Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: touch, feel, sense of touch, tactile sense, tactility, contact, using one's hands, sensation, sense, suspicion, sneaking suspicion, notion, inkling, hunch, fancy, apprehension, presentiment, premonition, foreboding, love, care, affection, fondness, tenderness, warmth, warmness, emotion, sentiment, emotional state, compassion, sympathy, empathy, fellow feeling, understanding, concern, solicitude, solicitousness, tender-heartedness, brotherly love, sensibilities, sensitivities, self-esteem, ego, pride, opinion, belief, view, impression, intuition, instinct, estimation, guess, theory, hypothesis, thought, way of thinking, point of view, atmosphere, ambience, aura, air, mood, climate, character, overtone, undertone, tenor, spirit, quality, flavour, colour, aptitude, knack, flair, bent, talent, gift, skill, art, trick, faculty, ability, propensity, inclination, sensitive, warm, warm-hearted, tender, tender-hearted, caring, soft-hearted, sympathetic, compassionate, empathetic, responsive, receptive, intuitive, thoughtful

Antonyms: bad feeling, acrimony, animosity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, aversion, bitterness, detestation, disgust, dislike, disrelish, enmity, friction, grievances, grudges, hatred, hostility, loathing, malevolence, malice

Showing 2901 to 2925 of 3082 results

2901. Bitter Waters

Exodus 15:22-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

15:22–18:27 Review · Tests in the Wilderness: Neither the route of the Israelites to the mountain of God nor Mount Sinai itself can be identified with certainty, but the traditional location of the mountain in the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula is fitting. The region is rugged, far from the traveled northern routes across Sinai, and isolated from those routes by a barren and desolate wilderness. The Israelites’ journey is fraught with difficulties, and their faith is tested. Likewise they test God. ...

2902. Personal Injuries

Exodus 21:12-36

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

In regard to personal injury and abuse (21:12–35) the matter of intentionality is prominent. If an individual dies as the result of a premeditated attack, the killer is to be put to death. If, on the other hand, “God lets it happen” (21:13), then there is a system to protect the slayer from those who would take revenge. This is briefly mentioned in Exodus and developed significantly in conjunction with the cities of refuge (Num. 35:6–34; Deut. 19:1–13). Dishonoring parents by physical or verbal abuse, a ...

2903. The Golden Calf

Ex 32:1–33:6

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

32:1–34:35 · Apostasy at Sinai:Moses’s role as covenant mediator is particularly poignant in these chapters. Repeatedly he appeals to the Lord on behalf of the wayward people, seeking God’s forgiveness and promise of his continuing presence with them. Neither comes automatically, but Moses persists, even offering himself as a substitute. Finally, in asking to see God’s glory, Moses is given assurance of God’s forgiveness (Exod. 34:6–7). 32:1-29 · While Moses is on the mountain receiving the instructions ...

2904. Northern Kings Defeated

Joshua 11:1-23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Chapter 11 turns to the third major campaign, in the northern region. Just as Israel’s victories over Jericho and Ai spur the southern kings into action, their victories over the southern kings now prompt the northern kings to join forces against them (11:1–15). This northern coalition, led by Jabin, king of Hazor, is much broader and significantly larger than the coalition of southern kings, perhaps reflecting the degree of alarm the Israelites have now stirred up among the Canaanites. The exact number of ...

2905. Samson's Marriage

Judges 14:1-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Having noticed the Philistine woman in Timnah, Samson goes to his parents demanding that they get her for him as a wife. The parents, alarmed that he wants to marry a non-Israelite who belongs to the occupying power, try in vain to suggest that he find someone from among their own people. But Samson is insistent, and using an expression that will eventually appear again in the epilogue’s refrain (cf. 17:6; 21:25), he justifies his request by declaring that the woman is literally “right in his eyes” (14:3 ...

2906. Danites Settle in Laish

Judges 18:1-31

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The setting changes briefly in 18:1 as new characters are introduced who will play significant roles in the continued unfolding of the story. But first, the shortened version of the refrain appears again in 18:1a, perhaps to highlight the fact that the events to be narrated will again illustrate the anarchy that results from the Lord not being honored as king. The inability of the Danites to take possession of their allotted land has already been disclosed in Joshua 19:47 and Judges 1:34. What the tribe ...

2907. Widows and Their Worries: Back to Bethlehem

Ruth 1:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Setting: Famine and Family Tragedy (1:1–5) · The grim opening of this story grips the reader on three counts. First, it is neither a prosperous nor a fruitful time in the nation’s life (1:1). Second, and not unrelated, the people of Israel face famine (1:1). The fact that a famine prevails in Bethlehem, in Judah’s “house of bread,” together with the religious crisis dominating the landscape indicates an unpleasant visitation by the Lord on the land. The Lord promised famine as one among many of his acts of ...

