Sermon and Worship Resources

Numbers 4:34-49

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... are 2,750 Kohathites, 2,630 Gershonites, and 3,200 Merarites, for a total of 8,580 Levites. Each Levite was then given an assignment. The chapter closes in a way commensurate with its tenor, emphasizing obedience to God’s command. Notice the significant style with which the tasks for taking care of the tabernacle are described. Again there is a progression of holiness from the Kohathites, who deal with the most holy things central to the tabernacle, and to the Gershonites, and then the Merarites, who have ...

1627. Quail from the Lord

Numbers 11:4-35

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... before the people could finish enjoying this meat, a severe plague, a result of God’s anger, breaks out among the people and leads to the naming of the place Kibroth Hattaavah, “graves of craving” (v. 34). This narrative is complicated and different in style from earlier parts of Numbers, since much of the plot develops with dialogue. The chapter shows God’s anger at being rejected by the ungrateful people (v. 20) and the consequent danger of the divine presence. Still, at the end of the chapter the ...

1628. Balaam's Final Oracle

Numbers 24:20-25

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

Balaam's Oracles 24:20–25: Balaam has now made explicit the prophecy that Israel will defeat Balak’s Moab. The prophet’s final words also speak of the fall of Moab’s neighbors, as he has already spoken of Edom. The Amalekites, a group of nomadic tribes, were early opponents of Israel (Exod. 17:8–16), first among the nations, but they will fall. The Amalekite king Agag was mentioned in verse 7. The Kenites will also fall from their seemingly secure place. The word for nest (qen) is a play on qeni, Kenite. ...

1629. Unacceptable Sacrifices

Leviticus 22:17--23:2

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... offerings and is in line with the material in chapter 7. 22:31–33 These concluding verses exhort the people to keep and follow God’s commands. Commands is a general term to designate the instructions in the Holiness Code. These verses are typical of the style and theology of the Holiness Code. In the deliverance from oppression in Egypt, God created a people in relationship with this holy God. Israel’s holiness is to be a reflection of God’s, and as such it is a gift. The people are called to ...

1630. The Sabbath

Leviticus 23:3

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

The Festival Calendar: Worship and the tabernacle were located at the center of ancient Israel’s life. Chapter 23 articulates the calendar of special worship events. Exodus 23:14–17 and 34:17–26 prefigure this more detailed description, and Numbers 28–29 and Deuteronomy 16:1–17 also treat the issues. No doubt the historical development of this calendar is long and complex. Certainly early agricultural festivals underlie the festivals described in this chapter, as do practices from the Jerusalem temple. ...

1631. Firstfruits

Leviticus 23:9-14

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

The Festival Calendar: Worship and the tabernacle were located at the center of ancient Israel’s life. Chapter 23 articulates the calendar of special worship events. Exodus 23:14–17 and 34:17–26 prefigure this more detailed description, and Numbers 28–29 and Deuteronomy 16:1–17 also treat the issues. No doubt the historical development of this calendar is long and complex. Certainly early agricultural festivals underlie the festivals described in this chapter, as do practices from the Jerusalem temple. ...

1632. Feast of Weeks

Leviticus 23:15-22

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

The Festival Calendar: Worship and the tabernacle were located at the center of ancient Israel’s life. Chapter 23 articulates the calendar of special worship events. Exodus 23:14–17 and 34:17–26 prefigure this more detailed description, and Numbers 28–29 and Deuteronomy 16:1–17 also treat the issues. No doubt the historical development of this calendar is long and complex. Certainly early agricultural festivals underlie the festivals described in this chapter, as do practices from the Jerusalem temple. ...

1633. Feast of Trumpets

Leviticus 23:23-25

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

The Festival Calendar: Worship and the tabernacle were located at the center of ancient Israel’s life. Chapter 23 articulates the calendar of special worship events. Exodus 23:14–17 and 34:17–26 prefigure this more detailed description, and Numbers 28–29 and Deuteronomy 16:1–17 also treat the issues. No doubt the historical development of this calendar is long and complex. Certainly early agricultural festivals underlie the festivals described in this chapter, as do practices from the Jerusalem temple. ...

