Bible Commentaries

Exodus 29:43-46 — among them: I am Jehovah their God." "And they shall know that I am Jehovah their God" The knowing here means knowledge through experience; and it is exactly the same kind of knowledge referred to in the early chapters of Exodus (Exodus 3:14; Exodus 6:3) as a knowledge they had not previously known. The same pattern is here. Yes, Israel already knew Jehovah had brought them through the Red Sea on dry land; but the knowledge spoken of here is a greater, more complete, knowledge. Here is the explanation,

Psalms 18:7-14 — and discomfited them." This highly imaginative section suggests to this writer nothing quite so vividly as it does the final judgment of mankind. The Theophany, the coming of God Himself, the mighty earthquake, the mountains being moved (Revelation 6:12-15), the great hail (Revelation 16:21), the darkness (Revelation 6:12), the death of the wicked (as indicated by God's arrows), the salvation of the righteous (mentioned a little later)… all of these things are undoubtedly characteristic of

Psalms 31:14-18 — what is to be done? These verses are the answer. "Cry mightily unto God; lift up thy penitent voice unto Him, pour out thy soul to the Father in prayer," as "The man after God's own heart" did here. "Make thy face to shine upon thy servant" (Psalms 31:16). This statement is evidently inspired by Numbers 6:25, commonly referred to as Aaron's blessing. The full text of this passage in Numbers, one of the most precious in all the Bible, has been set to music and sung by Christians all over the world continually.

Psalms 56:1-4 — counsel of God was only madness. "The poet has God's favor on his side, therefore he will face those pigmies that behave as though they were giants, possessing the assurance of ultimate victory in the invincible might of God."F. Delitzsch, Vol. V-B, p. 167. In these clauses, "Faith is a deliberate act in defiance of one's emotional state."Derek Kidner, Vol. 1, p. 203. "In God I put my trust, I will not be afraid" This is a refrain, repeated again and enlarged in Psalms 56:10-11. We find it again in Psalms

Psalms 58:6-9 — your pots can feel the thorns, He will take them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning alike." This prayer against the hardened and unrepentant wicked men of this passage reveals a seven-fold curse upon them. 1. Break their teeth (Psalms 58:6). 2. Break out (pull) the teeth of lions (Psalms 58:6). 3. Let them melt away as water that runs off (Psalms 58:7). 4. His arrows… let them be cut off (Psalms 58:7). 5. Let them be as a snail that melteth (Psalms 58:8). 6. Let them be like an

Proverbs 18:3 — "When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, And with ignominy cometh reproach." "Three inevitable traveling companions of wickedness are mentioned here: contempt, ignominy and reproach."The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 564. "These three terms for shame give triple emphasis to shame, which is the corollary of sin, the antithesis of which is glory, the corollary of holiness (Isaiah 6:3, Romans 8:30)."Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Vol. 15, p. 127.

Isaiah 35:5-6 — Isaiah 35:4 is, "Behold, your God will come… and save you." Very well, the people who heard that would wish to know, above everything else, WHEN will it happen? Isaiah 35:5 answers the question. Look at the first word in Isaiah 35:5 and Isaiah 35:6. "THEN," that is, when the "eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the death unstopped." "When? …. Then," i.e., "When the lame man shall leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing!" And when?, pray tell, is that? It is,

Isaiah 51:4-8 — righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation unto all generations." "This second strophe describes God's salvation as comprehending all mankind and as outlasting the heavens and the earth."Broadman Bible Commentary (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1971), p. 336. This analysis is certainly true, and therefore, we must question the use of the word "nation" here instead of "nations," the latter word meaning "Gentiles," and the former leaving the impression that the old fleshly nation of the Jews were God's chosen

Daniel 5:25-28 — another part to the Persians. "The writing indicates that the Babylonian kingdom would be turned over to the Medes and Persians; here the Medes and Persians are taken to be a single unit. Also, the Medes and Persians are noted as combined in Daniel 6:8; Daniel 6:12; Daniel 6:15."Footnote is not available This makes it positively certain that no "Median Empire" was developed between Babylon and the Greeks. Only this one government, that of the Medes and Persians, existed between Babylon and the Greeks,

Numbers 34:13-15 — final and irrevocable. Their fate forever afterward would lie "beyond the Jordan"! Jesus used words similar to these when he said concerning sinful people, "They have received their reward," applying the words to several classes of people in Matthew 6:2-3; Matthew 6:16, etc.

