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Showing 2401 to 2425 of 5000 results

2401. The Ark Returned to Israel

1 Samuel 6:1-7:1

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

After seven difficult months, the Philistines are ready to send the ark back to Israel (6:1–9). But they want to make sure they do not offend the Lord any further, so they consult with their religious leaders. The leaders urge them to send a gift with the ark to compensate for the way they have dishonored Israel’s deity. This guilt offering consists of “five gold tumors and five gold rats” (6:4), representing the five main cities of the Philistines and reflecting the symptoms and likely medium of the ...

2402. The Lord Rejects Saul as King

1 Samuel 15:1-35

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

As in the last chapter, Saul wins an important victory but makes a serious mistake (15:1–9). This time the enemy is the Amalekites, a Bedouin people that attacked the Israelites after they came out of Egypt (Exod. 17:8–16). In accord with the Lord’s harsh words about Amalek given to Moses, Samuel tells Saul to attack the Amalekites and “totally destroy” all their people and animals (15:3). This technical term for complete destruction was also applied to the Canaanites when Joshua invaded the land. Because ...

2403. Transferring the Ark in Jerusalem

2 Chronicles 5:2-6:11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The summary note at the beginning of chapter 5 signals a new phase in the account of the temple-building process. Whereas chapter 2 traced the preparation phase, and chapters 3–4 the construction phase, chapters 5–7 trace the dedication phase. In 5:1 the Chronicler notes that the construction is finished, naming David’s gifts for the temple (1 Chron. 18:10–11; 26:26–27; 29:1–5) at this point to remind the reader of the role of both David and Solomon in making this possible. With everything in place, it is ...

2404. The Return to Jerusalem

Ezra 8:1-36

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Ezra 8 recounts the trip to Jerusalem but first mentions the family heads of those who accompany Ezra (8:1–14). This is not the same list as in Ezra 2, though the two lists have many names in common. Instead of starting with the lay families, then listing the priests, Levites, and temple personnel, as in chapter 2, here the list begins with the priestly families, followed by a descendant of David, and then concludes with twelve lay families. Throughout the chapter we see an emphasis on the number twelve, ...

2405. Further Benefits of Wisdom

Proverbs 3:1-35

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Chapter 3 continues the positive recommendation of wisdom. Based on thematic development, the chapter can be subdivided into four subsections: 3:1–4, 5–12, 13–26, 27–35. Verses 1–4 set forth additional advantages of preserving wisdom instruction. The words “teaching” and “commands” (Hebrew torah and mitsvah, 3:1, also in 6:20, 23; 7:2) are commonly paired with reference to Mosaic law (cf. Exod. 24:12; Josh. 22:5). Parental instructions are authoritative, not simply good advice. To “forget” involves not ...

2406. The Suffering Servant

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The servant of the Lord will share the throne with God himself, as he will be “lifted up and highly exalted” (52:13–15). He will succeed in his mission, for which reason he is described as acting “wisely” (52:13). He does what is right and pleases God. The Lord will raise him up to glory. The nations who marvel at his appearance, because the servant was greatly humiliated in his suffering, will witness his glory. The kings and nations were amazed when they heard about the suffering servant, and so are the ...

2407. The End of Jerusalem

Ezekiel 7:1-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

In this chapter the prophet focuses on the termination of Jerusalem. He uses three crisp phrases to express this: “the end has come” (7:3, 6); “the day . . . comes” (7:10); “the time has come” (7:12). The Hebrew word for “end” is related to ripe summer fruit that is ready to be harvested (see Amos 8:1–3). Harvesting involves cutting down and clearing the fields. That is what the Lord is about to do, but it will not be a thanksgiving harvest. Verses 5–9 repeat verses 3–4. Each time, three themes are ...

2408. The Exile Symbolized

Ezekiel 12:1-28

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Once again the prophet acts out his message as in chapters 4 and 5. The people living in Jerusalem are using neither their eyes nor their ears. Accordingly, Ezekiel is told to pack his belongings, to dig through the wall of his house, to place his belongings on his shoulder, and to leave with his face covered. Why not leave through the door, as one normally does? Does this show a desperate attempt to escape, or an attempt to escape clandestinely? Covering the face may refer to shame, disgrace, or grief ...

