The book of Joshua is most likely written by the new leader - Joshua. He is chosen by God to lead Israel into the Promised Land succeeding Moses. Verses 1-9 are the record of Joshua's appointment by his Sovereign. He is the chosen leader because of his faithfulness in reporting the truth regarding the land promised to Abraham. Israel, like their patriarch Abraham, are to tread the full extent of the land, whose territory is defined in verse 4. Joshua would be supported in the task of guiding the people of the Almighty just as Moses had been before him. Verses 7-9 repeat the words of Deuteronomy 31:7-8.
In verses 9-18 speak of Joshua taking control as commanded by his Omnipotent Maker. He begins by instructing the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh to corral their cattle, fortify their cities to protect their wives and children and to join the remaining tribes for the conquest of Canaan. Verses 16-18 tell of the three tribes mentioned earlier endorsing Joshua's command and encouraging their leader:
"Be strong and courageous".
Isaiah 7-11 record the Immanuel prophecies and begin in the reign of the faithless king of Judah - Ahaz. This king is one of the weakest men to occupy Judah's throne. In verses 1-2 we learn of the league between the kingdoms of Israel and Syria, both to Judah's north. The majority of Judah's people are terrified by the prospect of a war with two powerful armies. The prophet Isaiah is sent to meet Ahaz with the message that deliverance requires trust in the Almighty. Isaiah is accompanied by his son - Shear-jashub at the place where a short time later Hezekiah, Judah's next king would build a conduit to convey water from the Virgin's Fountain, outside the city walls, to the pool of Siloam inside the city. Isaiah is to be accompanied by the son whose name proclaims that Israel's Sovereign would save a remnant of the LORD's people. Isaiah carries the message that God would bring the conspiracy of Israel and Syria against Judah to nothing as their two rulers are to be removed before Isaiah's son would grow up. Those two adversaries will be as a smoking stick snuffed out; and the initiator of the conspiracy - Ephraim ie Israel is to cease to be a kingdom within 65 years. Such a true prophecy establishes Isaiah's words as a true prophet of Yahweh (as Deuteronomy 18 outlined). Through the prophet God commands Ahaz to ask a sign from the LORD. The king feigns humility and is exposed through the prophet as a hypocrite. Isaiah chapter 7:11 describes the sign from the LORD given to Ahaz - a virgin is to conceive and bare a son. The prophecy of the virgin birth relates to the virgin Mary giving birth to the Son of God - Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:30-37. The word of God further states that judgment is to be brought upon guilty Judah by the power of Assyria. But Yahweh of hosts would not only bring to nothing the two co-conspirators but greater even than that the might of Assyria was to be crushed. The land of Judah, however, was to be vastly depopulated. There was to be an abundance of rich produce left to the remnant of Judah. Vast tracts of pasture land were to become forests and thickets for the hunting of wild animals. However, says the prophet, there will come a glorious end and a prosperous future - in Messiah's reign we suggest.
Paul's first visit to the Thessalonians (in Macedonia) was perhaps around 51 AD. The letter commenced with "grace" (Greek'charis' - love) and "peace" (Hebrew'shalom' - wholeness, or peace), which come from God, our Father. As a group of Christian believers the Macedonians were severely persecuted, like their fellow Jewish believers in Judea - many of them being put to death for their beliefs. The Thessalonians were, however, extremely generous in financially contributing to Paul's preaching - especially the Philippians. The central message of both letters is the second coming of Jesus Christ to set up the kingdom of God on earth. Every chapter of both letters refers to this - some chapters containing several references (in the Bible we find over 500 references to the second coming of Jesus Christ). Their love and labours for the Truth were exemplary to all believers. Note verse 9 refers to their belief in "the Living God" and cites not only the verse in Jeremiah 10:10, but the whole context of Jeremiah 10 was relevant to the situation of the Thessalonian believers. Chapter 2 speaks of the love of Paul, Silas, Timothy and Titus among them. Interestingly the name Titus means "nurse", or "rearer". Paul worked to support his companions' needs and for the preaching of the gospel. The Apostle commends the believers for their patience in suffering persecution. Finally he expresses a desire to see them again and says that in the day of Christ's coming their acceptance of the gospel would be his victor's crown (Greek 'stephanos').
Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org
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