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Showing 2101 to 2125 of 2331 results

2101. The Next Two Days: The Call of the Disciples

John 1:43-51, John 1:35-42

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... is possible that the story has a symbolic side to it. If Nathanael is a true Israelite representing the “Israel” to whom Jesus must be revealed (cf. 1:31), then the saying recalls Hosea 9:10. “When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your fathers, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree.” The point is perhaps that Jesus finds the new Israel in the same way that God his Father found the old. Jesus spoke elsewhere of the delight of uncovering an unexpected ...

2102. “I Am from Him and He Sent Me”

John 7:25-44

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea”; cf. also Ezek. 47:1–12, and the NT use of the theme in Rev. 22:1–2). A metaphorical identification of Jesus either with the life-giving rock in the Sinai desert (cf. 1 Cor. 10:4) or with the city of Jerusalem itself and its temple, must be presupposed. On the assumption that the believer is the source of the water, suggestions include Prov. 18:4; Isa. 58:11; and especially (in the Apocrypha) Sir. 24:28–31: ‘Now I ...

2103. The Claims of Jesus About Himself

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

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... The statement superficially recalls Jesus’ own words in 6:49 (“Your forefathers … died,” cf. 6:58), but its function in the narrative is different. In chap. 6, Jesus’ implication was that God had judged the generation that long ago died in the desert (cf. 1 Cor. 10:5), while those who ate the Bread of life Jesus now offered would live forever. Those who died, he told his opponents, were “your forefathers.” Here, however, Jesus’ point is that his opponents are not Abraham’s true descendants ...

2104. Forgiveness for the Sinner

2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... and from the subsequent context. As far as the traditional background is concerned, an interesting parallel to the idea that the offender’s punishment was sufficient (hikanos) is found in Wisdom 18:20–25, which describes the plague that struck Israel in the desert when they rebelled against Moses and Aaron after Korah’s rebellion (Num. 16:41–50). During that judgment, Aaron is said to have intervened on behalf of the people by an intercessory prayer (Wis. 18:22, 23), so that the destroyer yielded ...

2105. Accusations

2 Corinthians 2:12--3:6

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... Paul’s message is inseparable from his person and commission (cf. 5:18–20). It is no coincidence that in 1 Corinthians 10:9–10 Paul uses the same verb of the Israelite rebels who spoke against God and against Moses and therefore “were destroyed” in the desert (cf. Num. 21:5–6). The apostle will come back to this dualism at the end of his defense, where he emphasizes the contrast between the two groups in terms of a series of antithetical pairs (cf. 2 Cor. 6:14–16a). For Paul, there are only ...

2106. Listening and Doing

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

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... ’ mind, and in Matt. 6:30 and Luke 12:28 (although with a different application). Though it is especially suited to Palestine, other warm climates would also find the expression meaningful. Some scholars have seen with scorching heat (kausoni) as indicating the sirocco, or hot desert wind, as in Job 27:21; Jer. 18:17; and Hos. 12:1. In fact, it may well be referred to in Ps. 103:16. But this is unlikely (although tempting, for the sirocco is distinctly Palestinian), for the sirocco has nothing to do with ...

2107. The Plague of Blood

Exodus 7:14-24

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... might. The Prophets refer to Pharaoh’s attitude: “The Nile is mine; I made it for myself” (Ezek. 29:3). The Lord’s message for Pharaoh begins in verse 16 with the refrain “Let my people go, so that they may worship (or “serve”) me in the desert.” God’s direct speech continues, describing what will happen. “With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile.” The result of this action was threefold. First, all the water was changed into blood (v. 20). The Hebrew for ...

2108. God's Angel to Prepare the Way

Exodus 23:20-33

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... list of people groups is abridged from v. 23. This is common practice in Exodus and carries no special significance. The few represent the whole. Compare 3:8, 17; 13:5, 11; 23:23, 28; 33:2; 34:11. 23:31 The idealized “borders” here are from the desert (the Negev wilderness) to the River (the Euphrates) and the Sea of the Philistines (the Mediterranean) to the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds). The “Red Sea” is taken to mean the Gulf of Aqaba because as a SE limit it stands opposite the Mediterranean as a NW ...

2109. The Song of Moses

Deuteronomy 31:30--32:47

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... As a result of their prosperity in the land (paradoxically, therefore, as the result of God’s very blessing), Israel has become fat (v. 15a, i.e., proud and complacent; cf. 8:12–14; Hos. 13:6; Jer. 8:7–28). They have abandoned, rejected, and deserted their creator and savior God (vv. 15b, 18a) and gone after other gods—demonic, unknown, upstart, non-God gods (vv. 16f.). The offensiveness of such behavior is underlined again by reference to the parenthood of God. In verses 4 and 6 the pictures of God ...

2110. David Makes Solomon King

1 Kings 1:28-53

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... will feel compelled to act if he thinks matters have progressed further than they have? Such a strategy would also help to explain why Joab the commander of the army (v. 19) has by v. 25 become the commanders of the army in the plural. Large scale desertion requires even more urgent attention by the king than a single defection. 1:18 You . . . do not know about it: There is an interesting play on this idea of “knowing” in 1 Kgs. 1 that is obscured in the NIV’s choice of “had no intimate relations ...

2111. To Noah's Sons

1 Chronicles 1:1-4

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... mainly on the Abrahamic ancestors and the Davidic reign, but also including the postexilic community in the genealogy of 1 Chronicles 9. The Chronicler simply skipped certain periods considered very important by other biblical writers, such as the time of the desert wanderings and the era of the judges. Given such an approach, one should also not expect to find accurate genealogical information of a historical kind here. (The heading of the NIV before 1 Chron. 1:1, namely, “Historical Records,” might ...

