Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4326 to 4350 of 5000 results

4326. The Scroll and the Lamb

Revelation 5:1-14

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... -four elders (cf. Rev. 4), whose choral response is a “new song” about the slain Lamb’s worthiness to open the scroll (5:9–10). Other voices are added to this chorus, first by the thousands of angels who sing about the Lamb’s worthiness to receive worship as Lord (5:11), and then by the entire cosmos that joins in a concluding liturgy of praise for both God and Lamb (5:13; cf. Phil. 2:9–11; Eph. 1:20–22). Before John sees the Lamb, he sees a scroll in God’s right hand. Caird suggests four ...

4327. The Fellowship Offering

Leviticus 3:1-17

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... chapter 1 required a male animal. No mention is made of the age of the animal in chapter 3. Allowances of such variety in the animal may relate to the fact that only the fat of the animal is burned on the altar. Again the animal is brought before the LORD, at the tabernacle. 3:2 The next verse distinguishes between the acts of the worshiper and those of the priest. The worshiper is to press one hand on the head of the animal and then is to slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Only the fat ...

4328. Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses

Numbers 12:1-16

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... he left them. The consequences of such divine anger are usually severe. In this case, Miriam is left with a serious skin disease, like snow, probably with scaliness and flaking. When Aaron sees her, he immediately pleads with Moses for help. He addresses Moses, My lord, do not hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. Aaron acknowledges blame and begs that Moses not allow his sister’s skin to be eaten away by the disease and thus become like a stillborn. 12:13–16 Moses assents and cries ...

4329. Korah, Dathan and Abiram

Numbers 16:1-50

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... to Korah and all his followers and proposes to let God make any choices on questions of holiness and authority. The challenge is for the next morning at the tabernacle. All parties to the controversy are to bring their censers with fire and incense in them before the LORD. God will then choose the one who is holy. Moses concludes his response with a reply to the claim that he and Aaron have gone too far (v. 3) by saying, You Levites have gone too far! Moses’ reply continues in verse 8 with an address to ...

4330. Samuel Subdues the Philistines at Mizpah

1 Samuel 7:2-17

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... uniqueness—his help cannot be looked for as a supplement to that of other gods. When and only when it was clear that Israel’s worship was of God alone, it was appropriate for them to come together and reaffirm their covenant with Yahweh, the Lord, and seek his help. The main reason for their mourning is their failure to deal with ongoing Philistine incursions into their territory, and this perhaps explains Samuel’s wariness. But they had at last come to accept that the only way forward was through the ...

4331. David Spares Saul's Life

1 Samuel 24:1-22

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... have been a good source of food for David’s men. 24:6 The irony of v. 6 and v. 10 is pointed out by Edelman (King Saul in the Historiography of Judah). Although David was well aware that neither he nor anyone else had any mandate to kill the LORD’s anointed, Saul was trying to do that by seeking David’s life. 24:8–13 In that geographical setting sound would travel well over quite long distances. David’s being able to call out to Saul (v. 8) does not mean that they had a face-to-face conversation ...

4332. Job's Reply to Bildad

Job 9:1–10:22

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... above). In the OT the name appears only a few times in reference to a sea monster subdued by Yahweh: “By his power he churned up the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces” (26:12). Similarly, “Awake, awake! Clothe yourself with strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in days gone by, as in generations of old. Was it not you who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced that monster through?” (Isa. 51:9). Loss of Confidence in Divine Justice 9:14 How then can I dispute with him? How can Job hope to present ...

4333. Images of War, the Hunt, False Accusation, and Wild Beasts

Psalm 35:1-28

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... emphasize actions that Yahweh is to perform, the wishes emphasize the consequences the opponents should face: those who plot my ruin are to be put to shame (v. 4), those who pursue me (v. 3) are to have their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them (v. 6), and the hunters are to become their own prey (vv. 7–8). In another image, the fate of the foe will be to become like chaff before the wind, scattered and without substance and life. In this cycle only one verse is a formal ...

