Hebrews 9:8 “The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most High Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was standing” (NIV). Observation: The first tabernacle, built at God’s direction under Moses’ leadership, had been...

Hosea 13:5–6 “I cared for you in the desert, in the land of burning heat. When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they became satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me” (NIV). Observation: God had miraculously delivered Israel from Egypt’s bondage,...

Song of Songs 4:9–10 “You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes … How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice!” (NIV). Observation: The very title of the...

Psalm 94:14 “For the Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance” (NIV). Observation: Psalm 94 is a plea from the oppressed of Israel to be rescued from their afflictions. There are some who take advantage of the weak; it is to God that the...

Psalm 94:18 “When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,” your love, O Lord, supported me” (NIV). Observation: This Psalm embodies a plea from Israel’s oppressed for deliverance and protection. There are taskmasters who take pleasure in wrongdoing; the appeal of the weak is...

Psalm 18:20 “The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me” (NIV). Observation: David exulted in God’s deliverance from all his enemies. He earlier likened such oppression to being entangled by...

Ecclesiastes 1:11 “There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow” (NIV). Observation: Most of Ecclesiastes is a commentary on life’s futility. The author’s range of vision was necessarily limited...

Romans 16:3–13 “Greet (fill in the blank) … fellow workers in Christ [who] risked their lives for me … who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia … my relatives who have been in prison with me … whom I love in the Lord … tested and approved in Christ...

Romans 15:7 “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant” (NIV). Observation: In Romans 15, Paul continued his persuasive arguments to the effect that the Gospel is the great...

Romans 14:4(a) “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?” (NIV). Observation: Paul’s question is intended to build harmony within the body by pointing out that all believers are fellow servants of the same Lord, Jesus Christ. The examples upon which Paul builds...