2908. A Worthy Woman Meets a Worthy Man

Ruth 2:1-23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Ruth finds work (favor) in Boaz’s field (2:1-3) · The author introduces the reader to a new character (2:1). Before offering a name introduction, the writer gives information about this person that will be vital to the development of the plot. First, the character happens to be a distant male relative of Naomi’s husband. Second, this relative is designated as a “man of standing” (2:1). The very existence of someone related to Elimelek and Naomi gives the reader cause to hope that Naomi’s misfortunes may ...

2909. Samuel Anoints Saul

1 Sam 9:1–10:8

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The Lord’s choice is a man named Saul, who belongs to a prominent family from the tribe of Benjamin (9:1–13). He is tall—a head taller than anyone else—but he is looking for lost donkeys and not a crown when he encounters Samuel. After searching the tribal areas of Ephraim and Benjamin, Saul is ready to give up the search, but his servant suggests that they consult a highly respected man of God. Fortunately the servant has a small amount of silver to give to the prophet, for payment of some sort was ...

2910. David, Nabal, Abigail

1 Samuel 25:1-44

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

To make matters worse for David, the prophet Samuel dies (25:1). The revered leader who has presided over the beginning of the monarchy and has anointed both Saul and David is gone. He was a great figure in Israel’s history, playing important spiritual and political roles in the tradition of Moses. Thus, David is left without one of his strongest supporters. After his meeting with Saul, David continues to live in the region south of Hebron. The “Carmel” mentioned in verse 2 was near Ziph and Maon, not the ...

2911. Absalom's Death

2 Sam 18:1–19:8

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

As the battle draws near, David’s men are commanded as usual by his nephews Joab and Abishai (10:9–10), but this time a mercenary contingent is led by Ittai from Gath (18:1–8). David volunteers to go with them but is dissuaded in view of the fact that the enemy wants above all to see him dead. As the troops march out to battle, David urges them to be gentle with Absalom. Since David and his men are outnumbered they choose the rugged terrain of “the forest of Ephraim” as the battle site (18:6). Aided by ...

2912. Job's First Test

Job 1:6-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

1:6–12 · The scene: the heavens. Amid an assembly of divine beings, the Adversary and God consider Job’s behavior. Contemplating the Adversary’s challenge about Job’s motivations, God agrees to allow Job to be tested. A council composed of divine beings is on the stage here. NIV’s “angels” too easily misdirects the modern reader. The idea of a divine council of deities is systemic throughout the ancient Near East. As but one example, the ancient West Semitic deity El presided over such a council (COS 1.86: ...

2913. Bildad's Second Speech to Job

Job 18:1-21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Overview of the following three text: 8:1–22; 18:1–21; 25:1–26:14 · Bildad’s Words: Bildad grants less piety to Job than does Eliphaz and appears a bit more patient than Zophar. Bildad argues, at first, with comparison. Job is alive, his children are not. He urges Job to sift through his life to make sure that he is free of the guilt that has taken his children’s lives (8:4–6). Bildad develops a plant metaphor to teach Job the truth that the impious wither (8:11–19), though, for a season, they sometimes ...

2914. Job's Second Reply to Eliphaz

Job 16:1-17:16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Eliphaz has just argued that Job is arrogant in his rejection of conventional wisdom, that it is the wicked who suffer torment, distress, and ruin and receive it in full (15:32). Job’s opening remarks (16:1–6) ridicule his friends: “Will your long-winded speeches never end?” (16:3). He too, if he were in their shoes, could say the same things they say, but now that he recognizes the devastation of his life and his exception to the rule, he would be more encouraging than they. His friends are no friends. ...

2915. Job's Second Reply to Bildad

Job 19:1-29

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Though Job seems to jab right back at Bildad by opening with Bildad’s own first words from his previous speech, “How long” (19:2; cf. 18:2; NIV does not reflect the precise repetition in the Hebrew), Job, as is now the pattern, has all the friends in mind (19:1–6). The friends continue to grieve, humiliate, and abuse Job. The friends’ abuse, however, is matched by God himself (19:7–12). Job, again using figurative images of assault (cf. 16:7–17), utters a lament of God’s mistreatment of him. As Job ...

2916. More Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 26:1-28, Proverbs 25:1-28, Proverbs 27:1-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

25:1–29:27 Review · The Later Colomonic: A second “Solomonic” proverbial collection begins in 25:1, extending through 29:27. These were “compiled” or edited two centuries after the reign of Solomon, during the reign of Hezekiah. 25:1–27:27 Review · The first subsection of this collection is on relating wisely to rulers, neighbors, family, and social menaces. In these chapters God is rarely mentioned (only 25:2, 22) and numerous comparisons are used (in the NIV, “like” occurs more frequently in chaps. 25–27 ...

