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 3576 to 3600 of 4339 results

3576. The Fall

Genesis 3:1-24

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... . The Hebrew word for “serpent” may be connected either with an adjective/noun meaning “bronze” (suggesting something that is shiny), or with a verb meaning “to practice divination.” Two things are said about the serpent (3:1–7). First, a word about his character—he is crafty, subtle. These terms translate a neutral word that in the Old Testament may describe either a commendable (“a prudent man” in Prov. 12:16, 23) or a reprehensible (the “crafty” in Job 5:12 and 15:5) trait. Second ...

3577. The Lord of Birth and Death

Genesis 18:1-33

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... must be angelic companions, both of whom essentially drop out of the story after verse 9. The number three should not be pressed for any trinitarian significance. Abraham serves the three visitors a meal and watches while they eat (18:8). The supernatural character of these visitors is evidenced by the fact that they know Abraham is married, and they also know his wife’s name. This probably shocks Abraham. He does not recognize his visitors, but his visitors know all about him. There stands with Abraham ...

3578. Bitter Waters

Exodus 15:22-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... reminder that human nature has not changed. Each generation can see itself with chagrin in the increasingly strident and perpetually unhappy Israelites. The challenge is to be committed to obedience and trust that the Lord, fully in keeping with his character (Exod. 3:14), will be faithful to provide what is necessary. Further, leaders of God’s people are inevitably the target of unjustified criticisms, obliged to sacrifice personal feelings for community well-being and “pray for them which despitefully ...

3579. The Golden Calf

Ex 32:1–33:6

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... enter her and cause suffering. In this case, the idolatrous Israelites have committed spiritual adultery by breaking their marriage covenant with the Lord. Here, unlike Numbers 5, the Israelites’ guilt is not in question. Aaron does not manifest great strength of character. His response to Moses’s inquiry sets the responsibility almost entirely on the Israelites and their fundamentally evil nature (32:21–24). Worse yet, he reduces his active role in fashioning the calf to a passive one: “I cast it ...

3580. Divine Nonacceptance of Inaugural Ritual Mistake

Leviticus 10:1-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... to be carried out to the letter if he were to dwell among faulty, mortal people without destroying them. Priestly failure in this regard could affect the safety and well-being of the people, both physically and in terms of their attitude toward God’s nature and character. The surviving priests are sanctified, so they are forbidden to mourn (10:6–7, as in 21:10–12, at the strict standard for the high priest). Thus the God of Israel rejects death as evil and therefore alien to his holy nature, which his ...

3581. Separating Defilement from Sanctuary and Community

Leviticus 16:1-34

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... and can read thoughts (1 Cor. 4:5); rather, it demonstrates to his created beings, who cannot read thoughts of faith, that he is fair when he extends mercy. Thus the judgment in the New Testament has the same function as the ancient Day of Atonement judgment: to vindicate the character of God, which perfectly balances mercy and justice in love (cf. Ps. 85:10).

3582. Various Laws

Leviticus 19:1-37

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... in the Bible emphasizes that for God’s people, every aspect of life is holy and under his control. Thus, the heading in 19:2 calls for the Israelites to be holy as the Lord their God is holy, and the following laws teach them how to emulate his holy character (cf. Lev. 11:44–45) in the ways they interact with him and each other. The principle underlying all of God’s laws occurs at the end of the first half of the chapter: love for one’s fellow or neighbor (19:18). Near the end of the second half ...

3583. Holiness of Time

Lev 23:3–23:41

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... only rest from laborious or occupational work. But the Day of Atonement is like the weekly Sabbath in that all work is excluded (23:27) so that God’s people can completely focus on him. Each festival has a distinct character. Passover and Unleavened Bread commemorate the traumatic and glorious historical circumstances of Israel’s birth as a nation, when the Lord delivered his people from Egyptian bondage (cf. Exodus 12–13). Several festivals joyfully celebrate God’s agricultural provision for ...

3584. Living as People of the Name

Deut 14:1-29

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Chapter 14 is an exposition on the third commandment. It involves matters not only of speech but of living as well. If Israel is God’s “firstborn,” his “son” (Exod. 4:22–23), then they are called to bear the image and character of the living God in their persons and in their lifestyles (Exod. 19:6; see Harman, 155–63). For example, in the face of death, they are not to lacerate or mutilate their bodies, as if that would keep them in contact with the dead, or to cut off locks ...

3585. Micahs Idols

Judges 17:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... ’s syncretistic worship eventually results in the idolatry of an entire tribe is featured in 17:1–18:31. 17:1–13 · The first of two extended narratives begins in 17:1–5, with the return of some stolen silver by one of only two named characters within the epilogue. The specification of his name is probably for ironic purposes, as Micah, meaning “Who is like the Lord,” is someone who turns out to be an idol worshiper. In any event, after he returns the silver to his mother, likely out of fear ...

3586. 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 ...

3587. Widows and Their Worries: Back to Bethlehem

Ruth 1:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... March to April confirms the correctness of what Naomi heard in the fields of Moab (1:6). But the women’s successful trip is not the sole concern of the chapter. With the conversation between Naomi and Ruth exhibiting mutual resolve and powerful confessions, the author is establishing the exemplary characters of these women. Furthermore, the grim atmosphere is beginning to turn to a more hopeful tone for Naomi, reflecting a hope that becomes more fully developed in what follows.

3588. Saul Made King

1 Samuel 10:9-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... . 14:41–42). By this means the tribe of Benjamin and the clan of Matri are chosen, and finally Saul himself is singled out. Knowing that he will be selected, Saul has hidden himself among the baggage (10:22); this response foreshadows the type of character flaws and lack of faith that will come out later in his interactions with David. When Saul is finally presented to the people, they shout with enthusiasm, “Long live the king!” (10:24). At this point, Samuel reminds the people of “the rights and ...

