SDA Sabbath School Lesson 7--3rd Quarter 2022--Indestructible Hope

[Richard Myers]

 Lesson 7 August 6-12

Indestructible Hope

Commentary in Navy                  Inspiration in Maroon

Sabbath Afternoon


Read for This Week’s Study: Hab. 1:1-4, Job 38-41, Isa. 41:8-14, Jer. 29:1-10, Heb. 12:1-13.

Memory Verse: “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 5:5.

The King James is more truthful than the nkj. Compare the two. What do you see as the difference? Verses 3-5 are very important for us to understand, for they tell us tribulation is good for us and more important that when we abide in Christ glorify God. Which is more important to you, that our tribulation is good for us, or that we glorify God when we are abiding in Christ and reflect His love to a world soon to perish. I pray that you see how important this is that we can glorify our God in the middle of our tribulation. The nkj does not say the same in verse 5. It merely says the love of God in in our hearts. That is very good, but not what the KJV says that His love is "shed abroad." That love which the Holy Spirit has brought into our hearts (love, joy, and peace) is shed abroad that others may see Christ's love in us. Thus, when in tribulation know that the heathen in the world will know there is a God when they see His love in us when we are mistreated. "And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I [am] the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes." Ezekiel 36:23.

Yes, we indeed have profaned God's great name by misrepresenting His character to the heathen in the world. That is one reason why so many in the world do not want to hear about our God, nor His Word.

When in church surrounded by smiling people, how easy it is to talk and sing about hope. But when we find ourselves within the crucible, hope does not always seem so easy. As circumstances press around us, we begin to question everything, particularly the wisdom of God.

It is not good to question the wisdom of God. We may doubt our relationship with Him, but if we know God intimately we will not doubt His wisdom. We do not want to question everything. That reveals a lack of  faith. Then we shall not endure the tribulation. God knows this so He allows the trial to come that we might see what it is that shuts Jesus out of the heart.

In one of his books, C. S. Lewis writes about a make-believe lion. Wanting to meet this lion, someone asks if the lion is safe. The person is told that he’s not safe, “but he’s good.”

Not safe and good does not make sense. God is GOOD and God is safe for all who love Him supremely. Now, it one hates God and goes about destroying others, then like Satan they are not safe, and they ought not look upon God as "safe." If they do not turn, He will destroy both body and soul. "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matt.10:28.

Even though we don’t always understand God and He seems to do unpredictable things, that doesn’t mean that God is against us. It simply means that we don’t have the full picture yet. But we struggle with the idea that for us to have peace, confidence, and hope, God must be understandable and predictable. He needs to be, in our thinking, “safe.” As such, we set ourselves up for disappointment.

One of the first things we ought to be  taught is that if we understood God we would be like God. That is quite an important thing to understand. Thus, to not understand God is not a problem. God is God and we shall not understand all about God when by His grace we be with Him after millions and millions of years. We are to trust God because "all" things work together for our good if we love the Lord our God with all of the heart. Either we believe this or we do not. If we do not, then we do not know God. We need to spend more time studying the life of Jesus and then we will love Him with the whole heart because we trust Him with all we are and all we have.

The Week at a Glance: How does our understanding of the character of God help us maintain hope in the crucible?

Again, faith is trust. Saving faith is when we trust God with all we have and all we are. How can we trust one we do not know. Knowing His character is what transforms sinners into saints. "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." 2 Cor. 3:18. The glory of God is His character. To give glory to God is to reveal His character. How can we do this? By beholding His glory we are transformed into His image (character). It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Jesus. We invite you to study with us daily the life of Jesus and share what it is that Jesus is teaching you. Click Here  To register to post send request to administrator@remant-online.com


Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 13.

[Richard Myers]

Sunday        August 7
The Big Picture

When we are hurting, it is very easy to presume that what happens to us is the only thing that matters. But there is a slightly larger picture than just “me” (see Rev. 12:7, Rom. 8:22).

Read Habakkuk 1:1-4.

 1:1   The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. 
 1:2   O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! [even] cry out unto thee [of] violence, and thou wilt not save! 
 1:3   Why dost thou show me iniquity, and cause [me] to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence [are] before me: and there are [that] raise up strife and contention. 
 1:4   Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. 

What did Habakkuk face?

