Bible Commentaries

Psalms 103 overview — remembers from the prayers of his grandfather the employment of Psalms 103:10 verbatim as it appears in the King James Bible, and also an exclamation that, "The time and place that know us now, shall soon know us no more for ever," founded upon Psalms 103:16. Some of the critical writers would assign this psalm to the times of the exile, or afterward, depending upon the occurrence of certain Aramaisms; but as Leupold observed, "Aramaisms are never a sure index of date."H. C. Leupold, p. 715. As Paul T.

Psalms 143 overview — Vol. V-C, p. 373. Delitzsch added that, "It is on account of this feature that the church has chosen Psalms 143 as the last of the seven Penitentials."Ibid. The psalm is naturally divided into two parts, marked by the "Selah" at the end of Psalms 143:6.

Psalms 62 overview — if there was no superscription. The entire psalm reads like an anthology of David's favorite expressions, metaphors and other characteristic word and images found in his writings. Note the following: "my rock," "my salvation," "my high tower" (Psalms 62:2); and again, "my rock," "my salvation," and "my high tower" (Psalms 62:6); "my strength," "my refuge" (Psalms 62:7); "trust in him (God) at all times" "God is a refuge for us" (Psalms 62:8); "men are vanity… vanity" (Psalms 62:9); "oppression

Isaiah 24 overview — of the great and powerful nations of the earth, "Now declares the judgments impending on the people of God themselves, for their wickedness and apostasy; and the desolation that shall be brought on their whole country."Robert Lowth's Commentary, p. 262. Although some scholars still hold to this understanding of the chapter, our own opinion is that all four chapters of this division are a prophecy of the eschatological conclusion of the Christian dispensation, that is, the final judgment. Excellent

Malachi 1 overview — old. "No king, no prince, no sacrifice, etc." That condition would be substituted for the old and lost intimacy. (See Hosea 3:4.) The chapter continues with a stinging indictment of the whole people, especially their reprobate priesthood (Malachi 1:6-14).

John 7 overview — John 7—10 record the great controversy that raged around the name of Jesus during the last six months of his ministry. It was October, at the beginning of this chapter, a full six months having elapsed since the tremendous events of chapter 6; and, during that intervening period, the Lord had continued his work in Galilee, beyond the reach of his enemies in Jerusalem. The synoptics reveal that in this same interim, the Lord had repeatedly schooled his disciples concerning the approaching

Hebrews 11:35 — the sisters of Lazarus (John 11), whose brother Lazarus was raised by Jesus. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance — scholars usually cite examples of things suggested here as written in the apocryphal books, as in 2 Maccabees 6—7; and it is quite possible, without receiving such books as inspired, to accept as historical some of the events mentioned. One such happening is related of one, Eliazar, who was tortured for not eating swine's flesh, refusing the deliverance

1 Peter 5:5 — work, to keep their dress clean." B. C. Caffin, op. cit., p. 207. Macknight also defined it as "a frock put over the rest of the clothes," James Macknight, Macknight on the Epistles, Vol. V (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1969), p. 503. giving the meaning to be that "humility should be visible over all the other Christian virtues, in our whole behavior." Ibid. God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble … Throughout the holy Scriptures, proud

2 Peter 3:5 — arrogant denial, "based upon their unbelief in the supernatural, and because they resented any interference in their "walking after their own lusts.'" Eldon R. Fuhrman, Beacon Bible Commentary, Vol. 10 (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1967), p. 334. This is a perfect example of the enmity of the carnal mind against God. For men who nourish a belief in human self-determination and perfectability, the very idea that we are accountable and dependent is a bitter pill to swallow. No wonder

1 John 4:15 — being baptized "into Christ." As a consequence of such primary obedience, and subsequently to it, the Holy Spirit was given, not to make men sons of God, but because upon such initial faith and obedience they became sons of God (Galatians 4:6). There are two possible meanings of John's words here, and both of them may be correct. (1)    He refers to the Christian's obedience of the gospel at the time he became a Christian, the confession of faith in Christ, of course,

