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 1826 to 1850 of 2036 results

1826. David's Prayer

2 Samuel 7:18-29

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... God’s purposes. David’s idea was good, but the timing and the personnel were not right. God then spoke directly to Nathan, and under those circumstances Nathan showed no hesitation in coming back to David with a different response. There is no room for pride when God speaks, and Nathan was not afraid to change his position. Jeremiah 28 offers some parallels to this story, but in that instance Hananiah’s refusal to change his position resulted in his being branded as a false prophet. 7:5–7 My servant ...

1827. David Mourns

2 Sam 18:19–19:8

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... s capture was the result of an accident. Again we have a vivid picture, maybe even as it was reported by the soldier who found him. There is a tradition (cf. Josephus Ant. 7.239) that Absalom’s long hair, which had been part of his pride and reputation (14:26), became his downfall. He was left, helpless and humiliated, hanging in a tree as his transport disappeared from beneath him. Everyone was aware of David’s wishes about Absalom’s safety, and because of this, no one would take the responsibility ...

1828. Faith and Deeds

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

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... that no deliberate transgression of God’s teachings is unimportant. 2:11 James illustrates his point using two well-known laws (Exod. 20:13–14; Deut. 5:17–18). For he, that is, God, gave both laws. Thus though a Mafia hit man, for example, may pride himself on his marital fidelity while he murders, this does not excuse him in any way before God. He is still simply a lawbreaker. The choice of the two laws may also be significant. Although it is less likely that adultery is referring to their adultery ...

1829. Two Kinds of Wisdom

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

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... rivalry”; the same term can have a positive meaning of “zealous” elsewhere in scripture (e.g., 1 Kings 19:10), and surely the person so characterized is persuaded this is the case. But in reality it is a rigidity arising from personal pride. Bitter is an adjective describing the envy, and is not the loving and firm zeal of someone intoxicated by God but a “zeal” deeply tinged with bitterness. Whatever lofty motives are proclaimed, the very harshness in the tone and the cynicism displayed toward ...

1830. Walking in the Light and the Problem of Sin

1 John 2:15-17, 1 John 1:5--2:14

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... us from all sin. The closer one’s fellowship with God and with those who walk with God, the more aware one will be of sin in one’s life. The secessionists fled the light (cf. John 3:19–21), claiming continuous fellowship with God, while their pride, dishonesty, and lack of love belied them. They could not “own up” to their sins. But, the Elder teaches, if we persist in the light (confessing our sins, v. 9), we will discover that God loves us and has sent his Son to be “an atoning sacrifice ...

1831. Defeat of Sihon King of Heshbon

Deut 2:1-23–2:37

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... Israel’s neglect, then the mere historical facts of exodus and settlement would count for nothing more in the face of God’s judgment than the migrations of other nations. Elsewhere Deuteronomy warns Israel against reading any kind of privileged superiority or pride into their remarkable history, whether numerical (7:7–8), economic (8:17–18), or moral (9:4–6). Amos shocked the people by putting Israel’s exodus on the same level as other migrations orchestrated by Yahweh (Amos 9:7), and Jeremiah ...

1832. The Golden Calf

Deuteronomy 9:7-29

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... (8:17f.). In this chapter he targets what is perhaps the most pernicious and perennial distortion of all—moral self-righteousness in the interpretation of military conflict. Together, these three challenges penetrate deeply to the evergreen sources of human pride: the idolatries of racism, materialism, and militarism. The thrust of this chapter, though directed at Israel, goes to the heart of a universal phenomenon in the behavior of human beings, governments, and nations. In its prophetic power to ...

1833. Leadership in Israel: Judges and Kings

Deuteronomy 16:21--17:7

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... which he will help or hinder that loyalty. A king who will trust not in God but in his own defenses (cf. 3:21f.); a king whose heart turns away because of many wives (cf. 7:3f.); a king whose great wealth leads to the snares of pride (cf. 8:13f.)—such a king will quickly lead the people in the same disastrous directions. History proves the point with depressing regularity, as the Deuteronomistic historians show. 17:18–20 These verses lay one overriding duty on the king: pay careful attention to the law ...

1834. Law Courts

Deuteronomy 16:18-20

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

1835. The King

Deuteronomy 17:14-20

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

1836. Follow the Lord's Commands

Deuteronomy 26:16-19

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... it might seem that there is nothing more than national chauvinism in the expectation that Israel will be set in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations. But first of all, Israel’s place among the nations is never to be a matter of national pride, since it is due neither to numerical nor to moral superiority (7:7; 9:4–6). Furthermore, the reputation of Israel among the nations is ultimately to be for the sake of Yahweh’s own name. Their obedience will be visible to the nations and arouse ...

1837. Israel Exiled because of Sin

2 Kings 17:7-23

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... calves and an Asherah pole, and worshiped Baal (v. 16; cf. 1 Kgs. 12:25ff.; 16:31ff.). All of this was done in flagrant disregard for God’s Law and covenant (vv. 13, 15) and in defiance of God’s prophets (v. 13). It was done with the stubbornness and pride of those who had come out of Egypt in the first place (v. 14; cf. the stiff-necked people of Deut. 9–10, esp. 9:6, 13; 10:16). It was done in imitation of the nations around them (v. 15), whom the LORD had ordered them not to imitate ...

