Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 3376 to 3400 of 4942 results

3376. Sons of God

Galatians 3:26--4:7

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

3:26 The basis upon which Paul makes the previous statement in verse 25 is his conviction that the Galatians are all sons of God by virtue of their being in Christ Jesus. Paul continues to work with the metaphor of inheritance to underscore that all of his readers are inheritors of God’s promise. Paul emphasizes that the Galatians already are “sons” or inheritors of God’s promise. (Paul’s use of “sons” is meant not to exclude the female members of the Galatian churches, but to work with the inheritance ...

3377. Final Greetings

2 Thessalonians 3:16-18

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

The letter ends with two short wish-prayers (see disc. on 1 Thess. 3:6–13) that the peace of the Lord of peace might be with them and that the Lord himself might be with them also. In effect, Paul signs the letter by drawing attention to his own hand in the final verses (see Introduction on The Sequence of the Letters) and closes with a benediction of grace, as he does in one form or another in all of his letters. 3:16 For the emphatic pronoun, himself (standing first in the Greek sentence), see the ...

3378. Signs for Moses

Exodus 4:1-17

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

The first half of Exodus 4 continues with Moses’ last three protests. Having responded to Moses’ first two excuses by Exodus 3:15, God pressed on with instructions for Moses’ leadership without giving him a chance to speak. As soon as another opportunity arose, Moses voiced his third objection: “What if they don’t believe me?”; his fourth, “I am slow of speech;” and, lastly, his simple plea: “Send someone else.” In the second half of Exodus 4 Moses has five short encounters: with Jethro; with the Lord for ...

3379. Hebrew Servants

Exodus 21:2-11

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

Covenant Laws I: Debt Slaves and Capital Offenses: Israel’s law codes have a unique context. Other ancient Near Eastern cultures had laws that were similar in form and content, but none were integrated into an account of deliverance. Israel’s law is unique in that it is embedded in the story of the Lord’s salvation and desire to ensure the well-being of the people. In Exodus, narrative sections both precede and follow the Ten Commandments and the book of the covenant. Later, the biblical text interweaves ...

3380. Achan's Sin

Joshua 7:1-26

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

Spies, Achan, and Failure at Ai: Victory is often a prelude to disaster in the Bible. The joy of the song of Moses after the exodus has hardly died down before the people complain (Exod. 15:24). Moses faces a golden calf upon coming down the mountain after receiving the commandments of the covenant (Exod. 32). Likewise sin rears its ugly side at Jericho. Power gives birth to selfishness and miscalculation of the strength of the enemy. Joshua’s campaign to take Canaan also is a series of successes and ...

3381. The Covenant Renewed at Mount Ebal

Joshua 8:30-35

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

Worship at Mount Ebal: 8:30–35 Immediately the scene changes. The action shifts suddenly to the northern highlands, from battle to liturgy, and from death to covenant renewal. Soggin interprets the ceremony at Mount Ebal as a doublet of the renewal ceremony at Shechem (Josh. 24; Soggin, Joshua, pp. 222ff.; LXX inserts this section after 9:2). However, considering the unique roles of both passages in the book, I do not view the ceremonies as doublets. Joshua followed the teachings of Moses by building an ...

3382. Northern Kings Defeated

Joshua 11:1-23

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

Report on Northern Victories: 11:1–5 Joshua 11 begins as Joshua 10 did (10:1). When Jabin king of Hazor hears of the destruction of Jericho, Ai, and the coalition of the five kings, he sends word to other kings (cf. 10:3–4) in the region to make war on Joshua and Israel. As the king of Jerusalem rallied the kings of the south, so Jabin calls out the northern coalition forces. They respond with their might: They come out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots—a huge army, as ...

3383. Joshua's Farewell to the Leaders

Joshua 23:1-16

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

Farewell Speech of Joshua: 23:1–5 Saying goodbye is difficult for everyone, leaders and followers. In Joshua 22 the time arrives for final farewells. The narrator does not tell readers when Joshua gave his farewell, but a long time had passed. Readers can know only that Israel had rest from their enemies and Joshua was well advanced in years (lit. days). Joshua summons the local leadership of the tribes—elders, leaders, judges, and officials—to hear his final words. He begins by calling them to reflect on ...

