Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: thirstiness, dryness, parched, craving, strong desire, longing, yearning, avidity, hunger, voracity, keenness, eagerness, lust, appetite, passion, love, crave, want, covet, desire, hunger for/after, lust for/after, hanker for/after, have one's heart set on

Antonyms: aversion, distaste, apathy, dislike, hatred, antipathy, disgust, disregard, abhorrence, acrimony, wet, animosity, animus, antagonism, bad feeling, bitterness, be averse to, detestation

Showing 1251 to 1275 of 4959 results

1251. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 19:1-29

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... person or the opponent). It is best to recognize a corrupt text here. 19:22 Among other difficulties, the words are ambiguous. The Hb. taʾ a wat can mean “greed” (see NJPS); ḥesed can (rarely) mean “shame.” It is also possible, but doubtful, to read: “desirable in a person (is . . .).” 19:23 One problem is that the subject (or antecedent) of the Hb. verb yālîn (“lodge”) is nowhere expressed. The NIV supplies then one in order to get a smooth translation. 19:27 The appearance of my son ...

1252. Let Him Kiss Me

Song of Songs 1:1-17

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

... be the Solomon of biblical tradition, who would hardly wish to be kissed on the mouth by anyone identified as “him.” Within the social world constructed by biblical texts, this must be a woman’s voice. The as-yet-unnamed speaker is direct in expressing her desire (“let him kiss me”), but her speech darts about at a tempo that is difficult to follow. She talks first about the man, then to him. She speaks of his kisses, his love, and wine. Perfume seems to be in the air. Then suddenly the perfume ...

1253. A Message About Babylon

Jeremiah 50:1--51:64

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... the Babylonian king to a serpent (see Additional Notes). This serpent also has swallowed them but then spit them out. They have been used and treated with disrespect. Such acts lead to the desire for violence against Babylon as expressed in verse 35. The inhabitants of Zion want them to experience payback for their suffering. The desire of verse 35 leads (therefore) to the divine pronouncement in verses 36–44. Here God will take up Judah’s cause and avenge them. Speaking of Babylon God will dry up her ...

1254. Witnesses Summoned Against Israel

Amos 3:1-15

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... all history will be. And those prophets and prophetic writings warn Israel and us ahead of time to repent before catastrophe strikes and before our fate is forever sealed (cf. Mal. 4:5; Matt. 11:14; Mark 9:11–13; Luke 1:17). God does not desire the death of the wicked; God desires that we repent and live (Ezek. 18:32). 3:9–11 Few oracles in the book of Amos are more relevant to our modern society than is this one. The general charge against the Israelites here, in verse 10, is that they do not know how ...

1255. Blemished Sacrifices and Admonition for the Priests

Malachi 1:6-14, Malachi 2:1-9

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... to acknowledge God’s rule over all of life and to participate in the truth that the Lord’s name is to be feared among the nations. In the book of Malachi “fear” summarizes the response God desires from Israel (1:6; 3:16), the priests (2:5), and the nations (1:14). This fear is not terror or panic; rather, it is a desire to show honor, respect, and love to the Holy One. This fear does not create a need to hide or to put distance between oneself and God, but it results in a longing to live in the ...

1256. The Day of Judgment

Malachi 2:17--3:5

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... on the specific use of hekal for the holy place in the temple, where only the priests were permitted to go (e.g., 1 Kgs. 6:1, 2, 17). God can be speaking of God’s self as “the Lord,” but who is the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire? He may be the same as “my messenger.” The best solution is to recognize that verses 1–5 describe twice what is to come, first briefly and then at length. The short version is in the first part of verse 1: God’s messenger will prepare the way and then ...

1257. An Invitation from the King

Revelation 22:7-21

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

... him an invitation (perhaps like this one) to come for an audience. When the servant stood in the king's presence, the king made him the most generous offer imaginable. "I will give you anything in my kingdom that you desire," said the king. "It can be wealth, power or anything your heart desires!" The servant was overwhelmed. But then the hard part. What should he ask for. Money? A position in government? A new home? Finally, he hit upon an ingenious scheme. He would ask for the hand of the king's daughter ...

1258. Jesus Talks with a Samaritan Woman

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

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... 1 Cor. 12:13: “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body …, and we were all given the one Spirit to drink”). The Spirit quenches thirst, not in the sense of removing a person’s desire for the presence of God, but in the sense of continually satisfying that desire. The Holy Spirit will be like an eternal self-replenishing spring within the believer “welling up to eternal life” (v. 14). The Samaritan woman takes the metaphor literally. The only life-giving water she knows is the water ...

