Comments for September 7

v.4 - It seems that this Jehoahaz was not the same man as the other Jehoahazes mentioned in scripture (2Chron.21:17 22:1,6,8,9 or 2Kings 10:35 or 2Kings 23:31 1Chron.3:15(Shallum)). It is comforting to note that even in the midst of this apparently irretrievable immoral idolatry, God would listen to the pleas of one righteous man and allow him to be the saviour of the nation at that moment. How disappointing it must have been for him that even with this deliverance afforded them by God, none of them turned to Him. (v.6)

v.3 'Benhadad' was a dynastic title of the Syrian kings. It is first seen 1 Kings 15:18 and the last reference chronologically is Jeremiah 49:27.

v.18,19 - We are given here no indication of whether Joash could possibly have known how many times he was to strike the ground, but the implication is that he acted in a half-hearted manner in bringing about Elisha's bidding, thus giving Elisha reason to be angry. Let us be sure not to respond half-heartedly to the things that are revealed to us.

13:4 Even though Jehoahaz did 'that which was evil' when he 'besought the Lord' he was heard. Such is the mercy of our God. Repentant sinners are accepted by Him. You should be able to think of other examples like this.

SEEK THE LORD'S FAVOUR

Jehoahaz must have been one of the only, if not the only king of Israel to have sought the LORD's favour. The rest of the kings of Israel seemed to just get on with their lives while ignoring the God of Israel completely.

Jehoahaz began in the same way as the rest of the kings of Israel. He has the same black marks recorded against his name as did the rest of the kings of Israel. "He did evil in the eyes of the LORD by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from following them." But when God oppressed Israel, keeping them in subjection to the kings of Aram, Jehoahaz acted differently to the rest of the kings of Israel. He saw his oppression as a sign to turn him back to God - and he followed that sign. "Then Jehoahaz sought the LORD's favour, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. The LORD provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram."

The lesson is this: it does not matter what our heritage has been like, or what we have done in the past, there is always time to turn to the LORD, to seek his favour, and know that he will hear us and answer our prayer. Do it today.

:25 Jehoahaz's victory here redressed the way in which Syria had taken this territory in the days of Jehu (2 Kings 10:32-33)

13:1 Here is another, one of the few, places in the history of the kings of Israel and Judah where there is a correspondence between the king of Israel and the king of Judah's reign. This serves to allow anyone who is making their own chronology of the kings and their interrelationship to align the two kingdoms.

V.23 What a refreshing verse this is! Against the dark background of unfaithfulness and distress the mercy of God shines forth. They were yet to have one more opportunity of mending their ways and turning to God.

Today we conclude our brief look at Elisha, and the "types" hidden in his life story, (see notes on
2Kin 2 to 2Kin 9).  Elisha had died, and a corpse which was being taken to burial was unceremoniously dumped into Elisha's  sepulchre. And the man revived.  Surely this speaks of the work of Jesus Christ.  His triumph over sin and death is effective for those who lived before Him, as well as for us who live after Him.

V.14 Jehoash still regarded the prophet as able to defend the nation from their enemies, and was distressed at the possibility of this protection being removed by the death of Elisha.

V.17 One might question why Elisha did not ask Joash to shoot his arrow through a northern window, seeing that Syria (Aram) was predominantly north of Israel.  He chose an eastern window to indicate the sight of Aphek. 

There were several Apheks in the Bible having different locations, but this particular Aphek was located east of the River Jordan near the Sea of Galilee, just inside Syrian territory. 

13:25 Whilst God had delivered Israel in the days of Jehoahaz Israel had to learn to place their trust in God – this happened three times in the days of Jehoash. We all need to learn by experience that God keeps His word. This requires that each of us be placed in situations where we have to trust in Him.

V.5 The Savior (deliverer), according to Dr. Charles Ryrie is: ...perhaps King Adad-nirari III of Assyria, who invaded Aram at this time, enabling Israel to be free of Aramean domination. 

However, the reference could be to Joash who defeated the Syrians three times (v.25).

13:2 Departing not from the sins of Jeroboam is a recurring phrase in this chapter - :2,6,11 which contrasts with the faithful Hezekiah who departed not from the ways of Moses  2Kin 18:6

V.21 Elisha was a type of Christ.  This incident is showing that the power of Yahweh can transcend death.  Yahweh raised Jesus from death to immortality.  The power of Jesus' sacrificial death carries with it the power of life to those who believe.

