Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 576 to 600 of 797 results

576. Installing the New Leader and Moses’ Swan Song

Deut 31:14–32:47

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... close relationship to his children in this world. Again God is “Creator” (32:6) and is “like an eagle” (32:11). God the “eagle” will “hover over” his believers as he did over creation itself (Gen. 1:2) to catch those who have not yet learned to fly. This is because the Lord regards his children as “the apple of his eye” (32:10), another metaphor expressing the centrality and significance of mortals to God. Israel is called “Jeshurun” (32:15; 33:5, 26; and one other time in the Bible ...

577. Widows and Their Worries: Back to Bethlehem

Ruth 1:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... foreign land, Naomi and her two daughters-in-law face great loss. It seems a dark and dismal future awaits them. Back to Bethlehem ( 1:6–7 ) · Against this grim setting Naomi confronts some important news in the fields of Moab. She learns that famine no longer threatens Judah. Since Hebrew and Moabite are closely related languages, perhaps this accounts for her ability to understand the conversation. That a famine no longer prevails in Bethlehem indicates a pleasant visitation by the Lord on his land and ...

578. Ruth’s Proposal

Ruth 3:1-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... Although she might be uncovering his literal feet, it is possible that she is exposing his private parts, given the euphemistic use of “feet” for genitals and sexual relations elsewhere in the Bible (Isa. 7:20; Deut. 28:57). Second, once he awakes and learns of her identity, Ruth asks specific instructions of him. Her words to Boaz, “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer” (3:9 NIV 1984), indicate a desire for marriage (Ezek. 16:8; Deut. 22:30). As an Israelite ...

579. The Lord Call's Samuel

1 Sam 3:1–4:1

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , but he must have wondered what he should tell Eli. This problem is solved when Eli uses a curse formula (3:17) to insist that Samuel tell him everything. When Samuel complies, Eli accepts God’s sentence and reacts the way Hezekiah does when he learns that his descendants will be exiled to Babylon (Isa. 39:8). In an era when “everyone did as they saw fit” (Judg. 21:25), God takes appropriate measures to judge the wicked. Since Samuel’s account of God’s revelation is the same as the announcement ...

580. Death of Eli

1 Samuel 4:12-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... have been killed. Following the style of the book of Judges, the author notes that Eli “had led Israel forty years” (4:18), and his leadership had proved ineffective. Death continues to stalk Eli’s family: his daughter-in-law dies in childbirth after learning what has happened to her husband and father-in-law. Before succumbing, she names her baby boy Ichabod, meaning “where is glory,” because of the capture of the ark. It is as though the cloud of glory that normally fills the Most Holy Place ...

581. Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh

1 Sam 11:1-15

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... dread in Israel. Not a man remained among the Israelites beyond the Jordan whose right eye was not gouged out by Nahash king of the Ammonites, except that seven thousand men fled from the Ammonites and entered Jabesh Gilead. From this lost piece we learn that Nahash has previously reconquered area in the Transjordan that belonged to Ammon before the Israelite tribes or Reuben and Gad laid claim to it. In order to preclude recrimination, he mutilates the men so that they will not be able to effectively lead ...

582. Israel without Weapons

1 Samuel 13:16-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , and Saul is unable to stop them (13:16–22). One reason for Israel’s predicament is a lack of weapons. According to verse 19 the Philistines have established a monopoly on the production of iron and have refused to share the secret. They may have learned how to smelt iron from the Hittites of Asia Minor, who used iron to great advantage prior to 1200 BC. The Israelites had to pay the Philistines to have their farming tools sharpened, but in time of war no plowshares were beaten into swords. Only Saul ...

583. Saul Tries to Kill David

1 Samuel 19:1-24

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... him to flee that night. Like Rahab with the two spies, Michal lowers David through a window so he can escape undetected. She then buys time for David by putting an idol in his bed and telling Saul’s messengers that David is sick. When Saul learns that Michal helped David escape, he is upset with her. She explains that David threatened her life unless she assisted him. Michal’s actions underscore her allegiance to her husband over her father. Saul is thwarted in his attempt to capture David (19:18–24 ...

