Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.
—2 Peter 1:13
Key Verse Thought: Read today’s key verse. Realize that tabernacle means “the body as a frail tenement of the soul” and
stir you up means “of the mind; to excite.” A good Bible
teacher’s job, as teachers (in our frailty), is to stir up students (excite
them) by putting them in remembrance (to help them remember the heroes of our
faith). We should be excited about learning of these great men and women in the
Bible. In this lesson, we will continue with our remembrance of some of the
people in the Old Testament – even learning of a few new people along the way.
Anyone who learns something
exciting from God’s Word can share it with someone else!
Emphasis: It is important to remember (with excitement) the people
and events of the Old Testament. Recognize God’s blessings upon those who
called out to Him, and especially those who sought God with the whole heart.
Lesson Summary: In this lesson, we continue our study of the genealogies
listed in the book of First Chronicles. While reading the descendants of David,
recognize the listing of the kings of Judah.
As we read through more of the genealogies, notice the interesting pieces of
information sandwiched into them – events that many overlook as they skip over
the seemingly boring, non-eventful, genealogies (as we discover how exciting
they can be!). We will also see where the rest of the sons of Judah
are listed. After that, time will be spent remembering the kings and their
lives in greater detail.
The first king of Israel was Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin. Remember again, why God removed the kingdom from his family and gave it to another – one who sought after God’s own heart. “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22).
Remember: The Chronicles do not dwell upon the wrongdoings of the kings, but what good they accomplished for Judah.
“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.”
—Philippians 3:1
Key Verse Thought: Read today’s key verse. In this lesson, we will
remember many people we have studied before – ones we cannot forget!
Emphasis: We are to never tire of remembering God’s people, and
what He did for them (and does for us today)!
Lesson Summary: It is important, upon occasion, to take a minute
and stop to remember. In this lesson, as
we begin the book of 1 Chronicles, we can see it begins with the genealogy from
Adam – which is basically a time of remembering back to what God had done.
Oftentimes we find the genealogies mundane and boring. As we go through the
first chapter of 1 Chronicles, try to see the genealogy from a different
perspective. It can be fascinating if you are able to recognize names, which in
turn causes a remembering of great events in history. Be encouraged to look at
genealogies from this perspective. Now that we have studied many great men and
women in history, we should be able to read through these genealogies with much
fascination.
One important reason that
the books of the Chronicles were kept was to accurately record the lineage of
the Israelites – to reveal to mankind with great assurance that Jesus was the
rightful heir to the throne of David.
In our last quarter, we
focused on the kings of Israel,
the Northern Kingdom. As we continue our study, we will
focus on the kings of Judah, the Southern Kingdom. In these lessons, we will
look at the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings along with the additional information
about events and people that was not recorded in the records of the kings but
in the books of 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles. These bits of information will
be helpful in better understanding some events. The books of the Chronicles
help us consider the spiritual significance of these events. First Chronicles
begins with Adam and brings us to the kings of Judah.
Especially notice the same struggle mankind has fought since the beginning of
time: man’s choice. The choice is whether to obey God, or to choose not to obey
God. The choice one makes determines one’s
standing with God. See an example of man’s disobedience and obedience as
recorded in First Chronicles:
1. Disobedience brought
defeat and destruction: “13. So Saul died for his
transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word
of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one
that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; 14. And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and
turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse” (1 Chronicles 10:13-14).
2. Obedience brought peace
and God’s blessing: “12. And they entered into a
covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with
all their soul; 13. That whosoever would not
seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether
man or woman. 14. And they sware unto the LORD
with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. 15. And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their
heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and
the LORD gave them rest round about” (1 Chronicles 15:12-15).
As we have learned and will continue to discover, faith in God, repentance, and seeking God with the whole heart (obedience) – not necessarily one’s genealogy – will determine one’s standing with God.