The same we do today. Justice is fallen in the street, equity cannot enter and he who departeth from evil maketh himself a prey. Good is called evil and evil is called good. We have had more light than Habakkuk, therefore we ought not question why God allows the evil to continue. Why did God let Satan live? Share with your class the answer, that when trouble comes, we will know why God allows it. Read again Romans 5:3-5.

You might expect that God would say something like, “That’s really terrible, Habakkuk; let Me come and help you immediately.” But God’s answer is the opposite. He tells Habakkuk that it is going to get worse. Read this in Habakkuk 1:5-11.

Yes, do we understand that there will be a time of trouble such as never was very soon?

 1:5   Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for will work a work in your days, [which] ye will not believe, though it be told [you]. 
 1:6   For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, [that] bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces [that are] not theirs. 
 1:7   They [are] terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. 
 1:8   Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle [that] hasteth to eat. 
 1:9   They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up [as] the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand. 
 1:10   And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. 
 1:11   Then shall [his] mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, [imputing] this his power unto his god. 

Israel had been taken into captivity by the Assyrians, but God promises that worse is coming: The Babylonians will now carry away the people of Judah. Habakkuk cries out again in verses 12-17, and then waits to see what God is going to say.

How does God’s introduction to the promised destruction of Babylon in Habakkuk 2:2, 3 bring hope?

 2:2   And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make [it] plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 
 2:3   For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 

Habakkuk 2 is God’s promise of the destruction of the Babylonians. Hebrews 10:37 quotes Habakkuk 2:3, hinting of a messianic application to this promise in the future. With the same certainty that the destruction of Babylon was promised, so we also have the certainty of the destruction of “Babylon the Great” (Rev. 18:2, NIV).

Habakkuk was trapped between the great evil surrounding him and God’s promise of worse to come. Yet, this is precisely where we find ourselves in salvation history. Great evil is around us, but the Bible predicts that much worse is to come. The key to Habakkuk’s survival was that he was brought to see the whole picture.

Therefore, in chapter 3 he is able to pray an incredible prayer of praise because of what God will do in the future.

Read Habakkuk 3:16-19. What does Habakkuk identify as his reasons for hope? What is the hope of God’s people as we wait for the last prophetic scenes to unfold? How can you make this hope your own?

 3:16   When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. 
 3:17   Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither [shall] fruit [be] in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and [there shall be] no herd in the stalls: 
 3:18   Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 
 3:19   The LORD God [is] my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' [feet], and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. 


When we love the Lord our God, we shall trust Him with all we have and all we are. Whatever happens will work for our good because He says so. Do we believe Him? If not, spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Jesus and you will love Him with the whole heart and thus trust Him no matter what happens.

[Richard Myers]

Monday          August 8
Who Our Father Is

Oswald Chambers writes, “Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do; He reveals to you Who He is.” — My Utmost for His Highest (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour & Company, Inc., 1963), Jan. 2.

God does not refrain from telling what He is going to do all of the time. He has spoken through prophets what is in front of us. He speaks through the Holy Spirit telling us what we are to do and at times what He is going to do. But, yes, He does not always answer our prayers the way we want, and He does not tell us how He is going to answer our prayers. When we pray in accordance with His will, we can say that we know He will answer our prayers.

What do you think Chambers means by this idea?

As we know, the book of Job begins with great personal tragedy for Job.

The Book of Job begins with of the most important truths God has given to man. He came to this dark spot in the universe to reconcile sinful man to Himself. This means He came to transform us. He came to give us a hatred for sin which we do not have until we are converted, born again of the Spirit. Satan condemns God saying He was unfair in heaven and is unfair on Earth by requiring that we keep His law, saying it is impossible for us to keep His law. But, right at the beginning of this book, God points to Job and says, in front of the sons of God, that Job is perfect hating sin. Yet many teach we cannot be perfect this side of the second coming.

 He loses everything, except his life and his wife, and she suggests that he “curse God and die!” (Job 2:9, NIV).

That is why he left his wife alive, he knew he could work through her to discourage Job. But, Job did not curse God like he said he would. Satan lost that battle, but thereafter through his three friends he tempted Job to sin.

What follows is a discussion in which his friends try to work out why it has all happened. Throughout all of these discussions, God remains silent.

