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 526 to 550 of 666 results

526. “Your Sin Will Find You Out”: The Lord Confronts His Sinful Servant

2 Samuel 12:1-31

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... the play opens, the eighty-year-old king is blinded by power and selfishly requires tangible expressions of love and devotion from his three daughters. Two of them, Goneril and Regan, accommodate to what he wants; Cordelia, in her genuine love, refuses sentimentality. Lear is too self-absorbed to appreciate true goodness and banishes Cordelia. Then his life unravels. Through a series of dark circumstances, Lear is humbled and turns to God in prayer. However, though he is changed by divine forgiveness, the ...

527. “O Absalom, My Son, My Son!”

2 Sam 18:1–19:8

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... interests of his king (11:14–25). Now this same Joab disregards David’s orders and kills David’s son with calculating and cold-blooded efficiency because, once again, he is committed to doing what is politically advantageous for David. David has let emotion and sentiment cloud his vision, but Joab knows that David can be safe only if and when Absalom is dead.4 18:15 struck him and killed him. It is perhaps appropriate that the account of Absalom’s death contains echoes of both Uriah’s death and ...

528. Elihu Makes His Appearance

Job 32:1--37:24

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Daniel J. Estes

... is no profit in trying to please God. Job comes close to saying these words in 21:14–15, but in that context Job is describing what the wicked cry out. Elihu insists that Job is indeed one of the wicked (34:8), and that Job’s earlier sentiments in 9:29–31 are proof of his guilt. Elihu, however, fails to consider how these words were prompted by Job’s pain and anguish as he felt abandoned by God. Instead of considering this factor, Elihu extrapolates Job’s words into an outright dismissal of God as ...

529. “In the Lord I Take Refuge”

Psalm 11:1-7

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C. Hassell Bullock

... , has long broken loose from its moorings and soared far above the battlefield. The lament was not only part of the biblical psalms but part of the literary legacy of the ancient Near East,[7] and not surprisingly, since sorrow is a universal sentiment. Interpretive Insights 13:1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? . . . will you hide your face from me? Most of the English translations, quite reasonably, break the single question of 13:1a into two (so pointed in the MT). The single question ...

530. “The Lord Looks Down . . . to See If There Are Any Who Understand”

Psalm 14:1-7

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C. Hassell Bullock

... perhaps to celebrate spiritual renewal or temple renovation, which occurred several times in history.3 When we look for a time for this psalm’s composition, the challenge, given the polytheistic nature of Israel’s world, is to discover a time when the widespread sentiment of Psalm 14 (“All have turned away,” 14:3) would prevail. Jeremiah searches Jerusalem to find “but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth” (Jer. 5:1). His time, however, is one not of the absence of faith in God’s ...

531. “Lord, Who May Dwell in Your Sacred Tent?”

Psalm 15:1-5

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C. Hassell Bullock

... prescription follows: “‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool’” (Isa. 1:18). Amos shares that sentiment and rebukes Israel because they have treated Sabbath worship as nothing but an annoying interruption of their oppressive behavior toward the poor (Amos 8:5–6). Jesus sums up this theology of worship in his declaration that the Father seeks those who will ...

532. “You Will Fill Me with Joy in Your Presence”

Psalm 16:1-11

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C. Hassell Bullock

... . no” (bal bil‘adeyka), A. A. Anderson suggests “my welfare surely (rests) upon you (alone).”[7] “Good” occurs in contrast to the sorrows of verse 4 and is equivalent to “my portion and my cup” (16:5) and “delightful inheritance” (16:6).[8] A similar sentiment occurs in Psalm 73:25: “Whom have I in heaven but you?” The whole of the psalmist’s “good” includes the experience of walking in the path of life until David is satiated with the joys of being in God’s presence. 16:3 ...

533. “I Love You, Lord, My Strength”

Psalm 18:1-50

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C. Hassell Bullock

... David, his anointed king (2 Sam. 7). Paul quotes this verse in Romans 15:9–11, along with Deuteronomy 32:43 and Psalm 117:1, as psalmic proof that salvation belongs to the gentiles as well as the Jews. Theological Insights The sentiment that positions the psalm theologically is David’s opening words, “I love you, Lord, my strength.” The psalmist’s “righteousness”—in this case legal terminology (“the cleanness of my hands”), understood in the light of his personal love of the Lord (18 ...

