FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD, Dr. Samuel Lee
MEN OF FAITH
Passage: Hebrews 11:32~40  
Key verse: 38a
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,(A) Barak,(B) Samson(C) and Jephthah,(D) about David(E) and Samuel(F) and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms,(G) administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,(H) 34 quenched the fury of the flames,(I) and escaped the edge of the sword;(J) whose weakness was turned to strength;(K) and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.(L) 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again.(M) There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging,(N) and even chains and imprisonment.(O) 37 They were put to death by stoning;[a](P) they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.(Q) They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,(R) destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves(S) and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended(T) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,(U) 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us(V) would they be made perfect.(W)
Footnotes
- Hebrews 11:37 Some early manuscripts stoning; they were put to the test;
Cross references
- Hebrews 11:32 : Jdg 6-8
- Hebrews 11:32 : Jdg 4-5
- Hebrews 11:32 : Jdg 13-16
- Hebrews 11:32 : Jdg 11-12
- Hebrews 11:32 : 1Sa 16:1, 13
- Hebrews 11:32 : 1Sa 1:20
- Hebrews 11:33 : 2Sa 8:1-3
- Hebrews 11:33 : Da 6:22
- Hebrews 11:34 : Da 3:19-27
- Hebrews 11:34 : Ex 18:4
- Hebrews 11:34 : 2Ki 20:7
- Hebrews 11:34 : Jdg 15:8
- Hebrews 11:35 : 1Ki 17:22, 23; 2Ki 4:36, 37
- Hebrews 11:36 : Jer 20:2; 37:15
- Hebrews 11:36 : Ge 39:20
- Hebrews 11:37 : 2Ch 24:21
- Hebrews 11:37 : 1Ki 19:10; Jer 26:23
- Hebrews 11:37 : 2Ki 1:8
- Hebrews 11:38 : 1Ki 18:4; 19:9
- Hebrews 11:39 : ver 2, 4
- Hebrews 11:39 : ver 13; Heb 10:36
- Hebrews 11:40 : Rev 6:11
- Hebrews 11:40 : S Heb 2:10
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Men who served their times (32-34)
Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah lived in times when people were ignorant of God's word, and they were men of their times. Everyone did what he thought was right. These men had many human weaknesses, but they were men of faith, and God used them. They were shepherds who obeyed God; they delivered their people from the hands of oppressors. David was the shepherd king. He became the symbol of messianic hope. Samuel was a king-maker who taught God's word; the prophets planted faith and hope in the dark times of the kingdom's demise.
2. Gained a better resurrection (35-40)
While some conquered enemies by faith, others won inner victories by resurrection faith. They overcame fear, suffering and sorrow to remain faithful to the Lord. They believed God's promises and looked forward by faith to the risen Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, help me to live by faith. Give me victory over enemies without and within.
One Word: Faith is the victory