You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
—Amos 3:2
Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse. Have you ever known someone
who got away with doing something wrong? Does it seem fair when you get in
trouble for doing something wrong? Do you understand why it is that you may get
into trouble, but others seem to get away with doing the same kinds of things?
Our Key Verse today may help to remind us that if we are a Christian, belonging
to the Lord, we cannot get away with doing things that other people seem to
get away with. God will discipline His people (see Hebrews 12:5-8).
Emphasis: To recognize that when God’s people sin against Him, God
will discipline them.
Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, we remembered King Jehoshaphat – a very good king. Notice that the kings were compared back to King David to determine if they were good kings or bad kings.
In this lesson, we will look at two more of Judah’s kings. Notice that we only include the kings of Israel when they are directly involved with a king of Judah – for none of them were legitimate kings (because none were descendants of King David). We begin in this lesson with King Jehoram, son of good King Jehoshaphat. What a disappointment his son was! He rose up and killed all of his brothers, and he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel – for wicked King Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah, was his wife. Remember that King Ahab was a very wicked king from Israel. Elijah sent a writing warning that King Jehoram would die of a sickness in his bowels because he rejected the Word of the Lord. King Jehoram died of a sickness in his bowels after reigning for eight years.
His son, Ahaziah, became king, reigning only one year. He, too, was a bad king – walking in the ways of the kings of Israel. Because of advice from bad counselors (including his mother, Athaliah), he helped the king of Israel in battle. The king of Israel was injured in battle. Because King Ahaziah visited the injured king of Israel at the same time God told Jehu to seek God’s revenge upon the household of wicked King Ahab, King Ahaziah was killed.
“The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” Ezekiel 18:20
God wanted Ezekiel to make it clear to His
people that God saw everything. Because God sees all, Ezekiel was to make sure
the people understood that God also sees each individual and judges them
accordingly. Especially notice the following: “Behold, all souls are mine;
as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that
sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). When a person chooses to reject God,
that soul dies. It is an individual choice each person must make. (“For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God” Romans 3:23.)
Understand this better with the following: “The
soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the
father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the
righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the
wicked shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:20).
Each individual is accountable to God for his or her life – not the life of
their father: God has no grandchildren, only children. (“The Lord is not
slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering
to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance” 2 Peter 3:9.)
“But
if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all
my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he
shall not die.” (Ezekiel 18:21). Remember what is clarified even better in the
New Testament for us: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of
God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). And
also: “9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and
shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt
be saved. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation … 13. For whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:9-10, 13).
God then made a specific call to His people: “Therefore I
will judge you, O house of Israel,
every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves
from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin” (Ezekiel 18:30). It was up to each individual person to
repent and turn from his or her sin (transgressions) and turn to Him – even as
it is today. Remember: the people of Israel
were evicted from their land because of their sin against God, forsaking Him
for idol worship, and refusing to repent. However, the children who came after
them would not be held accountable for their parents’ sins. Each one of them
had the choice: the choice to repent and turn to God.
God never changes. God wanted to save people
in the Old Testament times, New Testament times, and He still wants to save
people even today. However, God allows each person to choose – to believe, or
not to believe. We should know all have sinned (remember Romans 3:23). But we should recognize how to have
life eternal. “For God so loved
the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Whosoever believes in Jesus can have
life! Instead of choosing continual sin, one must choose Jesus by faith: then
he or she can have life. “I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
There is an amazing picture of this in the Old Testament. It is a picture of God seeing an individual and holding him accountable for sin. Almost everyone is familiar with an event that happened in Genesis chapter four. God had accepted Abel’s offering and not Cain’s. “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts …” (Hebrews 11:4). Cain became angry. God gave Cain a warning: “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him” (Genesis 4:7). Cain had an opportunity right there to change his heart and to choose right. God warned that if he did not, sin was there waiting. Nevertheless, Cain had the choice to rule over that sin. If you remember, Cain ignored God’s warning and allowed sin to rule in his life. Cain rose up and killed his brother. He went out from the presence of the Lord – never to return.
