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 4201 to 4225 of 4770 results

4201. Holding to the Lord’s Paths Amidst Threatening Stalkers

Psalm 17:1-15

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... have probed, examined, and tested” (not the hypothetical action of the NIV). Yahweh has already “assayed” (lit., NIV test) the speaker, who now awaits Yahweh’s public verdict (v. 2). In contrast to human judges, Yahweh probes not mere behavior but the heart. In view of the full extent of Yahweh’s examination, we may be surprised, even appalled, at the psalm’s apparent claims of sinlessness (you will find nothing, and my mouth will not sin). But these must be read in the context of similar claims ...

4202. Intercession for the King Before Battle

Psalm 20:1-9

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... the believer must turn to God and address him with a request. (In contrast to conceptions that are more Greek or Western, where truth and reality are considered as states of being in their own right, the conception of the Hb. Bible views truth and reality in a predominantly relational context, that is, between God and humans. The Hb. term closest to what we tend to mean by “truth” is ʾemet, which is more accurately translated “constancy, reliability, fidelity” [see Holladay, Hebrew Lexicon, p. 22 ...

4203. The Fulfillment of the Law

Matthew 5:17-20

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... of all great ethical teaching. Although we may not reach the stars, they still serve us well as reliable navigational aids. 5:17–20 To the pious Jew the law was perfect and unchangeable. Jesus’ life and teaching appeared to many to indicate a lower view of the law. He healed on the Sabbath, failed to perform ritual duties, and was lax in observing religious feasts. It was necessary, therefore, for Jesus to point out at the beginning of his sermon the relationship of his teaching to the law. Verse 17 ...

4204. The Trustworthy Lord Over Nature, Nations, and Armies

Psalm 33:1-22

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... vv. 10–12, cf. Isa. 8:10; 14:24–26), and his eyes by which he observes all humanity (vv. 13–19). The one divine power oversees the realms of creation, history, and providence. Verses 16–17 draw upon Israel’s ancient songs of Yahweh war: in view of Yahweh, the warrior, armies, and horses fail (Exod. 15:1–4; Judg. 5:18–22). Perhaps what is most remarkable is how the psalm moves from universal to particular claims. Yahweh is celebrated as Creator of the universe and Lord of history but also as he ...

4205. Treasures In Heaven

Matthew 6:19-24

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... ” (the NIV follows Tyndale’s translation of brōsis as rust, which lacks support from the LXX) is a grammatical expression meaning “eaten by moths,” we have three ways in which earthly possessions are destroyed. In the ancient East elaborate clothing was viewed as part of a person’s treasure. Such material was easily devastated by moths. “Eating” could refer to the gnawing of mice and other vermin (McNeile, p. 84) or in a more general sense to what Weymouth calls “wear-and-tear.” Since ...

4206. A Prayer for the Sick

Psalm 38:1-22

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... . It was common in ancient Israel (Job is the most notable OT case) and elsewhere in the ancient Near East to assume the sick person was suffering divine judgment for some sin against God or the gods (for a graphic portrayal of this world view in the ancient Near East, see Keel, Symbolism, pp. 79–81). As a result, acquaintances kept their distance from the “sinner.” The sick suffered not only physical and emotional anguish (“My back is filled with searing pain,” and “I groan in anguish of heart ...

4207. The Would-Be Pilgrim Who Thirsts for God: Part I

Psalm 42:1-11

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... image of the roar of your waterfalls. Now instead of the living God supplying streams of water for the speaker’s thirsting soul (42:1–2), he drowns him: all your waves and breakers have swept over me. (On 42:8 see the Additional Notes.) In view of God’s threatening flood the psalm appeals to God as my rock and complains, Why have you forgotten me? The irony of God’s “forgetting” is heightened by the preceding confession, “I . . . remember you.” Verse 9 is the first mention of the enemy. They ...

4208. The Would-Be Pilgrim Who Thirsts for God: Part II

Psalm 43:1-5

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... imply that they somehow restrain the would-be pilgrim from journeying to the temple, a circumstance entirely possible through much of Israel’s and Judah’s troubled history. Between these petitions in 43:2 is a variant of the complaint of 42:9, except this time, in view of threatening enemies, appeal is made to God as my stronghold. After the petitions have been voiced, the psalm draws to a close with a variant of the vow of praise. This one shows that it will be a fulfillment of his hope of going (Hb ...

