Bible Commentaries

Ezra 3:1-13 — lean-to’s for a whole week. This was the most joyful feast of the year. A festival packed with Joy & feasting lasting 1 whole week. This came right after the Day of Atonement. True Joy comes only when we know we are right w/God. Ps.51:7,8,12 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice…Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, & uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Parents:

Esther 7:1-9 — to make a bomb in his garage. Surprised while burglarizing a house in Antwerp, Belgium, the thief fled out the back door, clambered over a nine-foot wall, dropped down the other side, and found himself in the city prison. Oops! 2009 flight NW#253 The underwear bomber. Who sewed 80oz of a highly explosive chemical PETN, inside his unde’s. Then had acid in a syringe as the detonator. "The explosive device went off, but it became an incendiary device instead of an explosive device”. One

Psalms 126:1-6 — Sheaves Background of Psalm 126: Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, at feast times, included the singing of Psalm 120-134, the songs of Ascent, the songs of going up. Here, the reminder of when they were slaves to now being Free [Psalm 126, is the 7th of 15 songs of Ascents] BONDAGE TO FREEDOM (1,2a) ​​​​​​​It begins with a scene of nearly delirious joy, seen from Israel’s past when people released from their Assyrian or Babylonian captivity

Psalms 145:1-21 — Intro: Huge is a small definition of God. anonymous [How Great Thou Art] A few weeks ago at our pastors conference, Paul Tripp mentioned Psalm 145 as an example of a man who truly had the awe of God. He asked, have you lost your awe of God? You are attracted to whatever is the awe of your heart. Each of us as individuals contain a variety of characteristics that comprise our identity

Psalms 2:1-12 — governments, & earthly powers into submission. Ps: This outline from unashamedly stolen from Warren Wiersbe Psalms :) THE VOICE OF THE NATIONS (1-3) the voice of defiance It’s interesting… God formed the nations (Gen.10:5 babel) From these the coastland peoples of the Gentiles were separated into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their nations. God provided for the nations (Acts.14:16,17) In the past he permitted all

Ecclesiastes 4:1-16 — defined as, when a stronger person abuses his/her power by taking from a weaker person, what God alone has given the weaker person, God judges this as sin. God doesn’t just get angry about injustice but does something about it. Ps.35:10 All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like You, Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him? THE DEAD & THE LIVING (2,3) Solomon will express his dissatisfaction

Deuteronomy 29:1-29 — work (Paul uses this text in Rom.11:8). This shows us though...if we are to be faithful, we need spiritual renewal for our eyes, ears, & hearts. We need to see His hand at work, hear His word, & love Him with all our hearts. (5-8) For 40 years the people saw miracles & heard words, yet they did not perceive what God was doing. They saw His acts but did not understand His ways. Ps.103:7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. They

Deuteronomy 34:1-12 — moment? When did Moses make it into the Promise Land? Ask? On the Mount of Transfiguration with Elijah. They discussed with Christ His “exodus”, that He would accomplish at Jerusalem. Luke 9:27–31 MYSTERY GRAVE (5,6) ​​​​​​​When God showed Moses what he was missing...wasn’t that mean? Would you want to know what you missed out on in life? Was it something else? Ask? Maybe it was to show him the finish

Deuteronomy 5:20-33 — here? Did God change? #NINE - DON’T LIE (20) Note also, the 6th through 9th commandments thus acknowledge a person’s right to his life, home, property, and reputation. Rom.13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Prov.25:18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow. Lying can wound a person’s character and even destroy his life as effectively as weapons. It’s a murder of their reputation. Prov.6:16-19

Deuteronomy 8:1-20 — cry in which the bitterness of the Texans over the massacres by Mexican forces at the Alamo in San Antonio found expression, on March 6,1836. People worldwide continue to remember the Alamo as a heroic struggle against impossible odds (200 vs. 1500). The children in the wilderness also just went through a heroic struggle against impossible odds. By trusting in God the last 40 years. Remember! How’s your memory? - I have an incredible memory for names ever since I took that Sam

Acts 11:1-30 — us…Culture! ​​​​​​​In many communities the whole family does what dad does. A few years back they were talking about all the Dalit’s (untouchables) in India possibly coming to the Lord (250 million). Almost a whole village in Mindanao w/the Bailey’s ministry. Peter doesn’t try to figure out the theology here, instead just tells of his experience. (just an ordinary conversation) Not hearsay but their own experience.