13:4-6 Jehoahaz saw the problem and so called on God. God saved him but it did not affect Jehoahaz’s behaviour. He did not appreciate that salvation by God requires a change of behaviour in the one saved. As Paul said shall we continue in sin?’ Rom 6:1 The answer clearly is ‘no’ as the rest of Rom 6 demonstrates.

V.7 Yahweh would punish Hazael and Ben-hadad for their deeds against Israel (Amos 1:3,4).

V.12 See 2Kin 14:8-14.

V.14 Joash uttered the same phrase to Elisha, as Elisha uttered to Elijah (2Kin 2:12).

13:8 Though the inspired record here advises us that ‘the rest of the acts’ of Jehoahaz are recorded in the Chronicles we search 2 Chronicles to find much recorded about his activities – so we conclude that as far as God was concerned there was not much of note in his life. Hopefully God will not say that of us!

2Kin 13:5 - "saviour" [Heb. "yasha" (3467) means "to free, to save, be saved, delivered, to be liberated, saviour, deliverer"] perhaps is a reference to "The arrow of the Lord's deliverance" (2Kin 13:17); after 'three' times/days there was deliverance (2Kin 13:18,19,25;Luke 24:7;1Cor 15:12-19;Heb 2:14-15).

2Kin 13:14 - "the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof" perhaps refers to divine ones (2Kin 2:9-12;2Kin 6:17).

2Kin 13:20-21 - Elisha did 16 miracles to Elijah's 8 and, as others have noted, we perhaps have an echo of another of Yahweh's servants in death giving life (Matt 27:52-53;Heb 2:14).

2Kin 13:22-23 - God's compassion to the Jews and the covenant to Abraham (Rom 11:25-28).

13:14 Joash was evil but he still wanted to see Elisha!  He ‘wept’ over him.  He clearly saw Elisha as a man worthy of respect, but he was not interested in Elisha’s God!

13:15-19           Given that the shot arrow indicated deliverance from Syria the king should have realised that striking the arrows on the ground signified battles against Syria. Hence the reproof of Elisha when the king only struck the ground three times.

13:3-5   The cycle described here – sins, repentance, deliverer – is like we see repeatedly earlier in the book of Judges. So we see that this behaviour is typical of Israel’s behaviour always. Of course it is the way we behave also. These things are written for our learning – Rom 15:4.

The phrase "the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof" in 2Kin 13:14 is much discussed. But the meaning isn't a mystery. It simply refers to v7:

"Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing."
 

The King was simply saying "I have no way to defend myself because I have just ten chariots left!". Remember always to read the context and most questions in scripture will answer themselves.

13:11  The epitaph of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat almost invariably is “that made Israel to sin”. So generations after his reign he is still remembered as one who caused Israel to sin. What kind of epitaph would God write about us?

13:10-12      So two verses are sufficient for God to record the actions of Jehoash. And then all we are told was that he was evil. What an epitaph. Whilst we should not be looking for a wonderful epitaph and the praise of man we would hope that our heavenly father would have more to say of us than that which would be contained in two verses.

13:2   Evil kings in Israel are said to have followed Jeroboam. By contrast the good kings of Judah are described as being like David.  Who do we think we are like? To whom do we think God might compare us?

13:21-22          The way in which the strange events of the man who was being buried in associated with “but Hazael king of Syria …” highlights the contrast between Elisha’s message and the king of Israel’s ineffectiveness against Syria.

ENCOUNTER WITH GOD

I have a friend who became quite sick a while ago. He was so sick he wondered if he was going to live or die. During the time of his sickness, he told me that he believed that he had an encounter with God. I suggested that since God had spoken to him, maybe he should start listening to God by reading his Bible. So within a few day he had purchased a Bible and began reading.

I was reminded of my friend when I read about Jehoahaz. "Then Jehoahaz sought the LORD's favour, and the LORD listened to him. ... The LORD provided a deliverer for Israel and they escaped from the power of Aram. ... But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them." (2Kin 13:4-6).

Like Jehoahaz, my friend seems to have given up searching for God too. If we ask for help from God and he meets with us, let's also have the common courtesy to thank him, and then to show our thanks by turning to him with all our hearts and staying committed to him all our lives.

13:2    Jeroboam is often used as an example of one that evil kings followed. How would you like to have your name remembered for setting a bad example that people followed? Far better s is to be able to say, as Paul did -  1Cor 11:1 – that he was an example that should be followed.

13:23-24          Notice that Hazael died because of what God had made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Those who oppose God’s purpose – in this case by oppressing Israel – eventually are removed out of the way.

