Bible Commentaries

Psalms 15:1-5 — Intro: “Bible study is to prepare people to think & act biblically!” (Boice) This Psalm stands in contrast to the one before it(“The Fool”). Psalms are categorized as: (read list) Ps.15 falls into the category of Liturgy. This Liturgy of instruction gives “the qualifications for worship” at the tabernacle, in the form of a Decalogue(deca=10; logos=word, pronouncement). Background: This probably took place when

Psalms 87:1-7 — great powers & persecutors of Israel. Philistia, the enemy which Israel never dislodged. Tyre, the affluent merchant on the coast. Ethiopia/Cush (present-day southern Egypt, Sudan, and northern Ethiopia) are the symbol of the remoter nations. These 5 nations (representing the Gentile nations) will be among the peoples who acknowledge Him. Their status is declared in 2 ways: Towards God & Towards the people of God. Towards God - Those who know Me. Towards the people of God - they

Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 — much? Just look at Nature & see how monotonous life is. The Earth’s Longevity (4). 1st, Solomon looks to the world he stands on. Man seems so temporary while the earth seems so permanent. The Sun’s Course (5). 2nd, Solomon looks to the heavens around him, looking East to West. Look at Ps.19:1-6 for a description of the sun rising. The sun is seen panting/hastens eager to get to the other side of the horizon As far as the

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 the picture of a burning furnace. Is fire a good thing? Well it all depends where it is, if it’s contained! (A fire in its rightful place(fire place, stove) is good. Not

Isaiah 5:1-30 — Intro: We have in ch.5: A Song(1-7); a Lament(8-23); & Judgment(24-30). A Sad Song of the Vacant Vineyard! (1-7) STINKY FRUIT! (1-7) (1,2a) Typical Viticulture – (His point?) Nothing was left undone to guarantee a sound crop. Now, I’ve had bad

Jeremiah 48:1-47 — MOAB MEETS THEIR MAKER!  (1-5) INTRO: This chapter(Moab) & the next(Ammon) have something in common Q: What is it? (Gen.19:30-38) Brothers?(sons of Lot); Cousins?(2 sisters boys) During the Babylonian crisis, Moab & Ammon were allies w/Judah in an ill-fated attempt

Joel 2:1-27 — he sounds the warning of the coming “day of the Lord”. Still using Locust analogies. Let’s read vs.1-11 See “day of the Lord” bookends(1 & 11). Joel depicted what the locust look like(4); sound like(5); & approach like(7-9). They say a locust swarms noise can be heard 6 miles off! And has been likened unto a loud waterfall, a torrent, a rushing wind, or a raging flame. (10) A desert locust swarm that crossed the Red Sea in

Numbers 11:1-35 — Non-Israelites who left Egypt with Israel in the Exodus. Complaining is a communicable disease! - the Israelites joined in. George MacDonald, “The slaves of sin rarely grumble at that slavery; it is slavery to God they grumble at.” (5) Ate freely in Egypt - Freely? It only cost them the lives of their baby boys, who were thrown into the Nile by Pharaoh's servants; - the lives of their husbands & brothers, who collapsed under the whips of the taskmaster’s! Can you

Numbers 25:1-18 — INTRO: SSS - (This Sat Night) 2 or More; & Victor’s Testimony. Rev 2:14 tells us that Balaam hatches a plan that could potentially have the nation of Israel implode upon itself. Here in Numbers chapter 25 is the result of that plan. Balaam could not destroy Israel with His curses; but he could defile Israel with his counsel. (Read Numb 31:16) THE JAVELIN OF PHINEHAS! IF YOU CAN’T BEAT-EM, JOIN-EM! (1-5) After 4 failed attempts

Zephaniah 1:1-18 — (2-7) ​​​​​​​A true prophet not only sees farther but he sees deeper. His wrath will consume His creation (2,3) & the hypocrites in the land (4-6). This wasn’t any “sky-is-falling” threat! (chicken little/acorn) (5) They were “double dipping!” (actually triple) They were covering all bases! (ever met someone like that?) Hey, we’re for both parties! But, duplicity is abominable w/God! Christ will be our all…or nothing!

