Author Topic: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 9--4th Quarter 2019--Trials, Tribulations, and Lists  (Read 1416 times)

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Wally

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Lesson 9 November 23–29





Trials, Tribulations, and Lists







Commentary in Navy                  Inspiration in Maroon







So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants:  we have done that which was our duty to do.  Luke 17:10

Richard Myers

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Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Ezra 1:9-11; Dan. 1:1, 2; Daniel 5; Deut. 30:1-6; Ezra 8:1-23; Neh. 11:1, 2; 12:1-26.

Memory Text: “They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;” Nehemiah 10:29

We usually skip genealogies and long lists of items in the Bible. But the Lord has them included there for a reason. The biblical Lord is the God of details. He notices the particulars, and this assures us that we are never forgotten by Him.

These few examples of genealogies proclaim that God knows all about our families, and the lists of things tell us that God cares even for what others might deem “insignificant”. Jesus stated that God takes care of sparrows and even counts our hairs: “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6, 7. The God who cares about these details cares about us as well, and He knows even the details of all the things that trouble us.

Thus, we can have full confidence, cultivate trust, and rest in assurance that the Lord cares about every area of our lives. While that’s comforting, as it should be, it should also tell us that we need to care about every area, as well.

Amen!  And, as a people, God has given us guidance in every area of life. Sadly, many do not seek it, nor walk in it. Why not? Blessings await all who walk in the light God has been so gracious to give to us. There are parents who do not read the book Child Guidance. What a loss! And, if one values health, there are a number of books that give such great light not only on preventing disease, but on healing also. What a God we serve!!


Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, November 30.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Sunday          November 24

The God of History


Read Ezra 1:9-11 and Daniel 1:1, 2.

 1:9   And this [is] the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives, 
 1:10   Thirty basins of gold, silver basins of a second [sort] four hundred and ten, [and] other vessels a thousand. 
 1:11   All the vessels of gold and of silver [were] five thousand and four hundred. All [these] did Sheshbazzar bring up with [them of] the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem. 
 
 1:1   In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 
 1:2   And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. 


How do the texts in Daniel help us understand what Ezra was referring to?

Notice how in Ezra details are given, while in Daniel the big picture was presented. Together, though, these texts show that the Lord is in control.

“The history of nations speaks to us today. To every nation and to every individual God has assigned a place in His great plan. Today men and nations are being tested by the plummet in the hand of Him who makes no mistake. All are by their own choice deciding their destiny, and God is overruling all for the accomplishment of His purposes” - Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 536.
 
Amen! Just as Turkey (Islam), conquered much of Southern Europe and Northern Africa, and evil they were, it was God's hand that protected the reformation from Rome as the pope's army had to protect Rome from the Ottomans rather than destroy the reformation.

Read Daniel 5.

 5:1   Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 
 5:2   Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which [was] in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. 
 5:3   Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which [was] at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. 
 5:4   They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 
 5:5   In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 
 5:6   Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. 
 5:7   The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. [And] the king spake, and said to the wise [men] of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and [have] a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 
 5:8   Then came in all the king's wise [men]: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. 
 5:9   Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. 
 5:10   [Now] the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: [and] the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: 
 5:11   There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, [I say], thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, [and] soothsayers; 
 5:12   Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. 
 5:13   Then was Daniel brought in before the king. [And] the king spake and said unto Daniel, [Art] thou that Daniel, which [art] of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? 
 5:14   I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods [is] in thee, and [that] light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. 
 5:15   And now the wise [men], the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not show the interpretation of the thing: 
 5:16   And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and [have] a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. 
 5:17   Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 
 5:18   O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: 
 5:19   And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. 
 5:20   But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: 
 5:21   And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling [was] with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and [that] he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. 
 5:22   And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; 
 5:23   But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath [is], and whose [are] all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: 
 5:24   Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. 
 5:25   And this [is] the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 
 5:26   This [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. 
 5:27   TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 
 5:28   PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. 
 5:29   Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and [put] a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 
 5:30   In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. 
 5:31   And Darius the Median took the kingdom, [being] about threescore and two years old. 
 


