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 4726 to 4750 of 5000 results

4726. Ezra Reads the Law

Neh 7:73b–8:18

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... of the city, a little down the slope and inside the line of the old wall that Nehemiah discarded (3:26). Not only did the adult males of the community attend the meeting, as in Ezra 10:9, but also their wives and children old enough to understand. Verse 3 summarizes Ezra’s six-hour reading of the Torah, and then verses 4–8 describe it in more detail. Persons identified by name but not by their social status or their role on this occasion flanked him on the specially made platform. They were probably ...

4727. Haman's Plot to Destroy the Jews

Esther 3:1-15

Understanding Series

Timothy S. Laniak

... relatively few of its inhabitants share the anti-Semitism that the edict calls for (9:15). How easy it is for those in power to make a decision in a moment that permanently alters the lives of those in their control. The inhabitants of the capital do not understand the meaning or context of this new edict. Neither does the king. Even Haman does not realize what he has just done. The next time he sits with the king to drink, it will be at a feast prepared by Esther—a feast that will begin to overturn ...

4728. Esther's Request to the King

Esther 5:1-8

Understanding Series

Timothy S. Laniak

... in a standard formula of generosity: “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you” (5:3). Such an offer has precedents in Persian histories (Herodotus, Hist. 9.109–111). The king understands that she has presented herself for some purpose. Esther’s response is simple and endearing. She asks him to come to a banquet she has already prepared for the king and Haman (v. 4). Xerxes agrees. He instructs his attendants to literally “rush” Haman ...

4729. The King's Edict in Behalf of the Jews

Esther 8:1-17

Understanding Series

Timothy S. Laniak

... language of each people. The Persians were known for their egalitarian rule and for an efficient communications system that linked the disparate parts of their empire. It is important for the narrator to report the characteristic concern that everyone be able to understand the king’s orders (1:22; 3:12–15), especially the Jews, who receive the edict first (v. 9). The irony here is that the “political correctness” of the Persian system does not provide the safety for its minorities (and women) that ...

4730. Purim Celebrated

Esther 9:20-32

Understanding Series

Timothy S. Laniak

... :50; 19:8). It is possible that Mordecai is authorizing both days, the fifteenth for those in Susa and the fourteenth for those outside the city. In that case, he would be legitimizing variant traditions. The NIV, probably correctly, instead understands the legislation as a compromise solution: Purim will be a two-day celebration for all Jews everywhere. Mordecai thereby regularizes and consolidates the observance of festivities (already under way) with the authority of his office. Again, a certain distance ...

4731. The Greatness of Mordecai

Esther 10:1-3

Understanding Series

Timothy S. Laniak

... not need to wait for a priestly or royal figure to have hope. With a distinct yet “biblical” hermeneutic, the book of Esther invites its readers to find hope anywhere, any time, and through anyone. Perhaps these novel emphases in Esther make it possible to understand why the author does not name the God of the Jews. This story assumes that there are two dimensions of reality—one seen and the other unseen. Esther is herself a person with two identities; she has two names, one of which means “hidden ...

4732. Prologue: Purpose and Theme

Proverbs 1:1-7

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... , containing the title (for the book rather than just chs. 1–9) and purpose. Each verse begins with the preposition “to” (the exception in v. 5 is wisely taken by the NIV as a parenthetical remark). Typical wisdom terminology is used: discipline, understanding, prudence, proverbs, and sayings and riddles of the wise. There is no point in distinguishing nuances between these. The rest of the book fills out the proclamation contained in these verses. See the introduction on dating and theology. 1:7 The ...

4733. Further Benefits of Wisdom

Proverbs 3:1-35

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... . It is used in the Hiphil in the same general sense in 4:21, and the Niphal participle, nālôz (perverse) occurs in 3:32. 3:35 The grammar of v. 35b is not clear. The verse is chiastic, shame and honor are opposed to each other. The NIV understands God as the subject and inserts to before shame in order to derive its translation, but this is doubtful. Lit. the text seems to say: “but fools hold up (Hb. mērîm, each one?) shame.” The subject is in the plural, and the participle is in the singular. The ...