“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8
The Gospel Message of Jesus is available to anyone who will
receive it. However, one must not only believe that message, it then must be
received into one’s heart and life by faith. “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word
preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it”
(Hebrews 4:2). When one does not believe, it does not profit
them. See why not: “Seeing therefore
it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first
preached entered not in because of unbelief” (Hebrews 4:6). We can
read in the next verse that there is a cry for one not to harden their heart
(so that faith can enter in). See how this is described: “12. Take heed,
brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing
from the living God. 13. But exhort one another daily, while it is called
To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin”
(Hebrews 3:12-13). One who rejects the Gospel message of Jesus has departed
from the living God in unbelief. There is no hope for such a one.
Remember, in the Old Testament God’s people were to obey and follow God,
waiting for Jesus to come.
One cannot help but remember back to the Bible and a very
real example of one without faith. His name was Saul, the first king of Israel.
He was physically, everything a people could want in a king. He was
good-looking, and he stood head and shoulders taller than anyone else did.
However, what kind of a man was Saul really?
In the administration of his kingdom, we find out that Saul
demanded obedience to his command. He even promised death to anyone who defied
his command. In one instance, it turned out to be his son, Jonathan, who had
unwillingly disobeyed his father’s command. When the king was prepared to kill
his son, the people stepped in and saved his life. Shortly thereafter, God
required King Saul’s obedience in a matter. But when Saul disobeyed God, God
did not demand his death. God is forgiving and although there was discipline
for disobedience, God gave him a second chance.
God told Saul to go and utterly destroy Amalek and everything
they had (for they were God’s enemies). He was even to kill the king. Saul
gathered the people and went to Amalek. They took the city. “But Saul and the people spared Agag, and
the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and
all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that
was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly” (1 Samuel
15:9). Saul did not obey God’s command. God declared that Saul had turned back
from following Him, and not performed His commandments. When confronted with
the truth of the matter, Saul lied. Read his response when questioned by
Samuel, God’s prophet. “20. And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed
the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have
brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21.
But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which
should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in
Gilgal” (1 Samuel 15:20-21). Did you notice that King Saul blamed
the people for his disobedience? Because of his disobedience to God this time,
God removed the kingdom from Saul and his family. Samuel told him that because
he had rejected the word of the Lord, God had also rejected him from being
king.
It was not until the punishment had been uttered that Saul
admitted his fault. “And Saul said
unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the
LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice”
(1 Samuel 15:24). Samuel completed
the job that Saul was to supposed do. Samuel killed the king of the Amalekites.
Shortly after that, God chose a man after His own heart,
David. Saul spent the rest of his kingdom not trying to please God, but trying
to destroy David. This caused his kingdom to become one mainly of defeat. We do
not hear of him seeking after God until right before he died in his last
battle. When the Philistine army gathered together against Israel
again, Saul gathered all of Israel
together. He was afraid. Saul wanted a word from God, but he did not receive
one: for God did not answer him (see 1 Samuel 28:6). Saul then searched and
found a woman who had a “familiar spirit” (means a necromancer or sorcerer; a
witch). Saul disguised himself, went by night, and found her. He sought the
world’s ways of seeking answers instead of waiting upon God.
We can understand that the main problem of Saul was that he
had no spiritual foundation on which to build a godly life. Sure, he was God’s
chosen man to be king of His people, but Saul never sought God or His wisdom
with all of his heart. When David came into Saul’s life, many of Saul’s
insufficiencies (his lack of faith and obedience to God) revealed themselves.
Saul openly became a double-minded man. He was a soldier pursuing David as if
he were Saul’s enemy one day, yet the next he would acknowledge that God was
with David. “A double minded man is
unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). We can recognize that Saul
had no faith.
Are you one with no faith, like Saul who departed from the living God in unbelief?
Or,
Have you received the Gospel Message of Jesus, by faith, into your heart and life?
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11
Do you read the Bible? Do you understand what you read when you do
take time to read it?
The Bible is the Word of God. It has been preserved for us to
read, but very few people read and understand what the Bible has to say to us
today. According to most statistics,
young people are growing up and leaving the church and faith in God by the
droves. The main reason can be found in the lack of knowledge and understanding
of what one believes about God and why. Not many people take time to gain the
information only found in the Bible that one needs to live in today’s world.