13:1  in mentioning the year of Joash when Ahaziah began his reign we are given a specific detail which will enable us to draw a table of the kings of Judah and Israel accurately.

13:12 Jehoshaphat was the first king of Judah to seek peace with the northern kingdom of Israel – 1Kin 22:44. It seems that subsequent kings of Judah carried on these efforts. However by the time we get to Jehoash king of Israel that Israel rejected such overtures of peace. He fought against Amaziah king of Judah. Peace is more difficult to maintain than hostility.

13:6 the use of the word “they” indicates that it was not only the king who did not regard what Yahweh had done. The people in like manner disregarded what Yahweh had done. They followed the example of the king.

13:4-20 this section is bounded by Elisha being sick and dying. But notice that whilst clearly very ill Elisha continued with the work of God, giving a sign to the king of Israel. Such was his commitment to serving his God.

A NEW PHASE

I wonder how much Elisha and those who knew him had prayed for his healing or for an extension of life as he suffered from the sickness from which he was about to die. 

Elisha was the greatest miracle working prophet Israel had seen. He was a holy man of God, a righteous man, a good man, a man who many would have said didn't deserve to die. But at the end of his life, God allowed sickness to come. With his sickness would have come pain, discomfort, loss of ability and a mind that was not as clear as it used to be. God allowed that to happen. If anyone could have called on a miracle for healing, it would have been Elisha. But no miracle came. 

We are all sinners. We are all mortal. We are all cursed with sickness and death - even Elisha. So when sickness comes, let's not be surprised at it, but instead consider it a new phase of life with new lessons, new trials, and endless opportunities to turn to God through it.

13:5The “saviour” should have been the king. A king who upheld the words of Yahweh. However, whilst this saviour is not named we can safely conclude it was not the king!

v.5-7 - It seems it is small comfort that it is Israel Ezekiel is sent to, as they are not going to listen. In fact Jonah (Jon.3:2-5) had a lot more success with Nineveh than Ezekiel would have with Israel. See also Psa.81:5 Isa.33:19 Acts 26:17-18.

v.14 shows us yet another example of how God provided the strength for the prophets when their own state of mind was such that their motivation was eroded - see also Jer.20:7-9, Amos 3:8. Until recently I had felt that this sort of help was given by God only to his prophets but last night at our Bible Class the brethren there convinced me that this can be applied equally to ourselves, even though we are not speaking under the direct influence of His Spirit.

3:9 In encouraging Ezekiel to 'fear them not' (echoing 2:6) we learn that Ezekiel's task was not to be easy. Likewise we should appreciate that it is not always easy to witness against problems and issues in the ecclesia. Timothy had a similar problem (2 Timothy 1:7)

WORK AT HOME

When Ezekiel was sent by God to speak God's words, he was sent to his own people - Israel. They were his own family, tribe and nation. God said about them that they would not listen because the whole house of Israel was hardened and obstinate. But God said that if Ezekiel had been sent to foreigners, to people of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words Ezekiel could not understand, they would have listened to him.

It is the same for most of us today. Few of us are called to be missionaries and travel into other lands to preach the gospel to people there. Not often do we go out of our way to find new people - strangers - to teach about God. more often, like Ezekiel, we are called to do a far more difficult job. We are called to show God to the people around us, to preach to them because they are near.

Most people I work with have not accepted our Lord and many have not even heard the gospel. Yet the people who know us best are the ones who will ridicule us, who will not believe us, and who will wonder just who we think we are if we begin preaching to them. They are the hardest people to preach to, yet it is to them that we, like Ezekiel, have been sent. Let us pluck up the courage to turn them from the error of their ways.

3:15 Isn't it interesting that having been given the task of speaking to the people (3:4) that Ezekiel sat silent for seven days! Doubtless when he realised how sinful the people were he was amazed and moved to witness in silence.

3:1,3 A couple of links with Revelation 10

v.1 God's messenger (Ezekiel) must first inwardly appropriate God's truth himself, before he speaks it to others. Also note Eze 2:8

START AT HOME
 
It may not necessarily be our calling to go and preach in far away places to people we have never met in a language and culture we do not understand.  More often then not, there is work to do right where we are when the people we live with have not heard the gospel message.
 
God gave this task to Ezekiel.  He said, "Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them.  You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel - not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand.  Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you." (Eze 3:4-7)
 
Ezekiel was sent to his own people to give them God's messages.  They were the people he knew and whose customs he was familiar with.  Ezekiel began his preaching at home and we must do the same.  There are people all around us who have not yet heard the saving message of hope that is offered in the gospel.  Let's be sure that we spread God's word to them before we begin to think that there is no one to preach to locally. 
 
