Useful Bible Studies > Hebrews Commentary > chapter 11
The author has shown us faith (active belief and trust in God) in the lives of some of the greatest men and women in the Bible. And now he wants to show us the wonderful things that people achieve because of their faith. But he does not want us to think that only great people can have faith. Faith is for all God’s people (Hebrews 12:1-2).
So he gives a list of things that people have achieved by faith. In Hebrews 11:33-34, he seems still to be thinking about his list of names in Hebrews 11:32. But he does not follow the same order as in Hebrews 11:32. In later verses, he will not give any names.
David overcame kings and their nations by faith. He did it in order to establish Israel as a strong nation that served God (See 2 Samuel chapters 5 and 8).
Samuel carried out a judgement that was right and proper against King Agag (1 Samuel 15:32-33). He did it because Israel’s king, Saul, had refused to do it.
David became king because God had promised that to him (1 Samuel 16:1). And he received even greater promises about the future of his family (2 Samuel chapter 7).
God saved Daniel the prophet (holy man) from lions in Daniel chapter 6.
All these things happened through faith. God did these things for his people because they had faith. In other words, they believed and trusted him.
Jesus said that faith can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). That is a word-picture. It means that God does great and wonderful things because of his people’s faith. It is God alone who deserves the honour for these great things. God both does these things, and he gives his people the faith to believe for them. But God also gives honour to his people when they believe him. That is, when they act by faith.
Next part: Faith is powerful (Hebrews 11:34)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.