Have you chosen a life in obedience to Jesus by faith, knowing it is only then you will have eternal life?
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
—Romans 8:31
Key Verse Thought: Read today’s key verse. As you read this verse,
recognize that when God is for us, no one can stand against us. But the
important thing to understand – just when it is that God is for us. God
is with the people who seek to obey God’s commands. “In
that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and
to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest
live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither
thou goest to possess it” (Deuteronomy 30:16). Also see: “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that
seek the LORD shall not want any good thing” (Psalm 34:10).
Emphasis: As you look at today’s lesson, understand the importance
of not only hearing and learning God’s Words, but that it is imperative to
implement God’s Word in our lives. Then when the enemies oppose, we can trust
God to fight our battles for us.
Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, we considered King Rehoboam a
bad king, for he forsook God. We also remembered his son, King Abijam (a bad
king) and King Asa (a good king). We learned about many good things they did
for Judah.
However, King Asa was the king that did that which was good and right in the
eyes of the Lord his God. He put away the false idols and served God only.
In this lesson, we remember
that when King Asa died, his son, Jehoshaphat, became king of Judah.
He too, was a good king. Once he became king, he eliminated idol worship. He
then strengthened the cities of Judah
– physically and spiritually. By placing mighty soldiers in the different
cities, he strengthened them physically. When he sent princes, priests, and
Levites into every city teaching the Word of God to the people, he strengthened
them spiritually.
When King Jehoshaphat helped wicked King Ahab in battle (the battle in which King Ahab died), King Jehoshaphat almost lost his life. When he cried out to God, God delivered him. For that alliance with wicked King Ahab (and also with King Jehoram), Jehoshaphat was rebuked by the prophet of the Lord. After that rebuke, he sent judges throughout the land to be sure the people not only knew the Word of the Lord, but that God’s Word was implemented in their lives. Then the enemy came up against them. We will see what happens to a people who place their trust in God – not man. When King Ahab’s son became king of Israel, he asked for King Jehoshaphat’s help against Moab. God gave the promise of victory through his prophet Elisha.
Remember again: the Chronicles do not dwell upon the wrongdoings of the kings, but what good they accomplished for Judah.
If you are teaching this lesson to children, the following is a craft idea to help them remember it.
We made a castle frame with the verse 2 Chronicles 20:21 inside to help us remember when God told Jehoshaphat to send the musicians before the army, and God won the battle for them.
“6. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7
In the Old Testament, God’s people were primarily Israelites
(Jews). There were rare exceptions when a Gentile left their people (and their
false gods) to become one of God’s people who believed in the one true God
(Ruth is an excellent example of this!). However, it was foretold that there
would one day be a time when the invitation to join God’s family would become
an open invitation to the Gentile people – until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled.
We live in those days. Moreover, it appears that those days may be coming to a
close very soon. See the following verses: “25. 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 fulness of
the Gentiles be come in. 26. And so all Israel
shall be saved …” (Romans 11:25-26a).
When God’s people rejected Jesus as their Messiah, declared vividly when Jesus
was crucified, God began to close the door of salvation for the Jewish people “blindness
in part is happened to Israel,” opening the door of salvation wide open for
the Gentiles. The tables were turned: mainly Gentiles would be saved and few
Jews during this time in history. However, soon the door will close for the
Gentile nations, and God will open the door of salvation wide for the Jewish
people. This is already beginning to happen.
A primary
place this is told of is in the book of Isaiah. In Isaiah chapters 54-55, we
see a picture of the restoration of Israel
that would happen one day, and a calling of the Gentile people. “Behold,
thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that
knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy
One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee” (Isaiah 55:5). The following
verses are a great invitation. “6. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found,
call ye upon him while he is near: 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the
unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will
have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah
55:6-7). Notice the urgency in calling upon the Lord while He may be found. One
cannot delay!
