Sermon and Worship Resources

2 Samuel 8:1-14

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... fighting took place. However, it could be that David was aware of and took seriously the prohibition against amassing many horses (Deut. 17:16). Joshua is also described as hamstringing enemy horses in response to a command from God (Josh. 11:6, 9). David’s copying his actions may be evidence that he saw these campaigns as part of a holy war. 8:9 The son of Tou king of Hamath has an Israelite name meaning “Yahweh is exalted.” David probably gave him this name to indicate vassal status. 1 Chron ...

727. Eliphaz's Third Speech to Job

Job 22:1-30

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... Make peace” (NJB), or “Agree” (RSV). According to Clines, “this is the language one uses for friends who have fallen out with one another” rather than repentance or submission. [D. J. A. Clines graciously provided the author with an electronic pre-publication copy of his Job 21–37 (Word Biblical Commentary; Nashville, Tenn.: Nelson, 2006).—Ed.] See Clines, Job 21–37, p. 562. It seems to me that “agree” is the best option here. Eliphaz still hopes that Job will be reconciled with God ...

728. The Calling of Matthew

Matthew 9:9-13

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... However, for Jesus to have a house would run counter to his statement in Matthew 8:20 that “the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” While they were reclining at dinner (a style popular in the Greco-Roman world and copied by wealthy Jews) the Pharisees came and asked Jesus’ disciples why their teacher ate with “irreligious people” (Goodspeed). They intended to undermine the faith of the disciples. Jesus overheard their query and answered ironically that it was not those in good health but the ...

729. The Rich Young Man

Matthew 19:16-30

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... , with their similarities and differences, is called the Synoptic Problem. It is sufficient to mention at this point that ancient literature need not be pressed into modern categories. The writers of the Gospels, to whatever extent they were aware of or copied from one another (or from some common source), produced their work without any sense of conflict or incongruity. The Gospels should be read with the same openness. The proverbial nature of Jesus’ teaching and the fact that the disciples heard him ...

730. Daniel’s Training in Babylon

Daniel 1:1-21

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... the temple of his god (lit. “the house of his god”)? From the NIV one might get the impression that two places are indicated. However, the second one might be a gloss to explain the first, or it might be a duplication, the result of a copy error. S. R. Driver argues against the latter: since “the author’s Hebrew is often far from elegant, . . . the anomalous wording of the verse is possibly original” (Driver, Daniel, p. 4). In any case, there is only one place in view: the temple, which is also ...

731. Daniel in the Den of Lions

Daniel 6:1-28

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... if the author was from the second century B.C., he wanted his audience to think of the Jewish law, since the Jews were being persecuted for observing the torah in his day. The story thus points to the later oppression under Antiochus IV, who destroyed copies of the law and punished those who followed it. While it is true that there is no widespread persecution of Jews in Daniel 6, it nevertheless hints at the later situation, because Daniel is a representative of the Jewish people. Just as his enemies seek ...

732. Daniel’s Vision of a Ram and a Goat

Daniel 8:1-14

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... which represents an arrogant king (7:20; 8:11, 25) who attacks heaven (7:21, 25; 8:10–11, 25) and Judaism (by trying to change the set times and law [7:25]; by removing the sacrifice, bringing low the sanctuary, destroying copies of the Torah, and killing Jews [8:11–12, 25]). Both vision accounts close by recounting Daniel’s dramatic response to the supernatural experience (“deeply troubled,” “pale” [7:28]; “exhausted,” “ill,” and “appalled” [8:27]). Chapter 8 also covers some of ...

733. David's Officials

2 Samuel 8:15-18

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... fighting took place. However, it could be that David was aware of and took seriously the prohibition against amassing many horses (Deut. 17:16). Joshua is also described as hamstringing enemy horses in response to a command from God (Josh. 11:6, 9). David’s copying his actions may be evidence that he saw these campaigns as part of a holy war. 8:9 The son of Tou king of Hamath has an Israelite name meaning “Yahweh is exalted.” David probably gave him this name to indicate vassal status. 1 Chron ...