His friends think they know why this has happened to Job. And, they tell him outright why God  has done this to him. Read chapters 15 and 16 and you will see why they they God is punishing Job. In response Job says to them "Then Job answered and said, I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all." Job 16:1,2. And his three friends speak as foolishly as does Job. 

Then suddenly in Job 38 God appears and speaks: “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2, NIV). Without pausing, God asks Job some 60 jaw-dropping questions. Open your Bible and scan through these in Job 38 and 39.

God speaks to Job out of the whirlwind for the first time. It is interesting and important to recognize what He says Job has done. Don't scan through these verses, study them from the KJV.

 38:1   Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 
 38:2   Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 
 38:3   Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 

What has Job done? And this is only the beginning of God's rebuke. It is very important that you prayerfully study the rest of the chapters so that you do not continue in ignorance of what God says about Job's sin and repentance. If you are  not ignorant, then you are one of the truly blessed who has not been deceived.

    But, before God speaks to Job personally, He has spoken to him through the Spirit, but apparently Job does not hear that still small voice. So, God sends a young man to speak for Him. What does Elihu, his fourth friend say to Job's friends? What does Elihu say to Job? Then after rebuking Job, what does God say that Job did when he sinned? Study to yourself approved that you be not deceived by the teachings of others. What was Job's sin? Elihu first told Job, then God repeated it. Share with your class Job's sin. Some will not believe you, nor what is written. Why not?

After the last question, Job replies, “I am unworthy — how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer — twice, but I will say no more” (Job 40:4, 5, NIV). But God is not finished. He then begins again and asks another set of “big” questions in succession.

If you have studied from Job 38 to 40, then you will see what God said Job had done. Why does the lesson leave this out? How important is it that you know what God says about Job? Does this change your understanding of the Book of Job? Share with your class what you are learning. Be prepared for rejection of the truth. Here are the verses that are so very important:

 40:1   Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said, 
 40:2   Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct [him]? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. 
 40:3   Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 
 40:4   Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. 
 40:5   Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further. 
 40:6   Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 
 40:7   Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 
 40:8   Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

What was Job's great sin? Share with your class this truth. It will cause many seeking truth to be more careful in who they listen to and that they be faithful like the faithful Bereans. After Paul taught them, they went home and opened their Bibles to see if what he said was true.

Read Job’s final response in Job 42:1-6. What was God trying to tell Job, and what was the effect on him?

42:1   Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 
 42:2   I know that thou canst do every [thing], and [that] no thought can be withholden from thee. 
 42:3   Who [is] he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 
 42:4   Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 
 42:5   I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 
 42:6   Wherefore I abhor [myself], and repent in dust and ashes. 

God was pointing out Job's self righteousness. Job repented of his sin. 

God never answers any of the “why” questions of Job’s friends. But God does paint a picture of His unparalleled greatness as revealed through the astonishing works of creation. After this, Job certainly does not need any answers. The need for explanations has been eclipsed by an overwhelming picture of the magnificence of God.

Again, what Job needed to learn was how loving and forgiving God is in the light of him condemning God so he could be righteous. Somehow through the long book, many fail to see Job talking about how good he was. And, somehow most do not read or fail to understand God's rebuke because of Job's self-righteousness. And, how can so many miss the reproof from Elihu? This is the result of false teaching and often the lack of spiritual discernment. But, God through today's lesson has given those reading understanding of the truth regarding Job and God's grace.

This story reveals a fascinating paradox. Hope and encouragement can spring from the realization that we know so little. Instinctively, we try to find comfort by knowing everything, and so we become discouraged when we cannot know. But sometimes God highlights our ignorance so that we may realize that human hope can find security only in a Being much greater than ourselves.

Amen! Praise God that the lesson gave us opportunity to know truth regarding the perfect life of Job  and his fall when sick and tired. It is hard to hold onto Jesus when sick and tired. But, if we will keep our eyes upon Jesus we can do it....by God's grace. Notice that even though Job did not curse God, did not sin until he was set upon by his three friends who condemned his character. They were leaders in the church attacking Job. But, remember who was the strong one, Job. Then he ought to have born with the sins of the weak ones. But, Jesus understands Job and draws him back and blesses him mightily. This is the character of the mighty God we serve!!

Are things that you just can’t understand happening now? If so, focus on the character of God. How can doing that give you the hope that you need to persevere through what’s for now incomprehensible?