Why do we need to turn to the Lord for forgiveness? “8.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my
ways, saith the LORD. 9. For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10.
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not
thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may
give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater” (Isaiah 55:8-10). What does
this mean?
When a person understands they are a sinner and that they need a Savior, they hear from someone about the Word of God (telling of Jesus’ atoning death), and that Word goes into the heart of a person much as a seed enters the soil. The watering of God’s Word causes the seed to bud. A person is then saved. It does not make sense to the average person (God’s ways are higher), but when they only believe, God can do His work! See what we understand just happened in that heart. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). When God’s Word is accomplished in the heart, that person is no longer a condemned sinner, but a new creature in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). How does one feel after they have asked Jesus into their heart? “For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:12). The whole earth will rejoice!
Have you allowed God’s Word into your heart, believing in Jesus?
Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left.
—Joshua 23:6
Key Verse Thought: Read today’s Key Verse. In this verse, courageous means “to be firm; be strong; to retain, hold fast,
or keep.” What are we to be
strong doing? We are to do all that is written in God’s Word. Notice especially
the addendum: “that
ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left.” There is no allowance for variance – one must
adhere directly to God’s Word and hold fast to it with all of our might. In
this lesson, we will learn of three kings. Rehoboam, who was not courageous to
do all written in the book of the law; Abijam (Abijah), who walked in the sins
of his father, and a king (Asa) who, after being very courageous, turned aside
at the end of his life.
Emphasis: In this lesson, we are to understand that God wants to
show Himself mighty to His people (Christians). We are also to recognize the
importance of remaining
courageous – obeying God and His Word all throughout our lives – never failing
as King Asa did toward the end of his life.
Lesson Summary: In the last quarter, we learned about Israel,
the Northern Kingdom, and how they were carried captive.
In this lesson, we will begin our study of Judah, the Southern Kingdom.
We will begin by remembering King Rehoboam’s reign and what happened to cause the nation to divide into two separate kingdoms. King Rehoboam was considered a bad king because he forsook God. When Rehoboam died, his son, Abijam (Abijah), became the king of Judah. He “… walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father” (1 Kings 15:3). Abijam (Abijah) was also considered a bad king. Little is recorded about him in First Kings, so we will focus on information in Second Chronicles. He only reigned for three years, and although God used him to do good things for Judah (King Abijam had the right reasons for fighting King Jeroboam), God knew King Abijam’s (Abijah’s) heart.
When King Abijam (Abijah) died, his son, Asa, became king. Asa reigned for 41 years in Jerusalem, “And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father” (1 Kings 15:11). He was a good king and it was during his reign that he made many great reformations, and the people of Judah turned their hearts back to God. King Asa knew to cry out to God when the enemy came against Judah, and God was able to show himself mighty before the people. When God sent His prophet to speak to King Asa, he listened. He was told to be strong and seek God, continually. He took courage, and removed the idol worship and broke down the false places of worship. The people recognized God was with King Asa. He even removed his grandmother as queen because she worshiped an idol. He also destroyed her idol. Nevertheless, toward the end of King Asa’s reign, King Baasha of Israel came against a city in Judah. King Asa sought the help of an enemy nation. Although they gained the city back, Asa had failed to seek the Lord. God sent his prophet with a message, but King Asa rejected the message. After this, King Asa was diseased in his feet, but he sought the physicians and never sought God. He died of the disease in his feet.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13
Can you name any of God’s commandments? Without knowing what God’s
commandments are, people would never understand they have sinned. “Therefore
by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by
the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). One must first recognize that they are sinners.
That comes by knowing what God’s Law says, for God’s Law reveals sin. “For the wages of sin is death; but
the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”
(Romans 6:23). The penalty for
breaking God’s Law is death. What do you do with that information? One should
understand that Jesus came to die on the cross to take away that sin. He then
offered eternal life for anyone who would receive it.
