Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1951 to 1975 of 4942 results

1951. The Three Annual Festivals

Exodus 23:14-19

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. 23:14–19 These verses introduce ...

1952. Division of the Land

Deuteronomy 3:12-20

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

Reminder of Past Victories: The first three chapters of Deuteronomy not only warn the people from past failures but also encourage them from past victories. The words to Joshua near the end of the section (3:21f.) give the point of the whole: God can do again what they had seen God do before, even for other nations. Their God did not lack experience! The structure of the section can be presented as follows: 2:1–8 – Encounter with Edom 2:9–18 – Encounter with Moab 2:19–23 – Encounter with Ammon 2:24–37 – ...

1953. Tithes

Deuteronomy 14:22-29

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

Israel’s Distinctiveness Mirrored in the Home, Farm and Tithes: It might seem at first sight that the destruction of a whole apostate community and all its property (13:12–16) is worlds away from the question of what you were allowed to cook for lunch, but in fact a common principle governed both—the distinctiveness of Israel as a people wholly and exclusively committed to Yahweh. This principle, which underlies all the preaching of chapters 4–11 and finds its most succinct expression in 7:6, is repeated ...

1954. Freeing Servants

Deuteronomy 15:12-18

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

The Release of Hebrew Slaves: 15:12–18 This law, sometimes called the law of “manumission” (i.e., release from slavery), is also based on the first law in the Book of the Covenant (Exod. 21:2–11). As with the above š e miṭṭâ law, which comes straight after the account of the exodus, it preserves the basic intention of the original law (Hebrew slaves should be granted freedom after six years of service) but adds some typically Deuteronomic extras. If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman . . . It is very ...

1955. Detestable Practices

Deuteronomy 18:9-13

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

Leadership in Israel: Priests and Prophets: After the two sections on “secular” leadership (the judge and the king 16:18–17:20), we now have in Chapter 18 two sections on the “spiritual” leadership provided by the priest and the prophet. The Prophet: The prophet comes last in the listing of Israel’s different leadership roles. Almost certainly this is deliberate and significant, like the putting of the judge before the king. Maintaining justice was a higher priority than having a dynastic monarchy. Judge ...

1956. The Prophet

Deuteronomy 18:14-22

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

The Prophet: The prophet comes last in the listing of Israel’s different leadership roles. Almost certainly this is deliberate and significant, like the putting of the judge before the king. Maintaining justice was a higher priority than having a dynastic monarchy. Judge and king must both submit to the law of God, just as the priest must faithfully teach it. But what if those entrusted with such forms of leadership were themselves to go astray? Then the last word was God’s. And God would put that word in ...

1957. Curses from Mount Ebal

Deuteronomy 27:9-26

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

Covenant Renewal and Covenant Curse: Structurally, we are moving into the second half of the “inner frame.” Chapter 27 balances chapter 11, thus functioning as a framework for the detailed legislation in chapters 12–25. This is clear not only from the reference in both chapters to the ceremony at Mt. Ebal but also from the emphasis in both on covenant choice and commitment. 27:9–10 These verses reaffirm the basic covenant relationship and its basic obligation and do so in the now familiar order: Israel’s ...

1958. The Dedication of the Temple

1 Kings 8:62-66

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

Solomon’s Prayer: Solomon now turns to address God in a prayer that is of great importance for our understanding of the book of Kings as a whole. After further attention to the link between temple-building and Davidic promise (vv. 22–26), he offers us significant reflections on the nature of God’s “dwelling” in the temple (vv. 27–30; cf. v. 13), followed by a seven-fold petitionary prayer about the response of God to those who will approach through this new medium (vv. 31–51), and a brief summarizing ...

1959. The Lord Appears to Solomon

1 Kings 9:1-9

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

1960. Ahaziah King of Israel

1 Kings 22:51-53

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah: Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah, already characters in Ahab’s story (1 Kgs. 22:2 etc.; 22:40), now find a place of their own. Our expectations differ with respect to each. Jehoshaphat is a Davidic king, so we anticipate no major disasters in his reign (cf. 1 Kgs. 11:36), particularly since he is evidently pious (cf. 1 Kgs. 22:5). Ahaziah, on the other hand, is an Israelite and a son of Ahab. We anticipate wickedness, and disaster of the sort that has fallen upon all the successors of ...

1961. The Shunammite's Son Restored to Life

2 Kings 4:8-37

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

Elisha’s Miracles: The Moabite affair has further established Elisha’s credentials as a prophet in the line of Elijah. Both are now firmly associated with the God who provides water at will (cf. 1 Kgs. 18), whether by orthodox means (wind and rain, 1 Kgs. 18:45) or not (neither wind nor rain, 2 Kgs. 3:17). In this chapter we shall read of a number of further miracles, both of provision and healing, that remind us of Elijah in the same way. 4:1–7 The first of these is occasioned by a crisis facing the widow ...

1962. Death in a Pot

2 Kings 4:38-41

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

1963. Feeding of a Hundred

2 Kings 4:42-44

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

1964. Amon King of Judah

2 Kings 21:19-26

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

Manasseh and Amon: First there was a good king who went bad and lost most of his kingdom (Solomon). The remainder of the kingdom (Judah) was ruled by good kings mixed with bad (Rehoboam to Jehoshaphat). The LORD kept faith with the Davidic house through the bad times, because of the Davidic promise. He continued to do so even through the very bad times when that house was allied with the house of Ahab (Jehoram, Ahaziah). By the time of Ahaz, however, divine patience was wearing thin. Hints that Judah would ...

