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Showing 626 to 650 of 2332 results

626. Distress and Help

Isaiah 33:1-24

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... ” is very similar to the word for “Lebanon”). It withers like the reeds of the Nile (19:6, the only other occurrence of the verb in the OT). Lebanon and Bashan were part of the warnings in 2:13, Lebanon and Carmel in 29:17 (NIV “fertile field”), Carmel and desert (cf. Arabah here) in 32:15–16, forest in 29:17 and 32:15 (cf. Sharon here). The trees dropping their leaves or fruit recalls 32:10. As a whole, verse 9 thus repeats 32:9–14 and restates the need for 32:15–16. 33:10–12 Yahweh here ...

627. Judgment Against the Nations

Isaiah 34:1-17

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... sound as meaningless as the scene they conjure. There is nothing for the rulers to rule and, in any case, no rulers to rule it (v. 12). The cities in which they lived are overrun by thorns, nettles, and brambles, and become home for desert creatures instead of human beings (vv. 13–15). Yahweh has definitively determined that these creatures should thus gain permanent new homes, and put it into writing; they have the title deeds (vv. 16–17). While the historical Edom went into decline three centuries ...

628. Tyre, Sidon—and Israel

Ezekiel 26:1-21, Ezekiel 27:1-36, Ezekiel 28:1-19, Ezekiel 28:20-26

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... to bring against Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings” (v. 7). The direction may seem surprising—after all, isn’t Babylon to the southeast of Tyre? However, trackless desert wastes lie between Palestine and the Tigris and Euphrates valley. Assyrian and Babylonian armies, unable to cross the desert, approached Palestine by marching northwest to the Mediterranean and then heading south along the coastal plain (see Jer. 1:13–16). Doubtless it is for this reason that the symbolic enemy ...

629. Oracles of Restoration

Ezekiel 34:1-31, Ezekiel 35:1-15, Ezekiel 36:1-38, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Ezekiel 37:15-28

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... 31 is likewise priestly, drawn from the promises in the Holiness Code regarding the life God intends for Israel in the land (Lev. 26:3–13; Odell, Ezekiel, p. 429). So, God will banish wild beasts from the land, so that one may lie down anywhere, even in the desert or in the forests, and be safe (vv. 25, 28; compare Lev. 26:6, and see the Additional Note on 14:15). They will be safe from foreign nations (vv. 27–29; compare Lev. 26:6–8). God will send showers in season; there will be showers of blessing ...

630. A Prophecy Against Gog

Ezekiel 38:1-39:29

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... ; Zeph. 2:13) or Babylon (eighteen times in Jeremiah: e.g., Jer. 1:13–16; 3:12, 18; 6:1, 22–25; see also Zech. 2:6–7; 6:8). Though these nations were to the east of Israel, they were forced by geography to march north around the desert, then south by a coastal route, approaching Palestine from the north. Certainly this is the case elsewhere in Ezekiel (see 9:2; 23:24). However, the Gog narrative does not seem to know this. Here, the predictions of an enemy from the north prompt a look literally to the ...

631. Jesus Transfigured as a Foreshadowing of Future Glory

Matthew 17:1-13

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... forced into a mini adventure, chasing after R2D2, who has escaped on a search for Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan is in reality a great Jedi, yet he has been living on Luke’s desert home planet for years. This general, who fought in one of the greatest wars in Galaxy history, has willingly worn the cloak of a strange desert hermit. Luke’s uncle calls him a “crazy old man.” When we first meet him, we have no idea how hugely important Obi-Wan really is. Quote: The transfiguration as the foreshadowing of Jesus ...

632. Through His Faithful Death, Jesus as Messiah Redefined Brings Life

Matthew 27:27-31, Matthew 27:32-44, Matthew 27:45-56, Matthew 27:57-61, Matthew 27:62-66

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... too will be raised (1 Cor. 15:20–22). 3. Matthew highlights discipleship as “being with” Jesus and serving him. Joseph of Arimathea and the women at the cross and tomb model true discipleship by serving Jesus and remaining “with Jesus” when the Twelve desert him (27:55). Matthew holds up these and other followers of Jesus as exemplars for his readers (e.g., those with [great] faith who trust Jesus for healing [8:8–10; 9:2, 22, 29; 15:28]). Preaching Matthean discipleship can include drawing on ...