1634. Day of Atonement (II)

Leviticus 23:26-32

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

The Festival Calendar: Worship and the tabernacle were located at the center of ancient Israel’s life. Chapter 23 articulates the calendar of special worship events. Exodus 23:14–17 and 34:17–26 prefigure this more detailed description, and Numbers 28–29 and Deuteronomy 16:1–17 also treat the issues. No doubt the historical development of this calendar is long and complex. Certainly early agricultural festivals underlie the festivals described in this chapter, as do practices from the Jerusalem temple. ...

1635. The Disciples Rejoin Jesus

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

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... the well. The adverb is used similarly in 13:25. About the sixth hour: See note on 1:39. 4:9 Jews do not associate with Samaritans. A few ancient manuscripts omit this parenthetical remark, but such explanatory asides are entirely characteristic of the narrator’s style. The words belong in the text, and refer quite specifically to laws of purity: Jews and Samaritans do not drink from the same cup! 4:16 Come back: or “come back here.” The repetition in Greek of the adverb enthade (“here”) in vv. 15 ...

1636. “I Am from Him and He Sent Me”

John 7:25-44

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... it ad hominem. Jesus’ opponents are refuted by the very scripture that they themselves acknowledge and proclaim to be true; the fact that Jesus also acknowledges it is assumed but is not crucial to the argument. (b) Jesus may be speaking in the style of OT prophets who at times, in the name of God, stood over against Israel and pronounced judgment on Israel’s institutions (e.g., Isa. 1:13–14: “your incense … your evil assemblies … your New Moon festivals … your appointed feasts”). 8:20 Near ...

1637. The Validity of Jesus' Testimony

John 8:12-30

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... it ad hominem. Jesus’ opponents are refuted by the very scripture that they themselves acknowledge and proclaim to be true; the fact that Jesus also acknowledges it is assumed but is not crucial to the argument. (b) Jesus may be speaking in the style of OT prophets who at times, in the name of God, stood over against Israel and pronounced judgment on Israel’s institutions (e.g., Isa. 1:13–14: “your incense … your evil assemblies … your New Moon festivals … your appointed feasts”). 8:20 Near ...

1638. Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

John 13:18-30

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... 56–58 and have proposed that John has chosen this word (instead of the common word found in the LXX of Ps. 41:10) for the sake of supposed eucharistic implications. More likely it is either a word he was in the habit of using purely as a matter of style, or else the LXX manuscripts with which he was familiar had it in their texts of Ps. 41:10. It is true, however, that what was violated, both by Judas and by subsequent betrayers in the ancient church, was (at least at one level) the fellowship of the Lord ...

1639. The Death of Jesus

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

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... as evidence that the anonymous eyewitness of verse 35 is none other than the “beloved disciple” (21:20–23), himself the author and narrator of the whole Gospel. Yet the parallels prove little, for they rest simply on common characteristics of the author’s style. Jesus had spoken of John the Baptist, for example, in similar terms: There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid … he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I ...

1640. The Burial of Jesus

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

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... as evidence that the anonymous eyewitness of verse 35 is none other than the “beloved disciple” (21:20–23), himself the author and narrator of the whole Gospel. Yet the parallels prove little, for they rest simply on common characteristics of the author’s style. Jesus had spoken of John the Baptist, for example, in similar terms: There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid … he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I ...

1641. Accusations

2 Corinthians 2:12--3:6

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... prophets in the OT (cf., e.g., Num. 22:7; Mic. 3:5), Paul’s opponents evidently claimed visions and revelations (cf. 2 Cor. 12:1) and pretended to communicate the word of God itself (cf. Ezek. 13:1–16; Jer. 23:9–40). Unlike such self-styled prophets who lead others astray, Paul speaks the word of God with sincerity (cf. 1:12) and like men sent from God (“men sent” supplied by the translators). Paul is claiming not just to have been commissioned and sent from God, but rather more specifically to ...

1642. Sowing Generously

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... God is able to make all grace abound to the Achaians, so that they can in turn give. Here, again, the apostle uses an OT citation. Although there is no introductory formula to mark the citation as such, it is possible to tell from the distinctive style of the statement that Paul is citing Isaiah 55:10 (cf. D.-A. Koch). Isaiah 55:1–13 is a hymn of joy and triumph that celebrates the approaching consummation of Israel’s restoration. God’s promise about Israel’s restoration will be fulfilled as surely ...

