Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 551 to 575 of 2962 results

Esther 6:1-14

Understanding Series

Timothy S. Laniak

... enhancing Mordecai’s honor throughout the capital! With words that have the effect of “rubbing it in,” the king reminds him to do just as you have suggested . . . Do not neglect anything you have recommended (v. 10). Haman unwittingly continues to design his own demise. The king, albeit unknowingly, has taken his turn at seeking commitment without offering details. Haman obtained the king’s approval for his edict without ever mentioning the Jews by name. Esther moved the king into compliance for a ...

552. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 16:1-33

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... both Egypt and Jerusalem (Plöger, Sprüche, p. 192). The Pharaonic throne was formed in the sign of justice (maʿat). Similarly, it may be inferred that the Solomonic throne (1 Kgs. 8), with its six steps, was founded on a pedestal or base designated “justice” (see esp. Ps. 89:14; 97:2). 16:13 Synonymous. Honesty and integrity, particularly from courtiers, are necessary for a successful reign; see also 22:11. 16:14 Synthetic and progressive. The threat of a king’s wrath was a serious one, tantamount ...

553. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 21:1-31

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... laziness (which prevent the achievement of any goal). 21:26 The problem here is the subject in 26a; the NIV continues with the sluggard of the previous verse, but true parallelism is lacking. One can understand the construction as indefinite and thus it designates the opposite of the generous person (v. 26b). See Additional Notes. The contrast is then between the greedy and the generous. 21:27 Synthetic. For verse 27a see 15:8. Obviously sacrifices coming from the wicked cannot be pleasing to God, but there ...

554. Unfaithful Israel

Jeremiah 3:6-4:4

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... Exod. 25:10–22). It was essentially a relatively small box that was 3¾ feet long, 2¼ feet wide, and 2¼ feet high. It also had rings attached to the side through which were slid poles that were used to carry the ark. While the construction design was simple, its composition was not. The poles and the box were made of precious acacia wood and both were covered with gold. At each side of the ark were to be placed gold statues of cherubim. The cherubim are especially powerful spiritual beings who served ...

555. Judgment Against Samaria and Jerusalem

Micah 1:1-7

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... Micah of Moresheth. Micah is a common name in the OT and is attached to other individuals at least eight times. It is the shortened form of mîkāyāh (cf. Jer. 26:18) and has the meaning, “Who is like Yahweh?” Thus, it is an appellation designed to praise the Lord. Unlike other prophets, Micah is identified not by the family to which he belongs (cf. Isa. 1:1; Jer. 1:1), but by the hometown from which he comes, an indication of the fact that his ministry was carried on outside of Moresheth, probably in ...

556. Leaders and Prophets Rebuked

Micah 3:1-12

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... , which is the courage to stand firm against all opposition (cf. 1 Thess. 2:2). Considering the fact that it is God’s word with which Micah is filled, many commentators have suggested that verse 8b, concerning the Spirit, is a later addition designed to explain the meaning of power in 8a. That is probably correct. The Spirit, though frequently mentioned as the source of revelation for the early ninth-century nonwriting prophets, is not the fount of revelation for the classical prophets up until the time ...

557. A Promised Ruler from Bethlehem

Micah 5:1-4

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... fact that he will come from Bethlehem Ephrathah. David’s father was Jesse, a Bethlehemite (1 Sam. 16:1, 18), and David is called “the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse” in 1 Sam. 17:12 (cf. Ruth 1:2). Ephrathah could be designated a place separated from Bethlehem, as in Psalm 132:6 and Genesis 35:16, so perhaps the name referred to a specific region or district. But in Genesis 35:19 and 48:7 (cf. Ruth 4:11), it is specifically identified with Bethlehem. Thus, perhaps Ephrathah ...

558. Warnings and Exhortations for Jerusalem and Judah

Zephaniah 2:4-7, Zephaniah 2:8-11, Zephaniah 2:12, Zephaniah 2:13-15

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... in the first syllable means “pain,” specifically pain like that of giving birth (for the metaphor, see, e.g., Isa. 13:8; 26:17). Kerethites (keretim) is a term for Philistines, perhaps suggesting Cretans and reflecting their origin across the Mediterranean, and perhaps thus designating the Philistines as a whole by a term that strictly applies only to one numerous group within them; but again, an advantage of the word is that it suggests they are people who are being “cut off” (karat; cf. 1:3, 4, 11 ...

