Latest Commentaries

God declares that He is the Eternal and the Almighty, establishing His sovereignty over all that will be revealed in the Revelation.

The Revelation is addressed to seven specific churches that existed at the time. John emphasizes that the servants in these churches are fully justified in the sight of God, which is an unconditional position. He further states that each believer already has been granted a great inheritance.

John introduces this epistle as a message to Jesus’ "bondservants." He promises a special blessing/reward for any bondservant who reads, understands, then obeys this prophetic word. The emphasis is upon obedient action.

Moses offered to God to die or bear the consequences for the people. The LORD rejected his offer and declared that those who committed this terrible sin would suffer consequences. He also commanded Moses to lead the people according to the LORD’s instruction and revealed that His "angel," rather than He Himself, would lead them.

Moses called for those who were with him to stand up on the LORD’s behalf. The Levites did so, and they were then ordered to go through the camp and kill those who were connected to the idolatry (probably the ringleaders), resulting in three thousand Israelites being killed. Moses then urged the people to dedicate themselves to the LORD once again.

After making the people drink the dust of their idol, Moses then confronted Aaron about his role in the fiasco. Aaron provided a weak explanation of what happened, telling truth mixed with falsehood.

Moses obeys the LORD and descended Mount Sinai carrying the two tablets of the law. He returned to the Israelite camp and saw the golden calf and the people’s revelry. After throwing down and shattering the tablets, he destroyed the calf idol and made the people of Israel drink its residue.

Moses interceded for the people in an effort to convince God to relent from destroying them. He appealed to the LORD’s work protecting Israel and His love for Abraham. Moses also suggested that other nations might misunderstand God’s actions.

The LORD informed Moses of the events happening in the Israelite camp. He then told him to go down from Mount Sinai to observe the golden calf that they were worshipping. The LORD then asked Moses to let Him alone so He could execute His judgment upon the people for this grievous sin.

After Moses stayed on Mt. Sinai longer than expected, the Israelites decided they would make their own god. Aaron went along with the plan and created a golden calf idol. After proclaiming the calf as their god, the Israelites worshipped the calf through sexual immorality, typical of pagan practice.

Moses commands the Israelites to have a covenant-renewal ceremony in Canaan soon after entering the land.

Moses sets the condition for Israel’s destiny in the Promised Land. If the people of God obey His principles, they will be blessed. If they fail to obey them, they will be cursed.

Moses explains that if the Israelites love God and obey His commandments, they will successfully conquer the land of Canaan and will possess a vast territory.

The Israelites are instructed to constantly reflect on God’s covenantal laws, to diligently teach them to their children, and to share these laws with the entire community.

Moses commands Israel to love their Suzerain God and to serve Him faithfully in order that the land of Canaan may continue to receive rain from God to yield its fruits.

Moses exhorts the Israelites to keep every commandment of God so that they may be strong to go in and possess the land of Canaan. To encourage the people, Moses contrasts the prosperous land of Canaan — which depends on God for irrigation — with the land of Egypt, a land whose fertility depends on the exploitation of water from the Nile through human effort.

Moses commands the Israelites to love their Suzerain God for who He is and what He has done.

After uplifting the benefits of wisdom and warning against the lies of temptation, Solomon ends chapter 2 by summing up the difference between the life of the wise and the life of the foolish.

Temptation threatens to drive us away from reality, from truth. Its falsity leads to deadness. Wisdom can save us from believing in the seduction of the flesh.

Wickedness is a perversion of God’s design for the world and for each individual life. Those who chose it find themselves fighting against reality.