Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2651 to 2675 of 3099 results

1 Samuel 17:1-58

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... is hard to reconcile Saul’s lack of knowledge of David before this incident with their meeting in chapter 16, and the writers make no attempt to do so. It is possible that material from a number of original sources has been incorporated without subjecting them to a rigorous editing process. Additional Notes 17:1 Socoh and Azekah are south of previous Philistine incursions. This is thus a different stage in the ongoing conflict. The Philistines had been driven back but had not been defeated by Saul’s and ...

2652. David Saves Keilah

1 Samuel 23:1-6

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... David and Jonathan. The local residents’ willingness to hand David over to Saul may result from fear for their own safety and an unwillingness to be embroiled in civil war. However, the emphasis on Saul as king (v. 20) may indicate that they were loyal subjects seeking to do their duty. Saul’s unpopularity was largely a product of his own imagination. Even in this picture of self-interested betrayal in a text that depicts David rather than Saul as the hero, we find a glimpse of an alternative scenario ...

2653. David Among the Philistines

1 Samuel 27:1-12

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... out as mercenaries to other groups, although joining in fights against their own tribes would be rarer—which explains the wariness of the other Philistine lords (29:3–5). 27:6 Ziklag, one of the most distant of Gath’s satellite towns, is in an area subject to attack from a number of different directions. Josh. 15:31 has it as part of Judah’s territory, and it probably changed hands several times. It would have suited Achish’s purposes to have an extra force, presumed to be acting for his benefit ...

2654. Job Speaks

Job 3:1-26

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... Job; five times in the words of Job himself (10:22; 12:22; 16:16; 24:17 twice), once in the mouth of Elihu (34:22) and once in the divine monologue (38:17). The final phrase of v. 5, may blackness overwhelm its light, is difficult and subject to various treatment. Pope, Job, p. 29, and Clines, Job 1–20, p. 70, argue persuasively that kimrire yom refers to an eclipse of the sun that brings darkness during the day. 3:8 That day: because of the appearance of the chaotic sea monster Leviathan in the parallel ...

2655. Eliphaz

Job 4:1-5:27

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... God (4:17), Job ought to trust that God will respond mercifully to Job’s consistent demonstration of diligent piety. His first point seems to be that because all humans are less than righteous before God (4:17), all deserve divine judgment. Even the angels are subject to error and judgment. Therefore, how can any human hope to avoid sin? As a result, Job’s suffering must be deserved, and his only hope is to accept God’s discipline (5:17). He must throw himself upon the mercy of God, trusting that God ...

2656. Bildad's Second Speech to Job

Job 18:1-21

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... . 18:15–17 While the reference in verse 15 to the tent that is burned might seem to link this verse with the preceding subsection, it describes better the continuing destructive consequences of the torment of the wicked, which is the particular subject of the concluding sections of chapter 18. Fire and sulfur were used in warfare—first to destroy completely the towns, villages, and dwellings of the enemy, and then to render the very earth on which they stood infertile and inhospitable for further ...

2657. Job's Second Reply to Bildad

Job 19:1-29

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... approach as the advance of hostile troops (vv. 11–12). Picking up on the image of the dying tree employed as an admonition by Bildad in 18:16, Job subtly renews it as a sign of the hostility of God unleashed on his undeserving and unsuspecting subject. God tears Job down on every side till he is gone. This is clearly more than severe pruning by the gardener who hopes to enliven a failing tree. This is the final destruction of a rejected tree preceding its complete removal (he uproots). The symbolic nature ...

2658. Job's Second Reply to Zophar

Job 21:1-34

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... not just born, but also established around them as mature adults. 21:9–13 Not only do the wicked live long, they also live well. There is no pin to burst their bubble. All goes well for them. Their homes are never robbed or subjected to drive-by shootings. They live in secure gated communities with surveillance and security systems to protect them. Private security firms watch over them and public police respond quickly to their 911 calls. Those who look on from the outside can only conclude that ...