2409. Edom’s Judgment Pronounced and Reaffirmed

Obadiah 1:1-21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Unlike other prophetic books, Obadiah’s oracle contains no information about the time or place of its origin, nor does it include any autobiographical data about the prophet. The brevity of the superscription matches the brevity of the book, perhaps to focus attention on the message rather than on the prophet himself. The word used to describe Obadiah’s prophecy (“vision”) is a technical term having to do with receiving a revelatory word from God. More than mere human sight, this visionary experience is ...

2410. The Eight Night Visions

Zechariah 1:7-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

1:7–6:8 Review · Zechariah’s visions relate the rebuilding of the temple to God’s overall purpose with respect to Jerusalem, giving the assurance that there is a bright future for both city and people. Despite current and future opposition, God is going to prevail. His promise will be carried out, as already pointed out in 1:6. Before we discuss the individual visions, it will be helpful to see them as a cohesive unit. They are structured in a chiastic a-b1-b2-c1-c2-b1ʹ-b2ʹ-aʹ pattern. That is to say, ...

2411. Fourth Vision - Joshua Cleansed

Zechariah 3:1-10

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The first three visions had to do with God’s program regarding the establishment of Jerusalem as the center of God’s glory on earth. It will be filled to overflowing with a people living in the peace and security of God’s presence. Gentile dominion and oppression will have been removed. This is God’s work on behalf of his people. In the next two visions (the c units) the focus is on God’s ministry within the people themselves. In this vision he cleanses them, making them fit to enter his presence; in the ...

2412. The Crucifixion

John 19:17-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Each of the Gospels is content to give us a brief description of the crucifixion (19:17–37), thereby sparing us its gruesome details. It was despised by Jews and Romans alike and employed mainly in the provinces for slaves and criminals. Following a severe flogging with a metal- or bone-tipped whip, the victim was forced to march to the site of death carrying the crossbeam, even though often the individual was already fatally injured. Jesus had already been scourged thus (19:1; cf. Mark 15:16–20). The ...

2413. Titus Sent to Corinth

2 Corinthians 8:16--9:5

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Prior, however, to the use of gifts in an effort to “honor the Lord” and demonstrate an “eagerness to help” (8:19), there remained the problem of the actual collection at Corinth. Apparently, as Paul was pondering precisely how to handle this task, Titus took the “initiative” (8:16–17). Paul, in turn, seeks in this section to commend Titus to the church. But Titus is not to be commended and sent on alone (8:16–24). So that no one may suspect Paul’s motives, and in order to avoid “criticism,” Titus is to be ...

2414. Rules for Christian Households

Colossians 3:18-4:1

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

After the eloquent charge to the church to live in peace and in knowledge of the gospel, this section looking at the ancient household seems a letdown to modern ears. The shift appears so abrupt to some scholars that they suggest this list was inserted later. Yet read in context, the passage supports and fills out Paul’s previous explanation of life in the church. It might be possible to fool the public, but your family knows you well. Paul realizes this common human trait, and so after encouraging the ...

2415. Dr. Jekyll Meet Jesus

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

Robert Louis Stevenson once wrote an unforgettable story about a Dr. Jekyll and a Mr. Hyde. Most of you know the story well. Dr. Henry Jekyll was respected in his community--a gentleman in every respect. But Dr. Jekyll had some secret vices which he kept carefully hidden from public view. Thus Dr. Jekyll had a dilemma faced by some people today--he wanted to maintain his reputation in the community, but be free to practice the vices that he knew would be repulsive to his neighbors. So Dr. Jekyll hatched a ...

2416. What Was That All About?

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

James L. Killen

"I wonder what that was all about?" That must have been the thought in the minds of most of the people who stood in a crowd on the riverbank that day of Jesus' baptism. They came some distance expecting to see something unique, but they had just seen something they had not expected to see and they didn't know what to make of it. They came to a place that was far out of the way for most of them. But the place was in some ways a crossroads. They were standing on the banks of the River Jordan, not far from ...

