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 3601 to 3625 of 4339 results

3601. The Defeat and Death of Saul

1 Chronicles 10:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... of David in the following chapter. First Chronicles 10:8–12 relates the aftermath of the battle, focusing on the shameful dishonoring of the body of Saul by the Philistines. The placement of Saul’s head and armor in Philistine shrines emphasizes the religious character of this victory and Saul’s association even in death with Canaanite spirituality. In the end Saul’s kin at Jabesh Gilead (see Judg. 21:1–25; 1 Sam. 11:1–11) retrieve the bodies of Saul’s family from the Philistines, observing ...

3602. Transferring the Ark: First Attempt

1 Chronicles 13:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... of this event is at a threshing floor (13:9), a foreshadowing of a later threshing floor that will mark the site of the temple in which the ark will finally rest (1 Chron. 21:18). David’s anger and fear (vv. 11–12) reminds the reader of the mysterious character of Yahweh’s will and the need for God’s servants to make inquiry of and submit to that will. David’s searching question in verse 12 will be answered by the provision of the Levites in chapter 15. The chapter ends in 13:13–14 with the ark ...

3603. Transferring the Ark: Second Attempt

1 Chronicles 15:1-16:6

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... but also David’s priestly role, akin to both that of the Levites (robe of fine linen) and that of the priests (linen ephod). The account closes, however, with the dark figure of the Saulide Michal accentuating the brightness of David as a normative character, dancing and celebrating before Yahweh. By bringing the ark into Jerusalem, David identifies this city as the capital of his nation and Yahweh as the king he serves. It also reveals that worship lies at the heart of David’s agenda for Israel and ...

3604. Shishak Attacks Jerusalem

2 Chronicles 12:1-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

There is, however, a third phase to Rehoboam’s rule, depicted in 12:1–13a. Rehoboam’s success leads to his downfall as he “abandon[s]” and is “unfaithful” toward Yahweh, vocabulary typical of the Chronicler’s depiction of negative characters (see above on 2 Chron. 7:12–22). As expected, such disobedience leads to divine discipline in the form of an attack by Shishak king of Egypt (931–910 BC), whose campaign in western Asia is attested in Egyptian records (ANET 242–43, 263–64). This ...

3605. The Reign of Abijah

2 Chron 13:1–14:1

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... note. Reference to a prophetic source for this reign reminds the reader of the authority of this account. While no explicit theological evaluation is offered for Abijah, his speech and the outcome of his reign confirm his status as a normative character in Chronicles. Abijah is a reminder that the division of the kingdom and rebellion against the Davidic house was not to be an enduring circumstance within Israel. Through this the Chronicler expresses a future hope for the Davidic house for his Persian ...

3606. The Reign of Jehoshaphat

2 Chronicles 17:1-19

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... practices and sites from his nation (17:3–6) by positively facilitating instruction among the people (17:7–9). He commissions five officials, nine Levites, and two priests for itinerant teaching of the law throughout his kingdom. The account stresses the written character of their source for teaching, noting how they took with them “the Book of the Law of the Lord” to the various towns of Judah. Although the books of Chronicles stress the centralization of worship at the temple in Jerusalem and with ...

3607. The Account of Ahaz

2 Chronicles 28:1-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... discipline, here in the form of military defeat, at the hands of first the Arameans and then Israel, both key threats from the north (see Isaiah 7). Second Chronicles 28:8–15 represents one of the few times the Chronicler focuses on characters from the northern kingdom, but in this case a prophet (Oded) confronts the victorious northern army (with its capital at Samaria), calling them to care for their southern military captives in a merciful way (strikingly similar to the actions of the Good Samaritan ...

3608. The Account of Manasseh

2 Chronicles 33:1-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The Chronicler’s primary source, the book of Kings, depicts Manasseh as the worst character, that king who seals the fate of Judah (2 Kings 21:12–15; 23:26–27; 24:3–4; cf. 24:20). While not ignoring Manasseh’s disobedience, the Chronicler presents this king as a role model, one whose repentance after an exilic punishment to Babylon showcases the Chronicler’s ...

