Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: keep, claim, continue, stick by, self-control, power through, achieve, defend, bear, hope, acquire, quick visit, adopt, continue along, adhere, remain, pursue, support, take up, keep up, reuse, advocate, stay, persevere, cherish, keep going, carry on

Showing 1426 to 1450 of 4963 results

1426. The Year of Jubilee

Leviticus 25:8-55

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... until the next Jubilee. This procedure then allows for the return of the land to its original owner but also attends to appropriate compensation for the buyer. If there is no next-of-kin and the seller is not able to redeem the land, it will remain in the possession of the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. At that time, the land will revert to the original owner. Despite the instructions, the text seems to assume that its readers are familiar with this practice and so does not deal with all the possibilities ...

1427. Israel Without Weapons

1 Samuel 13:16-22

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... could be seen as following a similar pattern and making the same theological error. God’s presence and God’s blessing could not be guaranteed simply by the use of cultic ritual, particularly not when it is wrongly applied by one who was not a priest. God remained the true king, and absolute obedience to him was essential for any lasting kingdom in Israel. So far, apart from the brief reference to Saul’s family in 9:20, there has been no indication that a dynasty was ever in view. It is possible, even ...

1428. Saul and the Witch of Endor

1 Samuel 28:1-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... had once been, was petrified. Given his fragile mental health, and having let go of his obsession that David was plotting to depose him, he may have had to face the reality of his own inadequacies. The need to protect Israel from Philistine attack remained as strong as ever, so seeking further instructions from God was unnecessary. But, crying out for the kind of confidence boosting that he had never been able to cope without, Saul tried every possible means to ensure confirmation of God’s support except ...

1429. Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

John 13:18-30

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... –40). Not even Simon Peter sat as close to Jesus as he (v. 24). Though the identification of this disciple with John, the son of Zebedee, is as plausible as any that has been proposed (see Introduction) the fact remains that, as the Gospel’s author (21:24), he has chosen to remain anonymous, and the commentator has no choice but to respect his anonymity. As soon as he has been introduced, the disciple whom Jesus loved becomes the recipient of a revelation (vv. 24–30). Simon Peter asks him to find out ...

1430. Jesus Prays for All Believers

John 17:20-26

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... in them (v. 26) Jesus’ prayer for his disciples (and all subsequent believers) reinforces and displays his love for them (cf. 13:1), now clearly articulated as God’s unique love for his Son extended to a whole people, a new community of faith. All that remains is the final outpouring of that love in Jesus’ death on the cross. Additional Notes 17:21 May they also be in us. Some ancient manuscripts read “one in us.” The shorter text is to be preferred, but in the context there is no real difference ...

1431. The Death of Jesus

John 19:28-37, John 19:17-27, John 19:38-42

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... of a certain Demetrius: We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true (3 John 12). These wider parallels suggest that verse 35 reflects merely the author’s normal way of speaking about valid testimony. The anonymous witness remains anonymous. Verse 37, with its apparent identification of those who look on Jesus with those who pierced him, could suggest that the eyewitness was one of the Roman soldiers, perhaps the very one who plunged the spear into Jesus’ side (cf. the officer ...

1432. The Burial of Jesus

John 19:38-42, John 19:17-27, John 19:28-37

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

1433. Accusations

2 Corinthians 2:12--3:6

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... of the Spirit under the new covenant, rather than merely to serve the law without God’s transforming power: for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. The law of Moses promised both blessings and curses, depending on whether the nation of Israel remained faithful to the covenant or apostacized. Among the curses of the law that would come upon the people for disobedience, the worst were exile and death for the whole nation (cf. Lev. 26:14–39; Deut. 28:15–68). Therefore, when Paul states that ...

1434. Faith and Deeds

James 2:14-26, James 2:1-13

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... ” or “gave up his spirit” (the words for breath and spirit being identical in both Greek and Hebrew) he was dead (John 19:30; Luke 23:46; Ecclesiastes 3:21; 8:8; 9:5). A dead body is a liability that must be buried. Likewise faith that remains intellectual belief is dead. It cannot save; it is a liability, for it can deceive a person as to his or her true spiritual state. Only when faith becomes full commitment and is joined to actions does it have value. Additional Notes 2:1 The term for partiality ...

1435. Wives and Husbands

1 Peter 3:1-7

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... she was to bear her husband a son (Gen. 18:12 LXX). But her “submission” to Abraham when she called him her master is not to be understood in any slavish fashion—as is made clear by Sarah’s later refusal to allow Hagar and Ishmael to remain in the home, despite her husband’s protests (Gen. 21:10, 12). The term translated master (kyrios, lord) was simply a deferential mode of address, along the lines of our “sir” today. Sarah’s response to Abraham on that occasion was an amused “My lord is ...

1436. Jacob Wrestles with God

Genesis 32:1-32

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... past vile behavior, Jacob resolved not to flee, hide, or trick his brother. To prepare himself for the meeting Jacob stayed behind, spending the night in the camp. 32:22–23 Deeply troubled and unable to sleep, Jacob got up and forded his family and remaining possessions across the Jabbok. There are two possible reasons for his doing this after dark. The next morning he did not want to be involved with getting his family across the Jabbok when Esau arrived. Or perhaps he had a strong inner need to spend ...

