Nahum 2 – Micah’s choice of wording is not random. He sarcastically refers to the nation of Nineveh as lions in verses 11 and 12. “Archeologists have found a carving from a palace showing an Assyrian king …
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Nahum 1 – The book of Jonah was God’s grace to Ninevah, and Nahum is His truth. God would judge Nineveh. For some, the thought of His judgment invokes imagery of an all-powerful Being looking down on …
Haggai 2 – The main event of Haggai is the rebuilding of the temple, however, there are other several other storylines that run alongside this narrative. One such example is verse 13 where Haggai offers two opposing …
Haggai 1 – We just finished studying Zephaniah who warned of God’s future judgment on Judah, and as predicted, they were carried off to captivity by Babylon. That bondage lasted 70 years until Babylon was conquered by …
Habakkuk 3 – O LORD, I have heard of what you have done, and I am filled with awe. Now do again in our times the great deeds you used to do. Be merciful, even when you …
Habakkuk 2 – What’s the use of an idol? It is only something that a human being has made, and it tells you nothing but lies. What good does it do for its maker to trust it—a …
Habakkuk 1 – Many years ago, in 2010, I was driving home from work heading north toward Fort Wayne. My windshield wipers were frantically trying to keep pace with the torrential downpour of a typical Midwestern summer …
Micah 7 – Consider the similarities of Micah’s world and our world today… There is undesirable fruit all around Everyone is scheming, waiting for a chance to do evil People in authority take bribes as money trumps …
Micah 6 – Micah uses a sarcastic exaggeration to illustrate the hardness of the people’s hearts. What shall I bring to the LORD, the God of heaven, when I come to worship him? Shall I bring the …
Micah 5 – Micah 5:1-5 can be confusing because three different contexts are covered in such a short span of verses. They have elements of the current context, the future Messiah’s birth, and the Second Coming. Verse …
Micah 4 – Micah’s Messianic kingdom is nearly identical to Isaiah’s in chapter 2. It will be greater than all the earthly kingdoms with many different people from many different nations. It will grow by teaching the …
Micah 3 – The distortion of justice taking place in Israel was a strong indicator of just how bad things had become. Those who were entrusted to lead the city were actually manipulating it. Their ability to …
Micah 2 – People only want to hear what tickles their ears. They don’t want to hear the truth. “Men haven’t changed much. They don’t want to hear really of the judgment of God that is to …
Micah 1 – Dates Approximate Micah was a prophet during a very critical time for both Israel and Judah. He mostly served the nation of Judah and his ministry spanned over the kings of Jotham, Ahaz, and …
Jonah 4 – Jonah 4 exposes a horrendous sin that all of us have been guilty of at one time or another. Judgment. Jonah loathed Nineveh. Actually, he hated the people of this city. He had decided …
Jonah 3 – God’s mercy is on full display here. God showed mercy to Jonah and called him to deliver the message a second time. God was under no obligation to use Jonah a second time. However, …
Jonah 2 – Jonah was in hell… or so he thought. It wouldn’t take one or two days to convince Jonah to turn back to God. It would be three days and three nights before he uttered …
Jonah 1 – Nineveh was both a great and wicked city. It was the capital of the Assyrian Empire and the Assyrians had a reputation for being extremely cruel. It was quite possibly the largest city in …
Obadiah 1 – Obadiah is unique in the sense that he one of the only minor prophets to address a nation other than Israel or Judah. Most likely being a contemporary of Elijah and Elisha, He would …
Amos 9 – Within the judgment of Amos, there is hope to be found. There is always hope with God because He is full of both grace and truth. “The days are coming,” says the LORD, “when …
Amos 8 – What can be more susceptible to rot and disease than ripened fruit? There is a short window of time for the beautiful and refreshing sweetness of ripe fruit to be tasted. But after that …
Amos 7 – In Genesis, Abraham pled with God over Sodom. In Exodus, Moses interceded for Israel. Here, Amos does the same. Although Amos would later give a prediction for God’s people, he first would go to …
Amos 6 – You never know a good thing until it’s goneYou never see a crash until it’s head onWhy we think we’re right when we’re dead wrong,You never know a good thing ’til it’s gone As …
Amos 5 – The oppression of the poor. Check. The establishment of structures built on immoral actions. Check. The acceptance of bribes in order to betray the less fortunate. Check. We should be wary of reading these …