4209. Our Mighty Fortress

Psalm 46:1-11

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... to bestow blessing. It is one thing to confess God is our “refuge”; it is another to resolve therefore we will not fear. Confessing what we should believe is easy; bringing our hearts to feel that confessed security is monumental. This is the case especially in view of the magnitude of the threat: though . . . the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. In the ancient world, the mountains symbolized the pillars of the earth that stabilize it over the chaotic waters (18:7; 104:5–6; Job 9:5–6). A ...

4210. Applause for the Ascending King of All the Earth

Psalm 47:1-9

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... 9) to applaud and shout as this symbol of Yahweh’s throne (cf. v. 8) is marched in procession up into the inner temple. This opening call to worship is substantiated with historical reasons for praise (vv. 2–4). Because verse 5 appears to view this ritual event in retrospect, we may suppose the actual procession and a great deal of applause, shouting, and the sounding of trumpets took place between verses 4 and 5. Once the fanfare subsides, the liturgist enjoins the congregation to continue the sound of ...

4211. Zion’s Divine Defender

Psalm 48:1-14

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... his holy mountain. It is holy not because of moral qualities but because it is set apart (the concrete meaning of “holy”) by God’s choice (87:1–2; 132:13). The psalm describes it as beautiful in its loftiness. The temple mount is impressive when viewed from the Kidron Valley, but one would be hard pressed to establish it as the joy of the whole earth because of its inherent qualities. The mountains around it are, in fact, higher (cf. 125:1–2), and it would probably go unnoticed were it not for ...

4212. Jesus Questioned about Fasting

Matthew 9:14-17

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... Cor. 11:2; Rev. 21:9f.). The messianic wedding feast is under way: now is the season for joy, not mourning. The reference to a day when the bridegroom will be taken away anticipates the death of Jesus. Some modern commentators feel this reveals the point of view of the early church (Filson, p. 140; Green, p. 104). The argument is only as strong as one’s conviction that Jesus would not have been able at this point in his ministry to predict his own demise. Two illustrations from everyday life point up the ...

4213. A Pilgrim’s Prayer to Fulfill Vows at God’s House

Psalm 61:1-8

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... ) is another psalm expressing physical longing for the house of God (42:1–4) from a distant land (42:6) and also prays for guidance to his dwelling (43:3). (Also cf. Ps. 121, which exhibits anxiety at the thought of the pilgrim journey.) In view of the above, Psalm 61 was sung probably not at the temple but in the pilgrims’ home region before the journey began. Reference to the king indicates the psalm originated in the monarchical period. “Your tent” need not be restricted to the tabernacle of the ...

4214. The Pilgrim’s Thirst for God in a Dry and Weary Land

Psalm 63:1-11

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... a regular temple liturgy. We can thus see that it was characteristic of Yahweh’s worshipers to consider themselves “refugees” at the temple and there to enjoy the temple feasts. We may be able to be more specific about which festival is in view, especially if the reference to a dry and weary land is more than metaphoric. From May to September Palestine annually experiences drought, and the fall festival of Tabernacles occurs on the eve of the seasonal rains. The reference to “the king” might seem ...

4215. Corporate and Individual Thanksgiving to the God Who Acts

Psalm 66:1-20

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... God, O peoples, “Praise be to God, and let the sound of his praise (Hb. tehillātô) be heard” (v. 8) / who has not set aside my prayer (Hb. tepillātî), or withheld his love from me” (v. 20). We should perhaps not view this linkage of corporate praise and individual thanksgiving as unusual. Logically, the time we should expect people to offer thanksgiving at the Jerusalem temple is during the pilgrimage festivals. In this light, the festival liturgies were composed to give occasion for worshipers to ...

4216. In Celebration of the Ritual Procession of the Cherubim-Ark

Psalm 68:1-35

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... the singers and musicians and select tribes of Israel (vv. 24–27). Although Psalm 68 makes several allusions to the ark and cherubim throughout, can we be certain that they are anything more than literary or historical? The explicit phrase your procession has come into view, O God (v. 24) implies that some of these allusions at least are ritual ones. The hearers do not merely call the cherubim-ark to their minds, they see it in the ritual procession. Moreover, verses 24–27 are not merely a reference to ...