Begin at home.  It can be the hardest place to start but it can also be the most rewarding when loved ones come to accept the salvation God has offered.  Let's spread the word where we are.

Ezekiel's mission parallels that of the Lord Jesus' in so many ways:

-In each case, the Son of Man was sent to Israel with a sweet message, only to be rejected by the nation (v.7; Matt 21:42). 

-Their witness and warnings were those of the watchmen who would be innocent of the nation's demise once the message was given (v.17; John 1:7). 

-They would speak the words of Yahweh (v.27; John 14:10). 

-Their determination would be undaunted (v.9; Isa 50:7).  

Ezekiel was made dumb, unable to speak, for 7 years. It lasted until a messenger arrived from Jerusalem saying that the city had been taken (Eze 1:2 and Eze 33:21). While we can appreciate that God was being kind to him in not allowing him to be thought of by Israel as a “reprover” (Eze 3:26), still the very inability to speak would possibly be a problem.  He couldn't even tell his friends how he was feeling!  But God knows best.

3:8 It might seems strange that Ezekiel’s face was made ‘strong’ however when we understand that the word ‘face <06440>’ is the word elsewhere translated ‘presence’ Exo 33:14  And he said, My presence <06440> shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. So Ezekiel, who may have seemed insignificant to all the captives was ‘strengthened’ so that he need be less afraid than he would have been.

V.9 Flint is a very hard stone.  It is used, in symbol, to denote a tough, unyielding determination.  Yahweh endowed Ezekiel with this quality with which to confront his countrymen.  It was the same gritty firmness that the Lord Jesus employed during His trial (Isa 50:7). 

3:8  Ezekiel’s ‘strong’ face is set against Israel’s ‘impudent (hard) face’ Eze 2:4 both words, here and in 2:4, are derived from the same Hebrew word – <0388>.

17 Ezekiel alone among the prophets, is called a "watchman". to give timely warning of danger to the people where no danger was suspected. Habakkuk (Hab 2:1) speaks of standing upon his watch, but it was only in order to be the lookout for the manifestation of God's power, not as Ezekiel, to act as a watchman to others.

V.14 Ezekiel was bitter and angry.  He was so because he knew the rebellious, stubborn and obstinate nature of those to whom he must preach (2:3,4).  Jesus stated a truism about such men as Ezekiel in Luke 4:24.  

Vs.24-27 Ezekiel was confined to his house. He was rendered dumb, and so was unable to rebuke Israel until Yahweh loosed his tongue. Ezekiel was mute for seven years.

Eze 3:26-27 Spare a though to Ezekiel’s wife with whom he could not speak for a significant part of their marriage. She died with a dumb husband who could only speak when God gave him words to speak.

V.21 The role of watchman is further developed in Ch. 33.  It is important for us to consider this as we are expected to be responsible watchmen (1Thess 5:6).

3:24 ‘Go shut thyself in thy house’ was a punishment of the prophet because of his reluctance to go and speak to the people.

MISSIONARIES AT HOME

Almost every church has some sort of foreign outreach programme they have either initiated or support. Usually in most churches there are people who are away or have been away on missionary or preaching activities in other countries. I would have loved to have been one of those people, but like Ezekiel, God has not called me to travel far and wide to preach the gospel, but to get on with the work that is right on my doorstep at home.

God said to Ezekiel,  "Son of Man, Go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel." (Eze 3:4-5) There is always work to do at home. There are always people around us who have not yet heard the word of the Lord, or who having heard it, need encouragement to respond. There is plenty to do right where we live and work.

I remember the embarrassment we felt when some young people from America came to Auckland, my city, to do mission work. This was the work we should have been doing. The fact that they were run off their feet with all there was to do highlighted to me how lazy and complacent we are when it comes to effectively sharing the gospel in the places we live.

Let's not leave the mission work to the people who go to strange places to preach, but get involved right here and now for the good of the people around us. Let's be missionaries at home!

Vs.3,14 Receiving the Word of God is a pleasant experience (honey); but the import of the message, and the resultant devastation of the hearers of the Word, would become bitterness to the prophet (Rev 10:9,10).

Vs.17-19 Every prophet was a watchman, even though Ezekiel was the only prophet to be actually designated as such.

Every member of the ecclesia is also a watchman, and should be ready to speak up if things are going astray (Heb 3:13).

