Sermon and Worship Resources

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1 Samuel 12:1-25

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... same verb). However, in chapter 9 the Lord makes it clear he is not going to give them the kind of king they want, complete with an institutionalized state structure and standing army (vv. 16–17). On the contrary, the Lord makes the king subject to regulations designed to prevent him from being like foreign kings (10:25). In chapters 9–10 both the Lord and Samuel avoid using the verb malak, “to rule,” or the noun melek, “king,” in referring to this ruler (9:16–17; 10:1, 24), except when Samuel ...

2352. Saul Dilutes a Victory

1 Sam 14:24-52

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... that an oath be taken under certain circumstances, and the Lord himself takes an oath on occasion to give emphasis to his word or promise (Num. 14:21–23). Religious oaths were commonplace in Jesus’s time. They are solemn, formal statements designed to emphasize the truth of one’s words or the certainty that one’s promises will be fulfilled. However, the Old Testament principles regulating oaths were being badly neglected and abused. For this reason, Jesus goes so far as to tell his disciples ...

2353. David’s Faith Ignites a Victory

1 Samuel 17:1-58

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... , born of his faith in the Lord; he also displays ingenuity and cunning. The scene shows that everyone expects this battle to be fought at close quarters: (1) Goliath’s weaponry (javelin [or perhaps scimitar],9spear, and sword; cf. vv. 6–7, 47, 51) is designed for fighting at close quarters. (2) Saul tries to outfit David with his armor and sword, as if expecting a hand-to-hand struggle. (3) David’s reference to fighting wild animals at close range hints that he might fight Goliath in the same way ...

2354. The Lord Is with David

1 Samuel 18:1-30

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... incident makes David wary about getting too close to Saul. It comes as no surprise that David respectfully declines Saul’s offer (vv. 18–19). 18:22 his attendants all love you. This argument is especially devious on Saul’s part for it is designed to tempt David to seek power. Saul’s attendants are his court officials (cf. 1 Sam. 16:15), whose loyalty would give David “a natural base of power at court.”6 18:25 a hundred Philistine foreskins. Thinking that David might be concerned that ...

2355. God’s Protection Takes the Form of a Faithful Friend

1 Samuel 20:1-42

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... and God’s chosen Servant, the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 10:37–39; Luke 12:8–9). Though the friendship of David and Jonathan is inspiring, this is not fundamentally a story about friendship. In the larger literary context of 1 Samuel, this account is not designed to teach the reader lessons about friendship. Certainly one can use their friendship for illustrative purposes, if one’s primary text for a lesson or sermon is dealing with that theme (see, e.g., Prov. 17:17; 18:24). But if one is teaching or ...

2356. Saul on the Rampage

1 Samuel 22:6-23

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... save his own skin. Even if this is not the case and Ahimelek is simply the victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, the incident has a foreshadowing function: an innocent man, loyal to David, dies as a result of a scheme designed to save David’s skin. In this case the story sets us up for a startling contrast. If David’s self-incrimination is unjustified, false guilt, it nevertheless shows a sensitive spirit and genuine concern for others, characteristics that will be sorely lacking in the ...

2357. David Spares Saul’s Life

1 Samuel 24:1-22

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... regarding his kingdom (13:14) will be realized.5 24:22 So David gave his oath to Saul. David’s positive response to Saul’s plea (v. 21), like his covenant with Jonathan (20:42), demonstrates his honesty in this matter. If he had designs on overthrowing Saul and seizing his throne, he would not agree to this. Usurpers typically kill the offspring of the former king to solidify their power. Theological Insights Saul has forfeited his leadership status (cf. 13:13–14; 15:28–29), and God has ...

2358. Job Presents Evidence against the Retribution Principle

Job 12:1--14:22

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Daniel J. Estes

... the same variety of thoughts and feelings that any human does when faced with severe pain and disappointment. In chapter 14, Job desperately tries to find hope in his situation. Nevertheless, whether he looks at the patterns in the natural world or designs an imaginative scenario, he comes to the same place. His lines of thinking all lead to hopelessness, and that causes Job to despair in his adversity. This candid and transparent expression of Job’s thoughts parallels closely what many people today think ...

2359. Job Feels Both Confidence and Terror

Job 23:1--24:25

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Daniel J. Estes

... tests Abraham’s faith by directing him to offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Psalm 66:10 pictures God as testing humans, using the language of the refining of silver. Because the Bible reveals God as omniscient, knowing all things, this testing is not designed to teach God something that he does not already know. Rather, testing, as in Job 23:10, is a demonstration of what is actually in the heart of the person who experiences God’s affliction. Teaching the Text In chapter 23, Job is torn between ...