734. Praise to God for a Living Hope

1 Peter 1:1-12

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... , Asia (not the continent, but the Roman province of that name), and Bithynia, probably indicates the route taken by the letter carrier. The messenger, who may have been Silas (5:12), would need only to call on a few Christian communities in each province, leaving a copy of the letter to be duplicated by local believers and shared with others nearby. 1:2 NIV adds the words who have been chosen to make it clear that the rest of the verse follows on from “God’s elect” (or “chosen”) in verse 1, and ...

735. Faith in the Son of God

1 John 5:1-12, 1 John 4:7-21

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... list of three, because it is through the Spirit that the community of faith recognizes the truth (v. 6) about Jesus (John 14:26). The AV contains the following words which are not in any of the early MSS of the NT. They appeared first in some copies of the Old Latin version in the fourth century, probably as a marginal note which later found its way into the text. The added words, following testify (NIV; “bear record,” AV) are: “in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are ...

736. The Plague of Gnats

Exodus 8:16-19

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... staff swallowed up their staffs. In 7:22 they mimicked turning water to blood, exacerbating Egypt’s drinking water crisis. In verse 7 they also called forth frogs, so that Pharaoh had to ask Moses to pray for him to the Lord. They could not copy the gnats and never tried to match Aaron again. After a brief note about their suffering from boils (9:11), they disappear from the narrative as insignificant. When the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God” they did not necessarily acknowledge ...

737. To Noah's Sons

1 Chronicles 1:1-4

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... 1:4, therefore, introduces the threefold genealogical segments that follow (1:5–7, 8–16, 17–23). 1:5–7 These verses present the seven sons of Japheth. Two of them, Gomer and Javan, are singled out by also listing their descendants. These verses are copied exactly from Genesis 10:2–4 (also attributed to the Priestly writers). There the genealogy of Noah’s sons starts with Japheth, continues with Ham, and ends with Shem. The order of presentation is thus the opposite from that in 1 Chronicles 1:4 ...

738. The Japhethites

1 Chronicles 1:5-7

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... 1:4, therefore, introduces the threefold genealogical segments that follow (1:5–7, 8–16, 17–23). 1:5–7 These verses present the seven sons of Japheth. Two of them, Gomer and Javan, are singled out by also listing their descendants. These verses are copied exactly from Genesis 10:2–4 (also attributed to the Priestly writers). There the genealogy of Noah’s sons starts with Japheth, continues with Ham, and ends with Shem. The order of presentation is thus the opposite from that in 1 Chronicles 1:4 ...

739. The Hamites

1 Chronicles 1:8-16

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... 1:4, therefore, introduces the threefold genealogical segments that follow (1:5–7, 8–16, 17–23). 1:5–7 These verses present the seven sons of Japheth. Two of them, Gomer and Javan, are singled out by also listing their descendants. These verses are copied exactly from Genesis 10:2–4 (also attributed to the Priestly writers). There the genealogy of Noah’s sons starts with Japheth, continues with Ham, and ends with Shem. The order of presentation is thus the opposite from that in 1 Chronicles 1:4 ...

740. The Semites

1 Chronicles 1:17-27

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... 1:4, therefore, introduces the threefold genealogical segments that follow (1:5–7, 8–16, 17–23). 1:5–7 These verses present the seven sons of Japheth. Two of them, Gomer and Javan, are singled out by also listing their descendants. These verses are copied exactly from Genesis 10:2–4 (also attributed to the Priestly writers). There the genealogy of Noah’s sons starts with Japheth, continues with Ham, and ends with Shem. The order of presentation is thus the opposite from that in 1 Chronicles 1:4 ...

741. David Conquers Jerusalem

1 Chronicles 11:4-9

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... with Ish-Bosheth (whose presence is eliminated by the Chronicler). That Shammah is omitted by the Chronicler might be related to the elimination of 2 Sam. 23:10b–12 in the source text. Making the kind of reading error that often occurred during the copying of manuscripts in ancient times, the Chronicler’s eye might have skipped from “the LORD brought about a great victory” in 23:10 to exactly the same Hebrew phrase at the end of 23:12. The information in between these phrases, which contains the ...

