Sermon and Worship Resources

1976. The Lord Appears to Elijah

1 Kings 19:9-18

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... good as dead already.” But it is consistent with the fairly pronounced egocentricity that Elijah displays throughout the story that he should have thought himself much better than his ancestors up until this point, only now to be reduced to the self-loathing of the high achiever who thinks he has failed. 19:5 An angel touched him: Hb. malʾāk is an ambiguous term. It can mean simply a human messenger, as in 19:2. Frequently, however, it refers to beings who are clearly not of this world (e.g., Gen. 21:8 ...

1977. The Call of Elisha

1 Kings 19:19-21

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... good as dead already.” But it is consistent with the fairly pronounced egocentricity that Elijah displays throughout the story that he should have thought himself much better than his ancestors up until this point, only now to be reduced to the self-loathing of the high achiever who thinks he has failed. 19:5 An angel touched him: Hb. malʾāk is an ambiguous term. It can mean simply a human messenger, as in 19:2. Frequently, however, it refers to beings who are clearly not of this world (e.g., Gen. 21:8 ...

1978. Ahab Defeats Ben-Hadad

1 Kings 20:13-34

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... odds, it seems unlikely that Hb. naʿar here is meant to refer to trained military personnel, especially the elite soldiers of whom some commentators speak. The involvement of such men would introduce exactly that element of doubt about who had achieved the victory that in other narratives of this sort is so deliberately avoided (cf., for example, the complete helplessness of Israel in the exodus story, and esp. Exod. 14:14; and the requirement that Gideon should divest himself of warriors before ...

1979. A Prophet Condemns Ahab

1 Kings 20:35-43

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... odds, it seems unlikely that Hb. naʿar here is meant to refer to trained military personnel, especially the elite soldiers of whom some commentators speak. The involvement of such men would introduce exactly that element of doubt about who had achieved the victory that in other narratives of this sort is so deliberately avoided (cf., for example, the complete helplessness of Israel in the exodus story, and esp. Exod. 14:14; and the requirement that Gideon should divest himself of warriors before ...

1980. Ahaziah King of Israel

1 Kings 22:51-53

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... than real unity within the Solomonic empire: Solomon took foreigners on board his ships (1 Kgs. 9:27), but Jehoshaphat refused to have even Israelites along (22:49). He is like the early Solomon then, but this is not the Solomonic empire, whatever the achievements (and pretensions) of the Judean kings who are Solomon’s successors. 22:51–53 / Nothing in this summary of Ahaziah’s reign is surprising. Its length is exactly what we expect of the son of an oracle-receiving Israelite king: two years (v. 51 ...

1981. Jeroboam II King of Israel

2 Kings 14:23-29

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... “Solomon” will fall even more spectacularly than the son of the first. 15:1–7 The reign of Azariah (also called Uzziah; cf. 15:13, 30, 32, 34) is now picked up in more detail, though the information offered is sparse. The silence about his achievements is striking when we consider how much information is given about Jeroboam within a similar space. He did what was right; but at some point he was afflicted . . . with leprosy, and became unable to govern. Is there a suggestion (as in the case of Asa ...

1982. Azariah King of Judah

2 Kings 15:1-7

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... “Solomon” will fall even more spectacularly than the son of the first. 15:1–7 The reign of Azariah (also called Uzziah; cf. 15:13, 30, 32, 34) is now picked up in more detail, though the information offered is sparse. The silence about his achievements is striking when we consider how much information is given about Jeroboam within a similar space. He did what was right; but at some point he was afflicted . . . with leprosy, and became unable to govern. Is there a suggestion (as in the case of Asa ...

1983. Jerusalem's Deliverance Foretold

2 Kings 19:1-13

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... 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, however, the LORD ordained and planned it all (vv. 25–26). Assyria was merely the rod of his anger (to use another Isaianic phrase; cf. Isa. 10:5–11), something already implied, unwittingly, in ...

1984. Hezekiah's Prayer

2 Kings 19:14-19

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... 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, however, the LORD ordained and planned it all (vv. 25–26). Assyria was merely the rod of his anger (to use another Isaianic phrase; cf. Isa. 10:5–11), something already implied, unwittingly, in ...

1985. Isaiah Prophesies Sennacherib’s Fall

2 Kings 19:20-37

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... 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, however, the LORD ordained and planned it all (vv. 25–26). Assyria was merely the rod of his anger (to use another Isaianic phrase; cf. Isa. 10:5–11), something already implied, unwittingly, in ...

1986. David's Officials

1 Chronicles 18:14-17

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... much so that the Arameans made peace with David and became subject to him. They even withdrew their support for the Ammonites. With the Arameans already subjugated and with the Ammonites now without their coalition partner, it would not take long for David to also achieve military success against the latter. The Chronicler follows his source text’s narrative line in 2 Samuel 11:1 when he continues his version in 1 Chronicles 20:1, but then skips over the greatest part of 2 Samuel 11–12, only to link up ...

1987. The Battle Against the Ammonites

1 Chronicles 19:1-19

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... much so that the Arameans made peace with David and became subject to him. They even withdrew their support for the Ammonites. With the Arameans already subjugated and with the Ammonites now without their coalition partner, it would not take long for David to also achieve military success against the latter. The Chronicler follows his source text’s narrative line in 2 Samuel 11:1 when he continues his version in 1 Chronicles 20:1, but then skips over the greatest part of 2 Samuel 11–12, only to link up ...

