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 3576 to 3600 of 4942 results

3576. How Beautiful are You

Song of Songs 4:1-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

4:1–15 · The king’s rehearsal of the maiden’s beauty and his invitations to love constitute this longest single unit in the poem. The first half of the passage is a descriptive song with highly figurative language and is bounded by the inclusio, “How beautiful you are, my darling” (4:1, 7). The descriptive song mixes pastoral, domestic, and urban images common in ancient love poetry (e.g., myrrh, lilies, pomegranates, etc.). The language of the love poem now becomes increasingly erotic and explicit. The ...

3577. I Have Come Into My Garden

Song of Songs 5:1-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

5:2–8 · That King Solomon is not the lover the maiden has invited to enter her “garden” is made clear by this second lengthy search narrative. Her wishful thinking in 4:16–5:1 becomes a reality, if only in a night vision. The one she has longed for, the one to whom she has pledged her love, stands at her very door! The shepherd identifies himself by making mention of his dew-drenched hair, hardly unusual for one who sleeps outside and tends flocks through the night, but most unusual for a king with the ...

3578. Where has Your Lover Gone

Song of Songs 6:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

6:1–3 · Convinced that the maiden’s lover is indeed better than others and worthy of such loyal devotion, the harem women accept the maiden’s charge (6:1). They too will join the quest for the absent lover, if she can only provide some clue as to his whereabouts so they might commence searching.The maiden’s enigmatic response (6:2–3) almost defies explanation. Is she speaking literally of his vineyard or of a secluded garden haunt the lover frequented? If she is, she should go there and seek him out ...

3579. How Beautiful Your Feet

Song of Songs 7:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The answer to the maiden’s question (7:1–9) is predictable: “Dance for us because your physical beauty infatuates us.” The two-character interpretation makes this another descriptive song about the maiden by the king or bridegroom. This portrait of the maiden’s physical charms moves up from the feet instead of down from the head (cf. 5:1–5). The reference to the king as a third party in verse 5 has led many to assign verses 1–5 to the friends of the bridegroom or royal (male) onlookers. Prominent in the ...

3580. If Only You Were To Me A Brother

Song of Songs 8:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

In escorting the shepherd to her mother’s home the maiden accomplishes two goals: she gains approval from her mother and the brothers of the shepherd, and she fulfills her dream of consummating their vows in the place where she was “schooled” by her mother in the art of romance and lovemaking. “Spiced wine” and mandrake apples were renowned aphrodisiacs in Egypt and Mesopotamia. The phrase “nectar of my pomegranates” (8:2) has distinctly erotic connotations, the woman’s breasts being identified with ...

3581. Babylon, Edom, and Arabia

Isaiah 21:1-10, Isaiah 21:11-12, Isaiah 21:13-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

These oracles are linked by the theme of the prophet’s office of watchman (21:6, 8, 11–12). Isaiah is waiting to see what the Lord is doing and proclaims what he sees as an oracle. In the oracle concerning Babylon (21:1–10), the meaning of “Desert by the Sea” (21:1) is not exactly clear. It may possibly be the territory of Babylon north of the Persian Gulf. Isaiah compares the attack of Elam and Media on Babylon to whirlwinds coming from the desert. The prophet experiences great anguish when he understands ...

3582. Prologue

Isaiah 40:1-31

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The Beginning of Restoration (40:1–48:22) 40:1–11 · Prologue:Isaiah 40:1–11 gives the context for reading chapters 40–48. The people of God have gone into exile because of their sins, but Isaiah affirms that the exile will end. The exile is therefore an expression of God’s judgment. It is first a just judgment; second, it is a form of restitution for damages. Israel and Judah not only have abandoned Yahweh but also have detracted from Yahweh’s glory by giving it to idols. The exile was a time in which God’ ...

3583. Proclamation of Restoration

Isaiah 48:1-11, Isaiah 48:12-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Yahweh has planned everything that has happened and will happen on this planet. However, the events themselves are directed toward the creation of a new era. Though God’s people may fail, Yahweh himself remains faithful to introduce and bring in that new era. The new era is not eschatological in the sense that it is far off. Instead, like the judgment, it is always near. The restoration of the Jewish people from exile introduced this era in a grand way. Its future lies hidden in the revelation of God’s ...

