Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: thirstiness, dryness, parched, craving, strong desire, longing, yearning, avidity, hunger, voracity, keenness, eagerness, lust, appetite, passion, love, crave, want, covet, desire, hunger for/after, lust for/after, hanker for/after, have one's heart set on

Antonyms: aversion, distaste, apathy, dislike, hatred, antipathy, disgust, disregard, abhorrence, acrimony, wet, animosity, animus, antagonism, bad feeling, bitterness, be averse to, detestation

Showing 1 to 25 of 188 results

1. Detestable Practices

Deuteronomy 18:9-13

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... ’s prophet. 18:9–13 To prepare the way for the section on the role of the prophet, Deuteronomy first outlines some of the pagan practices by which the Canaanites looked for answers to the riddles of life and the future. They are lumped together as the detestable ways of the nations and headed by the horrific rite of child-sacrifice (cf. 12:31), which was not a divinatory rite, but sets the tone for the way the following practices were to be viewed. It is a universal human desire to know the unknown, to ...

2. Detestable Practices

Deut 18:9-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The prophets in Israel make up the final category (18:9–22). Three classes of false Canaanite fortune-telling are warned against in nine verbs in verses 9–11. The first three pagan practices pretend to foretell the future: (1) making one’s son or daughter pass through fire, (2) divination, and (3) sorcery. Another class of three false practices claims to influence or change the future: (4) interpreting omens, (5) engaging in witchcraft, and (6) casting spells. The third class of false prophecy pretends to ...

3. Signs and Oracles of Judgment

Ezekiel 4:1-5:17, Ezekiel 6:1-14, Ezekiel 7:1-27

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... judgment (e.g., Isa. 13:6, 9; Amos 5:18, 20; note also that “the day of the LORD” appears in the LXX of Ezek. 7:10). Throughout this poem (vv. 3–4, 8–9), it is clear that the end has come because of the people’s detestable practices (Heb. toʿebah; see Additional Notes)—that is, their corrupt worship. It is not surprising, then, that Ezekiel alludes in this chapter to the story of the golden calf in Exodus 32, which also involves severe judgment on Israel’s idolatry (compare v. 7 with Exod. 32 ...

4. The Glory Departs

Ezekiel 8:1-18, Ezekiel 9:1-11, Ezekiel 10:1-22, Ezekiel 11:1-15, Ezekiel 11:16-25

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... at his side (v. 2): like Ezekiel himself, this figure is both a priest and a writer. To the scribe angel the Lord gives a charge: “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it” (v. 4). This immediately calls to mind the mark of protection that the Lord placed on Cain (Gen. 4:15). A likely connection is Job 31:35, where Job’s statement “I sign now my defense” (lit., “here is my mark”) uses ...

5. Personal Accountability

Ezekiel 18:1-32, Ezekiel 19:1-14

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... Certainly, however, that is not the answer one wants to give. Nor does that answer fit the tradition: the punishment for bloodshed (v. 10) is death (Gen. 9:4–6; Exod. 21:12–14). Indeed, that is the penalty this verse calls for: Because he has done all these detestable things, he will surely be put to death and his blood will be on his own head (v. 13). The statement that “his blood will be on his own head” again recalls the prophet’s call to be a watchman (3:16–21). There the Lord tells Ezekiel ...

6. Riddles and Metaphors

Ezekiel 15:1-8, Ezekiel 16:1-63, Ezekiel 17:1-24

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... and the daughters of the Philistines—all those around you who despise you (v. 57). It is little wonder that this section concludes with a statement of Jerusalem’s inevitable punishment: “You will bear the consequences of your lewdness and your detestable practices, declares the LORD” (v. 58). Yet, curiously, these words of condemnation form the context of a message of restoration for all three wicked sisters: “However, I will restore the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and of Samaria and her ...

7. Proverbs of Solomon

Proberbs 10:1--22:16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... ultimately prevail, much to the joy of those promoting peace, but lies will be exposed, as will the deceitful hearts that spawned them (12:19–20). Trouble will therefore overwhelm the wicked, while the righteous will be spared (12:21; cf. 22:8), because the Lord detests lying lips while approving of those who are trustworthy (12:22; cf. 12:2). Thus speech is a key area in which the wise and the foolish greatly differ. The wise do not tell all they know; the foolish loudly proclaim their folly (12:23, also ...

