Sabbath School Commentary

Nov20–26: Rizpah: The Influence of Faithfulness

2010-11-22T06:23:00.001-08:00

Teaching Points

1. Read 2 Samuel 3:6–11. What can we learn about Rizpah and about her circumstances in that particular time?

ANSWER:

She was a concubine of Saul (who’s dead) and is now the cause of an angry dispute between Abner and Ishbosheth.

OBSERVATION:

Saul is dead and his youngest son, Ishbosheth, accuses Abner of having an affair with Rizpah.
Because of this, Abner gets upset and now turns on Ishbosheth to side with David.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

Why would Ishbosheth accuse Abner of having an affair with Rizpah? (See 1 Kings 2:17, 22) What might he be afraid of?

2. Read 2 Samuel 21:9, 10. What does Rizpah do when her sons are killed? What does this tell us about her?

SIDE NOTE:

Read 2 Samuel 21:1-8. The seven men chosen must have been involved with Saul in the attack of the Gibeonites. Read Deuteronomy 24:16 and Ezekiel 18:20. There’s no way for innocent lives to bear the guilt of their fathers. Since the Bible does not contradict itself, it must be that these seven men assisted Saul in attacking the Gibeonites.

ANSWER:

She protects their dead bodies from the birds or animals feeding on them. This shows that she had respect for the remains of the deceased.

OBSERVATION:

Verse 10 says that Rizpah did this “from the beginning of the harvest until water dropped...”
I am not sure how long this is, but from the beginning of the harvest until rain comes is probably a long time, at least weeks, and perhaps even months.
This action of Rizpah shows the respect she had for the remains of the deceased.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

What are some other biblical examples of showing respect for the remains of the dead? What can we learn from those examples?

3. Read 2 Samuel 21:11–14. How was David affected by Rizpah’s actions?

ANSWER:

He also showed respect for the remains of the dead.

OBSERVATION:

Verse 14 says that, “After that, God answered the prayers for the land” (GWV).
It’s interesting to notice that the land was healed not after the execution of the sons but after respect was shown to the remains of Saul and his children.
Saul was called “the anointed of the Lord.” And he was not the best of persons, yet respect was still shown him and his descendents, even after death.

CONCLUSION:

Rizpah had a hard life. She lived with a man who couldn’t control his own passions (Saul). She then was the cause of the rift between Abner and Ishbosheth, which resulted in Abner’s siding with David. Her entire life seems to be controlled by circumstances and causes outside of her control. Yet this did not stop her from doing what was right, even when it seemed no one else would.

APPLICATION QUESTION:

When you are put into positions that you cannot control, how do you react? Do you get defensive? How would others view you in those situations?
Rizpah and David showed respect to Saul and his family—do you show respect to those in authority, even if you disagree with them?

Nov13–19: Joab: David’s Weak Strongman

2010-11-15T12:33:00.000-08:00

Teaching Points

1. Read 2 Samuel 2:17–23 and 3:1-22 and summarize what takes place.

ANSWER:

After David’s men, including Asahel the brother of Joab, defeated Israel, Asahel made a fatal chase after Abner, who slew Asahel in the chase.
After a time, Abner deserts Ishbosheth and offers Israel to David; David accepts this offer.

OBSERVATION:

2Sa 2:17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

Abner was defeated. Why do you think Asahel pursued after him? Hint: Look at the description of Asahel in verse 18.

2. How did Joab respond to the accepted proposal by Abner?

ANSWER:

2Sa 3:25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
2Sa 3:30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

OBSERVATION:

Joab first tells David that Abner was deceiving him. But the reason why Joab killed Abner was to revenge himself of his brother Asahel, whom Abner killed in an earlier battle.

“But the favorable reception of so valiant and famed a warrior excited the jealousy of Joab, the commander-in-chief of David's army. … Now Joab, seeing an opportunity to avenge his brother's death and rid himself of a prospective rival, basely took occasion to waylay and murder Abner.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 699.
Jealousy over a position and a desire for justice led Joab to murder Abner.

APPLICATION QUESTION:

Are you reading into the motives of others because you are jealous of them?

3. Read 2 Samuel 11:15–25. What does this passage tell us about Joab?

ANSWER:

Joab clearly shows that his allegiance is to the king rather than God.

OBSERVATION:

Perhaps Joab felt obligated to do what David said because of how David rebuked him for the murder of Abner.

SPIRITUAL LESSON:

Sometimes it’s hard to do what is right when we want to please those we admire, especially when those we admire fall into the same sins as us.
What we need to do is focus on doing what is right because it is right so that we may avoid the folly of following the conscience and judgment of men.

4. In the previous example Joab obeyed David’s orders. Now read 2 Samuel 18:5–15. What does his action here tell us about him? How might he have rationalized this deed, as well?

ANSWER:

Joab chooses when he wants to obey or disobey. For protecting the nation and his men (see 2 Samuel 19:5, 6), he could have a good reason for slaying Absalom.

CONCLUSION:

Joab’s story is a sad one. He chose to obey when it was convenient with his own desires and ambitions. He killed Abner out of his own desire for personal revenge as well as to rid himself of a possible rival of position; he obeys the king, even if it goes against what is right; and he disobeys the king according to what he thinks is right.

Nov6–12: Abiathar: The Priest

2010-11-07T17:50:00.000-08:00

Teaching Points

1. What were some of the functions of Abiathar when he was priest?

ANSWER:

1Sa 23:6, 9–13 – brought the ephod to David
2Sa 15:24, 29 – carried the ark of God
2Sa 17:15–22 – working for David from inside the city

OBSERVATION:

Both the ephod and ark were emblems of God’s presence and directive will. Without these, the nation of Israel seemed to be without divine aid.
It’s also interesting to see how Abiathar secretly worked for David while he was outside the city.
“In the city the priests might do him good service by learning the movements and purposes of the rebels, and secretly communicating them to the king by their sons, Ahimaaz and Jonathan.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 735.

APPLICATION:

· Sometimes God works for us when we cannot see Him doing it. We may be like David—in danger and outside the city, feeling rejected and alone—yet God sets in order things according to His providence on our behalf that we just cannot see or understand.

APPLICATION QUESTION:

· Are you trusting in God even when you feel He’s not working for you?

· What can you practically do to help you remember His love and care for you, even when it seems like He doesn’t?

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

· Do you think what Abiathar was doing for David was deceitful? Please explain why or why not with the class.

2. Read 2 Samuel 15:13–29. What does this passage teach us about the character of David, even at this time of peril? What role does Abiathar play in this episode?

ANSWER:

David:
2Sa 15:19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile. 2Sa 15:20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
2Sa 15:25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: 2Sa 15:26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. … 2Sa 15:28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
Abiathar:
2Sa 15:24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
2Sa 15:29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

OBSERVATION ON DAVID:

· David must have been totally unselfish here. He could’ve rallied for himself all the men on his side and create a great divide in the kingdom.

· But instead he asks Ittai and his men to go back. But they pleaded to stay and David lets them.

· His unselfish spirit is also seen in that he asks Zadok the priest to take back the ark into the city Jerusalem.

· This ark was a symbol of God’s victorious guidance and will on behalf of the king and the people.

