Sermon and Worship Resources

Exodus 10:1-20

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

God Hardens Pharaoh’s Heart: Locusts and Darkness: The Lord begins actively to harden Pharaoh’s heart late in the plague cycles, and more frequently in the last three plagues. God’s hardening functions alongside the choices Pharaoh himself made to “self-harden” his heart. The Hebrew has two different words, both generally translated “hardened,” that the narrative uses interchangeably (without pattern). Khazaq refers to physical or political strengthening, as in “making tough” or uncompassionate. Kabed ...

2. 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 ...

3. To Noah's Sons

1 Chronicles 1:1-4

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

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 ...

4. The Japhethites

1 Chronicles 1:5-7

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

From Adam to Abraham: The Chronicler’s family lists start with Adam (1:1) and swiftly continue from there to Abram (1:27). If there was ever an abridged version of some Pentateuchal genealogical traditions, this is it! These twenty-seven verses quickly run through at least three genealogies contained in Genesis 5, 10, and 11. This first of the Chronicler’s genealogies utilizes both linear and segmented forms in its summary of the Genesis traditions. The intention of the Chronicler’s construction is clear, ...

5. The Hamites

1 Chronicles 1:8-16

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

From Adam to Abraham: The Chronicler’s family lists start with Adam (1:1) and swiftly continue from there to Abram (1:27). If there was ever an abridged version of some Pentateuchal genealogical traditions, this is it! These twenty-seven verses quickly run through at least three genealogies contained in Genesis 5, 10, and 11. This first of the Chronicler’s genealogies utilizes both linear and segmented forms in its summary of the Genesis traditions. The intention of the Chronicler’s construction is clear, ...

6. The Semites

1 Chronicles 1:17-27

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

From Adam to Abraham: The Chronicler’s family lists start with Adam (1:1) and swiftly continue from there to Abram (1:27). If there was ever an abridged version of some Pentateuchal genealogical traditions, this is it! These twenty-seven verses quickly run through at least three genealogies contained in Genesis 5, 10, and 11. This first of the Chronicler’s genealogies utilizes both linear and segmented forms in its summary of the Genesis traditions. The intention of the Chronicler’s construction is clear, ...

7. David's Officials

2 Samuel 8:15-18

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

War and Peace – Enemies and Friends: 8:1–14 In contrast to the relaxed narrative style of the surrounding chapters, this is a terse summary of David’s military successes against the surrounding tribes. These verse fill in the background and explain how the LORD gave him rest from all his enemies (7:1). David’s victories eventually led to the stage where the Philistines no ...

8. Ish-Bosheth Murdered

2 Samuel 4:1-12

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

The Murders of Abner and Ish-Bosheth: 3:6–11 Although Ish-Bosheth was titular head of the northern tribes and Abner seemingly made no attempt to change that, real power centered around Abner. The fate of the country lay in his hands, and verse 6 implies that he took action to ensure that this remained the case. It is not surprising that Ish-Bosheth, who seems to have left all the decision making to his general (3:8–17), felt threatened by Abner (v. 11). Whether or not Abner had a relationship with Saul’s ...

9. Completion and Dedication of the Temple

Ezra 6:13-18

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

The Green Light: This chapter draws to a triumphant close the accomplishment of the first mission given by God through the Persian king Cyrus in 1:1–4. Stage one was realized by chapter 3. Now stage two is brought to a satisfying finale in the completion of the temple-building project. The temple represented the heart of Israel’s spiritual life as the sign of God’s presence with the people, the focus of their worship and the source of divine blessing. Now, in principle, the postexilic community stood on a ...

10. The Passover

Ezra 6:19-22

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

The Green Light: This chapter draws to a triumphant close the accomplishment of the first mission given by God through the Persian king Cyrus in 1:1–4. Stage one was realized by chapter 3. Now stage two is brought to a satisfying finale in the completion of the temple-building project. The temple represented the heart of Israel’s spiritual life as the sign of God’s presence with the people, the focus of their worship and the source of divine blessing. Now, in principle, the postexilic community stood on a ...

