Leadership
Moses Flees to Midian - Exodus 2:16 – 2:25 (commentary)
Moses comes to the aid and rescued seven girls that were the daughters of the priest of Midian, and had come to draw water (vv. 16-17). When Reuel, the father hears about this heroism of Moses he invites Moses to eat with them (vv. 18-20). Later Reuel gives one of the girls, Zipp …
Deacons Chosen To Serve - Acts 6:1 – 6:15 (commentary)
The early church was faced with a big problem involving money (v. 1). There were two groups: the Hellenistic Jews (Greek speaking) and the Hebrew Jews (Aramaic speaking). The Hellenists said that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. Tension developed ...
Restoration and Leadership - John 21:15 – 21:25 (commentary)
In this passage of Scripture, Christ challenges Peter to leadership. The key issue is Peter’s love for the Lord Jesus and that should be a key matter with us today. It is interesting to note that Peter had denied his Lord three times, and now the Lord asks Peter three times, …
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The Order to Cross the Jordan - Joshua 1:10 – 1:18 (commentary)
God had commanded Joshua in verse 9 and now in this passage the newly appointed leader, Joshua speaks to the people and the people respond to support him. Joshua first told the leaders what God had told him, then the leaders quickly passed the message to their people. There was p …
The law concerning inheritance. - Numbers 27:1 – 27:23 (commentary)
The ideal life for an Old Testament Jew was to own his own land and be able to sit under his own fig tree and enjoy it with his family (I Kings 4:25). Hebrew law gave sons alone the right to inherit. The eldest son received two-thirds of the inheritance and the other sons divided …
Jephthah’s History Lesson - Judges 11:18 – 11:28 (commentary)
Last time, Jephthah defended the actions of his Israelite ancestors. They had taken the highroad, choosing not to attack the Edomites nor the Moabites but instead to seek a different travel route (vv. 14-17). They went the long way around, specifically avoiding the boundaries of Moab (v. 18). Upon ...
Evil Rulers and Lying Prophets - Micah 3:1 – 3:12 (commentary)
In this chapter Micah denounces the leaders of Israel for their sins. First, it is the princes; second, the prophets, who were the spiritual leaders; and last, all the leaders of Jerusalem, including the princes, the prophets, and the priests. “Hear, I pray you, O heads of …
Effective Leadership Is Sensitive to Others - II Corinthians 2:1 – 2:4 (commentary)
It is possible to hate the sin but love the sinner. Effective rebuke is the kind that is given with the arm of love around the other person. Rebuke given in the spirit of anger may hurt and even terrify; but the rebuke given in a loving spirit can break the heart. When Paul rebuked, the last thing he ...
Leaders Are Not to Lord Over God’s Heritage - I Peter 5:1 – 5:7 (commentary)
Peter says he is writing to encourage Church leaders (v. 1). Just as shepherds are to watch over their sheep Church leaders must watch over everyone God has placed in their care (v. 2). They are to do it willingly in order to please the Lord and not because they feel like they have to. Also, they ...
Gabriel Interprets The Vision - Daniel 8:15 – 8:27 (commentary)
Even though Daniel was able to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams he could not interpret this dream so he earnestly sought for its meanings. Gabriel was sent to give the meaning of the vision to Daniel (vv. 15-16). He was a heavenly messenger God used to explain Daniel’ …
Omri And Ahab Reigns in Israel - I Kings 16:21 – 16:34 (commentary)
The death of Zimri did not automatically place the throne of the Northern Kingdom in Omri’s hands. Half the population, including the army, followed Omri but the other half sided with Tibni (v. 21). For over three years civil war ravaged Israel and threatened to split it …
King Hiram Sent a Letter to Solomn - II Chronicles 2:11 – 2:18 (commentary)
Solomon sends the blueprint for the temple to Hiram, the king of Tyre. Hiram readily received Solomon’s request and “answered in writing” (v. 1). This country recognized and accepted the new leadership of Solomon as King over Israel. Hiram wrote “Because the Lord …
Jehoshaphat Encourages People to Turn Back to God - II Chronicles 19:1 – 19:11 (commentary)
We find Jehoshaphat initiating new reforms within the judicial system. He traveled throughout Judea to encourage people to turn back to the Lord God of their fathers. Throughout the land he appointed godly judges to judge not for man but for the Lord. They were to have no respect of ...
Mordecai Promoted by Xerxes - Esther 10:1 – 10:3 (commentary)
The book closes by speaking of the king’s power; but more importantly extols the leadership abilities of Mordecai who was once a hated Jew in the Persian Empire (vv. 1-3). He was promoted by Ahasuerus and loved by the Jews (v. 3). Mordecai did not only act frequently on his own b …
God’s Restored House - I Chronicles 5:1 – 5:26 (commentary)
God’s blessing of Judah with leadership over the Israelites was contrary to natural order. It was pure grace for those tribes. These tribes of Judah settled east of the Jordan: ...
Better to Have Wisdom Than Gold - Proverbs 16:12 – 16:22 (commentary)
Rulers should hate wrongdoing and value honesty in themselves and in others (v. 12). Honesty and fairness are not always easy, but they are what God demands. Right and just lips are the delight of a king, and he loves those who speaks what is right (v. 13). Wisdom is more ...
Esther agrees to go to the King - Esther 4:12 – 4:17 (commentary)
Esther is unique among the books of the Bible in that it is the only book in which the Lord God of Israel is never mentioned. But you can’t read this book without seeing the Lord’s hand of providence moving in the background, preparing the way of salvation for his people. Last time ...