Growing up in a Christian home is no guarantee that one
understands the Bible, or knows how to live a Christian life. Being saved as a
young child, I learned many Bible “stories,” but it wasn’t until later that I
began to understand how all of these stories fit together. When I saw a timeline
throughout Bible history, it helped me begin to understand how all of those
“stories” were connected together. I also began to understand that Jesus was
planned from the beginning of time to redeem mankind because of sin. I wanted
to know and understand more of the Bible, so I began to study.
The most important thing about studying the Bible should be
to learn the basics of the Bible and how it should be applied to Christians’
lives. A good Bible study needs to be more than a compilation of “stories” we
have always heard. The word “story” even brings to the hearers’ mind that they
are make-believe. Many people do not even understand that the Bible is not just
a compilation of popular Bible “stories” or favorite Bible passages. The Bible
is not full of “stories” but actual events in real people’s
lives. Children, as
well as adults, need to understand that each of these events all fit
together as part of a bigger picture – much like pieces of a puzzle. Not only do these events interlock, but
they also have a purpose: to reveal Jesus and why He came.
It is very important to read God’s Word and be in a good Bible study where you can learn more about Jesus. One important goal each Christian should have is to know and understand more about the Bible. The more you learn about the Bible, the more you begin to understand that it is so much more than just a collection of events in people’s lives that lived long ago. In the Bible Study called The Biblical Path of Life, you can search and find out why the people who lived in the Old Testament times wanted to obey God. You can learn how they knew He would one day send Jesus. It is there one can see what happened to His people when they obeyed God’s Word, and even what happened when they forgot God’s Word. As you read the New Testament, you begin to recognize when people began to understand that Jesus was the One who was to come (the one promised in the Old Testament). These events will be an encouragement to you, for it is then that one can understand God is with those who love Him, seek to please Him, and that God takes care of His people. “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11). It is then that one begins to understand how to live a Christian life pleasing to God in the world today. The Bible means nothing to us if we do not apply the principles within to our lives to become more like Christ.
All people, especially children, are capable of learning so much more. The Biblical Path of Life is one such study meant to simplify the understanding of the Bible making it relevant to a Christian’s life — young or old — by comparing Scripture to Scripture. Christians should understand just how important their Bible is and become familiar with it. Everyone should understand the importance of reading God’s Word!
Even beginning readers should be encouraged to read their
Bible. At first, even the youngest readers will be hesitant to read.
Nevertheless, with a little encouragement and help, they can become excited
about reading their Bible. No one is too young (or old) to begin to love the
Word of God or to learn the principles found within God’s Word!
In order to encourage people to know more of the Bible, I have posted blogs to motivate people to dig a little deeper into their Bible’s and study. Feedspot has recognized www.biblicalpath.com as one of the top 100 Bible Study Blogs. My hope is that by being listed here, many more people will be encouraged to read and understand what God’s Word has for people who are searching in these days.
Do you take time to read your Bible, discovering God’s plan in these days?
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
—2 Timothy 3:5
Key Verse Thought: Read today’s key verse. You may understand it
better with the following definitions:
form:the process or activity
of forming or shaping; specifically in reference to the Law as the source of
knowledge and truth. This refers to the godliness, which is only a form and an
external appearance. Such godliness is a
sham and devoid of any real power to break the power of sin.
power:true nature of
something as opposed to just talking about something.
From this verse, we can
understand that just because someone acts like they are “godly” does not
actually make them godly if they do not have Jesus in their heart. For someone
to act “godly” and not have Jesus, is someone who has denied the power (true nature of something) of Jesus in
one’s life. It may look and sound real,
but it is not. We read in our key verse that we are to “turn away” from
someone, or even things, like that.
Emphasis: We are to know that it does not matter what anyone
thinks, only what God’s Word says: Jesus was the one promised from the
beginning of time — the only one who could restore our relationship with God.
Lesson Summary: We have been studying the history of the Northern
Kingdom, Israel.
We found they never had a good king. Each king followed in the steps of King
Jeroboam I, for we read the kings “took no heed to
walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of
Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin” (2 Kings 10:31).
