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 1751 to 1775 of 2404 results

1751. Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 7:1--8:1

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

... simply “That which is.” “Wisdom” is unlikely even as an implied subject: “that which is” is grammatically masculine (taking a masculine verb and adjectives), while wisdom in 7:23 is grammatically feminine (taking a feminine pronoun and adjective). Qohelet is unable to achieve wisdom because all of existence (including but not limited to wisdom) is beyond human grasp. 7:25 The scheme of things: “Sum” is another sense of Hb. ?ešbôn. 7:28 While I was still searching but not finding: The Hb ...

1752. A Message to Baruch

Jeremiah 45:1-5

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... ’s scribe and assistant. The fact that this section of the book ends with this oracle may indicate that Baruch played a significant role in the final form of the book. The oracle is favorable toward him but does not aggrandize his life or achievements. Indeed, its purpose is largely to put Baruch in his place and get him to appreciate the blessings that he does receive from the Lord. However, according to one theory, the placement of this passage might not be unexpected. Many believe that chapter 36 ...

1753. How Deserted Lies the City

Lamentations 1:1-22

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... the city of Jerusalem and the subsequent displacement of its population. In addition, the personified city remembers her previous esteemed position before God’s judgment led to her downfall (all the treasures that were hers in days of old). While Israel and Judah never achieved superpower status, they knew days when they had more than enough resources to enjoy the life God gave them in the land. The second two cola of this verse reflect on the powerlessness of the people of God at the time of their fall ...

1754. Remember, O Lord, What Has Happened to Us

Lamentations 5:1-22

One Volume

Tremper Longman III

... only one bicolon per verse, but that chapter contains 66 verses. Verses in chapters 1, 2, and 5 all have multiple bicola. The effect of the loss of the true acrostic form as well as the radical brevity of the final chapter may be a way of achieving closure without resolution in the poem. The lack of the abecediary may signal the fragmentation that exists in Judean society still. The brevity may point to the fact that the poet has run out of words. For a similar effect to the latter, note the shortening of ...

1755. Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

Habakkuk 2:2-20, Habakkuk 1:12--2:1

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... , ruin for his house, in setting his nest on high, in escaping from the clutch of ruin.” The phrase “ruin for his house” is then parenthetical, like “how long” in v. 6; it contrasts the house-builder’s aim with what he will actually achieve. He is trying to safeguard against ruin but is actually bringing it on himself. 2:13 People’s: the word is actually pl., “peoples’”; pl. “nations” then matches it. 2:15 From the wineskin: The NIV takes the noun as khemet, which otherwise occurs ...

1756. Warnings and Exhortations for Jerusalem and Judah

Zephaniah 2:4-7, Zephaniah 2:8-11, Zephaniah 2:12, Zephaniah 2:13-15

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... the disaster that is coming to them; emptied (garash) is a common word that describes the dispossession of one people by another that intends to take over its land, and the reference to being emptied At midday suggests how quickly its expulsion is achieved. The first and last expressions use paronomasia (see above on “Zephaniah the Poet and the Preacher”). Gaza (ʿazzah) will become an abandoned place (ʿazubah); Ekron (ʿeqron) will be uprooted (ʿaqar). It is as if the destiny of the places is written ...

1757. Jerusalem’s Enemies to Be Destroyed

Zechariah 12:1-9

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... God will act against them. “I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” and “I will blind all the horses of the nations.” Horses were the armaments of wealthy and powerful nations. Victory against them could only be achieved with God’s help because only the Lord could afflict soldiers and their horses in such ways. Judah has an ambiguous position in this oracle about the defense of Jerusalem. Many interpreters believe that the sentences about Judah were added in an inspired ...

1758. The Lord Removes Falsehood

Zechariah 13:1-6

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... , the prophet’s denial in verse 5 will mean, “I am an ordinary person, just like you. I’ve been supporting myself by working the ground since I was a child.” People will question the wounds on their torsos, suspecting that they have beaten themselves to achieve an ecstatic state, as false prophets of both types did (the prophets of Baal in 1 Kgs. 18:28, and a prophet who spoke presumptuously in 1 Kgs. 20:35). Their answer will be open to more than one interpretation: the wounds I was given at the ...