Luke 1:1-4 — Prayer) Armando prayed for me, “that as Brian studies this gospel, that this gospel would study Brian!” (my prayer for all of us!) Book Overview: Lk.1& 2 = 30 yrs of Jesus’ life; Lk.3 - 19:28 = 3 yrs of Jesus’ life; Lk.19:29 - 24:53 = 1 week of Jesus’ life. Only 8% deals with Jesus life before ministry 25% deals with His last week before He died. It is the longest single book in the NT. Luke & Acts constitute 28% of the NT, making Luke the most prolific

Luke 22:1-20 — world. Both the Passover and the Lord’s Supper were demonstrations of His love for a lost world. Bread! Note: He didn’t take the Passover Lamb, but bread & wine. Thus He was instituting a feast, not a sacrifice. 1 Cor.5:7,8 “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” Remembrance –

John 20:19-31 — lamp dancing shadows upon the walls. The windows shuttered & door barred, the disciples cower in the shadows. Nails bitten to the nub. Jaws clenched in anxiety. Heads aching. Throats parched. Tongues clinging to their mouth. (Chuck Swindoll John; pg.95) But locked doors will not give you peace...nor keep your Savior out! Matter of fact He shows up & gives these frightened disciples what they need most...Himself! Peace be with you – This peace is based on His sacrifice on

Acts 20:1-38 — Paul! FOOTPRINTS ON OUR HEARTS! (1-16) ​​​​​​​NEXT BATTLE! (1-6) Uproars usually cease, so be patient; but be sure to get ready for the next battle. After Greece, he wintered in Corinth (ad 56-57) where he penned the letter to the Romans, preparing the way for what he hoped would be a pastoral visit to the capitol city of the Roman Empire. He also coordinated the offerings to bring to Jerusalem. (3) Paul & his friends uncovered

Romans 7:13-25 — with the old sin nature anymore! - Don’t you struggle with this problem daily? Desiring to be that good Christian, yet totally frustrated from falling on your face? (13) So in vs.12 we saw the law was good. Here sin is bad. And from vs.7-25 is the relationship between the redeemed person’s sin nature & the law. Sin…exceedingly sinful! Why didn’t he call sin “exceedingly dark”, or “exceedingly horrible”, or “exceedingly deadly”?

2 Timothy 4:6-22 — drawing up anchors; or a soldier or traveler pulling up camp. Lit. translation “I am ready to be poured out like a drink-offering, & the time is at hand for loosing the anchor & setting sail, for taking down the tent & moving on.” (2 Cor.5) This is Paul’s “Anchor Aweigh” speech - "Weigh" comes from the archaic word meaning to heave, hoist or raise. "Aweigh" means that that action has been completed. The anchor is aweigh when it is pulled from the

Hebrews 7:11-28 — 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 inherent weakness and uselessness.

1 John 4:1-21 — received his training in Britain, rather than on the continent, as many claim, & subsequently became the greatest single force in the Christianization of Ireland. Evidentially Patrick was biblical & evangelical in his preaching & his ministry (early 5th century), & the churches he founded were independent of Rome. So it may be concluded that he was neither Irish nor Roman Catholic. (Exploring Church History; Howard F. Vos, pg.53,54 And, Church History in Plain Language; Bruce Shelley,

Revelation 2:18-29 — slave-dealers!” Most likely to refuse to join one of these guilds, would be like not joining the “union” today(in some trades). (They would have to give up commercial prosperity!) The present name of the city is Ak-Hissar (white castle); pop. 15-20,000. Thyatira, was an unimportant city w/a very important Problem! DESCRIPTION (18B) “Son of God” - There was in Thyatira a special temple to Apollo (sun god). Maybe this is why He conveys Himself as the Son of God[only

1 Samuel 27:1-12 — The farmer turned to his wife. "Hey Rose, what do we call this dog?" :) Maybe this morning you feel Gods forgotten all about you? That’s how David felt in our text today. From a victory over taking revenge on Nabal in ch.25; Then a victory over Saul in ch.26; To being overwhelmed by despair in ch.27. “I’m gonna die. Saul’s going to get me & kill me eventually. I need an escape.” These feelings are not unusual. You can’t have