584. David Saves Keilah

1 Samuel 23:1-29

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... in Saul’s employ, he continues to enjoy mastery over the Philistines. The victory nets David considerable plunder, especially livestock (23:5). While David and his men stay in Keilah, Saul hears about it and prepares to besiege the city (23:7–13). David learns of Saul’s plans and inquires of the Lord through Abiathar. In spite of all that David has done for the people of Keilah, the Lord indicates that they will hand him over to Saul. The failure to extradite a fugitive was a significant provocation ...

585. David Spares Saul's Life

1 Samuel 24:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... recognizes that David will indeed be the next king of Israel, but he makes David promise that as the new ruler he will not wipe out Saul’s descendants. In the light of this apparent reconciliation, it appears that David’s years as a fugitive are over; but David has learned that Saul’s word cannot be trusted (cf. 1 Sam. 19:6). Subsequent events indicate that before long Saul resumes his pursuit of David.

586. David among the Philistines

1 Samuel 27:1-12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... a calculated risk, because the Philistines might kill him and because the Israelites might consider him a traitor and might never welcome him back. These risks notwithstanding, David goes to the Philistines and uses the time to his benefit. David learns valuable information about their military tactics and about ironworking, and he also makes friends with some of the Philistines. Indeed, after he becomes king, several contingents from Philistia serve as faithful mercenary troops under him (2 Sam. 15:18). As ...

587. David Hears of Saul's Death

2 Samuel 1:1-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... been with a heavy heart that David awaited news of the battle in the north. Although an Israelite defeat would hasten David’s rise to the throne, it would also bring hardship and sorrow to the young nation. Three days after David’s return to Ziklag, he learns the outcome of the battle (1:1–16). An Amalekite who has escaped from the scene describes how he himself put Saul out of his misery. His account differs from that of 1 Samuel 31. Most likely the Amalekite claims credit for killing Saul with the ...

588. Abner Goes Over to David

2 Samuel 3:6-21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

In the years that follow, David continues to enjoy success in the conflict with Ish-Bosheth. One sign of David’s increasing strength is the number of sons born to him in Hebron (3:1–5). Since none of the six have the same mother, we learn that David has taken four more wives. One of these—Maakah, daughter of the king of Geshur—was probably married to David for political reasons, to make an alliance with the Aramean city-state northeast of the Sea of Galilee. It is Maakah’s son Absalom who will ...

589. Joab Murders Abner

2 Sam 3:22–4:12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... ’s death exposes Joab’s treachery. Abner killed Asahel only after repeated warnings and as a last resort to save his own life. Moreover, it took place in the middle of a battle and was not comparable to Joab’s premeditated murder of Abner. When David learns what Joab has done, he does everything possible to express his displeasure and to indicate that he was not personally involved (3:28–29). David goes so far as to place a curse on Joab and his descendants, asking God to punish them with disease ...

590. The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

2 Samuel 6:1-23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... bring the tabernacle to Jerusalem but sets up a special tent for the ark. Instead, Moses’s “Tent of Meeting” remains at Gibeon, about six miles northwest of Jerusalem (cf. 2 Chron. 1:3). David wants to build a permanent temple to honor the ark, as we learn in 2 Samuel 7. With the ark safely in Jerusalem, David sacrifices burnt offerings and fellowship offerings and gives gifts of food to all the people. This was also a custom at the coronation of a king, and, since the ark was the footstool of God’s ...

591. Preparations for Building the Temple

1 Kings 5:1-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The next phase of the narrative outlines the construction projects (palace and temple), but amid all the architectural glory there will also be a subtle criticism of the royal administration. Without much background information, we learn that Hiram king of Tyre sends envoys to Solomon (5:1), having heard of his accession. The city of Tyre was a thriving commercial and colonial center; Joshua 19:29 refers to it as “fortified,” and Herodotus mentions a venerable ancient temple. This is not Hiram’s ...