559. Judgment on Israel's Enemies

Zechariah 9:1-8

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... 14:28; 15:1; 17:1; 19:1; 21:1, 11, 13; 22:1; 23:1; 30:6) and in the superscriptions of the books of Nahum and Habakkuk. In the majority of its uses in headings and in other contexts the content of the divine word designated “oracle” includes judgment. The derivation of the noun “oracle” (massaʾ) from the verb nsʾ, meaning “lift, carry,” suggests that it is a metaphor. The picture is of the Lord’s message, which often consists of a collection of individual sayings, as a concrete burden that a ...

560. Robbing God

Malachi 3:6-18

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... They looked for gain from their service, a word that most often means “ill-gotten gain” (as in Ezek. 22:27). They claim to have served God by carrying out his requirements—a general term for obedience to God’s law, as in Deuteronomy 11:1, or a designation for particular priestly duties (e.g., Lev. 8:35; Zech. 3:7)—and by going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty, that is, by exhibiting gestures of repentance (as in Ps. 38:4–6; Joel 2:12–17; cf. Mal. 2:13). The book of Malachi mentions ...

561. The Word Became Flesh

John 1:1-18

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... of the Gospel of John reach back to an earlier beginning, the same “beginning” spoken of in Genesis 1:1, when “God created the heavens and the earth.” The refrain of Genesis (“And God said … and God said …”) finds its equivalent in the prologue’s designation, the Word (cf. Ps. 33:6: “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth”). The purpose of the Gospel writer is to place the story of Jesus in a cosmic perspective. The light that came ...

562. The First Two Days: John the Baptist’s Message

John 1:19-28, John 1:29-34

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... call him to account’ ” (Deut. 18:15–19). As far as this Gospel is concerned, the Prophet is Jesus just as surely as the Messiah is Jesus (cf. 6:15). Jesus is “the one Moses wrote about in the Law” (1:45; cf. 5:46), and even when he is designated in other ways (e.g., as the Son), the repeated insistence in this Gospel is that he speaks only the words that the Father has given him. He is the Revealer, and thus the Prophet par excellence (cf. once more Heb. 1:1–2). On the other hand, Jesus is ...

563. Jesus' First Disciples

John 1:35-42, John 1:43-51

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... be the Messiah, Nathanael announces boldly and without question that you are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel (v. 49). The two titles, virtually synonymous in this context, are alternate ways of saying that Jesus is the Messiah (cf. vv. 41, 45). The designation of Israel’s anointed king as God’s son goes back to Psalm 2:6–7. The Gospel writer knows that Jesus is the Son of God in a more profound sense than Nathanael could have understood (cf. 1:14, 18), yet he allows Nathanael (like John ...

564. Jesus Talks with a Samaritan Woman

John 4:1-26, John 4:27-38, John 4:39-42

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... and truth. The Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of truth” in 14:17; 15:26; 16:13. “Spirit” and “truth” are equated in 1 John 5:6, while “truth” (2 John 2; 3 John 12), or “grace and truth” John 1:14, 17) can be used as designations for the Holy Spirit. The relationship to God as Father is a new relationship made possible by the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. 4:26 I … am he: lit., “I am” (Gr.: egō eimi). Formally, these words correspond to the formula by which Jesus later ...

565. The Shepherd and His Flock

John 10:1-21

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... story proper. Before he is the gate, Jesus is one who comes (vv. 8, 10). This verb—which is no part of the gate metaphor—takes priority over the metaphor so as to limit and control it. It is as the Coming One—specifically as the Messiah—that Jesus designates himself the gate for the sheep. He is the way to salvation, not passively (as gate by itself might suggest) but actively, as one who comes to save. It is as the Coming One also that he contrasts himself with all who ever came before me whom he ...

566. The Plot to Kill Jesus

John 11:45-57

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... Gospel writer has taken up and—through the eyes of Caiaphas—made his own. The writer’s assumption is that Caiaphas’ words far transcended his personal knowledge and intent. Like Balaam (cf. Num. 24) he spoke more wisely than he knew, and his evil designs were turned to a divine purpose. Verses 51–52 interrupt the record of the Council. On the advice of Caiaphas, the religious authorities made their decision to take his (Jesus’) life (v. 53). In a practical sense, the outcome was nothing new. The ...