2360. Elihu Makes His Appearance

Job 32:1--37:24

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Daniel J. Estes

... river. Deeply comforted, he sat down and wrote these enduring words: God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines Of never failing skill He treasures up His bright designs And works His sovereign will. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning ...

2361. “The Lord Watches over the Way of the Righteous”

Psalm 1:1-6

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C. Hassell Bullock

... the beginning of the Bible—highlights the power of God’s life-giving word. It even carries over the imagery of “day” and “night” of Genesis 1:3–5a. The psalmist, reflecting on the power of God’s word, implies that the design of the universe provides the structure of our meditation, “day and night” (1:2). In fact, Psalm 1 anticipates the portrait of the “righteous person” (who, rhetorically speaking, is David; see “Reading between the Lines” in the introduction) set forth in Book ...

2362. “In Peace I Will Lie Down and Sleep”

Psalm 4:1-8

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C. Hassell Bullock

... state, fall outside covenant obedience. We will take the voices in reverse order (so that we end on a positive note). In verse 2, David addresses his opponents as “you people.” Since the term used here is different from the one that normally designates humanity at large, it may indicate individuals of high standing, thus “nobles” (see the comments on 4:2, above). If these are the nobles who joined Absalom’s rebellion, then the king’s words in verse 4 are indicting, calling them to search their ...

2363. “Have Mercy on Me, Lord, for I Am Faint”

Psalm 6:1-10

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C. Hassell Bullock

... that God invalidates his enemies’ machinations in answered prayer (6:8–10).2 Interpretive Insights Title sheminith. This term means “eighth” and seems to direct the singing or playing, perhaps both, in a higher or lower octave. of David. The term ledawid designates the author (by David), or collection (for David), or dedication (in honor of David). See “The Nature of the Book” in the introduction. 6:2–4 A double-tracking of three verbal similarities ties the first part of the psalm and the ...

2364. “Their Violence Comes Down on Their Own Heads”

Psalm 7:1-17

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C. Hassell Bullock

... Lord Most High. Calvin says God’s righteousness “is to be understood of his faithfulness, which he makes good to his servants in defending and preserving their lives.”10 See the comments on 7:8 above regarding the “Most High.” Theological Insights The title designates the poem as a psalm that David “sang to the Lord.” It is a prayer song about the divine name, as Terrien has suggested,[11] a song about God’s majesty to save and judge. David’s theological vocabulary is rich, using the major ...

2365. “You Will Fill Me with Joy in Your Presence”

Psalm 16:1-11

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C. Hassell Bullock

... generic term “lord, master” (’adonay = Lord, lowercase in English translations) occurs in place of the tetragrammaton (YHWH = Lord, small caps in English translations). Here it is parallel to the shortened generic ’el (“God,” 16:1; rather than ’elohim). Both designate the all-powerful God of the Old Testament. apart from you I have no good thing. The Hebrew preposition behind “apart from” is “over” or “upon” (‘al). While the NIV emends the text to read “apart from you . . . no ...

2366. “I Love You, Lord, My Strength”

Psalm 18:1-50

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C. Hassell Bullock

... ) to the tribe of Judah (Leah tribes), a phenomenon dealt with in Psalm 78:67–72. Military language characterizes the psalm, especially 18:31–36, and in that respect confirms the information in the title. Interpretive Insights Title the servant of the Lord. The designation “servant of the Lord” is used of only three persons in the Old Testament—Moses, Joshua, and David—while others are called God’s servants (e.g., “my servant Abraham,” Gen. 26:24). It is applied to David here and at the ...

2367. “Some Trust in Chariots . . . , but We Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God”

Psalm 20:1-9

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C. Hassell Bullock

... e.g., see NLT). 20:3 your sacrifices . . . your burnt offerings. The basic meaning of the word translated as “sacrifices” is “meal offerings,” which were flour mixed with oil and frankincense (Lev. 2:1–2). Here, however, the term seems to be a general designation for sacrifices (as in 1 Sam. 26:19, etc.). 20:5 and lift up our banners. Banners were used by troops in battle and by those who celebrated victory after battle. 20:6 Now this I know . . . from his heavenly sanctuary. Some believe ...