4217. God's Chosen Servant

Matthew 12:15-21

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... to make him known is directed to the unclean spirits who fell before him confessing that he was the Son of God (Mark 3:11–12; cf. Luke 4:41). This, along with other observations, led Wilhelm Wrede around the turn of the century to develop a critical view known as the “messianic secret.” He held that belief in Jesus as Messiah came as a result of the church’s post-Easter faith. The church then put out the story that Jesus had secretly told his disciples of his messiahship and charged them not to let ...

4218. God’s Goodness Redefined: The Nearness of God

Psalm 73:1-28

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... . 2:3, 5, 9, 10.) The conception of most psalms (6:5; 30:9; 88:10–12) and most of the OT, however, is that the dead face a shadowy existence in Sheol and are believed to be cut off from Yahweh. Psalm 73 may be consistent with this majority view, but it may also share with Psalm 49 and Genesis 5 a belief that one’s relationship with God is indissoluble. If verse 24 does point to some kind of resurrection, it is interesting to note how the writer arrived at this conclusion. He did so not by virtue of ...

4219. It Is God Who Brings Down and Exalts

Psalm 75:1-10

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... not to arrogate power that is God’s. 75:6–8 A liturgist then steps forward and confirms the same themes (vv. 6–8; note the connective phrase, it is God who judges) but in the language of praise psalms, not that of the psalms of Yahweh’s kingship. In view of the farthest horizons (cf. v. 6 and 113:3), it is to be acknowledged that God, who dwells “on high,” is the one who exalts (113:5–8; 138:6). Yahweh will pour . . . out judgment on the wicked of the earth, and they will drink from this cup ...

4220.

Psalm 77:1-20

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... be translated years (as it must be understood in v. 5) or “changing” (from šnh). Thus, we have either “This is my wound/sickness: the changing of the right hand of the Most High” or “This is my entreaty: the years of the right hand of the Most High.” In view of the striking turn that takes place in the psalm’s appeal at this point, the latter rendering is more appropriate for this transitional verse.

4221. The Parable Of the Weeds Explained

Matthew 13:36-43

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... to related situations. An adaptation of Jesus’ words to a later situation should come as no surprise. What must be maintained is that in this further application the essential intent of the parable is not changed. For those who hold to a high view of Scripture the doctrine of inspiration guarantees this end. Jesus now leaves the crowd and goes into the house, where his disciples question him about the meaning of the parable of the weeds. Their question indicates that the meaning of the parable is ...

4222. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

Matthew 13:44-46

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... are synonymous) is like a man who happens onto a store of money (or valuables) hidden in a field. In ancient times people often hid money and articles of value in the ground (cf. the “one-talent man” in Matt. 25:25): without banks, and in view of frequent invasions by enemy forces, this was a sensible thing to do. Many caches were lost or forgotten and are even today being dug up in Palestine. The man in question appears to have been a farm laborer, undoubtedly poor. He was working (probably plowing ...

4223. God’s Reputation and the Destruction of Jerusalem

Psalm 79:1-13

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... land, the king, and the temple. When we readers of the Bible consider the exile, we usually do so from the clear perspective of the Former (e.g., 1–2 Kgs.) and Latter Prophets (e.g., Isa.; Jer.). We may wonder how there could be any legitimate view other than to see it as deserved divine judgment. But the Bible itself also embraces the human response, even one that expresses complaint and frustration to God (v. 5, cf. esp. Ps. 74), though without presuming the people stand in the right (vv. 8–9). Psalm ...

4224. Listening to the Liberator

Psalm 81:1-16

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... 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 thoroughly reasonable in view of the gracious relationship he has established. 81:1–5 The opening imperatives call for corporate praise expressed through singing, shouting, and musical instruments (vv. 1–3). They specify the setting for this psalm as the day of our ...

4225. From the Darkness of the Grave

Psalm 88:1-18

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... hidden his face (v. 14). Thus, behind this hostile treatment lies an adverse disposition. The terrors of sickness and death he suffers result from Yahweh’s wrath (vv. 15–17; cf. v. 7). Even social relationships are determined by God (vv. 8, 18). In view of this divine hostility the central concern of the psalm’s appeal is God himself. Thus, like most individual laments it describes the affliction in pitiful terms that would move Yahweh, but unlike most it asserts that he is the problem. In sum, the ...

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