Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 10:1-29 — of good public and international relations is unparalleled among women of a Bible. THE QUEEN OF SHEBA (1-13) (1) Our fame & God’s name must go together. Wiersbe If God magnifies your name, make sure He gets the glory for it. Ps.135:13 Fame is a heavy burden to bear, and only God can help us do it wisely. Sheba - was in south western Arabia. Also called Seba (Sabeans). Today Sanaa (former capital Yemen). One of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. One

1 Kings 14:1-31 — man of God. What a coward, he didn’t want his people going down south to worship. And if he went himself, it would weaken his religious establishment. (3) As part of the ruse...she brought only the gifts of a poor peasant women. (4,5) The blind prophet could see more with his spiritual eyes than Jeroboam could see with his physical eyes. Isn’t it funny, he’s going to a prophet who he believes can look into the future, but believes that he couldn’t look behind

1 Kings 9:1-28 — and all days with God are not so clear and glorious. I think that we should be seeking those 2nd appearances. But not to “see” God, but for sure to experience His presence/Him. Do you know your prayers are heard? Ask How? [Prov.15:29 The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous] + He answers. Do you know your building/your temple/your body was accepted? How? (He indwells you) It’s not where you pray (it’s how...Lk.18:9-14, 2 men

2 Kings 3:1-27 — water supply to heal the water. Ask? What do you think he means by using this descriptive phrase? Ask? A picturesque expression of servanthood here. Not used anywhere else in the OT. Whose hands have you poured water on? (15) Bring me a musician - a general expression a person who makes music. Odd? Why? (It doesn't say) Why do you think he asks for this? (not norm for prophet) I think the influence of music calms his agitation & helps him get in the spirit

Nehemiah 13:1-31 — happening while Nehemiah was away on a business trip. Here now are 3 vigorous corrections for 3 foolish abuses… GOD’S HOUSE (4-14) ​​​​​​​HOUSE CLEANING (4-9) [Problem] (5) Tobiah turned Gods house into a Storage Unit for his stuff. What sinful attitudes or actions have you allowed in your life? What sin have you brought into the church? (7) Have you given up a chamber in your heart to any Tobiah?…Are all

Psalms 71:1-24 — You’re not as strong as you use to be...as Solomon so aptly described in Eccl.12:1-7. Troubles Continue: (10,11) The difficulties we have faced throughout our lives do not go away but instead remain with us. (James Boice, Psalms, Vol.2, pg.594) Being Alone: (11b) He had fewer people to help him, to solve problems, or help shoulder these burdens. He seems to be utterly alone with no one to help but God. Maybe you feel this way also? no matter your age. LOOKING

Psalms 86:1-17 — abundant reason for it. You have delivered/rescued/saved my soul from the depths of Sheol. Like David...you need a God-Encounter. (just like Isaiah in Is.6) You need a God-Quake. Then a Self-Quake. Which leads to a World-Quake. (6:1-4; 5-7; 8-13) Its experiencing Gods Glory. Glory = kabowd. Its basic meaning is “to be heavy, or weighty”. If you drop an object into the water, that’s heavier than the water, you make a water-quake. If you drop

Isaiah 56:1-12 — watch your step and don’t do anything evil!” Live a life of consistency. Care about justice. Be ready to put things right. An exhortation to right living! ALIEN’S & EUNUCH’S! (3-8) ENUCH’S! (3b-5) EUNUCH - literally bed-keeper. [Jews didn’t practice. But Assyrians/Egyptians did] Not necessarily in all cases one who was mutilated, although the practice of employing such mutilated persons in Oriental courts was common. [i.e. to watch

Isaiah 65:1-25 — Intro: Outline: The Rebels; The Remnant; The Regeneration. (Warren Wiersbe; Is.65 With the Word.) 1st Punishment; then Perfection! Remember the last chapter & a half was a prayer…now God answers! YOU CHOSE WHAT I HATE! (1-16) THE REBELS! (1-7) Here I am, here I am! (1) God is revealing himself

Jeremiah 33:1-26 — ask in order to receive. As did Job “Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me.”(13:22) As did David “The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” (Ps.145:18) As did Isaiah “Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' (58:9) As taught Jesus "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened

Jeremiah 46:1-28 — of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. You will cause a device to be prepared w/o unnecessary delay w/a motto expressing in the fewest & tersest words possible this national recognition. Yours Truly, S.P.Chase March 3, 1865 Congress approved “In God We Trust!” Benjamin Franklin said, “I have lived, Sir, a long time, & the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God governs in the affairs of men.” The next

