Bible Commentaries

Psalms 87:1-7 — infested swamp land). Jerusalem, the city of peace! Yet no city on earth has suffered more attacks, sacks, & sieges, more devastations & restorations than Jerusalem. Nine are mentioned in the bible alone, but history records at least 34 instances of Jerusalem being besieged. [Egyptians & Babylonians, Assyrians & Greeks, Parthians & Romans, Arabs & Europeans have all fought over Jerusalem] (John Phillips, Exploring the Psalms, pg.716.) Now Jerusalem is back in

Psalms 87:1-7 — infested swamp land). Jerusalem, the city of peace! Yet no city on earth has suffered more attacks, sacks, & sieges, more devastations & restorations than Jerusalem. Nine are mentioned in the bible alone, but history records at least 34 instances of Jerusalem being besieged. [Egyptians & Babylonians, Assyrians & Greeks, Parthians & Romans, Arabs & Europeans have all fought over Jerusalem] (John Phillips, Exploring the Psalms, pg.716.) Now Jerusalem is back in

Song of Solomon 1:1-17 — figurative, & point us towards the thoughts & feelings these images evoke. These expressions reflect an ancient agrarian culture. Remember the 3 main sections: Courtship (1:2-3:5); Wedding (3:6-5:1); Struggles & Growth in Marriage (5:2-8:14). COURTSHIP! Longing for Love! (1-4) (1) Remember he composed 1005 songs…this was the best!(1 Kgs 4:32) “He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five.” He was also gifted in the wisdom

Song of Solomon 1:1-17 — figurative, & point us towards the thoughts & feelings these images evoke. These expressions reflect an ancient agrarian culture. Remember the 3 main sections: Courtship (1:2-3:5); Wedding (3:6-5:1); Struggles & Growth in Marriage (5:2-8:14). COURTSHIP! Longing for Love! (1-4) (1) Remember he composed 1005 songs…this was the best!(1 Kgs 4:32) “He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five.” He was also gifted in the wisdom

Jeremiah 15:1-21 — “Prayer changes things?” Q: What are 2 things you never want to here God say? “Get out of my sight!” & “Go away!”(1b) Q: Can you think of other times when God said basically the samething? Mt.15:14 “Let them alone{NIV, leave them}”/blind lead blind “Depart from me” (Mt.7) You can take all you want from this life…but plan on paying in the end. Or, loose your life & truly find it! Vs.3 –

Jeremiah 15:1-21 — “Prayer changes things?” Q: What are 2 things you never want to here God say? “Get out of my sight!” & “Go away!”(1b) Q: Can you think of other times when God said basically the samething? Mt.15:14 “Let them alone{NIV, leave them}”/blind lead blind “Depart from me” (Mt.7) You can take all you want from this life…but plan on paying in the end. Or, loose your life & truly find it! Vs.3 –

Hosea 6:1-11 — THE CALL TO REPENTANCE! (chapter 6) Guilty Israel Speaks! (1-3) (1) God hurts to heal! Example: Setting my broken arm in 4th grade. Torn – from lion in vs.14. God Speaks! (4-6) (4) Here God has Divine doubts about their sincerity! It was a “Shallow Religious Revival”! Their loyalty drifted like a morning cloud, & dried up like the

Hosea 6:1-11 — THE CALL TO REPENTANCE! (chapter 6) Guilty Israel Speaks! (1-3) (1) God hurts to heal! Example: Setting my broken arm in 4th grade. Torn – from lion in vs.14. God Speaks! (4-6) (4) Here God has Divine doubts about their sincerity! It was a “Shallow Religious Revival”! Their loyalty drifted like a morning cloud, & dried up like the

Numbers 1:1-54 — carnal Christians whose belief & disobedience prevent them from entering into all that God has for them. While it may be necessary to pass through wilderness experiences, one does not have to live there! For Israel, an 11 day journey became a 40-year agony! Genesis pictures God’s people as pilgrims & strangers, looking for their inheritance. Exodus & Leviticus depicts Israel as a holy nation of priests, worshiping the Lord. Numbers emphasizes God’s people as warriors,

Micah 3:1-12 — has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” Outline: Thy Judgment Come; Thy Kingdom Come; Thy King Come. THY JUDGMENT COME! (Micah 3) ​​​​​​​BAD POLITICAL LEADERSHIP! (1-4) They should have adopted the Police Motto: “To Serve & Protect!” Instead of caring for the people though, they treated them like animals & devoured them. “They attacked them, skinned them alive, butchered them, chopped