2659. Epilogue

Job 42:7-17

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... he had already revealed his judgment through the suffering Job was experiencing. The because here introduces the reason for the divine expression of displeasure with Job’s three friends. God says, you have not spoken of me what is right. Here the subject “you” is masculine plural, clearly implicating all three friends. Where have the three friends “spoken” of God other than in the dialogue? The obvious inference is that God now declares what the friends claimed in opposition to Job to be “not ...

2660. Entering the Lord’s House

Psalm 5:1-12

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... that Yahweh pass the guilty verdict and banish them as their punishment (vv. 9–10). Then we hear petitioned that “those who love your name” may have access to and enjoy the privileges of the temple, namely refuge, blessing, and praise (vv. 11–12). Because the subjects of the psalm appear in such distinct sections (“I” in vv. 1–3 and 7–8, God vs. the wicked in vv. 4–6 and 9–10, and the “righteous” in vv. 11–12), it is possible that different speakers performed this liturgy. The “I ...

2661. The Lord’s Majesty and the Crowning of Humanity

Psalm 8:1-9

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... ” expand to unqualified proportions (significantly, the writer of Hebrews stops before this listing of creatures). Because Jesus “has tasted death” and thus overcome it, the writer of Hebrews can recognize in retrospect that “at present we do not see everything subject to him,” that is, “man.” But now because Jesus “has tasted death for everyone,” he “brings many sons to glory” (Heb. 2:8–10). Thus, in view of the greater dominion of Jesus, one that includes death, Psalm 8 also ...

2662. Thanksgiving for the King’s Victories in Battle

Psalm 21:1-13

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... for ever” in v. 4 and 2 Sam. 7:13, 16). 21:8–12 In what appears to be a divine oracle the king is told of the power he may wield against his enemies and foes (lit. “haters”). In the middle of this promise Yahweh is made the subject: in his wrath the LORD will swallow them up. Thus, the king does what he does because he is enabled by God. The enemies’ character is made plain by expressions like they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes. Verse 10, with its reference to destroying their ...

2663. My Shepherd and My Host

Psalm 23:1-6

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... , as familiar as this psalm is, there is more than first appears. It is not a tranquil psalm, as many assume. We must observe its intent: it affirms what the Lord provides; it does not pretend to report on worshipers’ circumstances (note the LORD is the grammatical subject). What he provides is peaceable, but the echoes we get of what life may bring our way may be quite disturbing. We may walk through the valley of the shadow of death and we must affirm, I will fear no evil, because we are tempted to fear ...

2664. Murder

Matthew 5:21-26

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... it into sharper ethical focus. Hill calls it “a radical intensification of the demands of the Law” (p. 119). To the generation of Israelites who received the law through Moses came the command not to murder (Exod. 20:13). Those who did would be subject to judgment. Jesus intensifies the restriction by saying that anyone who is angry with his brother will answer to the court. God’s judgment goes beyond the act to the inner attitude that produces the act. Kingdom righteousness demands the removal of any ...

2665. The Voice of the Lord in the Thunderstorm

Psalm 29:1-11

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... his throne in his palace surrounded by his royal court. The closing verse comes as a surprise. All we have heard thus far is of royal glory, a thunderous voice that is powerful and majestic. But now we hear of what this monarch grants his subjects. The strength that is to be appropriately ascribed to him in the opening verse he in turn bestows to his people. It is also remarkable that the strength dramatically exhibited in the thunderstorm, seemingly violent and out of control, is here channeled to God’s ...

2666. Ask, Seek, Knock

Matthew 7:7-12

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

7:7–11 Earlier in the sermon (6:5–15) Matthew brought together a portion of Jesus’ teaching on the subject of prayer. Now he expands it by stressing how important it is for believers to be persistent in prayer. The present imperatives, “keep on asking,” “keep on seeking,” and “keep on knocking” (Williams) indicate that prayer is not a semi-passive ritual in which we occasionally share our concerns with ...

2667. Past and Future Deliverances and Present Trust and Obedience

Psalm 40:1-17

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... literary style to state a preference of one thing over another in terms that sound like an absolute dichotomy to our Western ears (see G. B. Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible [Philadelphia: Westminster, 1980], pp. 110–17). The main subject of the speaker’s proclamation is Yahweh’s righteousness (vv. 9–10). Other terms spell out its significance, namely his faithfulness and salvation, and his love and truth. They indicate that “righteousness” in this context is a relational term, not a ...