1759. Jesus Talks with a Samaritan Woman

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

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... for whom she and her people have been waiting (v. 26). The basis on which he said a time is coming (v. 21), and quickly added, a time is coming and now has come (v. 23), is made clear. Jesus’ interview with the woman (vv. 5–26) has achieved its purpose. A revelation has taken place, and the woman’s hope has become reality. The disciples, who have been mentioned only parenthetically in verse 8, come on the scene at this point (v. 27). Surprised that he would even talk with a woman (a Samaritan woman at ...

1760. Jesus and Those Who “Believed”

John 8:31-41, John 8:42-47, John 8:48-59

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... , they would do what Abraham did, but in fact they are not. Grammatically, the first verb is present tense where an imperfect might have been expected. The effect of this is to heighten the supposition of reality, an effect that the GNB translators have achieved with their rendering, “If you really were …” The things Abraham did: lit., “the works of Abraham” (cf. James 2:21–23). In James the reference is to Abraham’s willingness to offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice (Gen. 22:1–14), but ...

1761. The Unbelief of the Jews

John 10:22-42

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... I on the mutual knowledge of Father and Son), (b) the shepherd’s gift of life to his sheep (based in section I specifically on his death), and (c) the shepherd’s ministry to his sheep (in section I a mission to “other sheep” and the achievement of unity; in section II the security and protection of the flock). Section II is a simplified version of section I, focusing on the safety of the sheep from harm or destruction (cf. vv. 9–12) and using this to illustrate the work carried out in common ...

1762. Paul's Chains Advance the Gospel

Philippians 1:12-30

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... in relation to him. Here, however, Paul seems to have in mind people who preach what he recognizes as the genuine gospel, whatever their motives may be. Why should some preach the gospel out of envy and rivalry? Perhaps they were envious of Paul’s achievement in carrying the message through so many provinces in such a brief space of time and thought that they could at last gain a march on him now that he was confined. Perhaps they regarded themselves as followers of some other leader, to whom (in their ...

1763. Imitating Christ's Humility

Philippians 2:1-11

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... seen a contrast here with the story of Adam: Christ enjoyed true equality with God but refused to derive any advantage from it in becoming man, whereas Adam, made man in the image of God, snatched at a false and illusory equality; Christ achieved universal lordship through his renunciation, whereas Adam forfeited his lordship through his “snatching.” But it is not at all certain that this contrast was in the author’s mind. 2:7 But made himself nothing—instead of exploiting his equality with God for ...

1764. Let Us Love One Another

2 John 1:1-13

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... a group effort; we owe much to our pastors, teachers, and mentors. The verb which the NIV translates lose (apolesēte) may also be translated “destroy.” There is a sense in which to follow the deceivers is not just to lose passively what has been achieved, but to destroy actively all that God, working through them and their leaders, has done in their lives. 9 The secessionists have not only “run out” on the rest of the Johannine Christians, thus breaking the unity of the community in love, but they ...

1765. Adam and Eve

Genesis 2:4-25

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... among the animals, God set about to make one. Whereas the man’s origin is recounted in one verse (v. 7), the origin of the woman is told in three verses, emphasizing God’s care in making one who was so important for the man and for the achievement of God’s goal in creating. The fact that she is the last of God’s creations in this account also conveys her importance. For this operation God caused . . . a deep sleep to fall on the man. God sometimes used such a deep sleep when he communicated directly ...

1766. The Sons of Noah

Genesis 9:18-29

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... innovators (4:20–22). From the harvest of his vineyard he made wine, a highly prized drink. The ancients had little variety in drinks, and this new product brought joy and relaxation to humans (“wine . . . gladdens the heart,” Ps. 104:15). This achievement is in accord with Noah’s name, which means “rest.” This also confirms that after the deluge God continued to bless the ground for the benefit of humans. On one occasion Noah drank so much wine that he became drunk. Drunkenness leaves one ...

1767. Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed

Genesis 19:30-38, Genesis 19:1-29

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... of them would go to him and become impregnated. Their father’s willingness to compromise their honor to protect strangers (v. 8) must have diminished their respect for him. His behavior showed them how one could use a person, even a close relative, to achieve a selfish goal. Consequently, on two successive nights, each daughter in turn carried out this scheme. Both times Lot was so drunk that he was unaware of what was taking place. And both . . . daughters became pregnant. The text does not tell us when ...

