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Showing 1551 to 1575 of 4942 results

1551. Jacob Wrestles with God

Genesis 32:1-32

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

Jacob’s Enigmatic Wrestling Match: Before Jacob’s wrestling match (vv. 24–30), he has a vision of angels at Mahanaim (vv. 1–2). On the surface this brief report seems to be disjunctive. Nevertheless, several terms tie these two passages into the flow of the Jacob narrative. Jacob meets the angels or messengers of God (mal’ake ’elohim), and he sends “messengers” (mal’akim) to meet Esau. There is a play on “camp” (makhaneh; 32:2, 8, 10, 21) and “gift” (minkhah; 32:13, 20; 33:8, 10). Two terms for grace ...

1552. God's Angel to Prepare the Way

Exodus 23:20-33

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

Covenant Laws IV: Corruption, Poverty, Three Festivals, God’s Promises: The book of the covenant concludes with laws that establish judicial integrity (vv. 1–9); Sabbath laws that protect the poor and beasts of burden (vv. 10–13); and the institution of three yearly festivals (vv. 14–19). Then the text returns to the narrative of God’s promises to Moses (vv. 20–33). The alternating pattern of social justice legislation with laws about the people’s relation to God continues. 23:20–33 These verses are a ...

1553. Various Laws

Deuteronomy 21:22--22:12

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

Respect for Life in All Its Forms: The laws in 22:1–12 are loosely concerned with respect for life, animal and human. As such, they would fittingly end the section mainly related to the sixth commandment, “you shall not murder.” 21:22–23 The body of an executed criminal. The purpose of this law is to prevent the land from being polluted by improper treatment of a human corpse (cf. 21:1–9). The difference here, of course, is that the corpse is of an executed criminal, not a murder victim. Hanging is not the ...

1554. The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon

1 Kings 10:1-13

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

The Queen of Sheba: 10:1–13 The supply of gold pouring into Solomon’s coffers continues (9:28), with the assistance of hapless Hiram, as his ships sail to Ophir in Arabia (Gen. 10:29; cf. Ps. 45:9; Isa. 13:12 for its fame). It is not merely gold that arrives at Solomon’s court from that region, however. A queen now travels from Sheba (cf. Gen. 10:28) to see him and to test him with hard questions (“riddles,” 1 Kgs. 10:1; cf. Judg. 14:12–19). Here again a theme is picked up from earlier in the narrative: ...

1555. Solomon's Splendor

1 Kings 10:14-29

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

The Queen of Sheba and the Use of Wealth: 10:1–13 The supply of gold pouring into Solomon’s coffers continues (9:28), with the assistance of hapless Hiram, as his ships sail to Ophir in Arabia (Gen. 10:29; cf. Ps. 45:9; Isa. 13:12 for its fame). It is not merely gold that arrives at Solomon’s court from that region, however. A queen now travels from Sheba (cf. Gen. 10:28) to see him and to test him with hard questions (“riddles,” 1 Kgs. 10:1; cf. Judg. 14:12–19). Here again a theme is picked up from ...

1556. Asa King of Judah

1 Kings 15:9-24

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

Abijam and Asa: We remain for the moment in Judah, with Rehoboam’s immediate successors. Abijam is the characteristically bad Judean king, indulging in the idolatry of Solomon’s later years and of Rehoboam. Asa is the characteristically good Judean king, behaving relatively faithfully like David and the younger Solomon. These two between them set the pattern for all subsequent Judean kings, who are measured in terms of whether they have been “like David” or not. 15:1–8 Abijam was just as bad as his father ...

1557. Israel Exiled because of Sin

2 Kings 17:7-23

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

The End of Israel: The “uprooting” and “scattering” of Israel (1 Kgs. 14:15) has long been delayed because of God’s promises and character (2 Kgs. 10:30; 13; 14:23–29). God has continually saved (Hb. yšʿ) it from its enemies: through Elisha, through Jeroboam (2 Kgs. 14:27), through other unnamed saviors (2 Kgs. 13:5). There have been signs in the preceding chapters, however, that deliverance is now at an end, that the “exile” of 2 Kings 13:5 was a dry run for a now imminent main event. The most recent act ...