Zephaniah 3:19 — refer to the period of the final judgment upon the earth. It is most natural that the persecuted and oppressed should wonder, "O Master, the holy and true, How long I dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth" (Revelation 6:9). This verse is a promise that God will do it "at that time." In the meanwhile, there is a lot of suffering in store for the redeemed still upon earth. The answer here corresponds to that which came from the throne of God, "That they should rest yet

Zechariah 13 overview — The Christian dispensation continues to be the focus of the revelation in this brief chapter. This is indicated by the triple recurrence of "in that day" (Zechariah 13:1-2; Zechariah 13:4), by Peter's indication that part of the chapter applies to Christians (Zechariah 13:9), and by Jesus' own identification of himself with the smitten Shepherd (Zechariah 13:7). Part of Zechariah 13:5-6 are difficult of interpretation.

Matthew 10:29 — Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father. See more on God's providence under Matthew 6:25-30. The proof that God does actually watch over the tiniest citizens in his universe is seen in the fact that the sparrows one sees now are the descendants of sparrows which have lived upon earth for uncounted thousands of years.

Mark 3 overview — The continuation of Jesus' ministry is detailed in this chapter which recounts the healing of a man on the sabbath in the synagogue (Mark 3:1-6), healings at the seashore with demons confessing him (Mark 3:7-12), appointment of the Twelve (Mark 3:13-19), teachings regarding "an eternal sin" (Mark 3:20-30), and the incident of his mother and brethren seeking him (Mark 3:31-35).

Acts 19:18 — Many also of them that had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds. At Corinth, many of the Christians came from among those who have been involved in the grossest of sins (1 Corinthians 6:9-11); and so it was here, that among the Christians were many who had been involved in the black arts of magic. Upon beholding the truth, however, they forsook their evil ways.

Acts 8:18-19 — saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. See under preceding verse. Through the laying on of the apostles' hands … In focus here is one of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity (Hebrews 6:2). It has nothing to do with ordaining church leaders, nor any reference to such a ceremony as confirmation; but it is basic to the understanding of such facts as: (1) the cessation of apostolic miracles, (2) the termination of inspiration among evangelists

2 Corinthians 12 overview — Subjects treated by Paul in this chapter are: the revelations he received from the Lord (2 Corinthians 12:1-6), the counteracting thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), another regret at the necessity of glorying (2 Corinthians 12:11-12), his independence (2 Corinthians 12:13-15), a reply to false charges (2 Corinthians 12:16-18), and certain cautions and warnings (2 Corinthians 12:19-21).

Ephesians 4:27 — Neither give place to the devil. Paul recognized the devil as a personal enemy of Christians; and in this he followed the Saviour who taught people to pray, "Deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13). Satan in this verse appears as a being operating against Christians; and the admonition is that they should not allow any room for the devil's operations, as would be done if anger should be retained in the heart.

2 Timothy 3:7 — ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Ever learning … That is, "Ever learning new things, but never learning the word of God." John Wesley, op. cit., in loco. There is a type of person, by no means restricted to women, who is always seeking novelty, something new and different, such persons having never learned to "Ask for the old paths, where is the good way" (Jeremiah 6:16).

1 Samuel 13:5-7 — the Philistine forces at Michmash and also afforded him the option of fleeing across the Jordan if necessary. The hiding of the Israelites in caves, holes, rocks, tombs and cisterns was similar to that of the people in the days of the Judges (Judges 6:2; Judges 6:11) and in the times of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 40:11-12). The situation looked bleak indeed for Israel at the time indicated here.