Ezekiel 11:1-25 — hope that is w/in us. Open: Imagine a hot air balloon tied up just outside our sanctuary in our parking lot, near the entrance to our foyer. You get in & start sailing towards Monroe Ave. When it stops & turns, facing you again towards the church. 25 leaders now stand out front, & 2 of them come into focus. They are the key religious & political leaders of our valley. You prophecy against them & their terrible leadership, & one falls over dead as you speak. Well, there’s our intro… ​​​​​​​LITTLE

Ezekiel 12:1-28 — sin. It was an attempt to embarrass Colson & make ineffective anything he would say. Knowing this, Colson responded with fervor: "There have been some dreadful mistakes, but why judge all Christians by the few who abuse their positions? There are 350,000 churches across America where people's spiritual needs are being met. Thousands of missionaries are living in conditions you and I couldn't. Thousands of volunteers are working in prisons, soup kitchens, & rescue missions.That's the

Numbers 28:1-31 — days/offerings were: Passover - Angel of death flew over homes, left alone those covered by the blood on doorposts. Appl: blood covers. Unleaven bread - The whole week after Passover. Sweep house clean. Appl: no leaven/no sin. Feast of Weeks - 50 days(Pentecost) after 1st fruits; 1st fruits was a TY for entire Harvest. Appl: God meets our needs. Feast of Trumpets - Rosh Hashanah(head of the year). Beginning of Civil year. Convocation=Gathering. Blow shofar/trumpet. Day of Atonement -

Numbers 29:1-40 — days/offerings were: Passover - Angel of death flew over homes, left alone those covered by the blood on doorposts. Appl: blood covers. Unleaven bread - The whole week after Passover. Sweep house clean. Appl: no leaven/no sin. Feast of Weeks - 50 days(Pentecost) after 1st fruits; 1st fruits was a TY for entire Harvest. Appl: God meets our needs. Feast of Trumpets - Rosh Hashanah(head of the year). Beginning of Civil year. Convocation=Gathering. Blow shofar/trumpet. Day of Atonement -

Malachi 2:1-17 — the wives being divorced are weeping here. If so, “You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me.” (Ps.56:8,9) (14) A marriage covenant involves the husband, the wife, & God. We expect God to be faithful…Why do we think we have the privilege of not keeping our promises? (14b) Treacherously – “willful betrayal of

John 19:1-24 — ran across Praetorium in 18:28. A judgement-seat was placed on this “pavement” outside the hall of the “praetorium”. ECCE REX VESTER - BEHOLD YOUR KING! (14-24) ​​​​​​​(15) We have no king but Caesar - The political straw that brings Pilate to his knees. When the Romans first came into Palestine, they had the most bloody rebellion on their hands, because the Jews had insisted that “God alone was their king!” This

Acts 26:1-32 — CONVERSION EXPERIENCE! (12-18) (12) While thus occupied - meaning, I wasn’t on some spiritual quest, or gnawed by doubts, about what I was doing. I was engaged in pursuing my vendetta against Christians, when Jesus stopped me in my tracks. (13-15) Real simply he says 3 down-to-earth phrases: “I saw...”; “I heard..”; “I said…” (18) Wow! What a concise, believable, & coherent statement of Christianity! Its not syrupy; he does not dangle Agrippa

Acts 7:1-60 — action! Never refuse God’s incubator to form you in His image! Broiled Steaks – took them out too soon (too red in center). Don’t come out of His incubator too soon! S.T.F.(?); Griffith Thomas; Luke; pg.135 Warren Wiersbe; With The Word; pg.712 ISRAELS REBELS! (37-43) Esp. vs.39. TABERNACLE! (44-50) The portable tabernacle in the wilderness, which also was outside the Holy Land, could be used any place to bring people

Colossians 2:1-10 — knowledge because we have Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom & knowledge. FILLED FULL IN CHRIST! BE ENCOURAGED! (1) Conflict - Struggle. The picture is an athletic contest which is strenuous & demanding. (LKGNT; pg. 571) Vs.2-10 explains Paul’s inner struggle for the believers at Colosse & Laodicea. Note vs.2 starts with that… BE ENCOURAGED! (2a) There was a story of a man who one morning opened his door to get the newspaper