God has promised He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. But, we like Job will be tempted at a level measured by God. Job let go of Jesus, so he was tempted beyond what he could bear. Like Jesus, he was not happy with his friends. But,when God reproved him, his repentance was quick and deep. We ought to learn from his experience. Did Jesus leave him in his sin? No! What did God do in order to bring him back? Share with your class what the Bible says God did  beginning with working through humanity (Elihu). You may be tempted to listen to what you have been taught in the past, but only trust in what Scripture says Elihu said and was confirmed by God Himself.

[Richard Myers]

Tuesday          August 9
Our Father’s Presence

“For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” Isa. 41:13.

Someone once said, “When God seems far away, who is the one who has moved?” When problems strike, we presume that God has deserted us. The truth is that He hasn’t gone anywhere.

It depends on who it is that has been struck. If I am converted, then God remains in the heart. If I am not converted, then where is God when tribulation comes? If my heart is so hardened that I can no longer hear that still small voice, He tells the angels to leave me joined to my idols and go help another who is seeking truth. If If I am a converted Christian who took his eyes off of Jesus, and fell in the water, then Jesus is knocking on the door of my heart wanting back in.

God’s presence seemed very far away to the Jews in exile. Yet, through Isaiah God assures them of future deliverance. However, while the actual return to Jerusalem was still many years in the future, God wanted His people to know that He had not moved away from them and that there was every reason for hope.

That is true for a people, God's chosen people. And even that came to an end. Grace has its end. At the stoning of Stephen Israel as a people were cut off.

Read Isaiah 41:8-14.

 41:8   But thou, Israel, [art] my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. 
 41:9   [Thou] whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou [art] my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. 
 41:10   Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 
 41:11   Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. 
 41:12   Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, [even] them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 
 41:13   For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. 
 41:14   Fear not, thou worm Jacob, [and] ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 

What reasons for hope can you identify for people waiting eagerly for future deliverance? How does this promise help us as we wait for our exile on earth to end?

God's love for us encourages us as we enter into troublous times. If we are fully surrendered to Jesus, then we can claim these promises. They are precious.

One of the most powerful images in these verses is found in Isaiah 41:13. The sovereign God of the universe says that His people do not need to fear, because He is the one who takes “hold of your right hand” (NIV). It is one thing to imagine God guiding events on earth from a big throne light-years away from our earth. But it is an altogether different picture to realize that He is close enough to hold the hands of His dearly beloved people.

Amen!

When we are busy, it can be hard to remember that God is so close to us. But when we do remember that He is Immanuel, “God with us,” it makes such a difference. When God’s presence is with us, so are His purposes, His promises, and His transforming power.

When God is in the heart, then we have His power. When we forget God and allow our mind to wander away, we have no transforming power to resist sin.

Over the next few days, try an experiment. At every moment possible, try to remind yourself that the God of the universe is close enough to you to hold your hand and is personally promising you help. Keep a record of how this changes the way you live. Be prepared to discuss your experience in class on Sabbath.

This is very good. There is indeed a difference in our lives depending upon our relationship with Jesus. Study the Desire of Ages chapter when Jesus first visited the temple at age twelve. What happened when Mary and Joseph forgot Jesus and left Him in Jerusalem. So it is with all take their eyes off of Jesus. We must not forget Him during our day. There is a radical difference in our lives depending on where Jesus is, in the heart, or knocking on the door of the heart. Daniel understood this. He had the habit of not only having morning and evening worship, but stopped work at noon and made sure he had Jesus in his heart. It did not stop even when threatened with being eaten by lions.

[Richard Myers]

Wednesday          August 10
Our Father’s Plans for us

Everyone is looking for hope. But where is it found? For some people, hope is found in the smile of a friend. For others, hope grows from financial security or a stable marriage. Where do you normally look for hope and courage?

In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet is writing to people who had lost hope in their exile. “By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion” (Ps. 137:1, NIV). But even though they are heartbroken, Jeremiah lays out reasons they should not give up hope.

What reasons for hope are given in Jeremiah 29:1-10?

 29:1   Now these [are] the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon; 
 29:2   (After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;) 
 29:3   By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying, 
 29:4   Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; 
 29:5   Build ye houses, and dwell [in them]; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; 
 29:6   Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. 
 29:7   And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. 
 29:8   For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that [be] in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. 
 29:9   For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD. 
 29:10   For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. 