3384. Buried in the Promised Land

Joshua 24:28-33

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

Burial in the Promised Land: 24:28–33 The book of Joshua ends with three grave traditions that set the context for the book of Judges. Joshua and Eleazer die. The religious leaders of the tribes will govern no more. A new generation must arise to challenge the people to commitment. The bones of Joseph are buried in Shechem in the burial cave of Jacob, as Joseph had requested (Gen. 50:24). Truly the land belongs to the tribes. Their ancestors now rest in Canaan. The narrator pays a high tribute to Joshua. ...

3385. Ehud

Judges 3:12-30

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

The Colorful Story Ehud: The story of Ehud is perhaps one of the oldest in the book of Judges and one of the best, from the standpoint of sheer narrative artistry. In contrast to Othniel’s story, which was a bare, black-and-white etching, Ehud’s story is full of rich, colorful detail; we are almost blinded by the brilliant brushstrokes of its color. Such accolades may come as a surprise to people who are at most embarrassed and at the least puzzled that the story is even in the Bible. They are put off by ...

3386. The Song of Deborah

Judges 5:1-31

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

Deborah' Song: The Song of Deborah is a rare treasure in the OT, an ancient epic poem embedded in a narrative. While it shares this nearly unique character with a handful of other such texts (Exod. 15:1–18; Deut. 32:1–43; Isa. 38:10–20; Jonah 2:2–9), there is wide agreement that it is the oldest literary witness to early Israelite life and faith. Some scholars believe that it, or part of it, is contemporaneous with the events themselves, while others suggest that it was composed within a generation of the ...

3387. Zebah and Zalmunna

Judges 8:1-21

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

Gideon’s Revenge: Gideon has just led the Israelites to defeat a coalition of their enemies. In a surprise attack, he and his men routed the armies and pursued them all the way to the Jordan River. Then they called in reinforcements from the tribe of Ephraim to help them in the sweeping-up effort. After a brief altercation, these took over the pursuit and executed two Midianite leaders. This would have been a good place to stop. The author could have closed the story with the stereotypic notices that the ...

3388. Samson's Vengeance on the Philistines

Judges 15:1-20

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

Samson’s Vengeance on the Philistines: The saga continues with the conflict between Samson and the Philistines heating up and expanding to affect a larger number of people. Samson’s burning anger led him to some unusual and radical actions, which he justified as doing unto them what they had done to him (v. 11). There are also some surprising developments within the Israelite camp. Admittedly shocking is the role of the Judahites. Whereas Judges 1 presents them as zealots who alone of all the Israelites ...

3389. Samson and Delilah

Judges 16:1-22

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

Samson’s Downfall and Death: Few stories in the Hebrew Bible have more recognition factor than the story of Samson and Delilah. It is a gripping, poignant drama brought to life by a gifted artist who has skillfully combined plot and characterization to present a classic story whose elements, if not the whole, have been told and retold in many cultures through all varieties of media, whether story, song, art, or film. But as we turn to this famous story, we must remember that it is part of a whole and thus ...

3390. Danites Settle in Laish

Judges 18:1-31

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

The Danites Take Their Own Inheritance: The road to chaos winds its way through Judges 18 but now widens increasingly (cf. Matt. 7:13–14) to encompass an entire Israelite tribe. The Danites were a small tribe who were never able to secure their allotment of territory in the land of Israel. Judges 1 describes their containment by the Amorites (1:34; cf. Josh. 19:40–46) and the Joseph tribe’s encroachment into their territory. The story of their migration from the area originally allotted to them to a new ...

3391. The Genealogy of David

Ruth 4:13-22

Understanding Series

Michael S. Moore

Naomi’s Commission: 4:14–15 Three times an unidentified group of Bethlehemite women speaks about or directly to Naomi in the book of Ruth. The first is in 1:19, “Can this be Naomi?” The second is here, in 4:14, Praise (lit. “blessed,” baruk; see 12) be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer (see 11). May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons ...

3392. Levi

1 Chronicles 6:1-30

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

Focus on Levi: The introduction to 1 Chronicles 1–9 pointed out a ring structure in these genealogies whose centerpiece is the present section. That the genealogy of Levi occupies such a central place in the Chronicler’s presentation should not escape the specific attention of the reader. Not only does it function centrally in the genealogical literary construction; it also functions centrally in the ideological framework with which the Chronicler probably worked. The whole Jerusalemite cult—with all its ...