1259. Jesus Prays for His Disciples

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

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... advance the fate of the world. This is clearly seen in the prayer’s conclusion (vv. 24–26). In verse 24, petition gives way to a straightforward declaration of intent: I want those you have given me to be with me where I am (cf. 12:26; 14:3). Jesus desires for his disciples a vision of his own glory, the glory you have given me … before the creation of the world (cf. v. 5). The glory that Jesus and his loved ones share is rooted in the Father’s love for Jesus; it antedates the world and will outlast ...

1260. No Confidence in the Flesh

Philippians 3:1-11

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... of Jesus Christ in opposition to the ‘contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge’ ” (Paul and the Gnostics, p. 92), if it were clear that Paul had in mind proponents of such a rival gnōsis (see notes on vv. 18, 19 below). On Paul’s desire for sharing in Christ’s sufferings see B. M. Ahern. “The Fellowship of His Sufferings (Phil 3:10),” CBQ 22 (1960), pp. 1–32; also H. Seesemann, Der Begriff KOINŌNIA im Neuen Testament. 3:11 And so, somehow: Gk. ei pōs, “if perhaps,” “if ...

1261. Pressing on Toward the Goal

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... , let his example be followed. The “imitation of Paul” is a remarkable and recurring theme in his letters. He taught his converts by precept, spoken and written, how they ought to live; but a living example could be more telling than many words. If they desire to see Christian life in action, Paul directs their attention to his own conduct, as he does here: “join in imitating me.” For a man like Paul to take this line meant that he had to be exceptionally careful about his conduct, lest his example ...

1262. Joy at Believers’ Walking in the Truth

3 John 1:1-14

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... –20). The subject of witness or testimony in the Gospel and letters of John was studied by Boice, Witness and Revelation, and by Brown, Gospel, I–XII, pp. 227–28. Closing Words and Greetings In these final verses of 3 John, the Elder expresses his desire to communicate with his readers in person. He and his friends extend their greetings to each one of them. 13–14 There are still many things which the author wants to say to Gaius and to his friends about the conflict which has divided the community ...

1263. Adam and Eve

Genesis 2:4-25

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... significantly to the other’s life. Marriage, then, is one community in which a man and a woman can establish the rapprochement that is possible because humans are made in the image of God. The use of “cling” supports this claim, for in Deuteronomy it describes the desired way Israel is to relate to Yahweh, with whom the nation is in covenant (e.g., Deut. 10:20; 11:22; 13:4). The declaration they will become one flesh describes further the unity of a man and a woman. The focus is not on the resulting ...

1264. Abram in Egypt

Genesis 12:10-20

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... source of the plagues was a mighty god. From another perspective, as monarch, he should have sought to protect these visitors to his land instead of being enamored with Sarai’s beauty. Pharaoh responded by summoning Abram to the palace. Outraged at being thwarted and desiring to save face, he challenged Abram with three questions in rapid succession. He asked what Abram had done to him and blamed Abram for what had taken place. He next asked why Abram had not told him outright that this woman was his wife ...

1265. Abram and Lot Separate

Genesis 13:1-18

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... Lot to defer to Abram, his uncle, and let him make the first choice. Contrary to these expectations, Lot took the opportunity to separate from Abram and quickly chose the area in the Arabah. His experiences in Egypt might have awakened in him a desire to live in a lush, affluent urban environment. Some traits of his personality, evidenced in his decision to refrain from showing more honor to his uncle, cast a shadow over his character and prepare the reader for the troubles Lot is to face. The narrator ...

1266. Abraham and Abimelech

Genesis 20:1-18

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... be done. He had violated the standard of behavior among peoples. Apparently Abraham stood by silently, for Abimelech’s next words have another introduction. To prod Abraham into responding, Abimelech asked why he had done this. With this final question Abimelech displayed his desire that all living under his rule would act justly. 20:11–13 Abraham responded with a threefold defense. First, he was apprehensive that since there was no fear of God in this place, he would be killed for his wife. Lack of the ...

