Sermon and Worship Resources

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Daniel 6:1-28

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... Just as Job’s story cannot be taken as a promise that everyone will always be healed, so Daniel 6 cannot be understood as a promise that no one will ever be martyred. Yet it does bear witness that God sometimes acts in history to save his people from harm. In the parable of the unjust judge, Jesus encourages his followers to cry out for justice in this life and to believe that God will quickly respond (Luke 18:1–8). Furthermore, we know from other passages that if we do not get justice in this life, we ...

2. The Lord Guides, Encourages, and Protects David

1 Samuel 23:1-29

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... not David’s (v. 7), and the Ziphites assume that Saul will prevail and agree to give him aid in his relentless quest to capture David (vv. 21–23). But the Lord takes care of David amid danger, proving that when he leads his people into harm’s way, he does not abandon them. The Lord warns David that Keilah is not a safe place to stay, ironically through the ephod brought by Abiathar. When Saul killed the priests of Nob, he effectively cut off communication with God. Abiathar escaped, bringing with him ...

3. False Teachers and Their Destruction

2 Peter 2:1-22

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... . False prophets, who appear all through the OT (Deut. 18:20; 1 Kings 22:12; 2 Kings 18:19; Isa. 9:15; Jer. 14:14; Ezek. 13:3; Zech. 13:4), are treated as parallel with false teachers in Peter’s day, since their harmful influences were much the same. Technically, false prophets differed from false teachers in claiming direct inspiration from God, rather than from the result of studying Scripture; but the deleterious effect of both groups upon God’s people in general was similar. There are many ...

4. Food Sacrificed to Idols

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... saving power of God at work in the death of Jesus Christ. 8:12 Paul actually labels the behavior of those eating and scandalizing others who did not share their convictions as sin. To offend others through self-satisfying behavior is to wound them, to inflict harm. Yet the severity of the situation goes beyond even that level of gravity, for Paul writes that in this way … you sin against Christ. We see the corporate nature of Christian life. As Paul will later identify the body of believers to be the body ...

5. Laban Pursues Jacob

Genesis 31:22-55

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... to God as Holy, being experienced as Fear or Dread (pakhad). Jacob swore by this name in recognition that the God of his father had appeared to Laban the night before Laban met up with him, putting fear in Laban’s heart so that Laban would not harm him (v. 42). Jacob knew that his only assurance that Laban would keep the terms of this covenant was Laban’s dread of this powerful God. 31:54–55 Jacob then offered a sacrifice there in the hill country to provide his relatives a festive meal, celebrating ...

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

Psalm 5:1-12

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C. Hassell Bullock

... world. It reminds us of Yahweh’s command to Israel: “Be holy, because I am holy” (Lev. 11:44, 45). The second perspective is on the psalmist himself. He is intimate with God and diametrically opposed to the evil of the world that has done him great harm. He addresses the Lord four times directly by the covenant name “Lord” (YHWH; 5:1, 3, 8, 12), twice by the generic name “God” (5:2, 10), and once as “my King” (5:2). He typifies the worshiper who comes into God’s presence (“your holy ...

7. Proverbs of Solomon

Proberbs 10:1--22:16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... labor rather than by just relaxing and waiting for it. Those who indulge in the latter behavior bring poverty upon themselves (10:4a) as well as disgrace upon their parents (10:5). The second subunit (10:6–11) emphasizes the impact of both edifying and harmful speech, culminating in verse 11: a righteous person’s words can be life-giving. The second line of each verse describes the fate of the wicked/fool. Notably, both verses 8b and 10b, and 6b and 11b, are identical, which is unlikely a coincidence ...

8. Suffering for Doing Good

1 Peter 3:8-22

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... of the theme, for here is the sure foundation of the believer’s confidence in the ultimate triumph of good over evil. Additional Notes 3:13 Undeserved suffering by believers, touched on earlier (1:6; 2:19), is addressed more fully both now and later (4:12–19). Harm is the verbal form of “evil” in v. 12. The word is used in Acts 12:1 of Herod’s intention to persecute the church. Eager (lit. zealous) to do good: cf. Titus 2:14. 3:14 Blessed (makarioi): This same word occurs in the Beatitudes (Matt ...