2417. Dead Hearts and New Beginnings

John 3:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

Some of you will remember when the first heart transplant took place. It was an amazing feat. The first transplant was performed in 1967 in Cape Town, South Africa by Dr. Christiaan Barnard. The recipient was Louis Washkansky, a fifty three year old grocer with a debilitating heart condition. Unfortunately Mr. Washkansky survived only 18 days after the operation. The first successful transplant was performed on Dr. Barnard’s third patient, a Jewish dentist named Dr. Philip Blaiberg. He survived for nearly ...

2418. Fix It, Daddy

John 11:17-45

Sermon

King Duncan

In his book Father Care, Charles Paul Conn tells about his two-year-old daughter Vanessa who was given a helium-filled balloon at Sunday School. It was bright blue and seemed almost alive as it danced and floated on the end of her string as she ran through the halls of the church pulling it along behind her. But the inevitable happened. The balloon bumped into the sharp edge of a metal railing and popped. With a single, loud “bang,” it burst and fell to her feet. She looked down and saw what had been her ...

2419. Which Parade Are You In?

Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

A pastor was asked to speak for a certain charitable organization. After the meeting the program chairman handed the pastor a check. “Oh, I couldn’t take this,” the pastor said with some embarrassment. “I appreciate the honor of being asked to speak. You have better uses for this money. You apply it to one of those uses.” The program chairman asked, “Well, do you mind if we put it into our special fund?” The pastor replied, “Of course not. What is the special fund for?” The chairman answered, “It’s so we ...

2420. Pop Verses: Romans 8:28

Romans 8:28

Sermon

Charley Reeb

Today I continue our series “Pop Verses.” We are taking a closer look at some of the most popular Bible verses. We are going to find out why they are so popular and how they apply to our lives. What you might discover is that some of these verses don’t mean what you think they mean or they mean a lot more than you think they mean. You see, quite often our favorites verses are just that – they’re verses. They’re not read in light of the passage in which they appear. This can lead to a misunderstanding about ...

2421. The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:1-12

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

Sermon on the Mount: Kingdom Ethics and the Law: Matthew’s Gospel has a didactic purpose. Special emphasis is given to the message of Jesus. One of the distinct features of Matthew’s Gospel is that the teaching of Jesus is collected into five sections. The Sermon on the Mount (chaps. 5–7) is the first of these blocks. The others are Instructions to the Twelve (chap. 10), Parables of the Kingdom (chap. 13), Life in the Christian Community (chap. 18), and Eschatological Judgment (chaps. 23–25). Each block ...

2422. Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

Matthew 10:1-42

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

10:1–4 Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. The distinction between exorcism and healing suggests that they are two different functions. This is the first mention of the twelve disciples in Matthew. He assumes they are known to the reader. That there are twelve disciples follows from the fact that they represent the new Israel: the twelve tribes of Israel find their counterpart in the twelve disciples. ...

2423. A Warning Against Hypocrisy

Matthew 23:1-39

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

Hypocrisy Denounced: The last of Matthew’s five major discourses begins with chapter 23 and runs through chapter 25 (see the standard closing formula at 26:1). It differs from the others somewhat in that there is a break and change of scene between chapters 23 and 24. The first section (chap. 23) is directed to a wider audience (cf. vv. 1, 13, 37); in the second (chaps. 24–25) Jesus speaks to his disciples in private. The material in chapter 23 has been compiled by Matthew on the basis of topical relevance ...

2424. What Do You Bring to the Table?

Matthew 11:25-30

Sermon

Tom Garrison

When we fly we are well aware of the fact that you cannot simply go out and buy a ticket and get on an airplane anymore. Nowadays, because of all the skyjacking and dangers, there is an elaborate system of surveillance before you get near an aircraft. Understandably, the authorities want to know what you are bringing with you to the plane. And so your own person and everything you are carrying is carefully examined. As I found myself thinking about our communion, I wondered what it would be like if there ...

2425. The Real Thing

Matthew 23:1-12

Sermon

David G. Rogne

Mahatma Gandhi of India is alleged to have said, "If I had ever met someone who was a genuine Christian, I would have become one immediately." It is a stinging judgment of Christians. At the same time, it challenges every Christian to examine the genuineness of his or her walk and witness. We need to ask ourselves: "How authentic, how credible is my demonstration of the Christian life?" In our scripture lesson for today Jesus criticizes certain characteristics of the Pharisees, a sectarian group within ...

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