1965. Solomon's Prayer of Dedication

2 Chronicles 6:12-42

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

Solomon's Prayer of Dedication: 6:12–42 This section contains the well-known prayer of Solomon and brings to a conclusion the dedication of the Temple started in 5:2. It is one of the most elaborate nonpsalmic or prose prayers in the Old Testament. The Chronicler adhered closely to his source text in 1 Kings 8:22–53, with one prominent addition in 2 Chronicles 6:13 and some changes to the end of the prayer. 6:12–13 provides the narrative framework for the prayer. 6:12 still follows the source text (1 Kgs. ...

1966. Later Opposition Under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

Ezra 4:6-24

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

A Temporary and Typical Setback: So far, so good. The return home, the construction of an altar to get worship started, and the laying of the temple foundation had marked the first phase of fulfilling the mission given through Cyrus to rebuild the temple. The second phase, building the temple itself, was to last longer than twenty years. We have to wait until 6:15 to read of its completion. This second phase, with its long delay and fresh start, is narrated in 4:1–6:22. Echoes of 4:1–5 in 6:21–22 reveal ...

1967. Woes and Judgments

Isaiah 5:8-30

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Judgment Missed and Demonstrated: In length and theme chapter 5 pairs with chapter 1 and closes a bracket around 2:2–4:6. Chapter 5 comprises a mock love song; a series of woes that will be completed in 10:1–4; and a warning about Yahweh’s outstretched hand that will continue in chapter 9. In contrast to 1:1–2:1 and 2:2–4:6, no positive note is struck at the beginning or the end. Chapters 1–5 come to a close as bleak as their opening. Rebellion and darkness ultimately bracket them.In length and theme ...

1968. A Prophecy Against Egypt

Isaiah 19:1-25

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Poems about the Southern Powers: For three chapters we turn to the far south. Cush covers an area corresponding to the very south of modern Egypt and the northern part of Sudan. A Cushite dynasty ruled Egypt itself at the end of the eighth century, so this poem about Cush is as much a poem about Egypt (cf. 20:1–6). 19:1–15 It is not surprising that Egypt should feature in these prophecies. It was Israel’s old oppressor and would in due course be Judah’s biggest temptation. It seemed a resource for ...

1969. A Prophecy Against Jerusalem

Isaiah 22:1-25

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

22:1–14 Again the enigmatic title comes from the body of the poem (v. 5), though in this case the location of the Valley of Vision becomes explicit (vv. 8–11). We have to accept that many of the poems in these chapters do not tell us their historical background, so that reading them is a little like reading a parable, or understanding a film when you arrive halfway through. While the prophet’s first hearers would probably have known more than we do and therefore would have understood his words in a more ...

1970. The Servant of the Lord

Isaiah 42:1-9

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Servant and Covenant: Again Yahweh challenges opponents to come to court to argue out who is God (41:21–29). Again a passage about Yahweh’s servant (42:1–9) follows this court case. Again this leads into praise and a vision of Yahweh transforming nature (42:10–17). While the three sections parallel the preceding set of three, they take matters much further. 42:1a Following the description of the commitments Yahweh makes to servant Israel (41:3–16) is a description of the commitment that Yahweh’s servant ...

1971. The Cup of the Lord's Wrath

Isaiah 51:17--52:12

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Four Wake-up Calls and a Departure Call: In 50:4 the subject suddenly changes again—in two senses. The grammatical subject is once again a human “I” rather than a divine “I,” and the thematic subject is the pressure upon this human “I.” In both respects the passage parallels 49:1–6, and it will emerge that 50:4–52:12 forms a sequence parallel to 49:1–50:4, analogous to double sequences we have noted earlier in chapters 40–55. The arrangement of sections is not as tightly parallel as in earlier instances, ...

1972. True Fasting

Isaiah 58:1-14

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Critique of the Community: While there are positive notes throughout 56:9–59:8, the dominant tone is confrontational, and even the positive notes incorporate barbed comment. The way the passages speak of shalom, which occurs six times (57:2, 19, 21; 59:8), sums up this point. This distinctive concentration of references finds its closest parallel in Zechariah 8, which again belongs to the same period as Isaiah 56–66. Admittedly there are no specific indications of a particular context here, and the ...

1973. Jeremiah Buys a Field

Jeremiah 32:1-44

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

32:1–15 The narrative begins by giving the date of the event that follows. It is the tenth year of Zedekiah, the eighteenth of Nebuchadnezzar, clearly within months of the downfall of Jerusalem. Indeed, the siege of Jerusalem has begun. According to Jeremiah 52:4–5, the Babylonian army arrived at the gates of Jerusalem in the tenth month of Zedekiah’s ninth year. Thus we are to imagine this story taking place within the walls of Jerusalem which was encircled by the Babylonian army. Furthermore, Jeremiah ...

1974. Jonah Goes to Nineveh

Jonah 3:1-10

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

The Patience of God (3:1-4): 3:1–4 Though undeserving, Jonah has been delivered from death by God’s merciful working through a fish. The book of Jonah is, before all else, a lesson concerning God’s free grace. But it is also a portrayal of God’s incredible patience. As Jonah confesses in 4:2, Yahweh is a God who is “slow to anger,” and it is amazing that God says nothing to Jonah in 3:1–2 by way of rebuke or admonition. Instead, God simply calls Jonah again, using the same words that he used in 1:1: “Arise ...

1975. Jacob's Well

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

Sermon

Lori Wagner

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:3) My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:13) Props: a fountain of water (you can find small fountains at most greenhouses or online) running; large pot made of pottery or clay; bottle of spring water; baptismal font or other large bowl of water with nearby towel; fishbowl; glasses of water that look ...

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