1768. Abraham and Abimelech

Genesis 20:1-18

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... role Abraham would pray that Abimelech might live. Should Abimelech fail to return Sarah, however, God would place him and his family under the death penalty. God often requires those who have inflicted harm on others to follow a difficult path in order to achieve reconciliation. In some cases he lays a hard requirement even on those who have suffered, such as praying for the restoration of the ones who have troubled them (Job 42:8). Such a demand humbles both parties. This instruction to Abimelech that he ...

1769. The Treaty of Beersheba

Genesis 21:22-34

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... The outer frame (vv. 22–24, 27, 31) describes the making of the covenant. In the heart of the story Abraham lodges a formal complaint against Abimelech’s servants for seizing a well he had dug (vv. 25–26, 28–30). Pressing his claim, Abraham achieves a pretrial settlement. Both men swear that Abraham had dug the well, and then they seal the covenant. In God’s providence Abraham regains access to an important well in a way that increases his reputation. It is possible that two distinct episodes have ...

1770. Abraham Tested

Genesis 22:1-19

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... their geographical identity. Thus Abraham’s sacrifice of the ram in place of Isaac inaugurated in principle sacrifice on Mount Moriah, where the altar of the temple stood. This interconnectedness endows the altar in the temple with the spiritual achievements of Abraham’s obedience. 22:3 The narrator allows the reader to sense the response of the characters through subtle changes and notations. “Deeds executed by the biblical hero may proficiently reflect his thoughts and feelings,” according to Y ...

1771. Isaac and Rebekah

Genesis 24:1-67

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... had led to the request that Rebekah marry Isaac. Overjoyed at their consent, Abraham’s servant . . . bowed down to the ground in worship of Yahweh. Earlier the servant had earnestly asked for Yahweh’s guidance in his mission; now that success had been achieved he immediately expressed his gratitude to Yahweh by praising him before his hosts. Afterward he rose and gave Rebekah gold and silver jewelry and elegant clothing. He also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother. With a warm sense of ...

1772. Manasseh and Ephraim

Genesis 48:1-22

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... inheritance” and by its placement at the climax of the blessing. Jacob looked to the day when his descendants would occupy the land God had given him. Emphasizing God’s great faithfulness, Jacob did not refer to himself or brag about his own achievements. His attitude and faith witness to the transformation of his character from finagler to one who placed his trust in God. In recounting how he had been blessed, Jacob was asserting his authority for passing on that blessing to his sons before he ...

1773. Jacob Blesses His Sons

Genesis 49:1-28

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... Judah’s rule over the nations (Genesis 16–50, p. 478). Each of these alternatives sees a reference to a dynasty from the house of Judah ruling Israel. Many interpreters have taken these words as a reference to an ideal king coming from Judah to achieve God’s high hopes for Israel. It must be kept in mind that the original intent of these words concerned the role of Judah in the tribal league. Nevertheless, changing historical situations cause texts to be read differently. After the fall of the Davidic ...

1774. Joseph Reassures His Brothers

Genesis 50:15-21

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... removes that anxiety. This story is important, for it recounts the establishment of true solidarity among Jacob’s twelve sons in a foreign land. In this account Joseph’s brothers send word to him (vv. 15–18), and Joseph and his brothers achieve full reconciliation (vv. 19–21). 50:15–17 Without the security of their father’s presence and fearful that Joseph might seek revenge, the brothers felt the need to define their relationship with Joseph. Not sufficiently confident of Joseph’s forgiveness ...

1775. Not Because of Israel's Righteousness

Deuteronomy 9:1-6

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... as agents of judgment on Israel’s wickedness did not make those nations righteous or treat them as such. Quite the opposite. The paradox of providence, unpopularly taught by the prophets, was that God could use the most deeply unjust nations as the agents of achieving God’s own sovereign dispensing of historical justice in the international arena. The “rod of God’s anger” (Isa. 10:5) did not have to be straight. This brings us to the question of whether there can be a modern-day “just war.” It ...

Showing results