SDA Sabbath School Lesson 13--4th Quarter 2019--Leaders in Israel

[Wally]

Lesson 13 December 21–27

Leaders in Israel

Commentary in Navy                  Inspiration in Maroon

[Richard Myers]

Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: 1 Kings 12:1-16; Acts 15:7-11; John 11:46-53; Neh. 4:7-23; Ezra 8:21-23, 31, 32.

Memory Text: “And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.” Nehemiah 8:12

Both Ezra and Nehemiah are examples of great leaders who were dedicated to God and to fulfilling the tasks that the Lord had called them to do. Their love for God inspired in them a desire to be faithful servants. In fact, their faithfulness has been a central part of our study.

This week we will look at examples of leadership found in the Bible, including the examples of Ezra and Nehemiah. These are not exhaustive lessons, for sure, as there are many more that could be discussed. However, the lessons that were chosen are essential for any leader. You may not consider yourself a leader at this specific time in your life, but we all have influence with some people; therefore, the lessons are applicable to everyone.

Amen. And, God is preparing leaders for tomorrow. There is great need in His church for great leaders. He will take many from the common walks of life and make them great leaders if they will allow Him to do so. Today, there is rebellion in the church just as it was in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. New leaders shall be chosen to replace the unfaithful ones.

Central to the story of these leaders is the Word of God. The Word transformed their thinking and life and resulted in the whole program for revival and reformation. They were totally indebted to God’s Word and His instruction that they found in it. In the same way, no matter who we are, and whatever our role is, we must keep the Word of God central to how we live as Seventh-day Adventist Christians.

Amen! Too many today read what others say about the Bible without studying it for themselves. Let us be as the faithful Bereans who after Paul taught them went home, and opened their Bibles to see if what Paul said was true. And, let us take advantage of the great light given to the world through a modern day prophet. If we want to truly know God and His character, we shall as we study our Bibles and read the Desire of Ages. It would be well for us if we spent an hour a day contemplating the life of Christ, especially the closing scenes. By beholding Him we shall be transformed into His image (2 Cor. 3:18).

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, December 28.

[Richard Myers]

Sunday         December 22

The Influence of Leaders

All through the Bible, we can find examples of leadership, both good and bad, and sometimes even a mixture of both. Bad leaders, at times, have done some good things, while good leaders, at times, have done some bad things. After all, all leaders are human beings and, as such, are capable of both good and evil, of doing right and wrong. Who hasn’t experienced this reality in their own lives?

There are too many leaders that are not converted and never have been. The church remains in a Loadicean condition which is a lost condition. Not all are Laodicean, some are converted and walking in the light of God's love and grace. Some have fallen into rebellion against God, His Word, and His church. It is true that even those who have been truly converted and walking in the light may fall, as did Moses at the end of his life. But, this is not what we see in the church today. It is rare to find those who are truly converted. Many have been buried alive. So it was in Israel and So has been in our church.

The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ (Manuscript 148, 1897). Vol. 6, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary; pg 1075.

The problem, however, is that when you are a leader, you exert great influence, either for good or bad. It’s bad enough to be a negative influence in your own home or workplace, or wherever your presence is felt. But when you are in a leadership position, be it spiritual, political, or both, the influence is greatly multiplied. How crucial then that, in whatever your role, but especially as a leader, you reflect the principles and teachings of Scripture.

Look up the following texts. What kind of examples of leadership do we find there? If good, explain why it was good. If bad, explain why it was bad.
Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:1-16)
Peter (Acts 15:7-11)
Josiah (2 Kings 23:1-10)
Deborah (Judg. 4:1-16)
Ahab (1 Kings 21:1-16)

Though just a smattering, what lessons can we take away from these stories about what makes good and bad leadership, and how can we apply what we learn to ourselves in whatever roles we are in?

It is good to consider the life of Moses and Paul (Saul).  Moses the Bible says was faithful in all of the house of the Lord, yet just before God laid him to rest, he sinned a most grievous sin. Why did God put an end to his life when he had repented quickly and deeply? And how about the life of Paul. He had been a persecutor of Christians, and responsible for the murder of Stephen. He was certainly a bad leader at that time, yet he ended up writing most of the New Testament. What happened to Saul? And, why did Moses sin such a great sin after being faithful for so many years? Why did God end the leadership of Moses and why did He not put and end to Saul's life when he had been such an evil leader in Israel?

