Protection
Do You Have Confidence in God’s Protection? - Psalms 3:1 – 3:8 (commentary)
This Psalm was thought to have been written when David took flight from his own palace to hide himself from his rebellious son Absalom. The historical background for this can be found in II Samuel 15-17. David felt that he was in the minority. There may have been as many as 10,00 …
The Early Days of Moses - Exodus 2:1 – 2:15 (commentary)
Moses is born (vv. 1-2). His parents kept him inside for three months but when they could no longer keep him hidden they placed him in a basket and placed him in the tall grass along the edge of the Nile river (v. 3). The baby’s older sister stood at a distance and watched to se …
Heads of Families Return With Ezra - Ezra 8:1 – 8:23 (commentary)
This chapter contains a list of those who returned with Ezra to Jerusalem (vv. 1-14). This was a much smaller group than the one that had returned with Zerubbabel earlier. Those returning with Ezra totaled 1496 males plus 18 heads of families. It is interesting to see how the nam …
A Plot to Kill Paul - Acts 23:12 – 23:22 (commentary)
More than forty Jews banded together under an oath agreeing that they would not eat anything until they had killed Paul (vv. 12-14). This band of zealots were roughly equivalent to the terrorists who threaten us today. They made this plan known to the Sanhedrin and somehow Paul’s nephew ...
David Determines to Serve The Lord No Matter What Happens - Psalms 34:1 – 34:7 (commentary)
It is thought by Bible scholars that this psalm was written by David. When he killed Goliath in the valley of Elah it not only spelled triumph for David but it spelled trouble as well. King Saul immediately became jealous of him and tried to kill him. David finally began to becom …
The Lord Loves And Blesses The Just - Psalms 37:18 – 37:29 (commentary)
The wicked man has no protection. The psalmist likens his future to smoke that soon disperses and vanishes. God has His winds which can soon blow away the defenses of the wicked man. On the other hand, no calamity can befall the righteous that God is unaware of (v. 18). They …
Jerusalem is Greatly to be Praised - Psalms 48:1 – 48:8 (commentary)
Church history would indicate that this Psalm was written to commemorate the defeat of Sennacherib and the powerful Assyrian army. In his pride and ambition, he had thought the conquest of Jerusalem was a foregone conclusion. However, he had failed to take into account that he was …
Assurance in God’s Enduring Promises - Psalms 61:1 – 61:8 (commentary)
It is evident that David wrote this Psalm while he was undergoing some type of banishment. It seems that he may have written it soon after Absalom’s rebellion had been crushed by Joab. Absalom was dead and it looked like the way was now clear for David to return to Jerusalem. Ho …
Stand Protected During Our Daily Battle - Ephesians 6:14 – 6:17 (commentary)
To “stand” implies urgency and in place (v. 14). The “girdle” holds the other parts of the armor together in the same way that truth is an integrating force of the victorious Christian’s life. The soldier’s “breastplate” protected h …
Saul tries to Kill David and Michal saves him - I Samuel 19:1 – 19:24 (commentary)
Saul sets in motion several steps to kill David (v. 1). First, he asks his servants to kill him. Jonathan goes to his father, on David’s behalf, and is able to appease him for a time (vv. 2-7). In fact, Saul makes the statement, “As the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain&quo …
Deliverance From Israel’s Enemy - Isaiah 31:1 – 31:9 (commentary)
This fifth “woe” is a brief summary of what Isaiah had already told the people. Their faith was in men and not in God (vv. 1-3). They trusted in “horses” and “chariots” and not in the hand of the Lord. God had warned the Jewish kings not …
God’s Protection of Israel - Isaiah 41:1 – 41:16 (commentary)
The Lord confronts the nations and the islands in judgment (v. 1). The reference to nations and islands suggest all the world’s people. God told the nations that because He controls history, they really have no control over the future (vv 2-4). The Lord affirms that He is …
The Blinded Syrians Captured - II Kings 6:8 – 6:23 (commentary)
Beginning at verse eight Syrian invasions of Israel are noted. The first incident involved marauding bands of Syrians who made border raids against the Jews (vv. 8-9). Ben-haded II, king of Aram, planned to pitch his camp on the border from which he could strike unexpectedly. G …
The Second Decree to Protect The Jews Was Given - Esther 8:10 – 8:17 (commentary)
Despite Haman’s death and Mordecai’s promotion, the Jews were still doomed to destruction by a decree that could not be reversed by the king. It was decided that a second unalterable decree had to be issued to overcome the effectiveness of the first decree. This second decree gave permission ...
David Escapes From Saul - I Samuel 23:15 – 23:29 (commentary)
As we read I Samuel 23-24 and consider the events, we are reminded of the words of Christ in Matthew 18:7, “Woe unto the world because of offenses! For it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!” David was at Horesh in the Ziph …
David Seeks Refuge From Saul in Phillistia - I Samuel 27:1 – 27:12 (commentary)
In this chapter, David is compelled to leave his homeland because of the slander of Cush and the betrayal of the people of Ziph. At Engedi there seemed to be a complete and harmonious reconciliation between David and Saul. Yet, in just a brief time, Saul was again hunting David. …
No one Can Kill us Unless God Says O.K. - Jeremiah 45:1 – 45:5 (commentary)
This chapter comes from the time when Jeremiah sent Baruch down to the temple to read the words he had dictated, as we saw in our previous study (v. 1). Chronologically it should follow Chapter 36. But Jeremiah has placed it right here because it gathers up the feeling of the hea …
Judgment on False Religion and Corruption - Amos 3:11 – 3:15 (commentary)
In the past a walled city was a protected city, and a city without walls was vulnerable. A walled city could be taken only with great difficulty. A military leader seeking to take a walled stronghold would require (1) a large army and a willingness to take many casualties, (2) superior tactics, ...