Bible Commentaries

2 Chronicles 7:8-10 — celebration; and they had to be fed for almost a month (twenty-three days). "On the three and twentieth day of the seventh month" "The seventh month was September/October. The dedication did not take place till after the work was completed (2 Chronicles 7:1) in the eighth month (Oct./Nov.) of Solomon's eleventh year (960 B.C.). So the temple was not dedicated till eleven months had passed, that is, in 959 B.C., at the time of the annual feast of the tabernacles (cf. 2 Chronicles 7:8-10)."Wycliffe Old

Psalms 1:2 — "But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; And on his law doth he meditate day and night." In the last analysis, it is what men desire in their hearts that determines destiny. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). Men who do not actually desire the glory of God and the ultimate triumph of truth and righteousness shall, of course, never attain any status of being acceptable to God. "Meditate day and night" This earmark of any servant of God is precisely the

Psalms 24:9-10 — "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; Yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors: And the King of glory will come in. Who is this King of glory Jehovah of hosts, He is the King of glory. (Selah)" These verses mean essentially the same thing as Psalms 24:7-8, which we discussed above. It must be agreed that here we have some of the most beautiful language in the entire Bible.

Psalms 45:3-5 — vision of the Christ coming upon the world for judgment is found in Rev. 19:22ff. "Terrible things" This harmonizes with the Biblical view that the coming of Christ in judgment will be a time of "mourning" for "all the tribes of the earth" (Revelation 1:7). "The peoples shall fall under thee" The vast majority of mankind living at the time of the Second Advent will be destroyed, according to God's Word (See Matthew 7:13-14; Revelation 6:14 ff, etc.); and we believe the tremendous scope of this passage

Psalms 89:19-28 — perfectly fulfills them all in his spiritual kingdom."C. M. Miller, co-author with Anthony L. Ash, p. 310. But, of course, Israel never had the slightest understanding of the true meaning of all this. CONCERNING THE DYNASTY "In this section (Psalms 89:28-37), the psalmist extended the application of 2 Samuel 7 to David's line of successors. The words here are principally a poetical paraphrase of 2 Samuel 7:14."Alexander Maclaren, Vol. II, p. 497. The application of the prophecy in 2 Samuel 7 was elaborated

Proverbs 1:1 — I. SOLOMON'S INSTRUCTIONS TO HIS SONS (Proverbs 1-9) "Here we have the title and purpose of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:1-7), the admonition to heed parental instruction (Proverbs 1:8-9), the necessity of avoiding evil companions (Proverbs 1:10-19), and the warnings by which Wisdom cries aloud to all men (Proverbs 1:20-31)."Henry H. Halley's Bible Handbook (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House), p. 250.

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.

Zechariah 13:9 — need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6-7). Inherent in this is the necessity that every Christian's faith be tested through tribulations. "It must needs be that offences come" (Matthew 18:7); and, "Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22), etc. The faithful

Matthew 11:18-19 — was called a glutton. (2) He was called a winebibber. (3) They said he cast out demons by the prince of demons (Matthew 9:34). (4) They called him Beelzebul (Matthew 10:25). (5) They called him a sinner (John 9:24). (6) They said he had a demon (John 7:20). (7) They said he was a Samaritan (John 8:48). (8) They charged him with violating the sabbath (Matthew 12:2). (9) They referred to him as a "deceiver" (Matthew 27:63). (10) They accused him of friendship with publicans and sinners (Luke

Matthew 27:54 — demons confessed him (Matthew 8:29). (3) Almighty God confessed him three times,, at his baptism, on the mount of transfiguration, and in a voice resembling thunder (John 12:28). (4) Simeon (Luke 2:30). (5) Anna (Luke 2:36). (6) Nicodemus (John 3:2). (7) Nathaniel (John 1:49). (8) John the Baptist (John 1:29). (9) Peter (Matthew 16:16). (10) Pilate (Matthew 27:24). (11) Pilate's wife (Matthew 27:19). (12) Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:4). (13) The centurion and the people with him (Matthew 27:54). Christ

Matthew 5:27 — Ye have heard that it was said, THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, THE REVISION OF THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENTIN THE DECALOGUE (Matthew 5:27-32) Once more, Christ selected as his target one of the great and highly respected words of the Decalogue, blasting it with his "BUT I SAY UNTO YOU!" No wonder Christ's teachings on this occasion resulted in astonishment and amazement among the people (Matthew 7:28-29).

Deuteronomy 22:30 — "A man shall not take his father's wife, and shall not uncover his father's skirt." This type of incest was not even tolerated among pagan cultures (1 Corinthians 5:1). The thing forbidden here is the taking of a father's wife (not the sinner's mother), as in the case of Reuben and his adultery with Bilhah. This prohibition is also in Leviticus 18:7 ff, which see for additional comment.

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).

Mark 6 overview — Events related in Mark 6 are: (1) rejection of Jesus at Nazareth (Mark 6:1-6); (2) sending forth of the Twelve (Mark 6:7-13); (3) the beheading of John the Baptist (Mark 6:14-29); (4) the feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6:30-44); (5) walking on the sea (Mark 6:45-52); and (6) preaching and healing in Gennesaret (Mark 6:53-56).

Luke 24:27 — the interpretations given by the Lord: The promise to Eve (Genesis 3:15) The promise to Abraham (Genesis 22:18) The Paschal lamb (Exodus 12) The scapegoat (Leviticus 16:1-34) The greater Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15) The star and scepter (Numbers 24:17) Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14) "Unto us a child is born" (Isaiah 9:6) The Good Shepherd (Isaiah 40:10-11) The meek Sufferer (Isaiah 50:6) He who bore our griefs (Isaiah 53:4-5) The Heir of David (Ezekiel 34:23) The Ruler born in Bethlehem (Micah

John 8:21 — He said therefore again unto them, And ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sin: whither I go, ye cannot come. (See under John 7:34 where these same words are found.) Ye shall die in your sin … gives the reason why the Pharisees would be unable to go where Jesus was going. Only the pure, the forgiven, and the redeemed will follow the Lord there.

Acts 19 overview — Here is presented by Luke the story of certain Christians who needed re-baptism (Acts 19:1-7), a record of Paul's mighty successes in Ephesus (Acts 19:8-13), the account of the exorcists who were exorcised (Acts 19:14-20), a summary of Paul's further work in Asia (Acts 19:21-22), and a full account of the uproar created by Demetrius and the shrine-makers (Acts 19:23-41).

Romans 3:16-17 — Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace have they not known. These verses are a continuation of the prophecy of Isaiah 59:7 f; and here one may see the end result of not knowing and not seeking after God. Turning away from the Father always brings the defector into a destructive and miserable way of life, a way of turbulence, wretchedness, violence, and conflict.

1 Corinthians 14:8 — For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war? The meaning of this is exactly the same as in 1 Corinthians 14:7, the repetition of the thought using another illustration was for emphasis. Uninterpreted tongues were as disastrous as the efforts of a military bugler whose unintelligible blasts could not be distinguished either as a call to charge, a call to retreat, or a call to go to bed!

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).