1437. Moses and the Glory of the Lord

Exodus 33:12-23

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... would hereafter extend this grace and friendship shared with Moses to the whole nation. The Lord revealed the full extent of this friendship when Moses saw God’s glory and goodness (vv. 18–19; 34:5–7). How the Lord would go among them without forgiving them remained unresolved until then (34:7). 33:18–23 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” Moses asked to see God’s glory, as he had previously (see comments on 16:7; 24:16). He sought assurance of God’s promise to be present with them ...

1438. Division of the Land

Deuteronomy 3:12-20

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... would owe their land to God’s gift, and so all the tribes must fight together to possess what God had given to all. Only when God had given rest to all would any be free of obligation to help the others. The principle expressed here remained an ideal in Israel. In fact, in the turbulent centuries that followed, about the only thing that united the scattered tribes of Israel was this sense of mutual obligation, arising from a common awareness of being “Israel” and a common sense of commitment to Yahweh ...

1439. The Song of Moses

Deuteronomy 31:30--32:47

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... , “Samuel’s ‘Broken Rîb.’ ” 32:4 He is the Rock: This is a very ancient title for God in the OT (cf. Gen. 49:24) used six times in this song (vv. 4, 15, 18, 30, 31). With its obvious metaphorical force (stable, dependable, unmoveable, safe), it remained a favorite title, particularly in times of historical danger and change (cf. 2 Sam. 22:2f.; Pss. 18:2, 31; 19:14; 95:1; Isa. 26:4; 44:8). It is a title for deity also found in Canaanite and wider ancient Near Eastern religion, so there is quite ...

1440. Allotment for Zebulun

Joshua 19:10-16

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... . 19:17–23 The towns given to Issachar are located in the valleys and basalt heights of eastern Lower Galilee. They are located near major international highways that run close to southern and western tribal borders. Major cities such as Beth Shan and Anaharath remain under control of non-Israelites until the period of David and Solomon. 19:24–31 The tribe of Asher land is located in the northwestern corner of Israel. South and east of the tribe are Manasseh, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and on the north is ...

1441. Allotment for Issachar

Joshua 19:17-23

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

1442. Allotment for Asher

Joshua 19:24-31

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

1443. Allotment for Naphtali

Joshua 19:32-39

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

1444. Allotment for Dan

Joshua 19:40-48

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

1445. Elijah on Mount Carmel

1 Kings 18:16-46

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... her prophets, and he cannot gather them to himself at will. Certainly we must see the absence of the prophets of Asherah from the proceedings on Mount Carmel as linked to the absence of Jezebel herself. For both represent the absent threat that will still remain (although grossly underestimated by Elijah) at the end of ch. 18. Elijah has dealt decisively with the men on the mountain; but what of the women, who were never involved in the proceedings? Ahab has been brought to submission, Baal shown to be no ...

1446. The Lord Appears to Elijah

1 Kings 19:9-18

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... are you doing here, Elijah?, v. 13), his answer is exactly the same as before (vv. 10, 14). The entire point of the demonstration appears, like the LORD himself (v. 11), to have passed him by. Privileged like Moses to see (Exod. 33:12–23), he remains steadfastly like Jonah: slow to understand. There is, indeed, just a suggestion that he does not particularly wish to understand. He has always claimed to “stand before the LORD” (Hb. ʿmḏ lipnê YHWH; cf. the NIV’s “whom I serve” in 17:1; 18:15 ...

1447. The Call of Elisha

1 Kings 19:19-21

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

1448. Ahab Killed at Ramoth Gilead

1 Kings 22:29-40

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... cf. v. 17). The LORD’s deception of Ahab has succeeded; Ahab’s attempted deception of the LORD has failed. It was the only possible outcome. 22:37–40 Two of the prophecies of 1 Kings 20–22 have come to pass (20:41–42; 22:17, 19–23). It remains only to hear about the dogs and the blood they licked up, as Ahab’s chariot is washed at a pool in Samaria (v. 38; see the additional note on 21:19). The NIV’s translation here is strange, and its footnote unhelpful. The Hebrew is lit. “He (possibly ...

1449. The Kings of Judah

1 Chronicles 3:10-16

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... On the basis of Jeremiah 22:11 Shallum is identified with Jehoahaz. The reason for the inclusion of Johanan in this list remains unclear. We know from both Kings and Chronicles that the order of the kings in the final years of Judah was Shallum ... he was the last king not to have been taken into exile. Shallum was taken to Egypt, where he died, while the other three remaining rulers were all exiled to Babylon. An accurate count of the generations from Adam to Josiah brings the number to forty-nine. The fiftieth ...

1450. Other Clans of Judah

1 Chronicles 4:1-23

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... brother of Judah’s five children, Shelah. We do not find any parallel for this genealogy elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible, and many of the names—some again indicating places—remain unknown to us. One striking feature of this final family list is again the explication of relationships with neighboring areas and peoples. In the phrase who ruled in Moab (4:22), the Hebrew verb also means “became husband.” The majority of commentators and translations therefore translates this phrase “who married ...

Showing results