Judge Gideon (Judges 6:11-8:35)
Jotham's Parable (Judges 9:7-21)
There are not many parables in the OT as we can find in the NT. The parable is a critique on the aftermath of the narrative about Gidon. The metaphorical picture it conveys is from the realm of trees evaluating certain qualities of them.
Judge Tola (Judges 10:1-2)
Tola judged Israel for 23 years after the death of Abimelech. He lived and was also buried at Shamir in Mount Ephraim.
Judge Jair (Judges 10:3–5)
The name of judge Jair (יָאִיר) means "he enlightens." He was a man from Gilead of the Tribe of Manasseh, east of the River Jordan, who judged Israel for 22 years. The passage mentioning this judge is only of three verses long and describes general whereabouts, years of reign and sons of Jair.
Judge Ibzan (Judges 12:8-10)
Ibzan is the ninth judge of Israel. He was from Bethlehem and had very numerous offspring. He ruled over Israel for seven years.
Judge Elon (Judges 12:11-12)
Judge Elon served as a judge of Israel for ten years. He was a member of the tribe of Zebulun.
Judge Abdon (Judges 12:13-15)
Abdon was the eleventh Judge of Israel, the son of Hillel. He had very numerous offspring who rode on seventy donkeys.
Ruth
The biblical book of Ruth is a narrative account that tells the story of Ruth (רוּת [rûṯ]), a Moabite woman, who marries a Hebrew man named Mahlon. Ruth and Mahlon's family leave their hometown of Bethlehem and settle in Moab, but tragedy strikes when Mahlon and his brother die, leaving Ruth and...
David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-58)
The story of David and Goliath is a famous biblical account found in 1 Samuel 17:1-58. The story takes place during the time of the Israelites' battles against the Philistines. The story of David and Goliath illustrates God's sovereignty, his ability to use unlikely people for his purposes, the...
Elisha and Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:8-37)
2 Kings 4:8-37, portrays a story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman, demonstrating themes of faith, hospitality, divine promise, and resurrection. This passage serves as a powerful testament to God's compassion, the efficacy of faith, and the hope of resurrection. The narrative unfolds in three...
Surely God is good to Israel (Psalm 73)
Psalm 73 is one of the Psalms of Asaph (see 50 and 74-83). It is numbered as 73 in Masoretic numbering while in Septuagint and Vulgate the numbering it is 72. This psalm is raising a topic of prosperity of righteous and wicked people. For the author, as he observes, it seems like those who are...
I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever (Psalm 89)
The Psalm looks to the Lord as a creator. The scientific question of how creation took place goes away, and the main theme is the nature of the Lord, which reveals in creation. King David and his descendants are also a significant theme in the text. They are the object of the Lord's grace....
Praise the Lord, my soul (Psalm 104)
This psalm praises the act of creation. It is composed as a prayer to God, celebrating what he has done in his creative power. The crucial aspect of this creation account is that the creation is habitable and liveable. It is Lord who guarantees that everything works toward prosperity and life,...
In My Distress I Cried Unto the Lord (Psalm 120)
Psalm 120 is the first of the fifteen Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134). It's a short psalm, expressing a cry for deliverance and peace in the midst of distress and falsehood. The psalm starts with the psalmist expressing his deep distress and how he turns to the Lord for deliverance. In his...
I lift up my eyes to the mountains (Psalm 121)
Psalm 121 is a song of ascents, part of a group of Psalms 120-134 traditionally sung by Jewish pilgrims as they ascended to Jerusalem for the three major festivals. This particular psalm encourages believers to trust in the Lord for protection and provision. The passage shifts the focus from human...
I was glad when they said to me: Let us go to the house of the Lord! (Psalm 122:1-9)
Psalm 122 is a part of the Songs of Ascents, which is a collection of psalms (Psalms 120-134) sung by pilgrims as they ascended to Jerusalem for the three major Jewish festivals. Psalm 122, attributed to David, expresses joy and reverence for Jerusalem as a place of worship and divine...
I Lift Up My Eyes to You (Psalm 123)
Psalm 123 is a short but profound passage within the Songs of Ascents, which were songs sung by pilgrims as they made their journey to Jerusalem for the major Jewish festivals. This psalm, specifically, is a prayer for mercy, expressing deep dependence on God. The text is a plea for God's mercy...
If the Lord Had Not Been on Our Side (Psalm 124)
Psalm 124 is a song of ascents, traditionally attributed to King David, that expresses profound gratitude and recognition of divine intervention and protection in the face of adversity. The psalm begins by inviting the Israelites to consider the hypothetical situation of the Lord not being on...
Those Who Trust in the Lord (Psalm 125)
Psalm 125 is a song of ascents, expressing trust in God's protection and justice. It uses vivid imagery and key Hebrew terms to convey its message of faith and divine justice. The Psalm begins by comparing those who trust in the Lord to Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but stands forever. This...
When the Lord Restored the Fortunes of Zion, We Were Like Those Who Dreamed (Psalm 126)
Psalm 126 is a powerful passage that belongs to the collection of Psalms known as the "Songs of Ascents," traditionally sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for religious festivals. This specific psalm reflects a communal memory of past deliverance and a prayer for future restoration,...
