Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 2401 to 2425 of 4942 results

2401. Jacob in Egypt

Genesis 46:1--47:12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Jacob prepares to head down to Egypt to see Joseph (46:1–34). On the way he stops at Beersheba and offers sacrifices to the Lord. Isaac, his father, has built an altar there (26:25). It is significant that the Lord speaks to Jacob after Jacob has worshiped. The last time God confronted Jacob was at night (32:22–32). The first time God spoke to Jacob was through a dream (28:10–12). The last time God speaks to Jacob is through a vision at night. God’s first word to Jacob was nothing but promises for his ...

2402. Moses’s Call and Commissioning

Ex 3:1-22, 4:1-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The call of Moses is a radical break from everything that has gone before. Moses is shepherding Jethro’s flocks near Horeb, the mountain of God, when the burning bush attracts his attention. The Hebrew word for bush (seneh) appears in the Bible only five times and sounds similar to Sinai. Fire is formless, powerful, luminous—a perfect means of representing God. Although the messenger appears in the flaming bush, it is the Lord who speaks with Moses; the messenger has nothing to say. God identifies himself ...

2403. The Plague of Blood

Exodus 7:14-24

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

7:14–10:29 Review · Nine plagues: The plagues are purposeful manifestations of God’s sovereign power. In response to Pharaoh’s challenge (Exod. 5:2) the plagues demonstrate to him and to Egypt the identity and power of God (7:5, 17; 9:14–16; 14:4). The “strong hand” that Pharaoh presumes to wield is Yahweh’s attribute (see 6:1 KJV). The mighty acts of God gain freedom for Israel, confirming that they are God’s people (8:22–23) and he is their God (10:1–2). These events make an indelible mark on the ...

2404. Instructions for Passover

Exodus 12:1-30

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

While the Hebrew word translated “Passover” (pesah) appears frequently with reference to the sacrificial animal for the festival, the related verb (pasah) is not so common. In Isaiah 31:5 it appears in poetic parallelism and clearly indicates protection. Thus, when the Lord sees the blood on the door frames, he will “protect” the doorway, not permitting the destroyer to enter and strike down the people. This compellingly foreshadows the protective blood of Christ, the Passover lamb, as he bore the ...

2405. Divine Nonacceptance of Inaugural Ritual Mistake

Leviticus 10:1-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Tragedy strikes before the priests have even finished their postrequisite duties, such as eating their portions. Two sons of Aaron offer incense to the Lord with unauthorized fire, rather than the divinely lit altar fire (cf. Lev. 16:12). Thus, they put human power in place of divine power, failing to glorify the Lord as holy (see 10:3). Ministering with kindling ignited by humans is unacceptable to God, and the same kind of divine fire that has favorably consumed the altar sacrifices now consumes Nadab ...

2406. Infections and Mildew

Lev 13:1-59

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

While Leviticus 12 concerns a healthy condition, chapters 13–14 give instructions for diagnosis of and ritual purification from an unhealthy state: skin or surface disease. In humans this complex of conditions, some of which resemble psoriasis, is not the same as modern leprosy (Hansen’s disease). The translation “leprosy” (e.g., KJV, NASB) stems from confusion concerning the translation in the Greek Septuagint. Analogous surface maladies could take the form of mold in garments (13:47–59) and fungus in ...

2407. Holiness of Light and Bread

Leviticus 24:1-9

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

In addition to cyclical festivals observed by all Israelites, regular rituals are to be performed by the priests, as the Lord’s house servants, in the outer sanctum of his sanctuary. These rituals include arranging the lamps to provide light every day and placing bread on the golden table every Sabbath (24:1–9). This passage returns to the Sabbath, where chapter 23 began. Verses 1–4 reiterate Exodus 27:20–21, where the Lord commands the Israelites to provide olive oil for the lamps to burn from evening ...

2408. Offerings for Unintentional Sins

Numbers 15:22-31

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The following legislation concerns purification offerings as remedies for inadvertent sins of the entire community (15:22–26) or of an individual (15:27–29). Notice how Numbers 15 roughly follows the order in Leviticus, which prescribes burnt, grain, and well-being offerings in chapters 1–3 and purification offerings in chapter 4. Numbers 15:27–29 simply reiterates the requirement of a female goat as the purification offering of an individual, adding only the stipulation that the animal be a year old (cf. ...

