Sabbath: The Lord Hears and Delivers
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 20th of January 2024
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Read for This Week’s Study
Psalms 139:1-18; Psalms 121:1-8; Psalms 17:8; Matthew 23:37; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; Hebrews 4:15-16.
Memory Text:
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles” (Psalms 34:17, NKJV).
Again and again, the Psalms highlight the truth that the Sovereign Lord, who created and sustains the universe, also reveals Himself as a personal God who initiates and sustains a relationship with His people.
God is close to His people and to His creation, both in heaven and on earth (Psalms 73:23,25). Though He “has established His throne in heaven” (Psalms 103:19, NKJV) and “rides on the clouds” (Psalms 68:4, NKJV), He also is “near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalms 145:18, NKJV). The Psalms unswervingly uphold the truth that the Lord is the living God, who acts on behalf of those who call upon Him (Psalms 55:16-22). The Psalms are meaningful precisely because they are prompted by, and are addressed to, the living God, who hears and answers prayers.
We should remember that the proper response to the Lord’s nearness consists in a life of faith in Him and of obedience to His commandments. Nothing short of this faith and obedience will be acceptable to Him, as the history of Israel often revealed.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 27.
(31)
When I was a student just starting out as an undergraduate student, I had to study to pass the London University GCE examination. I prayed very hard about those examination. I failed the examination. Actually, to be technical, I passed the examination but I did not get the level required for entry to London University. The next year I prayed hard and passed two subjects and failed one. I had the opportunity to sit the examination out of sequence so I sat that and had to wait for three months for the results (That was in the days of surface mail and slow boats) I had to wait another 12 months before I could continue my studies. I should add that my parents paid for my education during this time. One year at Avondale cost roughly 25% of Dad’s income. I went back home and spent 6 months working in a concrete pipe factory. Then I returned to Avondale. To cut the story short. I did not fail any more examinations and passed my degree with honours. Furthermore, I became largely financially independent and managed to pay for my education through vacation work.
At first I prayed for success but God gave me failure because I needed those failures to be successful. He gave me a learning experience that taught me the importance of study, persistence and responsibility. It was a tough lesson and I am not proud of my failures. Today I thank God for answering my prayers his way.
… but sometimes that delivery is not what we expect.
We have a very similar life story as it relates to academics, God's providence and instruction along life's journey. Sometimes the delivery is not what we expect. It took me two decades to understand His will for my life, my utter unworthiness to do or to be anything, and to become unflinchingly convinced that He is a beautiful, loving, faithful Father - Who allows disappointment to stretch us, to recreate us, to grow us and to guide us, so that our lives are blessings - filled with fruits of His Spirit, as we share His truths with others, as He guides us home. Dr. Maurice, thank you for your ministry on this site. Your experiences, your heart and your voice in sharing them are a blessing.
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing life experience and witness. Most of the time when we pray and don't get what we prayed, we feel that God does not hear our prayer. However, as you have said, he wants to teach us to wait for him and through waiting to know more about him and his perfect time.
More blessing found in waiting.
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Thank you so much for sharing this amazing life experience and witness. Most of the time when we pray and don't get what we prayed, we feel that God does not hear our prayer. However, as you have said, he wants to teach us to wait for him and through waiting to know more about him and his perfect time.
More blessing found in waiting.
A person crying out of trouble needs deliverance and any opportunity is key. A drowning man can even cling on a reed for safety. Someone who hears becomes aware of your predicament by the ear. God has ears of which He hears the prayers of His children. Isaiah 59:1 says _Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; *neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:*_ The only thing that will not make Him answer us is our sins. John 9:31confirms. It reads,.. _Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth._ We have an obligation even as we pray for deliverance. We have to be persistent and have faith that He will do His will not ours.
