Bible Commentaries

Psalms 112:1-10 — joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands. 2 Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. 3 They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will last forever. 4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. 5 Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly. 6 Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will

Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 — CIRCLES & CYCLES ​​​​​​​First, Solomon looks around & sees nature functioning as it has since creation. (3) The highest reward for man's toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it. (4) Gives the basic premise: people come & go but nature remains unchanged. ​​​​​​​Nature keeps going & going like the Ever-Ready-Bunny, but man can’t find a fixed point of reference for his own meaning. Story:

Ecclesiastes 7:15-29 — prosper, while he, a faithful servant of God, was treated as a sacrificial Lamb? This has been asked by many...Job, Asaph, Hab, Mal, Jer., by you & me. (1c) Why are those happy who deal so treacherously? Why are evil people so happy? NLT (4a) How long will the land mourn/lie parched? Jeremiah gives his suggested answer in vs.3...Make your sheep into roasted mutton or lamb chops. Then GOD gives His answer (read 5) Definitely not what Jeremiah expected...God’s focus wasn’t

Isaiah 17:1-14 — departed – Like when Phinehas’s wife called her child Ichabod(glory has departed) when her father-in-law(Eli), husband, & bro-in-law(Hophni) died, & especially…the ark of the Cov was taken. Ichabod! 3 Pictures of judgment! (4-6) [1] Like a Setting Sun! Q: Is the glory fading, or getting brighter in your life? [2] Like a Person in Poverty! Fatness to Leanness – Met this morn with Rabbi-Yosef Hillbrant, of the “Jewish Christian Unity Congregation”

Isaiah 17:1-14 — departed – Like when Phinehas’s wife called her child Ichabod(glory has departed) when her father-in-law(Eli), husband, & bro-in-law(Hophni) died, & especially…the ark of the Cov was taken. Ichabod! 3 Pictures of judgment! (4-6) [1] Like a Setting Sun! Q: Is the glory fading, or getting brighter in your life? [2] Like a Person in Poverty! Fatness to Leanness – Met this morn with Rabbi-Yosef Hillbrant, of the “Jewish Christian Unity Congregation”

Isaiah 29:1-24 — Jerusalem! (1-12) On Fire! (1-4) (1) Ariel- “Lion of God”, or “hearth of fire”(in the sense of place of sacrifice) Hearth – Prob. refers to the altar hearth of God in Ezek.43:15,16. Play on words, Ariel is made Ariel. The hearth becomes

Jeremiah 44:1-30 — Intro: Wes share on the Sudan. Here’s Jer.’s last message to his people(580bc). 46 yr.’s now in the ministry – What faithfulness despite all of life’s discouragement. “There are no disappointments to those whose wills are buried in the will of God.” Frederick William Faber ​​​​​​​Some

Jeremiah 44:1-30 — Intro: Wes share on the Sudan. Here’s Jer.’s last message to his people(580bc). 46 yr.’s now in the ministry – What faithfulness despite all of life’s discouragement. “There are no disappointments to those whose wills are buried in the will of God.” Frederick William Faber ​​​​​​​Some

Hosea 8:1-14 — EAGLE! (1-6) (1) The trumpet was sounded to signify an impending battle. When God sounds the trumpet we better wake up & listen! Instead of God “bearing them on eagles' wings and bringing them to Himself.” (adapted from Ex.19:4) - The Assyrian Eagle was about to swoop down on them as his prey. See Deut. 28(esp.49) - Also A VALUELESS VESSEL! (7,8) (7) Sow wind, reap a Tornado! What seems to be a lovely wind today can become an ugly storm tomorrow! Acts

Hosea 8:1-14 — EAGLE! (1-6) (1) The trumpet was sounded to signify an impending battle. When God sounds the trumpet we better wake up & listen! Instead of God “bearing them on eagles' wings and bringing them to Himself.” (adapted from Ex.19:4) - The Assyrian Eagle was about to swoop down on them as his prey. See Deut. 28(esp.49) - Also A VALUELESS VESSEL! (7,8) (7) Sow wind, reap a Tornado! What seems to be a lovely wind today can become an ugly storm tomorrow! Acts