· Yet David lets this go, for he perhaps considers the place of the ark more necessary than himself in this situation.

· David clearly shows the true spirit of humiliation and contrition. Remember how his sin with Bathsheba was still being visited upon. Therefore, he must’ve felt that all that was happening to him was just.

SOP ON DAVID’S CHARACTER:

· 2Sa 15:19, 20:

· But David, with characteristic unselfishness, could not consent that these strangers who had sought his protection should be involved in his calamity. He expressed surprise that they should be ready to make this sacrifice for him. {PP 731.3}

These men had been converted from paganism to the worship of Jehovah, and nobly they now proved their fidelity to their God and their king. David, with grateful heart, accepted their devotion to his apparently sinking cause, and all passed over the brook Kidron on the way toward the wilderness. {PP 732.1}

2Sa 15:25, 26, 28:
At sight of the ark joy and hope for a brief moment thrilled the heart of David. But soon other thoughts came to him. As the appointed ruler of God's heritage he was under solemn responsibility. Not personal interests, but the glory of God and the good of his people, were to be uppermost in the mind of Israel's king. God, who dwelt between the cherubim, had said of Jerusalem, "This is My rest" (Psalm 132:14); and without divine authority neither priest nor king had a right to remove therefrom the symbol of His presence. And David knew that his heart and life must be in harmony with the divine precepts, else the ark would be the means of disaster rather than of success. His great sin was ever before him. He recognized in this conspiracy the just judgment of God. The sword that was not to depart from his house had been unsheathed. He knew not what the result of the struggle might be. It was not for him to remove from the capital of the nation the sacred statutes which embodied the will of their divine Sovereign, which were the constitution of the realm and the foundation of its prosperity. {PP 732.3}

APPLICATION:

David sensed his own just judgment in his fleet, yet didn’t try to revert the sentence by retaliating against the rebels.

APPLICATION QUESTION:

How do you react in similar situations? When you know you’ve done wrong and someone else does wrong to you, do you retaliate back at them?
Or do you, like David, accept the seeming “injustice” done to you and seek to glorify God in patiently enduring the test? Something to think about.

3. Read 1 Kings 1:1–8. What could have caused Abiathar, who had been so loyal to David, to do what he did here?

ANSWER:

We are not too sure about why Abiathar did this. All we know is that somehow he turned from his loyalty by choosing to side with Adonijah.

OBSERVATION:

It’s interesting to this action by Abiathar. He was with David in all his trouble and pain. He was faithful, we can say, almost to the end of David’s life.

SPIRITUAL LESSON:

Even though we prove valiant and faithful today as God’s ambassadors and representatives, we can still fall from grace.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

What are some possible reasons for Abiathar to support Adonijah? Please try to stay as close to the Bible as possible when sharing your answers with the class.

CONCLUSION:

Abiathar the priest played a great supporting role for David. His life testifies of the kind of service God requires of His “priesthood” of believers today—a life willing to take risks for the glory of God.
But we should not think it okay to venture off in our own way when we know and understand the revealed will of God.

Oct30–Nov5: Uriah: Faith of a Foreigner

2010-11-01T13:16:00.000-07:00

Teaching Points

1. Make a chapter outline of 2 Samuel 11.

ANSWER:

2Sa 11:1-5 David commits adultery with Bathsheba
2Sa 11:6-13 David tries to get Uriah to go to his house
2Sa 11:14-17 David sets up Uriah to be killed
2Sa 11:18-27 David learns of Uriah’s death and marries Bathsheba

OBSERVATION:

This chapter is about David’s sin of adultery and murder.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

Look at 2 Samuel 12. Why do you think God would wait to send a message to David? Why not try to warn David beforehand, like Cain was warned?

2. Read 2 Samuel 11 and ask yourself, How could someone so honored of God stoop so deep into sin? What warning should this present to all of us?

ANSWER:

2Sa 11:1 “tarried still” – This phrase in Hebrew has the implications of “sitting still,” “ease self,” and to be “situated”—basically, to let your guard down.
So it was at a time of ease that caused David to let his guard down and then to fall into sin.

3. What would make David to let his guard down and be at ease?

ANSWER:

2Sa 10:18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there. 2Sa 10:19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
2Sa 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

OBSERVATION:

2Sa 11:1—the Ammonites have just been destroyed and their chief city surrounded.
2Sa 10:18, 19—but just before the destruction of the Ammonites, David obtained victory over the Syrians, even killing their captain.
David has been obtaining victory after victory right before he came to “ease self,” become “situated,” and let his guard down.
It seems to be that when experiencing his victories that he relaxed his efforts to stay his trust upon God.

SPIRITUAL LESSON:

It’s very easy to trust in our own ability when we experience great victories in our spiritual walk. But this spirit of trusting to ourselves will prepare us to fall.
It is at our highest spiritual point when we need to be the most humble. When we are experiencing victory after victory, it is then that we need to stay our dependence upon God even more.

SOP ON DAVID BEFORE HIS SIN:

“David was surrounded by the fruits of victory and the honors of his wise and able rule. It was now, while he was at ease and unguarded, that the tempter seized the opportunity to occupy his mind…. But when in ease and self-security he let go his hold upon God, David yielded to Satan and brought upon his soul the stain of guilt.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 718.

APPLICATION QUESTION:

What spiritual victories have you gained in the recent past? Did they lead you to feel better about yourself, or did you rely on God even more?

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

What could David have done in order to avoid his downfall?

4. What do we know about Uriah from 2 Samuel 11?

ANSWER:

2Sa 11:3 “Uriah the Hittite”
2Sa 11:7 “David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered”— Uriah was one of the “valiant men” of the army of Israel (see 1Ch 11:26, 41), he had military strength and intellect.
2Sa 11:8-13—Even though Uriah had two chances to stay at home to be with his wife, he decided to not take the comfort while the rest of his army was still in the battlefield.

OBSERVATION:

There’s a definite contrast between Uriah’s conduct and that of David’s.
Uriah would not take comfort or ease himself while the rest of his men were at war. Yet David took ease and comfort, and was thus led into sin.
In the motives and character of Uriah lays a rebuke to David. David should have also been explicitly loyal to God in his conduct, as Uriah was loyal to him and Israel.

CONCLUSION:

Pr 6:32 “But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.”
“Had King David been engaged in some useful employment, he would not have been guilty of the murder of Uriah.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Volume 4, p. 412.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

What are some ways you or your church can help those who are in danger of becoming idle?

Oct23–29: Abigail: No Victim of Circumstances

2010-10-24T02:26:00.000-07:00

Teaching Points

1. Read 1 Samuel 25 and make a chapter outline.

ANSWER:

1Sa 25:1-11 Nabal refuses David’s request
1Sa 25:12-17 David plans to take revenge on Nabal
1Sa 25:18-31 Abigail’s plea to David
1Sa 25:32-35 David grants Abigail her request
1Sa 25:36-44 Nabal’s death and David marries Abigail

2. Read 1 Samuel 25:1–13, 21. Why is David so insulted by Nabal’s reply? What does David hear?

ANSWER:

1Sa 25:21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.