1558. Samaria Resettled

2 Kings 17:24-41

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

1559. Descendants of Hagar

1 Chronicles 1:29-31

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

Abraham’s Descendants: The previous section ended with Abraham, so this section dwells on Abraham’s descendants. The Chronicler hastens from Adam and Noah to Abraham, narrowing his focus all the time to get to the specific part of the family that he wants to portray, namely, the tribe of Judah (see next section). This section starts with a heading in 1:28, introducing the two sons of Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael. First Chronicles 1:29–31 contains the genealogy of Ishmael, while 1:32–33 presents the ...

1560. Descendants of Keturah

1 Chronicles 1:32-33

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

1561. The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

1 Chronicles 15:1-16:6

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem: 15:1–16:43 The Chronicler now narrates the renewed and this time successful attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem (15:1–16:43; cf. 2 Sam. 6:19–20a as source material). The actual bringing of the ark to Jerusalem comprises only a small part of the narrative (1 Chron. 15:25–16:3; cf. 2 Sam. 6:12–19a). The remainder of 1 Chronicles 15–16 features descriptions of David’s preparations as well as the appointment of clergy and other staff to minister before the ark. The Chronicler’s ...

1562. Solomon's Splendor

2 Chronicles 9:13-28

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

Solomon’s International Fame: Now that the Chronicler’s narrative has reached its climax in the building and dedication of the temple in Jerusalem, the focus shifts to King Solomon himself. His outstanding achievement was, of course, the construction of the sanctuary. However, the Chronicler goes to great lengths to emphasize the glorious reputation of this king. He is somebody who acts with wisdom, which is a confirmation that Yahweh granted his wish (2 Chron. 1:10–12). But he also possesses abundant ...

1563. Joash Repairs the Temple

2 Chronicles 24:1-16

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

Joash Repairs the Temple and Then Acts Wickedly: 24:1–16 This section closely follows the source text in 2 Kings 11:1–12:16, except in the last two verses, which belong to the Chronicler’s own additions. Second Chronicles 24:1–3 contains the information normally provided at the beginning of a king’s reign (ca. 835–796 B.C. in Joash’s case). The positive evaluation of the king (Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD) sounds an ominous note already by mentioning that this was the case all the years ...

1564. The Wickedness of Joash

2 Chronicles 24:17-27

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

1565. Josiah Celebrates the Passover

2 Chronicles 35:1-19

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

Josiah Celebrates the Passover: 35:1–19 This section presents the most remarkable expansion of source material in this chapter (if not in the whole book). The Deuteronomistic version reports in 2 Kings 23:21–23 (only three verses!) that, following Josiah’s cultic reform measures (2 Kgs. 23:4–20, 24a), the king commanded the people to celebrate the Passover. The Chronicler expanded this description, however, into an elaborate narrative of nineteen verses, which follow after the account of the covenant ...

1566. The Completion of the Wall

Nehemiah 6:15-7:3

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

Success in Spite of Intimidation: The keyword of this chapter is intimidation. Of the major English versions, only the NJPS is consistent in its fivefold rendering of the same Hebrew verb for intimidation. It occurs regularly at the conclusion of paragraphs, in verses 9, 13–14, 16, and 19. The first main section, consisting of verses 1–14, is divided into two parallel subsections describing different attempts to intimidate, in verses 1–9 and 10–14. Then verses 15–16 record a great reversal of the ...

1567. A Prophecy Against Assyria

Isaiah 14:24-27

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Poems about Northern Powers: Introduction to Chapters 13–23: Chapter 12 would have made a fine ending to a book, and perhaps it once did. Isaiah has warned Judah of calamity to come, then looked at the other side of trouble to the punishment of the troublers themselves and to the fulfillment of Yahweh’s purpose for Israel “in that day.” Isaiah 13 then marks a new start. The word oracle announces something new; this distinctive title will introduce most of the sections within this next major division of the ...