What do these texts teach us about the judgment upon Belshazzar?

Babylon fell in October, 539 B.C., when Cyrus, king of the Medo-Persian army, conquered it. Belshazzar, falsely relying on his successes, luxury, and fame, was so arrogant that he had organized a wild banquet on the night that would end up with his being killed. The divine hand wrote on the palace wall that his days were counted and coming to an end. Even though he knew the fate and conversion story of the mighty King Nebuchadnezzar, he did not learn his lesson. It is always tragic when we do not listen to God’s warnings and do not follow His instruction.

The prophet Daniel was always there, but he had been ignored. When we lose the sense of God’s holiness and His presence in life, we tread a path accompanied with complications, problems, and tragedies, which ultimately ends in death.

After recounting to the king the story of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel said, “But you his son, Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this” (Dan. 5:22). How can we make sure that we, in our own context, don’t make the same kind of mistake that Belshazzar did? How should the reality of the cross always keep us humble before God?

Why did Belshazzar make this "mistake"? Is it always a "mistake" to not humble one's heart? Is it possible to really humble a heart if the heart is not fully given to God? Absolutely not. We cannot overcome pride unless we love Jesus with the whole heart no matter how great we are. Lucifer was great, yet his problem was pride. Pride keeps many from being saved. What must we do in order to have power to not be proud? We must learn of God. Keeping fresh the Savior hanging on a cross ought to humble all who understand why He hung on the cross. Does this not greatly touch you heart when you realize it was because of your sin and my sin that Christ had to suffer such an ignominious death.

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Monday         November 25

In Their Cities

Scan over the lists in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7. What do you notice about them?

The repetition of Ezra 2 (the list of those who returned from the Babylonian captivity with Zerubbabel and Joshua) in Nehemiah 7 is deliberate. Again, these lists might seem boring to us, but they reveal an important point, which is that God cares about details that we might not care about.

The walls of Jerusalem were now finished, and the biblical text intentionally wants to demonstrate that the Ezra-Nehemiah generation of returnees were all contributing toward this great accomplishment, even though God alone gave them this success. The present generation built on the accomplishments of the previous one, even though the task was complicated, filled with barriers, and not completed as soon as they would have liked.

The leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah was valued, but the people also did their work. Each group engaged in different tasks performed at different times, but the result is impressive. The beginning (Ezra 2) is linked with the end (Nehemiah 7), and not only was the second temple built, but also Jerusalem was remodeled and well established.

Read Nehemiah 7:73.

So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and [some] of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities. 


What does it teach us about how successful they were in their desire to do God’s will?

“The children of Israel were in their cities”.

In many ways, the whole return and rebuilding was amazing. A people who many years before had their city devastated, their temple destroyed, and their land ravaged had now returned to that same land and that same city and were rebuilding everything, even the temple. It must have seemed miraculous to them and to those around them, as well. It was all, however, according to the will and the promises of God.

It was indeed miraculous. God enabled it by touching the hearts of heathen kings.


What in your life right now might seem hopeless, but nevertheless, you are still trusting in the Lord to get you through?

And as you experience difficulties, what will you do? Do you praise God in all situations? Can you glory in your trials? Those who love Jesus supremely know that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.  And we know why we glory in our tribulation. Because it is for our good and God's glory as we abide in Christ and He in us. "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Romans 5:3-5.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Tuesday          November 26

Where are the Priests?

No question — as we saw yesterday, it was an amazing fulfillment of prophecy that brought the Jews back from Babylon.

But as with anything that involves humans, problems existed. And one of the big problems was that, despite all the wonderful promises of restoration after the exile, many of the Jews did not want to return to the land of their ancestors. That is, they preferred to stay in Babylon.

Why would that be?

Read Ezra 8:1-15.