OBSERVATION:

“Though David has demonstrated amazing self-restraint with murderous King Saul, he, like us, feels deeply wounded when told that he is a nobody and amounts to nothing. This is compounded by the fact that he had shown kindness and was being rewarded with insults and humiliation.” SSL 39
Notice what David said in the previous chapter regarding King Saul: 1Sa 24:12 “The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.”
David recognized God as his Avenger in chapter 24; but in chapter 25, he sought to avenge himself.

APPLICATION QUESTION:

How do you respond when others insult you with disrespect after you have done so much good for them?
Do you feel like they owe you their kindness?
How can you overcome this temptation?

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

Why is it so bad to think of those whom we help as owing us their love, kindness, and generosity?

3. Read carefully Abigail’s speech in 1 Samuel 25:23–31. Contrast that to Nabal’s reply (vss. 10, 11). What does this tell us about the difference between the two of them?

ANSWER:

Abigail: “My lord.”
Nabal: “Who is David?”

OBSERVATION:

Abigail uses the phrase “my lord” 14 times in her speech.
These words, as well as her charitable gift to David and his men, were able to turn away the wrath of David.

APPLICATION QUESTION:

What would you do if you were Abigail? Would you come to the defense of someone who deserved to get what was coming to them?

CONCLUSION:

Ro 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. . . . Ro 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Abigail clearly showed the right spirit as a mediator. She showed unconditional love for her unruly and foolish husband by taking personal responsibility for his actions. Yet at the same time, by her kind words and implications she was also able to subdue the irritated feelings of David.
Abigail is a type of Christ here. The wrath of God is against all unrighteousness. Yet this wrath is postponed to a later time because of the intercession of Christ. At the same time, while Christ takes our guilt upon Himself, that kindness, or grace, melts and changes our hearts.
“The Spirit of the Son of God was abiding in her soul.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 667.

Oct16–22: Jonathan: Born for Greatness

2010-10-16T05:09:00.000-07:00

Teaching Points

1. Read 1 Samuel 14 and make a chapter outline.

ANSWER:

1Sa 14:1-15 Jonathan and his armor-bearer attack the Philistines
1Sa 14:16-23 the Philistines turn against one another in their confusion
1Sa 14:24-46 Saul’s oath and Jonathan spared from death
1Sa 14:47-52 Saul’s conquests and Saul’s family

OBSERVATION:

“Because of Saul's sin in his presumptuous offering, the Lord would not give him the honor of vanquishing the Philistines.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 623.
Yet in 1 Samuel 1:47-52 we learn that God still worked through Saul, gaining victories for Israel.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

Why do you think God still wrought victories through Saul?

2. What are the steps that Jonathan undertakes before climbing up to the enemy outpost? 1 Sam. 14:6–13.

ANSWER:

1Sa 14:6 “Come, and let us” – Jonathan consults his armor-bearer about the attack
1Sa 14:6 “It may be” – Jonathan is not presumptuous; he is humble and cautious, yet confident and dependent upon God at the same time
1Sa 14:6 “No restraint” – Jonathan is already giving God the credit for being more than able to do the work, whether with large or small numbers
1Sa 14:7-13 “The Lord hath delivered” – It is pretty clear that God was ordering this attack

SOP:

Jonathan, the king's son, a man who feared the Lord, was chosen as the instrument to deliver Israel. Moved by a divine impulse, he proposed to his armor-bearer that they should make a secret attack upon the enemy's camp…. {PP 623.1}
The armor-bearer, who also was a man of faith and prayer, encouraged the design, and together they withdrew from the camp, secretly, lest their purpose should be opposed. With earnest prayer to the Guide of their fathers, they agreed upon a sign by which they might determine how to proceed. {PP 623.2}
These two men gave evidence that they were moving under the influence and command of a more than human general. To outward appearance, their venture was rash, and contrary to all military rules. But the action of Jonathan was not done in human rashness. He depended not on what he and his armor-bearer themselves could do; he was the instrument that God used in behalf of his people Israel. They made their plans, and rested their cause in the hands of God. {YI, November 24, 1898 par. 6}

APPLICATION QUESTION:

How do you know if you are resting your plans in the hands of God or not?

3. Read 1 Samuel 14:24–46. How could Jonathan, had he wanted, used this incident as an excuse to stop honoring his father? Have not people turned on their own parents for less? What does this tell us about the kind of person Jonathan was?

ANSWER:

Jonathan could have rebelled against his father’s decree. But this shows the true character of Jonathan. Just when Saul’s rash character is revealed, so is Jonathan’s, who patiently waits on the Lord for his deliverance and vindication. Ps 37:7 “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”

APPLICATION QUESTION:

How do you treat those who are wrong and in authority over you? Do you still obey them, or rebel against them?

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

We are admonished to obey our parents “in the Lord” (Eph 6:1). Since Saul’s decree was obviously not “in the Lord”, then why do you think Jonathan would allow himself to be killed?
How can one determine whether or not something is in the Lord or not?

4. Read 1 Samuel 31:1–7 and 2 Samuel 1:5–12. What kind of end did Jonathan have? How do we understand this?

ANSWER:

Sometimes God rewards his faithful servants at the resurrection morning.

CONCLUSION:

Ex 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Jonathan’s life of unselfish love to his father is a testimony of what it means to truly honor your father and mother. Through the dark times of Saul—even when he was against his own son—Jonathan stood by him, giving him loyal support, even though Saul many times acted out his own rash will.

Oct9–15: Hannah: Learning to Be Someone

2010-10-09T13:29:00.003-07:00

Teaching Points

1. Read 1 Samuel and make an outline of the chapter.

ANSWER:

1Sa 1:1-8 Elkanah and his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah
1Sa 1:9-18 Hannah’s prayer
1Sa 1:19-23 Hannah’s prayer answered: the birth of Samuel
1Sa 1:24-28 Hannah presents Samuel to the Lord

2. Read 1 Samuel 1:1–16. Why was Hannah so distraught over not having children, even though she knew that her husband loved her?

ANSWER:

1Sa 1:2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. … 1Sa 1:5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. 1Sa 1:6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
From the way Peninnah treated Hannah, it seems very probable that being able to give your husband children meant a special honor and blessing in the home and society.

OBSERVATION:

“The blessing so earnestly sought by every Hebrew was denied this godly pair (Elkanah and Hannah)…”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 569.
“Having no child at all was understood as a divine curse. Both in the public and in the family sphere, a woman without a child had to live with a stigma of supposedly being cursed by God.
“For Hannah, jealousy and the sense of ‘being nobody’ created an explosive mix of emotions that finally blew up when she poured out her heart before the Lord. What made matters worse was that Hannah was not getting younger. Time was against her, and, apparently, so was God.
“Remember also that in Hannah’s time, a woman’s role in society was associated primarily with child bearing and rearing. There were no other career possibilities. A woman could not just change careers and find fulfillment in another occupation. We have examples of woman judges and female prophetic leadership in the Old Testament, but these are indeed limited and depended on God’s direct call. It was only through children that Hannah could count the worth of her life and leave a legacy. To her, without children her life had no real meaning.” SSL 23

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

Why do you think God waited until Hannah made her vow to give her a child?
Why do you think God allowed Hannah to first go through the bitter experience and conflict before granting her request?
Most likely Hannah was Elkannah’s first wife, then why didn’t God just give them a child of their own from the start, before Elkannah married Peninnah?

