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 3751 to 3775 of 4942 results

3751. Absalom Returns to Jerusalem

2 Samuel 14:1-33

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Absalom – In Geshur and Jerusalem: 14:1 Although his reason for wanting Absalom back in Israel is obscure, Joab plays the key role in the account of Absalom’s return. Again, the writers’ awareness of people, their characters, and their motivations is remarkable. Both Joab and Absalom are portrayed with a great deal of insight. It is possible that Joab had tried before to obtain a pardon for Absalom, as David’s comment in verse 19 could indicate. That would then explain the circuitous route that Joab used ...

3752. Job's First Test

Job 1:6-22

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

In the Presence of Yahweh: 1:6 Having established the character of Job on the basis of social reputation (1:1), evidence of divine blessing (1:2–3), and demonstrable piety (1:4–5), the narrative takes a darker turn to reveal hidden circumstances affecting Job. One day is not just any day or a day selected at random, but actually the day in Hebrew. It probably indicates a particular day set in advance for a formal gathering when, unknown to Job or any other human, a meeting takes place in which the children ...

3753. Silent Comfort: Job’s Three Friends

Job 2:11-13

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

Silent Comfort: Job’s Three Friends: 2:11 The appearance of Job’s three friends after the apparently successful completion of the double test marks a new departure in the narrative. Having witnessed the second exoneration of Job’s righteousness, the reader anticipates some resolution to his suffering. The immediate question that arises is what role these friends will play in that resolution. There is an element of surprise for the reader as the answer to that question unfolds. The three friends support the ...

3754. Mercy for the Languishing

Psalm 6:1-10

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

Psalms generally are written not out of the particular experiences of their composers but for the various experiences Yahweh’s worshipers may face. Therefore, we should ask not, “Out of what circumstances was this psalm written?” but rather, “For what kind of circumstances is it appropriate?” This prayer psalm of the individual uses language pointing to physical illness: “I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony” (v. 2). It speaks of being near death (v. 5) and of possibly being bedridden (v ...

3755. Intercession for the King Before Battle

Psalm 20:1-9

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

Both Psalms 20 and 21 are royal liturgies (as implied by the changing speakers and addressees observed below). Psalm 20 appears to be an intercession for the king before battle (esp. vv. 5, 7–8), and Psalm 21 is a thanksgiving on the king’s behalf either after battle victory or in anticipation of it. Psalm 20 may have been intoned at the temple, not only before particular battles as they arose, but as part of the regular liturgy “in the spring, at the time when kings go off to war” (2 Sam. 11:1). Both ...

3756. Thanksgiving for the King’s Victories in Battle

Psalm 21:1-13

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

Psalm 21 contains praise in response to God’s answering the intercession for the king in Psalm 20. While it may be a thanksgiving after battle victory, it is more probably a thanksgiving in anticipation of it, inspired by a prophetic oracle claiming that the intercession of Psalm 20 has been heard. This psalm also testifies that the king’s power derives from Yahweh (21:1, 5, 7, 9, 13). 21:1–6 The liturgy begins by addressing Yahweh directly with a thanksgiving that appears to respond to Yahweh’s answering ...

3757. Prayer

Matthew 6:5-15

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

6:5–6 A second important religious duty among the Jews was prayer. In the morning and in the evening the devout Jew would recite the Shema (three short passages of Scripture from Deuteronomy 6 and 11 and Numbers 15), and at nine in the morning, noon, and three in the afternoon he would go through the Shemoneh Esreh (the Eighteen Benedictions). Acts 3:1 notes that Peter and John went to the temple “at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.” According to Jewish custom, if you were in the streets at ...

3758. Past and Future Deliverances and Present Trust and Obedience

Psalm 40:1-17

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

Psalm 40 looks like two psalms of the individual spliced together. Verses 1–10 sound like a thanksgiving psalm and verses 11–17 like a prayer psalm. In support of this division we should note that verses 13–17 elsewhere form an independent prayer psalm, namely Psalm 70. Closer examination, however, reveals the integrity of the whole psalm. The thanksgiving of verses 1–10 lacks the report of distress characteristic of thanksgiving psalms (see the Introduction). The prayer of Psalm 70 also lacks any formal ...