742. David's Mighty Men

1 Chronicles 11:10-47

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... with Ish-Bosheth (whose presence is eliminated by the Chronicler). That Shammah is omitted by the Chronicler might be related to the elimination of 2 Sam. 23:10b–12 in the source text. Making the kind of reading error that often occurred during the copying of manuscripts in ancient times, the Chronicler’s eye might have skipped from “the LORD brought about a great victory” in 23:10 to exactly the same Hebrew phrase at the end of 23:12. The information in between these phrases, which contains the ...

743. Warriors Join David

1 Chronicles 12:1-22

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... with Ish-Bosheth (whose presence is eliminated by the Chronicler). That Shammah is omitted by the Chronicler might be related to the elimination of 2 Sam. 23:10b–12 in the source text. Making the kind of reading error that often occurred during the copying of manuscripts in ancient times, the Chronicler’s eye might have skipped from “the LORD brought about a great victory” in 23:10 to exactly the same Hebrew phrase at the end of 23:12. The information in between these phrases, which contains the ...

744. Others Join David at Hebron

1 Chronicles 12:23-40

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... with Ish-Bosheth (whose presence is eliminated by the Chronicler). That Shammah is omitted by the Chronicler might be related to the elimination of 2 Sam. 23:10b–12 in the source text. Making the kind of reading error that often occurred during the copying of manuscripts in ancient times, the Chronicler’s eye might have skipped from “the LORD brought about a great victory” in 23:10 to exactly the same Hebrew phrase at the end of 23:12. The information in between these phrases, which contains the ...

745. King Artaxerxes' Letter to Ezra

Ezra 7:11-28

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... -Euphrates satrapy, who were to supply the required funding in cash and kind, up to specified generous limits. The inserted letter corresponds with Ezra’s delivery of the royal instructions as described in 8:36; presumably he was given copies addressed to particular officials. Scrupulous regard for local religious traditions was motivated by a desire to propitiate the Judean God, whose power over the Persian royal family could be demonstrated both positively, via prayer (6:10), and negatively, as seen ...

746. Fake News? No! Fake Religion

Matthew 23:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... as fake news are such a big problem today? Some people are remarkably gullible. And sometimes people who are pushing fake items as well as fake ideas are remarkably expert. Years ago the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Amsterdam put some of their priceless originals next to copies of those same paintings and held a contest to see how many visitors could tell the false from the true. Of the 1827 people who took part in the experiment, only seven were able to tell the genuine from the fake. That’s a big part ...

747. Among You Stands One

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sermon

King Duncan

Dr. Tom Long in his book, Shepherds and Bathrobes, tells a story that appeared years ago in the New York Times. It was just before Christmas. David Storch, a music teacher, borrowed a copy of the score of Handel’s Messiah from the Brooklyn Public Library. For some reason, through a clerical error, the transaction was not recorded. Afterward, there were several other requests for the score, and the library staff--unaware that it had been checked out--spent many hours searching in vain ...

748. Rebirth

John 3:14-21

Sermon

John Jamison

... to the five books of the Jewish Torah, called the Pentateuch. Matthew was most likely writing his book for Jewish readers, in an attempt to help them understand who Jesus was. Luke was the storyteller. He borrowed a lot from the writings of Mark, much of it copied word for word. It was written perhaps around 85 CE, in a style used by the Greeks, suggesting that the goal was to present the story of Jesus to Gentile readers. Instead of focusing on the law, Luke wrote to present a theological argument to his ...

749. Uncertain Certainties

John 20:19-31

Sermon

John Jamison

... gentle pushing and shoving as we all tried to get just a bit closer to where God was standing. There might be some minor bickering over who got to stand the closest. Would it be decided by age or should we run to the office and get a copy of the spreadsheet to see who has given more to support God’s church, and line up according to that ranking? People would start shouting out other questions they would really like to have answers for concerning major life decisions, why something happened as it did and ...

750. Jesus' No-Nonsense Guide to Being Rich

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

April Yamasaki

How would you like to be rich? The Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol has offered a $10,000,000 Prize. A recent email read, "Want a six-figure second income? Get rich now!" A local financial institution was giving away copies of the international bestseller by David Bach: The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich. Many of these offers go straight to my recycling bin or get automatically trashed by my spam filter. But The Automatic Millionaire -- in spite of its rather ...