APPLICATION QUESTION:

How do you respond when God does not answer your prayer in the time and manner in which you asked? Do you continue to pray for the blessing, or do you assume the blessing is not for you?
How do you feel when you think God has not blessed you? When you think about it, is that really true? What can you do to change those thoughts and feelings?
How can you prevent yourself from thinking that bad things are happening to you because God is punishing you? What can we learn from Hannah’s example?

3. Observe another problem Hannah was facing, and how did she respond?

ANSWER:

1Sa 1:6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. 1Sa 1:7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
1Sa 1:10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

OBSERVATION:

“Those who are closest to us often know how to hurt us most. With Peninnah’s constant provocations, it is not surprising that Hannah’s life became bitter.” SSL 24
Yet Hannah did not respond to those provocations in a retaliating way. We can clearly see the meek and quiet spirit of Hannah, especially when severely tested.

APPLICATION QUESTION:

How do you react when someone provokes you? What do you feel like doing at that moment, especially if you are in the right and done nothing wrong?

4. Read what the Spirit of Prophecy has to say about why Hannah was in such a trying position.

SOP:

The blessing so earnestly sought by every Hebrew was denied this godly pair; their home was not gladdened by the voice of childhood; and the desire to perpetuate his name led the husband--as it had led many others--to contract a second marriage. But this step, prompted by a lack of faith in God, did not bring happiness. Sons and daughters were added to the household; but the joy and beauty of God's sacred institution had been marred and the peace of the family was broken. Peninnah, the new wife, was jealous and narrow-minded, and she bore herself with pride and insolence. To Hannah, hope seemed crushed and life a weary burden; yet she met the trial with uncomplaining meekness. {PP 569.2}

OBSERVATION:

Elkannah had good intentions to bring happiness to his home and multiply his seed.
However good the intentions, it led to family division and bitterness of soul for Hannah.
This is similar to Abraham: Ge 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

SPIRITUAL LESSON:

You can want to do the right thing but yet still relying on your flesh to do it. The flesh doesn’t necessarily mean only desiring to do bad things.
How can you determine whether or not you are performing by the flesh versus by the Spirit?

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

What kind of sin did Elkannah commit in marrying Peninnah? Is it considered adultery if he’s married to her?
Why do you think God allowed righteous men such as Abraham and Elkannah to marry more than one wife? Why would this not be a wise practice for today?

5. What kind of spirit and attitude did Hannah have while in prayer?

ANSWER:

1Sa 1:10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. … 1Sa 1:15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

OBSERVATION:

Hannah was in “bitterness” and had a “sorrowful” spirit while in prayer to God for her request.
It’s interesting that her earnest prayer was said in her heart (see verse 13).

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

What other characters in the Bible had a similar experience (think of Daniel, Moses, Jesus, etc)? What was common about all their prayers? What can we learn about from these examples about how to approach God in our own bitter and sorrowful times?

CONCLUSION:

It is obvious that the turning point of this whole chapter is Hannah’s prayer. Her prayer changed her bitter experience into a great joy. It also brought the blessing she and her husband longed to have, but without relying on what they could do to bring it. Hannah’s prayer attitude is an example of what to do when in circumstances that seem to look like God has put us under a curse.

APPLICATION QUESTION:

What attitude do you bring to God in prayer when experiencing difficult times? Do you come to Him doubting His love for you, or do you come to Him like Hannah, giving Him your sorrows but without complaint?
Do you desire to please God but yet still relying on your flesh to do those things? How can you prevent yourself from living this experience?

Oct2–8: Caleb: Living With the Wait

2010-10-02T07:22:00.000-07:00

Teaching Points

1. Read Numbers 13:26-14:2. What lesson can we learn from this account about living by faith and not by sight?

ANSWER:

Nu 13:30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

OBSERVATION:

Originally, it was the people—not God—who wanted to go and search out the land: De 1:22 And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.
Read Numbers 13:2, 16-21. God agreed with the people’s suggestion; however, based upon the whole of chapter 13, God put more emphasis on the land and not on the people.
Yet in Numbers 13:26-14:2 it is obvious the people enlarged upon the difficulties and dangers of their conquest—they focused much more on what they saw.
“What we see, and how we interpret what we see, can have very direct personal consequences. Our interpretations of ‘facts’ form the building blocks of our daily decisions, and these ‘facts’ so often interact with our emotions. The idea that we can believe whatever we like without those beliefs affecting who we are and what we do is a myth.” SSL 15
God’s way was clear: Just go and possess the land, but if you want to send spies, then go ahead, but My directions are to focus more on the land.
Man’s way was also clear: We will give more attention to that which God had not emphasized.
It is obvious that ten of the spies, along with the rest of the congregation, walked by sight and not by faith.
Walking by sight meant that they depended on their own calculations and judgment apart from God’s word. They put their own reasoning powers above the word of God.
But Caleb said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”
Caleb exercised faith—strong faith—in the midst of the bad reports from the other spies.
So in order for Caleb to exercise faith, he had to go against speak out against what the people were emphasizing.
In order for Caleb to speak out like this, he had to go against the facts about the people of the land, as well as go against the pressure of the other spies.
Basically, Caleb went against what he could see and hear. This is faith—he denied his natural senses and did not put his trust in them over God’s word.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

Why is it so easy to live by sight and not by faith?
Notice that Caleb did not rebuke the people for their faithlessness or sin, he just spoke out courageously to trust and obey God—why do you think he did it that way?

APPLICATION QUESTION:

How do you respond to the “plain old facts” that seem to go against God’s word? Do you go against the facts or do you go against God’s word?
How do you respond to others’ complaints? Do you complain about their complaints? Or do you, like Caleb, stand tall and speak positive?
Are people blessed by your courage, or do people avoid you because of your courage?

2. Read Numbers 14:1–10, 20–24. What do we see here as an end result of rejecting God’s Word and thus coming to a faulty interpretation of the “facts”?

ANSWER:

Nu 14:2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! Nu 14:3 And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
Nu 14:10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
Nu 14:22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Nu 14:23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

OBSERVATION:

Heb 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
After complaining against Moses, Aaron, and God, and then attempting to stone Joshua and Caleb—the end result is that they will not enter into the Promised Land.
Perhaps the worst part of it all was when they said, “Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.”
Now Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb have to suffer the consequences of the rebellion of the people.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

The people acknowledged their sin in verse 40. Why didn’t God accept their confession and allow them to come into the land of Canaan?

APPLICATION QUESTION:

How do you react when everyone is at fault but you? Do you point out their fault with an attitude of “I told you so”?
Do you sometimes break away from those at fault to join a new movement or church?
How can you be more like Caleb in these situations?

3. Read Joshua 14. What request does Caleb make, and why do you think he made it? What does this tell us about him and his faith?

ANSWER:

Jos 14:12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

OBSERVATION:

Notice that Caleb wants to secure the land where the Anakims dwell. What do we know about these people from the Bible?
Nu 13:22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) …. Nu 13:28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. … Nu 13:33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
De 1:28 Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.
De 2:10 The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; De 2:11 Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims. … De 2:21 A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; but the LORD destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead:
De 9:2 A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak!
It is pretty clear from these verses that the Anakims were a very tall, great, strong, and gigantic people.
I see a very important point that Caleb is making here. Caleb’s voice was the one that said in the midst of the evil reports from the unbelieving spies, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it” (Nu 13:30). Now, continuing in the strength of God, he chooses to take possession of the place that all the other spies thought unable to overcome. What consistency in his faith!

