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 …
Jesus explained how the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit’s great work is that of illumination, bringing God’s truth to all men (vv. 12-15). All truth is God’s truth. Man does not discover it; God reveals it as a gift. As we witness in this hostile world, the Holy Spirit takes the …
In this passage we find that heaven was not simply a destination for Paul; it was also a motivation. He was anxiously waiting for the day when he would fully participate in the abundant life promised in heaven. He used a tent or earthly house as a picture of our present earthly bodies (v. 1). A tent …
Agar the inspired writer of these verses is not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture and even though his father’s name is given there is no clue to his family or tribe in Israel. Ithiel and Ucal are appar¬ently his companions but are also unknown (v. 1). Agar seems to have been a plain and …
This passage contrasts righteousness with wickedness (vv. 25-32). A storm of life may come suddenly and bring disaster to the wicked by destroying lives and property but the righteous are secure (v. 25). Just as vinegar is sour tasting and smoke irritates the eyes so does a …
The Son of God declares himself to have been engaged in the creation of the world (vv. 22-30). How able, is the Son of God to be the Saviour of the world, who was the Creator of it! The Son of God was ordained, before the world, to that great work. Not a speck of matter, (v.26), …
Up to this point John has been talking about “the commandments” in general; but now he focuses on one single commandment and that is that God’s people love one another (vv. 7- 8). Although the Old Testament Law required love for one another (Leviticus 19:18), Christ gave …
Here we find Jesus pronouncing condemnation against the cities in which some of His most significant miracles had occurred (vv. 20-24). Chorazin was a village about two and a half miles north of Capernaum; Bethsaida was about three miles east. All three cities had witnessed Jesus’s …
Timnah was located about 4 miles southwest of Zorah which was only about an hour’s walk. It was here that Samson met the first of his lovers and he didn’t seem to be concerned that she was a Philistine (v. 1). He knew the laws of separation God had given to the people, but he chose to ignore
We are now introduced to the villain of the story, Haman, who becomes the archenemy of Mordecai, Esther, and the Jewish nation (v. 1). King Ahasuerus evidently did not like to perform the details of government, so he had handed over to Haman the day-to-day work of ruling (v. 2) …