534. “Some Trust in Chariots . . . , but We Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God”

Psalm 20:1-9

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C. Hassell Bullock

... to Israel’s enemies, but it may also refer to Israel, especially those kings who relied heavily on horses and chariots, as did David’s son Solomon (1 Kings 10:26–29) and his successors (cf. Deut. 17:16 and 20:2–4). Psalm 33:16–19 expresses a similar sentiment. For the use of the Lord’s name in battle, see David’s words to Goliath (1 Sam. 17:45). Here is a literal translation of verse 7: These in chariots, and those in horses, but, as for us, we the name of the Lord remember / call to mind ...

535. “The King Rejoices in Your Strength, Lord”

Psalm 21:1-13

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C. Hassell Bullock

... for ferocious enemies. Interpretive Insights 22:1 Why . . . ? Psalms 10 and 13 both begin with a question. See also 42:9; 43:2; 88:14, all of which raise an ultimate question, but none quite so absolute as 22:1. Many psalms express the opposite sentiment (9:10; 27:9–10; 37:25; etc.). 22:3 enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. The reading in the NIV text disregards the disjunctive accent after “Holy One” and joins this word to the following participle, “enthroned” or ...

536. “Blessed Is the One Whose Transgressions Are Forgiven”

Psalm 32:1-11

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C. Hassell Bullock

... advantage of it. Illustrating the Text Connecting guilt with depression Psychology: A study conducted by clinical neuroscientist Roland Zahn of the University of Manchester has identified how the brain links knowledge about social behavior with moral sentiment. Of particular interest to Zahn was the connection between guilt and depression. He explains, “The most distinctive feature of depressive disorders is an exaggerated negative attitude to oneself, which is typically accompanied by feelings of guilt ...

537. “The Span of My Years Is as Nothing before You”

Psalm 39:1-13

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C. Hassell Bullock

... adds the observation that our earthly life is “like a shadow, without hope,” the same idea as 39:4–5, but in different words. In view of the similarities, the psalm may have been written to spell out the implications of David’s sentiments on that special occasion when he gave thanks for the Lord’s provisions for building the temple, as recorded in Chronicles.3 Outline/Structure The content falls into two major parts, with the second part constituting the prayer: 1. The psalmist’s report about ...

538. “Blessed Are Those Who Have Regard for the Weak; the Lord Delivers Them”

Psalm 41:1-13

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C. Hassell Bullock

... God wants but doing his will, which is contained in the Torah, which is in the suppliant’s heart (40:6–8), and in which the psalmist delights (1:2). Second, Psalms 40 and 41 quite appropriately compile a summary of the struggles and sentiments of David represented in Book 1, presenting David as the prototype of the righteous man. David indeed is the “blessed” person who “has regard for the weak” (41:1). As already observed, this ideal profile actually begins in Psalm 40:4, where the benedictory ...

539. “For Your Sake We Face Death . . . as Sheep to Be Slaughtered”

Psalm 44:1-26

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C. Hassell Bullock

... would remember whose daughter or son we are, and live by that reputation, we would be more like God and be better persons because of it. “Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy” (Lev. 19:2). A gift greater than fairness Bible: The sentiments shared by the psalmist in Psalm 44 are similar to those shared by Habakkuk as the prophet wrestles with God’s fairness. The matter at issue for Habakkuk is how God can use a godless nation like Babylon to bring discipline on Judah, a more righteous nation ...

540. “Truly My Soul Finds Rest in God”

Psalm 62:1-12

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C. Hassell Bullock

... rewarding each one according to his or her deeds is an expression of his fairness, included in God’s “unfailing love.” This is the baseline of divine justice. Mercy exceeds the baseline. Theological Insights The structure of a psalm generally arises out of the sentiments of the psalmist. That is, subject matter demands the service of structure and literary style. Often the main idea of a psalm is found in the first verse or two, as it is here: “Truly my soul finds rest in God” (62:1). This sets ...

541. Daniel in the Den of Lions

Daniel 6:1-28

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Ronald W. Pierce

... is worth facing the adversity of battle. In the case of the American Revolutionary War, the call to war focused largely on freedom and the rights of all to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” as the Declaration of Independence puts it. These sentiments gave birth to Patrick Henry’s exclamation, “Give me liberty or give me death!”10 This kind of rhetoric seeks to touch the heart and stir courage even in the fearful. Though many causes (such as love, freedom, or patriotism) may move us ...