SOP:

[Caleb] therefore presented a request that Hebron he given him for a possession. Here had been for many years the home of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and here, in the cave of Machpelah, they were buried. Hebron was the seat of the dreaded Anakim, whose formidable appearance had so terrified the spies, and through them destroyed the courage of all Israel. This, above all others, was the place which Caleb, trusting in the strength of God, chose for his inheritance. {PP 511.4}
Caleb's faith now was just what it was when his testimony had contradicted the evil report of the spies. He had believed God's promise that He would put His people in possession of Canaan, and in this he had followed the Lord fully. … He did not ask for himself a land already conquered, but the place which above all others the spies had thought it impossible to subdue. By the help of God he would wrest his stronghold from the very giants whose power had staggered the faith of Israel. It was no desire for honor or aggrandizement that prompted Caleb's request. The brave old warrior was desirous of giving to the people an example that would honor God, and encourage the tribes fully to subdue the land which their fathers had deemed unconquerable. {PP 512.2}

CONCLUSION:

The word of God doesn’t become outdated or old over time. It still has the same power to accomplish what it says as when it was first spoken from the mouth of God long ago. We saw Caleb’s faith in Numbers 13, and his faith in God’s power didn’t change 45 years later at the division of Canaan in Joshua 14. In order for Caleb to do this, he had to make constant decisions to go against what he could see and hear. He had to deny his natural senses. Therefore, if we would exercise a similar faith to enter into the Heavenly Canaan, we also need to deny ourselves by the power of God.

APPLICATION QUESTION:

Ask yourself this question. How has the passing of time affected your commitment to God? Has it grown deeper or has it become shallow? Has it grown at all?
What can you do this week that would give you a deeper experience with God?

Sep25–Oct1: Story and History

2010-09-26T05:20:00.000-07:00

Teaching Points

1. Read Joshua 3:9–17. What is the purpose of this miracle?

ANSWER:

Jos 3:10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
To assure God’s people that the “living God” is among them and that He will drive out their enemies.
“Canaan was not taken by Israel because of Joshua’s military genius or Israel’s valiant efforts. Victory over the inhabitants of the Canaanite city-states was achieved only by God’s powerful intervention.” SSL 9

APPLICATION QUESTION:

In what ways are you trying to work your way through difficulties, rather than trusting solely in the power of “the living God”?

OBSERVATION:

Jos 3:7 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee…. Jos 4:14 On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
Jos 4:23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: Jos 4:24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.
This miracle serves two other purposes. One is to establish Joshua’s authority as one who will lead God’s people to Canaan. And the second is to have an influence of fear over the surrounding nations of the world.
It’s interesting to also note that God worked a similar miracle (parting of the Red Sea) in bringing His people out of Egypt.
So in the beginning of the journey to the Promised Land and at the end of that journey, God’s power was manifested in a similar way.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

In what way did God manifest His power that marked the rise of the Christian church? Will there be a similar way of working at the end?

WORD STUDY: “the living God”

According to Joshua 3, what sign did God give the Israelites for them to know Him as “the living God”? Jos 3:13 …the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
His power over His creation. Therefore, He has to be the Creator.
It’s interesting to note that this term “the living God” is connected to the power of the Creator:
Jer 10:10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Jer 10:11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. Jer 10:12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
Ac 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

PROPHETIC APPLICATION QUESTION:

What “sign” is related to “the living God” in the last days? Can you prove this from the Bible?

CONCLUSION:

God worked a mighty miracle to bring His people across the Jordan River. This miracle proved that it is by the creative power of God alone that could give His people the promised inheritance. In a similar way, in the last days, the issue regarding God’s creative power will again surface.

Sep18-24: All the Rest is Commentary

2010-09-22T14:55:00.000-07:00

Teaching Points

1. What are the issues in Romans 14 causing division?

ANSWER:

Rom. 14:2—Food in markets.
Rom. 14:5, 6—days—holy days or feast days—should we keep them.
Rom. 14—Condemning others based on what we think is right.
Acts 15—The Church’s decision that Gentiles should not eat meat offered to idols.
1 Cor. 10:19-25—some of the food sold in markets may have been offered to idols.
Paul is dealing with food that was perhaps offered to idols not clean vs. unclean meat which has already been made clear in other areas of the Bible. Paul is dealing with the fact that some people have more sensitive consciences and even though one person may be able to eat meat in the market without feeling guilty because the meat might have been offered to idols someone else may not be able to do that. What if another person who can’t do that with a clear conscience, sees you doing it?

2. What is the heart issue that Paul is dealing with?

ANSWER:

Rom. 14:3, 4, 10-13, —Do not condemn. God will judge us individually.

3. Though we should not condemn, what should we remember?

ANSWER:

Rom. 14:7—The things we do affect others.
Rom. 14:13, 21—Don’t put a stumbling block or a occasion to fall in our brother’s way.

4. How should we deal with something not inherently wrong but that causes another person to fall?

ANSWER:

Rom. 14:15, 16—We are not to offend because this is not showing love to our brother or living peacefully.
Rom. 14:19—We should only do those things that make peace and will edify (build up or promote growth).
Rom. 14:22—We will be happy if we don’t condemn ourselves by what we allow or approve.

OBSERVATION:

The issue was not so much, does sacrificing food to idols contaminate the food but does the person who eats that food cause someone else to stumble spiritually.
Should we judge others on the amount of faith they have or do not seem to have?
We must leave the judgment of others to God. He reads the heart.
Our part is if we are causing someone to sin because of our influence in any area of our life, we must change our influence. Otherwise we are guilty of not showing true love or being peaceable because we are causing others to violate their conscience.
Even though something may not be wrong necessarily, if it causes someone else to sin, or lose the way, we should not do it.
We should only do those things that will make peace and build up others.
Let us not condemn ourselves by things we allow or approve.

5. What is a crucial way to show true love?

ANSWER:

Rom. 15:1—We that are strong should endure the scruple of conscience of the weak, not please ourselves.
1 Cor. 13:5—True love does not seek her own.
A crucial way to show love is to look out for others and not seek to please self. Without this kind of love we can’t have unity.

6. What helps develop patience (cheerful endurance) so that we can have comfort and hope?

ANSWER:

Rom. 15:1-4—Enduring the conscientious convictions of those weaker in faith to strengthen them and learning from what was written in the Bible.
Patiently dealing with faults.

7. What is God’s desire for His people?

ANSWER:

Rom. 15: 5-7—For them to be likeminded: one mind.

8. How do Paul’s closing statements in Romans help us know his theme?

ANSWER:

In the beginning (chapters 1, and 2) of Romans he shows how the Jews and Gentiles are divided and the Jews are judging the Gentiles.
In the end (chapters 14, and 15) Paul addresses the key issue of judging each other and division and shows how everyone can be brought into harmony, or unity, or have one mind.
In Rom. 15:15-24 he more clearly states his calling to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He established the fact that the Gentiles are able to be saved as well as Jews.