However, it takes faith to accept that gift of God’s grace. “For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians
2:8). That guarantees that anyone
who asks in faith can receive. “For whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
That person is then called a Christian. What happens for those who trust in
Jesus? “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the
law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14).
Understand that when Jesus died on the cross, we were set free from sin;
Christians no longer live under
the Law. “What shall we say then? Is
the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had
not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet”
(Romans 7:7). God’s Law is still important. That Law was given to keep man in
constant awareness of how far he had fallen short of God’s glory and the
terrible price that had to be paid to bring man back into right standing with
his Creator (Jesus’ death on the cross). God’s Commandments also remind us that
God is perfect and righteous, and we are a people with the propensity to sin.
Christians are to live as if they belong to God. We should “hold fast
the profession of our faith without wavering” (Hebrews 10:23). Christians can now claim new lives, so we must
then live new lives. “Therefore if any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Christians are now able to live new lives of obedience to God and His commands.
God then does something special for those who belong to Him.
God has now written His Law on the Christian’s heart and mind. “This is
the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I
will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them” (Hebrews
10:16). His Spirit lives inside each
Christian, constantly reminding him or her of God’s will. “For they that are
after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the
Spirit the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5). We are then able to please
God in the following of His Law that is written in our hearts. This is because
we have been encouraged to do the following: “Thy word have I hid in mine
heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). We must hide
God’s Word in our hearts so we will not sin against God but live for Him.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Understand that fearing God does not mean being afraid of Him. Fear means “morally to revere; a dread of His wrath; and a reverence of His majesty.” It is knowing what God expects of Christians and then doing it.
Do you read God’s Word daily, hiding it in your heart so you can live a life pleasing to Him?
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
—Psalm 33:12
Key Verse Thought: After reading the key verse, understand that God
has promised to bless the nation who acknowledges God as supreme, and where the
people establish a relationship with Him. How can one
have a relationship with God? (i.e.:
first, ask Jesus in one’s heart; spend
time with Him; pray; read the Bible; obey God’s commands and encourage others
to obey Him as well; etc.) In this
lesson, we will see how God blessed the nation, Israel,
who made God the Lord of their nation – and obeyed Him!
Emphasis: Christians are to choose to obey God, doing what He wants
over what self wants, understanding that God will bless those who put God
first.
Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, we learned that David prepared
greatly for the building of the Temple.
He declared that his son, Solomon, would succeed him as king, and Solomon would
build the house of the Lord. In this lesson, we will learn about Solomon as he
becomes king of Israel.
Solomon returned to the
tabernacle Moses had built in the wilderness and offered great sacrifices to
God. God came to Solomon that night, asking what he desired. Solomon took his
father’s advice and asked for wisdom to rule God’s people. God not only
promised him wisdom, but riches and fame as well.
Solomon immediately set
about to build the Temple for God.
Once it was completed (and the furnishings were made and placed inside), he had
the Ark of the Covenant brought into the Temple,
addressed the people, and prayed to God. When Solomon finished praying, God
answered his prayer by sending fire from heaven that consumed Solomon’s
sacrifice. The glory of the Lord so filled the Temple
that no one could enter. God then gave many promises, and warnings, to Solomon.
Solomon’s kingdom increased, and his fame extended. The Queen of Sheba heard of King Solomon and came to meet him herself. She recognized that God had given him this great wisdom. Solomon’s fame continued to spread, and many kings gave him great gifts – increasing his wealth.
Remember: The books of the Chronicles do not dwell upon the wrongdoings of the kings, but what good they accomplished for Judah.
If you are doing this with younger children, the following area craft ideas to go with this lesson:
We decorated a frame with the verse 2 Chronicles 7:14 in it to remind them of King Solomon’s prayer.This is another idea of a decorated frame with 2 Chronicles 7:14 in it to remind them of King Solomon’s prayer.
“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” 2 Corinthians 8:12
Jeremiah was called by God to be a prophet during the time of the final
five kings of Judah.