542. David Returns to Jerusalem

2 Samuel 19:9-43

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

After the rebellion collapses, the people in the northern tribes blame themselves for what has happened. They reflect on all the good things David has done for the country and decide they want him to return as king (19:9–15). When David hears about this sentiment, he sends word to the elders of his own tribe of Judah to see how they feel. Although the rebellion was launched in Judah, David is willing to forgive them for their actions. In fact David even announces that he will make Absalom’s general ...

543. Epilogue

Job 42:7-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... that Job has spoken “words without knowledge” (38:2), which Job acknowledges later in his response to God (42:3)? One scholar, in fact, is compelled to say that in “Job’s speeches can be found examples of some of the most anti-Yahwist sentiments of which we have any record in literature (9:15ff.) . . . [filled with] . . . audacity, defiance, and self-righteousness” (Polzin, 184). God’s praise fits well with the bookends-only story line (1:1–2:13; 42:7–17), where Job’s actions and words are ...

544. The Siege of Jerusalem Symbolized

Ezekiel 4:1-5:17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... between God and Jerusalem. The brick is a symbol of what is about to happen to Jerusalem. When Jeremiah raised this subject, it got him into hot water (see Jer. 7:1–15; 26:1–24). He was labeled a heretic and anti–Mount Zion. Ezekiel does not provoke such sentiment, perhaps because he is hundreds of miles away. Ezekiel’s second act (4:4–5) is to lie on his left side for 390 days, in which he bears the sin of the house of Israel. One day matches one year of sin by Israel. To what do the 390 ...

545. Lost and Saved

Ezekiel 11:1-15, Ezekiel 11:16-25

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... after the deportation of 598/7 BC are the favored ones. Jerusalem is the cooking pot and they are the choice morsels. In verse 15 these people make a similarly false claim: “This land was given to us as our possession.” Both of these sentiments (11:3, 15) are the diametric opposite of the truth. What they think is permanent is in fact transitory. Those who are not exiled are chaff. The exiled are redeemable. God directly repudiates the egocentrism of those in Jerusalem. While this prophecy is being ...

546. Oracles of Judgment against the Nations

Zephaniah 2:4-7

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

2:4–15 Review · On the international scene, Judah’s political future was far from secure. Judah was surrounded by enemies: Philistia to the west, Assyria to the north, and Moab, Ammon, and Edom to the east. Zephaniah expresses the sentiment of the population of Judah in his oracles of judgment against the nations. Yet he has a grander purpose in view. He speaks of the establishment of God’s kingdom, which the remnant of Judah and the nations will share together. Zephaniah’s particular reference to ...

547. Love for Enemies not Eye for and Eye

Matthew 5:38-42, Matthew 5:43-48

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , even one’s enemies, it captures the spirit of the other five directives. While the Old Testament command to love one’s neighbor derives from Leviticus 19:18, the coordinate “hate your enemy” is not an Old Testament quotation. It may be that the sentiment is an expression derived from texts such as Psalm 139:21–22. Jesus broadens the love command to explicitly include love of enemies and prayer for them (5:44). The rationale provided is that love of neighbor fulfills no greater ethic than that of ...

548. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Mark 6:30-44

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... further supported by the reference to five thousand men (6:44; the Greek andres specifies men alone; see Matt. 14:21), and above all by John 6:15, which explicitly states that the people “intended to come and make [Jesus] king by force.” Jesus, however, refuses the populist and militant sentiments of the crowd, and like Moses, who supplied the Israelites with manna in the wilderness, feeds the crowd with the multiplication of bread and fish as a foreshadowing of the eschatological banquet of God.

549. The Trial of Jesus

Mark 15:1-15

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , Jesus is portrayed as submitting in silence. The events leading to the crucifixion, and the crucifixion itself, are narrated in Mark (as in all the Gospels) with utmost restraint; rather than exploiting the brutality and cruelty of crucifixion, or sentimentalizing it, the Gospels accentuate the shame and mockery to which Jesus was subjected. Pilate, fifth Roman governor of Palestine, who ruled from AD 26 to 37, normally resided at Caesarea Maritima. During festivals, when Jewish pilgrims thronged to the ...

550. The Crucifixion

Mark 15:21-32

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

With restrained objectivity, and without sentimentality, sensationalism, or appealing to readers’ emotions, Mark recounts the crucifixion in order to show what Jesus’s death accomplished. Cicero described the hideous brutality of crucifixion as the “most cruel and horrifying punishment.” Reserved for non-Roman citizens, crucifixion unleashed excessive and prolonged cruelty on the classes for which it ...

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