2917. Everything is Ephemeral

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

1:1 · Title: The book begins with a title that attributes these “sayings” to “Qoheleth.” Deuteronomy 1:1; Nehemiah 1:1; Proverbs 30:1; 31:1; Jeremiah 1:1; and Amos 1:1 introduce their books similarly as containing the words of a specific individual, without necessarily claiming thereby that this person wrote or edited the present canonical book. Although often left untranslated as the proper name Qoheleth, this word is more likely a professional title, literally “the Assembler” of the people. The same ...

2918. Warnings against Wrong Attitudes Toward God and Government

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Ecclesiastes 5:1–9 offers an interlude before Qoheleth concludes his investigation of life under the sun. This section is distinct from the one that immediately precedes it, as indicated by the repeated references to God, the dominance of imperative verb forms, and the complete absence of first-person verb forms. Here for the first time in the book, the author directly addresses the reader. This section, addressing one’s attitude toward God (5:1–7) and government (5:8–9), in its context may serve to warn ...

2919. God and Idols

Jeremiah 10:1-16, Jeremiah 10:17-22, Jeremiah 10:23-25

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The blistering tirade against idols (10:1–16) is directed against “Israel,” which as an umbrella term includes both Israel and Judah. Here Judah is particularly in view. Judah is warned about the astral deities commonly worshiped in Babylon. Some scholars claim an exilic setting for the poem and many deny its unity and that Jeremiah wrote it. The contrast between homemade idols and the living God has seldom been better drawn. With cutting sarcasm, the Lord describes the process of shaping, stabilizing, and ...

2920. Resurrection and Reunification

Ezekiel 37:1-14, Ezekiel 37:15-28

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Chapter 37 divides clearly into two sections. The first (37:1–14) describes Ezekiel’s vision of a valley full of dry bones that come to life. In the second unit (37:15–34) Ezekiel takes two pieces of wood, inscribed respectively with the names of the tribes of Judah and Ephraim, and brings them together, indicating the reunification of the two nations divided for hundreds of years. One day the Spirit of the Lord transports Ezekiel to a valley full of bones, somewhere in Babylon. He is led on an inspection ...

2921. Problems of Unfaithfulness in the Family

Hosea 1:1-2:1

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Covenant Unfaithfulness in God’s and Hosea’s Family (1:1–3:5): The superscription in 1:1 verifies that Hosea received a divine revelation from God in the reign of Jeroboam II and during the reign of several Judean kings, basically from about 755 to 725 BC. Hosea records no dramatic call like Isaiah or Jeremiah (Isaiah 6; Jeremiah 1); his ministry simply begins when the Lord speaks to him concerning marrying Gomer (1:1–2). This paragraph can be divided into two parts. In the first part, Hosea marries Gomer ...

2922. God’s Judgment of the Foreign Nations

Amos 1:1-2:5

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

God’s War Oracles against the Nations (1:1–2:16): This book begins like most other prophetic books: by identifying the author of these words (Amos), his secular employment (a manager of shepherds), his location (Tekoa), his audience (the northern tribes in Israel), and his time (during the reign of Uzziah and Jeroboam II), probably around 765–760 BC. The words that he spoke he “saw” (NIV) or “envisioned” (NASB), a term that points to the prophet perceiving them through the medium of divine revelation. ...

2923. Second Message: A Word of Encouragement

Haggai 2:1-9

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

2:1–3 · The problem: The inferiority of Zerubbabel’s temple: Not quite a month after the work has begun (cf. 1:15), Haggai speaks again to encourage the people, assuring them that their labor is not in vain, that what they are doing is indeed meaningful and pleasing to God. The problem is addressed in 2:3: “Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory?” Those who had seen Solomon’s temple fifty years prior to this disparaged the new temple now under construction. Ezra 3:10–13 recounts the ...

2924. Fourth Message: The Restoration of the Davidic Kingdom

Haggai 2:20-23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

This is the second message on this date and is directed to Zerubbabel. The events described here are clearly eschatological. The phrase “I am going to shake” is the same as in 2:6–7 and refers to the great upheavals that will precede the establishment of God’s kingdom. God will overturn royal thrones. The same Hebrew word is used of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in such passages as Deuteronomy 29:23; Isaiah 13:19; Jeremiah 20:16; and Amos 4:11. As sudden and as final as Sodom’s ruin was, so will it ...

2925. God’s Love for His People

Malachi 1:1-5

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The book of Malachi is an oracle, a word, from Yahweh. “Oracle” (or “burden”) is a technical, prophetic term for a word of judgment on both the nations and Israel/Judah. The prophet functions as an ambassador whose duty is to proclaim the word, no matter how burdensome the message or how unresponsive the people. The prophet is appointed by God to discharge his office, and in that appointment there is a sense of urgency (cf. Jer. 20:9). He must proclaim the oracle, because the oracle is the word of Yahweh. ...

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