4734. Wisdom's Call

Proverbs 8:1-36

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... she can reach a crowd of people. This open approach contrasts with the stealthy activity of the strange woman in chapter 7, who was covered by nightfall. 8:4–11 The appeal is to all, but especially to the simple and foolish who most need understanding. Wisdom is prepared for this because truth and justice are the hallmarks of her speech, yielding an instruction more precious than silver or gold. On v. 11 see Additional Notes. 8:12–21 A strong I (repeated in v. 14) initiates this part of the discourse ...

4735. The Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 10:1-32

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... for any adversity, anything that is “non-life.” Death is the antithesis to the fullness of “life” that wisdom brings (cf. 10:11, 16, 17, 27). 10:22 The meaning depends on 22b. The NIV, with many others (e.g., the NRSV), understands the lines in synonymous (or perhaps synthetic) parallelism: the Lord’s blessing accounts for all human prosperity. Others, with the NRSV footnote, consider verse 22b in antithetic parallelism: Without the divine blessing, human toil will not be enough for success. 10:23 ...

4736. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 13:1-25

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... Antithetic and chiastic. There is a certain paradoxical aspect in this love/hate relationship (cf. 3:11–12). Corporal punishment is a frequent recommendation of the sages (cf. 19:18; 23:13–14; Sir. 30:1–13). 13:25 Antithetic. This saying flows from the understanding of divine retribution for the righteous and the wicked (cf. 10:3). Additional Notes 13:1 The LXX has “a diligent son heeds his father.” B. Gemser (Sprüche Salomos [Tübingen: J. C. B. Mohr, 1963], p. 62) and others propose “a wise ...

4737. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 14:1-35

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... and there is no antithesis. The tense of verse 71) is unusual (lit. “and you do/did not know lips of knowledge”). The phrase, “lips of knowledge,” is unique. 14:8 Antithetic. The style is juxtapositional: “The wisdom of the clever—the understanding of their ways; the folly of fools—deception.” The prudent see their way clearly, but fools deceive themselves (and others). Verse 8a = v. 15b. 14:9 The Hebrew is difficult; literally, “fools scoff at a guilt offering(?), but among the upright is ...

4738. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 17:1-28

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... analysis, see McCreesh, Sound, pp. 103–4. The meaning is uncertain, because of verse 19b. There is no need to emend verse 19a (as Toy, Proverbs; Oesterley, Proverbs). But what is the meaning of building a high gate in this context? Some understand it as proud talk, but there is no biblical analogue to this metaphor. Moreover, destruction could also be translated “broken bones” (so NJPS, interpreting a high threshold as the occasion of a physical fall). See Additional Notes. 17:20 Synonymous. One who ...

4739. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 19:1-29

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... 5, 25. These sayings refer to judicial process. Honest testimony was essential in the somewhat primitive procedures; it saved lives (14:25). 19:6 Synonymous. Another saying concerning the difference that wealth and power create (cf. vv. 4, 7). There is no reason to understand gifts (mattān) as bribes. See Additional Notes for 18:16. 19:7 Synonymous a fortiori conclusion. The first two lines in verse 7a are clear and develop the idea of verse 4b; see also 14:20a. Relatives have the greater obligation toward ...

4740. Further Sayings of the Wise

Proverbs 24:23-34

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... , armed man) is made by Toy (Proverbs): “Poverty . . . is personified as a powerful and ruthless enemy who destroys or carries off one’s substance” (on 6:11, p. 125). The NIV footnote (see also McKane, Proverbs) has a reading that is difficult to understand. Perhaps it means that the possessions (even in the condition described in v. 31) can be taken over by any passerby (vagrant, beggar). See Additional Note. Additional Note 24:34 In contrast to 6:11, which has an explicit comparison and also the ...

4741. More Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 26:1-28

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... it into practice—just as the legs of a crippled, lame person cannot provide forward progress. 26:8 Despite the uncertain meaning of verse 8a (see Additional Notes), the explicit comparison points to the folly of honoring a fool (see also v. 1). The NIV understands verse 8a to be a self-defeating action; the sling will not be able to launch the missile. 26:9 This implicit comparison simply juxtaposes two phrases; verse 9b repeats verse 7 and retains that meaning. But verse 9a is obscure: “a thorn (-stick ...

4742. Everything Is Meaningless

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

... see the introduction and specific uses. 1:3 Under the sun: This expression occurs frequently in Ecclesiastes (29 times), but is never used elsewhere in the Bible. 1:6 The non-productive movement of the wind (south, north, round and round, ever returning) sets the framework for understanding chasing after the wind, a frequent refrain through the first half of the book (1:14, 17; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6, 16; 6:9). In addition, if the sun rises, the sun sets in v. 5 refers indirectly to east and west, the mention ...