Amos 4 – My most interesting takeaway from this passage is simply the accountability to which God claims full responsibility for. Many times, we are quick to try and cover up the characteristics of God that don’t …
Amos 3 – How can two people walk hand in hand if they aren’t going in the same direction? “They do not need to be agreed about everything. They must, however, wish to keep each others company, …
Amos 2 – Amos 1 and 2 are really meant to be read and analyzed together as they are a review of the judgements from God. In Amos 2, however, we see God turn his attention away …
Amos 1 – Nelson’s Commentary gives an informative but concise background on the book of Amos. “The Lord sent Amos, a Judean, to Bethel to prophesy of coming judgment on Israel. But in Bethel, Amos faced a …
Joel 3 – Judgment is the theme here – specifically with those who are against God and against his people. A lot of times, we seem to think that God casually watches as his people are ravaged …
Joel 2 – The plague of locusts would be devastating and overpowering. Their appearance would be like horses as they scaled walls like men and dodged arrows with speed and agility. The scene is poetic and reads …
Joel 1 – The book of Joel centers around The Day of the Lord. Here is a brief synopsis of what that entails… The Day of the Lord Though it probably refers to future events, it …
Hosea 14 – Many people today worship their own abilities and accomplishments. For others, it is their intellect. Still others worship their spouse or their children or their jobs. Whatever it is that separates us from our …
Hosea 13 – Chapter 13 of Hosea brings much of the same for the people of Israel. How bad has it gotten? They are in the business of sacrificing babies to their false gods. And let’s just …
Hosea 12 – “It is interesting to note that today medicine and psychology have said that probably the most important period of a man’s life is when he is in the womb, because even in the womb …
Hosea 11 – As a father, I can understand these same feelings. I can’t imagine the grief of watching my daughter run off and leave me after I had raised and taken care of her. The verses …
Hosea 10 – Their hearts were faithless, devious, and deceitful. The KJV and Jewish Bible translate verse 2 using a different word. Their heart is divided; now they will bear their guilt. He will break down their …
Hosea 9 – Hosea 9 continues to pound away at our human flesh. God’s people had “taken to sin like a pig to filth.” But, this did not happen overnight. It started with small compromises that that …
Hosea 8 – Here we see the consequences and punishments of Israel. It was one compromise after another as they decided to bring idol worship and pagan rituals into their lives. They said they knew God with …
Hosea 7 – “Two-faced and double-tongued,they steal you blind, pick you clean.It never crosses their mindthat I keep account of their every crime” Hosea 7:2 God exposes Israel’s two-sided nature in this chapter. He compares them to …
Hosea 6 – A pattern we see over the past two chapters is God allowing for us to hit a place where we are driven to repentance. Living a life of repentance is not easy, but it …
Hosea 5 – “I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me.” Hosea 5:15 It is such a strong statement. You know, this phrase is …
Hosea 4 – God is honest and open with Israel about their sins. As The Message translation puts it, it was sheer anarchy. “No doubt, this happened after the pattern of human nature. When Hosea and Gomer …
Hosea 3 – What impacts me the most about this short chapter in Hosea 3 is the fact that God makes the first move. Scripture tells us in Romans 5… “But God demonstrates his own love for …
Hosea 2 – Grace and truth. They are the inescapable character traits of God. God is a fair and just God. He doesn’t compromise like we do. I think that sometimes we take for granted the holiness …
Hosea 1 – Hosea and Jonah were most likely the only writing prophets who lived in the Northern Kingdom. We know this because Hosea addresses the king of Israel as “our king” in Hosea 7. Historically, Hosea …
Daniel 12 – The prophetic events that Daniel witnesses are most likely referring to the end times. Here is what we know so far over the past several chapters… There will be a ruler who is over …
Daniel 11 – Daniel 11 contains some of the most specifically accurate prophecies in the entire Bible. Critics have often wondered if this chapter was written after the historical events took place because it is so deadly …
Daniel 7 – The prophetic part of Daniel starts here with Chapter 7. It is unlikely that we can know exactly what is being talked about here, or even the timing of these events. Scholars have differed …