OBSERVATION:

True love guards the conscientious convictions of others even when this does not please self.
The key to unity is surrendering self and seeking the best interest of others, not self.
God wants His people, Jews and Gentiles, to be united as one body in Christ. God does not want them fighting or causing someone to stubble because of their influence.
Paul closes with stating his mission for the Gentiles after establishing the fact that Gentiles have equal opportunity for salvation.

SOP:

But there has been among us as a people a lack of deep, earnest, soul-touching sympathy and love for the tempted and the erring. Many have manifested great coldness and sinful neglect, represented by Christ as passing by on the other side, keeping as far as possible from those who most need help. The newly converted soul often has fierce conflicts with established habits or with some special form of temptation, and, being overcome by some master passion or tendency, he is guilty of indiscretion or actual wrong. It is then that energy, tact, and wisdom are required of his brethren, that he may be restored to spiritual health. In such cases the instructions of God's word apply: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in a spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." Romans 15:1. 460 {CCh 254.2 (ch. 46)}
"We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." Romans 15:1. No soul who believes in Christ, though his faith may be weak, and his steps wavering as those of a little child, is to be lightly esteemed. By all that has given us advantage over another,--be it education and refinement, nobility of character, Christian training, religious experience,--we are in debt to those less favored; and, so far as lies in our power, we are to minister unto them. If we are strong, we are to stay up the hands of the weak. Angels of glory, that do always behold the face of the Father in heaven, joy in ministering to His little ones. Trembling souls, who have many objectionable traits of character, are their special charge. Angels are ever present where they are most needed, with those who have the hardest battle with self to fight, and whose surroundings are the most discouraging. And in this ministry Christ's true followers will co-operate. {DA 440.1 (ch. 48)}
God does not want us to place ourselves upon the judgment seat and judge each other. . . . When we see errors in others, let us remember that we have faults graver, perhaps, in the sight of God than the fault we condemn in our brother. Instead of publishing his defects, ask God to bless him and to help him to overcome his error. Christ will approve of this spirit and action, and will open the way for you to speak a word of wisdom that will impart strength and help to him who is weak in the faith. {OFC 127.6 (ch. 5)}
The work of building one another up in the most holy faith is a blessed work, but the work of tearing down is a work full of bitterness and sorrow. Christ identifies Himself with His suffering children, for He says, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). . . . Every heart has its own sorrows and disappointments, and we should seek to lighten one another’s burdens by manifesting the love of Jesus to those around us. If our conversation were upon heaven and heavenly things, evil speaking would soon cease to have any attraction for us. . . . {OFC 128.1}

CONCLUSION:

The Jews and Gentiles were disputing about food offered to idols and keeping feast days, but this was not the issue.
The issue was a heart issue: judging and condemning each other.
Paul shows us that even if something is not a sin, if it influences someone else to sin, or if it offends someone’s conscience, we should not do it.
We should not judge or condemn others but rather build up their faith in Christ.
True love guards the conscientious convictions and does not seek to please self.
Unity is only possible when we are surrendering self and seeking the best interest of others.
God wants His people, Jews and Gentiles, to be united as one body in Christ, not fighting or causing someone to stubble because of their influence.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

Are you daily surrendering self and seeking others’ best interest and not your own?
Are you condemning others but doing the same thing?
Are you judging others or building them up in Christ by faith?
Are you guarding the convictions of others and seeking to live peaceably with them?
Are you losing focus on Christ by getting angry or being jealous of another person?
Is anything in your life—movies, music, jewelry, attitude, judging, selfishness, food,—that is influencing someone else to fall into sin?

Sep11-17: Love and Law

2010-09-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

Teaching Points

1. For what reason does Paul entreat us to present ourselves as living sacrifices to God? And why is it our reasonable service?

ANSWER:

Rom. 12:1—Therefore—What point did he previously give?
Rom. 11:25-32—God’s great mercy.
Rom. 11:33-36—God’s rightful ownership and wisdom.
The reason Paul is pleading with us to surrender ourselves to God, is God’s great mercy and wisdom and rightful ownership. It is our reasonable service because of God’s ownership and great mercy toward us.

2. What is a beautiful example of a living sacrifice familiar to the Jews?

ANSWER:

Gen. 22:2, 9-12—Issac surrendered himself as a living sacrifice, willing to die, if it was God’s will.

3. What is the key to being transformed and proving what is God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will?

ANSWER:

Rom. 12:2—The renewing of our mind.
We cannot continue our old thoughts, desires, and actions. Our mind must be made new. Our mind must be brought in harmony with God’s perfect will!

4. When we have surrendered ourselves as living sacrifices and our minds are being renewed how are we to relate to others (Jews and Gentiles in Christ)?

ANSWER:

Rom. 12:4-21—We are to treat them with love as part of Christ’s body—without hypocrisy. We are to be in harmony of mind and humble, not thinking we are better than others. We are to let God take care of revenge and we should repay evil with good.

OBSERVATION:

We should be willing to surrender ourselves like a living sacrifice because we realize God’s rightful ownership and His great mercy toward us.
The submission of Isaac to be a sacrifice, trusting that his father was guided by God, is a beautiful example of how we should be willing to surrender all to Christ.
The renewing of our mind is the essential key to bringing us into harmony with God’s will. This is the opposite of harmony with the world.
We cannot be God’s and continue to follow the practices of the world.
When we have surrendered all to Christ and our minds are being changed to follow God’s will we will treat others as part of Christ’s body. We will love them without hypocrisy. We will be humble and peaceable, returning good for evil, even with our enemies, letting God take care of the consequences.

5. How are we to relate to those in authority over us?

ANSWER:

Rom. 13:1-7—We are to submit to them, honor them, pay them what is due.

6. How does Paul summarize proper human relations?

ANSWER:

Rom. 13:8-10—Owe no one anything but love. True love fulfills the Ten Commandments.

7. What reason does Paul give for the urgency of being ready?

ANSWER:

Rom. 13:11-13—It is high time to awake—our salvation is nearer than when we believed.
The night is far spent.

8. How can we be fully prepared to walk honestly?

ANSWER:

Rom. 13:12-14—casting off the works of darkness and putting on the armor of light. Putting on the Lord Jesus and making no provision for the flesh (sinful desires).

OBSERVATION:

We are to submit to those in authority over us and pay them what is due.
We are not to owe anyone anything but love. We are to love as the commandments show us.
Paul urges us to wake up because time is short. There is no time for sleeping, or drinking, or getting upset with people.
We should throw off the works of darkness and put on Christ (the armor of light) and not make ways to act on our sinful desires.