1988. The Capture of Rabbah

1 Chronicles 20:1-3

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... much so that the Arameans made peace with David and became subject to him. They even withdrew their support for the Ammonites. With the Arameans already subjugated and with the Ammonites now without their coalition partner, it would not take long for David to also achieve military success against the latter. The Chronicler follows his source text’s narrative line in 2 Samuel 11:1 when he continues his version in 1 Chronicles 20:1, but then skips over the greatest part of 2 Samuel 11–12, only to link up ...

1989. War with the Philistines

1 Chronicles 20:4-8

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... much so that the Arameans made peace with David and became subject to him. They even withdrew their support for the Ammonites. With the Arameans already subjugated and with the Ammonites now without their coalition partner, it would not take long for David to also achieve military success against the latter. The Chronicler follows his source text’s narrative line in 2 Samuel 11:1 when he continues his version in 1 Chronicles 20:1, but then skips over the greatest part of 2 Samuel 11–12, only to link up ...

1990. 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 ...

1991. The Completion of the Wall

Nehemiah 6:15-7:3

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... inflict on Judah (4:14–15). Here was the happy experience of Psalm 126:2 all over again: “Then it was said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’” How could anyone deny divine enabling in this amazingly rapid achievement against such odds? 6:17–19 This postscript to verses 10–14 gives general information about Tobiah’s meddling in Judean affairs. It continues the intimidation theme of the chapter, and so the implication is that this information related to a time before ...

1992. Priests and Levites

Nehemiah 12:1-26

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... 445. The corresponding name for Jonathan in v. 22 is Johanan, who is not necessarily the same person—perhaps a brother. Jonathan is known from the Elephantine papyri to have been in office in the years 411 and 408. 12:12 The list of twenty-one families was achieved by adding the six in vv. 19–21. It attests the gradual evolution to the eventual fixed twenty-four divisions of priests named in 1 Chr. 24:1–19, which grew from the basic four families in Neh. 7:39–42 (= Ezra 2:36–39). These divisions ...

1993. Woes and Judgments

Isaiah 5:8-30

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... , purpose is a better translation than plan. The latter can give the impression that everything happens as an outworking of a detailed plan of action devised by God centuries beforehand. The OT gives the impression that through (or despite) human actions God always achieves the final purpose determined from before creation. The details of how Israel and the world in general work out that purpose is, however, determined more by human will than by God’s plan. 5:25–30 Therefore in verse 25 is a different ...

1994. A Prophecy Against Assyria

Isaiah 14:24-27

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... of every event that happens in history, most of which may well go against the divine purpose. In general Yahweh is not sovereign in world history. Events do not happen in accordance with Yahweh’s wishes. Yahweh’s plan is a determination nevertheless to achieve a certain purpose in the long run, to establish rule in the world, and a periodic determination to bring about certain specific events (here the eventual fall of Assyria) that will make a particular contribution to that long-term purpose.

1995. A Prophecy Against Moab

Isaiah 15:1--16:14

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... , the second version goes beyond the first as well as paralleling it. So verses 6–14 begin by bringing out the reason for the calamity that has come upon the people in the prophet’s vision. As usual it is the nation’s pride in its greatness and achievements (see 13:11, 19; 14:11—NIV pomp) that obscures and evades the fact that real “majesty” (the same word) belongs only to Yahweh (2:10, 19, 21; see comment). In the context, verse 6 then forms a comment on verses 1–5, which have amounted to an ...

1996. Deliverance of Israel

Isaiah 27:1-13

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... no compassion for us, you show no favor to us.” Yahweh has three responses. Whatever happened to them, the fate of their attackers has been worse: look at fallen Assyria or fallen Babylon or fallen Persia . . . (v. 7). The bludgeoning was designed to achieve something (v. 9; cf. 1:24–31), as the pruning of the vine can mean fruitfulness. The destruction of the means of worship is actually the removal of sin. And the abandonment of the city and the withholding of compassion are deserved. Its inhabitants ...

1997. Israel's Only Savior

Isaiah 43:1-13

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... :18–25 has made that clear. But the wise farmer indeed knows that there is a time for plowing and a time for planting (28:23–29). Even though the ground remains hard, in this case, it is clear that more plowing is going to achieve nothing. Does God or prophet think that mercy will succeed where judgment fails? If so, succeeding chapters in the book will disabuse them. If the community finds it difficult to believe in mercy rather than judgment, then the opening descriptions of Yahweh in the participles ...

1998. Israel Freed

Isaiah 48:12-22

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... in its life (v. 19a). Indeed Yahweh looks over the precipice of its ultimate destruction, and invites Jacob-Israel to do so (v. 19b). But we have again and again heard how impossible it would be for Yahweh to go back on the commitment to achieving a purpose in the world through this people. We heard this most recently in verses 9–11, in all their toughness. This commitment to Jacob-Israel reduces Yahweh to an “if only” before its recalcitrance, like that of parents angry and grieved at their (adult ...

1999. Judgment and Hope

Isaiah 66:1-24

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... Like prophecies such as those of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, these chapters generally have rather a high view of the temple and its significance (see, e.g., 60:13), but lest it should be overestimated it is here put in its place. The chapters thus achieve the same balance as Solomon’s prayer in 1 Kings 8. That prayer enthuses over the temple’s significance, but does so in the context of an acknowledgment that Yahweh, who dwells in thick darkness, cannot be contained by the building that Solomon has ...

2000. Deathbed Confessions

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon

King Duncan

... , when he realized he was in trouble, Alice Cooper started heading off to church with his wife and there he felt God speak to him. Cooper experienced every pleasure that money could buy but he found it did not satisfy. “I was the prodigal son. I left the house, achieved fame and fortune, and found out that that was not what I wanted,” he said in an interview. “Now I read the Bible every day, I pray every day. That’s really what I’m about.” He continues: “I was one thing at one time, and I’m ...