 8:1   These [are] now the chief of their fathers, and [this is] the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. 
 8:2   Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush. 
 8:3   Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty. 
 8:4   Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males. 
 8:5   Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males. 
 8:6   Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males. 
 8:7   And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males. 
 8:8   And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males. 
 8:9   Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males. 
 8:10   And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males. 
 8:11   And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males. 
 8:12   And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males. 
 8:13   And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names [are] these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males. 
 8:14   Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males. 
 8:15   And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. 


Focus specifically on verse 15. What was the big concern here, and why would it be a concern for someone who wanted to re-establish the nation of Israel in its former homeland?

The fact is, not all the Jews in Babylon, including some Levites, wanted to return. Several factors could have been involved. Many of them had been born and brought up in the new land, and that was all they knew. Many might not have wanted to make the long and unquestionably dangerous trip back to a land that they had never known to begin with. Eventually, though, we know that they brought along enough Levites to minister in the Temple (see Thursday’s lesson), despite the challenges.

“By now, the Jews who remained in the land of exile had been there for almost a century and a half. Excavations of Nippur have brought to light numerous documents that show that many wealthy Jews lived in that region of Mesopotamia during the reign of Artaxerxes I. Hence, it may have been a difficult task for Ezra and his fellow leaders to convince as many to return as did accompany him. These returning colonists could expect only a hard pioneering life in the old homeland, with far fewer comforts than in Babylonia. In view of these considerations it is surprising to find that Ezra succeeded in persuading almost 2,000 families to cast in their lot with their brethren in the old homeland” - The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 376.

“....we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22.
What does this tell us about the reality of trials and hardships for those who want to serve the Lord faithfully?

There will be trials. Why? If we love God with the whole heart, then what more can God want from us? Why must we go through tribulations? Why do the 144,000 after probation  closes, still have to go through a time of trouble such as never was? Why not when probation closes just put an end to everything and take the saved home? Because God wants witnesses of the power of His love to keep from sin no matter what. Read again Romans 5:3-5.

When Satan attacked Job, it was the result of God pointing out to him that Job was keeping the law of God, He said "my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" Job 1:8. As a result of God bringing this up, Job suffered the loss of everything except his wife. God knew what was going to happen and he allowed it. Why? For the same reason Jesus suffered during His life. "Though he were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered." Hebrews 5:8. Jesus was always obedient, then why does the Bible say He learned obedience? He became more obedient as He was tempted at greater levels. So it is with all who love Jesus supremely, we shall be tempted at greater levels, but never past what we can endure. For God has promised we shall not be tempted beyond what we can bear. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]." 1 Cor. 10:13. God does not bring man into a time of trouble such as never was without preparing him to be tempted at this high level. He gives us little steps that we might be able to grow in grace as did Jesus.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Wednesday         November 27

Humbled Before God

Read Deuteronomy 30:1-6.

 30:1   And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call [them] to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, 
 30:2   And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; 
 30:3   That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. 
 30:4   If [any] of thine be driven out unto the outmost [parts] of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: 
 30:5   And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. 
 30:6   And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. 


What promise was given here to the Hebrew people? What must this promise, among others like it, mean to men like Ezra and Nehemiah?

These promises were conditional promises. The greatest promise that we read here is the promise to "circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live." Not all would gain eternal life because the promise could not be fulfilled without the cooperation of man. We know the end result of the nation Israel. God could not fulfill His promise to make them a great nation, instead He cut them off and allow Jerusalem to be totally destroyed.


Ezra and Nehemiah knew the prophecies. They knew that God was going to bring the people back from captivity. We saw in Nehemiah 9 that they understood their history and the reasons for their troubles. At the same time, too, they knew God’s graciousness and leading, despite their sins.

Thus, they trusted in the Lord, that He would make the return from captivity successful. Those promises, however, didn’t mean that they would not face many challenges along the way. In much of this quarter so far, we have looked at the trials and tribulations that they faced, even amid the promises of God.

Read Ezra 8:16-23.

 8:16   Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding. 
 8:17   And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, [and] to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God. 
 8:18   And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen; 
 8:19   And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty; 
 8:20   Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name. 
 8:21   Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. 
 8:22   For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God [is] upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath [is] against all them that forsake him. 
 8:23   So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.