3:5-7 Amazing as it is God is saying that non Jews would have listened to and responded to His message! But in reality this is what happened with the call of the gentiles.

3:14  ‘bitterness’ and  ‘heat of my spirit’ gives an indication that initially Ezekiel was a reluctant prophet.

Eze 3:1-3.

3:16-17          The seven days silence indicates the faithfulness of Ezekiel. He was waiting for God to speak through him rather than speak his own words.

:20     A number of times Ezekiel speaks of “righteous” people.  Their righteousness was because they kept the letter of the law –Deut 6:24-25 – however that righteousness could not save them if they continued to sin. – Eze 33:13

1. Eze 3:8-9 - hard much like the stone (crucifixion?) the builders rejected (Matt 21:42-45).

2. Eze 3:9 - "adamant"<8068>.

3. Eze 3:11 - message to be given to fellow Jews in captivity.

4. Eze 3:15 - "Telabib"<8512>.

5. Eze 3:15-17 - consecration of priests prior to the beginning of their ministry took 7 days (Eze 1:3;Lev 8:33).

6. Eze 3:17 - a watchman's task was to warn a city of impending danger.

7. Eze 3:17-21 - echo of Christ? Warning and bearing the burden of others sins (Isa 53:4,6).

8. Eze 3:25-26 - echoe of Christ? (Matt 27:2,12,14).

3:11   It is easy to speak when we have a willing audience. However Ezekiel’s challenge was to speak whether his audience was attentive or not. Whenever we have to say things which we know will not be heard we should take courage from Ezekiel s commitment. 

Are we watchmen?
"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand." Eze 3:17-18
 

There are some who use this chapter to make assertions about our own witnessing, saying that God will judge us for not warning others of God's judgments. But notice the context:

"I have made you a watchman" and v4 "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them."
 

Ezekiel has obviously been singled out as a mouthpiece for God, for a specific time, with a specific message, and given to specific people. The context here is not the same as our own lives. We are not prophets. Furthermore God's Spirit is acting on Ezekiel, equipping him for this role (see v12 for example).

God's message here was a specific message. If these men and women didn't repent He would destroy them. They had no way of knowing this except for Ezekiel's words to them. Ezekiel's was to be the only message bearer, giving direct revelation from God, to specific people. This kind of penalty for the message bearer is common. Our own postal service makes it a criminal act for a postman to deliberately lose post. In the Bible, Jonah risked losing his life in the storm because he refused to take God's message to Nineveh. In each of these three cases we have specifically commissioned messengers with responsibility. See 1Kin 20:39-42 for another example.

We probably need to get a balance on subjects like this. God does not say He will judge us for not preaching. Ezekiel 3 does not apply directly to us. There are many examples of those who did not appear to preach: Abraham most notably is shown to withdraw from the world rather than going into it to preach. Lot on the other hand goes into the world to preach but not only does he utterly fail, he loses everything he owns and several of his family as a result. Abraham however is completely unmovable in his faith so that his example inspires his own household, his servants, and perhaps others too. The conclusion is that we are not asked to be watchmen like Ezekiel, but there may be those under our watch whose spiritual health we are responsible for.

3:2     Given that Ezekiel “opened his mouth” we would have thought that he would have said that he ate. However the record says that God caused him to eat.  Maybe an indication that Ezekiel was still reluctant to take the message God was giving him to the Jews in captivity.

3:1      Ezekiel repeatedly tells us that God has spoken to him, be reporting what He had said to him. On 33 occasions in the prophecy Ezekiel reports what God has said to him with (in the AV) “he said unto me”. This is uncharacteristic of the other prophets.

3:10    The way in which Ezekiel is told that the words spoken to him had to be in his heart is like the command to Israel in Deut 6:6

3:27   The deaf Ezekiel is told that his words are to be spoken and they were for those who hear to hear them. Jesus spoke to those who were deaf to God’s word and uses similar language in Matt 11:15 and 13:9

3:2-4 Whilst the language here forms the basis for what John records – Rev 10:9-10 – Ezekiel does not experience the bitterness that comes from the message that has to be spoken.

3:19    The warning to Ezekiel is given again –  33:9 – possibly indicating that Ezekiel was reluctant to speak against a nation who took no notice of what he was saying .

V12,13 The glory of the Lord is revealed with a "great rushing". This Hebrew word is elsewhere translated "earthquake" (1 Ki 19:11,12; Isa 39:6) and in Zech 14:5. So the Lord who is the glory of God arrives with his immortalised saints and standing on the Mt of Olives triggers a shaking which splits the mount. It not only finishes the deportation of Jews (v2) but ends the occupation of Jerusalem, and pushes it up ("beautiful for elevation" Psalm 48). On each side of Jerusalem are a pair of short fault lines which geologically separate Jerusalem from the surrounding country. The same word is transl "shaking" in Ezek 38:19 - causing great devastation, and even tsunamis!! 