9. Personal Injuries

Exodus 21:12-36

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... liable for five kinds of restitution: for the injury, for pain, for medical expense, for lost income, and for mental anguish and humiliation (see Sarna, “Exodus,” p. 460). In the second case, the law protected a man or woman slave from mortal harm. This applied to any slave, whether Hebrew or foreign, a temporary debt slave or lifelong servant (v. 21). The text presents two possible outcomes. If the man or woman died, the law required that the owner be punished. “Punished” is, literally, “avenged ...

10. Ruth Meets Boaz

Ruth 2:1-23

Understanding Series

Michael S. Moore

... refusing to give up her seat to a white man) than it is to challenge the evils of a racist legal system. Likewise is it easier for a Levite to look down his nose at Jebusite foreigners than it is to protect his concubine from Israelite harm. 2:11 I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law. The book’s characteristically emphatic grammar (hugged huggad) might well be translated, “It has been explained and reexplained to me.” Boaz has done his homework. Evidently he has gathered ...

11. Leaders and Prophets Rebuked

Micah 3:1-12

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... :10–11; Deut. 7:21), and in subsequent warfare (1 Sam. 4:3; Deut 23:14). When the ark was placed in the holy of holies in the temple on Zion, Yahweh therefore dwelt in the midst of his people (Exod. 25:8, 20–22; cf. Lev. 26:11). No harm could come to them as long as Yahweh was there, they thought (cf. Ps. 46:5). The difficulty is that the leaders in Micah’s time have accepted the doctrine without devoting their hearts to God (cf. Isa. 29:13); they have assumed the truth of Israel’s tradition without ...

12. The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem

Zechariah 8:1-23

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... explains her reason for helping the Israelite spies in similar terms. “We have heard,” she says, how the Lord dried up the Red Sea and defeated Sihon, Og, and two other kings (Josh. 2:10–13). When God is with a person or nation they are saved and protected from harm (e.g., Exod. 3:12; Josh. 1:5; Isa. 8:10). The various promises in Zechariah 8 are all examples of what God, who is with Israel, will do for them. People from other nations will long for God’s salvation also. They will come to the Lord in ...

13. Assured by the Certainties of Faith

1 John 5:13-21

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... Christians or keeps them safe. That is, as the remainder of the verse explains, Christ guards his followers from the attack of the evil one, the personification of all of the spiritual forces which oppose God (cf. John 17:15; 1 John 2:13–14; 3:12; 5:19). Harm is literally “touch, or lay hold of” (haptomai; cf. John 10:28: “No one can snatch them [My sheep] out of my hand”). The Elder has already told his readers that “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (NASB; 1 John 4 ...

14. Abraham and Abimelech

Genesis 20:1-18

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... return Sarah to Abraham, whom he identified as a prophet. In that role Abraham would pray that Abimelech might live. Should Abimelech fail to return Sarah, however, God would place him and his family under the death penalty. God often requires those who have inflicted harm on others to follow a difficult path in order to achieve reconciliation. In some cases he lays a hard requirement even on those who have suffered, such as praying for the restoration of the ones who have troubled them (Job 42:8). Such a ...

15. Isaac and Abimelech

Genesis 26:1-35

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... as a result of Yahweh’s being with him. Abimelech’s awareness motivated him to propose that there be a sworn agreement between them, a treaty or a covenant that would continue with their children. He was concerned that Isaac, who was growing stronger, might someday harm his people either by usurping some of their grazing areas or by an outright display of force. At last Abimelech treated Isaac as an equal. He reminded Isaac that when he had lived in Gerar they did not molest him but had treated him well ...

16. Community Discourse: Care for Others in the Kingdom

Matthew 18:1-9, Matthew 18:10-14, Matthew 18:15-20

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... discourses in Matthew (chaps. 5–7, 10, 13, 18, 24–25) and is often referred to as the Community Discourse. The first half of the discourse (18:1–20) focuses on Jesus’ teaching about status in God’s kingdom (18:1–5; cf. 20:20–28), the harmful effects of sin within the faith community (18:6–9), and the importance of restoration of a fellow believer who sins (18:10–20; cf. 7:3–5). The latter emphasis leads seamlessly into the admonitions to forgive in 18:21–35. This section of chapter 18 ...

