Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2201 to 2225 of 2962 results

Proverbs 7:1-27

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... for neck is striking. The intended meaning of verse 4a is a marriage with wisdom (sister means also bride; cf. Song 4:9–5:2). The parallelism calls for “kinswoman” (cf. NJPS). However, “kinsman” of the NIV is supported by the MT. Verse 5 again designates the woman as stranger. It is prejudgment and also misleading to speak of adulteress and wayward wife (see the discussion above on 2:17). The woman whose activities are about to be highlighted is described as dressed as a harlot (v. 10) and she is ...

2202. The Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 10:1-32

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... ”) and destruction for evildoers. See Additional Notes. 10:30 Antithetic. See Psalm 37:9–11 for inhabiting the land. Although dwelling in the land is also meant physically, it comes to have a metaphorical meaning (cf. 2:21–22; Matt. 5:5) to designate security and peace. 10:31–32 Antithetic. The organs of speech are the topic, but they stand for what issues from them. As always, it is the speech of the righteous and the wicked which characterizes them; one is constructive, the other destructive. The ...

2203. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 17:1-28

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... and eloquent (NIV margin) are doubtful; see Additional Notes. The point of the NIV is that there is discord between subject and predicate, whatever the precise nuance may be. 17:8 Synthetic. Charm is, literally, “stone of favor,” something valuable or designed to win favor. Is this merely an observation that bribery works, or is it an ironic statement that bribery is everywhere? In verse 8b, he turns could be rendered: wherever the charm is used, it succeeds. Bribery is mentioned elsewhere, as in ...

2204. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 19:1-29

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... of whatever affair that calls for, and will profit from, advice. 19:21 Antithetic. This saying resembles 16:1, 9. Hebrew ʿēṣâ in verses 20 and 21 (advice, purpose) is the catchword. As opposed to the many uncertainties or options a person might choose, the design of the Lord stands firm. 19:22 Neither of the two readings suggested by the NIV for 22a is satisfactory. The text fails to translate the suffix (“his”) attached to love. The margin gives a rare meaning (shame) to Hebrew ḥsdw (but cf. 14 ...

2205. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 22:1-16

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... degree, is a form of servitude; money means power. Contrast verse 9. 22:8 Synonymous. The farming images (cf. 11:18) tie together wrongdoing and punishment in verse 8a. If the MT is correct, the rod of his fury (an obscure phrase) may designate the excessive oppression exercised presumably by the wrongdoer. It is said of his rod that it “shall fail.” All in all, verse 8b remains obscure. See Additional Notes. 22:9 Synthetic. Generous is literally, “good of eye”; contrast “stingy,” or evil of eye ...

2206. More Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 25:1-28

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... with many other versions. 25:11 Aptly spoken is lit. “on its two wheels,” and the meaning is uncertain. Are the two wheels the two lines of a saying (cf. Sir. 50:27)? The apples of gold must refer to some kind of precious stones in a silver design (cf. v. 12a). 25:20 The first four words of the Hb. text are uncertain, perhaps a dittography of v. 19b. Instead of soda, many prefer “wound” (Gk. helkei). 25:23 Sly is an interpretation of Hb. str, “secret,” and the word for north wind can also mean ...

2207. A Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

... God’s work. And yet, there is nothing better than happiness, eating and drinking, and finding satisfaction in one’s work. This is not only from God (as in 2:24), but should be understood as the gift of God. God’s work endures and is designed to inspire reverence on the part of humans. 3:16–17 A brief transitional segment provides the first reference in the book to human injustice. The problem is a grievous one, but it is described from the perspective of one who sees oppression, not one who ...

2208. Let Him Kiss Me

Song of Songs 1:1-17

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

... is a superlative and might be translated “supreme song” (cf. “king of kings” or “holy of holies”). 1:2–4 The book proper opens with some disconcerting shifts between both speaker and addressee. A reader who is able to set aside the NIV’s designations of speakers and simply read these verses is likely to be confused. After the superscription labeling the Song as Solomon’s, one might expect to hear his voice. Yet the first poetic line is, Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth. This ...

