Sabbath: Justice and Mercy in the Old Testament – Part 2
Read for This Week’s Study: Ezek. 37:1-14; Eph. 2:10; Ezek. 47:1-8; Matt. 5:16; Rev. 22:1-2; Isa. 61:1-11.
Memory Text: “ ‘Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live’ ” (Ezekiel 47:9, NIV).
Image © Lars Justinen Goodsalt.com
A neighborhood that had flourished in the 1950s and early 1960s had become like a war zone in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The majority of the families moved away, leaving behind a trail of abandoned, run-down, and burned-out tenements. Businesses moved out and drugs and crime moved in, further making the neighborhood very undesirable.
In 1986 a Christian family left their comfortable home in suburbia and moved into this depressed urban community. A pastor from another city joined them. They rebuilt two burned-out buildings and made them their homes. The two families spent time in the streets, meeting with community groups and mingling with those who remained in the area. These two families were the catalyst that God used to begin a church that brought healing and transformation to this dead community. Their work and impact continues today, having made a big difference in many lives there.
God has something to say about the role of His church in “hopeless” situations such as this. This week’s lesson continues “listening” to the chorus of Old Testament voices that call upon God’s people to reveal His character of benevolence to the world.
* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 23.
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I remember a song years ago. A Spiritual called "Dry Bones". Each verse ended with, "NOW HEAR THE WORD OF THE Lord". Another was Ezekiel saw a wheel, way up in the middle of the air. Haven't thought of those old Negro spirituals for many ,many years. How we loved to hear those songs. Also Messages from the Bible that have been given from the pulpit at least weekly to refuel our Spiritual tanks and add Blessings that we eagerly looked forward to. Our dry bones that need Spiritual revitalizing is the subject at hand on Sundays lesson. May God open our eyes and thoughts as only He can.
Dear members I have not understood well the memory verse. Help me understand it and it's life application. Thanks
Kalulu, the swarms of creatures where rivers flow out, I believe is represented by people from every nation to enlighten the uninformed, to be able to understand the purposes of God that He chooses. Even though it is metaphorical it is still accurate today.
Without Christ there will no church today ,
Ezekiel 47: 9: And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, (shall live): and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: (for they) (shall be healed;) and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.
Shall live — Be preserved alive, and thrive, whereas no fish can live in the Dead-sea.
For they — The poisonous waters of the Dead-sea shall be made wholesome for fish.
Shall live — Thrive, and multiply in the virtue of the healing streams.
Thus is the fruitfulness of the grace of God in the church set forth.
The original of these waters was not above-ground, but they sprang up from under the threshold; for the fountain of a believer’s life is a mystery; it is hid with Christ in God, Col. 3:3 . Some observe that they came forth on the right side of the house to intimate that gospel-blessings are right-hand blessings. It is also an encouragement to those who attend at Wisdom’s gates, at the posts of her doors, who are willing to lie at the threshold of God’s house, as David was, that they lie at the fountainhead of comfort and grace; the very entrance into God’s word gives light and life, Ps. 119:130 . David speaks it to the praise of Zion, All my springs are in thee, Ps. 87:7 . They came from the side of the altar, for it is in and by Jesus Christ, the great altar (who sanctifies our gifts to God), that God has blessed us with spiritual blessings in holy heavenly places. From God as the fountain, in him as the channel, flows the river which makes glad the city of our God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High, Ps. 46:4 .
As per memory verse, I can see the life of an individual changing because of the living water Jesus himself. That's why when one has been converted, s/he changes alot because of the life s/he gets from the source Himself
The story in the lesson is very encouraging- leaving a comfortable family home for the gospel; what a sacrifice! Such an act shows that God takes priority- not comfort and pomp. It confirns to the world that Jesus is coming soon and that earthly possessions are not as valuable as heaven
I also appreciate the clarity that has been provided on the memory verse. God bkess
2 Corinthians 5:17 New International Version (NIV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!
It is not merely as a beautiful theory, a mere dogma, that we should consider Christ as God and Creator. It is for our comfort that we are told that the head of the church is the Creator of all things. We are told that he upholds all things by the word of His power (Heb. 1:3), in order that we may rest in the assurance that, "The Hand which bears all nature up Shall guard His children well."
Symbolically we can interpret the memory text as follows:
swarms of creatures = people of all race, tribe and nations of the world
The flowing of the river = Any where in the world the gospel(which is the good new of salvation which is all about Jesus) is presented.
Salt water = Sin (The wages of sing is death)
Fresh water = Jesus (The gift of God is eternal life)