Unless the Lord builds the house (Psalm 127)
Psalm 127:1-5, attributed to Solomon, emphasizes the importance of divine providence and blessing in all human endeavors. The stress of the passege is clearly that without the Lord's involvement and blessing, human efforts are ultimately futile. The psalm begins in verse 1 with the assertion...
Blessed are All Who Fear the Lord (Psalm 128)
Psalm 128 is a song of ascents, part of a collection of psalms sung by Jewish pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. It is a concise poem, rich in blessings and promises for those who fear Yahweh and walk in his ways. The theological message of the psalm emphasizes the importance of piety and the fear...
They have greatly oppressed me from my youth (Psalm 129)
Psalm 129 is a part of songs of ascents, traditionally recited by Israelites during pilgrimages to Jerusalem. This psalm reflects on the persistent oppression of Israel by its enemies and acknowledges divine deliverance. The psalm begins with the psalmist recalling Israel's long history of...
Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord (Psalm 130)
Psalm 130 is a profound expression of repentance and hope. It captures the cry of an individual deeply aware of their sinfulness, yet hopeful in the mercy of God. This psalm is notable for its intense emotional depth and theological richness, emphasizing themes of repentance, forgiveness, and...
Lord, my heart is not proud (Psalm 131)
Psalm 131:1-3 is a short yet profound passage attributed to David, describing a deep sense of humility, contentment, and trust in God. Psalm 131 teaches the virtue of humility (גָּבַהּ [gavah] and רָמוּ [ramu]) and the importance of trust in God. The psalmist’s refusal to engage in matters...
Lord, remember David (Psalm 132)
Psalm 132 is a part of the Songs of Ascents, a collection of psalms sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem. This psalm has two main sections: verses 1-10, which are a petition for God to remember David's devotion and promises concerning the ark of the covenant; and verses 11-18, which recount...
Behold, how good and pleasant it is (Psalm 133)
Psalm 133 is a short pilgrim psalm attributed to David, celebrating the beauty and blessings of unity among God’s people. It uses vivid imagery to describe how good and pleasant it is to dwell together in unity. The passage emphasizes the sacredness of communal harmony through two key similes: the...
Praise the Lord, All You Servants of the Lord (Psalm 134)
Psalm 134:1-3 is a short but profound call to worship. It is part of the Songs of Ascents, a collection of psalms sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. This particular psalm invites the servants of the Lord to bless him, especially those who minister by night in the temple. It ends with a...
Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good (Psalm 136)
This is a responsive psalm where the community answers back to the deeds of praise on God. The first topic is the creation for which God receives the praise. The following topic is the Exodus and the way to the Promised land. These are the main events in the history of God's people, in which the...
Wisdom’s Call (Proverbs 8:1-9:18)
The proverb accounts the Wisdom as a direct witness to the creation. She was there and saw the act. Therefore the Wisdom also precedes the existence of the creation. The Wisdom is the one who mediates between God and humans. In the book of Proverbs, God is a somewhat distant deity. He does not...
The Temple Sermon (Jeremiah 7:1-11)
In Jeremiah 7:1-11, the prophet delivers a message from God to the people of Judah, emphasizing the importance of true worship and moral behavior over superficial rituals. The passage, known as the "Temple Sermon," rebukes the people's misplaced trust in the temple as a guarantee of safety while...
Let not the Wise Boast (Jeremiah 9:22-23)
In this passage, the Lord warns against boasting in one's wisdom, strength, or wealth, as these worldly attributes are not what truly matter in the eyes of God. Instead, God desires that individuals take pride in their knowledge and understanding of Him, recognizing His just and righteous...
The Lord will Dwell in Zion (Zechariah 2:14-17)
The passage Zechariah 2:14-17 offers profound theological insights. It foregrounds the divine promise of God's immanent presence amongst His people, indicating an intimate and benevolent relationship between the Divine and His followers. This presence denotes more than mere proximity. It suggests...
Malachi
The book of Malachi, the last of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament, begins with a divine proclamation of love for Israel. Yet, intertwined with this assurance is a deep-seated divine discontent. God addresses the spiritual apathy and negligence of both the priests and the people of Israel....
Gemstones in the New Testament
In the tapestry of biblical narratives, the New Testament unveils a fascinating array of precious stones. These gems, particularly highlighted in the Book of Revelation, are not just ornamental but are imbued with profound symbolic significance. They are emblematic of spiritual truths, divine...
Teaching about Divorce (Matthew 19:1-12)
Matthew 19:1-12 recounts Jesus' teachings on marriage and divorce, emphasizing the sacredness of marital bonds and the importance of upholding the original intent of God's design for marriage. The passage begins with the Pharisees testing Jesus by asking whether it is lawful for a man to divorce...
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King (Matthew 21:1-11)
The text describes Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. In this passage, Jesus fulfills an Old Testament prophecy (Zechariah 9:9) by riding into the city on a donkey, accompanied by his disciples. A large crowd gathers to welcome him, laying their cloaks and palm branches on the road as a sign of...