8. Clean and Unclean Animals

Leviticus 11:1-47

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... clothes and remaining unclean until the evening. Death and impurity are closely connected in the Priestly order of things. 11:41–45 Every creature that moves about on the ground signifies creatures that swarm on the land. Here they are all said to be detestable, and inedible (cf. vv. 29–30). Verse 42 mentions the means of locomotion of these creatures: moving on the belly or walking on all fours or on many feet. The “all fours” would here mean very short legs. Both their indeterminate locomotion and ...

9. Titus' Task on Crete

Titus 1:1-16

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... and disobedient. It is questionable, however, whether the word bdelyktos should be thought of as active (GNB, “hateful”) or passive (NIV, RSV, detestable; KJV, “abominable”). In this context the latter is preferable, since the word is an OT one reflecting what is detestable or abominable in God’s sight, especially in connection with idolatry. This then is the ultimate irony. As D-C have well said: “These persons who find ‘abomination’ everywhere are themselves ‘abominable’ ” (p ...

10. Drought, Famine, Sword

Jeremiah 14:1--15:21

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... 22 asserts hope in Yahweh and rejects the false gods. This section reads like a lament in the tradition of Psalm 77. Additional Notes 14:19 Jeremiah asks if God detests Zion. In the covenant blessings of Leviticus 26 God promises not to detest them if they obey his laws (26: 11), but in the curse, he guarantees that he will detest them if they disobey (26:30), though he promises not to completely despise them (26:44). 14:22 The word translated worthless idols more literally means “nothings.” It refers ...

11. Offerings for Priests and Levites

Deuteronomy 18:1-8

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

12. Miscellaneous Laws

Deut 23:15–25:19

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... the one hand, the positive promise that commitment to honesty in trade will bring the covenant blessing of long life in the land (v. 15); and, on the other hand, there is the negative warning that dishonesty stands under the covenant curse as something “detestable” (an abomination) to Yahweh (v. 16). In the parallel law in Leviticus 19:35f., the law is based on the fundamental identification of Yahweh as the God of the exodus. These theological sanctions remind us of the OT’s scale of values, in which ...

13. Signs, Sayings, and Oracles of Judgment

Ezekiel 12:1-28, Ezekiel 13:1-23, Ezekiel 14:1-11, Ezekiel 14:12-23

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... judgment or for salvation, to bring about the knowledge of God. God does not act to save because of the righteousness or repentance of those delivered—indeed, Ezekiel states, God has delivered them so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices (v. 16). Their deliverance is entirely due to God’s grace. As in the first sign-act in Ezekiel 12:1–16, the phrase The word of the LORD came to me (v. 17) also introduces the second (vv. 17–20). However this time, as ...

14. An Unholy History

Ezekiel 20:1-29, Ezekiel 20:30-49

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... idols of Egypt” (v. 7) is missing from the Exodus story. However, in Deuteronomy 29:16–17, Moses reminds the people, “You yourselves know how we lived in Egypt and how we passed through the countries on the way here. You saw among them their detestable images and idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold.” Despite Israel’s rebellion, however, and indeed despite God’s own inclination to “pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt” (v. 8), God keeps God’s promise ...

15. Living by God’s Sexual Standards

Leviticus 18:1-30

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... any of these ways. These verses describe how pagan practices bring expulsion from the land. “Defile” is the language of ceremonial uncleanness (vv. 24–25, 27–28, 30; also vv. 20, 23) and is used for moral offenses (“sin” [v. 25]). “Detestable” (vv. 22, 26, 29–30) translates to‘ebah, traditionally rendered “abomination.” In secular contexts it is used for the revulsion that Egyptians had for Hebrews and shepherds (Gen. 43:32; 46:34); for moral indignation for such things as arrogance ...

16. “You Are Not a God Who Is Pleased with Wickedness”

Psalm 5:1-12

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... men and women are not sovereign over the world. Psalm 5 provides a great comfort to us that evil and injustice will not ultimately win the day, “For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome” (v. 4). The sovereign Lord detests sin and takes no pleasure in evil. We are to stand boldly with God against evil and injustice in the world. And as we do, we can take heart even when it seems that evil wins in the moment, for we know that the holy God is still in ...