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth
out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto
the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). God called Jeremiah to be His prophet before
God even formed him in the womb. God had already sanctified him. Sanctified means “to pronounce clean; consecrated (set apart) to God.” The word ordained
means “putting forth a voice.” God
had set Jeremiah apart to serve Him by speaking God’s Words to the nations
(including us today).
However, like most people, Jeremiah’s initial response
when God called him was that he was inadequate (see Jeremiah 1:6). If you think
about it, most people feel quite inadequate when God calls upon them to do
something for Him. But keep in mind that God also knew you before you were
formed in the womb, and if God didn’t know you could do it, He wouldn’t have
asked.
God responded to Jeremiah much as He would probably respond to anyone who
thought they could not do what God called them to do. See what God said to
Jeremiah: “7. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for
thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou
shalt speak. 8. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to
deliver thee, saith the LORD. 9. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched
my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth”
(Jeremiah 1:7-9). God not only encouraged Jeremiah that he could do what God
asked, but God put His words in Jeremiah’s mouth.
God told Jeremiah His plans. He was going to allow the enemy from the
north to enter into Jerusalem
because of the people’s continual wickedness and idolatry (see Jeremiah 1:15-16). Then God continued with amazing words
of encouragement. “17. Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and
speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I
confound thee before them. 18. For, behold, I have made thee this day a
defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against
the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof,
and against the people of the land. 19. And they shall fight against thee; but
they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD,
to deliver thee” (Jeremiah 1:17-19).
Did you see what God was going to do for Jeremiah? When Jeremiah spoke to the
people, God would make him like a “defenced city”, “an iron pillar”,
and “brasen walls” against the whole land. Jeremiah was not to be
troubled by the people’s response to God’s Words – for God would strengthen Jeremiah
to complete the task at hand. More importantly, the people would not prevail
against (triumph or overcome) Jeremiah – because God was with him!
There were many good things happening in the land of Judah when God called Jeremiah. However, the days were not always good. Jeremiah spoke for over forty years. The final four kings of Judah were terrible times! God called Jeremiah during those final years of Judah’s existence. During those years, God’s people were conquered, carried from the land of promise into captivity, Jerusalem was destroyed, and the Temple burned. However, God never left Jeremiah.
As we just remembered, God knew Jeremiah before he was even born. He called, prepared, sent Jeremiah as a prophet for God and promised to be with him. Keep in mind, God will never give us anything to do that He will not help us complete. “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not” (2 Corinthians 8:12). God will be with us. We only have to trust Him (just like Jeremiah). God encouraged Jeremiah just as he had encouraged many before him by giving encouraging words when He called them to do something for Him. Think back to Moses. Moses did not think he could do what God asked, yet read God’s response in Exodus 4:10-12. Remember the encouraging words given to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Deuteronomy 31:6). And to Joshua when he was to lead God’s people. “And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8). Even today, we are encouraged to trust God. “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:6). As we found out, that was what God expected of Jeremiah.
Do you have a willing mind, recognizing God will help you do what He asks?
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
—2 Corinthians 9:7
Key Verse Thought: Read today’s key verse. Understand the key verse
with the following definitions:
purposeth means to prefer, choose, or intend for oneself; to resolve
grudgingly means in grief or sorrow
necessity means compelling force as opposed to willingness
loveth means to love, or regard with strong affection
cheerful means joyous, happy, or glad
In this lesson, we will
learn that David gave of his time and substance to prepare for the house of the
Lord.
Emphasis: We are to learn to want to please God with all of our
heart – just as King David did. We are also to understand that God forgives our
sin and still wants to use us to complete the work He has for us to do.
Lesson Summary: Today we will remember when David was moved to
number the people. We will learn that Satan was the one who stood up against Israel.
Satan is the enemy of God’s people, and he wants to destroy them. Through this
event, we will see David remember that God is a forgiving God. We will find out
the importance of Mount Moriah
(the threshing floor of Onan).