1568. A Prophecy Against Moab

Isaiah 15:1--16:14

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

15:1–9 Chapter 15 begins a poem about Moab. Relationships between Judah and Moab, its neighbor on the east, were as fraught as relationships between Judah and Philistia—and Judah preserved longer memories of strife with Moab. The reference to Zoar recalled an unsavory story about the ancestor Moab’s origins within Abraham’s extended family (Gen. 19:30–38). Tensions with Moab were part of family relationships, and these can have an extra edge to them. There were more humorous as well as unsavory stories ...

1569. The Call of the Wild Within

Genesis 12:10-20, Genesis 12:1-8, Luke 2:41-52

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Coming into movie theatres this week is a remake of Jack London’s famous novel, “The Call of the Wild.”The story begins with the kidnapping of Buck, a pet St. Bernard dog, owned by a wealthy family in the Santa Clara Valley, CA. Abruptly, Buck is removed from his comfortable, genteel life and thrust into the wild Canadian frontier in the midst of the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush. Made to serve as a sled dog, Buck must leave behind his civilized nature and rely instead on his natural instincts to survive. For a ...

1570. Scandal

Matthew 16:21-28, Matthew 17:14-23, Matthew 20:17-19, Matthew 26:1-5

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Prop (Animation): large mouse trap with “prop” piece; stone or rock; basket of river rocks People I know are hooked to two tv shows right now. One they admit right away: “Empire.” The other is more a “guilty pleasure” they admit to only when pressed: “Scandal.” Back for its fifth season, “Scandal” is the story of a president’s mistress. A married US President, Fitzgerald Grant, has fallen in love and is having an affair with crisis management professional, Olivia Pope. While her job is usually to “handle” ...

1571. The Bramble King

John 15:1-17, John 15:18--16:4, John 16:5-16

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“Here are their names: Simon (whom he named Peter), Andrew (Peter's brother), James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the zealot), Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). "A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of ...

1572. Sweet Vine

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

The season is nearing for planting. Those of you who plant gardens or farms know that it’s vitally important to plant well, tend well, and prune well for the best yield and the best crops. Grapes can be especially finicky to manage. There are many vineyards. But only a selection of grapes yield the best wines. Why? For those of you who aren’t growers…. let’s come at this another way. In today’s world, our young people are killing their peers at an alarming rate. While many are quick to blame parents, ...

1573. Immersed

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Washed in the blood of Jesus. That’s what our early hymns proclaim. We are washed in the blood of the Lamb, the blood of sacrifice, the blood of salvation, the cleansing blood of the messiah Jesus. For most of us today that sounds like a rather strange concept. But then, when you think about it, so is partaking of the “body and blood” of Jesus as we celebrate what we know as Holy Communion. In fact, this was a strange concept in the early church as well! Early Christians were in fact often called out for ...

1574. Giving Away the Kingdom

Luke 12:32-40

Sermon

Dave Zuchelli

One thing I learned a long time ago is that the Bible makes sense. Some things, of course, are mystical and difficult to understand. Other things seem fantastic and beyond the reach of reasonable explanation. But in the grand scheme of all that we find in scripture, everything begins to make sense as we see God’s plan laid out before us. With that in mind, when I hear Jesus say, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor,” I have to wonder: Does he mean for us to sell everything? It seems like quite a ...

1575. Dynamic Preaching January 2024 Sermons

Sermon

King Duncan

[Note: While King Duncan is enjoying a well deserved retirement we are going back to his earliest sermons and renewing them. The newly modernized sermon is shown first and below, for reference sake, is the old sermon. We will continue this updating throughout the year bringing fresh takes on King's best sermons.] Original Title: Preparing for a Royal Visit New Title: Getting Ready Mark 1:1-8 January 7, 2024 (Baptism of the Lord) A little boy attended his first symphony concert. He was excited by the ...

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