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Showing 451 to 475 of 2844 results

451. Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem

Nehemiah 12:27-47

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

The Grand Finale: It was time for a celebration. We need to remember that the edited account continues from 11:1–20, and what intervenes is a compilation of supplementary material. The first half of chapter 11 briefly told the story of the repopulation of Jerusalem and enumerated the families who were involved in it. It used a source other than Nehemiah’s memoirs—one that focused on the role of the people and their leaders, not Nehemiah. The editor used this same source from 12:27 to 12:30. In verse 31 we ...

452. Jesus the Bread of Life

John 6:25-59

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

The discourse begins as a dialogue between Jesus and the crowd, and becomes more and more of a monologue as it continues. The crowd had begun following him because of the miracles he had done (cf. 6:2), but since the multiplication of the loaves, they have been pursuing him as one who can satisfy their physical hunger and (they hope) their political ambitions as well (cf. 6:15). They think they have found him, but they have not. They have been fed, yet they have not begun to receive what Jesus has to give ...

453. The Plot to Kill Jesus

John 11:45-57

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

The public ministry of Jesus, which began with the cleansing of the temple (2:13–22), exhibits throughout features that in the Synoptics had been associated with Passion week in Jerusalem: first, his practice of teaching in the temple (e.g., 7:14–8:59; 10:22–39; cf. Luke 21:37–38), and second, the theme implicit within that teaching that both he and his audience are involved in a trial, calling their respective witnesses and seeking vindication (e.g., 5:30–47; 8:12–20). Compared to the synoptic records of ...

454. Exhortations

Philippians 4:2-9

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

Fresh Plea for Unity Two members of the church are begged by name to reach a common mind as fellow Christians, and another of Paul’s co-workers is urged to help them in this regard. 4:2 Euodia and Syntyche were evidently two very active members of the Philippian church, probably foundation members. From the fact that (in a letter meant to be read to the church) Paul begs each of them by name to agree with each other in the Lord, it may be inferred that the disagreement between them, whatever its nature, ...

455. From Shem to Abram

Genesis 11:10-32

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

The Descendants of Shem to Abraham 11:10–26: This linear genealogy opens with a toledoth formula and recounts the lineage of Noah’s son Shem. Following the Table of Nations (ch. 10), this genealogy focuses on the line that leads from Noah to Abraham, through whom God would build his own people. The list consists of nine persons as it points to a tenth person (Westermann, Genesis 1–11, p. 560) and probably does not include every ancestor from Shem to Terah. The list establishes that the era from Noah’s ...

456. Abraham Tested

Genesis 22:1-19

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

The Binding of Isaac: In an episode repulsive to a contemporary audience, God commands Abraham to offer up his son Isaac as a whole burnt offering. How could the God who created life and blessed humans with fertility require his faithful servant to offer up his only, beloved, son as a sacrifice? How could God ask Abraham to give up the son of promise for whom he had waited so long? On the other hand, how could Abraham obey God’s command without energetically entreating for Isaac’s life as he had done for ...

457. Not Because of Israel's Righteousness

Deuteronomy 9:1-6

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

Not because of Israel’s Righteousness: The warnings against false assumptions continue. Moses has already demolished any idea of national chauvinism arising from Israel’s election (7:6–10) and also any economic arrogance arising from their future prosperity (8:17f.). In this chapter he targets what is perhaps the most pernicious and perennial distortion of all—moral self-righteousness in the interpretation of military conflict. Together, these three challenges penetrate deeply to the evergreen sources of ...

458. Exile for National Israel, Restoration for Spiritual Israel

Romans 11:1-10

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

Big Idea: Paul juxtaposes two types of Israel: national Israel (11:7–10) versus spiritual Israel (11:1–6). The former remains in exile and under the covenant curses, but the latter as the remnant is enjoying the long-awaited restoration of Israel as well as the covenant blessings. Understanding the Text Romans 11 moves from Paul’s day to a day in the future when national Israel will convert to Jesus the Messiah. At that time, national Israel will, for the first time, become spiritual Israel. Paul therefore ...