592. Ahab Killed at Ramoth Gilead

1 Kings 22:29-53

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Ahab—under a death sentence from Micaiah—does his best to thwart the prophetic word through disguise (like Jeroboam’s wife in chapter 14) but learns the hard way (22:29–40) that it is impossible to outmaneuver a true prophetic utterance. A seemingly random archer drawing his bow “in innocence” (NIV “at random”) sends a bleeding Ahab back to town, where the dogs partake of the fulfillment of Elijah’s earlier word and Micaiah’s ...

593. The Lord's Judgement of Ahaziah

2 Kings 1:1-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the moment is Ahaziah’s awkward nosedive that reveals something about his character: he is not willing to consult the God of Israel but rather opts for an alternative deity (literally “Baal the fly,” here located in the Philistine city of Ekron) to learn his prospects for recovery. The impotence of this god is further enhanced when Ahaziah’s messengers (1:3–12) are intercepted by a prophet with a memo of doom for the king, and since Ahaziah is able to recognize Elijah from their description, the ...

594. The Siege Lifted

2 Kings 7:3-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... occurs in order to draw attention to particular facets of God’s character, and the prophetic word here turns apparent hopelessness into a moment of salvation. As for the skeptical officer (7:2), he is sadly trampled during the resulting pandemonium at the gate (7:17), a hard way to learn the benefits of submission to the prophet’s authority.

595. Ministers of Baal Killed

2 Kings 10:18-36

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... undisputed zeal, Jehu does not achieve the best of grades when his reign is finally evaluated (10:28–36). While ridding the land of Baal worship earns divine approval (for this he is given a four-king dynasty, smaller than Omri!), the reader also learns that Jehu was involved in worship of the golden calves and did not offset the incursions of Hazael into Israelite territory. Several commentators note that Jehu’s eradication of idolatry did not go far enough: the reform does not seem to have penetrated ...

596. The List of Returnees

Ezra 2:1-70

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... . 7:65, 70; 8:9; 10:1); here it probably refers to Sheshbazzar. The “Urim and Thummim” were small pebbles or precious stones that the high priest used as lots to determine God’s specific will in certain cases (Num. 27:21; 1 Sam. 14:37–42). What can we learn from the totals mentioned in 2:64–69? The total listed, 43,360, is the same in Nehemiah 7 and 1 Esdras 5:41, so it appears to be correct. The itemized details listed add up to less; some persons and items were omitted in the catalogs. The large ...

597. Later Opposition Under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

Ezra 4:6-24

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... script (which refers to the “square” script in distinction from the “cursive” script, which was still in use for Hebrew). The alternate rendering probably means the letter was translated into Persian for the king. Both renderings fit the context. The Jews learned to speak Aramaic during the Babylonian exile; thus Aramaic was the language of the returned exiles and continued to be the language of the Jews until the time of Christ. The two languages, Hebrew and Aramaic, are quite similar, so most ...

598. Resolution: The Covenant to Change

Ezra 10:1-44

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... of possibly thirty thousand people and suggest there must have been more who were guilty. But there is no evidence there were more. Ezra and the leaders are diligent in maintaining the identity of the covenant community in a pagan world. What can we learn from this episode? In a different context the application of biblical principles may not be exactly the same. But like postexilic Israel, we must be aware of the danger of moral and spiritual apathy. Similarly, we face moral and spiritual crises in our ...

599. The Agreement of the People

Nehemiah 9:38--10:39

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the Jews would not have bought and sold among themselves on the Sabbath, but now non-Jewish neighbors are trying to sell them grain, even on the Sabbath. Hence, the laws pertaining to the Sabbath forbid buying and selling grain (10:31). What can Christians today learn from this chapter? Certainly we are not under the law. But the laws of Moses teach the ethical principles that show God’s will for his people in all times. The Sabbath teaches us the importance of setting apart one day out of seven for ...

600. Mordecai’s Petition to Esther

Esther 4:1-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... treasury in order to have all the Jews killed. Together with this report, Mordecai gives a copy of the royal decree to Esther and pleads with her to request an audience before the king in order to intercede on behalf of her people (4:8). Upon learning that Esther has not been summoned to appear before the king for over thirty days, Mordecai urges Esther to take the greatest risk of her life and request a special royal audience. According to the law of Persia, a refusal by the king would result in certain ...

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