This passage can be divided into three sections with each introduced by the words “Moses said: “Moses said he wanted God’s presence to be with them as they journeyed toward the promised land (vv. 12-13). In response, God reversed his threat and promised to go with …
This psalm expresses David’s confidence in the words of God for deliverance amid men who are full of deception. Some think he wrote it during those days when his duties kept him in Saul’s courtroom while Saul was looking for ways to kill him. Others think he wrote it during those days …
The crowd listened until Paul made this last statement (v. 22). Then they started shouting, “Get rid of this man! He doesn’t deserve to live.†For Paul’s sake, it was probably good that the courtyard was paved. Had there been stones lying around the Jews may have …
The list of David’s mighty men is preceded by a short poem (vv. 1-7) titled the last words of David. In the first stanza (v. 1) he identified himself as “the son of Jesse,” a peasant farmer in Bethlehem. David was never ashamed of that, as God lifted him “ …
In this chapter God’s judgment results in three things: 1. Rebuke (vv. 1-7). This is addressed to the religious leaders, the nation in general and the royalty. It is especially directed to the religious and governmental leaders, who have been …
We are often confronted in Scripture with the evil that the tongue inflicts on others. A fool finds himself constantly in trouble because he speaks from a heart that is corrupt. In fact his mouth eventually will lead him to destruction if he is not brought to repentance. His sp …
The rest of the chapter contains Ezra’s prayer. It is in its entirety one of confession of sin, with no petition or request of any kind. Although Ezra was not personally guilty of these sins, he identifies himself with his people in his prayer. He acknowledged that all the horrib …
It seems that David may have written this psalm during the time of the purchase, and erection of an altar in the dedication of the threshing floor of Araunah (II Sam. 24). We do know that prosperity had caused David to become self-confident and proud. As a result of this G …
God is a God of holiness and those that disobey His law have judgment resting upon them. This section on curses is much more extensive than the blessings section. As a disobedient nation Israel would not only miss the rewards of obedience, but suffer pestilence (v. 16, 25), famin …
Governor Tattenai, Shethar Bozenai, and their advisors sent a report to King Darius wishing him the best (vv. 6-7). They tell how they went to Judah, where the temple of the great God is being built with huge stones and wooden beams set in the walls (v. 8). Everyone is working ha …