1267. Jacob Gets Isaac's Blessing

Genesis 27:1-40

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... mother who looks out for her favorite son. The deceit of Rebekah and Jacob hardens the audience toward them; the sense is that they deserve the pain they get for their conniving. The sympathies of the audience gravitate toward Isaac, a weak, aging figure whose fatherly desire to honor a loved son is thwarted. The outcomes of this act of deception are harsh. Esau weeps bitterly for the lost blessing. Jacob has to spend twenty years in exile, where he must deal with a clever father-in-law. Rebekah loses the ...

1268. Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

Genesis 29:15-30

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... . He consummated the marriage. In the morning the young man who had advanced his way at the expense of his brother found himself jilted by a treacherous deception; his bride was Leah, not Rachel. Again the elder stood in the way of Jacob’s desires: in Canaan, Esau; in Haran, Leah. Shocked and infuriated on discovering that he had spent the night with Leah, Jacob went directly to Laban. After recounting the terms of their agreement, he demanded to know why Laban had deceived (rimmah) him. With this term ...

1269. Jacob’s Children

Genesis 29:31--30:24

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... Rachel, humbling herself, politely asked Leah for some of the mandrakes in the hope that they might help her conceive. Her request sparked a caustic complaint from Leah: Did Rachel, who had taken her husband, wish to take her son’s mandrakes? Exploiting Rachel’s desire for children, Leah made a deal with her sister. She would give her the mandrakes in exchange for Jacob’s sleeping with her that night. That evening when Jacob came in from the fields, Leah met him and informed him that she had hired his ...

1270. Offerings for Priests and Levites

Deuteronomy 18:1-8

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... are lumped together as the detestable ways of the nations and headed by the horrific rite of child-sacrifice (cf. 12:31), which was not a divinatory rite, but sets the tone for the way the following practices were to be viewed. It is a universal human desire to know the unknown, to have some preview of the future, to get guidance for decisions, to exercise control over others, to harm others and ward off the harm others may aim at oneself. Alienated from the living God, humans devise the dark arts of verses ...

1271. Solomon's Prayer of Dedication

1 Kings 8:22-61

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... 22) to address the people once more. He again celebrates the fulfillment of God’s promises, though this time more broadly than in verses 15–21, referring to the promises given through Moses (rest being an allusion to the establishment of Israel within the land of Canaan). His desire is that God would be with Israel and cause them to walk in his ways, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other (Deut. 4:35). Here again we see a rather universalistic idea ...

1272. The Man of God from Judah

1 Kings 13:1-34

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... would not normally kill a man and then stand over the body with an uneaten donkey for company (cf. also v. 24) while ignoring the meals passing by (v. 25). 13:31 Lay my bones beside his bones: It has sometimes been suggested that the old prophet simply desires to be remembered in the grave along with the man who spoke what was true. This view of the request tends to be allied to a view of the prophet as basically benevolent—a view that is difficult to square with the fact that he knowingly lied. Given ...

1273. Ahijah's Prophecy Against Jeroboam

1 Kings 14:1-20

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... shall come across the theme twice more in 1 Kgs. (20:35–43; 22:29–38). See further R. Coggins, “On Kings and Disguises,” JSOT 50 (1991), pp. 55–62. 14:10 Every last male: Lit. “he who urinates against a wall.” The NIV’s desire for discretion obscures the obvious connection between the urine and the dung or excrement that God uses as fuel for the fire of destruction. Jeroboam’s house smells; radical action is needed to deal with this sanitation problem. Slave or free: The Hb. is ʿāṣûr ...

1274. Jotham King of Judah

2 Kings 15:32-38

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... that travel has broadened Ahaz’s mind. He has gained some new ideas. Only in the case of the last two innovations is it said that the motive was deference to (or fear of) the king of Assyria; again, there is no hint here of requirement, only of a desire to remove a possible source of offence. Ahaz is presented as a king who is open to foreign influence in his religious policy (as in 16:2–4). He is not presented as one who is under foreign control. These are dark days, nonetheless. Never before has a ...

1275. Woe to the Obstinate Nation

Isaiah 30:1-33

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... . As in our own day, it might be quite imaginable for Judeans to wish that the whole idea of people having visions would go away (see v. 10a), but our other instinctive desire is that people should have encouraging visions rather than discomforting ones. As verse 10 develops it becomes clear that this is also Judah’s desire. They do not want to be challenged about what is right but reassured that God is with them. In Isaiah’s context this would amount to prophesying illusions. Judah was not literally ...

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