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Showing 3926 to 3950 of 4681 results

3926. Nabuchadnezzar’s Dream and Daniel's Interpretation

Daniel 2:1-23, Daniel 2:24-49

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

... The Neo-Babylonian Empire (605–539 BC) is the first kingdom, represented by Nebuchadnezzar, its first and greatest king (2:37–38; 7:4). Medo-Persia (539–331 BC) is the second kingdom, conquering Babylon (5:28) and retaining a dual heritage (6:8). A bear raised up on one side (7:5) and a ram with two uneven horns (8:20) appropriately represent this kingdom, in which Persia is dominant. Its inferiority (2:39) may relate to its government, culture, or morality—since silver is less valuable than gold (2 ...

3927. Ancient of Days and Son of Man

Daniel 7:1-14

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

... ,” and “eagle’s feathers/wings” mirrors his experience in 4:16, 33. These references, read in the light of “head of gold” status in 2:37–38, represent Nebuchadnezzar’s kingship (605–562 BC). 7:5 a second beast, which looked like a bear. Being “raised up” suggests aggression (Hosea 13:8). The Aramaic qum, “arise,” is used regarding the second kingdom in Daniel 2:39. Yahweh stirs up the “Medes” against Babylon (Isa. 13:1, 17–22; Jer. 51:1, 11–13). The “three ribs” (or ...

3928. Spiritual Warfare and Jewish Suffering

Daniel 8:1-14

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

... where the mysterious “seventy sevens” appear.1 The focus in 8:1–14 on two beasts (ram and goat, with the latter leading to a blasphemous little horn) provides an informative parallel to the previous vision (7:1–14) of four beasts (lion, bear, leopard, and nondescript, with the last leading to a blasphemous little horn). However, instead of concluding with God’s kingdom like chapter 7, this chapter ends with the persecutions of God’s people under the last kingdom and its little horn, giving only ...

3929. Gabriel Brings an Answer to Daniel’s Prayer

Daniel 9:20-27

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

... matter.”19 To singularly emphasize grace for those who have done wrong minimizes the gravity of sin. While grace is the calling of all believers, justice must accompany it—otherwise, forgiveness can be self-destructive and enable further sin. Restorative justice bears the merciful and forgiving love of God yet does not separate love from justice when appropriate consequences must be borne by the offender. Rather than seeing these two aspects of God’s character as competing with each other, we must ...

3930. What To Do While Waiting for the Judgment?

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... love that Paul described is a love that is patient and kind—not jealous or boastful, not arrogant or rude. A love that does not insist on its own way—is not irritable or resentful, that does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. A love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor. 13:4-7) We have forgotten, or we never learned, that it takes three to get married: a man and a woman and God! The church hasn’t escaped the dilemma of form rather than ...

3931. How to Escape Being Possessed By Our Possessions

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... children. At Christmas, he always gave them a paper mural of the nativity for the cafeteria. All the community came to love and respect this modest, sincere man. Shortly after his retirement, the city of Pueblo built a handsome new school building for $375,000. It proudly bears the name, “George Willis Spann” in honor of “Pop,” the man who lived a life the same time he was making a living. (7) What do I want to be remembered for? Now the fifth and final question: Am I rich toward God? That’s the ...

3932. In the Bleak Mid-Winter

Isaiah 55:1-3, Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... divine husband and the divine father. The divine father is our most valued symbol for God. We rarely apply the imagery of husband for God. But Hosea did and he did it in a powerful way. His wife, Gomer, had become a harlot. After bearing three children, she turned to a life of shame. “Playing the harlot, decking herself with rings and jewelry and going after lovers,” “burning incense to Baal.” The relationship between Hosea and Gomer was shattered. No one who has not experienced such a tragic turn ...

3933. Without Christmas, Life Would Be Impossible

Luke 2:1-14

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... first is prayer—a talking relationship with God. Think about it. Christmas makes praying possible and powerful. Matthew, in telling the Christmas in his Gospel, connects the birth of Jesus with Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the Messiah: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel.” (Matthew 1:23 NRSV) Emmanuel—God with us—that’s what Christmas is all about. And if God is with us, praying is possible and can be powerful. We read the Christmas story from that ...