11. Elijah on Mount Carmel

1 Kings 18:16-46

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

Elijah and the Prophets of Baal: Chapter 17 launched Elijah suddenly into the public arena of Israel’s politics (v. 1) only to whisk him away again into the privacy of the Transjordanian wilderness and a Sidonian home. There he has contributed in a small way to the war that the LORD is now waging upon the worship of Baal, while leaving the drought to do most of the damage. The time has now come for his reappearance on the main stage—for the great battle of the war, indeed. The drought is to end, but before ...

12. Healing of the Water

2 Kings 2:19-22

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

Elijah Gives Way to Elisha: Elijah’s days have been numbered ever since 1 Kings 19:15–18. The end of the war with Baal-worship will not come about, we know from that passage, until Elisha has succeeded his mentor and Hazael and Jehu have appeared on the scene. We are now to hear of the first of these events, as the prophetic mantle passes from Elijah to Elisha. As Elijah has called fire down from heaven in chapter 1, so in chapter 2 he will be lifted in fire up to heaven, and Elisha will be authenticated ...

13. Elisha is Jeered

2 Kings 2:23-25

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

Elijah Gives Way to Elisha: Elijah’s days have been numbered ever since 1 Kings 19:15–18. The end of the war with Baal-worship will not come about, we know from that passage, until Elisha has succeeded his mentor and Hazael and Jehu have appeared on the scene. We are now to hear of the first of these events, as the prophetic mantle passes from Elijah to Elisha. As Elijah has called fire down from heaven in chapter 1, so in chapter 2 he will be lifted in fire up to heaven, and Elisha will be authenticated ...

14. Jerusalem's Deliverance Foretold

2 Kings 19:1-13

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

The Assyrian Assault on Judah: The second David has arrived. He has reformed Judean worship according to Mosaic law, casting off foreign influence and domination. We wait to see what will happen when the king of Assyria tries to take the kind of vengeance on Judah that he has just inflicted upon Israel. 18:13–16 The beginning of the Assyrian assault is reported in verses 13–16, as a new king (Sennacherib) attacks all the fortified cities and captures them. This is not a very promising beginning. It seems ...

15. Hezekiah's Prayer

2 Kings 19:14-19

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

The Assyrian Assault on Judah: The second David has arrived. He has reformed Judean worship according to Mosaic law, casting off foreign influence and domination. We wait to see what will happen when the king of Assyria tries to take the kind of vengeance on Judah that he has just inflicted upon Israel. 18:13–16 The beginning of the Assyrian assault is reported in verses 13–16, as a new king (Sennacherib) attacks all the fortified cities and captures them. This is not a very promising beginning. It seems ...

16. Isaiah Prophesies Sennacherib’s Fall

2 Kings 19:20-37

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

The Assyrian Assault on Judah: The second David has arrived. He has reformed Judean worship according to Mosaic law, casting off foreign influence and domination. We wait to see what will happen when the king of Assyria tries to take the kind of vengeance on Judah that he has just inflicted upon Israel. 18:13–16 The beginning of the Assyrian assault is reported in verses 13–16, as a new king (Sennacherib) attacks all the fortified cities and captures them. This is not a very promising beginning. It seems ...

17. Restitution for Wrongs

Numbers 5:5-10

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... will swell and her thigh waste away. If not guilty, the woman will be cleared and able to have children. 5:29–31 These verses contain a sort of postscript, the law for a husband’s jealousy, which summarizes the section in characteristic Priestly style. The husband is declared innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences of her sin. Verses 11–31 will seem odd to modern readers for a number of reasons. The ordeal procedure itself seems almost magical. Such customs were ancient ...

