Bible Commentaries

Psalms 111:4-9 — 2. Praise for specific works 111:4-9 Psalms 111:4 states the theme of this section. God graciously helped His people, and consequently they remember to praise Him. Psalms 111:5-6 cite examples of God’s goodness. In Psalms 111:7-9, the writer praised God further for His redemption and His faithfulness.

Psalms 18:4-29 — 2. God’s deliverance 18:4-29 In this extended section, David reviewed how God had saved him in times of danger. In Psalms 18:4-19 he described God’s supernatural deliverance, and in Psalms 18:20-29 he explained it as he saw it through the lens of his faith in God.

Psalms 4:1-8 — Psalms 4 Many students of the psalms have recognized that Psalms 4 is very closely akin to Psalms 3 in both subject matter and structure. It is an individual lament with motifs characteristic of psalms of confidence. Bullock saw this type of psalm as a distinct

Isaiah 3:1-4 — The folly of trusting in people 3:1-4:1 This section gives particular examples of the general statements that precede it. Isaiah’s point was that depending on people will not yield the glorious destiny of Israel depicted in Isaiah 2:1-4. The prophet used imagery to make his point rather than logical argumentation.

Jeremiah 4:25 — The people had deserted the land, and even the birds were gone, so thoroughly had this enemy purged the land. [Note: Contrast the descriptions of chaos in Jeremiah 4:23; Jeremiah 4:25 with the descriptions of creation in Genesis 1:2, 3, 8, 10, 20, and 26. See also Job 3:3-13.]

Lamentations 1:6 — Once majestic, Jerusalem now sat humiliated. Her leaders, including Zedekiah and his advisers, had fled like frightened stags that could find no pasture-even though they had been strong in the past (cf. 2 Kings 24:1; 2 Kings 24:12; 2 Kings 25:4-5; Jeremiah 39:4-5).

Ezekiel 41:12 — The temple outbuilding 41:12 Another large building stood to the west of the temple proper 20 cubits (33 feet 4 inches) from its west wall. It was 70 cubits (116 feet 8 inches) deep and 90 cubits (150 feet) wide with walls five cubits (8 feet 4 inches) thick. Its function is unknown.

Ezekiel 41:9-10 — The exterior wall of the side rooms was five cubits (8 feet 4 inches) thick, and there was 20 cubits (33 feet 4 inches) of open space between these walls and any other structures surrounding the temple proper. Other structures could not intrude on the holy space surrounding the temple.

Amos 9:15 — Furthermore the Israelites would put roots down in the Promised Land and never have to leave it again (cf. Genesis 13:14-15; Genesis 17:7-8; Deuteronomy 30:1-5; 2 Samuel 7:10; Jeremiah 30:10-11; Ezekiel 37:25; Joel 3:17-21; Micah 4:4-7; Zechariah 14:11). They would not fear exile (Amos 4:2-3; Amos 5:5; Amos 5:27; Amos 6:7; Amos 7:11; Amos 7:17; Amos 9:4) but would be

Zechariah 6:4-6 — prophet’s request for interpretation, his angel guide explained that the chariots represented the four spirits (winds, Heb. ruhoth) of heaven (i.e., angels), which were going forth having been in the presence of the Lord of all the earth (cf. Zechariah 4:14). They were His messengers, the executors of His will (cf. Psalms 104:4). The chariot with the black horses went north from Jerusalem, the direction from which most of Israel’s enemy invaders descended on the Promised Land (e.g., Babylonia;

Deuteronomy 16:1-17 — were joyous celebrations (Deuteronomy 16:11; Deuteronomy 16:15). Evidently the Israelites roasted the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:9), but they boiled the additional offerings for that day (Deuteronomy 16:7; cf. 2 Chronicles 35:13). [Note: Sailhamer, p. 452.] God’s people should celebrate God’s redemption, remember our previous enslaved condition, and rejoice in God’s provisions corporately and regularly (cf. Ephesians 5:4; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 2:7; Colossians 4:2; 1 Timothy

Mark 3:20-34 — B. The increasing rejection of Jesus and its result 3:20-4:34 As Jesus’ ministry expanded, so did rejection of Him as God’s anointed servant. Mark documented the increasing rejection that Jesus experienced (Mark 3:20-35) and then explained that Jesus taught the multitudes in parables as a result (Mark 4:1-34).

John 4:40-42 — The openness of these Samaritans contrasts with the hostility of so many of Jesus’ Jewish hearers (cf. John 1:11). It required considerable humility for these Samaritans to invite a Jewish rabbi to stay with them (John 4:9). During the following two days many more Samaritans than just those who visited Jesus by Jacob’s well became believers in Him. They did so because of Jesus’ words that confirmed what the woman had said about Him. They produced certain

Acts 21:10-11 — Agabus previously had come from Jerusalem to Antioch to foretell the famine of A.D. 46 (Acts 11:26-27). Now he came down to Caesarea and prophesied Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem (cf. Mark 9:31; Mark 10:33; John 21:18). He illustrated his prediction graphically as several Old Testament prophets had done (cf. 1 Kings 11:29-31; Isaiah

Romans 14:11 — Everyone will bow in judgment before the Son of God (Isaiah 45:23; Isaiah 49:13; cf. Philippians 2:10-11). Christians will do so at the judgment seat of Christ following the Rapture (Luke 14:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 22:12). Old Testament saints will do so at the

2 Corinthians 1:12-4 — 1. The postponement of the intended visit 1:12-2:4 In the present section (2 Corinthians 1:12 to 2 Corinthians 2:4) Paul sought to clarify the motives that led him to change his plans to visit the Corinthians. He did so to refute false accusations concerning him that were circulating in Corinth.

Philippians 4:20 — through His Son, and He often uses His people as His channels of blessing. Nevertheless ultimately God is the provider of His people’s needs. May we ever be mindful of this truth and be grateful to Him! We cannot read this pericope (Philippians 4:10-20) thoughtfully without appreciating the apostle Paul’s sensitivity to his Philippian readers. He was careful to balance what he said. He wanted them to understand his genuine gratitude for their gifts on the one hand and his contentment with

Colossians 4:7-8 — was a faithful servant. In relation to Paul he was a fellow-bondslave either both as a prisoner of Rome and to the will of God, or just to the will of God. Tychicus’ name occurs five times in association with Paul in the New Testament (Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7; Titus 3:12; 2 Timothy 4:12). "Someone has said that the greatest ability in the world is dependability, and this is true." [Note: Wiersbe, 2:149.]

2 Timothy 4:8 — living.Believers’ CrownsTitleReasonReferenceAn Imperishable CrownFor leading a disciplined life1 Corinthians 9:25A Crown of RejoicingFor evangelism and discipleship1 Thessalonians 2:19A Crown of RighteousnessFor loving the Lord’s appearing2 Timothy 4:8A Crown of LifeFor enduring trialsJames 1:12;Revelation 2:10A Crown of GloryFor shepherding God’s flock faithfully1 Peter 5:4 Clearly Paul was thinking of the judgment seat of Christ in 2 Timothy 4:1-8. He referred to his Judge in 2 Timothy 4:1;

1 Samuel 4:12-18 — 2. The response of Eli 4:12-18 The deaths of Hophni and Phinehas, who accompanied the soldiers into battle, were the sign God promised Eli that He would remove the priestly privilege from Eli’s descendants eventually (1 Samuel 2:34). The writer carefully recorded that