Because each king led the nation to continue in the worship of idols (remember
the golden calves at Dan and Bethel),
the nation never was what God intended it to be. We also studied the prophets
Amos and Hosea as they warned Israel
to seek God and correct their worship.
In this lesson, we will see why Israel needed Jesus. As we have learned, Israel had the form of worship (a religion) without the power (true nature) of that worship of God (remember today’s memory verse). They still performed sacrifices, but they were to idols — not to God. Those sacrifices were to remind them of their sin, and that God would send One to remove that sin. Without the correct worship, they would never seek for their Messiah (which was Jesus).
We will remember many times God promised for their Messiah (which was Jesus) to come, if only the people had remembered to watch for Him. We will then look at the revealing of Jesus as the Promised One who would take away man’s sin. Even in Jesus’ day, the people misunderstood who he was, so Jesus told them to remember the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah was a witness to a lost city, Nineveh, Jesus was a witness to an evil generation.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” Psalm119:105
Have you ever recognized God speaking to you through His Word?
Did you understand there was something He wanted you to do? Have you ever
chosen to do what you want to do instead of following the plan God has for your
life? God’s Word is to be a light for your path giving you direction. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and
a light unto my path” (Psalm119:105).
One cannot help but remember back to a man in the Bible who
chose to do what he wanted to do over what God wanted him to do. He was told by
God to do a job. However, instead of obeying God, he ran the other direction.
This man’s name was Jonah. He was a prophet of the Lord.
God told Jonah, “Arise,
go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up
before me” (Jonah 1:2). Instead of obeying God, read what Jonah did.
He went, found a ship, bought a ticket, boarded the ship, and went to sleep. No
problems! Everything is lovely! He must be in God’s will for everything to have
worked out so well! However, see what God’s Word tells us: “But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish
from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship
going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go
with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD” (Jonah 1:3). He
thought he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord – all because he
did not want to do what God wanted him to do. One important thing
to consider: can anyone hide from God? “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy
presence?” (Psalm 139:7). The following verses (in Psalm 139:8-12)
declare there is no place one can hide from God. Nevertheless, Jonah was so
comfortable in his position of flight from God that he went to sleep in the
belly of the ship.
Jonah was still asleep when a great storm arose that
terrified even the seasoned mariners that were in charge of the ship. They were
afraid the ship would be broken. “Then
the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the
wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them.
But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast
asleep” (Jonah 1:5).
Jonah knew the storm had come because of him. Jonah had not
implemented what he knew: “Thy
word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”
(Psalm119:105). Jonah was supposed to follow the path God’s Words had given to
him. Jonah knew what God had told him to do. Instead, he went the opposite
direction, ending up on a ship in the midst of a terrible storm. Jonah told the
men to throw him overboard, and the storm would cease. “15. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea
ceased from her raging. 16. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and
offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows” (Jonah 1:15-16).
God knew what they would do. See what He had already done. “Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to
swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three
nights” (Jonah 1:17).
What did Jonah do once he was imprisoned in the belly of the
fish? “Then Jonah prayed unto the
LORD his God out of the fish’s belly” (Jonah 2:1). Jonah understood.
It was his fault that he was there. Jonah cried out to God to help him. “When my soul fainted within me I remembered
the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple”
(Jonah 2:7). Jonah recognized his failings, promising to do what he was
supposed to do. “But I will
sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that
I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD” (Jonah 2:9). Once he
repented, “And the LORD spake unto
the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land” (Jonah 2:10).
Jonah went to Nineveh. He warned the people. Everyone from the king down repented and turned to God. Because of Jonah’s warning, the whole city was saved. However, Jonah will forever be known as a reluctant prophet who was swallowed by a great fish for disobeying God.
Are you willing to disobey God’s plan for your life, running away ending up ineffectual, until you recognize God and repent?
Or will you choose to make God’s Word a lamp unto your feet, and a light unto your path?
