111 Commentaries on Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, Samuel and the Book of Kings.

The Book of Isaiah, the Prophet

The Book of Isaiah was written at a crucial time in history when the people whom God had brought out of Egypt, and had formed into a covenant community possessing His Law, were facing one of their greatest ever threats. For the first time since they had entered the land of Canaan and had settled there, ISRAEL, which had split into two nations, were being threatened by a powerful and cruel empire, the empire of Assyria, even to the point of extinction.

It was at this point in time that God raised up a prophet named Isaiah to guide them through this troubled period of their history, and in this Book we are brought face to face with his message. But the reason why it is so important is not only because it describes a turning point in history, but also because in revealing the future that lay ahead Isaiah explained in some detail both how in that future God would bring judgment on the world, and how He was going to send into the world His King and Servant Whose power and ministry would transform the world and offer it righteousness and salvation. It was He Who was to be the hope of generations yet to come, and Who would bring that righteousness and salvation to all who responded to Him. Indeed He would bring it not only to those of Israel who responded to Him, but to the world, for He would not only bring Israel back to God, but would be a light to all nations.

Written over seven hundred years before the coming of Jesus Christ it explains in some detail precisely what He would come to do, and how He would accomplish it, first through suffering, and then by being crowned in glory. It reveals Him as the crowning point in history, and as the hope of all nations.

Hosea prophesied from the decadent days of Jeroboam II to the very fall of Samaria. His central message was as a diatribe against the unfaithfulness of Israel in its relationship to YHWH for their idolatry, their social injustice, their dependence on other nations, the uselessness of their kings, and their total distortion of what Yahwism stood for. But underlying it was a message of hope for the future which promised that, once Israel had been severely chastised for their sins God would restore them to Himself under a son of David, something which was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Amos was called on to prophecy against Israel at a time of apathy, luxury and complacency, but he warned them that their very prosperity was preventing them from finding God. It must have appeared unbelievable at the time but within forty years of his prophesying Samaria would be utterly destroyed.

The Book of Samuel (1&2 Samuel) covers the lives of Samuel, Saul and David. Samuel was raised at a crucial time for Israel, delivered Israel from the Philistines and established peace and harmony in the land. But on his growing old the people, disillusioned by his sons, sought for 'a king like all the nations'. As a result of God's guidance Saul was anointed king and 'the Spirit of the Lord came mightily on him', and for a while he was very successful, but he twice revealed that he was not prepared wholly to follow the Lord, and the result was that the Spirit of the Lord left him and came on David. After a number of attempts to kill David Saul was eventually slain, and David became king, first of Judah, and then of all Israel. The second part of the book outlines his successful, but marred, reign.

The book of Kings commences with the death of David and the enthronement of Solomon and describes God's dealings with Israel and Judah throughout the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah, the former ending with the fall of Samaria, and their scattering among the nations, and the latter with the destruction of Jerusalem, and the commencement of the Exile. The final note, however, is of God beginning to reveal His mercy once again in the release of Jehoiachin from prison.

1). The Death of David And Enthronement of Solomon - The Establishement of the Kingdom And Removal of Rebellion - Solomon Is Given Wisdom By God - Solomon's Administration His Kingdom - The Wisdom Of Solomon (1.1-4.34)

2). The Building Of The Temple and Its Furniture - Solomon's Palace - The Dedication of the Temple (5.1-8.66).

3). Solomon's Second Dream - The Covenant Renewed - Solomon's Building Programme - The Visit Of The Queen Of Sheba - Solomon's Trading Ventures - Solomon Is Lured Into Deep Sin By His Wives - YHWH Raises Three Adversaries Against Solomon - YHWH Makes A Covenant With Jeroboam - The Death Of Solomon (9.1-11.43).

4). Jeroboam and the Golden Calves - Rehoboam's Folly - Abijam - Asa - Nadab - Baasha - Elah - Zimri - Omri (12.1-16.28).

5). Ahab contends with the Prophets of YHWH including Elijah and Micaiah - Visit To Horeb - Nathan's Vineyard - Wars with Syria - Jehoshaphat - Ahaziah (1 Kings 16.29-2 Kings 1.18).

6). Elijah Is Taken Up To Heaven - Elisha Succeeds Him - Healing Of The Spring - Tearing By She-bears - Mesha Of Moab - Valley Full Of Ditches - Elisha's Miracles - Naaman The Leper - Elisha Divines The Thoughts Of Benhadad - Starvation At The Siege Of Samaria - Hazael Assassinates Benhadad And Becomes King Of Aram (Syria) (2.1-8.15).

7). Jehu's Insurrection And Massacre Of The Worshippers Of Baal - Trouble With Aram - The Death Of Elisha - Victory For Israel (8.16-14.22).

8). The Reigns of Jeroboam II and Uzziah - The Last Days Of Israel - The Apostasy of Ahaz - The Destruction Of Samaria - Epitaph On Israel(14.23-17.41).

9). The Reign Of Hezekiah - Sennacherib Besieges Jerusalem And Calls For Its Surrender - The Host Of Assyria Is Annihilated - The Apostasy of Manasseh And Amon (18.1-21.26).

10). The Reign of Josiah - The Discovery Of The Book Of The Law - Josiah's Reforms - The Apostasy of Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah - The Final Destruction of Jerusalem - Exile in Babylon and Egypt - Hope For The Future Of The House Of David (22.1-25.30)