SOP

It is displeasing to God for any who profess to love him to work so hard with their hands and brains in their own business as to unfit themselves to render to God that service which comes from a fervent spirit. Christians should not make it a practice to urge their families to work until their energy is exhausted, and there is no vitality left to devote to the service of God, who requires soul, body, mind, and strength. If you employ the powers of your entire being to serve your own interest, what have you reserved to offer to God? Is it not a lame sacrifice? "I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." {RH, March 29, 1870 par. 16}
The apostle exhorts the church, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Man, then, can make the body unholy by sinful indulgences. If unholy, they are unfitted to be spiritual worshipers, and are not worthy of Heaven. If man will cherish the light God in mercy gives him upon health reform, he may be sanctified through the truth, and fitted for immortality. If he disregards light, and lives in violation of natural law, he must pay the penalty. {PH138 3.3}
But if the body is neglected, if unsuitable hours are consumed in study, if the mind is overtaxed, if the physical powers are left unemployed and become enfeebled, then the human machinery is trammeled, and matters that are essential for our future welfare and eternal peace are neglected. Book-knowledge is made all-important, and God is dishonored. The student forgets the words of inspiration, and does not follow the instruction of the Lord when He says: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." The minds of many need to be renewed, transformed, and molded after God's plan. Many are ruining themselves physically, mentally, and morally, by overdevotion to study. They are defrauding themselves for time and eternity through practicing habits of intemperance in seeking to gain an education. They are losing their desire to learn, in the school of Christ, lessons of meekness and lowliness of heart. Every moment that passes is fraught with eternal results. Integrity will be the sure result of following in the way of righteousness. {FE 351.2}

CONCLUSION:

Because of God’s rightful ownership and amazing mercy, it is our reasonable duty to surrender ourselves to Him as living sacrifices.
God wants to renew our mind—to bring us into harmony with His will.
God wants us to treat others as part of Christ’s body with true love, humility, and harmony.
God wants us to respect and submit to those over us paying them what is due.
Our proper relationship with other is to treat them with love. True love fulfills the Ten Commandments.
There is no time for sleeping, drinking partying or getting mad at people. Time is too short.
We need to join the side of Christ, put His armor on, and let nothing give the enemy a foothold in our heart.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

Are you realizing the amazing mercy of God to you and His right to ownership of you? And are you acknowledging this by surrendering to Him?
Are you treating your church family as part of the body of Christ?
Do you with a humble, grateful heart realize your unworthiness and seek to live peacefully with others?
Are you respecting your leaders and living up to the law of love?
Are you losing focus on Christ by getting angry or being jealous of another person?
Is anything—spiritual sleep, friends, parties, arguments, or jealousy—keeping you from clearly joining Christ?
Are you giving a foothold to Satan in your life or are you closing every possible door for temptation?

Sep4-10: The Election of Grace

2010-09-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

Teaching Points

1. What is the problem with the Jews’ righteousness?

ANSWER:

Rom. 10:2, 3—They had not submitted to God but were zealously trying to keep the law for righteousness.

2. What is the solution to the Jews’ problem?

ANSWER:

Rom. 10:4, 5—Faith in Jesus.
Rom. 10:4—Jesus is the end of the law for righteousness. The goal or the purpose of the law is to lead to Jesus because Jesus has perfect righteousness. There can be no righteousness without God’s law. God’s law determines right from wrong.

3. Where does faith come from?

ANSWER:

Rom. 10:17—hearing God’s Word. Hearing includes action.

4. What is one of God’s effective ways of stimulating His professed people?

ANSWER:

Rom. 10:19, 20—Those who are learning truth for the first time are on fire and alive in their experience with God and this sometimes arouses God’s professed people to gain a deeper experience.
Rom. 10:15 The gospel being preached.

OBSERVATION:

The problem with the Jews was that they were zealously trying to keep the law but without faith and submission to God.
The solution to this problem is submitting by faith to Jesus.
Faith comes from hearing and acting on the Word of God.
One of the ways God uses to stimulate new life in His professed people is to have them see the vibrant experience of new believers.

5. Has God “cast away” literal Israel?

ANSWER:

Rom. 11:5—No, a remnant will be saved. Jews still have the hope for salvation as any other person.

6. What caused the Jews to be blinded?

ANSWER:

Rom. 11:7-11—“Through their fall, salvation is come unto the Gentiles”—rejection of Jesus.
Why did they reject Jesus and be blinded?
2 Cor. 4:3-5—Satan blinded their eyes with unbelief.
Rom. 11:20—the Jews were broken off for their unbelief.

7. What is the meaning of the olive tree and branches?

ANSWER:

Rom. 11:16-24—the wild olive branches are the Gentiles. The original branches are the Israelites. The original branches were cut off from Christ because of unbelief. The Gentiles were grafted in because of faith. The Israelites, if they believe will be grafted in again. They are of the original stock so they would be perhaps easier to graft back in. The olive tree is Christ or God’s goodness (Rom. 11:22).

8. What is this mystery that Paul is trying to explain?

ANSWER:

Rom. 11:25-32—The Jews because of unbelief, rejected Jesus. Then God sent the gospel to be preached to the Gentiles. Now as the Gentiles accept the gospel by the mercy of God, He can use the Gentiles to help the Jews have faith and accept the gospel for salvation. All of God’s true Israelites (spiritual Jews) will be saved.
Rom. 11:30, 31—because of the Jews unbelief the Gentiles received mercy. Through the mercy of the Gentiles the Jews may receive mercy.

9. Can we fully understand God’s dealings and thoughts?

ANSWER:

Rom. 11:33-36—No! His judgments are unsearchable. Who can know His mind?

OBSERVATION:

The Jews still have the opportunity for salvation.
Because of the Jewish nation’s rejection of Christ because of unbelief they are no longer God’s special choosen people.
The gospel was sent to the Gentiles and those who believe are grafted in as God’s chosen people.
God can now show mercy through the Gentiles to the Jews.
God’s plans for our salvation are amazing. We cannot fully understand Him.

SOP

Paul likens the remnant in Israel to a noble olive tree, some of whose branches have been broken off. He compares the Gentiles to branches from a wild olive tree, grafted into the parent stock. "If some of the branches be broken off," he writes to the Gentile believers, "and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." {AA 377.1}
Through unbelief and the rejection of Heaven's purpose for her, Israel as a nation had lost her connection with God. But the branches that had been separated from the parent stock God was able to reunite with the true stock of Israel--the remnant who had remained true to the God of their fathers. "They also," the apostle declares of these broken branches, "if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again." "If thou," he writes to the Gentiles, "wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. {AA 377.2}
In the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, the Lord plainly showed his distinguished mercy to his people, before all the Egyptians. He saw fit to execute his judgments upon Pharaoh, that he might know by sad experience, since he would not otherwise be convinced, that the power of God was superior to all other. That his name might be declared throughout all the earth, he would give proof to all nations of his divine power and justice. It was the design of God that these manifestations should strengthen the faith of his people, and that their posterity should steadfastly worship Him alone who had wrought such merciful wonders in their behalf. {ST, April 1, 1880 par. 32}

CONCLUSION:

Jews and Gentiles have equal opportunity for salvation.
The problem with the Jew’s righteousness is that they did not submit to God and have faith in Christ’s salvation.
Because Israel as a nation rejected Christ from unbelief, they are no longer God’s chosen people. The gospel has gone to the Gentiles and whoever believes in Christ is grafted in as God’s chosen.
The Jews can just as easily be grafted back in if they believe.
God wants to show mercy to the Jews through the Gentiles.
God’s ways are amazing!
Paul’s main point in Chapter 10 and 11 is faith. This is the key to the righteousness of Christ.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

Are you zealously trying to keep the law and thus be righteous?
Are you submitting to God in faith trusting in His righteousness for salvation and obeying His will in His strength?
Are you exercising faith by action and being grafted into Christ?
Are you grateful for God’s amazing grace and plan of salvation?