In this passage, there are three important sources of hope worth highlighting.

    First, God tells His people that they should not give up hope, because their situation is not the result of chance or unpredictable evil. For God Himself says, “I carried [Judah] into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon” (Jer. 29:4, NIV). Though evil seems to surround them, Judah has never left the center of God’s hands.

    Second, God tells His people that they should not give up hope, because He can work even within their present difficulties. “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jer. 29:7, NIV).

    Third, God tells His people that they should not give up hope, because He is going to bring an end to their exile at a specific time: “This is what the LORD says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place’ ” (Jer. 29:10, NIV).

After God explains how He was in charge of their past, is in charge of their present, and will be in charge of their future, He then beautifully conveys His tender care for His people (see Jer. 29:11-14).

In context of what else is written we do not see, it was because of their evil ways that they were taken to Babylon. When will they return? Most adults will not return because they will die before the 70 years is up. How many years did God say He gave to man? Three score and ten. How many years is that? 70. So, even many of the young ones will not be alive when Israel returns to their land.

Nothing in our lesson is being said about the warning from God. There certainly are false teachers among them, some claiming to be prophets and some having dreams. This is partly why Israel was in rebellion against God, because of false teachers. Does God warn us today of the same among us? And we ourselves need to take care we do not speak things God has not said, as did Job. Recall Job 38:1-3 in Monday's lesson? 

38:1   Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
 38:2   Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
 38:3   Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.


Read Jeremiah 29:11-14, saying your name after the word you, as if God is making these promises to you personally. Apply these promises for yourself in whatever your present struggles might be.

 29:11   For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 
 29:12   Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 
 29:13   And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 
 29:14   And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. 
 29:15   Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon; 

I have added verse 15 that we might understand the lesson in context. Why were they in Babylon? What is the result of false teachers? The people said that "the Lord hath raised up prophets in Babylon." God speaks through His prophet about the false prophets, one of which we find at the end of the story, verses 31 and 32:


 29:31   Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie: 
 29:32   Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD. 

There were faithful among the captives in Babylon, but many had joined the rebellion because the false teachers had led them astray. God loves us very much, this is why He curses those who bring a false gospel into His people. "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8,9.

[Richard Myers]

Thursday          August 11
Our Father’s Discipline

Read Hebrews 12:5-13.

 12:5   And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 
 12:6   For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 
 12:7   If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 
 12:8   But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 
 12:9   Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 
 12:10   For they verily for a few days chastened [us] after their own pleasure; but he for [our] profit, that [we] might be partakers of his holiness. 
 12:11   Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 
 12:12   Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 
 12:13   And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 

What’s the message to us here, and how does it fit in with what we have been studying this quarter?

God wants us to stop sinning, is that not what we want from our children? He wants us to be witnesses of the power of His grace to love even our enemies. Is this possible? How?

In Hebrews 12:5-13, Paul describes trials in the context of discipline. In the NIV Bible translation of this passage, various forms of the word discipline appear ten times. In the Greek world, this word was the most basic word for “education.” So to understand “discipline” is to understand how God educates us in the school of faith that Paul has been describing before in Hebrews 11.

Throughout Hebrews 11, Paul has been painting pictures of men and women of faith. Their faith was what kept them going when they were faced with all sorts of trying situations. As we enter chapter 12, Paul turns to us, the readers, and says that since so many people before us have persevered against incredible odds, we also can run and finish the life of faith. The key is to fix our eyes upon Jesus (Heb. 12:2), that He may be an example when times are difficult (Heb. 12:3). Reading chapter 12 is like being given a set of reading glasses. Without these glasses our vision or understanding of hardship will always be fuzzy. But looking through these glasses will correct the blurred explanation of suffering that our culture presses upon us. Then we will be able to understand clearly and be able to respond to trials intelligently.

Read through the “glasses” of Hebrews 12:1-13.

 12:1   Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 
 12:2   Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 
 12:3   For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 
 12:4   Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 
 12:5   And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 
 12:6   For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 
 12:7   If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 
 12:8   But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 
 12:9   Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 
 12:10   For they verily for a few days chastened [us] after their own pleasure; but he for [our] profit, that [we] might be partakers of his holiness. 
 12:11   Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 
 12:12   Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 
 12:13   And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 

Now concentrate on verses 5-13 and answer these questions:

What is the source of discipline?