1643. Listening and Doing

James 1:19-27, James 1:1-18

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... creation, not just humanity (Rom. 8:18–25). The present rebirth of believers promises more to come. But the first are the best, the specially holy portion. Thus James underlines God’s good gift and intention in the lives of the Christians. 1:19 Deliberately paralleling the style of 1:16, James warns, My dear brothers, take note of this. James 1:16–18 discussed wisdom as a gift of life descending from God (cf. 1:5–8); now comes the related topic—the wise person controls his or her speech (cf. 3:1 ...

1644. Two Kinds of Wisdom

James 3:13-18, James 3:1-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... organized without God and thus the antithesis of the kingdom of God; James always uses it with this meaning (1:27; 2:5; 4:4), and the adjectival phrase “unrighteous” clinches this meaning. James is very close to 1 John in his thought, although different in style. See further J. Guhrt, “Earth,” NIDNTT, vol. 1, pp. 524–26 or H. Sasse, “Kosmos,” TDNT, vol. 3, pp. 868–96. That the world occupies its place among the parts of the body may be a reference to the evil impulse (Hebrew yêṣer hâ-r ...

1645. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:1-6, James 4:13-17, James 5:7-12, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... were commonly saved. First, moths have eaten your clothes. They have had closets full of clothing, which might have been used by the poor, but before they look worn the moths get to them. Today one might as easily say, “Your clothes are hopelessly out of style.” Second, your gold and silver are corroded. They have stored their wealth, but it helps neither them nor the poor, for it is saved for “a rainy day.” Its very tarnish shows it is not needed. Today, when money is stored in banks, one might say ...

1646. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:7-12, James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... were commonly saved. First, moths have eaten your clothes. They have had closets full of clothing, which might have been used by the poor, but before they look worn the moths get to them. Today one might as easily say, “Your clothes are hopelessly out of style.” Second, your gold and silver are corroded. They have stored their wealth, but it helps neither them nor the poor, for it is saved for “a rainy day.” Its very tarnish shows it is not needed. Today, when money is stored in banks, one might say ...

1647. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:13-20, James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:7-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... were commonly saved. First, moths have eaten your clothes. They have had closets full of clothing, which might have been used by the poor, but before they look worn the moths get to them. Today one might as easily say, “Your clothes are hopelessly out of style.” Second, your gold and silver are corroded. They have stored their wealth, but it helps neither them nor the poor, for it is saved for “a rainy day.” Its very tarnish shows it is not needed. Today, when money is stored in banks, one might say ...

1648. Be Holy

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... and the world. The NT often calls Christians “saints” (lit. “holy ones”), and in 1 Pet. 2:9 the company of believers is described as “a holy nation.” In all you do (en pasē anastrophē genēthēte): Peter’s frequent use of anastrophē, manner of life, life-style (also 1:18; 3:1, 2, 16; 2 Pet. 2:7; 3:11), or the corresponding verb (1 Pet. 1:17; 2 Pet. 2:18), emphasizes the importance of the Christian’s everyday conduct in the world. On anastrephō and anastrophē, see NIDNTT, vol. 3, pp. 933 ...

1649. Wives and Husbands

1 Peter 3:1-7

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... mothers of the chosen people. Called him her master: A different slant from that usually taken by commentators on the incident in Gen. 18:12 is given in Apostolic Constitutions (6.29): “She honored him inasmuch as she would not call him by his name, but styled him lord, when saying, ‘My lord is old.’ ” There is another example in 1 Sam. 1:8 LXX, when Hannah answers her husband Elkanah. See E. Nestle, ExpT 10 (1898–99), pp. 282–83. You are her daughters, says Peter, even if the women he addresses ...

1650. Suffering for Doing Good

1 Peter 3:8-22

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... to God’s service (Exod. 40:12). The Greek verb corresponds to the Hebrew hiqrîḇ, the technical term for “to proselytize,” i.e., to make a member of the chosen people one who was not so by natural birth. In rabbinic terminology such converts were also styled “newborn children” (cf. 2:2). The balanced phrases put to death … made alive may echo a piece of an early Christian hymn, for something similar occurs in Rom. 1:3–4 and 1 Tim. 3:16. The phrases in the body … by the Spirit translate two ...