567. The Impending Departure II

John 16:5-16, John 16:17-33

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... ’ death. The second is the whole age of the church and of the church’s mission. This is the period of Jesus’ absence, a time of grief and anguish. The time of joy is that future time, after Jesus’ return, when faith becomes sight. The pattern is clear enough; the designation of the whole age of the church as only a little while is perfectly consistent with the early Christian conviction that it “is the last hour” (1 John 2:18; cf. James 5:8; 1 Pet. 4:7; Rev. 1:1, 3; 22:6, 10). But there is a ...

568. Jesus Prays for His Disciples

John 17:1-5, John 17:6-19, John 17:20-26

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... ; the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Yahweh or Jehovah) is in view, and Thomas’ confession in 20:28 could be understood as bearing out this conclusion. A related, and more likely, suggestion is that the name is “I am” (Gr.: egō eimi; Heb.: ‘anî hû’), the self-designation of God in the OT (especially in Isaiah) that Jesus adopted at several crucial points in this Gospel and made his own (cf. 6:20; 8:24, 28; 13:19; 18:5–6; and above all, 8:58). 17:12 So that the Scripture would be fulfilled ...

569. Final Greeting

Philippians 4:21-23

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... 3:17); thus he starts the last section of his letter to the Galatians with the words: “See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!” (Gal. 6:11). 4:21 Paul greets all the saints in Christ Jesus (for the designation cf. 1:1). Indeed, in Christ Jesus might well be construed with “greetings” (“greet them in Christ Jesus”—as fellow members of Christ) were it not for the analogy of 1:1, where “in Christ Jesus” undoubtedly goes with “all the saints.” Greet all the saints ...

570. Cain and Abel

Genesis 4:1-26

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... attests a tribe or city-state using a new technology to make better weapons with which one people extended its control over a wider area. Disaster can also befall a city if its leaders focus the majority of a community’s resources on a project designed to become a perpetual monument of that society’s greatness. Such projects may place so great a demand on that society’s citizens that many become slaves to the project. As a result, human life is devalued. Or humans may become so arrogant about the ...

571. Exclusion From the Assembly

Deuteronomy 23:1-8

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... but it may have had the same motivation as the rules that barred from the priesthood men suffering from genital damage (Lev. 21:17–20; cf. Lev. 22:24), namely, a concern for wholeness and a rejection of that which appeared to mutilate nature and God’s design for creation (as cf. 14:1). Or it may have been because self-inflicted castration was a feature of certain religious rites that Israel so utterly rejected. Those born of a forbidden marriage (v. 2). The rare Hebrew word mamzēr [MT v. 3] refers not ...

572. Miscellaneous Laws

Deut 23:15–25:19

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... redirected its authority in support of Christian responsibilities. His rhetorical question, “Is it about oxen that God is concerned?” is not a denial of the original intention of the law (which obviously is a sign of God’s concern for oxen), but a leading question designed to show that a God who cares about the daily food of an ox would not care any less about the material needs of those humans who serve God. Thus Paul can legitimately say, “This is written for us,” as a very practical example of ...

573. The Temple’s Furnishings

1 Kings 7:13-51

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... a coherent reading. Arriving at a precise mental picture of Solomon’s temple has always required a certain amount of educated guesswork. At least one thing, however, is clear. This is a building that to the authors is one of famous complexity and splendor—a building designed to impress. Even the sockets for the doors were made of gold! Yet that ominous word in 6:11–13 should prevent us from getting too carried away with the beauty of what we have seen. It reminds us that God is not half so impressed ...

574. Naaman Healed of Leprosy

2 Kings 5:1-27

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... duties (v. 18; cf. 2 Kgs. 7:2, 17). 5:20–27 Gehazi, on the other hand, has not grasped the meaning of what has happened, or does not care. His “grasping” is of a baser sort. He pursues profit (vv. 20–21). He concocts a story that is designed to explain Elisha’s change of heart (he has two new arrivals to provide for, v. 22). It is a clever ploy, for the amount requested is not excessive in relation to the massive sum Naaman was originally prepared to pay (v. 5)—one talent of silver and two ...

575. Woe to the Obstinate Nation

Isaiah 30:1-33

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... . Longs is the verb subsequently rendered “wait.” Following on what precedes, Yahweh’s waiting looks as if it has a negative implication. It would be a frightening thing to be told that you live in a time when Yahweh is not gracious, another statement designed to shake people to their senses. But the words that follow, he rises to show you compassion, make clear that those opening words must have had the positive connotation NIV attributes to them. And it is this note that verses 19–26 will develop ...

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