2409. Balaam’s Failed Attempts to Curse Israel

Numbers 22:1-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Undaunted by opposition, the Israelites continue northward through Moabite territory to a location across the Jordan River from Jericho, within striking distance of Canaan. Balak, king of Moab, is understandably alarmed, particularly because Israel has defeated Sihon (22:1–3), who previously defeated Moab (Num. 21:26). He does not know that God has instructed Israel not to disturb the Moabites or Ammonites, who are their relatives descended from Lot (Deut. 2:9, 19). So Balak, allied with Midianites, ...

2410. Balaam's Donkey

Num 22:21–24:25

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The episode involving the donkey is full of irony. The donkey sees what the seer or visionary does not: the angel of the Lord blocking the way as an “adversary” (KJV, RSV; Hebrew satan; 22:22–23). When the donkey miraculously speaks, Balaam dialogues with her as if this were a usual occurrence, and she has the better of the argument. Balaam accuses her of treating him badly and says he would kill her if he had a sword, but she saves his life from the sword of the angel. When the Lord opens Balaam’s eyes ...

2411. Joshua To Succeed Moses

Numbers 27:12-23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Moses knows that he, like Zelophehad, will not enter Canaan because of the debacle at the waters of Meribah, meaning “strife” (Num. 20:12–13). Now God reminds him of this and tells him to ascend a mountain belonging to the Abarim range on the western side of the Moabite plateau, which includes Mount Nebo. From there he will see the promised land and then die, as Aaron has (27:12–14; cf. 20:23–29; Deut. 32:49). Since Moses’s end is near, he petitions God to appoint his successor so there will be a smooth ...

2412. Instructions for Conquest and Settlement of Canaan

Num 34:1–36:13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

34:1-29 · The Lord has promised to drive out the corrupt inhabitants of Canaan before the Israelites (Exod. 23:28; 33:2; 34:11, 24; Lev. 20:23). It is now crucial that the Israelites cooperate with God in completing the expulsion of the Canaanites and destroying all artifacts of their religious culture. Any remnants will cause trouble and result in God treating the Israelites like Canaanites (33:50–56), implying that the Israelites will apostatize as they have with the Baal of Peor (chap. 25). This theme ...

2413. Living as People of the Name

Deut 14:1-29

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Chapter 14 is an exposition on the third commandment. It involves matters not only of speech but of living as well. If Israel is God’s “firstborn,” his “son” (Exod. 4:22–23), then they are called to bear the image and character of the living God in their persons and in their lifestyles (Exod. 19:6; see Harman, 155–63). For example, in the face of death, they are not to lacerate or mutilate their bodies, as if that would keep them in contact with the dead, or to cut off locks of their hair (14:1–2; v. 2 is ...

2414. The Lord Commands Joshua

Joshua 1:1-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Taking the Land (1:1–12:24): 1:1–5:15 Review · The beginning of the book marks the beginning of a new era. Moses, the servant of the Lord who led the Israelites out of Egypt and brought them to the threshold of the land promised to their forefathers, is now dead (1:1). The task of leading the people into Canaan to take possession of the land has now fallen on Joshua, the one chosen by the Lord to succeed Moses (cf. Num. 27:12–23; Deut. 31:1–8, 14, 23). But as much as the book focuses on Israel’s success in ...

2415. Circumcision at Gilgal

Joshua 5:1-12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Despite the fact that the Israelites are now camping right by Jericho, further spiritual preparation is necessary before they will be ready to battle the indigenous population and take possession of the land. Such preparation is reported in 5:2–15. The first thing Israel is required to do is to circumcise all their men (5:2–9). The command of the Lord and Joshua’s obedience are reported in 5:2–3. Note that the word “again” in 5:2 does not necessarily mean that Joshua has already circumcised some of the men ...

2416. The Sun Stands Still

Joshua 10:1-15

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

If the destruction of Jericho and Ai was already enough to raise consternation among the Transjordanian kings (cf. 9:1–2), then news about the Gibeonites’ voluntary subjection to Israel must have brought even greater alarm. After all, Gibeon was larger and certainly more important than Ai, and their warriors had a reputation of being good fighters (10:3). No wonder, then, that five of the southern kings, led by Adoni-Zedek, king of Jerusalem, immediately spring into action by launching a joint military ...