What is our response to discipline?

What is the goal of discipline?

Read through Hebrews 12:1-13 again. Make a list of all the reasons you can identify with as grounds for hope. How have you experienced this hope in your own times of spiritual “education”?

When God disciplines us, it is not so much education as it is discipline. Why the need of discipline? It needs to be made very plain. Because we have sinned. Otherwise we would not be disciplined. And what is the desired result from being disciplined? What do we want from our children when we discipline them? We want them to stop doing what is wrong and do what is right. Then what does God want from us? He wants us to stop sinning. Why not explain this in simple words? Why not emphasize this? Is it in the Book of Hebrews? Is it somewhere in chapter 12? Let's read one more verse, 14.

12:14   Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 

Here we get to the bottom of the matter. God wants you to be holy. He does not want your righteousness to be as filthy rags which is why He disciplines us. Our righteousness apart from Christ is as filthy rags. But, He wants us to manifest the peaceable fruit of righteousness. But, we hear over and over that our righteousness is as filthy rags and therefore Christ's righteousness has to be imputed to us. No. This is not the case. He wants you and me to reflect His righteousness. It is not substitution, but impartation. He gives His righteousness to us so that it is no longer filthy rags seen in the life of the truly converted Christian. This is what this quarter's lessons are all about.

All of the fruits are in the life of the fully surrendered Christian. When we are tempted when in Christ, our character becomes stronger, we are more patient, more loving, more kind. It is your character. It is Christ's character imparted to you. Read 2 Cor. 3:18 and share it with your class this Sabbath. "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."

As long as we can still hear that still small voice, God will discipline us in hopes that we will see our continual need of Him in order to be holy. This is why Jesus came to this dark spot in the universe, to give us a hatred for sin (Gen 3:15) so we will stop hurting people and Jesus. It is very sad that it takes discipline, but we are an evil people who need to be converted. Therefore, think it not strange when He disciplines us that we might be partakers of His holiness...the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

[Richard Myers]

Friday          August 12

Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The School of the Hereafter,” pp. 301-309, in Education; “Help in Daily Living,” pp. 470, 471, in The Ministry of Healing.

“Into the experience of all there come times of keen disappointment and utter discouragement — days when sorrow is the portion, and it is hard to believe that God is still the kind benefactor of His earthborn children; days when troubles harass the soul, till death seems preferable to life. It is then that many lose their hold on God and are brought into the slavery of doubt, the bondage of unbelief. Could we at such times discern with spiritual insight the meaning of God’s providences we should see angels seeking to save us from ourselves, striving to plant our feet upon a foundation more firm than the everlasting hills, and new faith, new life, would spring into being.” — Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 162.

Amen! And from the opening paragraph in Ministry of Healing we are given great light as to why Jesus left the courts of heaven to come to this dark spot in the universe to dwell among us, an evil race. Contrary to what we are often taught, Jesus came to give us perfection of Christian character: "Our Lord Jesus Christ came to this world as the unwearied servant of man’s necessity. He “took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses,” that He might minister to every need of humanity. Matthew 8:17. The burden of disease and wretchedness and sin He came to remove. It was His mission to bring to men complete restoration; He came to give them health and peace and perfection of character." If you do not believe this, then it will be almost impossible for Jesus to complete His mission for you.

Discussion Questions:

    Ellen G. White says that “all” of us experience times of “keen disappointment and utter discouragement.” How well do we notice each other as we go through such times? How can we better learn to be agents of hope for each other when we experience such bitter disappointments?

Job is an example of what God wants from us, at least in the beginning of his experience when he was holding fast to Jesus. When he let go, then he manifested self righteousness (Job 40:2-8). What was his witness prior to letting go of Jesus? "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered 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. "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." Job 1:22. Yes, it is rare, but God can empower us to sin not. Many are called, but few accept the Gift that at great risk God has given to us.

The question is "how can we better learn to be agents of hope?" We must be filled with the Holy Spirit, then we shall manifest all of the fruits of the Spirit. God's greatest miracle. "When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing."  Desire of Ages, pg 676.

    As a class, go over your answers to Tuesday’s final question. What difference did it make in your life as you kept the reality of God’s nearness ever before you?