Acts 14:1-28 — discovered ancient inscriptions in Lystra dedicated to Zeus & Hermes. Paul didn’t know what they were doing for while because they spoke in their native tongue (11). It probably wouldn’t have gotten so far had he known. God of nature(15), God of history(16), God of providence(17), God of grace (21-23) This was a Joshua “Choose this day whom you will serve” preaching. Some call this an “Allegiance Encounter” (challenge to shift their allegiance) Others

Romans 7:1-12 — Intro: When asked to account for the sleeping giant Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines (asleep some 500yr), a research scientist from the Philippines Department of Volcanology observed, "When a volcano is silent for many years, our people forget that it's a volcano and begin to treat it like a mountain" Like Mount Pinatubo, our sinful

Ephesians 1:1-6 — believers in Ephesus [Other 3 prison epistles: Philippines, Colossians, Philemon] Ephesus was famous for its temple to Diana/Artemis (7th Wonder of the Ancient world). Ephesus emerged as the religious center of all Asia. They had a stadium that held 50,000 spectators. This is where the riot broke out regarding Paul & his friends. Extraordinary miracles took place there… Acts 19:11,12 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons

Philippians 2:12-30 — believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom.10:10 Present - We are being saved from sins Power! Having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Rom.5:9 Future - We will 1 day be saved from sins Presence! For now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  Rom.13:11 Work out - work on to the finish (LKGNT). Like working

1 Samuel 19:1-24 — beautiful worship Psalms. Even design the worship instruments. The one God would covenant with to keep the light shining in Jerusalem during the dark days of the nations decline. The one from whom God would bring The Messiah into the world? (2-5) Jonathan had to walk the dangerous line between loyalty to his father Saul & love for his friend David. He chose to stand for the truth & defend his friend before the king. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without

1 Samuel 26:1-25 — you worth? We’ll discuss this towards the end when David said that he desired his life to be valued much in the eyes of the Lord. (24) THE SPEAR & THE JUG! ​​​​​​​SETTING THE SCENE! (1-5) Once again, David is going to spare Saul’s life. Just like 2 chapters back. This is a different story than ch.24. Many differences. SECOND OPPORTUNITY! (6-12) (8) Abishi - a brave man; but brave men are not always wise. He

1 Samuel 4:1-22 — asking according to Jesus’ will & mission. God isn’t our cosmic piñata & in Jesus name isn’t the magic stick that whacks the piñata & all the goodies fall out of heaven. (3-5) Eli’s 2 sons wanted God’s help but not God’s holiness. (Warren Wiersbe: With The Word; 1 Sam.4) They wanted God in their crisis of life but not for their daily lives. They thought that the presence of the ark would assure

2 Samuel 18:1-33 — these questions later, he replied, "My country did not send me 7,000 miles away to start the race. They sent me 7,000 miles to finish it." I think we could say the same about finishing our Christian Race! Outline: 2 RUNNERS & A 5K! The Christian Life is a Race to be Run. So let’s meet 2 Runners. Runner #1 Ahimaaz; Runner #2 The Cushite. John in his Revelation, pictures the life of the saint as one who clashes with conflict. He gives us a glimpse of

2 Samuel 21:15-22 — Patton A pint of sweat, saves a gallon of blood. George Patton Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory. George Patton Lets listen in today for another soldier(David) & the lessons he left us with. [Read 15-22] David was engaged in a battle with the Philistines. This battle took place when David was past the prime of his life(65-70); and in the battle...the old warrior grew weary. David’s enemy sensed the king's vulnerability, and