3759. Vindication for the Sick Person

Psalm 41:1-13

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

This psalm of the individual is suitable as a prayer for the sick. In this context, it focuses on the petitioner’s vindication before “my enemies” and, thus, may not form a self-contained prayer for healing like Psalm 38 (see also the comments below on vv. 4, 10). 41:1–3 The opening blessing is unusual for a prayer psalm. Unlike the rest of the psalm, it is not addressed to Yahweh directly and was thus either spoken by a liturgist overseeing the sick person’s prayer or was adopted into this prayer psalm ...

3760. Applause for the Ascending King of All the Earth

Psalm 47:1-9

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

Applause is something most of us associate with a football stadium, not a church, but in this psalm we are directed to applaud God. This is not a quiet psalm—it also includes “shouting” and trumpets (vv. 1, 5)—but for good reason: it celebrates the great King over all the earth (v. 2). We cannot make sense of Psalm 47 in isolation; it is one of the psalms of Yahweh’s kingship and must be interpreted in light of the others. Particularly puzzling is the expression, “God has ascended” (v. 5). To what could ...

3761. Zion’s Divine Defender

Psalm 48:1-14

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

Like Psalm 46, Psalm 48 is a psalm of Zion. Both psalms begin with descriptions of Zion that are cosmic in nature and colored with familiar ancient Near Eastern imagery and then move to report political and historical events that demonstrate these claims. Here we see faith vindicated by history. This liturgy is performed “within your temple” (v. 9) and is punctuated by “we/our” confessions (vv. 1, 8, 14), perhaps sung by a choir on behalf of the congregation. The opening confession focuses on Yahweh ...

3762. God Will Redeem My Soul from the Grave

Psalm 49:1-20

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

49:1–4 Unlike most psalms, this one explicitly labels its genre as a proverb and a riddle, though sung with the harp. The reason for the latter designation becomes evident in the question of verses 5–6. The psalm stems from Israel’s wisdom tradition—comparable especially to Ecclesiastes—and its purpose is didactic. This proverb is not just for Israelites but for all you peoples, all who live in this world—irrespective of social station (both low and high) and economic status (rich and poor alike). For the ...

3763. Deliverance from Godless Opponents

Psalm 54:1-7

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

The historical superscription includes a citation from 1 Samuel 23:19. The ancient interpreter who wrote the superscription and first associated this psalm with this event in David’s life was probably prompted to do so by some similarities of situation and by the phrase, “to seek one’s life,” found in both Psalm 54:3 and 1 Samuel 23:15. As discussed in the Introduction, this is a very intriguing and helpful way of reading the psalm, once one understands “David” as the archetypal person of God. But as also ...

3764. Betrayed by a Friend

Psalm 55:1-23

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

This prayer psalm of the individual faces threat from each dimension: from social enemies engaged in oppression (vv. 9–11, 23) and from a personal enemy who was once “my companion” (vv. 12–14, 20–21). Betrayal is what makes this distress particularly wounding. The psalm also contains a singular expression of inner conflict (vv. 4–8) with which many could identify at one time or another. But the speaker does not appear to be alone. The exhortation of verse 22 (cf. 27:14; 31:23–24) and the testimony of ...

3765. A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman

Matthew 9:18-26

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

9:18–19 As Jesus continues to teach, a Jewish ruler comes to him in behalf of his daughter who has just died. Kneeling before Jesus, he declares that if Jesus will but come and touch her she will be restored to life. This ruler of the synagogue (as Mark and Luke both identify him) was an important person in the Jewish community. To seek the help of one who would be considered a dangerous heretic by the orthodox indicated how desperate he was. His faith in the power of Jesus to perform such an act suggests ...

3766. A Pilgrim’s Prayer to Fulfill Vows at God’s House

Psalm 61:1-8

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

61:1–8 The particular request of this prayer psalm appears to be for safe escort to the temple, so the speaker may fulfill his vows. Several indicators converge at this point. First, we may note the speaker’s longing for passage to your tent and the shelter of your wings (v. 4). The wish for guidance to the rock (v. 2) could be associated with the rock of the temple mount. Psalm 27 also uses “tent,” “shelter,” and “rock” as parallel expressions for Yahweh’s dwelling (27:5). It also contains several other ...