3589. David, Nabal, Abigail

1 Samuel 25:1-44

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... reinforce her point Abigail makes a play on her husband’s name, which sounds like the Hebrew word meaning “fool.” (The name itself likely derived from a word meaning “noble,” or perhaps his real name was suppressed and “Nabal” was used because of the character of the man.) In spite of his wealth, no one has anything good to say about him, least of all his wife. Nine times Abigail refers to David as “my lord” or “my master,” an indication of her deference to David. Abigail’s implicit ...

3590. Amnon and Tamar

2 Samuel 13:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... should have forfeited any right he had to the throne. Perhaps David is reluctant to take any action against Amnon because he himself has been guilty of adultery. David’s failure to discipline Joab, Amnon, and Absalom and to control the strife within his family in general constitutes a major character flaw and reflects the tragic course on which he has set his family by his mistreatment of Bathsheba and Uriah.

3591. Victories over the Philistines

2 Samuel 21:15-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... as David or suggesting two Goliaths, then we should understand the David and Goliath story as one akin to George Washington and the cherry tree—it may not be historically factual but it is true in a larger sense, since it accurately reflects the man’s character. After all, the whole account of David’s rise to the throne is predicated on his ability to defeat the Philistines, and the story of the slaying of Goliath is used as the catalyst for his amazingly quick move into the national spotlight.

3592. David’s Census

2 Samuel 24:1-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... to consider the Old Testament view of “Satan.” Contrary to popular thinking, for the ancient Israelites this figure was not the personification of evil, the archnemesis of God—this view developed in later Judaism and Christianity. Rather, “satan” in the Old Testament describes a character (human or divine) who functions as an adversary or opponent, or even a prosecutor in legal contexts (cf. 1 Sam. 29:4 [David]; 2 Sam. 19:22 [Abishai]; 1 Kings 5:4; Ps. 109:4). Even in the book of Job, the “satan ...

3593. Security Clearance

1 Kings 2:1-46

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... benefited David. A plausible reason is that Joab must die as a penalty for supporting a rival, sending a strong message to any other pretenders that this is how such miscreants are treated in the Solomonic administration. Knowing the game, Joab becomes the second character to cling to the horns of the altar in as many chapters. Joab does win a moment of reprieve when Benaiah hesitates to strike him down in the inner sanctum, but Benaiah’s conscience is assuaged by a lengthy speech from the king explaining ...

3594. Asa King of Judah

1 Kings 15:9-24

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The Asa narrative features introductions to two other characters. Baasha will formally enter the stage in the next section of 1 Kings 15 but here gets a brief cameo because of an aggressive campaign to control the key southern access point of Ramah. It is this aggression that leads to the introduction of Ben-Hadad, an official title for ...

3595. Elijah Flees to Horeb

1 Kings 19:1-21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... they are followed by a “sound of sheer silence” (NIV “gentle whisper”) and a repetition of the question “What are you doing here?” The prophet’s feeling of isolation is countered by a task list for him—not only providing introductions to some characters who will follow in the story but comforting Elijah as well. The anointing of Elisha as successor, we will see, is vital for the dismantling of Ahab and Jezebel’s kingdom, and thus Elijah’s apprentice will be the prophetic catalyst for the ...

3596. The Lord's Judgement of Ahaziah

2 Kings 1:1-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Although the first chapter of 2 Kings begins with a notice about Moab’s rebellion (1:1–2), this thread will not be picked up until chapter 3. More pressing for the moment is Ahaziah’s awkward nosedive that reveals something about his character: he is not willing to consult the God of Israel but rather opts for an alternative deity (literally “Baal the fly,” here located in the Philistine city of Ekron) to learn his prospects for recovery. The impotence of this god is further enhanced when Ahaziah ...

3597. The Widow's Oil & Elisha's Ministry

2 Kings 4:1-37

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... trust in the prophetic word without fostering complacency, even as it delivers her from the immediate threat of her creditors—and thus the woman is not childless. Elisha’s care for the widow sets the tone for the rest of the chapter, as another female character features in the next episode (4:8–37). The two women are in different straits: the widow was in debt and stood to lose her offspring, while the next woman is married and affluent, yet has no children to lose. This finely crafted episode has ...

3598. The Siege Lifted

2 Kings 7:3-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the market with affordable food just as Elisha has forecast. In this case, the fulfillment of the prophetic word is yet another miracle in this stretch of text, where a divine interruption occurs in order to draw attention to particular facets of God’s character, and the prophetic word here turns apparent hopelessness into a moment of salvation. As for the skeptical officer (7:2), he is sadly trampled during the resulting pandemonium at the gate (7:17), a hard way to learn the benefits of submission to ...

3599. Ahab's Family Killed

2 Kings 10:1-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... .) Jehu seizes the opportunity to once more cite the prophet Elijah and continue his purge of the Ahab administration. Ahaziah’s relatives are not exempt; they seem oblivious to recent events of destruction but are quickly apprised of Jehu’s policy of elimination. Jehu recruits one further character—Jehonadab son of Rekab—whose descendants feature prominently in Jeremiah 35. By all accounts the Rekabites are a conservative group of traditionalists, worth commandeering for their political capital.

3600. Judah

2 Chronicles 2:1--4:23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... is that of Judah, not surprising in light of the fact that descendants of this tribe formed the majority of the postexilic audience, for which Chronicles was written, and that royal descendants of this tribe (Davidic dynasty) functioned as the central characters of the book. This focus on Judah reminds the reader that Israel’s hope was tied especially to the small Judahite community that survived the exile, rebuilt the temple, and reestablished communal and spiritual rhythms. It is into this community ...

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