3609. Nehemiah's Prayer

Nehemiah 1:1-11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... (1:11), and (9) a petition for favor with the king (1:12). Many of these same themes appear in the prayers of Ezra 9, Nehemiah 9, and Daniel 9. Nehemiah’s sensitivity to the people and his dedication to constant prayer indicate his godly character. He has a deep understanding of God and his word as revealed in the five books of the Pentateuch. Apparently, during this extended time of prayer, Nehemiah realizes that God is calling him to take action and to lead the project for revitalizing the struggling ...

3610. Nehemiah Helps the Poor

Nehemiah 5:1-19

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Nehemiah not only must face opposition from without; now he has to face opposition from within the Jewish community (5:1–19). Christian leaders today find the same to be true, and it tests a leader’s character even more than opposition from without. In this case the nobles and officials, the powerful and the well-off in the community, are treating unjustly the underprivileged, the needy, and the poor. This exploitation or oppression by one’s fellow human beings is one of the most detrimental evils in ...

3611. Mordecai’s Petition to Esther

Esther 4:1-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Contributing to the state of confusion is distraught Mordecai, whose wailing is heard throughout the city, and whose transformed outward appearance—the wearing of sackcloth and ashes—is noticeably out of character for a man of his social status (4:1). In the Bible, sackcloth and ashes typically accompany laments and mourning for the dead, and in certain cases, fasting for the deliverance of a people (e.g., Gen. 37:34; Lam. 2:10–12). Mordecai’s demeanor and unusual garb appropriately ...

3612. Mordecai Is Exalted

Esther 10:1-3

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , banquets, celebrations, parties, and festivities fill the story line. Food and drink abound, as lavish affairs show off wealth and power, celebrate important events, and commemorate victories. The content of the book is entertaining and comical, and its characters are colorful and amusing. But even more significant, the book of Esther underlines numerous biblical truths. Among them, Haman’s story confirms that “pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Esther and ...

3613. Job's First Test

Job 1:6-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... time a personal name and a being responsible, in the Chronicler’s mind, for standing against Israel and inciting David. To read into Job the much-later and present theological notions of Satan as the devil is to misunderstand this Joban character. One commentator has tried to capture the idea by British parliamentary parlance: His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition (Janzen, 262). In Job, the Adversary appears to be in the habit of patrolling the earth looking for indictable behavior. In this scene, he stands ...

3614. Job’s Opening Soliloquy

Job 3:1-26

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The silence among the array of characters at the end of the prologue is shattered. The outburst is striking. Here, psychologically, Job moves from silence to give voice, in the company of others, to his calamity. Out of his anguish, Job curses his existence, focusing primarily on the day of his birth. Imagery of light and darkness, ...

3615. Job's Third Reply to Bildad

Job 26:1--31:40

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... a self-contained reflection on wisdom and where one may find it. The impasse between Job and his friends has increasingly heightened. One wonders whether the storyteller is here sending down a sounding to find our bearings. None of the characters has yet found wisdom. We have seen firsthand the limitations of human understanding. The storyteller therefore embarks, in Greek choruslike fashion, on a contemplative musing about wisdom. The poem opens by considering earth’s precious metals and stones and the ...

3616. The Lord Speaks

Job 38:1--41:34

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

38:1–41:34; 40:3–5; 42:1–6 Review · God’s Speeches with Job’s Responses:The polyphony in the words and ideas that have cut across the respective characters’ monologic points of view grinds nearly to a halt with God’s thunderous voice. Job finally gets to stand before God. The wish is granted. But, teasingly, this will be no dialogic interchange. This is monologue. God has a different set of values, other premises than those held by ...

3617. Epilogue

Job 42:7-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... friends uttering God-censurable words. Most agree that Job, no matter what the proposed stages, had that component. Beyond that, disagreement quickly arises. What appears clearest is that both Job and the friends have indeed spoken, that God comments on those characters here in the epilogue, and that scholars have left us with two general paths to follow. One path strives to harmonize; the other does not. Efforts to harmonize vary. (1) God, in his final praise, is hereby declaring that Job, despite ...