2112. The Japhethites

1 Chronicles 1:5-7

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

2113. The Hamites

1 Chronicles 1:8-16

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

2114. The Semites

1 Chronicles 1:17-27

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

2115. Gad

1 Chronicles 5:11-22

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... 5:4–10 remains detached from the surrounding genealogies, and no parallels can be found in the Hebrew Bible for the names included here. First Chronicles 5:9 indicates the geographical area occupied by this group of people: up to the edge of the desert that extends to the Euphrates River. This is echoed in the indication in 5:10: the entire region east of Gilead. Two reasons for the expansion eastward are provided: on the one hand, their livestock . . . increased (5:9), but on the other hand, they ...

2116. The Half-Tribe of Manasseh

1 Chronicles 5:23-26

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

2117. David's Prayer

1 Chronicles 17:16-27

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... his house,” which (according to the scholarly consensus) is probably “an interpretation, extension, and reapplication of the Davidic promises” of 2 Sam. 7 (Knoppers, 1 Chronicles 10–29, pp. 673–74). 17:5–6 Generally, Chronicles omits references to the exodus, desert wanderings, conquest of the land, and the period of the judges. But here the Chronicler retained some slight allusions to these themes from the source text of 2 Sam. 7. First Chron. 17:5–6 still includes the day I brought Israel ...

2118. Gifts for Building the Temple

1 Chronicles 29:1-9

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... : Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the LORD? It is clear that the Chronicler depended on the tabernacle narrative in Exodus 35:4–29, where Moses also requested some freewill offerings from the people to construct the desert sanctuary. 29:6–9 The response of the people and all the leaders is overwhelmingly positive. The Chronicler indicates that they all contributed willingly and abundantly. The subsection concludes with rejoicing: The people rejoiced at the willing response of their ...

2119. Solomon's Prayer of Dedication

2 Chronicles 6:12-42

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... O’Kennedy (p. 159) agrees with other commentators that the omission of the other verses was probably determined by the reference to the exodus and Moses tradition. There is a tendency (although not absolute) in Chronicles to omit references to the exodus and the desert wanderings. Second, 2 Chronicles 6:41–42 is an addition that quotes from Psalm 132:8–10. This section and 1 Chronicles 16:8–36 are the only parts of Chronicles that include quotes from known psalmic material. O’Kennedy (pp. 163–68 ...

2120. Rehoboam's Family

2 Chronicles 11:18-23

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... family becomes the focal point. It is clear that the Chronicler is already starting to prepare the way for the succession of Rehoboam by his son Abijah (see 11:22). This confirms that the kingdom of Judah is not ruled by usurpers or deserters but by the legitimate lineage of the eternal Davidic kingship. But it also confirms that Rehoboam continues his reign with the wisdom of his father. He acted wisely in establishing his sons’ influence throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin (11:23). Additional ...

2121. An Oracle Against Damascus

Isaiah 17:1-14

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... technique thus resembles one of film, as if it begins with the camera panning across a silent and devastated landscape. So literally the poem opens, “There is Damascus, stopped from being a city and become a ruined heap, the cities of Aroer deserted. . . .” But then Damascus/Aroer becomes Ephraim/Damascus and Aram/Israelites in verses 2–3, and the verses that follow focus wholly on northern Israel. First, Aram and Ephraim are treated together, which reflects the Realpolitik of Isaiah’s day (see 7:1 ...

2122. Deliverance of Israel

Isaiah 27:1-13

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... 26:21, which Israel is proving true; its blood is crying out from the ground). You have contended against us, not for us, as you said you would (the verb rib recurs from 3:13a—NIV paraphrases there). You have expelled us from our land. Like the hot desert wind you have carried us off by the fierce blast of your anger (ruakh), the blast destined for enemies and from which you claimed to protect (11:15; 25:4). Further, ‘fierce’ was the stance you claimed to take against Leviathan, not us (v. 1), and the ...

2123. Jerusalem’s Deliverance Foretold

Isaiah 37:1-13

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... his country, but still increased the tribute. . . . Hezekiah himself, whom the terror-inspiring splendor of my lordship had overwhelmed and whose irregular and elite troops that he had brought into Jerusalem, his royal residence, in order to strengthen it, had deserted him, did send me later to Nineveh, my lordly city, together with thirty talents of gold, 800 talents of silver, precious stones . . . and all kinds of valuable treasures. In broad agreement with this account, 2 Kings 18:13–16 relates ...

2124. Thank God We're Free at Last

Romans 6:12-23

Sermon

King Duncan

... was no way to take the chains off. That wouldn’t have been that big of a deal had he been at home. But Trevor was camping in a remote area north of Baker, California--out in the middle of nowhere. It took him 12 hours to hop through the desert and reach a gas station for help. (2) Brilliant! You and I will probably never have chains like that on us--unless we’re really clueless. But there are many people in our land who live as if they are bound with chains. I’m thinking of those who have ...

2125. Gratitude: A Matter of Perspective

Deuteronomy 8:7-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... beasts. He had no one to whom he could speak, but God had sent the ship so near the shore that he could get out of it all the things necessary for his basic wants.” (3) Robinson Crusoe could be grateful eve though he assumed he was on a deserted isle. “Count your many blessings, name them one by one; count your many blessings see what God has done . . .” goes the old Gospel tune. And that is the source of lasting happiness. The words of Moses are just as apropos for you and me as they were for Israel ...

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