459. Balaam’s Donkey

Numbers 22:21-41

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: Speak only what the Lord says. Understanding the Text In Numbers 22:1–19 Balak king of Moab sends dignitaries to try to hire Balaam, a Mesopotamian diviner, to come curse Israel, who has recently come to occupy the plains of Moab. Although Balaam does not object in principle to cursing Israel, Yahweh, apparently in a dream, forbids him to go. But Balak finds Balaam’s refusal unacceptable and sends the dignitaries back to persuade him further. In Numbers 22:20–40, Yahweh once more appears to ...

460. Repentance and Victory

1 Samuel 7:2-17

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: Repentance and renewed allegiance to the Lord are foundational to a restored relationship with him. Understanding the Text This chapter depicts Samuel as a spiritual and military leader. He revives Israel spiritually and politically and delivers them from Philistine bondage. This positive portrait of Samuel continues the contrast with Eli’s house so evident in chapters 2–4. Israel’s defeat was closely linked with the death of Eli and his sons. The text even seems to indicate that it was their sin ...

461. Yahweh Speaks as the Master Teacher

Job 38:1--41:34

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

Big Idea: Yahweh poses questions about the physical world to demonstrate that Job’s knowledge is too limited to explain how God works in his world. Understanding the Text Throughout the speeches in chapters 3–37, the various human speakers claim to know what Yahweh thinks about Job’s situation, but in chapter 38 Yahweh finally breaks his silence and speaks for himself. Yahweh addresses Job in 38:1–40:2, focusing on his design for the world (38:2), and then Job replies briefly in 40:3–5. Yahweh resumes ...

462. “Show Me Your Ways, Lord”

Psalm 25:1-22

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: As students in the school of faith, we have the Lord as our Teacher, and his ways (and will) are our curriculum. Understanding the Text This psalm is another example of reflective prayer (see Ps. 16), in which the suppliant talks to God and then reflects on the subject of the prayer (see “Outline/Structure” below), either alone or in company with others. Goldingay proposes that it has an instructional purpose, to teach people to pray.[1] Generically, Psalm 25 is generally typed as an individual ...

463. “If I Were Hungry I Would Not Tell You, for the World Is Mine, and All That Is in It”

Psalm 50:1-23

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: One of the great dissimilarities between humanity and God is that we are needy people, but God needs nothing. Understanding the Text Psalm 50 is a perfect example of the kind of liturgical piece that might be recited in the seventh year when the Torah was read at the Feast of Tabernacles (Deut. 31:9–13).1Yet when the Book of the Covenant was discovered in the temple during Josiah’s reign (622–609 BC), it seems that this practice had not been observed for some time (2 Kings 23:1–3). In form- ...

464. God Subjugates Judah under Babylon

Daniel 1:1-21

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

Big Idea: The incomparable Lord is sovereign over all earthly kingdoms, holding rulers and subjects alike accountable for sin and challenging believers to spiritual fidelity. Understanding the Text Daniel 1:1–21 introduces the narratives of chapters 1–6, which reflect the writer’s perspective on the approximately seventy years of Judean exile (605–538 BC) alluded to in verses 1 and 21 and throughout the book. It also serves as the Hebrew prologue to the book’s concentric Aramaic and Hebrew sections (chaps ...

465. Gabriel Brings an Answer to Daniel’s Prayer

Daniel 9:20-27

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

Big Idea: Despite the prayers of a faithful servant, the persistent sin of God’s people can bring serious consequences before their punishment is completed. Understanding the Text See the unit on 9:1–6 for a discussion of the larger context, structure, and comparisons of this chapter. Against this backdrop, 9:20–27 is the appearance vision proper. It can be divided into three parts: Gabriel’s arrival to answer Daniel’s prayer (9:20–23), the announcement of “seventy ‘sevens’” (9:24), and an explanation of ...

466. Opposition to the Rebuilding

Nehemiah 4:1-23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

4:1–6:14 Review · Opposition to rebuilding the wall:Any effective work for God can expect opposition, from either humans or evil powers, or both. The ability of a leader can be judged by how he or she confronts crises and reacts to opposition. We can learn from Nehemiah’s example as he faces different kinds of opposition. This lengthy section depicts the progress in reconstructing the wall in spite of and in response to opposition, both from without and within the community. 4:1–23 · The first attack is in ...

467. Spiritual Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

The Nature of Enthusiasm This section addresses a new topic, namely, spiritual gifts (or the spiritual gifts of the spiritual ones). The modern reader of this passage may miss simple elements of Paul’s discussion because of the distance between the worldviews of the first century and the present day. No matter what one thinks about such matters at the turn of the twenty-first century, from what Paul wrote, it is clear that he assumed the reality of extraordinary spiritual experiences and understood that ...