3618. Psalm 45

Psalm 45:1-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The psalmist depicts the king as a man (literally “fairer than the sons of man”) eternally blessed by God (45:2)—a mighty warrior of excellent character, more powerful than the nations (45:3–5). This king is none other than God (45:6–7; cf. Heb. 1:8–9 and ancient Hebrew tradition). His very garments exude fragrance; he is admired and honored from far and wide (45:8–9). The king, the author declares, is ...

3619. Psalm 53

Psalm 53:1-6

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Appropriately placed between two psalms in which David scathingly denounces heinous plots and acts against God’s people, Psalm 53 deplores the character and dealings of those who reject God, and it applauds God’s righteous judgment of such people. Psalm 53 essentially replicates Psalm 14. Like other psalms in book 2, Psalm 53 favors the use of Elohim (God) over that of Yahweh (Lord); wherever the name Yahweh appears in Psalm 14, ...

3620. Psalm 54

Psalm 54:1-7

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... his reasons for needing help (54:3), his confidence in God (54:4–5), and his commitment to praise God for helping him (54:6–7). David does not focus primarily on those chasing him but on God, who can deliver him. He relies on God’s character, power, and integrity to keep his word (54:1, 5). He presents a crucial difference between himself and his enemies: he turns to God; they do not (54:2–3; cf. 53:1, 4). God is David’s deliverer, vindicator, protector, and sustainer (54:1, 4, 7). Being ...

3621. Psalm 77

Psalm 77:1-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... resolution to his troubles (77:1–2). Thinking about God seems to exacerbate his problems, causing him to lose sleep (77:3–4). Pondering the past brings no comfort, only questions: has God given up on his people (77:7)? Has God’s eternal character faltered (77:8)? Does God no longer care about Israel (77:9)? Still discouraged, Asaph determines to think specifically about God’s mighty works toward Israel and his power over nature (77:10–20). Asaph gains a correct perspective on God and praises him ...

3622. Psalm 103

Psalm 103:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

In nearly every verse, David expresses adoration toward God for his character or acts. In Psalm 103:1–5, he remembers God’s goodness to him: forgiving him, healing him, preserving his life, meeting his needs. David notes that God also demonstrates his care for others (103:6–8). God is not a machine, automatically condemning us as he well could (103: ...

3623. Psalm 110

Psalm 110:1-7

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... rejected his people. In Psalm 110, God the Messiah conquers the nations of the world (110:5–6). Psalms 111–13 reveal that, having experienced victory, God’s people are then able to rejoice freely. Set in heaven, 110:1 introduces the psalm’s main characters: the Lord (Yahweh), the Lord (Adonai), and the enemies. The Lord announces both that he will conquer the Lord’s enemies (110:1) using the Lord’s scepter (royal authority, power) (110:2) and that the Lord is an eternal priest of a special ...

3624. Psalm 111

Psalm 111:1-10

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... –7). In 111:1, the author determines to publicly praise God. Then, in verses 2–9, he does so, speaking of God’s memorable works, which are worthy of thoughtful study—works by which the righteous and compassionate God redeems and cares for his people. In light of God’s character and works, the author (111:10) declares that true spirituality arises from having right attitudes toward God and right actions for God. He then concludes with praise for God.

3625. Lady Wisdom Exemplified

Proverbs 31:10-31

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... by wisdom and faithful instruction (31:26). In sum, she vigilantly oversees the affairs of her home, exhibiting no traits of the lazy (31:27). Not surprisingly, although not to be taken for granted, her children and husband praise her, publicly extolling her unsurpassed character and accomplishments, and the town’s leading citizens should as well (31:28–29, 31). As the book concludes, the foundational and lasting benefits of reverence for God (31:30; cf. 1:7; 2:5; 8:13; 9:10) are contrasted with the ...

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