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
—Romans 9:13
Key Verse Thought: Before beginning today’s lesson, consider
today’s key verse. It is important to remember that this is God speaking. We
must remember that God hates sin and wickedness. See what we read about Jesus,
God’s Son: “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated
iniquity …” (Hebrews 1:9). See that in this verse righteousness means “disposition or conduct in common life — i.e.:
just, uprightness, good character, virtue” and iniquity means “sin, unrighteousness, lawlessness.” If you are
teaching a class, ask your students if they remember the twins Jacob and Esau
from the Bible. Remember that Esau rejected what was right. As we look at this
Bible Lesson, we will better understand why God hated Esau. We will see how
Esau, and his descendants, had rejected God and the things of God. For that
(and because of his hatred toward Jacob and his descendants) God promised destruction
to that people.
Emphasis: First, we are to make sure we have chosen a life pleasing
to God (have Jesus in our heart). Afterward, we should learn to live as an
ambassador in this world, knowing we represent Jesus to the lost.
Lesson Summary: Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament.
It is considered one of the older books of prophecy. No one is quite sure when
it was written. There are no clues within the book to help us place it in
history as many other books of prophecy have. However, we do know that it is a
book of warning. It warns us of what will happen to those who are against God’s
people. It was written as a warning to those who persecuted the Israelites.
God called Obadiah as an ambassador (a messenger representing God) to warn Edom of their pending doom. First, though, we will remember who the people of Edom were. They were descendants of Esau. Remember that he was the twin brother of Jacob. We will recall the events that transpired, causing them to become enemies, and will consider a few times that Israel had conflict with the Edomites. They were also a vocal adversary when Israel was threatened. They took pleasure in the troubles of Israel. Because of that, God would deal with them. We will read that another reason they would be destroyed was because of their pride; God would bring them down.
Finally, we will read of the judgments that would fall upon Edom; and the recompense God would pay His people, the Israelites.
If you are doing this with children, the following is a craft idea to go with this lesson:
We made a book of Obadiah. Because it is the shortest book of the Bible, we glued a copy of the entire book of Obadiah inside of folded black construction paper (to look like a Bible).
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves … Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
—Romans 12:19
Key Verse Thought: After reading the key verse, understand that vengeance means “to execute justice;
penal retribution; execution of right.” Think about a time that you have known
someone who may have wanted to get back at someone for something that was done
to them. We often call this revenge — or getting even. After learning of Israel’s
captivity by Assyria last week, do you think the
Israelites wanted to take revenge? They had been taken from the land God had
promised them — by their enemy! As we read our memory verse today, we must
remember that it is not our place to get back at anyone. God has reserved that
right for Himself. He will repay — He said so!
Emphasis: We are to know that God is a stronghold for those who
trust in Him — and to live with that in mind!
Lesson Summary: We have been studying and learning about the
history of Israel,
God’s chosen people. Remember that this was only ten of the twelve tribes, the Northern
Kingdom. We read how after many warnings, God’s people were
carried captive out of the land God had promised to them. They were carried
into an enemy land and scattered (see 2 Kings 17:6). After reading of the
prophets’ many cries for Israel
to repent and turn back to God, we learned of God’s discipline that fell upon Israel
for disregarding that call to repentance. As we enter into our study of Nahum
today, we should remember back for a minute to Jonah. God sent Jonah to warn Nineveh
of destruction for their wickedness. “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness
is come up before me” (Jonah 1:2). In addition, he told them, “… Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4b). We also learned
of the repentance that city showed. “So the people of
Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth,
from the greatest of them even to the least of them” (Jonah 3:5).
Because of that repentance, God spared the city. “And
God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of
the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not”
(Jonah 3:10).
The book of Nahum takes
place over 100 years after Jonah. Nineveh
was the world’s greatest city at this time in history. Although the nation
repented in Jonah’s time, they had reverted back to their sin, falling even
deeper. See what we will learn. “The LORD is
slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked
…” (Nahum 1:3a). (Another verse to consider is Psalm 9:17: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the
nations that forget God.”) Today
we will read the words Nahum preached against the nation of Assyria
— the same nation that carried God’s people, Israel,
away from their homeland.
The book of Nahum takes place about the time of 2 Kings 21. Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, was utterly destroyed around 612 B.C.
