Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: touch, feel, sense of touch, tactile sense, tactility, contact, using one's hands, sensation, sense, suspicion, sneaking suspicion, notion, inkling, hunch, fancy, apprehension, presentiment, premonition, foreboding, love, care, affection, fondness, tenderness, warmth, warmness, emotion, sentiment, emotional state, compassion, sympathy, empathy, fellow feeling, understanding, concern, solicitude, solicitousness, tender-heartedness, brotherly love, sensibilities, sensitivities, self-esteem, ego, pride, opinion, belief, view, impression, intuition, instinct, estimation, guess, theory, hypothesis, thought, way of thinking, point of view, atmosphere, ambience, aura, air, mood, climate, character, overtone, undertone, tenor, spirit, quality, flavour, colour, aptitude, knack, flair, bent, talent, gift, skill, art, trick, faculty, ability, propensity, inclination, sensitive, warm, warm-hearted, tender, tender-hearted, caring, soft-hearted, sympathetic, compassionate, empathetic, responsive, receptive, intuitive, thoughtful

Antonyms: bad feeling, acrimony, animosity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, aversion, bitterness, detestation, disgust, dislike, disrelish, enmity, friction, grievances, grudges, hatred, hostility, loathing, malevolence, malice

Showing 1426 to 1450 of 1668 results

1426. The Parable of the Net

Matthew 13:47-52

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... Synoptic Gospels. The parable is a simple story taken from daily life that illustrates an ethical or religious truth. William Scott observes, “Disinclined as he was to discursive exposition, the Semite practised the art of persuasion by thus skillfully appealing to the imagination” (HDB rev., p. 725). For many years the church allegorized the parables, ignoring the obvious meaning and finding support for theological positions. It was Adolf Jülicher’s famous Die Gleichnisreden Jesu (1888–99) that ...

1427. A History Lesson: From Ephraim to Judah, from the Exodus to Zion

Psalm 78:1-72

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... Sam. 2:9). God’s choice of David is shown to be particularly apt because he could be the shepherd of his people, just as God had shepherded “his people . . . like a flock” (v. 52). As God led them like sheep, so David shepherded them . . . ; with skillful hands he led them. Not only did God chose a new king, he also chose a new place for his sanctuary, namely Mount Zion, which he loved. Earlier he had abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh (v. 60). (The parallelism of tribe and sanctuary in v. 68 implies ...

1428. Remembering Jerusalem by the Rivers of Babylon

Psalm 137:1-9

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... motif in this psalm. It is “remembering” Zion that triggers this opening lament (vv. 1–4). 137:5–6 Now the speaker engages in a self-curse: if he were to forget and not remember . . . Jerusalem, he would wish his right hand forget its skill of playing “our harps.” He would also wish his tongue would cling to the roof of his mouth, thus disabling him from ever singing. We must not misunderstand this passionate attachment to Jerusalem as a mere reflection of cultural identity or nostalgia. In the ...

1429. Surrendering to God’s Inescapable, All-Searching Presence

Psalm 139:1-24

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... Additional Notes, and 73:26), yet “I am still/always with you” (139:18 and 73:23). 139:13–16 These verses, with their introductory for you created my inmost being, explain and substantiate the reason for this divine loyalty. God is portrayed as a skilled weaver and the speaker as his handiwork. God’s interest in the speaker from his life’s beginning evidences God’s personal and long-term investment in him. As in the first section, this one also draws attention to the extent of God’s knowledge ...

1430. God of Creation and Restorer of Jerusalem

Psalm 147:1-20

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... ’s behalf, especially in terms of his commanding providence. Yet, there are also implicit contrasts between the general regularities of Yahweh’s work in creation and the (sometimes surprising) particularities of his favor in dispensing his providence among humans. This is a skillfully woven poem that brings together the diverse threads of God’s ways in creation and with humans. 147:1–6 The Hebrew psalms have little to say about beauty and pleasure in their own right, but they do claim that praise is ...

1431. Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts

Daniel 7:1-14

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... half of the book, where others besides Daniel experience the visions (Nebuchadnezzar in chs. 2 and 4) and visitations (Belshazzar in ch. 5). These accounts are narrated in the third person (except for 4:4–18, 34–37), and Daniel acts as the skillful interpreter, receiving the secret meanings directly from God without the aid of a heavenly messenger. Another way in which chapter 7 is like chapters 8–12 is that it vilifies the kings and kingdoms of the world, with special emphasis on the despicable ...