3584. The Cup of the Lord's Wrath

Isaiah 51:17--52:12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The prophet brings the people back to their own situation (51:17–23). When God’s judgment came on them, there was no word of comfort. The suffering of judgment is metaphorically described as a “cup” (51:17). The “cup” is an expression of the fullness of the anger of the Lord: “ruin and destruction, famine and sword” (51:19). Now, he graciously rouses them from their drunken stupor. The Lord who judged them will again defend his people. He removes the cup of judgment from them. He encourages them in that ...

3585. Zion's New Name

Isaiah 62:1-12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The prophet prays that the era of God’s victorious kingship, bringing full “salvation” to his people, may come soon (62:1–5). Then the nations will recognize the glory of Zion, which was trampled down by the enemies of God. The new names given are descriptive of the new era: “Hephzibah” (“my delight is in her”) instead of “Deserted,” and “Beulah” (“married”) instead of “Desolate” (62:3–4). The Lord will rejoice over his people. Out of concern for his people, the Lord has appointed watchmen (62:6–12). The ...

3586. A Prayer for God’s People

Isaiah 63:7--64:12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Isaiah publicly proclaims the acts of the Lord’s love (Hebrew hesed) for his people, whom he adopted as his sons and daughters (63:7–14). He redeemed them in the expectation that they would be loyal to him. However, they were unfaithful and opposed his will (“grieved his Holy Spirit,” 63:10). The past era of grace and compassion is over. The godly look back over the history of redemption with a renewed longing to be included. In the past God raised up Moses, and no one could oppose his will. God showed the ...

3587. Examining Public Worship

Jeremiah 7:1-29, Jeremiah 7:30--8:3

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The basic mode of poetry in 2:1–10:25 is interrupted by a prose sermon. The sermon, a sharp attack on moral deviations and misguided doctrinal views about the temple, stirs up a vehement response, as we learn from a parallel account in Jeremiah 26:1–15. Attack on venerated tradition is risky business (cf. Acts 7). The sermon, on worship, leads to some instructions designed to correct misguided worship (7:16–26) and to halt bizarre worship (7:27–8:3). It is a prelude to further talk about siege (8–10). ...

3588. Dealing with Drought

Jeremiah 14:1--15:21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

If past chapters have emphasized God’s punishment of his people through the sword, these two deal primarily with drought. Famine pushes the people to pray, even to acknowledge their sinfulness. God refuses to help; no relief is in sight. The prophet is pained by the people’s plight, and, in a different way, by his own. Chapter divisions here obscure two symmetrical halves (14:2–16 and 14:17–15:9). In each there is a description of the famine (14:2–6; 14:17–18), a prayer (14:7–9; 14:19–22), and a divine ...

3589. Seventy Years of Captivity

Jeremiah 25:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Chronologically, 25:1–14 precedes chapter 24. The date, when allowance is made for variant practices in counting regnal years, can be synchronized with Daniel 1:1 to be 605 BC. Soon after the battle of Carchemish in 605 BC, between the Egyptians and the Babylonians (46:2), Nebuchadnezzar succeeded Nabopolassar as king. In 609 BC Jehoiakim followed the godly Josiah to the throne. Since Josiah’s rule began in 640 BC, the thirteenth year (25:3) was 627/6 BC. In much of the book Jeremiah has spoken in the ...

3590. Going Back on One’s Word

Jeremiah 34:1-7, Jeremiah 34:8-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

34:1–39:18 Review · Case Studies in the Failure of Leadership: Incidents from the reigns of two kings, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, are told in chapters 34–39. The actors include Jeremiah, princes, and the Rekabite family. The stories, not chronological, are prelude to the fall of Jerusalem (chap. 39). “Fire” and “burning” are key words. The stories are a forceful commentary on ungodly leadership and on spiritual rebellion. Here is the account of the total rejection of the word of God, whether received via a ...

3591. Babylon

Jeremiah 50:1--51:64

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

God will punish Babylon. Her gods will be discredited, her city demolished. Other nations are repeatedly summoned to arms to completely destroy Babylon. Israel is called to escape, for this is God’s deliverance for her. These three themes—Babylon, the attacking foe, and Israel—like juggler’s balls recur in the oracle. The oracle is in two halves, with corresponding and contrasting features in each (50:4–44; 51:1–53). (See Aitken.) “I am against you” occurs in both halves (50:31; 51:25). Each half has a ...

