by Paul Apple | Apr 22, 2024 | Bible-OT
Paul Koptak: We must remind ourselves that our desire to find an outline or rhetorical structure may not catch the spirit of discovery and gamesmanship that the sages required of their readers. We suggest outlines and arrangements to appreciate the recurrence of...
by Paul Apple | Apr 21, 2024 | Bible-OT
I. (:1-3) STABILITY IN LIFE A. (:1) Embrace Discipline “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid.” Paul Koptak: There is a difference between loving discipline — teaching and correction that warn of possible errors —...
by Paul Apple | Apr 20, 2024 | Bible-OT
(:15) TRANSITION “He who is surety for a stranger will surely suffer for it, But he who hates going surety is safe.” Bruce Waltke: This verse is a janus, forming a transition between speech that harms oneself, unlike the safety of counselors (vv. 8–14), and the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 19, 2024 | Bible-OT
I. (:1-3) RIGHTEOUS FUNDAMENTALS Caleb Nelson: Honesty, the Best Policy, vv. 1-2 In Commercial Dealings, v. 1 In Self-Evaluation, v. 2 A. (:1) Honesty in Business “A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight.” Allen Ross: The...
by Paul Apple | Apr 19, 2024 | Bible-OT
(:1a) PROLOGUE A. Genre “The proverbs” B. Author “of Solomon.” Paul Koptak: “Proverbs of Solomon” recalls the opening words of the book as it marks a new major section. We might ask why the superscription is necessary; a first and obvious answer is the change in...
by Paul Apple | Apr 17, 2024 | Bible-OT
The approach to the latter half of the book of Proverbs (starting with chapter 10) is problematic for someone writing a paragraph-by-paragraph commentary based around the Big Idea concept. These individual proverbs (or sentence proverbs) often contrast the righteous...
by Paul Apple | Apr 17, 2024 | Sports
The new ownership group for the Baltimore Orioles under the leadership of David Rubenstein brings a lot of energy and hope for the future for the direction of the franchise. However, right out of the box they have made a major miscalculation in failing to consider...
by Paul Apple | Apr 9, 2024 | Sports
You can download my complete spreadsheet based on the Big Board composite rankings (updated 4/23/24) that allows you to play around with creating your own mock draft. My selections for the Ravens are in the left column titled PGA. Some rankings from other major...
by Paul Apple | Mar 30, 2024 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THIS LIFE HAS MEANING WHEN WE RISE ABOVE THE FUTILITY OF MAN’S WISDOM TO EMBRACE GOD’S WISDOM = FEAR GOD AND OBEY HIM BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE BECAUSE WE ALL WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE INTRODUCTION: Our culture: Getting older; living longer, more healthcare and...
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2024 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: BY OPPORTUNISTIC FAITH AND JOYFUL CONTENTMENT WE CAN LIVE BOTH A PRODUCTIVE AND ENJOYABLE LIFE INTRODUCTION: We need balance in our lives. Some people concentrate so much on being productive and achieving something … they seem to have no enjoyment of life. ...
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2024 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: FOLLY ON THE PART OF RULERS PUTS A NATION IN JEOPARDY AND REQUIRES A RESPONSE OF WISDOM – YET WISDOM IS PRECARIOUS AT BEST INTRODUCTION: Most people would find no structure in these proverbs – similar to chap. 7 – Those that try to group the verses in some...
by Paul Apple | Mar 28, 2024 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WISDOM CANNOT INSULATE ONE FROM LIFE’S UNCERTAINTIES OR GUARANTEE RECOGNITION AND REWARD INTRODUCTION: Tremper Longman: Summary of Chap. 9 In ch. 9, Qohelet gives advice in the context of statements of deep skepticism. Indeed, this chapter might be judged...
by Paul Apple | Mar 27, 2024 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WHEN YOU CAN’T MAKE SENSE OF YOUR DESTINY, AT LEAST ENJOY THE PRESENT INTRODUCTION: Despite the repetition of common themes in this Book of Ecclesiastes, I find one aspect to be especially puzzling – to what extent does the view of Solomon ever rise above...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2024 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WISDOM CANNOT FIGURE OUT LIFE’S PERPLEXITIES INTRODUCTION: Douglas Miller: In sum, the larger unit (8:1-17) begins in 8:1 with the double rhetorical question: Who is like the wise man? Who knows the interpretation/explanation? It closes with statements that...
by Paul Apple | Mar 25, 2024 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WISDOM TREADS CAREFULLY IN INTERACTING WITH SOVEREIGN POWER BECAUSE OF THE PRIORITY OF SUBMISSION AND THE REALITY OF LIMITATIONS INTRODUCTION: John Gill: The preacher begins this chapter with the praise of wisdom, from its excellency and...
by Paul Apple | Mar 24, 2024 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: UNDERSTANDING THE PERVASIVENESS OF FUTILITY AND THE REALITY OF PERSONAL PERVERSITY, PURSUE THE PATH OF WISDOM AND THE FEAR OF GOD INTRODUCTION: Albert Mohler: Wise living in this world must take human evil into account with utter realism. Stupidity and...
by Paul Apple | Mar 24, 2024 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WE ARE ALL HEADED FOR DEATH SO BE PREPARED TO FACE GOD INTRODUCTION: This is going to be a short Scripture reflection but hopefully memorable – I just want to focus on one verse from the Ecclesiastes 7:2 — “It is better to go to a house of...
by Paul Apple | Mar 22, 2024 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: SINCE GOD IS SOVEREIGN, THE WISE MUST BENEFIT FROM SORROW AND SUBMIT RATHER THAN EXPRESS PRIDEFUL IMPATIENCE AND FRUSTRATION INTRODUCTION: Walter Kaiser: Present grief and pain may prove to be more beneficial in their effect on us than all the festivity,...
by Paul Apple | Mar 20, 2024 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: EVEN THOSE WHO APPEAR TO HAVE GRABBED HOLD OF THE GOOD LIFE STRUGGLE WITH NO ENJOYMENT, NO SATISFACTION AND NO ANSWERS TO LIFE’S ULTIMATE QUESTIONS INTRODUCTION: Daniel Akin: Chapter 6 begins, echoing the curse with the language of “sickening tragedy,” by...
by Paul Apple | Mar 19, 2024 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: APART FROM CONTENTMENT IN ENJOYING GOD’S GIFTS, THE PURSUIT OF WEALTH CAN CREATE HUGE PROBLEMS INTRODUCTION Iain Provan: Ecclesiastes 5:8–9 picks up the thoughts of 4:1–3, making it clear to the reader that oppression is not merely a matter of individuals...