What was the challenge here, and how did they respond to it?

Despite the promises, Ezra knew just how dangerous the journey was. Thus, the fasting and the humbling before God were ways of acknowledging just how dependent they were upon the Lord for their success. At this time, with so many dangers ahead of them, the idea of asking the king for help and protection had at least occurred to Ezra. But in the end, he chose not to do that, in contrast to Nehemiah (Neh. 2:9), who did have an escort to protect him. Ezra obviously felt that if he had asked, it would have brought dishonor to the Lord, for he had already said to the king, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him” (Ezra 8:22, NKJV). In this case, it worked out well for them, for he later wrote (Ezra 8:31) that the Lord had protected them, and they made it to their destination safely.

Of course, we are to trust in God for everything. At the same time, too, what are times when we do call upon even those not of our faith for help? In many cases, why is that not wrong, but perhaps even appropriate?

We are to do what we can do, then ask God to do what we cannot do. Is it appropriate to carry a gun when traveling through the wilderness in Alaska? Grizzly Bears eat humans for dinner. Is it presumptuous to think God will protect us when we know the danger? And when living in Chicago, it is necessary to have a gun for protection when so many are murdered? We know the police cannot protect all. Do we believe God will protect us no matter what we do ourselves? These are questions that we must pray about. We see in our lesson there were two different results by these two men who were being led by God. One asked for armed protection, the other did not. In WWII there were Christians who killed men in order to protect liberty and freedom. Others took part in the war and did not kill anyone, but instead offered assistance to those who were injured. Both served God in the manner in which they believed right. When we study our Bibles, we find much counsel in how God has ordered things in the past. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." 1 Cor. 10:11. We are those to whom the ends of the world are come.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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  • Grace, more than a word, it is transforming power
    • The Remnant Online
Thursday         November 28

In the Holy City

Read Nehemiah 11:1, 2.

 11:1   And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts [to dwell] in [other] cities. 
 11:2   And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. 


What is going on in this passage? Why would they have to cast lots to see who would have to live in Jerusalem as opposed to living in the other cities?

What does Nehemiah 11 teach us? It was necessary to get new residents for Jerusalem from the newcomers who had come back to the land after their exile.

Apparently it was easier to live in the countryside than in the city. People had their own land, inherited from their forefathers. To abandon it and go to live in Jerusalem was a sacrifice, and many could rightly feel that they would be uprooted if they did so. Life would have new challenges, and an urban lifestyle is different from living in a rural area. Moving to a new, unknown setting is always difficult.

After more than 70 years, there were few if any who were returning to a lifestyle and property they had lived before. Some may have wanted to live in Jerusalem, others it appears did not want to live there.


How challenging is it to move to a new city or country where the gospel needs to be spread? Mission to the cities requires willingness to undertake new adventures and hardships.

We are not to move to and live in the big cities. They are unfit for human habitation. They were that way a hundred years ago when we were told to move out of the cities and to do ministry in them from outside outposts. There are hardships anywhere we go. And things are getting much worse.

For the present, some will be obliged to labor in Chicago; but these should be preparing working centers in rural districts, from which to work the city. The Lord would have His people looking about them, and securing humble, inexpensive places as centers for their work. And from time to time, larger places will come to their notice, which they will be able to secure at a surprisingly low price.—Medical Ministry, pgs 305, 306.


“Our workers are not reaching out as they should. Our leading men are not awake to the work that must be accomplished. When I think of the cities in which so little has been done, in which there are so many thousands to be warned of the soon coming of the Saviour, I feel an intensity of desire to see men and women going forth to the work in the power of the Spirit, filled with Christ’s love for perishing souls” - Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7. p. 40.

Why is the long list of priests and Levites mentioned in Nehemiah 12:1-26? What is the connection between them and the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem described in the second part the same chapter (Neh. 12:27-47)?

God wants things to be done in a proper way. Dedicated and consecrated people are needed first before great things can be accomplished. These priestly families helped Nehemiah build the walls in order that they could safely worship the living God in the temple without intervention from outside. Walls were important for security, but without devoted priests true worship would be in jeopardy. Hence all the people, in their various functions, had their roles to play.