David had a burden to build
a permanent house for the Lord, and God revealed to David where the Temple
was to be built. God said David could not build that house, but promising that
David’s son, Solomon would be allowed to build it. Even though David would not
be the builder, he prepared for the Temple.
The first thing David did was anoint Solomon as the next king of Israel
(remember that God had told David that Solomon was to be the next king of Israel).
David then organized the people, gathered many supplies to build the Temple
(giving much of it himself), and made the plans for the Temple,
and instructed Solomon and the people of Israel.
David emphasized to the people the importance of completing the Temple
– and to make it such a magnificent building that all of the world would
recognize its glory.
David led by example when it
came time to bring gifts in preparation for the building of the Temple.
David was greatly pleased that he was able to give toward that building.
David’s praise turned into a prayer recognizing that God saw the intent of the
heart in wanting to give back to God with what He had abundantly blessed them.
Solomon then became king of Israel,
and God magnified Solomon greatly.
Remember: The books of the Chronicles do not dwell upon the wrongdoings of the kings, but what good they accomplished for Judah.
“23. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24
If you have ever read the book of Jeremiah, you understand
that the messages God gave Jeremiah to share were extremely difficult for him
to deliver. However, Jeremiah was always faithful – even when he was beaten,
imprisoned, and his fellowman rejected him. He willingly obeyed God’s command
to deliver His message calling Judah
to repent and return to God. Jeremiah had little, if any, hope of the
possibility of God’s people truly repenting and returning to God, yet he
faithfully delivered the messages God had. What courage!
There was one particularly interesting time God had him
speak. There was a nomadic people that lived among the Israelites called the
Rechabites (also known as the Kenites). They were descendants of Moses’
father-in-law, who had chosen to live among God’s people in tents. They
occasionally are mentioned as those who helped God’s people (see Jael in Judges
4 and Jehonadab with Jehu in 2 Kings
10). God sent Jeremiah to speak to these people, take to them to the
house of the Lord, and give them wine to drink. Jeremiah did what God told him
to do. Read their response. “6.
But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father
commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons
for ever: 7. Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard,
nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may
live many days in the land where ye be strangers. 8. Thus have we obeyed
the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged
us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters; 9.
Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field,
nor seed: 10. But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according
to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.” (Jeremiah 35:6-10). What
was wrong with drinking the wine? They had made a commitment to their father
that they would not. They chose to obey their father, Jonadab. God had a point
He wanted to make to His people. “13.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah
and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to
my words? saith the LORD. 14. The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he
commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they
drink none, but obey their father’s commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken
unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me”
(Jeremiah 35:13-14). God made a very good point. God commended the Rechabites
for their faithfulness to the command given to them by their father. Their
father had given commands, and his children obeyed. God had given the
Israelites commands, yet they had disregarded them. God reminded them He had
sent prophets to tell them. “… saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and
go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I
have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor
hearkened unto me” (Jeremiah 35:15b). God’s people did not listen.
They did not obey God’s command to return to Him. This family of Rechab had
willingly chosen to obey the words of their father, yet God’s people had
willingly chosen not to obey the words of God. The Rechabites were
destined to live as a nomadic people – without homes, farms, vineyards, or a
place to call home. Yet this people obeyed their earthly father. On the other
hand, God had given His people a land where they built homes, had farms and
vineyards, and a place to call their homeland. However, the Israelites did not
obey God. God blessed the Rechabites.
Because God’s people did not repent or choose to obey God, God allowed the enemy to destroy Jerusalem and take them captive. Jeremiah witnessed the destruction of his beloved city, and his people carried captive to a foreign land. Yet even through rejection and witnessing Jerusalem’s destruction and the people’s captivity, Jeremiah still mourned and prayed for his people. He even remained to encourage the few left in the land with God’s Words. Jeremiah understood something that had not even been written yet in his day: “23. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).
Do you obey God’s Word heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men?