4743. Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 7:1--8:1

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

... test made by means of wisdom reminiscent of 1:12–2:26, Qohelet acknowledges his inability to obtain wisdom or to find “that which is.” The speaker then turns to investigate wisdom, and to determine whether life adds up. What Qohelet finds is not wisdom and understanding, but the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains (7:26). Although many interpreters have taken it as a rejection of women generally, or of a specific woman (e.g., Qohelet’s mother or wife), the rest of ...

4744. I Have Come Into My Garden

Song of Songs 5:1-16

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

... as a heightened version of the brothers’ angry insistence that the woman be keeper of the vineyards (1:6) and the brothers’ desire to board up the woman’s budding sexuality should she prove to be a “door” (8:9). The problem with understanding the episode as a straightforward narration rather than an anxious dream or fantasy is that there is no aftermath. There is no indication later in the text that the woman has been physically or psychologically traumatized by this assault. No one offers her ...

4745. Israel Forsakes God

Jeremiah 2:1-3:5

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... when he accuses God’s people of tearing off the yoke that bound them to God. He also represents them as dangerously asserting their independence: “I will not serve you!” Jeremiah then reverts to a sexual image and pictures them as having sex like a prostitute. That Jeremiah understands the sexual act as analogous to spiritual betrayal is clear from the references to high hill and spreading tree (Deut. 12:2; 1 Kgs. 14:13; 2 Kgs. 17:10; Isa. 57:5; 65:7; Ezek. 6:13; 20:28; Hos. 4:13). These refer to the ...

4746. Not One is Upright

Jeremiah 5:1-31

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... here is hyperbolic. Jeremiah and his circle are those who are on the Lord’s side in this struggle. It does, however, remind us of Paul’s citation of the Psalms when he states: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. (Rom. 3:10b–11) 5:3–6 A voice, we presume it to be Jeremiah’s, responds to Yahweh’s challenge. It opens with a concession that, though God had tried to correct their sinful behavior, they nonetheless refused to repent. Then ...

4747. Drought, Famine, Sword

Jeremiah 14:1--15:21

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... typically made out of any metal. Additional Notes 15:16 Holladay (Jeremiah 2, p. 26) interprets Jeremiah’s statement about consuming God’s words as a reference to the discovery of Josiah’s law in the temple in 622 B.C., but this seems a far too specific understanding of what is to be taken as a metaphor of the internalization of God’s message. 15:18 How can a brook be deceptive? The image that Jeremiah has in mind is the appearance of a brook with its refreshing waters turning out to be either a dry ...

4748. Jeremiah’s Complaint

Jeremiah 20:7-18

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... the plans of Jeremiah’s enemies will be thwarted (stumble). Instead of shaming the prophet (vv. 7, 8), they will be thoroughly disgraced and experience dishonor. Jeremiah, who is righteous himself, invites God to explore his heart and mind. As God does so, Jeremiah understands that he will see his commitment to him and then will take vengeance on the enemies. This sentiment is familiar also from Psalm 139, in which God is urged to examine the motives of the psalmist and then take action against those who ...

4749. God Rejects Zedekiah’s Request

Jeremiah 21:1-14

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... authority or else to resist and die in the city. Because of the sins of the people, there must be punishment, but still there is a choice. Either way, the city will be destroyed. It is in the light of oracles like this one that we can understand why Jeremiah was accused of being a Babylonian collaborator. But he is not pro-Babylonian; he is pro-God and he knows that God is using the Babylonians, at least temporarily, to effect punishment on Judah. 21:11–14 The next oracle is pronounced against the royal ...

4750. Judgment Against Evil Kings

Jeremiah 22:1-30, Jeremiah 23:1-8

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... David states that God will bring to fruition (from the verb tsmkh) his salvation. The idea of the Branch is developed as a messianic theme also in Isaiah 4:2; Zechariah 3:8 and 6:12. While from a New Testament perspective we rightly understand this salvation oracle to be ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who is the righteous shepherd and descendant of David, the immediate effect on Jeremiah’s audience may have been to anticipate a righteous human king. The name The LORD Our Righteousness formed from the ...

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