Revelation 1:17-18 — am the first and the last, and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. I fell at his feet … Paul fell at the feet of Jesus revealed to him as a supernatural person (Acts 26:14); and the phenomenon occurs frequently throughout the Bible, especially in connection with receiving visions. See Ezekiel 1:28; Daniel 8:17; Daniel 10:9; and Matthew 17:6. Fear not … How fully in the character of the beloved Jesus are these

Revelation 13:6 — fortunately it is true both ways. "It is possible that John means angels … but the more attractive meaning is that he means that those dwelling in heaven are men whose citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20)." G. B. Caird, op. cit., p. 167. Dummelow also preferred this understanding of it: "Christians are here said to dwell in heaven, because they belong to the kingdom of God on earth, and because 'in Christ' they have begun to live the heavenly life (Ephesians 2:6)." J. R.

Revelation 15:8 — point of this is the inevitability of the plagues. When God's good time has come, nothing can stop final judgment." Leon Morris, op. cit., p. 191. This symbolizes the judicial hardening of the incorrigibly wicked. It will be recalled from Isaiah 6:4 ff that the "smoke" from God's presence meant the prophecy of the hardening of Israel. So here, the smoke means that, in this situation, God's work of grace is finished. "None was able to enter into the temple." "The sanctuary

Revelation 18:7 — wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning. The first extended clause here is merely the reiteration, for emphasis, of what was said in Revelation 18:6. For she saith in her heart … Making such a boast to others was bad enough; but, "In her self-glorification, presumptuousness, and boastfulness, she had said it in her heart, which is even worse than saying it to others." William Hendriksen,

Revelation 2:17 — see under Revelation 2:7, and also regarding "him that overcometh." I will give of the hidden manna … The great feasts in the idol-temples were nothing to be compared to the feast of one who eats of "the bread of life" (John 6:35). John remembered the words of Jesus who in that passage identified himself as the true manna that came down from God out of heaven. It is here called "hidden" because it was a secret unknown to the pagan world of the community to which

Revelation 21:16 — result of the saving power of the Triune God operating in the universe. William Hendriksen, op. cit., p. 244. For this writer, such numerological exercises raise more questions than they answer. We might also arrive at the number 12,000 by dividing 26 by two, subtracting two from the remainder, adding one, and multiplying by (30 x 30 + 100)! This is not intended to deny the mystical use of numbers by the Jews and others of antiquity, a usage that does appear extensively in the sacred Scriptures. Many

Revelation 4:6 — Master. The four living creatures … The many eyes "before and behind" in these creatures have a suggestion of something approaching omniscience, yet their being "creatures" limits this. The visions in Ezekiel 1 and Isaiah 6 are so similar to this that we feel justified in accepting what is revealed there as having the same application here. For some time, it appears, Ezekiel wondered what the living creatures were; but a later vision (Ezekiel 10) gave him the clue to the

Revelation 5:9 — Leon Morris, op. cit., p. 100. Purchase with thy blood … The conception of the church as a possession, bought by the blood of Christ, is everywhere in the New Testament. "Ye are not your own; ye are bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). "The church which he purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28), etc. Of every tribe … tongue … people … nation … The universal characteristic of the church is stressed by this. It is the church of our Lord

Revelation 8:2 — And I saw the seven angels that stand before God; and there was given unto them seven trumpets. (Revelation 8:2) SECTION II (Revelation 8:2—11:19) The pageantry here did not take place during the silence, but after it. "Revelation 2—6 are a preface to the vision of the trumpets." A. Plummer, op. cit., p. 230, 231. Seven angels that stand before God … It is natural that many should understand these as the seven archangels, and Barclay named them (not from the Bible, of

2 Samuel 10 overview — his murder of her husband Uriah before the walls of Rabbah. "The campaign against Rabbah not only gave David his opportunity for his adultery but provided the means by which he accomplished the death of Uriah."The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 306. Keil elaborated the same opinion more fully: "The successes of all David's undertakings, and the strength of his government, which increased year by year, had made him feel so secure, that in the excitement of undisturbed prosperity, he allowed himself