3592. Lamenting a City in Shambles

Lamentations 1:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The city is Jerusalem. The date is after either 597 BC or 587 BC. In 598, provoked by Jehoiakim (609–598), Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. Less than ten years later Zedekiah rebelled against his overlord, Nebuchadnezzar. The Babylonian king laid siege to, captured, and burned the city. The acrostic poem depicts the result, notes the enemies’ triumph, and acknowledges that God brought about the disaster because of Judah’s sin. The absence of a comforter is a repeated note ...

3593. Idolatry

Ezekiel 14:1-11, Ezekiel 14:12-23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

We are not told why the elders come and sit down in front of Ezekiel. If they are anticipating a cozy fireside chat, they are about to be disappointed. Three times God says that these elders have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces (14:3–4, 7). This, however, refers to more than the practice of idolatry. Perhaps the elders have just heard Ezekiel’s narration of the temple idolatries that he saw in a vision. “How awful, how blasphemous,” they might have said among ...

3594. Prophecies Against Tyre and her King

Ezekiel 28:1-19, Ezekiel 28:20-26

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The concern of most of chapter 28 is an individual identified in verse 12 as the king of Tyre. There are two clear parts to this unit. The first is verses 1–10, an oracle of judgment. Verses 11–19, on the other hand, are a lament. Verses 1–10 perpetuate the maritime connections of Tyre that chapters 26 and 27 emphasize, but verses 11–19 do not. The city is ruled by a monarch who fancies himself a god. Again the point is made, as in chapters 26 and 27, that Tyre’s location confers on it an almost superhuman ...

3595. A Lament for Egypt

Ezekiel 30:1-26

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Ezekiel predicts that a sword will come against Egypt (30:1–19). Egypt will take six of her supporters with her to her doom: Cush, Put, Lydia, Arabia, Libya, and the people of the covenant land. This last expression refers to foreign mercenaries serving in the Egyptian armies. The general declaration of Egypt’s demise (30:1–9) is followed by a specific announcement of how this demise will occur (30:10–12). Nebuchadnezzar will be the instrument of God’s judgment. Verse 11 describes what the Babylonian king ...

3596. The Temple Proper

Ezekiel 40:48--41:26

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Ezekiel 40:5–47 describes the temple area (outer court/inner court). Ezekiel 40:48–41:26 turns to a description of the temple building. Like Solomon’s temple, it has three parts on an east-west axis: (1) the vestibule/porch (NIV “portico”) (40:48–49); (2) the outer sanctuary or the Holy Place (41:1–2); and (3) the inner sanctuary or the Most Holy Place (41:3–4). Note here the increase in numbers. So far we have seen seven steps into the outer court, eight steps into the inner court, and ten steps into the ...

3597. Division of the Land

Ezekiel 48:1-29, Ezekiel 48:30-35

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

With the external boundaries now in hand, Ezekiel can turn to the matter of interior boundaries: how the land is to be divided among the tribes. The order of tribal allotments is unlike anything in any previous period of Israelite history. The sequence from north to south is Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, Judah, priests/Levites, Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad. Tribal areas named after Jacob’s sons by concubines are placed at the extremes (in the north, Dan and Naphtali by ...

3598. Troubles and Victory

Daniel 12:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The victory will not come without persecution and perseverance. These words encourage the godly in any age to await the kingdom of God. The saints are promised life everlasting and joy, whereas the ungodly will experience everlasting disgrace. All who die will be raised to life, but not all who are raised in the body will enjoy lives of everlasting bliss—only those whose names are recorded in the book of life. The godly respond to God and will be accounted to be wise; their wisdom is like a tree of life, ...

3599. Punishment of War and Captivity

Hosea 8:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

This chapter describes how Israel’s sinfulness is leading to the coming destruction of the nation. In the first section (8:1–7), the prophet Hosea indicates that God will bring a devastating war on Israel because they have worshiped a golden calf and because they have been politically unfaithful in their covenant relationship with God. The political judgment in 8:1 may refer to the attack of their enemy Assyria, which brought an end to the Syro-Ephraimite War. The stipulations within God’s covenant ...

3600. The Locust Invasion as the Lord’s Judgment of Judah

Joel 1:1-12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

1:1–12 · The devastating consequences of the locust invasion:Joel first addresses the general population and the elders (1:2), invoking the audience to “hear” his message. The nuance of the Hebrew root for “hear” implies that the audience understands the message and responds. The prophet also implores the people to recount this event to their descendants, in hopes that their children will learn that covenantal disobedience requires divine punishment. The incomparable catastrophe that plagues the ...

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