2668. In Praise of the King at His Wedding

Psalm 45:1-17

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

Psalm 45, a royal psalm, is unlike any other psalm. Most psalms praise God (with God as the sentences’ grammatical subject), but this one praises the king. It opens with, “You (i.e., the king in v. 1) are the most excellent of men,” and closes with, “the nations will praise you (i.e., the king) for ever and ever.” This departure from the norm is explained by the superscription. This ...

2669. God Will Redeem My Soul from the Grave

Psalm 49:1-20

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... the latter a hope. The reason the psalm commands such universal attention is because it contains words of wisdom and understanding. For some readers this claim smacks of arrogance. But this is because we tend to think of “wisdom” and “understanding” as subjective (i.e., my wisdom). The Bible, however, acknowledges a wisdom that is objective, one that is true whether or not humans recognize it. This is the wisdom represented here; it is presented not to showcase the speaker’s insight but to reveal ...

2670. The Cost of Following Jesus

Matthew 8:18-22

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... .) Additional Notes 8:20 Son of Man: Albright-Mann translate hyios tou anthrōpou with “the Man,” on the basis that it emphasizes the representative character of Jesus’ ministry as Matthew sees it and is more faithful to the original Hebrew/Aramaic (p. 95). For the extensive literature on the subject, see NIDNTT vol. 3, p. 665.

2671. Rest for the Weary

Matthew 11:25-30

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... epiginōskō, “to know exactly, completely, through and through” (BAGD, p. 291). 11:28 Weary and burdened: The perfect passive participle (pephortismenoi) expresses a state of weariness from having carried a heavy load. 11:29 Yoke: A symbol of obligation and subjection (cf. Moore, Judaism, vol. 1, p. 465). In Pirke Aboth (3.6) the law is described as a yoke. Humble: In classical literature the idea of humility was generally held to be a vice. The Gk. tapeinos means “undistinguished/subservient.” The ...

2672. The God Who Blesses Israel’s Harvests and His International Praise

Psalm 67:1-7

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... way may be known on earth” (lit., v. 2 is a dependent Hb. clause, not a separate petition, as in the NIV). Second, we should note the similarities and differences between verses 2–5 and 6–7. Verses 2–5 and Verses 6–7 Subject: peoples, nations the ends of the earth Action: praise, be glad, sing fear Reason: God judges and guides the nations God blesses us with rich harvests The differences between the respective actions of the nations and their supporting reasons are certainly not incompatible, but ...

2673. God's Chosen Servant

Matthew 12:15-21

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... healed all their sick. There is no particular reason to conclude that since he healed them all, the many who followed him were all sick people needing help (see Filson, p. 148). Why Jesus would warn his followers not to make him known has been the subject of considerable scholarly debate. Matthew records five occasions on which Jesus commanded silence (8:4; 9:30; 12:16; 16:20; 17:9). It may have been that he wanted to avoid further trouble with the Pharisees. No sense in antagonizing those who are already ...

2674. From the Miry Depths

Psalm 69:1-36

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... of the Psalms, the time of your favor may refer to the morning (5:3; 46:5; 143:8; cf. 32:6) and to the time of the morning sacrifice in particular (Num. 28:1–8). The image of drowning in a cistern is repeated, but here it is the subject of petitions: Rescue me from the mire (vv. 14–15). In addition, a parallel is drawn between the deep waters and those who hate me. Formulaic petitions follow that focus on turning God’s face (vv. 16–18). The emphasis in this section lies in reminding God of the case ...

2675. A History Lesson: From Ephraim to Judah, from the Exodus to Zion

Psalm 78:1-72

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... , 42). But as it turns out, this repentance reached only their mouths, and not their hearts (vv. 36–37, cf. v. 8). Nonetheless, God repeatedly restrained his anger, though justified, and forgave their iniquities. We should note that in the OT God is rarely the subject of the verb “atone.” In most cases a priest performs the atoning sacrificial rites, but here God takes it upon himself (see BDB, p. 497). In addition, here it is God who remembers—in this case, human frailty. 78:40–43 Verse 40 begins ...

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