Warning

Jesus Predicts His Death

During the Feast of Tabernacles, the women’s court in the temple was lighted by giant lamps with burning wicks made from the priests’ worn-out garments. This reminded the people of how God was with them in the wilderness, guiding them by a pillar of fire by night. In this setting we find …

Repent Now

Zechariah began his book with a short speech telling the people to repent (vv. 1-3). This means ‘to be sorry. There is an old saying that he who will not learn from history is doomed to repeat it. Zechariah starts off with a solemn warning to the people to not repeat the …

Paul’s Warning to the Ephesian Elders

This was Paul’s last farewell to the Ephesian elders. As far as Ephesus was concerned, he had done all he could to evangelize and warn the city (vv. 25-27). Paul then shifted to warning these elders that they could expect danger from two sources. False teachers (wolves) would come to them from …

Judgment of Babylon

The “Desert by the Sea” could refer to the desert lands southeast of Babylon (v. 1). Possibly it was the great plain that Babylon stood on. The prophet saw in a vision an invader approaching and most commentators suggest this crisis as Elam and Media are viewed as going …

Paul Warned By the Christians

It was hard for Paul to leave the Ephesian Elders. Luke implies that he had to literally tear himself away from these dear friends (v.1). He found a ship going to Phoenicia, so he got on board and sailed off (v. 2). From there he headed south. The voyage itself was uneventful and probably took …

What King Lemuel’s Mother Taught Him

King Lemuel (some think this was actually King Solomon though we have no proof) was being taught the Word of God by his mother (v. 1). Her vows may mean that she made a vow as Hannah did, before his conception (I Sam. 1:11) or afterwards. She wanted him to know he was special to …

A Warning For Egypt

Jeremiah wrote this passage after he had gone into exile in Egypt. Here he describes the forthcoming invasion of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar, which took place after Jeremiah’s death (vv. 13- 14). In accordance with this prophesy, Nebuchadnezzar came down into Egypt and took over the …

Joshua Commissioned by The Lord

God instructed Moses to meet Him at the tabernacle and to bring Joshua, his successor with him. Speaking from the glory cloud, the Lord told the two men that Israel would turn from the true and living God and worship idols, and that He would turn away from them and send the judgment …

Avoid Devisive People

As Paul comes to the end of his message, he warns them about false teachers who, instead of preaching the truth, spread their own religious propaganda (vv. 17-18). These evildoers are not Christian teachers who have fallen into error, as some teach, but are ungodly men. They are not …

The First Speech of Zophar

Job has heard two points of the sermon from his friends: Man is sinful (Eliphaz), and God is just (Bildad). Zophar, the youngest of Job’s three friends, now finishes the sermon with the third point. God punishes sin, but He gives us less punishment than we deserve. Zophar i …