It makes all of the difference in the world. When we forget God, then our mind is on the things of this world. We no longer have any protection against sin.

Then He added a warning to those who had been impressed by His words, who had heard Him gladly, but who had not surrendered themselves for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is not only by resistance but by neglect that the soul is destroyed. “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man,” said Jesus, “he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there.” There were many in Christ’s day, as there are today, over whom the control of Satan for the time seemed broken; through the grace of God they were set free from the evil spirits that had held dominion over the soul. They rejoiced in the love of God; but, like the stony-ground hearers of the parable, they did not abide in His love. They did not surrender themselves to God daily, that Christ might dwell in the heart; and when the evil spirit returned, with “seven other spirits more wicked than himself,” they were wholly dominated by the power of evil.
 
When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan. But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to ally ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and will make it his abiding place. The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome. Without a personal acquaintance with Christ, and a continual communion, we are at the mercy of the enemy, and shall do his bidding in the end.  Desire of Ages, pg 324.


    In class, read aloud sections in Job 38-41.

It is vital that we do this, for the error in believing Job did not sin, strikes right at a serious problem in God's church. Do not blindly believe what you are taught. And, do not think you are rich and increased with goods when you have no spiritual discernment. The Laodicean believes he has life when infact he is blind to his spiritual condition. One only has to prayerfully read Rev. 3:14-22 to see the truth. God says to repent, then you can sit with Him on His throne. When you read what God said to Job, that he was self-righteous, then it changes the understanding most have been taught, that Job sinned not. Job sinned. If you have opportunity to share the truth, you will find strong opposition. Why? You answer the question as to why. The church remains in a Laodicean condition and thus, many will argue with you even though the Bible is very clear that Job sinned. Be prepared if you read aloud in your class what God said:

40:1   Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
 40:2  Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Hhim? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
 40:3   Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
 40:4   Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
 40:5   Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
 40:6   Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
 40:7   Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
 40:8   Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
[/color]

What kind of picture of God does it present? What do you learn that gives you hope and encouragement? How does the Sabbath fit into this picture? How does it help keep before us the nature and character of God?

    Hope that transforms comes from heaven. This means that we can pray for hope to be brought into each other’s lives. Spend some time praying for those whose hope has been faltering recently, that their hope may be renewed. More than that, what can you do for others who are in a losing struggle to find hope?

What did God do when His faithful servant Job succumbed to the temptations when he was sick and tired? Of course the Holy Spirit spoke to him, but he did not hear. Is it possible that we can help others like Job? We see this in the Book of Job. Before God reproved Job, He sent a fourth friend to reprove Job and his three friends.
   
    If someone is willing, ask that person to recount a time that despair and trials caused him or her to lose hope and faith. What turned that person around? What can we share with one another that can help when we are in times of doubt and despair?

Share the love of God with them. Share what the Bible says about tribulation. Is the trial coming to one who is abiding in Christ? If not, then Jesus is the answer. If one is in Christ and He in them, then God will not allow them to be tempted beyond what they can bear. What we are learning the Bible says about why God allows trials will be helpful. We do not have to always understand why God does what He does, but when trials come and we are in Christ, it is helpful to know why God allows bad things to happen to "good" people.

[Richard Myers]

Friday          August 12

Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The School of the Hereafter,” pp. 301-309, in Education; “Help in Daily Living,” pp. 470, 471, in The Ministry of Healing.

“Into the experience of all there come times of keen disappointment and utter discouragement — days when sorrow is the portion, and it is hard to believe that God is still the kind benefactor of His earthborn children; days when troubles harass the soul, till death seems preferable to life. It is then that many lose their hold on God and are brought into the slavery of doubt, the bondage of unbelief. Could we at such times discern with spiritual insight the meaning of God’s providences we should see angels seeking to save us from ourselves, striving to plant our feet upon a foundation more firm than the everlasting hills, and new faith, new life, would spring into being.” — Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 162.

Amen! And from the opening paragraph in Ministry of Healing we are given great light as to why Jesus left the courts of heaven to come to this dark spot in the universe to dwell among us, an evil race. Contrary to what we are often taught, Jesus came to give us perfection of Christian character: "Our Lord Jesus Christ came to this world as the unwearied servant of man’s necessity. He “took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses,” that He might minister to every need of humanity. Matthew 8:17. The burden of disease and wretchedness and sin He came to remove. It was His mission to bring to men complete restoration; He came to give them health and peace and perfection of character." If you do not believe this, then it will be almost impossible for Jesus to complete His mission for you.