3934. God Has No Grandchildren

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... When the bishop came home and spoke of what he had heard, there shone from his eyes the glint of unshed tears. After his recital of the facts, he concluded: “It was worth going round the world more than once to hear those humble native Christians bearing witness to the grace of Jesus Christ.” Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [4] That’s what we have to keep in mind—that this is who Christ is—the one who wants to give new birth. Nothing pictured this more ...

3935. Claiming Hope

Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon

James L. Killen

... should be allowed to change our lives. John called the people to repent, that is, to be ready to change. When John suspected that some of the religious people were just going through the motions of claiming the hope, he scolded them and told them that they must bear fruit that will show they had repented. Their lives should show it. Learn all you can about the saving work God does in people's lives. Learn all you can about the shape of the new possibility God wants for us. Then be ready to enter into a ...

3936. Called to Participate

Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:8-20

Sermon

James L. Killen

... The Lord is with you" (Luke 1:28). Mary was bewildered by this. The stranger explained that God was about to do the saving work for which the people of Israel had been hoping for centuries. There was to be a role in that work for Mary. She was to bear the child who would be the messiah. She could hardly have imagined what all that would require of her. But she must have known it would require the commitment of her whole life. She had a decision to make. She could have dropped her water jar and run home. But ...

3937. A Celebration of Hope

Isaiah 2:1-5

Sermon

King Duncan

... so essential to life and why the coming of the Messiah has brought hope into our world. We need hope, first of all, because there are some things in life we cannot face alone. There are some things we simply do not have the inner resources to bear. That’s a lesson most of us learn with the passage of time. One of the most refreshing things about being around young people is their feeling that they are invincible and that nothing is impossible for them. Whether it is righting the world’s wrongs, curing ...

3938. Abram Rescues Lot

Genesis 14:1-24

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... for Jerusalem. Melchizedek means “my king is righteous/justice.” Further, he is described as priest of God Most High (14:18). It was common in pagan cultures for the king to be head of both state and church. Not so in Israel, except for one who properly bears the function of prophet, priest, and king. He blesses Abram (14:19) and God (14:20a), and Abram responds with a tithe from the war booty (14:20b). It is to Melchizedek’s credit that he knows the real reason why Abram was victorious. It is God ...

3939. Hagar and Ishmael

Genesis 16:1-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... and the second half of chapter 12, then we observe an equally vivid contrast between the Abram of chapter 15 and that of chapter 16. Hagar does not help the situation. She despises (the Hebrew word rendered “curse” in 12:3) her mistress, for she can bear a child while Sarai cannot. Sarai is understandably incensed (16:5). Abram is of little help. He refuses active involvement with his lame “do with her whatever you think best” (16:6). As a result Hagar is banished from the premises. God finds her at ...

3940. The Covenant of Circumcision

Genesis 17:1-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... 18:12; 21:6). It is unclear whether it is the laughter of joy or of unbelief. Verse 18 (Abraham’s concern for Ishmael) and verse 17 (Abraham’s realism) favor the latter interpretation. Both he and his wife are beyond child-producing and child-bearing years. Often God seems to insist on the impossible to increase dependence on him. True, God will bless Ishmael (17:20), but his covenant is with Isaac (17:21). Ishmael is not lost, damned, or condemned, but he is clearly placed outside the covenant family ...

3941. Esau and Jacob

Genesis 25:19-34

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The Life of Jacob (25:19–36:43): Like Sarah, Rebekah is unable to bear children. Isaac’s prayers reverse this situation, however (25:21). Rebekah conceives and gives birth to twins, Esau and Jacob. Unlike Sarah, Rebekah is addressed directly by God (25:23). It is Rebekah who is given the startling prophecy that of the two children she is carrying, the older (Esau) ...

