Recent Commentaries

Reflecting on the period of exile, Psalm 137 may have been written toward the end of the Babylonian Captivity. So great was the exiles’ grief that even the singers were silent. It is about two cities: Babylon and Jerusalem, and Edom, Israel’s the next-door neighbor. The Israelites …

Too often we view prayer as a time for comfort, reflection, or making our requests known to God. But in verse 30 Paul urges believers to join in his struggles by means of prayer. Prayer is also a weapon in all believers’ armor as we intercede for others who join in the fight against Satan …

In the midst of a very busy schedule, we find Jesus facing opposition from both friend and foe. News had reached His relatives in Nazareth (twenty-five miles away) that Jesus was out of His mind and doing crazy things so they came to try to talk some sense into Him. His own brothers …

From the “Beginning” of history until the time of Samuel “Theocratic” rule was Israel’s sole form of government. It failed, not because God failed but because Israel failed. When the people demanded of Samuel that he give them a king so they might be like the …

This final chapter of Luke records the experiences of several people who had first-hand experiences with the risen Lord. In each case they were depressed because of Jesus’ death, but after meeting with Him they were joyful and praised God. The first people to learn …

This is a pivotal chapter in the book of Genesis as God turns His attention from a rebellious humanity scattered by the judgment of Babel to one man, Abraham. At this point, Abraham was 75 years of age and had another 100 years to live (v. 4). The next twelve chapters of Genesis are …

Jesus already had his own fish and bread cooking over a charcoal fire (v. 9). John specifically told us that Peter denied Jesus thrice standing next to a similar charcoal fire (John 18:18). Jesus was preparing Peter’s heart for the lesson He was about to teach him. The presence of bread and fish …

God assures Moses that he has forgiven the sin of disobedience by the people, but this forgiveness does not prevent the consequences. These results are as follows:The nation wanders in the wilderness for forty years, one year for each day the spies had spent spying out the land.E …

While Ezra was down on his knees in front of God’s temple, praying with tears in his eyes, and confessing the sins of the people of Israel, a large number of men, women, and children gathered around him and cried bitterly (v. 1). Shecaniah son of Jehiel from the family of Elam sa …

A third wake-up call is addressed to Jerusalem and is a command not only to wake up, but to dress up (vv. 1-6). She must put on her beautiful garments (v. 1). She shall no longer be a servant girl trodden under foot by the gentile nations, but she shall once again be the holy city (v. 2). God sold …