633. Balak to Hire Balaam

Numbers 22:1-20

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... they are allied. Later, Midianite women play a major role in Balaam’s plot to curse Israel (Num. 25:6, 14–18; 31:1–18). lick up everything around us. As oxen can easily overgraze ground in this arid region and turn it into a desert, so the large horde of Israelites threaten to devastate ecologically the plains of Moab and the surrounding territories. 22:5 sent messengers to summon Balaam. Being too weak to attack militarily, they seek a divination expert to harm Israel (see v. 7). Pethor, near the ...

634. Immorality and Apostasy

Numbers 25:1-18

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... to his brothers,” probably his family. The woman is Kozbi (v. 15). Midianites are allies of the Moabites (Num. 22:4, 7), but Moses has married a Midianite (Exod. 2:21; 3:1), and his Midianite in-law Hobab has served as a guide through the desert (Num. 10:29–32), so the Israelites are amenable to social contact with Midianites. before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly. That is, Zimri acts shamelessly. they were weeping at the entrance of the tent of meeting. Others are mourning Israel’s sins and ...

635. The Sacrifices of the Sacred Calendar

Num 28:1–29:40

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... God prescribes a system of sacred space for Israel (Lev. 1–8), whose people camp around the tabernacle while they travel through the desert (Num. 1–4). Leviticus 23 describes the various sacred times that Israel will commemorate upon entering the land. Now in Numbers 28–29, as the conquest draws near, God reiterates the system of sacrificial worship in conjunction with Israel’s sacred times around which the people are to conduct their ...

636. Saul Forfeits a Dynasty

1 Samuel 13:1-15

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... panic (see vv. 11–13). 13:12 So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering. The longer Saul waits, the more men are deserting (vv. 8, 11). The Philistine troops are massed for battle and can attack at any moment. If that happens, Saul does not want to ... what seems like overwhelming odds against him, Saul panics. As the Philistines assemble for battle and 80 percent of Saul’s army deserts because of fear (13:5–7),9he apparently fails to recall how the Lord delivered Israel at the Red Sea, again in ...

637. Elihu Makes His Appearance

Job 32:1--37:24

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... imagery that Elihu describes and get your audience’s attention. Nature: Storms are most often considered destructive forces, but sometimes they can have marked beneficial effects. For example, the rare storms that come to desert regions can cause flowers to germinate after many years of apparent barrenness. Pictures or videos of a desert in bloom can illustrate 37:13, in which one of God’s purposes for the storm is watering the earth. Nature: Elihu uses the light of the sun to portray how humans cannot ...

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

Psalm 21:1-13

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... Barrett Browning. This poem captures one aspect of the meaning of our Lord’s cry of dereliction from the cross. The words reflecting the abandonment of Jesus were echoless, says Browning, so that no human being would ever have to utter that cry again: Deserted! God could separate from His own essence rather; And Adam’s sins have swept between the righteous Son and Father; Yea, once, Immanuel’s orphaned cry His universe hath shaken— It went up single, echoless, “My God, I am forsaken!” It went up ...

639. The Power of Persistence

Luke 11:1-13, Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... be better than they had ever expected to be. When the steam ship Halifax was in a collision at sea, just off the coast of Massachusetts, a fire broke out on board. Many of the crew members deserted their posts. Terrorized passengers leaped into the water. But a deckhand saved the day. He went into the deserted engine room where he had no obligation to be and put out the blaze. During the formal investigation that followed, he was asked if there wasn’t a great deal of smoke in the engine room. He replied ...

640. David Saves Keilah

1 Samuel 23:1-29

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... to fight Saul, he and his men—six hundred by now—leave the safety of the walled city. David heads for the Desert of Ziph, south of Hebron, and the Lord protects him in the hills there. One day encouragement comes through an unexpected ... mistaken. God has abandoned him and is frustrating his every move. In this instance Saul and his men have David cornered in the Desert of Maon when news comes that the Philistines are attacking the land. The timing is providential from David’s perspective and allows ...

641. Moab Revolts

2 Kings 3:1-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... 10), and the request for a stringed instrument might be in the same vein—and none of the assembled kings seems to have a problem with it. Elisha ends up having an encouraging word: dig some ditches, for not only will there be water in the desert but Moab will be overthrown. As Elisha forecasts (3:20–25), the land is miraculously filled with water, and the defeat of Moab begins at “the time for offering the sacrifice,” a description similar to the reference to Elijah’s actions at Mount Carmel back ...