18. The Test for an Unfaithful Wife

Numbers 5:11-31

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... will swell and her thigh waste away. If not guilty, the woman will be cleared and able to have children. 5:29–31 These verses contain a sort of postscript, the law for a husband’s jealousy, which summarizes the section in characteristic Priestly style. The husband is declared innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences of her sin. Verses 11–31 will seem odd to modern readers for a number of reasons. The ordeal procedure itself seems almost magical. Such customs were ancient ...

19. David at Gath

1 Samuel 21:10-15

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

David’s Flight – The Priests at Nob: 21:1–9 Having accepted that Saul’s enmity was fixed and that exile was the only option, David sought initial supplies from the priest at Nob. Ahimelech’s wariness on David’s arrival may have reflected an awareness of Saul’s antipathy toward David and a fear of getting involved in a power dispute. However, it is equally possible that Ahimelech’s expression of ignorance in 22:14–15 was the truth and his fear was that David would bring Philistine troops in his wake. David’ ...

20. David at Adullam and Mizpah

1 Samuel 22:1-5

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

David’s Flight – The Priests at Nob: 21:1–9 Having accepted that Saul’s enmity was fixed and that exile was the only option, David sought initial supplies from the priest at Nob. Ahimelech’s wariness on David’s arrival may have reflected an awareness of Saul’s antipathy toward David and a fear of getting involved in a power dispute. However, it is equally possible that Ahimelech’s expression of ignorance in 22:14–15 was the truth and his fear was that David would bring Philistine troops in his wake. David’ ...

21. War Between the Houses of David and Saul

2 Samuel 2:8-3:5

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

David’s Rise to Power Begins: Chronicles, which is primarily concerned with the history of the house of David, gives little detail about the reign of Saul. First Chronicles 10 records Saul’s death in the same form as 1 Samuel 31 but with the addition of a negative summary of Saul’s reign. Chapter 11 of 1 Chronicles then moves to the meeting of the whole nation with David at Hebron that is described in 2 Samuel 5:1. The pains and struggles that accompanied the birth of David’s reign and the role of Ish- ...

22. David Conquers Jerusalem

2 Samuel 5:6-16

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Confirmation and Consolidation: 5:1–5 This section provides an editorial summary of what may have been protracted and at times tense negotiations. The delay between Ish-Bosheth’s death and David’s enthronement over Israel is not known. It was seven years and six months before the capital was moved to Jerusalem, and verse 5 could imply that the two events were simultaneous. However, although it is likely that the negotiations took longer than they would have if Ish-Bosheth had lived, it is unlikely that ...

23. David Defeats the Philistines

2 Samuel 5:17-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Confirmation and Consolidation: 5:1–5 This section provides an editorial summary of what may have been protracted and at times tense negotiations. The delay between Ish-Bosheth’s death and David’s enthronement over Israel is not known. It was seven years and six months before the capital was moved to Jerusalem, and verse 5 could imply that the two events were simultaneous. However, although it is likely that the negotiations took longer than they would have if Ish-Bosheth had lived, it is unlikely that ...

24. David Mourns

2 Sam 18:19–19:8

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Absalom’s Defeat: 18:1–5 David’s forces may have been more limited than he had been used to in recent times, but he and Joab were skilled in making the most of limited resources and in fighting battles where they were outnumbered. The description of his army’s structure leaves the impression that these are well-organized professional forces, as opposed to Absalom’s perhaps more haphazard arrangements. We are given only an outline, but the campaign appears to have been well-organized. David intended to lead ...

25. Gad

1 Chronicles 5:11-22

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

Descendants of Reuben, Gad, and the Half-Tribe of Manasseh: Whereas the previous genealogy covered the area south of Judah, the Chronicler now moves to the Transjordanian tribes to the east of Judah. Two of Israel’s sons mentioned in 2:1–2 are particularly associated with these tribes, namely, Reuben (5:1–10) and Gad (5:11–17). However, from 5:18 the half-tribe of Manasseh is also mentioned together with these other tribes. The last subsection of this particular genealogy (5:23–26) deals explicitly with ...