Discussion Questions:

    Ellen G. White says that “all” of us experience times of “keen disappointment and utter discouragement.” How well do we notice each other as we go through such times? How can we better learn to be agents of hope for each other when we experience such bitter disappointments?

Job is an example of what God wants from us, at least in the beginning of his experience when he was holding fast to Jesus. When he let go, then he manifested self righteousness (Job 40:2-8). What was his witness prior to letting go of Jesus? "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered 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. "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." Job 1:22. Yes, it is rare, but God can empower us to sin not. Many are called, but few accept the Gift that at great risk God has given to us.

The question is "how can we better learn to be agents of hope?" We must be filled with the Holy Spirit, then we shall manifest all of the fruits of the Spirit. God's greatest miracle. "When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing."  Desire of Ages, pg 676.

    As a class, go over your answers to Tuesday’s final question. What difference did it make in your life as you kept the reality of God’s nearness ever before you?

It makes all of the difference in the world. When we forget God, then our mind is on the things of this world. We no longer have any protection against sin.

Then He added a warning to those who had been impressed by His words, who had heard Him gladly, but who had not surrendered themselves for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is not only by resistance but by neglect that the soul is destroyed. “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man,” said Jesus, “he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there.” There were many in Christ’s day, as there are today, over whom the control of Satan for the time seemed broken; through the grace of God they were set free from the evil spirits that had held dominion over the soul. They rejoiced in the love of God; but, like the stony-ground hearers of the parable, they did not abide in His love. They did not surrender themselves to God daily, that Christ might dwell in the heart; and when the evil spirit returned, with “seven other spirits more wicked than himself,” they were wholly dominated by the power of evil.
 
When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan. But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to ally ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and will make it his abiding place. The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome. Without a personal acquaintance with Christ, and a continual communion, we are at the mercy of the enemy, and shall do his bidding in the end.  Desire of Ages, pg 324.


    In class, read aloud sections in Job 38-41.

It is vital that we do this, for the error in believing Job did not sin, strikes right at a serious problem in God's church. Do not blindly believe what you are taught. And, do not think you are rich and increased with goods when you have no spiritual discernment. The Laodicean believes he has life when infact he is blind to his spiritual condition. One only has to prayerfully read Rev. 3:14-22 to see the truth. God says to repent, then you can sit with Him on His throne. When you read what God said to Job, that he was self-righteous, then it changes the understanding most have been taught, that Job sinned not. Job sinned. If you have opportunity to share the truth, you will find strong opposition. Why? You answer the question as to why. The church remains in a Laodicean condition and thus, many will argue with you even though the Bible is very clear that Job sinned. Be prepared if you read aloud in your class what God said:

40:1   Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
 40:2  Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Hhim? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
 40:3   Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
 40:4   Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
 40:5   Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
 40:6   Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
 40:7   Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
 40:8   Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
[/color]

What kind of picture of God does it present? What do you learn that gives you hope and encouragement? How does the Sabbath fit into this picture? How does it help keep before us the nature and character of God?

    Hope that transforms comes from heaven. This means that we can pray for hope to be brought into each other’s lives. Spend some time praying for those whose hope has been faltering recently, that their hope may be renewed. More than that, what can you do for others who are in a losing struggle to find hope?

What did God do when His faithful servant Job succumbed to the temptations when he was sick and tired? Of course the Holy Spirit spoke to him, but he did not hear. Is it possible that we can help others like Job? We see this in the Book of Job. Before God reproved Job, He sent a fourth friend to reprove Job and his three friends.
   
    If someone is willing, ask that person to recount a time that despair and trials caused him or her to lose hope and faith. What turned that person around? What can we share with one another that can help when we are in times of doubt and despair?

Share the love of God with them. Share what the Bible says about tribulation. Is the trial coming to one who is abiding in Christ? If not, then Jesus is the answer. If one is in Christ and He in them, then God will not allow them to be tempted beyond what they can bear. What we are learning the Bible says about why God allows trials will be helpful. We do not have to always understand why God does what He does, but when trials come and we are in Christ, it is helpful to know why God allows bad things to happen to "good" people.