4334. The Withering of the Wicked and the Flourishing of the Righteous

Psalm 92:1-15

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... with reference to a group (the righteous and our God). Like Psalm 52, a psalm of temple entry rehearsing God’s indictment and judgment of the wicked, our psalm closes with a celebration of “the righteous flourishing” like a tree specifically in the house of the LORD and with a promise of continued praise (52:6, 8–9; also cf. 36:8–9). Both psalms also use a contrasting image to portray the fate of the wicked: in 52:5 they are “uprooted,” and in our psalm they are likened to perishing grass ...

4335. The Divine King Is Mightier than the Chaotic Waters

Psalm 93:1-5

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... monument to Yahweh’s rule, but that rule does not stand or fall with the world’s stability. The psalm does not entertain the possibility there ever was a time before Yahweh became king. After the opening acclamation there is admiration of his royal clothing: the LORD is robed in majesty and is armed (lit. “girded”) with strength (cf. 104:1–2; 45:3, 8). The clothing is not merely the pomp that goes with the authority but additionally the power to execute it (cf. esp. 45:3–7, which speaks of the ...

4336. Impending Judgment on the Oppressive Wicked and Interim Promises for the Righteous

Psalm 94:1-23

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... The promise is not for complete relief from evil, which is still future (“till”), but for some peace in the midst of evil. 94:14–16 In agreement with this blessing, the subsequent confession of trust contains a promise stated in a negative form: the LORD will not reject his people. This form of promise, in fact, points to a hope that is spelled out in verse 15 in a positive form: judgment will again be founded on righteousness. In view of such assurances the liturgist calls for social action from his ...

4337. The God of the Thunderstorm and the Proclamation of His Righteousness

Psalm 97:1-12

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... a summary statement of Yahweh’s supremacy (vv. 7–9). The closing section spells out the implications of the above: Yahweh’s people must shun evil and then they will be granted protection, light, and joy (vv. 10–12). 97:1 In response to the opening acclamation, The LORD reigns, there is to be worldwide praise. 97:2–6 Yahweh’s kingship is here exhibited, not by a static deity sitting on a throne, but by the dynamic appearance (i.e., a theophany) of the God of the storm (cf. Pss. 18:7–15; 29:3 ...

4338. Daniel’s Vision of a Man

Daniel 10:1--11:1

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... have no strength” (Dan. 10:16; NIV I am helpless). The same expression is found in verse 8 (see also Dan. 11:6; 2 Chron. 13:20; 22:9). Daniel is amazed that he can converse with such an awesome being: How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? (or perhaps the first and second parts of the verse are linked; to paraphrase: “How can I carry on a conversation with you when I am so weak?”; see the Additional Note on 10:17). He is still weak from the encounter: My strength is gone and I can hardly ...

4339. Mary's Song

Luke 1:46-56

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... there is no mention of Jesus or the resurrection. More probably the Magnificat represents an early Christian hymn, thought to derive from Mary, that has been enriched by components reflecting Israel’s psalms of military celebration. Consider the following scriptural allusions: My soul glorifies [or magnifies] the Lord: 1 Sam. 2:1; Ps. 69:30; 34:3; 35:9; Sir. 43:31. 1:47 my spirit rejoices in God my Savior: Hab. 3:18; LXX Ps. 25:5. 1:48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant: 1 Sam. 1 ...

4340. The Woman on the Beast

Revelation 17:1-18

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... these clues do not add much to John’s understanding of the mystery, the angel does provide a compressed definition of the beast’s terminus ad quem: the beast and ten kings will make war against the Lamb, which the Lamb quickly wins because he is Lord of lords and King of kings (cf. 19:11–21). The faithful followers who accompany the Lamb do so not to fight but to witness his destruction of the beast and its royal liege. Because only true disciples follow the Lamb “wherever he goes” (14:4), they ...

4341. Balaam's Donkey

Numbers 22:21-41

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... the donkey, rather than the professional seer (or presumably the servants), who sees this dangerous angel and so moves off the road into a field to avoid the danger. Balaam then beats the poor animal (v. 23) to get her back on the road. The angel of the Lord appears again, this time in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. Now the donkey has few options to avoid the sword and so moves close to one of the walls, in the process crushing Balaam’s foot. Balaam again beats the animal ...

