully grasped the relationship between death, the resurrection of Jesus and his coming return to the earth. It is the way in which those three things blend together that provides us with the wonderful hope that those “in Christ” share.

3:13  Twice, here and 1Thess 5:13  – Paul speaks of the high standard required of those who would be Jesus’ followers.

1Thess 4:16

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”

Trumpets were used to gather the people for worship, to move forward, or to gather men for war (Num 10). This trump of God was to summon His ecclesia. This event specifically connects with what Paul wrote in 1Cor 15:52, wherein he referred to “the last trump.” Both refer to the second coming of Christ.  Some postulate that the seventh trumpet of Rev 11:15, “the last trump,” “the trump of God,” of which Paul speaks are all the same. Their reasoning goes like this: The dead will be raised and the living caught up at the last trump. The seventh trumpet is the last trump in the Bible. The trumpet blown by the seventh angel is, therefore, the last trump. It looks right, but it is wrong! It is using “circle” reasoning to arrive at a conclusion. Paul's trump is a call to assembly of the living and the dead saints, the other in Revelation brings about judgment.

What is circular reasoning? It is to make what appears to be an obvious connection and accepting it as de facto truth absent from any further examination. We see the only obvious connection, but lacks a thorough knowledge of the subject that enables us to determine the actual strength of the “obvious connection.” We read the Scriptures in an effort to find answers we want to find - to find confirmations to what we want to believe, and when we do, we stop our search. Following a daily Bible reading plan is good, but not enough. Specific studies are required for specific issues. How we respond to any given issue raised is a very accurate indicator of our walk with the Father. Are we seeking His knowledge for His purposes, or ours?

Circular reasoning is dangerous because it stops the process of searching. After all, why search further when we are absolutely certain we are right? With circular reason, we declare we have the truth on an issue, and that no other answer is possible. This is a critical error and the best indicator of holding false doctrine! Circular reasoning is a process by which the flesh justifies the answers it wants to embrace and takes the argument off the table. I experienced circular reasoners, one of which wrote back if I didn’t agree with her, “then don’t bother writing back!”

Circular logic produces very different results. We seek to find where else in the Bible, as it relates to the very issue, it is addressed. We need to look at the Bible passages and allow them to show us what to believe. We seek God’s answers to bring us to conclusions, and submit to His guidance. We adjust what we thought was right to what is right because we are not seeking to justify our own understanding. Our thinking must be in line with all Scripture, and not the other way around. There are no accidental or errant words in the Bible. Every word is specific, and specifically placed. This is so often overlooked and ignored because to some it just becomes unpalatable to their way of thinking and conclusion, dismiss it and angrily charge others. To such who refuse to surrender their understanding to the LORD’s, the blinders, sadly, will never come off.

4:18   Do we comfort ourselves by talking to other fellow believers about the things we believe?

4:3 The warning that the believers “abstain from fornication” is not some general comment. A decision was taken in Jerusalem and conveyed to the gentile ecclesias –Acts 15:23-29 – and Paul is actually quoting from it – Acts 15:29.

3:2 As we have already see in chapter 2 Paul could not go to Thessalonica. So he sent timothy in his place. It is all too easy, when we find doing something difficult, to simply not do it. How often do we try to work round the problem, enlisting the help of others if necessary, to achieve our objective?

4:17 the way in which Paul speaks of believers meeting Jesus draws on the word of Jesus – Matt 25:6 – on of the many times that Paul in this letter reminds his audience of what is contained in Matthew’s   gospel. An indication that Matthew’s gospel was available to the believers in Thessalonica.

4:4-5  Possessing one’s vessel is to be seen as living a faithful life and consequently not defiling the body. From the way in which Paul links possessing the body and lust demonstrates that godless behaviour is not just an affront to God. It defiles the one committing the sin.

4:1 The bible teaches us that our heavenly Father has emotions. He “hates” certain things and loves other thing. Do we consider the feelings of our heavenly Father when we think and do things?

3:9 may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all ...so that he may establish your hearts blameless ... at the coming of our Lord

We sometimes forget that loving our brothers and sisters is a command from God and that it is an essential part of the development of each of us to bring us to the Kingdom. But it is difficult and we need help - hence the request "may the Lord make you increase in love".  Imagine the joy that God and Jesus feel when we make an effort to love each other. Of course they would be keen to help us.

A sister once said of her difficult teenage son, "This is the child I love, but don't like". Similarly, we don't always like our brothers and sisters, BUT we need to love them. We need to work at it.