Micah 3:1-12 — has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” Outline: Thy Judgment Come; Thy Kingdom Come; Thy King Come. THY JUDGMENT COME! (Micah 3) ​​​​​​​BAD POLITICAL LEADERSHIP! (1-4) They should have adopted the Police Motto: “To Serve & Protect!” Instead of caring for the people though, they treated them like animals & devoured them. “They attacked them, skinned them alive, butchered them, chopped

Zechariah 1:1-21 — Intro: Book Intro: Ministered w/Haggai. (remember last 3 post-exile) 8 Visions in 1st 6 chapters. (concerning Jerusalem & the Jews) Jerusalem mentioned over 40 times in this book. Question about fasting ch.7,8. 2 Burdens (oracle/prophecy) ch.9-14. Zechariah = Yahweh remembers. {There are 30 Zechariah’s in the OT} He was the younger of the 2 prophets. He is the most apocalyptic(i.e.

Zechariah 3:1-10 — Intro: Announcements: Q: This book is quoted how many times in the NT? 71 22 times in the gospels; & 31 times in the Rev. Chapter 3 deals with their religious leader, Joshua the high priest. Chapter 4 deals with their political leader, Zerubbabel the high priest. 4th VISION, THE HIGH PRIEST! (Ch.3) A PRIEST PURIFIED! (1-7) Here we have one of the clearest portrayals of God’s gracious gift of salvation! This Joshua retuned from

Zechariah 3:1-10 — Intro: Announcements: Q: This book is quoted how many times in the NT? 71 22 times in the gospels; & 31 times in the Rev. Chapter 3 deals with their religious leader, Joshua the high priest. Chapter 4 deals with their political leader, Zerubbabel the high priest. 4th VISION, THE HIGH PRIEST! (Ch.3) A PRIEST PURIFIED! (1-7) Here we have one of the clearest portrayals of God’s gracious gift of salvation! This Joshua retuned from

Matthew 9:1-8 — SPIRITUAL PARALYSIS (9:1-8) Jesus has shown Himself powerful over sickness & storms, but what could He do about sin? (1) His own city - Back to Capernaum. (2 ) They - This man could not help himself but he had 4 friends named: Love, Faith, Hope, & Determination. Show roof tiles in NT times. 8x8x4’ stone [at Chorazin or Bethsaida?] Their Faith - Whose faith? the 4 friends faith. Sometimes Jesus points out the faith of the patient. This

Matthew 9:1-8 — SPIRITUAL PARALYSIS (9:1-8) Jesus has shown Himself powerful over sickness & storms, but what could He do about sin? (1) His own city - Back to Capernaum. (2 ) They - This man could not help himself but he had 4 friends named: Love, Faith, Hope, & Determination. Show roof tiles in NT times. 8x8x4’ stone [at Chorazin or Bethsaida?] Their Faith - Whose faith? the 4 friends faith. Sometimes Jesus points out the faith of the patient. This

Deuteronomy 2:1-37 — Ready to turn northward? What area of emotional trauma do you keep whirling in your mind? Ready to turn northward? What bad relationship do you let orbit your grey matter? Ready to turn northward? Finally, what had been promised to Abraham 4 centuries earlier was set to be fulfilled. 3 FRIENDS (2:4-23) ​​​​​​​Show Map - of Seir (Edom) Moab & Ammon. Point out 3 river boundaries: Edom up to Zered; Moab up to Arnon; Ammon area East.

Deuteronomy 2:1-37 — Ready to turn northward? What area of emotional trauma do you keep whirling in your mind? Ready to turn northward? What bad relationship do you let orbit your grey matter? Ready to turn northward? Finally, what had been promised to Abraham 4 centuries earlier was set to be fulfilled. 3 FRIENDS (2:4-23) ​​​​​​​Show Map - of Seir (Edom) Moab & Ammon. Point out 3 river boundaries: Edom up to Zered; Moab up to Arnon; Ammon area East.

2 Samuel 9:1-13 — loving affection, sympathy, friendliness, patience, pleasantness, gentleness, and goodness. Henry Drummond said, “The greatest thing a man can do for his heavenly Father is to be kind to some of His other children.” Hesed דֶסֶחcould & should be translated “Grace”. What is Grace? What a ballet dancer has when she shows dignity & elegance? What we say before we eat...We say grace! What we are allowed when a payment

2 Samuel 9:1-13 — loving affection, sympathy, friendliness, patience, pleasantness, gentleness, and goodness. Henry Drummond said, “The greatest thing a man can do for his heavenly Father is to be kind to some of His other children.” Hesed דֶסֶחcould & should be translated “Grace”. What is Grace? What a ballet dancer has when she shows dignity & elegance? What we say before we eat...We say grace! What we are allowed when a payment