How can we escape both situations of bad leadership in our lives, whether it be in our home or in God's church? What can we learn from both men's lives that will help us to be faithful witnesses in a world soon to perish?

[Richard Myers]

Monday          December 23

Evil in the Sight of the Lord

Look at the following texts. What do they tell us about these leaders and their influence over the people they ruled?
1 Kings 15:26, 34
2 Kings 13:1-3
John 11:46-53

It is a sobering thought to many of us who hold positions of leadership in any capacity that our leadership has the potential to bring people down or up spiritually. And, in all the cases here, the effect was devastatingly negative.

Amen. We are either savors of life unto life or death unto death.

More specifically, our character and dedication to Christ make a difference to those with whom we interact. Spiritual leaders influence others, either toward God if they themselves seek God, or toward evil if they do not.

In contrast to what we have seen today, the fact that Ezra and Nehemiah had a strong relationship with God is undeniable. The amount of fasting and praying that is recorded in these books about Ezra and Nehemiah exceeds what the Bible reports for other great leaders. The nation was walking with God under their leadership, even if everything wasn’t perfect. Their direction in life was toward God. On the other hand, the fact that there were those who were not impacted or changed by the influences of Ezra and Nehemiah testifies that no one else’s faith but our own ultimately makes the difference for us. After all, look at the people who had the chance to see Jesus in the flesh, to hear Him preach, and even to witness or hear about His miracles, and yet who in the end rejected Him. Yes, we have a role to play, whatever our position in life is, and we can be an influence for good or evil. But in the end, each person will have to answer for himself or herself before God.

Amen. And, those who did not help but hindered others will one day see what they have done.

Think about the people in your own sphere of influence. What are ways you could improve your influence?

The answer is always the same, if we are truly converted, then we will be  a light unto the church, our families and the world.

[Richard Myers]

Tuesday         December 24

Courage and Empowerment

Read Nehemiah 4:7-23. In what ways did Nehemiah show courage? What gave him this courage?

Nehemiah stood up against their enemies, who tried to intimidate the Jews. Nehemiah responded by taking the initiative to get the people ready to fight. Nehemiah did not just say “All right, God, You do it all”. Instead, he had the people do their part. They picked up swords and other weapons while at the same time working to build the wall. The Jews, under the leadership of Nehemiah, did not cower in fear but rather boldly picked up arms to defend themselves. Nehemiah encouraged the people, believed in them, worked with them, and gave them the responsibility to act. He empowered them to do the work as he delegated and assigned responsibilities. However, Nehemiah didn’t just tell the people what to do and then go to hide in his room. He stood alongside them and did the hard work that needed to be done.

Amen. We have a part to play. God will not do what we can do for ourselves. But, we are to pray for wisdom and strength to do God's will. Did the Jews have to use their swords, or did God do it all for them?

There are times in the Bible when God told people to stand still and watch Him fight, and then there are many other instances when God said, “Prepare to act, and I will give you victory”. We must do our part if we want to see God’s deliverance and blessings.

What is our part in the plan for our own salvation?

“In Nehemiah’s firm devotion to the work of God, and his equally firm reliance on God, lay the reason of the failure of his enemies to draw him into their power. The soul that is indolent falls an easy prey to temptation; but in the life that has a noble aim, an absorbing purpose, evil finds little foothold. The faith of him who is constantly advancing does not weaken; for above, beneath, beyond, he recognizes Infinite Love, working out all things to accomplish His good purpose. God’s true servants work with a determination that will not fail because the throne of grace is their constant dependence” - Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 660.

Amen! It is always the answer to how we can do what God wants us to do!

In the end, Nehemiah drew his courage from his understanding of the reality and power of God. And yet, as we have seen, his knowledge of God caused him to act in accordance with his faith.

Though the context is different, how does what we have seen in Nehemiah reflect this text: “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works” James 2:18?

When we are truly converted, loving God with the whole heart, we are empowered to obey God perfectly. We will not be tempted beyond what we can bear.

[Richard Myers]

Wednesday         December 25

Purpose and Passion

What do the following texts teach us about the driving force in the lives of both Ezra and Nehemiah? (Neh. 2:1-10, Ezra 7:8-10).