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5
Jesus told a parable in the book of Luke. Read why
He told this parable to the people. “And
he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were
righteous, and despised others” (Luke 19:9). We can understand that
Jesus was dealing with people who thought they were righteous and others were
not. Thinking one is righteous, when they really are not, would be a very scary
place in which to be. Jesus wanted them to understand righteousness.
Jesus told the parable of two men who went up into the temple
to pray. One was a Pharisee (a very religious person – a religious leader) and
the other a publican (a tax collector). Read what Jesus said about the
Pharisee: “11. The Pharisee stood
and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12. I fast
twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess” (Luke
18:11-12). Now read what Jesus said about the publican: “And the publican, standing afar off, would
not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast,
saying, God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
Compare the two. The Pharisee was proud of all of his good
deeds and thought he was fine in his religion. The publican on the other hand, humbled
himself and asked God to forgive him – for he knew he was a sinner.
What did Jesus say about the two men? He began by telling of
the publican. “I tell you, this
man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every
one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall
be exalted” (Luke 18:14).
Read what Jesus had previously said to the Pharisees: “14. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous,
heard all these things: and they derided him. 15. And he [Jesus] said unto
them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your
hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight
of God” (Luke 16:14-15). They did not understand that God looks upon
the heart.
See
the following verses:
Understand the wicked: “The wicked, through the pride of his
countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his
thoughts” (Psalm 10:4).
Understand the religious: “If any man among you seem to be religious,
and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is
vain” (James 1:26).
How is one justified? “Knowing that a man is not justified by the
works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in
Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the
works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified”
(Galatians 2:16).
Can “good works” make anyone
righteous? “Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by
the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus
3:5).
What does this help us understand?
“And if by grace, then is
it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be
of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work”
(Romans 11:6).
How can one be righteous in God’s
eyes? “8. For by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians
2:8-9).
Understanding all of the above,
what is a Christian to do when faced with one who thinks he is righteous? “Having a form of godliness, but denying the
power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:5).
The Pharisee (who had a “form of godliness, but denying the power thereof”) will one day be abased. The publican, who humbled his heart, will one day be exalted.
Have you exalted yourself, or have you humbled your heart before God?
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. —1 Corinthians 10:12
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
—1 Corinthians 10:12
Key Verse Thought: Read the key verse. Can you think of a time when
you have bragged about doing something, only to mess up the next time you tried
to do it? Sometimes we think too highly of ourselves. It is then that we should
watch out — because we are probably about to fall flat on our face. We claim
that keeps us humble, but it is a Biblical principle. God wants us to be humble
— not proud. When we get too proud, He will remind us just who we are, His
servants here on this earth. In our lesson today, see what happens to the
nation that forsakes God.
Emphasis: In today’s lesson, we will learn to recognize the
progression of sin, and not allow it to destroy our life.
Lesson Summary: In today’s lesson, we will end our study of Israel’s
history. We have learned that God is merciful — He does not want any to perish.
We have read the prophets words of warning as to what would happen if they did
not seek God, repent, and turn back to Him. We even read an invitation extended
by God at the end of Hosea that we studied in our last lesson. Nevertheless, as
we will learn today, Israel
did not heed the warnings they were given. They did not respond to God’s call
for repentance. Instead, the kings continue to be wicked and continually “… did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD:
he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who
made Israel to sin” (2 Kings 15:18).
These wicked kings led the people to sin against God.
Israel
never had a good king. Keeping that in mind, we will learn about the last four
kings of Israel: Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea.
Take note of the listing of things we find in 2 Kings 17. This list tells of what Israel was guilty of in their sin, their idolatry, and the refusal to turn back to God. Especially notice the turning place that led to the rejection of God’s Word. Be sure that you recognize the parallel of the nation Israel’s refusal to obey God’s Word, and the fact that most people today know the right thing to do after hearing God’s Word, yet people often choose to do wrong instead.
As we study this lesson, realize that God did not allow His people to be taken into captivity without first telling them how they had failed Him. After many attempts to draw Israel back to Himself, God had no choice but to discipline His people.