Aug28-Sept3: Redemption for Jew and Gentile

2010-08-29T17:39:00.000-07:00

Teaching Points

1. What statements has Paul made so far about both Jews and Gentiles?

ANSWER:

Rom. 1:16—The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of both Jews and Greeks.
Rom. 3:9, 12, 23; 5:12—Both are under sin (condemned). All have sinned.
Rom. 3:22; 4:11—all that believe can have righteousness by faith.
Rom. 3:29—God is for the Gentiles as well as Jews.
Rom. 5:18—Who is justification available to? It is available to all because all have been affected by one man—Adam therefore, one man—Jesus can offer the free gift to all.
Rom. 8:32—Christ was delivered up for us all.

2. What is Paul saying about Jews and Gentiles in chapter 9?

ANSWER:

Rom. 9:24—God has called both Jews and Gentiles to His family.

3. What does Paul say about the Jews?

ANSWER:

Rom. 9:3-5—The Jews were given the special privilege having the message of truth for the world.
Rom. 9:6-9—Not all Jews are children of God.

4. What is Paul showing us by writing about the differences between Jews and Gentiles?

ANSWER:

Rom. 9:3-9—God gave the truth to the Jews for the world, but not all Jews believe and live the truth.
God is also giving the gentiles opportunity to accept the truth.
Does this mean the Jews are cast away? Rom. 11:1-5 No. God still has a remnant of faithful Jews.

OBSERVATION:

Paul reveals in Romans that Jews and Gentiles have all sinned, need a Saviour, are offered salvation, can be justified and have the hope of eternal life, and be adopted into God’s family.
God wants to save all both Jews and Gentiles.
The Jews were given special advantage and privilege in being given the truth for the world but this does not mean that all Jews will be saved.
The Gentiles do not have such great privileges as the Jews but God wants to save all not just Jews.
Though as a nation the Jews rejected Christ, Jews can still believe in Christ and be saved.

5. What was it about Esau that caused God to say, “Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated?”

ANSWER:

Gen. 25:24-27—Jacob and Esau were raised in the same home with the same opportunities.
Gen. 25:29-34—Esau sold his birthright to be the spiritual leader of the household as well as the earthly inheritance.
Gen. 27:6-29—Jacob stole Esau’s blessing.
Gen. 28:11, 16-22; 32:24-28— Jacob repented and wrestled with the angel.
Gen.26:34, 35—Esau took idolater wives.
Gen. 27:41; 32:6 —Esau wanted to kill Jacob.
Jacob turned to God and repented. Esau continually turned away from God. God knew that Esau would reject Him and Jacob would accept Him before each was born, but He still gave both the opportunity for salvation.

6. Is God unrighteous or unjust in dealing with people, why or why not?

ANSWER:

Rom. 9:14—He is not unrighteous.
What reveals that God is not being unjust in regard to Esau and Pharaoh?
Rom. 9:15-17—God knows the best way to reach a heart to help it respond and be saved. He reveals His mercy, compassion, and/or power to the person.

7. Why was Pharaoh’s heart hardened against God?

ANSWER:

Rom. 9:17—Could not God’s power have been shown in a fuller way if Pharaoh had surrendered to God as did Nebuchadnezzar? Yes. God wanted to show His power IN Pharaoh. God wanted His name (character) to be revealed in Pharaoh.
Rom. 9:18, 19—God showed His mercy by showing His power to Pharaoh. Pharaoh responded by resisting or hardening His heart. He resisted God’s will to reveal His character in the king.

8. What is Paul trying to illustrate about God by using Esau and Pharaoh’s story?

ANSWER:

Rom. 9:17—God’s purpose, for Pharaoh specifically, was to reveal His (God’s) character in Pharaoh.
Rom. 9:19-22—The vessels of wrath are the ones resisting God’s will or purpose.
Rom. 9:22—God is longsuffering even with the “vessels of wrath” (those resisting God’s purpose for them).
God wants to save all. God is doing all to save all who choose to be saved. Even those who resist God’s salvation (His purpose or will), He is longsuffering with.

9. Why is it important for Paul to show that God is longsuffering and merciful to all?

ANSWER:

Romans chapters 9-11 shows us that God is trying to save Jews, as well as Gentiles. Paul is warning them not to resist God’s work, or reject Jews or Gentiles who are believing in Christ; but rather accept them as part of God’s family—joint heirs by faith.

10. Why is it that there are Gentiles who have righteousness by faith and Jews who do not?

ANSWER:

The Jews were trying on their own to keep the law and attain righteousness by keeping the law, without faith in Christ. This became a stumbling block to them.

OBSERVATION:

God’s relation to Jacob and Esau was determined, not arbitrarily by God, but by their individual choices.

Paul clarifies that God is not unjust in how He deals with individuals. God uses the best methods to reach their hearts but, if they resist His purpose for their salvation, they become “vessels of wrath” by their own choice.
God is longsuffering and merciful to all regardless of their choice to resist Him or to accept Him.
Paul is trying to show the justice and mercy of God and His desire to save all. The Jews need to be able to accept the Gentiles as people that God wants to save equally with themselves.
If Jew or Gentile wants to attain righteousness it must be by faith in Christ. Works are not enough.

SOP

It was God's purpose that His grace should be revealed among the Gentiles as well as among the Israelites. This had been plainly outlined in Old Testament prophecies. The apostle uses some of these prophecies in his argument. "Hath not the potter power over the clay," he inquires, "of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? What if God, willing to show His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As He saith also in Osee, I will call them My people, which were not My people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not My people; there shall they be called the children of the living God." See Hosea 1:10. {AA 376.1}
In the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, the Lord plainly showed his distinguished mercy to his people, before all the Egyptians. He saw fit to execute his judgments upon Pharaoh, that he might know by sad experience, since he would not otherwise be convinced, that the power of God was superior to all other. That his name might be declared throughout all the earth, he would give proof to all nations of his divine power and justice. It was the design of God that these manifestations should strengthen the faith of his people, and that their posterity should steadfastly worship Him alone who had wrought such merciful wonders in their behalf. {ST, April 1, 1880 par. 32}
Thus Paul shows that God is abundantly able to transform the hearts of Jew and Gentile alike, and to grant to every believer in Christ the blessings promised to Israel. He repeats Isaiah's declaration concerning God's people: "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: for He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma and been made like unto Gomorrah." {AA 379.1}

CONCLUSION:

Jews are no better than Gentiles. The only difference is that Jews have greater advantage because they have been entrusted with the message of Salvation.
God wants to save all people and does all He can to save them. Even with those who refuse, He still is longsuffering.
Paul’s main point in Chapter 9 is that God wants to save all, both Jews and Gentiles; but, both Jews and Gentiles can choose to resist God’s purpose.
Righteousness must be by faith. We cannot save ourselves by keeping the law in our own strength.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

Do you think that you are better than others or more likely to be saved because you know more truth than others?
Are you taking advantage of the truth that you know and by faith in Christ living it?
Are you trying to save yourself by doing what you know is right, but not surrendering yourself to Christ?
Are you resisting God’s longsuffering and mercy for your salvation as Pharaoh and Esau did?