1432. Hannah Dedicates Samuel

1 Samuel 1:21-28

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... will eventually be taken away. It is striking that the authors choose to begin this narrative—which deals so often with power struggles between the leading men of the country—with a powerless, barren woman. 1:3–8 Having introduced the characters, the writers skillfully draw a picture of their lives together. This is a family concerned to follow the ways of the Lord; they go year after year to offer sacrifices at Shiloh, his wives and children fully involved by Elkanah in the procedure. But it is not ...

1433. Israel Without Weapons

1 Samuel 13:16-22

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... expertise is realistic. Only leaders could afford properly made metal weapons, a usual circumstance at this point in history. Some countries had, like Philistia, developed the technology to work well with iron. They were naturally reluctant to share their skills with potential enemies. However, the lack of blacksmiths had not been a barrier to Saul’s earlier success, and therefore mention of this fact implies a weakening in Saul’s divine empowerment. Additional Notes 13:3 As a Philistine outpost ...

1434. Saul's Jealousy of David

1 Samuel 18:1-30

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... to be realistic, and the unusual nature of the task fits with Saul’s erratic nature and David’s relishing of a challenge. David’s bringing two hundred foreskins preempts any attempt by Saul to change the bride price again. The writers skillfully portray Saul’s increasing frustration as everything goes right for David and everything goes wrong for himself. Far from Michal’s love being able to be used against David, it strengthens his position as a possible successor to Saul. Jonathan, the people ...

1435. Saul and the Witch of Endor

1 Samuel 28:1-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... just as he had long tried to deny the reality of David’s anointing. Whether or not the woman was a charlatan, what happened next was unexpected, and she was shocked and horrified. Whether this was because of what she saw or because whatever clairvoyant skills she may have had told her belatedly that her client was Saul is not clear. The sense of mystery within this account and the many unanswered questions are almost certainly an intentional strategy on the part of the writers. The woman’s statement is ...

1436. War Between the Houses of David and Saul

2 Samuel 2:8-3:5

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... David’s anointing by Samuel—and such news has a way of creeping out—they would have been aware of Saul’s fear of, and Jonathan’s backing for, David. It would have been dangerous for them to have done anything other than acknowledge as king the skilled warrior chieftain now living among them. However, there is no suggestion other than that they did so freely and gladly. David was the choice of the people as far as Judah was concerned. 2:4b–7 Having returned to Judah, David was able to obtain full ...

1437. Absalom's Conspiracy

2 Samuel 15:1-12

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... David’s successor and recognized that would not happen if Absalom remained too long outside of Israel. 14:2–24 Joab followed Nathan’s example in bringing a case study to David. The wise woman from Tekoa may have been noted for her guile and persuasive skills, or she may have been selected because David did not know her. Certainly Joab’s wisdom rather than her own was used in this instance. Apart from the death of one brother at the hands of another, there are few parallels between the story told to ...

1438. David and Ziba

2 Samuel 16:1-4

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... victory or defeat, life or death, he and his troops would be fighting on David’s side. The details of the flight are briefly given. The group moves, as quickly as the terrain allows, into the east toward the wilderness area. At this point Absalom’s skill in choosing Hebron as a base appears. If David did flee he could not move north, because Absalom’s support base was greatest there. To go west meant to enter Philistia, and although the Philistines had been conquered, this would not be a refuge for ...

1439. Shimei Curses David

2 Samuel 16:5-14

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

1440. Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

John 13:18-30

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... explicit until v. 30. Jesus told him: The untranslated Greek particle oun allows the possibility that Jesus said this as he offered the morsel of bread to Judas (v. 26). The intervening statement that “after the morsel, Satan entered him” despite being woven skillfully into the narrative as if seen by an eyewitness, is essentially a theological judgment, whether made on the spot by the beloved disciple or (more likely) in retrospect as the story was told and written down. 13:29 To buy what was needed ...

