Read Psalm 71:1-24. What did David imply when he asked God to bring him up “again from the depths of the earth” (Psalm 71:20, NKJV)? In Psalm 49:1-20 we found a touching expression of hope in the resurrection, in contrast to the false assurance of the fool who trusted in his wealth. In Psalm 71:1-24, David seeks … Continue reading –>
Read Psalm 49:1-20. What led the psalmist to be so sure of his final resurrection (Psalm 49:15) in contrast to those who perished without that assurance (Psalm 49:6-14)? Psalm 49:1-20 speaks about the false confidence of the foolish “who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches” (Psalm 49:6, NKJV), who “call their lands after their … Continue reading –>
Read Job 19:25-27 and compare it with John 1:18 and 1 Timothy 6:16. When and under what circumstances was he expecting to “see God”? Life is not fair. We see this especially when we see the “good” suffering and the “unrighteous” prospering (see Psalm 73:12-17, Malachi 3:14-18). For example, Job was “blameless and upright” and “feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1, NKJV). Even … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Job 19:25-27; 1 Timothy 6:16; Psalm 49:1-20; Psalm 71:1-24; Isaiah 26:14, Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:1-13 . Memory Text: “By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son. … He considered the fact that God is able even … Continue reading –>
Every Cent Is Sacred By Andrew McChesney Shyamala’s eyes widened with surprise as she read the handwritten note tucked in an envelope with two money orders worth U.S.$110.52. The letter came from the U.S. East Coast, and the money orders were made out to Global Mission, the frontline arm of Adventist Mission whose missionaries start … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The First Great Deception,” Pages 531-550, in The Great Controversy. If you have ever been in surgery and were put out with general anesthesia, you might have a faint idea of what it must be like for the dead. But even then, when under anesthesia, your brain still functions. Imagine what it … Continue reading –>
Read Genesis 25:8, 2 Samuel 7:12, 1 Kings 2:10, and 1 Kings 22:40. What do these texts add to your understanding of death? The Old Testament expresses in different ways the ideas of death and burial. One is the notion of being gathered to one’s own people. For example, about Abraham, we are told that he “breathed his last … Continue reading –>
Read Job 3:11-13; Psalm 115:17; Psalm 146:4; and Ecclesiastes 9:5, Ecclesiastes 9:10. What can we learn from these passages about the condition of human beings at death? Some Bible commentators argue that these passages (Job 3:11-13; Psalm 115:17; Psalm 146:4; Ecclesiastes 9:5, Ecclesiastes 9:10), written in poetic language, cannot be used to define the condition of human beings at death. It is true that sometimes … Continue reading –>
Read Genesis 2:7 and Ecclesiastes 12:1-7. What contrast can you see between these two biblical passages? How can they help us to understand better the human condition in death? See also Genesis 7:22. As already seen, the Bible teaches that the human being is a soul (Genesis 2:7), and the soul ceases to exist when the body dies (Ezekiel 18:4, Ezekiel 18:20). … Continue reading –>
Read Ezekiel 18:4, Ezekiel 18:20 and Matthew 10:28. How can these verses help us understand the nature of the human soul? Human life in this sinful world is fragile and transitory (Isaiah 40:1-8). Nothing infected by sin can be eternal by nature. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread … Continue reading –>