Finally people will be forced to take notice "when the Lord arises to terribly shake the earth." Isaiah 2:21. 

3:2 the command to eat the roll is a little like what Jeremiah said – Jer 15:16. We should remember that Ezekiel was around during the latter time that Jeremiah was speaking in Jerusalem.

3:10  Hearing is generally easy for us. Unless we have a hearing deficiency we hear all the words that are spoken.  How often though, is it that we do not take any notice of what we have heard? To a degree the extent to which we remember what we have heard is an indicator of how important the words we have heard are to us.

3:5  Do we find it hard to preach to those we know well? Maybe we are willing to suffer ridicule from those we do not know easier than we might from our close friends and family.

3:4  So we are left in no doubt. Ezekiel was not speaking his own word. God was speaking through him and putting words in his mouth.

11 v.3,14 - We are reminded of how many adversaries there are out there to turn us away. Gen.3:13 John 8:44 1Tim.2:14 Rev.12:17 20:2

ch. 10 - In this chapter once again the authority of Paul is in question. Have this in mind when you read the whole chapter. In this case the question of Paul's authority might well be with respect to the giving of money for the brethren and sisters in Jerusalem.
The pride of others raises its ugly head again hence in verse 17 we have the use of Jeremiah 9:24.
v.10 - 'his letters' indicates by the time that the second letter to Corinth was written they had already received at least two, therefore we must conclude that there were other letters written to the Corinthians than the two we have in Scripture.

11 v.2 <53> chaste / pure. Whilst we might think that this word means sexually pure when speaking of a 'chaste virgin' that is not the sense of the word. As we can see from this list 2 Corinthians 7:11  clear  2 Corinthians 11:2  pure Philippians 4:8 pure  1 Timothy 5:22 pure James 3:17 pure 1 John 3:3 pure
Purity is the meaning of the word and so when it is translated 'chaste' it is speaking of purity.
Titus 2:5 chaste 1 Peter 3:2 chaste

10:12 In speaking of those who 'commend themselves' Paul contrasts himself with such an one. For (3:1) Paul observed that he did not need a letter of commendation. This little point highlights the difficulty Paul had with those who would undermine his authority as an apostle.

11:23-33 In describing his afflictions Paul tells us things we do not learn about in Acts. In fact much of Acts has still to take place when 2 Corinthians was written. So we can conclude that Acts was not written to be a catalogue of the life of Paul. Nor are the sufferings he experiences in Acts there to show us a man who suffered. Rather they must serve another purpose.

10:3-4 The contrast between carnal and mighty weapons contrasts the way that the opponents of Paul worked with Paul's responses. Their response was according to the flesh. They were puffed up.

11:32-33 This event is recorded in Acts 9:24-25. If the events recorded here in 2 Corinthians are in anything like chronological order then Paul must have suffered terrible persecution in his early years as a disciple of Jesus.

10:5 Notice the repeated use of words relating to pride. 'imaginations' 'high thing' exalteth itself'. There were those in Corinth who despised Paul and followed other individuals (1Cor 1:12 , 3:4). Paul here returns to the vexing problem of the party spirit, showing that it against the knowledge of God.

11:3 The word 'simplicity' is the Greek word 572 found in 2Cor 1:12 for September 3rd 2004 where a full list of its occurrences in Scripture can be found. We have seen that this word carries the sense of generosity,. How is that meaning relevant here?

The answer is that the serpent was offering something - being like god. But God had already offered something else. Fellowship with Him in Eden. This was a mark of God's generosity. The lie of the serpent was going to rob Eve and Adam of this generous gift of God.

10:1 Paul now makes a personal plea. "I Paul myself" ( no longer "we" "our" "us" as we saw in yesterday's reading. 2Cor 9:11 I beseech thee (call near, invite, exhort.)