3393. The People's Confession of Sin

Ezra 10:1-17

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

The Message Hits Home: The story continues so smoothly from chapter 9 that, although it switches to third-person references to Ezra, this must be an editorial change made to the Ezra memoirs. He is labeled Ezra the priest in verses 10 and 16, for he was engaging in priestly work as he instructed the people about their uncleanness and pointed to the remedy, along the lines of Leviticus 10:10–11. In this way he discharged the second half of his mission, teaching the Torah and making it the basis of communal ...

3394. Nehemiah’s Prayer

Nehemiah 1:1-11

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

The Background to Nehemiah’s Mission: The two missions in Ezra 1–6 and 7–10 were launched by the decree of a Persian king, behind which lay the sovereign will of the God of Israel, disclosed in Scripture and providence. The third and last mission, spread over 1:1–2:8 and summarized in 2:18a, also follows this pattern. The focus on Nehemiah in 1:1–10 corresponds to the description of Ezra’s qualifications by birth and training in Ezra 7:1–7. The narrative here reveals Nehemiah’s strong convictions, which ...

3395. The New Residents of Jerusalem

Nehemiah 11:1-36

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

Moving into the Holy City: At last the time was ripe for the editor to pick up, from 7:4–5, the story of the repopulation of Jerusalem. First, the ideals in Nehemiah’s prayer had to be realized on a communal level: the new focus on the Torah as determinative for the life of the community in chapter 8, the prayer of repentance in chapter 9, and the pledge of commitment to the Torah and the temple in chapter 10. Now 11:1–2 gives the procedure for allocating settlers in Jerusalem, and verses 3–24 list the new ...

3396. Haman Hanged

Esther 7:1-10

Understanding Series

Timothy S. Laniak

Esther Accuses Haman: While the events of the preceding chapter mark the beginning of reversals in Esther, there is plenty of suspense as Esther begins to put her plan into action. Although the king has shown favor to Esther and Mordecai, he has given them nothing substantive to save their lives. Haman’s head is covered in grief at the end of chapter 6; it will come under a death sentence in chapter 7. Mordecai was dressed with royal honor in chapter 6; he will be promoted in rank in chapter 8. 7:1–6a As ...

3397. The King's Edict in Behalf of the Jews

Esther 8:1-17

Understanding Series

Timothy S. Laniak

Esther’s Counterplot: Chapter 8 begins with the king’s personal fury abating, but Esther and her people still have a problem. The architect of the edict against them is dead but the edict itself—the unalterable edict—is still alive. This chapter continues the reversals begun with the parade in chapter 6. Many elements from chapters 2–3 are now taken up in the movement toward resolution. Haman’s edict from 3:12–15 will be reversed by the edict that allows the Jews to protect themselves in 8:9–16. Mordecai ...

3398. More Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 27:1-27

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

Antithetic parallelism is frequent in this chapter, in contrast to chapters 25–26. The sayings seem to be generally related in couplets, thanks to content and also catchwords (e.g., Hb. hll, to boast or praise, in vv. 1–2). There are several admonitions and the final verses (23–27) form a special unit. 27:1 One should concentrate on the present moment because of one’s ignorance of the future. This is a commonplace. See Ecclesiastes 11:4, 6; James 4:13–15; and Amenemope 19.13 (ANET, p. 423). 27:2 Synonymous ...

3399. Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

Proverbs 31:10-31

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

An acrostic poem (vv. 10–31) is a rather surprising ending to a book that consists mainly of collections of sayings and it adds to the intriguing nature of this work. The Hebrew phrase, ʾēšetḥayil (cf. Ruth 3:11), “wife of noble character,” has been rendered in many ways: mulier fortis (Vulgate), etc. Her qualities are described from a male point of view. But the description of the woman is such that no human being could possibly possess all these qualities. Hence many look to another level of meaning in ...

3400. Obey the King

Ecclesiastes 8:2-17

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

Where Is Wisdom?: A complex segment closes the section (8:1–17). Here the value of wisdom is considered in the context of people’s power over one another and the apparent lack of retribution. As usual, Qohelet concludes with a combination of positive and negative refrains. The commendation of pleasure (8:15) is muted by the preceding “this too is meaningless” (8:14) and the following “no one can comprehend” (8:17).The reader’s response to this section is likely to be complex and perhaps even contradictory ...

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