17. Warnings Against Folly

Proverbs 6:1-19

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... band of thieves similarly threatened in Proverbs 1:26–27. Wisdom ethics, however, gives greater value to the integrity and well-being of the family and the community than to an individual’s personal preferences. In justifying this threat, a list of seven detestable vices follows in 6:16–19 (cf. Prov. 26:25). The “numerical” form of verse 16 (i.e., “There are six . . . , seven”; cf. Job 5:19) is found in various types of Old Testament literature, most notably in Proverbs 30:18–31, as ...

18. The Prophet

Deuteronomy 18:14-22

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

19. Can We Really Love Our Enemies

Luke 6:27-36

Sermon

Charles H. Bayer

... I twist myself around, convince myself that in fact I do love them? Can I banish, as if by sleight of hand, my negative attitude? If that is what it takes, I may get "A" for effort but "F" for performance. I can't make myself love those I detest, or who detest me. If you can, please share your secret. If I cannot feel differently, perhaps I can act differently, and the difference in how I act is the only way I will be able to change my mind. "Bless those who curse you," says Jesus. "Pray for those who abuse ...

20. Nobody Owes You Anything

Luke 17:1-10

Sermon

Richard Patt

... everything!" Let self-righteous sinners like you and me try that one on for size. It is tough, tough, tough, because you and I so totally think, "Me, me, me." The fact is that when we probe and probe some more, you and I detest this proclamation, "Nobody owes you anything." And be sure of it, we detest this truth in regard to God also. There must be something God owes us! No, there isn't. There must be somebody in life I owe nothing to. No, there is not. There is never any other human being whom we can self ...

21. Jehoahaz King of Judah

2 Chronicles 36:2-4

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... the desecration of the sanctuary. The Jehoiakim account ends with reference to other sources again as well as a note on the king’s succession. The information was taken over from the source text in 2 Kings 24:5–6, but the Chronicler added the words the detestable things he did and all that was found against him (2 Chron. 36:8) in order to deprecate the king even further. The normal addition is made to the source reference (the book of the kings of Israel and Judah instead of the source text’s version ...

22. Living for God

1 Peter 4:1-11

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... habitual intoxication (from oinos, wine; phlyein, to bubble up, overflow). Orgies (kōmoi): the result of excessive drinking (“wild parties,” JB). Carousing (potoi): This word can refer to drinking competitions to see who can down the most. Detestable idolatries (athemitoi eidōlolatriai, “lawless idolatry” [RSV]): practices forbidden by the Mosaic law (Acts 10:28), “which outrage common decency” (Barclay). 4:4 Plunge (lit. “run together”) paints a picture of people rushing forward from all ...

23. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 11:1-31

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... verse 18, only virtue brings a true reward (cf. 10:16). Verse 19 (in the NIV, but see the Additional Notes) repeats the idea of verse 18 in the ultimate terms of life/death; of course, the perspective is this world. In verse 20, detests is literally “abomination,” probably derived from cultic language (e.g., see also 12:22, 15:9). Literally, verse 21a reads, “Hand to hand! The wicked . . .” The certainty of divine retribution is affirmed. 11:22 Lines a and b bring out the incongruity between beauty ...

24. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 16:1-33

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... 12–15. Moreover, the Lord and the king seem to be meshed together (cf. 24:21): verse 11 interrupts 10–15. In addition, the decision (mišpāṭ; NIV “justice”) of the king and of the Lord are spoken of in verses 10, 33. The “abomination” (NIV “detest”) of wickedness is ascribed to the king in verse 12 and to the Lord in 15:9. The rest of the sayings do not betray such close connections, but this is enough to indicate that the collection is not haphazard. The entire chapter is further unified ...

25. Judgment on Israel's Enemies

Zechariah 9:1-8

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... with the obligation Genesis 9:4 placed on all humankind not to eat “meat that has its lifeblood still in it.” The priestly law calls foods designated unclean for Israel sheqets, “detestable things” (Lev. 7:21; 11:10–13, 20, 23, 41–42), but another noun from the same root appears in the next line (shiquts, “detested thing”). The NIV interprets this word as an alternate term for shiquts, forbidden food, but no other occurrence of the word refers to food. Most often this word means “idol ...

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