2Cor 11:24-26 - Is there is any numerical significance to Paul's sufferings? Perhaps there is an echo of Christ's sufferings and sacrifice which leads to the new beginning. Five times Paul received lashes and five is the number of grace or mercy. Forty lashes (minus one) with forty perhaps suggesting trial, testing,chastisement, etc. One perhaps refers to God or unity or the unity of one the way in Christ. Three times he was beaten with rods and three times shipwrecked. Three can represent divine perfection or complete or Christ's burial of three days and the wooden shipwreck and open sea may suggest the wooden crucifixion and burial/baptism (victory over the power of sin and death) that lasted three days. The night and then day may suggest spiritual darkness to spiritual light or death to resurrection. The "once" is from the Greek Hapax (530) meaning one single time or conclusively and is derived from Hapas which means a whole or a particle of union. Perhaps this suggests one conclusive individual sacrifice that was offered for all parts of the one body of Christ.  Eight times he refers to being in danger/perils. Eight were saved in the great flood of Noah's day. On the eighth day babies were circumcised referring to the cutting away of the flesh or mortality. The number eight can suggest a new beginning, the number of immortality, etc. Perhaps this is to encourage us in our trials to the hope we have.

11:3,4 The keyword for a life in Christ is simplicity (sincerity and singleness of purpose).  Paul warns of dangers from without and dangers from within. Those dangers are very much alive today, and we must be on guard against them.  We must be aware of the subtle ideas of the world which can creep in and compromise the Truth.  We must also stand up to overbearing rules and regulations, from within, which tend to stultify the plain tenets of the Truth.  And most of all we must be on guard against our own tendencies to lose focus in the Truth.

10:5 ‘imaginations’ <3053> is derived from <3049> translated ‘reckon 6 times for example Rom 4:10. As such the marginal translation ‘reasonings’ is more helpful. Paul is saying that Spiritual understanding overthrows human reasoning – such reasoning being the domain of those who exalted themselves in Corinth.

11:22 In recognising his opponents as ‘the seed of Abraham’ Paul is alluding to the Jew’s claim before Jesus John 8:33,37. However Jesus resists their claim that Abraham was their father (John 8:39) if Paul’s detractors were familiar with this event in Jesus’ ministry they would realise that they could take little comfort from Paul’s acknowledgement.

PURE VIRGIN
 
I once read an illustration of a wedding. Everything was perfect for the day. The band played beautiful romantic music, the sky was clear and blue, the guests had arrived, the flowers looked great, and the bride and the bridesmaids looked radiant. As the minister proceeded with the wedding, he came to the part where he said, "Do you take this man to be your husband?" It was then that things changed. Her answer was "We do!" Then first one, and another, and another until half a dozen men stood up among the guests and said, "We do." Her husband looked at her and said, "What's going on?" She answered, "These are all the men I have given some of my heart to. If you want all of me, you will have to have them too."
 
I know this is a silly story, but it graphically illustrates the emotional scars we receive and the fact that parts of us are given away and lost for ever if we do not stay pure for marriage.
 
Paul says, "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him." (2Cor 11:2) Let us make sure that we stay pure for Christ - free from turning to other gods, or of serving ourselves above all else. Then we will be able to be the bride everyone desires - a pure virgin, holy and blameless for our Lord

11:2  In being ‘espoused to one husband’ Paul is teaching that their following of other teachings is tantamount to spiritual adultery.

10:18 ‘approved’ <1384> is a term which speaks of the integrity of the money merchant. This type of merchant only dealt with true and unadulterated coins.

10:10 Critics often attack the person rather than considering the message.  It is human nature to evaluate the person on his/her appearance and presentation.  However, we should overcome those tendencies and judge the message only, for truthfulness. 

11:6 The Corinthians had been swayed by those whose oratory and presence were formidable, and yet whose message was false.  Paul accepted that he did not have (nor did he desire to have) the same oratorical skills, but he spoke the truth according to the Word of God.

10:8  Notice the ‘authority (power) given to Paul was for ‘edification’ which is a point Paul made extensively in the first letter. Our objective at all times in our interaction with others is their edification’

11:4 There are many, today, who preach in the Name of Jesus.  But, they do not hold the Truth. These people will receive a shock at the judgment (Matt 7:22,23).

11:14 is quoted by some to show that Satan (a.k.a. the Devil) is a fallen angel who is responsible for tempting people to sin.

Paul is talking about false apostles of Christ who were trying to undermine his work (11:12,13). 

These people had a leader. (Satan means adversary and is not the proper name for anyone or anything).  This adversarial man was chief amongst his followers who are described in 11:15. 

He claimed to be a messenger (angel) of the Truth (light) but in fact was a leader of falsehood. Paul’s thorn in the flesh could well have been this messenger of Satan, a leading false apostle, who dogged Paul’s every move trying to bring him down (2Cor 12:7).

