God has established these institutions: the home (Genesis 2:18- 25), government (Genesis 9:1-7), and the church (Acts 2). Paul tells us what our relationship to human government is to be. It is God who established the governments of the world, so man must be in subjection to them. To …
This passage shows three characteristics of Jesus (1) Realism (v. 31): He foresaw what would inevitably happen and yet he went on. (2) Confidence (v. 32): Jesus always saw beyond the Cross. He was every bit as certain of the glory as He was of the suffering. (3) Sympathy (vv. 33-35): Jesus …
In this passage, Job turns from the confidence that he could win his court case against God to a complaint about life’s futility and death’s certainty. He says that life is brief and full of trouble (v. 1). There is nothing any truer than that; trouble is the common denomin…
Chapter 19 deals with the sanctity of law. The regulations given here aren’t arranged in any particular order, but that which ties them together is their relationship to the 10 commandments. 1. Be holy (vv. 1-2) 2. Honor to parents (v. 3). 3. Honoring the Sabbath (v. 3) …
Paul was appointed as a missionary to the Gentiles (v.13). He reminded his Jewish brethren of this fact, hoping that they too would want to be saved (v. 14). The Jews had been rejected, and thus Gentiles were being offered salvation. When a Jew comes to Christ there is great rejoicing. It was …
The psalmist knew the sweetness of his salvation, he knew the glory of the days he had walked with the Lord; but he did not know how many days remained for him to do so (vv. 12-15). He had been raised in a God-fearing environment and learned well of the goodness of God. His one c …
Ashdad, a Philistine city was captured by the commander-in-chief of the Assyrian King Sargon (v. 1). The capture of Ashdad was a signal to Judah that they could not count on foreign alliances to protect them. For three years, Isaiah did not wear his outer garment of sackcloth (no …
Paul uses a hypothetical case of a believer who falls into sin. Instead of trying to restore this person the Legalists will condemn him and try to make himself look good by making this person look bad. He seems to rejoice when this brother falls and often gives the matter w …
The prophetic plan for the Gentiles is given in chapters 2-7. Soon after Nebuchadnezzar became king, there came a night that he did not sleep well. He dreamed dreams that troubled his spirit (v. 1). He didn’t realize it at the time but God was dealing with him. It is late …
Sardis is about 30 miles south of Thyatira, a wealthy city, and the capital of Lydia. The people were proud and thought they could not be overtaken but Cyrus the Great of Persia stormed the city and took it over in the sixth century. From a religious standpoint it was a center of pagan worship …