Joel 2:1-27 — Intro: Blow the shofar – Means? – To alarm, or to Gather. ALARM! (1-14) Right up front let me say that some scholars think Joel is describing only a locust swarm, some think an invasion by Assyria or Babylon, still others of the coming day of the Lord…so which is it? I believe all 3! Joel described

Amos 3:1-15 — Jesus.” Examples of humble beginners? – Moody(shoe salesman); Billy Sunday(former baseball player); William Carey(shoemaker)[edited & translated the bible in 36 languages India]; Galdys Aylward(parlor-maid in London/China); David Livingston(a boy w/a dream 4 China/,then Africa “unexplored”); John Bunyan(mender of pots & pans) “It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus.” Purpose: Warn Israel of coming doom. Ch.’s – 1,2 = 8

Zechariah 14:1-21 — mankind!” Change IS Coming! ​​​​​​​(1,2) Armageddon…The 6th Bowl! (1) Note the typical Heb. “summary verse” of the sack of Jerusalem. The day is coming! Those days will be shortened - Mt.24:21,22 (2) I will gather! {So God’s to blame?} How does this work? God gathers them – Zech.14:2 Demons gather them – Rev.16:14 The kings gather themselves – Ps.2:2 This is what some have

Matthew 2:1-23 — IDP THE KING OF THE JEWS HUNTED BY THE KING OF THE JEWS (1-12) ​​​​​​​(1) Wise men/Magoi/Magi - priestly cast of Medes. Possible Daniel planted seeds in Babylon, then Medes/Persian wise men. Maybe shared Numb.24:17 about a star rising out of Jacob/Israel? Herod The Great - at 4’4” he was a short man who wanted to be tall. He was a builder: Built...Palaces, Fortresses, Entire Cities, Masada, Aqueducts & esp. known for the remodeling of the Temple. He

Mark 6:30-56 — Jesus seeks to teach his disciples in these 3 life lessons. Outline: [1] He makes me to lie down in green pastures [2] He leads me beside still waters [3] He restores my soul. This outline is built from the why Jesus gives in vs.34, they were like sheep not having a shepherd. [shepherd-less sheep; folks trying to make it on their own through life] HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES (31-44) Their Rest (31,32) - Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and

Acts 20:1-38 — hypnotizing shadows & raising the temperature in the room. He probably had taken refuge in the window to catch a breath of fresh air to fight drowsiness. [2] If you don’t get sleep the night before; [3] Lack of interest in spiritual things; [4] A boring preacher (poorly organized; rambling material; monotone delivery; too much time spent on needless detail; being out of touch w/people’s needs) Read - Eccl.12:9-11 He pondered & sought out – He studied many subjects,

Colossians 2:11-23 — (From Ravi Zacharias Podcast) Thus Paul inspired by the H.S. said For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor.4:6 Paul born a Hebrew; raised in a Greek city; & of Roman citizenship. He knew what their pursuits were all about, & knew the answer for all...was in the face of Jesus! Last week we tackled Gnosticism, which believed the spirit

2 Thessalonians 3:1-18 — Edwin Markham He is faithful to do what? Faithful to give you stability(establish you) & protect (guard you) from Satan (the evil one). Your heart needs to be directed in 2 directions: love & patience. CONCERNING GOD’S LOVE (4,5a) Into the love of God – what a beautiful prayer, direct (make straight/guide) my heart into the love of God...I need that direction. CONCERNING GOD’S PATIENCE (5b) Into the patience of Christ – Saint Francis

Hebrews 7:11-28 — system came in. So, man would breach God’s law, a sacrifice was to heal that breach. But, there was also a problem with the priesthood. Way back in David’s time God promised a “new priesthood”. Ps.110:4 (Heb’s brings up 5x’s) But, a change of the priesthood, means the whole legal system on which the Levitical institutions were predicated...also had to be changed. This former regulation(Law) has been replaced because of its

1 John 3:16-24 — INTRO: For the past 40 years Eunice Pike has worked with the Mazatec Indians in Southwestern Mexico. During this time she has discovered some interesting things about these beautiful people. For instance, the people seldom wish someone well. Not only that, they are hesitant