SDA Bible Commentary provided this statement on John 9:31 about God not hearing sinners - This statement agreed with the opinion of at least some of the Pharisees (see on v. 16). The former blind man's reasoning was irrefutable. As some of the Pharisees admitted, if God works miracles only for those who are worthy, then they must accept that the miracle worker came from God, especially in view of the unusual nature of the miracle (verse 32).
Of course, the statement "God does not hear sinners" applies to the willful or unrepentant sinner. But God always hears the prayer of the repentant who begs for mercy and forgiveness (see on Luke 18:13). He also often hears the prayers of those who have strayed from the right path; He does not immediately abandon those who go astray. He often continues to bless them as an incentive for them to return.
Because of this fact, the converse of this statement is not always true. The fact that God answers a man's prayer does not necessarily demonstrate that he approves of all of that man's conduct. He who receives clear answers to his prayers should not rejoice in thinking that this is evidence of righteousness and acceptance. He should diligently search his heart to be more fully in harmony with the divine pattern. He must not interpret God's blessing as a sanction for all his conduct. Any willful persistence in a known sin will ultimately lead to an irrevocable separation between the sinner and God (Rev. 22:11).
Need to read the context of John 9:31 to see that the statement that God does not hear sinners is not a statement of Christ but rather reflects the beliefs of the Jewish people and misrepresents God.
I thank the Lord.
He hears the prayer of a righteous person
Just the same way our earthly dads love obedient children,so is God.Blessed week everyone.
I hope our earthly fathers and mothers love children who are not perfectly obedient, which really is all of us. And none of us are righteous apart from Jesus and the work He's doing in us.
I believe God can work much more with those who "trust and obey" as the old hymn says, but God does hear the prayers of others too. If He didn't, it would be impossible to be saved.
Can we in our earthly form ever truly appreciate the full majesty of our Creator God? Where could man’s mind and its thoughts go where they not directed by His Spirit to know our God? They would go to this world's death and decay. There is no live-sustaining power in that which is made!
Man is given to hold on, to cling to the rigth hand of God by faith. He stretched out His Hand to all mankind for man to take His hand and so be lead from the darkness of this world into His marvelous, heavenly light – leading us away from certain death into everlasting life.
How will we grip onto His hand stronger and stronger, how do we draw near and ever nearer to Him? By always loving Him with all our heart and being - expressing our love for Him in the way we treat our fellow man. His hands have made us all in His Image - we have not made ourselves! The fractured living soul needs His healing touch!
Father – your majesty and power shows forth in all that is made –
Because all things in heaven and earth are formed by you!
They declare your everlasting, caring sovereignty!
You instilled in us your Spirit of Truth -
Now we can worship you in Spirit and Truth to praise your holy Name!
In 2017, I began to feel anxious. At the time, I spent a greater amount of time at work than in church. I began to notice a variety of physical sensations. Doctors declared nothing was wrong; blood tests showed everything was fine. I eventually discovered that it was a disregulated nerve system; the Lord had to set me in a situation where I could return to the parts that I had cherished so much. I understand that putting your hand on the plough and turning back will not end well. After all of the doctor appointments and wasted money, I cried out to God as a child. Today, I can say I'm back to my normal self. According to the psalmist, 'The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their difficulties.'
Amen Ernesto. Thanks for sharing your story.
Amen, thanks so much for sharing your testimony
The memory verse gives me hope. I've been through many physical problems this past year. I know that the Father knows and hears my prayers. I'm leaning on HIM with childlike faith, more than I've never have before!
In August of last year, I my wife and I started praying and asking God for an increase on the money that was coming in on our income. In November of the same year 2023 I lost my job even to this point. Then I began to study Psalms, the way I pray now has been completely revolutionized. And I'm more precise, and the point
God respects our faith. He can do so much for us, but we have to believe.
I noticed something. God also delivers the wicked and the backsliding too - when they cry out! [Psalm 107].Now imagine a father who sees a total stranger and gives him all the blessings this world can give, what more for his own children? This should inspire confidence in us as to what God is willing and capable of doing for those who walk in His ways!