In all that they did, Ezra and Nehemiah were seeking to see God’s will done in the lives of His people. Yes, the people had messed up; yes, they were punished for it. But God, faithful to His promises of restoration, opened the way for His people to return to the Promised Land and, if faithful, to fulfill the goals that He had set for them. And the Lord, in His wisdom, chose two very dedicated men, men somewhat in the likeness of Moses, to play a central role in this restoration, just as He had used Moses generations earlier for a special task, as well.

Great leaders like these two men have a goal. They have a purpose for living that drives their every action. It could be said that both Ezra and Nehemiah had a purpose in life. They had a vision of where they wanted the people of God to be, and then they put everything into accomplishing the goal.

Ezra did this through studying the Scriptures and teaching the people the Word. Nehemiah encouraged the people to do what was right and to stand up boldly for God. Both men wanted to see a restored Jerusalem, but not just a material restoration. They also wanted to see a revival and reformation in the spiritual lives of its inhabitants. That is why they corrected, reproved, and sometimes demanded a certain course of action. Great leaders believe in something greater than the ordinary and the mediocre. Ezra and Nehemiah believed in a loving, powerful God, a God who could do miracles — and they wanted everyone to have a deep connection with Him.

Amen! So it is today. The church remains in a Laodicean condition, similar to what Israel was most of the time. How many leaders today are driven to help bring about a revival and reformation? How often do we see men like Ezra and Nehemiah calling for such a revival and reproving the church for her backslidden condition? When in 1888 God was calling for revival and reformation, the leadership rejected the call. When will we do our appointed work so that Jesus can come?

Beginning with the first chapter of Nehemiah, the reader is impressed by Nehemiah’s dedication to God’s cause and also his distress over the plight of his people. In chapter 1, he weeps when he is told of the hardships of the Israelites in Judah. He gets on his knees and pledges to do whatever God calls him to do. Nehemiah appears to be driven by the idea of making a difference in the world. He was a man of action, action for God. It was not by making the highest salary or having the preeminent position that Nehemiah chose to make a difference (although he had both in Persia), but by going to Judah, to a not-so-prosperous nation, with opposition at every step. He stepped out in faith, regardless of the obstacles before him.

Amen! Where are these men today? Maybe a woman will have to lead the men? Such a shameful thought. Sadly, there are men who ought to be faithful leaders who have chosen to rebel against Scripture, God, and His church.

[Richard Myers]

Thursday         December 26

Humility and Perseverance

Read Ezra 8:21-23, 31, 32. Would you consider Ezra’s decision not to speak to the king as foolish or brave? How did Ezra and the people show humility?

Sometime later, Nehemiah accepted the king’s entourage for protection. But in Ezra’s instance, he believed that God could show Himself best if they did not ask anything of the king. Thus, when they reached Judah without harm, it was attributed to their God. Perhaps in certain situations, we may rely too much on other people and not enough on letting God show Himself. Ezra chose to let God do the work in this situation and proved to the king that indeed God was a powerful God.

Could it be that some must protect themselves and their families with weapons and at other times rely upon God?

However, Ezra didn’t act with presumption. He called the people together, and they fasted and prayed over the situation. They didn’t engage in their journey until they had spent serious time with God. They came before God humbly, requesting that His protection become a sign of His power, and God answered.

Read Nehemiah 5:14-19.

 5:14   Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, [that is], twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. 
 5:15   But the former governors that [had been] before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. 
 5:16   Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants [were] gathered thither unto the work. 
 5:17   Moreover [there were] at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that [are] about us. 
 5:18   Now [that] which was prepared [for me] daily [was] one ox [and] six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. 
 5:19   Think upon me, my God, for good, [according] to all that I have done for this people. 

How did Nehemiah display humility?

True leaders must be willing to humble themselves and be servants. Competent leaders do not require or need a “title” to gain honor. Nehemiah had his doors open and generously gave to the people. He demonstrated his faith in God, and his incredible dedication to God was an example to the people. He had a strong personality and a no-nonsense temperament, but He didn’t put himself above anyone else as superior. He had the highest position in the Jewish nation at that time, and yet he was unstinting. In this way, He reflected the life and teachings of Jesus, who taught us that the best way to lead is to serve others. Jesus did it, and thus we, regardless of our position, are to do the same.

Amen! Leaders are not to take and take and not be an example in their lives of being a frugal Christian. That which we manifest in our lives will either be a savor of life unto life, or death unto death. The poor pay tithe. That tithe ought to be taken by those who are servants, not kings.

“And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all’ ”. (Mark 9:35, NKJV). What do Jesus’ words here teach us about what it means to be a true leader in God’s sight?