17. Being Wronged versus Claiming One’s Right

1 Corinthians 6:1-11

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Preben Vang

... to litigate: A. Is there any way the matter can be mediated outside a court system? Churches and denominations may be wise to study alternative dispute resolution and seek applications for this approach that fit the Christian setting. B. Will a given litigation be harmful to the Christian testimony? Will those “outside” conclude that this is the “Christian way” to approach such matters? Or do they conclude that Christ makes no difference in the life of those suing (cf. 6:9–10)? C. Is the aim to be ...

18. The Protective Sealing of God’s People on Earth

Revelation 7:1-8

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... . 7:2–3 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out . . . “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” The angel “from ... 7:1 no wind is allowed to blow against the land or sea or trees, and in 7:2–3 the four angels are told not to harm the land or sea or trees until the servants of God have been sealed. God’s coming judgments will certainly affect the earth (i.e., the trumpet ...

19. The Aaronic Blessing

Numbers 6:22-27

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... watches over” (or “keeps”) them as they leave and return to his sanctuary (v. 8). The fact that God keeps us allows us to face the dangers of life with confidence that nothing can befall us unless God wills or allows it. As a rule, God protects us from harm, but if he does not, he has a good reason for it. If we believe this is so, it changes our whole perspective on suffering, and it also gives us the courage to face each day and its perils, trusting in God’s protection. 3. God shows favor (“make ...

20. Balak to Hire Balaam

Numbers 22:1-20

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... where does blessing or cursing come? From God or from Balaam? From heaven or from the occult? Even if there are spiritual forces of darkness with supernatural powers, those powers are destined to be defeated (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10). Dark powers can do harm for a while, but their time is short (Rev. 12:12). God prevails over all such powers in the end. Teaching the Text 1. Beware of unscrupulous people who claim to know God. Balaam shows no scruples against hexing Israel. Indeed, the New Testament remarks ...

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

1 Samuel 20:1-42

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... king and prays for his success (20:13–17), even though his decision makes him the object of his father’s wrath and jeopardizes his life (20:30–33). Like Jonathan we must support God’s program, even when it involves self-denial and puts us in harm’s way. Jonathan’s absolute loyalty to David should inspire us to demonstrate the same allegiance to David’s greater Son 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 ...

22. “Do Not Drag Me Away with the Wicked”

Psalm 28:1-9

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... he does not instruct us on how to handle this problem—except that he prays. Of course, we could get angry with God, or angry at the perpetrators, or at some other innocent bystander in the situation. But that inner anger will not accomplish anything. In fact, it will harm us all the more. If we use Joseph as an example (“You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good,” Gen. 50:20 ESV), we must point out that this is not David’s explanation but quite another way of dealing with the issue. As we ...

23. Love, for the Day Is Near

Romans 13:8-14

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... on one foot. Hillel said, “What you would not want done to you, do not do to someone else” (Str-B, vol. 1, p. 357). Agapē, however, includes outsiders and even enemies (12:17–21; Matt. 5:44), and involves not merely refraining from negative actions (i.e., harming others), but doing positive ones as well (i.e., that which is good). The order of the commandments in v. 9 differs from that in Exod. 20:13–17 and Deut. 5:17–21. Paul’s order follows the LXX of the latter passage, which was used in ...

24. The Trumpets

Revelation 8:6--9:21

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... alike. Thus, while the believing community dwells on the margins of the world order, “in the world yet not an institution of it,” it is empowered by the sevenfold Paraclete that comes from the exalted Lamb to teach and to comfort. The church is not harmed by the evils released from the Abyss; they “pass over” those who have the seal of God on their foreheads, corrupting only those who do not. The key given to the angelic star unlocks the shaft leading down to a bottomless pit, called the Abyss. The ...

25. David Again Spares Saul's Life

1 Samuel 26:1-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... and his people. They deserve the punishment that they have in effect given to David, to be driven out of Israel. It is becoming clear to David, although it is not made explicit until 27:1, that his only option is to leave his native soil. He is no more harmful to Saul than a flea, so why should the king of Israel come after David as if on a game-bird hunting expedition? 26:21–25 Saul, as he did on the earlier occasion (24:17), responds to the fact that David could have killed him and did not. He ...

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