4342. Accusations

2 Corinthians 2:12--3:6

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... :2; 11:10), Asia (1:8), and Macedonia (1:16; 2:13; 7:5; 8:1; 11:9). He obviously has at least a mental map in view. If Paul was willing to relinquish a golden opportunity to preach the gospel in Troas, an opportunity that the Lord himself had opened for Paul (v. 12), that shows how much the church at Corinth meant to him, and how concerned he was over the outcome of the situation. Whereas formerly the Corinthians, Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, had given Paul’s spirit rest, probably at the time they ...

4343. The Sabbath

Exodus 31:1-11

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... the craftsmen. They came from every tribe, qualified by their created and developed ability. The construction of the tabernacle required all kinds of skilled people: spinners, weavers, tailors, dyers, metallurgists, silversmiths, woodworkers, lapidaries, perfumers, and tanners. The Lord identified Bezalel, the master craftsman, in a special way. I have filled him with the Spirit of God (ruakh ʾelohim, as in Gen. 1:2), with skill (or “wisdom”), ability (or “intelligence”) and knowledge in all kinds ...

4344. The Song of Moses

Deuteronomy 31:30--32:47

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... plumbed its depths and resolved its questions and paradoxes. And having recognized that, it is no wonder Paul found in it a powerful engine of mission as he strove to make Israel’s messiah known as the savior of the nations, so that they too might praise the Lord God of Israel (cf. the quotation of Deut. 32:43 in Rom. 15:10 and the surrounding context, Rom. 15:8–12; cf. also the introduction). Additional Notes 31:30 The Song of Moses (actually the second one; the first was sung on the shores of the Red ...

4345. Asa King of Judah

1 Kings 15:9-24

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... the pattern for all subsequent Judean kings, who are measured in terms of whether they have been “like David” or not. 15:1–8 Abijam was just as bad as his father and, indeed, his grandfather in his later years: his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God (cf. 11:3). Because of the special place held by David and Jerusalem in God’s affections, however (11:11–13, 31–39; 14:21), the idolatry of Solomon and Rehoboam had not brought upon them the judgment of God that had been expected. It is ...

4346. The Siege Lifted

2 Kings 7:3-20

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... he himself will not eat. Salvation for the people will involve judgment for this one man, for to mock the prophetic word is to mock the LORD. 7:3–11 A leper had first brought the Arameans to Samaria during Jehoram’s reign (2 Kgs. 5:1–7), and four men with ... a consequence of siege in other places in the OT (Deut. 28:53–57; Lam. 2:20; 4:10; Ezek. 5:10). 6:26 Help me, my LORD the king: The plea is directed to the king as the ultimate court of human justice, as in 1 Kgs. 3:16–28, where we also find ...

4347. Jeroboam II King of Israel

2 Kings 14:23-29

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... we shall not read of another Judean king who is “like David” until we read of Hezekiah (2 Kgs. 18:3; contrast 15:3, 34). There seems to be some doubt in the authors’ minds about the wholeheartedness of the Davidic kings’ commitment to the LORD throughout the period from Joash to Jotham, but they have not revealed to us their reasons for holding this opinion. 14:7–14 Amaziah’s military exploits included a successful campaign against the Edomites in northern Edom (v. 7; cf. the Valley of Salt in ...

4348. Azariah King of Judah

2 Kings 15:1-7

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

4349. Ahaz King of Judah

2 Kings 16:1-20

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... right), as the king walks in the ways of the kings of Israel and the high places become centers, not of the worship of the LORD, but of the fertility cult. The language is largely that of 1 Kings 14:23–24, where Judah’s adherence to the fertility cult was ... to expect now, when a Judean once more follows the detestable ways of the nations and when we are reminded, not of the LORD’s promise to David, but of his “driving out” of the nations before the Israelites because of their sins? Is the Davidic ...

4350. Gershonites

1 Chronicles 23:7-11

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... duties (24:3); he sets apart the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun for special service (25:1); and he appoints officials (26:32). In concluding these lists (27:23) the Chronicler makes the point that David did not count those below twenty years of age, for “the LORD had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky.” 23:1 The opening clause when David was old and full of years indicates that the end of David’s reign is near. David now makes his son Solomon king over Israel. Although the ...

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