3942. Jacob, Leah, and Rachel

Gen 29:15--30:24

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... often, and when they do they frequently speak about God (e.g., 29:32; 30:6). By contrast Jacob speaks only once in the birth accounts of his eleven children, and that one time he does speak (30:2) is to berate Rachel. Zilpah, Leah’s maid, also bears two children, Gad and Asher (30:9–12). This is more than Rachel can take. She believes, mistakenly, that if she can just get some mandrakes, now in Reuben’s possession, she will be able to conceive. Mandrakes are herbs that give off a distinct odor and ...

3943. Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

Genesis 39:1-23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... . In the married brother’s absence, the wife tries to seduce her brother-in-law, who refuses her. She then complains to her husband, when he returns, about the “initiative” taken by the younger brother. Eventually the truth emerges, and the wife is slain for bearing false witness. Even in prison Joseph is productive and is quickly given authority (39:21–23). The Lord is with him. Joseph shares a sense of destiny, and it gets him a pit and a ride to Egypt. He is committed to being morally pure, and ...

3944. Jacob Blesses His Sons

Genesis 49:1-28

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... of the reasons this chapter is problematic is that it is so difficult to translate from the original. Indeed, it is probably the most difficult chapter in Genesis. Just a glance at the many footnotes in the NIV, which suggest alternate readings, will bear this out. Reuben, the firstborn, is disqualified from the rights of primogeniture because of his earlier incestuous behavior (35:22). Eventually the Reubenites settled in the Transjordan as one of the minor tribes. Simeon and Levi lose out because of their ...

3945. Various Laws

Leviticus 19:1-37

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... persons; fear God Verse 15: Judge fairly Verse 16: No slandering (see Exod. 20:16) Verse 16: No seeking to profit by another’s death (see Exod. 20:13, 15) Verse 17: Reprove rather than hate Verse 18: Love your fellow rather than get revenge or bear a grudge Agricultural Life Verse 19: No mixtures in animal breeding, sowing, or garments Verses 20-22: Reparation offering to remedy sex with betrothed slave girl (see Exod. 20:14; Lev. 6:1-7) Verses 23-25: No eating fruit of new tree until fifth year ...

3946. Holiness of God’s Name, and Human and Animal Life

Leviticus 24:10-23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... Lord directs that the Israelites stone him outside the camp, after those who hear his utterance lay their hands on his head as a symbolic action (24:14), apparently to return evil back to its source (cf. Lev. 16:21) so that the originator will bear punishment for his own sin (cf. 24:15). Verses 15–22, between the death sentence (24:14) and its fulfillment (24:23), specify penalties for anyone who commits similar crimes. Assault on a person resulting in a permanent physical defect (the Hebrew word is the ...

3947. Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses

Numbers 12:1-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... He is the appointed ritual mediator for all Israel, but he confesses their sin to Moses and begs for Moses’s intercession (12:11–13; cf. Job 42:7–9). The Lord implicitly agrees to heal Miriam but requires that she remain outside the camp for seven days to bear her shame (12:14–15) and presumably because she is ritually impure (cf. Lev. 13:46; Num. 5:1–4). A person healed of skin disease is permitted to enter the camp (but not his or her tent) after the purification ritual of the first day (Lev. 14 ...

3948. Law of Vows

Numbers 30:1-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , and to prevent domestic tensions, God provides a way out in Numbers 30: a father or husband can annul his daughter’s or wife’s vow when he first hears of it, but not after that, or “he [husband but also implicitly father] shall bear her culpability” (30:15, author’s translation). If he does annul it, she will be automatically forgiven (30:5, 8, 12). This is the only instance of such automatic forgiveness in the Israelite religious system. This legislation shows the high priority that God places ...

3949. 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 ...

3950. Miscellaneous Laws

Deut 23:15–25:19

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... keep warm at night. A third illustration (24:14–15) concerns paying workers each day before sunset for their work, since they have no resources otherwise to get food and the necessities of life for that day. In the case of individual sins, children are not to bear the brunt for their father’s sins nor vice versa. King Amaziah will show how this works when he executes those who have killed his father but spares their children, citing this verse (24:16; cf. 2 Kings 14:5–6). Special neighborly care is to ...

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