468. The Grain Offering

Leviticus 2:1-16

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

This chapter describes the ritual of cereal or grain offering for the worshiper and gives alternative possibilities for the details of the offering. The first section on the cereal offering (vv. 1–3) presents the basic regulation for the offering, and the second section (vv. 4–10) gives additional instruction on cereal offerings baked in an oven, on a griddle, or in a pan. The procedure consists of preparation of the offering, presentation of the offering, offering up part of the grain, and burning it. ...

469. Boundaries of Canaan

Numbers 34:1-29

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

The Land of Promise: The tone of the last three chapters of Numbers is very hopeful as the people anticipate entering Canaan. After the last section of chapter 33 witnessed the divine instruction to take the land (v. 53), it is reasonable now to articulate what constitutes the land and how it will be distributed among the tribes. These questions are the subject of chapter 34. The final two chapters in the book turn to other issues related to settling the land. 34:1–12 The chapter begins with a description ...

470. The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon

1 Kings 10:1-13

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

The Queen of Sheba: 10:1–13 The supply of gold pouring into Solomon’s coffers continues (9:28), with the assistance of hapless Hiram, as his ships sail to Ophir in Arabia (Gen. 10:29; cf. Ps. 45:9; Isa. 13:12 for its fame). It is not merely gold that arrives at Solomon’s court from that region, however. A queen now travels from Sheba (cf. Gen. 10:28) to see him and to test him with hard questions (“riddles,” 1 Kgs. 10:1; cf. Judg. 14:12–19). Here again a theme is picked up from earlier in the narrative: ...

471. Solomon's Splendor

1 Kings 10:14-29

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

The Queen of Sheba and the Use of Wealth: 10:1–13 The supply of gold pouring into Solomon’s coffers continues (9:28), with the assistance of hapless Hiram, as his ships sail to Ophir in Arabia (Gen. 10:29; cf. Ps. 45:9; Isa. 13:12 for its fame). It is not merely gold that arrives at Solomon’s court from that region, however. A queen now travels from Sheba (cf. Gen. 10:28) to see him and to test him with hard questions (“riddles,” 1 Kgs. 10:1; cf. Judg. 14:12–19). Here again a theme is picked up from ...

472. The Return to Jerusalem

Ezra 8:15-36

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

Bringing Glory to the Temple: Ezra was given two mandates in chapter 7. The first was to lead a party of immigrants back to the homeland and to take along the sacred contributions of the Persian court, the Babylon satrapy, and Jews remaining in exile, and deliver them to the temple authorities in Jerusalem. This first assignment is accomplished here. Apart from the conclusion in verses 35–36, this section comes from the Ezra memoirs and falls into three parts: 7:28b–8:20; 21–30; and 31–34. Each part has a ...

473. New Heavens and a New Earth

Isaiah 65:17-25

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Yahweh’s Closing Critique and Vision: In these last two chapters of the book, once more we cannot discern an order or structure. The succession of phrases that look like introductions to prophecies (65:8, 13, 25; 66:1, 5, 12, 22) and the movement between verse and prose suggest that here it is not because a prophet let a stream of consciousness have its way. It is, rather, because a number of separate prophecies have been accumulated at the end of the book. These different prophecies have overlapping ...

474. Zeal!

John 2:13-22

Sermon

John Jamison

Have you ever had one of those times when you had just had enough? One of those times that you have held your breath, you have turned away, maybe many times, because you just don’t like what you see going on, but then finally come to the point that you just can’t turn away one more time? You’ve had enough, and you decide you just can’t be silent any longer. So you do something fairly dramatic. Looking back on it, it may not have been all that smart, but you had had enough and you did it. Can you remember ...

475. The Shepherd

John 10:11-18

Sermon

John Jamison

He woke up just as the sun was peeking over the top of the mountains to the east, just as he had done every morning for the past couple of months. He took a few minutes to enjoy the beauty of it all, and then quickly got up and took a quick look in every direction to make sure everything was safe. He made one quick trip around the low, stone wall of the sheepfold, making sure the wall was still secure. Then he stopped at the gap in the wall filled with briars, at the gate. The sheep began to stir as he ...

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