1838. Samaria Resettled

2 Kings 17:24-41

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

1839. Jerusalem's Deliverance Foretold

2 Kings 19:1-13

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... the issue is also represented in this way). 19:20–34 A second Isaianic prophecy, in three parts, brings God’s response to Hezekiah’s prayer. The first part (vv. 20–28) opens with general indications about the consequences of Sennacherib’s blasphemy and pride in terms of his future downfall, when he will be despised and mocked by Jerusalem as he flees (vv. 21–22). His mistake has been to imagine that his military accomplishments have been achieved in his own strength (vv. 23–24). In reality ...

1840. Hezekiah's Prayer

2 Kings 19:14-19

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

1841. Isaiah Prophesies Sennacherib’s Fall

2 Kings 19:20-37

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

1842. Rebuilding the Temple

Ezra 3:7-13

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... burnt offerings made each day, morning and evening, as verse 3 elaborates. These verses reflect Numbers 28:2–4. The new altar is carefully built on the “site” (NJPS) of the old altar of burnt offering, a huge structure that had pride of place in Solomon’s temple court. Sacred text and sacred tradition are the two religious foundations that provide continuity and authenticity for the contemporary task of worship. Verse 3 translates the intention of verse 2 into satisfying fact. Religious celebration ...

1843. The Return to Jerusalem

Ezra 8:15-36

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... pattern after the first three cases. It supplies the name of the clan to which each group belonged, the name of the patriarchal family head together with his father’s name, and the number of male members of the extended family who returned with him. Pride of place is given to two priestly groups. This is not surprising, since a priest was leading the party; it was also warranted by the religious nature of Ezra’s mission. This whole account is dominated by the temple (”house”), which will feature in ...

1844. Haman's Rage Against Mordecai

Esther 5:9-14

Understanding Series

Timothy S. Laniak

... all his friends said to him: Zeresh consoles her pouting husband in much the same way that Jezebel comforts Ahab in 1 Kgs. 21:7. Both devise a scheme to use the law (grounded in a false accusation) to satisfy the sulking ruler and get him what he wants. However, pride goes before a downfall, not permanent happiness. For this insight, see Jobes (Esther, p. 145).

1845. A Prophecy Against Assyria

Isaiah 14:24-27

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... Isaiah of chapters 1–12 merely sought to make Judah feel good by promising the downfall of its enemies. In fact, the poems keep turning into implicit or explicit warnings to Judah itself. The point is implicit not least in the central warning about majesty (“pride”) and power, for this is precisely Isaiah’s critique of Judah in 2:6–22. Fifth, the poems are thus subordinate to Isaiah’s own agenda, just as Amos 1–2 is subordinate to Amos’s agenda. Isaiah’s distinctive theme is the necessity ...

1846. Praise to the Lord

Isaiah 25:1-12

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... to a more solemn purpose. Moab ends up swimming in a cess-pit not because it is Israel’s enemy but because of the same consideration that underlay the critique of Moab and other nations (including Israel itself)—matters of majesty and height and pride. Verses 6–9 and 10–12 offer alternative scenarios to Israel, Moab, and other peoples. Additional Notes 25:6–8 Further examples of the language devices here include: the same word used for feast and banquet, for rich food and meats (shemanim), for ...

1847. Sennacherib's Fall

Isaiah 37:21-38

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... to disturb the comfortable as well as to comfort the disturbed and to treat Sennacherib the way a hunter treats a wild ox on the way to putting it in the royal zoo (v. 29). It is a scenario to encourage Hezekiah at a moment when the pride and scorn are on Sennacherib’s side. In between verses 22 and 29 comes the familiar double critique of Sennacherib which makes the scenario not merely possible but inevitable. Sennacherib has forgotten who is God. His achievements have made him talk and think as if he is ...

1848. God's Mercy and Israel's Unfaithfulness

Isaiah 43:14-28

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... on 13:17–22. For fugitives NRSV has “bars”: this involves changing one vowel in MT. It thus pictures the Persians breaking down the bars of the city gates when they took it. Either reading makes sense. In the ships in which they took pride is literally “in the ships their cry.” NRSV “the shouting . . . will be turned to lamentation” takes the word for “boats” as another word which looks the same but means lamentation, and then takes the “cry” as a pained rather than a proud one. Again ...

1849. The Fall of Babylon

Isaiah 47:1-15

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... 6). And now one reason for the punishment becomes explicit. It parallels but contrasts with Isaiah’s critique of Assyria (see 10:5–19). In bringing trouble to Judah, Ms Babylon had been the executor of Yahweh’s own wrath, but she had not merely acted in pride but acted without mercy. It is telling that a city personified as a woman should be so accused, for mercy or compassion is a woman’s natural attribute (the word mercy is related to the word for the womb). It suggests the feelings of a woman for ...

1850. Amos and Amaziah

Amos 7:10-17

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... of his people correctly. “Jacob,” Amos’s favorite name for the northern kingdom (3:13; 6:8; 8:7; 9:8), is “so small,” he says (7:2, 5). That is, Jacob is so weak, so helpless, so pitiful. But this is the people who boasted in their pride of their security and wealth, their military prowess and their lavish cult (see the comments on 5:18–6:14). In the light of God’s word, Amos sees their true condition; they are pitiful and small. We can be grateful that God saw our real natures behind all ...

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