3767. Woe On Unrepentant Cities

Matthew 11:20-24

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

11:20–24 Although the crowds listened to Jesus gladly (Mark 12:37b), there followed no serious change of heart. They rejected the austerity of John and the open-mindedness of Jesus. The very towns where Jesus had performed most of his miracles had neither recognized him as the Coming One (11:3) nor turned from their sins. Thus, instead of blessing (11:6), they are to receive woe (v. 21). That the three cities mentioned in verse 21–23 lie relatively close to each other just to the north of the Sea of ...

3768. Jesus' Mother and Brothers

Matthew 12:46-50

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

Opposition Mounts: In chapter 12 Matthew relates a number of incidents that reveal the basis for Pharisaic opposition to Jesus and his ministry. Jesus vindicates his disciples’ plucking grain on the Sabbath (vv. 1–8), restores a paralyzed hand on the Sabbath (vv. 9–14), moves away when he hears of a plot against him (vv. 15–21), refutes the Pharisees’ claim that he drives out demons by the power of Beelzebub (vv. 22–32), calls his antagonists “snakes” who will be held accountable on the day of judgment (vv ...

3769. A Prophet Without Honor

Matthew 13:53-58

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

Parables of Jesus: In chapter 13 we come for the first time to Jesus’ favorite method of teaching, the parable. The seven parables recorded in this chapter form Jesus’ third discourse as arranged by Matthew, There are in the first three Gospels about sixty separate parables. In the LXX the Greek parabolē almost always translates the Hebrew māšāl, which denotes a wide variety of picturesque forms of expression, including the proverb, metaphor, allegory, illustrative story, fable, riddle, simile, and parable ...

3770. Listening to the Liberator

Psalm 81:1-16

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

Psalm 81 begins like a hymnic praise psalm (vv. 1–5) but the bulk of it is a prophetic oracle (vv. 6–16; cf. Pss. 50; 95). While the divine oracle warns the congregation of their obligation to listen and obey, the psalm opens with a clear call for celebration (so also Ps. 95, another prophetic psalm). Joy is to characterize their relationship because Yahweh has liberated them from servitude and has promised protection and provision. Moreover, the kind of commitment that Yahweh demands is not arduous; it is ...

3771. The Conspiracy of the Nations

Psalm 83:1-18

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

Unlike other corporate prayer psalms, this one actually names the national enemies (vv. 5–8), and so it would seem we have one psalm we can date precisely to a particular crisis. But we cannot correlate the nations listed in this alliance with any event narrated in the OT. This list of ten nations appears simply to summarize those who have been national enemies of the people of God, thus making this psalm appropriate for any instance where national security is threatened. Unlike most other corporate ...

3772.

Psalm 85:1-13

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

A Forgiven People Seeking Forgiveness and God’s Promise of Shalom This psalm reflects the tension of living between promise and fulfillment. When the people of God had experienced the beginnings of his grace in the return from exile (vv. 1–3), they still suffered hardships in the early postexilic period (vv. 4–7). At the same time, they were still hearing future blessings promised to them (vv. 8–13). It reflects the tension of having been forgiven and still being in need of forgiveness. This psalm also ...

3773. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Matthew 14:13-21

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

Feeding of the Five Thousand: Jesus was not the only prophet who was rejected by his own (cf. 13:53–58). John the Baptist had been treated the same way by Herod, ruler of Galilee and Perea. Matthew tells of Herod’s concern that Jesus might be John the Baptist returned from the dead (v. 2). This in turn caused Jesus to withdraw from a public to a secluded area (v. 13). Verses 3–12 record the death of John the Baptist, which had taken place earlier but is brought into the narrative at this point by Matthew. ...

3774. Vows About Acceptable and Unacceptable Associates

Psalm 101:1-8

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

The genre and function of this psalm are difficult to determine because it is unique. It begins with phrases familiar from individual thanksgivings (“to you, O LORD, I will sing praise”), but what follows are not confessions of what God has done but vows of how the speaker will live. Their closest parallel in the Psalms appears in the liturgies of temple entry (e.g., 26:1–8, 11; see the Introduction). 101:1–2a While the whole psalm is probably recited to Yahweh, only these opening verses are explicitly ...

3775. Jesus Walks on the Water

Matthew 14:22-36

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

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