Daniel 6 – I am simply in awe when I read these passages about Daniel. It is inspiring to think about what this mentality would look like in our current culture. I am so intrigued by it. …
Daniel 5 – “Though you knew all this…” It’s a frightening statement. Consider the fact that Belshazzar didn’t grow up in a “Christian home.” His father, King Nebuchadnezzar, had humbled himself to the Lord at one time …
Daniel 4 – What do we make of these 7 years when King Neb lost his mind? “There is, understandably, no preserved secular record of this; but Abydenus, a Greek historian, wrote in 268 BC that Nebuchadnezzar …
Daniel 3 – I want to present three challenging points to consider within the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Would we really do what they did? Be honest. Most (or all) of us have never really …
Daniel 2 – What does Daniel’s interpretation mean? He tells us that the gold represents King Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian Empire. Three greater kingdoms would come after the reign of Babylon (silver, bronze, and iron). With each level, there …
2 Corinthians 13 – When Paul first visited Corinth and established the church, he stayed a year and six months. Most scholars believe his second visit was between the two letters of 1 and 2 Corinthians and …
2 Corinthians 12 – Paul’s patience is evident in this chapter. The super apostles of Corinth could not stop talking about themselves. It is likely they boasted about their dreams and visions which they used to add …
2 Corinthians 11 – “A story is told about a dinner party where the guests were expected to stand after the meal and recite something for the group. A famous actor was present, and he recited the …
2 Corinthians 10 – Most likely, Paul was dealing with a false teacher or many false teachers who had infiltrated the Corinthian church and discredited his ministry and teaching. He pivots here in chapter 10 to bring …
2 Corinthians 9 – Paul sarcastically (playfully) urges the Corinthians toward giving in verses 1-5. He mentions that they will be put to shame if he sends someone to collect their offering and they are unprepared. Paul …
2 Corinthians 8 – Christians who believe the New Testament has little to say about financial giving have not really studied the Bible intently. Paul refers to giving money as ‘charis’ (or, grace) four times in this …
2 Corinthians 7 – “If one gives up easily, they can never walk in repentance, though they may perform acts of repentance.” David Guzik On the surface, this may sound like a works-based mentality. But consider that …
2 Corinthians 6 – “Such persons cannot say this petition of the Lord’s prayer, ‘Lead us not into temptation.’ They plunge into it of their own accord.” Adam Clarke We have all heard the phrase “unequally yoked” …
2 Corinthians 5 – When Jesus took the form of a man, He stepped down from Heaven and entered into a finite, flawed human body. It was a heart and mind just like ours. He dealt with …
2 Corinthians 4 – Why jars of clay? “The Greek word means “baked clay,” and refers to clay pots. They were cheap, breakable, and replaceable, but they served necessary household functions. Sometimes they were used as a …
2 Corinthians 3 – The Corinthians, like many today, wanted written proof of Paul’s legitimacy as an apostle. Like a certification or degree, letters of commendation would have authenticated the status of a leader of God. They …
2 Corinthians 2 – The man Paul is referring to in this chapter was most likely the same man who was having an incestuous affair when Paul wrote his first letter to the …
2 Corinthians 1 – “Paul’s purpose in this eulogy is not merely to praise God for personal comfort received or to discuss the nature of the gospel ministry. His primary concern is to show the Corinthians that …
1 Corinthians 16 – Paul begins with a collection for the saints. The Nelson’s New Illustrated Commentary provides a solid summary of what this means for Jesus followers today. “Paul once again addressed a question asked by …
1 Corinthians 15 – 1 Corinthians 15 is a critical chapter that supports the evidence of Jesus Christ as well as His death and resurrection. Paul records an ancient oral tradition, “that Christ died for our sins …
1 Corinthians 14 – Gifts that are meant to edify the body, share with the body. Gifts that are meant to edify you personally, keep them personal. Paul’s stance on tongues is clear. If there is no …
1 Corinthians 13 – The Greeks had four different words to describe love. ‘Eros’ described erotic love. It was the word used to describe sexual love. ‘Storge’ referred to family love. It described the love between father …
1 Corinthians 12 – Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each …