2417. Gideon's Retaliation

Judges 8:1-21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

After killing the two generals, the Ephraimites launch a strong complaint against Gideon for failing to involve them earlier (8:1–3). But Gideon credits the Ephraimites with the more significant accomplishment, and a potential internal conflict is averted. As Gideon and his three hundred men continue to pursue the escaped Midianite kings east of the Jordan, he seeks help from two Israelite towns, Sukkoth and Peniel (8:4–9). Each, however, refuses to help, and in response, Gideon threatens punishment on his ...

2418. Jephthah

Jud 10:6–11:40

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The new cycle that begins with sin, oppression, and crying out to the Lord is again reported in 10:6–16, but with greater detail than before. The “evil” the Israelites commit is clearly specified as apostasy, and the people’s deteriorating spiritual state is highlighted both by the long list of foreign gods they have come to serve and by the explicit statement that they have forsaken the Lord and no longer serve him. The mention of the Philistines together with the Ammonites in 10:7 as people into whose ...

2419. Boaz’s Acceptance

Ruth 4:1-12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The legal decision made ( 4:1–6 ) · The escalating tension and suspense finally reach a climactic outcome. By taking the reader directly to the city gate, the place where legal decisions are heard and decided, the author highlights Boaz’s urgency in attending to the matter as anticipated by Naomi (3:18). Reaching a decision entails assembling Boaz and the redeemer to sit and discuss the matter in the company of ten elders, the number required for legal and marriage benedictions (4:1–2). Once Boaz fully ...

2420. Security Clearance

1 Kings 2:1-46

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

David himself mentions Solomon’s “wisdom” during his long speech to his heir, the last words of David in the narrative (2:1–12). The speech has two parts, beginning with an injunction to walk in the ways of torah, reminiscent of great speeches of the Former Prophets such as Joshua 1. David also reiterates the divine promise he was given in 2 Samuel 7, but one notices that the language is slightly modified: the promise is unconditional when delivered to David, but here the king stresses that the promise is ...

2421. Israel Rebels Against Reheboam

1 Kings 12:1-33

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The story of the schism begins in Shechem (12:1–19), most recently the site where the rogue Abimelek was declared king back in Judges 9. For Rehoboam’s coronation ceremony, Jeroboam returns from Egypt and is present (as de facto leader?) along with a delegation, which lodges its principal complaint: the long hours and harsh working conditions under Solomon are making it difficult to happily dwell under fig and vine. The advice of the elders to Rehoboam indicates that the northerners’ claim is not ...

2422. God’s Chosen People Among the Nations

1 Chronicles 1:1-54

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Let’s Start at the Beginning: When the Chronicler started writing his version of the history of God’s people, he started at the very beginning: Adam! It is surprising that this history, unlike the Deuteronomistic version, situates the history of God’s people within the history of humankind. On the one hand, this is already an indication of the Chronicler’s universalist or inclusivist approach (which is also echoed in the closing of the book in 2 Chron. 36:22–23, where Cyrus, the Persian emperor, is ...

2423. Transferring the Ark: First Attempt

1 Chronicles 13:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

First Chronicles 13 reveals that David’s military strength and popular support makes possible his main agenda of the worship of God at the temple in Jerusalem. This chapter represents the first of two attempts to move the ark from Kiriath Jearim (cf. 2 Samuel 6) to Jerusalem, the second successful attempt occurring in 1 Chronicles 15. The narrative begins with David’s consulting the people (13:1–4), continuing the motif of the entire nation (“all Israel”) unified around their monarch. David’s appeal to the ...

2424. Ascending the Throne

2 Chronicles 1:1-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

2 Chron. 1:1–9:31 Review · The Account of Solomon: A substantial portion of the account of David (1 Chronicles 22–29) is devoted to a description of David’s preparations for the succession of his son. These preparations are focused almost exclusively on Solomon’s function as temple builder and patron. The Solomon who emerges after the death of David at the end of 1 Chronicles 29 is a Solomon without tarnish. While two failures of David are incorporated into his account, both events key to the creation of ...

2425. The Account of Manasseh

2 Chronicles 33:1-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The Chronicler’s primary source, the book of Kings, depicts Manasseh as the worst character, that king who seals the fate of Judah (2 Kings 21:12–15; 23:26–27; 24:3–4; cf. 24:20). While not ignoring Manasseh’s disobedience, the Chronicler presents this king as a role model, one whose repentance after an exilic punishment to Babylon showcases the Chronicler’s agenda for renewal for his own generation. His account begins with the typical accession summary note in 33:1–2, where the Chronicler’s theological ...

Showing results