2209. If Only You Were To Me A Bother

Song of Songs 8:1-14

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

... and Sheol and raging flames. This is not to suggest that love is no longer celebrated; but the fierceness of love is recognized as being deadly serious. 8:8–10 The speakers in verses 8–9 are most likely the brothers (in the NIV, the designation “Friends” is used for any group), and the young sister is most likely the central woman. If so, the brothers’ perception of the woman’s physical maturity is different from that of both the central man and the woman herself. The speakers here claim that ...

2210. Judah to Serve Nebuchadnezzar

Jeremiah 27:1-22

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... . The pillars are described in 1 Kings 7:15–22. They were bronze and were each 27 feet tall and 18 feet around. On top of the pillars were capitals that themselves were seven and a half feet tall and carefully designed like lilies. It is uncertain whether these pillars were connected to the temple structure or free standing, but their removal would be psychologically staggering. After all, they were named Jakin (“he establishes”) and Boaz (“by strength”), names that would indicate establishment ...

2211. A Letter to the Exiles

Jeremiah 29:1-23

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... paragraph, God has expressed his anger with false prophets in general. Now he turns his attention to two particular prophets: Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah. These prophets are named nowhere else. It is interesting to note that another person designated son of Maaseiah occurs in this chapter beginning with v. 25. However, there is no way to know whether the same Maaseiah is meant in both instances. In any case, these particular prophets are only important as specific cases of a general ...

2212. A Message About Babylon

Jeremiah 50:1--51:64

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... , it is interesting that in these exceptions the prophets do play a role in the determination to go to war. It is more likely that here the oracle has in mind what we would call more precisely diviners (and the Hebrew word bad, used here, probably designates a diviner [see also Isa. 44:25; Hos. 11:6]), who would observe certain phenomenon (sheep livers were very popular) in order to determine whether or not the king should go to battle. 50:39 There is some question whether the word translated owl (benot ya ...

2213. How the Gold Has Lost Its Luster

Lamentations 4:1-22

One Volume

Tremper Longman III

... surprise the king’s capture might evoke. The first stanza exposes the vanity of the nations trying to resist “the LORD” and “his Anointed One” (Ps. 2:2). The final stanza (vv. 10–12) admonishes the kings of the nations to submit to the anointed king, here designated God’s son, “lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way.” The second part of the Lam. 4:20 also seems to build on this expectation in saying that Judah’s life among the nations would be under the king’s shadow. The ...

2214. Hosea's Wife and Children

Hosea 1:1-2:1

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... here, in the one Israel of the old tribal league. As one Israel, they will become as numerous as the sands of the sea, and will be called sons of the living God, a phrase found only this once in the OT. God is above all the living God, a designation seen elsewhere only in Joshua 3:10 and Psalms 42:2 and 84:2. That is, God is the source of life. Hosea is fighting in his ministry a baal fertility religion, which claims to give life to its adherents, and so this passage emphasizes, in the strongest terms, that ...

2215. Israel to Reap the Whirlwind

Hosea 8:1-14

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... s “good” will for their life. First, they have selected their leaders with no thought of whom Yahweh would choose to lead them, verse 4. Those put upon the throne have been singled out for the office by neither the gift of the spirit nor prophetic designation. Rather, the history of Israel’s monarchy has been one of intrigue, deceit, and power-plays (cf. 7:3–7). As Paul states in Romans 13, civil authority has been instituted by God to guarantee good conduct within the body politic. But God has had ...

2216. Punishment for Israel

Hosea 9:1--10:15

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... relationship with Israel. The salvation that God will bring to a faithful Israel should not be thought of as the reward for its righteousness, however. God’s salvation is never merited, and Israel does not earn it. Rather, salvation—which in the OT designates fullness of life, prosperity, abundance, peace, security, room to live, šālôm in its fullest meaning—is the natural fruit of a whole relationship with God (cf. 1 Cor. 9:10–11). Like the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–23), it flows ...

2217. Judgment of Israel's Neighbors

Amos 1:1-2:5

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... fire of wrath will eat up its defenses, break down its barred gates, cut down the population of its annexed territory and the occupant of its throne, and send its inhabitants into exile in Kir. Kir was located in Mesopotamia, near Elam, and Amos 9:7 designates it as the original home of the Arameans. Thus, Yahweh the Lord of nations will reverse Aram’s history. God brought the Arameans up out of Kir (9:7); God will return them there. International relations are finally subject to the will of God and not ...

