Expound the Word

Extract from A Crown of Splendor, a New Commentary on Proverbs by Ken Hanko

August 8, 2023Book of Proverbs

An envelope, or bookend, structure puts similar words or ideas at the beginning and end of a passage and enfolds the rest of the passage within them. In verse 10 Solomon says, My son, if sinners entice you, do not be willing. In verse 15 he repeats the words “my son” and gives really the…

Psalm 119:1-8: Blessed Are the Perfect of Way

August 3, 2023Psalm Translations, Psalms Commentary

1. Happy are the perfect of way, Those who walk in the law of Yahweh! 2. Happy are those who keep his testimonies! With a whole they will seek him. 3. Also, they do not do iniquity. In his ways they walk. 4. You command men To observe your precepts completely. 5. Oh, that my…

Psalm 119:81-88: Faithfulness in Affliction

July 26, 2023Psalm Translations, Psalms Commentary

There are two important words in Psalm 119:81–88 that appear more than once. The first is the word “fail,” and the second is the word “persecute.” “Fail” appears three times. For your salvation my soul fails (v.81). My eyes fail for your promulgation (v.82). Almost they made me fail on the earth…

God’s Covenant with David, Part 1

July 22, 2023Covenants

God's covenant with David fulfilled in part promises made in prior covenants, especially that made with Abraham. Those promises were the promise of kings, the promise of the land, the promise "I will be your God," and the promise of rest.

Exodus 23:10–19: The Sabbath in the Book of the Covenant

July 6, 2023Sabbath

A Sample Extract from Ken Hanko's Book, The Sabbath, the Covenant, and the Tabernacle Exodus 20–23 make up the book of the covenant which the Lord gave to Moses for the people of Israel. This book begins with the moral law, and that is followed both by explanations of those ten basic commandments and various…

Judges 7:9-15: The Lord Strengthens Gideon’s Faith

July 6, 2023Judges

A Sample Chapter from Ken Hanko's New Book on Judges, Once I Have Sworn The story of Gideon shows us how faith varies from day to day, and how it struggles in constantly changing circumstances to lay hold of the promises of God and remain obedient and faithful. The Midianites were in the land of…

Leaving All for Christ

June 28, 2023Suffering

Let's consider for a few minutes the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 19:29. In the context of the verse, a rich young ruler had come to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus had said, “Keep the commandments.” The young man’s reply was, “I’ve done that from my…

The Mosaic Covenant 5: The Law and the Promise

June 22, 2023Covenants

In Galatians 3:15-18, the apostle teaches us what the law did not do: it did not annul or change the promise of God to Abraham. That promise remained throughout the Old Testament, was fulfilled in Christ, and stands for Gentile believers even today. Justification and the inheritance have never been by the works of the…

The Mosaic Covenant 4: The Law and the Promise

June 15, 2023Covenants

In Galatians 3 the apostle Paul shows us that the covenant God made with Israel does not annul, replace or change the covenant he made with Abraham. Instead, the law was a schoolmaster to bring Israel to Christ. In this session we look at Galatians 3:1-18, and what the law does not do in regard…

The Mosaic Covenant 3: The Covenant in Deuteronomy

June 8, 2023Covenants

Deuteronomy is the words of God's covenant which he made with Israel before they entered the land of Canaan (Dt 29:1). Its laws relate especially to Israel's conquest of and life in the promised land, and it gives great prominence to the blessings and curses of the covenant. The Lord never broke his covenant with…