1 Corinthians 11 – 1 Corinthians 11 opens up a can of worms in our culture today. At the very least, many of Paul’s words here have been challenged. In some cases, they have been called sexist …
1 Corinthians 10 – So many Christians today have fallen into the temptation of obsessing over rights and privileges. What I mean by that is the need to ask the question, “What harm can it do?” to …
1 Corinthians 9 – Paul was a man with his priorities straight. He was a man who had given up all his rights for the sake of Jesus. His life’s mission was to preach the Gospel and …
1 Corinthians 8 – Knowledge can be like a puffer fish. It puffs us up into a state where our thorny exterior rips the flesh of others. Using food as an example, Paul illustrates that Christians who …
1 Corinthians 7 – It is important to first understand that Paul is not dealing with a full theology of marriage in this chapter. He is answering specific questions the Corinthians had asked him. We know this …
1 Corinthians 6 – Paul’s had some specific issues with the Corinthians in regard to legal matters. First and foremost, the disputes in question were between two believers. Paul is working under the assumption that Jesus has …
1 Corinthians 5 – Paul once again comes out swinging against the Corinthians for their immorality and tolerance. Interestingly, his clarification toward the end of this chapter contains a lot of insight. Paul, just like Jesus, had …
1 Corinthians 4 – Paul doesn’t mince words with the church at Corinth. They had a very obvious pride issue. Humble Servant. Paul reminds them he is a servant of Christ and a steward of the mystery. …
1 Corinthians 3 – I want to focus on the beginning of this chapter where Paul addresses his brethren as being carnal. This term really just means someone who is dominated by the flesh. There is a …
1 Corinthians 2 – Imagine what it would have been like to be Paul. After conversion, he compared his Gospel to the disciples in order to validate his beliefs and share his experiences. Now, as he has …
1 Corinthians 1 – Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother… 1 Corinthians 1:1 NASB In Acts 18 Sosthenes was the leader of the Jewish synagogue who …
Psalm 150 – The number 10 is used 242 times in Scripture. The title of “10th” is found 79 times. Though it doesn’t get as much airtime as 3 and 7, the number 10 is categorized in …
Psalm 149 – Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones. Psalms 149:1 NASB What does it mean to sing to God a new song? …
Psalm 148 – It is a word that has become obsolete in many Christian circles. Sin. The rebellion of man that separates us from God is our primary issue in life. The Bible opens in Genesis with …
Psalm 147 – Many scholars believe this psalm was prepared for use when the new city walls were completed by Nehemiah. What I find most fascinating is that the psalmist never grows weary of praising God. The …
Psalm 146 – Psalms 146:3 NASB Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation. Dr. A.C. Gaebelein describes his conversation with an Orthodox Jew who interpreted this passage incorrectly. “He stated …
Psalm 145 – “Observe that David is firmly resolved to praise God. My text has four ‘I wills’ in it. Frequently it is foolish for us poor mortals to say ‘I will,’ because our will is so …
Psalm 144 – David is physically and emotionally spent. He pleads with God to be rescued. This is a common and consistent theme in the Psalms. However, it’s also very relevant because we also struggle physically and …
Psalm 143 – Depression. An estimated 19 million American adults are living with major depression characterized as a persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life. As F.B. Meyer writes, …
Psalm 142 – “Tell God all that is in your heart, as one unloads one’s heart, its pleasures and its pains, to a dear friend. Tell God your troubles, that God may comfort you; tell God your …
Psalm 141 – David fixed his eyes on the Lord. There are many times in life where we are stunted by the actions of others. As they spew hatred and evil in our direction, we begin to …
Psalm 140 – When we go to God in our afflictions, we can rest knowing that He hears us. We can find peace with the fact that we are exactly where we need to be in such …
Psalm 139 – Consider the fruit of knowing God and acknowledging that He knows us. Before pursuing God, we pursued our own ways. Selfish ambition forms a mirage as we fool ourselves into thinking God is not …
Psalm 138 – The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Psalms 138:8 NASB David knew and believed that the Lord was working in …
Psalm 137 – How do we worship in a foreign land? Being completely cut off from their native land, and without their temple to worship in, the people of Israel were heartsick. They had no high priest, …