2218. The Lord's Plan

Micah 4:6-13

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... –17; Zech. 14:1–5, 12–15; cf. Isa. 17:12–14; Zech. 12:1–9; Ps. 76:4–9; Rev. 16). 4:11 Here in verse 11, many nations, whose number is indeterminate and who are not named, want to defeat and defile Zion, the “holy” city. (For the designation, see Ps. 2:6; 46:4; 48:1.) If the nations can get rid of Zion, they can get rid of God, for Zion is the dwelling place of Yahweh and is under his protection. Sennacherib of Assyria was called “king of the world” (ANET, p. 288, 13–15) in ...

2219. Deliverance and Destruction

Micah 5:5-15

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... Micah’s indictment of the people in chapters 1–3. Instead, the concern thus far in Micah has been with Israel’s corruption of leaders, judges, priests, and prophets (2:2, 8–11; 3:2–3, 5–6, 9–11). And God’s judgment on such corruption has been designed to serve as a witness to the nations of God’s lordship (see the comment at 1:5). Thus 5:15 is an announcement of God’s wrath to be poured out on those foreign nations who refuse to accept the import of the witness. But the foreign nations ...

2220. Nineveh to Fall

Nahum 2:1-13

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... and speaking of what is going to happen. This time, the transition to Yahweh’s speaking is emphasized by the addition of the phrase declares the LORD Almighty (lit., “declaration of Yahweh Armies”). The title is difficult to construe, but clearly enough it designates Yahweh as the one who controls mighty forces, perhaps both the forces of heaven and those on earth. The transition implies the assertion that there is no doubt that Yahweh affirms the declarations in verses 1–12 and no doubt that Yahweh ...

2221. Woe to Nineveh

Nahum 3:1-19

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... suggests the feelings of a man whose wife has been unfaithful; this is what he might wish to do. The picture of the sexual shaming of Ms Nineveh offends modern readers (see O’Brien, Nahum, pp. 87–103), and perhaps offended ancient ones. It was not designed to be nice but to drive a point home. That is emphasized by the repetition of the phrase declares the LORD Almighty, literally “pronouncement of Yahweh Armies” (see on 2:14). There is no doubt that Yahweh has uttered verses 5–6 and no doubt that ...

2222. The Promised Glory of the New House

Haggai 2:1-9

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... whom Yahweh gives this encouragement are now referred to as the people of the land, which in this context denotes the people in general; they are presumably the same people just described as “the remnant of the people” (v. 2). Indeed, changing their designation perhaps suggests that the (mere) remnant has become the (real) people (cf. Floyd, Minor Prophets, Part 2, p. 281). See further the additional note below, and the comment on 1:2. Yahweh’s subsequent reminder (v. 5), “This is what I covenanted ...

2223. A Man With a Measuring Line

Zechariah 2:1-13

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... inherited its land from God, and each tribe and family had received its portion. Verse 12 reverses this pattern as a metaphor for the Lord’s unique relationship with the people of Judah. The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land. The designation “the holy land” or “the holy ground” (ʾadmat haqqodesh, MT 2:16) is unique in the OT. It is, however, very close to the “holy ground” (ʾadmat qodesh) at the burning bush on the mountain of God (Exod. 3:5) and is an extension of the ...

2224. The Flying Scroll

Zechariah 5:1-4

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... of the circle of the sun with rays emanating above and below. It looks, instead, like the outline of a rolled scroll with wings attached at the middle. It is impossible to know, however, whether Zechariah or anyone in his audience would have thought of this design as a flying scroll. The scroll in Zechariah’s vision differs from known ancient examples in that it is apparently written on both sides (on one side . . . on the other), like the scroll that Ezekiel ate (Ezek. 2:10, panim weʾakhor). Ezekiel’s ...

2225. The Woman in a Basket

Zechariah 5:5-11

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... (e.g., Lev. 19:36; Deut. 25:15; Ezek. 10, 11; Amos 8:5; Mic. 6:10). Individuals and governments cheat and oppress people by making them pay with a heavy weight or an enlarged measure. In the OT, “wickedness” (rishʿah) is a broad term, designating a person or nation that has rebelled against the full range of the Lord’s laws and statutes (e.g., Ezek. 5:4). The interpreting angel/messenger “casts away” (NIV “pushed back”; the hipʿil of shlk) wickedness. The subject of this verb is in control ...

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