2368. “Blessed Is the One Whose Transgressions Are Forgiven”

Psalm 32:1-11

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C. Hassell Bullock

... ,” “counsel,” and the idea of watching over—describe God’s relationship to his people and so confirm the view that the “I” is God. 32:9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding. “Understanding” designates the difference between humans and animals. 32:10 but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds. In 32:7 the verb “surround” describes the “songs of deliverance” that celebrate the psalmist’s victory over the crisis he encountered, while here the same ...

2369. “May Your Unfailing Love Be with Us, Lord”

Psalm 33:1-22

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C. Hassell Bullock

... to making the story of creation and redemption a single narrative, our psalmist breaks this subject out to include the particulars of history (33:10–19). In broadest outline, the Lord is sovereign over the plans and purposes of the nations, foiling their designs but making his firm and secure (33:10–11), a normal outgrowth of his authority over the creation (33:9, “He spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm”). God is not only omnipotent but omniscient, observing all humankind ...

2370. “Taste and See That the Lord Is Good”

Psalm 34:1-22

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C. Hassell Bullock

... David feigned madness before Achish, king of Gath. The name Abimelek (“my father is king”), rather than Achish (evidently a personal name), is generally explained as a title for the Philistine king, like Pharaoh in Egypt. The name Abimelek is also used to designate the Philistine ruler in the narrative relating Abraham’s visit to Gerar (Gen. 20 and 21) and later Isaac’s visit to the same Philistine region (Gen. 26). In Saul’s pursuit of David, the newly anointed King David fled to the Philistine ...

2371. “Trust in the Lord and Do Good”

Psalm 37:1-40

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C. Hassell Bullock

... your way to the Lord. Literally, “Roll your way on the Lord.” This is another way to commend trust in the Lord. 37:7 Be still before the Lord . . . when they carry out their wicked schemes. The verb “be still” (dmm) implies resignation. “Schemes” are plans designed to cause other people trouble.4 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath. The avoidance of anger is a common theme in wisdom literature (e.g., Prov. 22:24–25; 29:22).5 37:10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more ...

2372. “I Waited Patiently for the Lord; He Turned to Me and Heard My Cry”

Psalm 40:1-17

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C. Hassell Bullock

... is essential in the lives of all believers, even though it takes various expressions in each individual’s faith: patience, endurance, and suffering, to name only the obvious. Second, Psalm 40 contains a germ of the gospel in that it sets forth God’s redemptive design to put his law in human hearts (40:8). Jeremiah’s new covenant statement (Jer. 31:33) is the best-known text in that regard. Yet Deuteronomy already points in this direction by predicating that God’s words are to be “on” Israel’s ...

2373. “Blessed Are Those Who Have Regard for the Weak; the Lord Delivers Them”

Psalm 41:1-13

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C. Hassell Bullock

... Text The literary type of Psalm 41 has been the topic of much discussion, since the poem does not seem to fall easily into any single type. Perhaps Kraus’s “prayer song of the sick”1 is appropriate for this psalm, although we might simply designate it as an individual lament. The psalm, in fact, begins with a benediction on those who “have regard for” the sick (see the comments on 41:1). Craigie identifies the setting of the psalm as the sanctuary where the suppliant prays for healing. While this ...

2374. “As the Deer Pants for Streams of Water, So My Soul Pants for You, My God”

Psalm 42:1-11, Psalm 43:1-5

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C. Hassell Bullock

... in the headings of thirteen psalms (Pss. 32; 42; 44; 45; 52; 53; 54; 55; 74; 78; 88; 89; 142).6It occurs internally in Psalm 14:2/53:2, where it means “to act wisely” (NIV: “understand”). The other internal occurrence is 47:7, where it designates, as in the thirteen headings above, a type of psalm. Kraus proposes that, in view of its use as a type of psalm, and based on 2 Chronicles 30:22, which describes Levitical activity with this word, it may mean “well-crafted songs.”7This of course raises ...

2375. “Within Your Temple, O God, We Meditate on Your Unfailing Love”

Psalm 48:1-14

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C. Hassell Bullock

... name of the city. The name Jerusalem conjured up political thoughts, while the name Zion invoked religious and spiritual impressions. In fact, the name Jerusalem does not appear in any of the Korah psalms, and only here in Psalm 48 does Zion, the religious designation of the city, appear in the Korah collection. In scope, these three psalms exhibit an advancing pattern. Even though they are called Zion songs, Psalm 46 does not use the name Zion at all but speaks of the city with epithets, which were well ...

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