642. Psalm 22

Psalm 22:1-31

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... 15:34); 22:18 (John 19:24); 22:22 (Heb. 2:12), or by referring to it, as in 22:7 (Mark 15:29); 22:8 (Matt. 27:43); 22:15 (John 19:28); and 22:16 (John 20:25). Psalm 22 begins with deep anguish, a sense of being deserted by God, who does not answer the sufferer’s prayers (22:1–2). The psalm concludes both with praise to God for responding favorably to the pleas of the helpless and with a declaration that God’s message is a message for the ages (22:22–31). The inner portion ...

643. All Night Long

Song of Songs 3:1-11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... account for the maiden’s second night search for her lover, nor her charge to the harem women concerning the absent lover and their response (5:8–9). The refrain in 3:5 and 8:4 is followed by the same question: “Who is this coming up from the desert?” Here the question is posed by the harem women, and it introduces the pericope under discussion. 3:6–11 · The verses seem to be a lyrical flashback, reminding the maiden of how she came to be a part of the royal harem. The “who” in verse 6 is ...

644. Zion's New Name

Isaiah 62:1-12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... people, may come soon (62:1–5). Then the nations will recognize the glory of Zion, which was trampled down by the enemies of God. The new names given are descriptive of the new era: “Hephzibah” (“my delight is in her”) instead of “Deserted,” and “Beulah” (“married”) instead of “Desolate” (62:3–4). The Lord will rejoice over his people. Out of concern for his people, the Lord has appointed watchmen (62:6–12). The watchmen are not needed for the protection of the city, for Yahweh ...

645. The Cup of God's Wrath

Jeremiah 25:15-38

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... from every point on the compass—begins with Egypt in the south and ends with Babylon to the east. These two were the superpowers of that century. “Foreign people” in Egypt and in Arabia (25:20, 24) designate smaller, usually adjacent kingdoms and allies. Uz bordered the desert east of Jordan. The Philistine city-states lay between Judah and the Mediterranean. Edom was to the south of Judah; Moab and Ammon were to the east. Tyre and Sidon were in the north. Dedan, Tema, and Buz were in the Arabian ...

646. Kedar and Hazor

Jeremiah 49:28-33

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The Kedar were a nomadic tribal people in the Syrian-Arabian desert. Hazor is not the well-known town in Galilee but was another Arab tribe living in the eastern desert. The war poem contains two summonses to attack (49:28, 31), each followed by a list of the plunder (49:29, 32) and the scattering of the fugitives (49:30, 32).

647. A Further Description of Judgment

Ezekiel 6:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... people whether they are living in Jerusalem, near Jerusalem, or some distance from Jerusalem. Geography will neither condemn nor save a person. The situation of his heart, rather than his house, is the critical issue. God’s judgment will stretch from the desert to Diblah (6:14). The desert is the southern wilderness. Diblah (or Riblah?) is a town situated in Hamath, a country on the northern boundary of Israel (Ezek. 47:17; see 2 Kings 23:33). What will be accomplished by all this? “They will know I am ...

648. The River of Life

Ezekiel 47:1-12, Ezekiel 47:13-23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... not only its increasing depth but the positive effects of its waters. The river desalts the Dead Sea, so the sea becomes a fisherman’s paradise. Wherever the river flows and whatever it touches, the result is life. Not only is the Dead Sea desalinized; the desert is fructified. Fruit trees of all kinds grow on both sides of this river. The fruit from these trees provides food and healing. What is of interest here is that the vision of this river singles out for transformation the most barren tract of land ...

649. Jonah’s Unjustified Anger and God’s Response

Jonah 4:1-11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... or “provides” (4:6–8; cf. 1:17) a plant, probably a castor oil plant, to shade and cool Jonah as he sits in the desert. Jonah rejoices in God’s merciful provision, an accommodation that Jonah does not deserve in light of his opposition to the Lord (4:6). ... and dies, and finally the Lord appoints an east wind to blow on the vulnerable Jonah. At the height of summer, the desert temperature can reach 110 degrees and, combined with the sirocco, or east wind, can render the air and ground devoid of any ...

650. Stopping the Spread of Hell

Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon

Kristin Borsgard Wee

... one, even when all we really want to do is fight back. We are called to be family, to confront and make up, to forgive and be forgiven, to heal and be healed. God is asking us to throw a block party right in the middle of the deserted center of hell and fill the place with such music and laughter that all the residents who have moved away come creeping back to the center to find out what all the joy is about. Amen. 1. Barbara Brown Taylor, The Seeds of Heaven (Cincinnati, Ohio: Forward Movement Publications ...

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