Amen. God is a God of perfect order. He has an organized church for a purpose. It is not a hierarchy, but a representative church with leaders elected from the local church upward. Why an organized church? To do world-wide missionary work. No man or small group can do what an organized church can do. God is not going to allow His church to be broken up into small groups. The structure we have has been given to us by God. In order for it to function properly, it is dependent upon consecrated people who choose consecrated leaders. This is a problem in the church today. There needs to be revival and reformation so that there are consecrated leaders being chosen by consecrated people.

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Friday          November 29

Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Test of Discipleship”, pp. 57–65, in Steps to Christ.

“There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. . . . He desires to restore you to Himself, to see His own purity and holiness reflected in you. And if you will but yield yourself to Him, He that hath begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ. Pray more fervently; believe more fully. As we come to distrust our own power, let us trust the power of our Redeemer, and we shall praise Him who is the health of our countenance” - Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 64.

Amen! This is not making excuses for sin, but revealing that we have a Savior who loves us in our sins. He came to heal the sick and save the lost. When we are not right with God, when we realize we are not right, then we ought not be discouraged. We have a Mediator who suffered and gave His life that we might know He loves and us died for us while were yet sinners.

John understood this when he wrote: "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1. Don't sin, but if you sin, do not despair, we have an advocate who gives us opportunity to turn to Him and be saved. God looks upon the heart. He wants the whole heart. If we will learn of Him, He will win our hearts. Then He cleanses them whiter than snow even though they be as scarlet.


Discussion Questions:

    Think about Daniel 2 and how Daniel, thousands of years ago, so accurately predicted the rise and fall of empires, even depicting (very accurately) the disunity of modern Europe today. How can we learn to draw comfort from this prophecy, which so powerfully shows us, even amid the chaos of the world, that God knows all that is happening and has even predicted it?

The prophecies that have been foretold and fulfilled give us powerful evidence of a God of love, power, and omniscience. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. The Bible is true. What more do we need than to have it reveal what is happening today, what has happened in the past, and what is about to happen tomorrow?


    God knows all about us. This is comforting and gives us security and the assurance that we are in His care. “But now, this is what the LORD says — he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine’” (Isa. 43:1, NIV). How can you assure others of God’s presence and care when they go through emotional, relational, social, or financial crises?

We testify to what God has done for us. We share what we know of God, a God of love and justice. In the end, they need to know God for themselves from reading the Bible and witnessing His love and power in what He has created. "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." Romans 1:20.


    Dwell more on the issue in Wednesday’s lesson, about Ezra’s not wanting to call on the king for help because he was afraid that it would make his words about God’s protection seem hollow. We know, for example, that God is a healer. Does this mean, then, that we are showing a lack of faith in Him to heal us if we go to a medical doctor? Discuss this issue in class.

It depends. Do we first go to God when we are sick? Do we seek to understand why we are sick? Do we go to the doctor to find out why we are sick? Or do we go to the doctor to get medication? Much of sickness comes from our own carelessness. We now understand that diet is so very important in having health. When we are sick, do we seek to understand why and what are the underlying causes? Are we willing to change our lifestyle if necessary to be healed? If we know that we are contributing to our sickness and we refuse to make changes, then why would God heal us? It would do no good, for we would only be sick again because we did not remove the offense.

God raised up a school to train physicians at Loma Linda, California. They were given much light on health and treatments not using drugs. The light given has not been followed by many of our hospitals. God expects us to take responsibility for our own health. There are times when we will get sick. It is not always because we have done something wrong. Doctors have tools that can help us understand why we are sick and what we can do in order to be healed.  But, our faith is not to be in the doctor, but in God.

Here is a Bible reference pertaining to this subject. "And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign." 2 Chronincles 16:12,13. Something to consider when sick. He was diseased and within two years was dead. As I recall, he was a good king, but ought to have gone to God before going to the doctors.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.