1441. The Fall of Man

Genesis 3:1-24

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... had enjoyed with God, each other, the animals, and the environment. Instantly becoming aware of their nakedness, the man and woman gathered fig leaves and made for themselves makeshift coverings. Ironically, the knowledge they acquired did not even give them the skill to make adequate clothing for themselves. Instead of being filled with the pride of achievement and becoming like gods, they were overwhelmed by a deep sense of inadequacy and disturbing self-consciousness. 3:8–13 When the couple heard the ...

1442. Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away

Genesis 21:8-21

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... God opened her eyes so that Hagar saw a well of water nearby. She took the skin and filled it with water. Likely she dampened a cloth, wiped the boy’s face, and gave him some to drink. Growing up in the steppe, Ishmael became a skilled archer with God watching over him. Eventually he settled in the Desert of Paran, and his mother arranged his marriage with an Egyptian woman. Additional Note 21:21 Paran is the desert or wilderness between Canaan and Sinai. Israel passed through this region on their journey ...

1443. Laban Pursues Jacob

Genesis 31:22-55

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... from having violated family custom in leaving Laban’s house without his permission. In this apology he recounted Laban’s hard demands and his own faithful integrity and service to his father-in-law. For twenty years he had shepherded Laban’s flocks so skillfully that they had not miscarried. He has not taken any rams from Laban’s flock for food. When any member of the flock was torn by wild beasts, Jacob himself bore the loss, even when standard practice did not hold a shepherd accountable for ...

1444. Jacob Wrestles with God

Genesis 32:1-32

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... with God, not with his brother. 32:29 Gaining confidence, Jacob asked his opponent to tell him what his name was, desiring to match his opponent verbally as he had physically. To learn a person’s name provides access to that person. Skillfully the wrestler avoided giving his name by asking why Jacob wanted to know it. With this question the heavenly being refused to make himself accessible to Jacob. Despite denying Jacob’s request, he blessed him and departed. Brueggemann offers significant insight into ...

1445. The Ephod

Exodus 28:6-14

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet material, which is as ambiguous in English as it is in Hebrew. The people used gold for the rings and chains, and many think the thread for weaving also contained gold (see 25:4). The text mentions the skilled craftsman again, particularly with regard to making the waistband (vv. 3, 6, 8, 15). They were to engrave two onyx stones with the names of the sons of Israel for the shoulder pieces of the ephod. One tradition says that these shoulder pieces were clasped ...

1446. Basin for Washing (II)

Ex 38:8

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... courtyard curtains” on their “posts.” The chapter ends with some new information, a list of the amounts of gold, silver, and bronze used for the tabernacle. 38:1–7 They built the altar of burnt offering with acacia wood and overlaid . . . with bronze. The skilled craftsmen also made its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans and its grating. (See the comments on the altar and its use at 27:1–8.) They also made the “bronze basin.” (See the comments on the bronze basin at 30:17 ...

1447. The Courtyard (II)

Exodus 38:9-20

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

1448. Five Amorite Kings Killed

Joshua 10:16-28

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... of Jerusalem is upset over Joshua’s treaty with Gibeon and the treatment of kings in Ai and Jericho. He perceives Gibeon to be more of a threat than Ai because it is a more significant town (lit. great), a city with a king (lit. royal), and has a skilled army (lit. all her men are warriors; 10:2).The king forms a coalition with Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon. Adoni-Zedek sends out a call to punish Gibeon for its treaty with the intruders: Come ...

1449. The Death of Samson

Judges 16:23-31

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

Samson’s Downfall and Death: Few stories in the Hebrew Bible have more recognition factor than the story of Samson and Delilah. It is a gripping, poignant drama brought to life by a gifted artist who has skillfully combined plot and characterization to present a classic story whose elements, if not the whole, have been told and retold in many cultures through all varieties of media, whether story, song, art, or film. But as we turn to this famous story, we must remember that it is part of ...

1450. King Artaxerxes' Letter to Ezra

Ezra 7:11-28

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... the mastery” (Clines, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, p. 103). There is no suggestion that Ezra brought a version of the Torah not already available in Judah. Verse 25 indicates that it was already known or could be known by Jews in the satrapy. Ezra’s skill and mandate lay in hermeneutical interpretation and systematic application to the life of the community. In vv. 6, 10, and 11 the editor had the completed Pentateuch in view, and there is little reason to suppose that the version Ezra used was substantially ...

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