We are to be what Jesus was, a servant. Pride is not in the true convert to Christianity.

[Richard Myers]

Friday         December 27

Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Privilege of Prayer”, pp. 93–104, in Steps to Christ.

“The work of restoration and reform carried on by the returned exiles, under the leadership of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah, presents a picture of a work of spiritual restoration that is to be wrought in the closing days of this earth’s history. The remnant of Israel were a feeble people, exposed to the ravages of their enemies; but through them God purposed to preserve in the earth a knowledge of Himself and of His law. They were the guardians of the true worship, the keepers of the holy oracles. Varied were the experiences that came to them as they rebuilt the temple and the wall of Jerusalem; strong was the opposition that they had to meet. Heavy were the burdens borne by the leaders in this work; but these men moved forward in unwavering confidence, in humility of spirit, and in firm reliance upon God, believing that He would cause His truth to triumph. Like King Hezekiah, Nehemiah ‘clave to the Lord, and departed not from following Him, but kept His commandments. … And the Lord was with him’. 2 Kings 18:6, 7” - Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 677.

Amen! And we shall soon see the same in our day!

Discussion Questions:

    Why must we do all that we can before God to be supportive of our leaders?

We ought not be supportive of the false shepherds, but of the faithful. We need to pray for those like Saul who are not only unfaithful, but a murderer. Many did not support him, but did indeed pray for him just as did Stephen as he was being stoned. So ought we. Rebellion is often not cured, but that does not stop us from praying for those in rebellion. We are to stand with the faithful. We are to know what is being taught in the church, and support the true followers of Christ. Did Nehemiah support the false leaders? Then we ought not either.

    Why is the servant leadership style so difficult, demanding, and at the same time rewarding? Why is it so important for a Christian leader to be a servant, as well?

    In the beginning and at the end of the book, as well as in between, Nehemiah was praying. Both Ezra and Nehemiah were men of prayer. Count carefully how many times the word “prayer” or “prayed” is mentioned in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. These leaders were constantly praying. What should that say to us about our own prayer lives?

    “For he clave to the LORD, [and] departed not from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses” (2 Kings 18:6). How does one “hold fast to the LORD”? What does that mean? How does holding fast to the Lord relate to keeping His commandments?

As we close this quarter's lessons, let us answer this question so that all may understand our part in our own salvation.  When Peter was walking on water, where was the power? How did Peter have that power? How did Peter lose that power which led to his almost dying? When the Bible said that Moses was faithful in all of the house of the Lord, what does that mean? And, why was it that he was faithful? How could he be so good at doing what God said? And, then explain how at the end of 120 years, how is it that he was unfaithful? After so many years of being faithful, how could Moses act out pride and anger towards a people who before He had to God to blot his name out of the Book of Life, but not to destroy His people? What happened to Moses that he could sin such a great sin?

Moses lost hold on God. What does that mean. How did Peter lose hold on Christ? When we arise in the morning, what ought to be our first act? Why? Why did Daniel stop in the middle of the day and pray in his open window? Why do we have our morning personal devotions, then have family worship morning and evening? Why do we spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Christ? What happens when we forget God? Or do you never forget God?

Why does saving faith come from hearing and hearing from the Word of God? What do we find in the Word that causes us to have a faith that clings to Christ? Why did Jesus tell His disciples that they needed to drink His blood and eath His flesh? Why did He compare Himself to Manna? Why did He say that we need to live according to every Word that commeth out of the mouth of God. Do we understand that God wants us to reflect His character? How can we do this?

In closing, learn the secret that many refuse to heed because they do not know it or just plain refuse to take time to do it. God wants to give us a new heart that will keep His commandments. How do we get it? 2 Corinthians 3:18 tell us.  "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord." It is an intellectual and a spiritual truth that by beholding we become changed. The mind is like plastic. What ever it beholds, it will adapt to. If we spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Christ, we shall be transformed in character (His image). It is now left with us to decide who we want to copy, Satan or Christ. There is no in between.

Choose this day whom you will serve. Serve Christ and He will give you love, joy, and peace that passeth all understanding even when you are in the midst of the storm!

Thank you for studying with us. It has been a good study to look at the work of Ezra and Nehemiah. Let us learn the lesson well. The Holy Spirit is circling the Earth in search of such leaders in this our day. The work of restoration and reform has begun in God's church today.