10:18  In 1Cor 1:13 Paul had quoted Jer 9:24 in the context of strife in the church. He now quotes it again towards the end of this second letter. Thus we see that the problems which prompted the writing of the first letter are still there. We ought not to assume that because an issue has been addressed that the problem will immediately go away. It clearly had not in Corinth.

11:2    The concept of husband and wife is developed in Eph 5:22-33 so it is not a teaching which is unique to the Corinthian’s needs. We all need to understand our allegiance to Christ.

11:16-18        In response to the denigrating of Paul he reasons that if he is a ‘fool’ then his behaviour as a ‘fool’ will have an impact on them because they, in elevating those who sought preeminence, they already gave ‘fools’ come credence.

10:18  In Yorkshire (and maybe elsewhere) there is a saying “handsome is as handsome does”. Actions, not words and self aggrandisement, please God. However those who work “after the flesh” are taken in by self congratulation. |Such should not be our way or working. The Pharisees showed off their religious work to gain the praise of men. Our activities are to be in the sight of God.

CHECKING IN   

Imagine if everyone cared as much as Paul cared about how his friends were doing in a spiritual way. He said to the believers in Corinth: "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him." (2Cor 11:2) He was using picture language here, and the way he wanted them to be pure virgins was by keeping them free from sin and idol worship. He wanted them to be completely devoted to Christ.

I wonder how many people have checked up on us like this in the last month? Has anyone asked or been motivated to check on whether we have been completely devoted or how we are going as we resist temptation this week? Have we been able to help someone else dedicate their lives to the Lord? Just as we want our sons and daughters to have the best possible start in marriage by being virgins until the wedding day, so we also need to help each other. Without constant encouragement it is so easy to get sidetracked, carried away or caught up in temptation and give in.

So let's proactively encourage and support one another to remain faithful and devoted to the LORD until he comes.

11:24  In speaking of “forty stripes less one” Paul indicates that the requirement of the law – Deut 25:3 – had been administered to him. The “less one” is a consequence of the Jewish fear that they might miss count and administer more than forty stripes. They  administered thirty nine stripes. Paul’s use of the phrase “forty stripes” is to indicate that his beating was presented to him as a keeping of the law of Moses. 

Pulling down strongholds

In 2Cor 10:3 Paul reminds them that they should not look on the outward appearance. Paul carries authority from Jesus, and just as he could use that authority and power to heal the sick, so he could use it to chasten (see v6). The ultimate example of this authority can be seen in Peter during the incident where Ananias and Sapphira dropped down dead after lying to the Spirit (see Acts 5:1-11).

10:4  Warring after the flesh is the way in which human reasoning and pride are from time to time used in our dealings with each other. We should always ask whether what we are going to say or do is edifying. If it is not then it is best not done.

11:1    Paul is being ironic here. Doubtless there were those in Corinth who had little regard for Paul – see 2Cor 10:10. It is easy to think that they would call his advice foolish.

11:8-9  Amongst all the other accusations against the Apostle Paul the Corinthians were also accusing him of embezzling funds given to him. Hence his point that it was the ecclesias in Macedonia, not Corinth, that supported him whist he was at Corinth.

10:9-10           The only way in which Paul’s letters would “terrify” the believers would be if Paul’s opponents miss represented what Paul was saying. The use of “they say” supports the idea that Paul was miss represented.

11:8      Paul was supported through the generosity of his fellow believers. However it would appear that he avoided monetary support from the group he was visiting. Hence “I have robbed other churches”.

11:23 we might wonder how Paul’s life was in danger a number of times. One we know of is when he fought with lions in Ephesus – 1Cor 15:32.

10:2 When dealing with his critics Paul again speaks of his way of life like he did in2Cor 1:17.

10:1 In today’s world often appeals are based on authority and strength. Here Paul’s approach is rather different. His request appeals to the humility of Jesus. This might seem counter-intuitive. Appealing to one who appeared weak might not seem to be the most effective way to achieve anything. However for the believer a realisation of the character of Jesus should act as a great motivator.

10:2  Notice Paul’s concern. He could have approached the Corinthians with stern, maybe harsh, words and been quite justified in his approach. But notice his desire was that he would not need to deal with them in that manner. How often do we, when we are anticipating that we will have to address a serious issue with fellow believers, pray that the discussion will not be necessary because of a change of heart in the one that is to be spoken to?

10:10 that the Corinthians – or at least some of them – judged “according to the flesh” is seen in the way Paul quotes back to them  what they said of Paul.

We might say that we are not like this. However the way we speak is the indicator of how we judge.