The grace of God that brings revival to those who are dead in transgression and sin is graphically revealed in Ezekiel 37. In vision, the prophet Ezekiel is transported by the Spirit to a valley full of dead, dry, and scattered bones. These bones represent the whole house of Israel. God asks, “Son of man, … Continue reading –>
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 … Continue reading –>
Read Ellen G. White, “The Law Given to Israel,” pp. 307-314; “God’s Care for the Poor,” pp. 530-536, in Patriarchs and Prophets. The concepts of justice and mercy are seen all through the Old Testament. Look at, for instance, Deuteronomy 24:10-22. Look at the specific instructions given in these cases. We can see, so clearly, the … Continue reading –>
Having the truth, however wonderful, is not enough. In Isaiah 58:1-14, God’s people were passionate about their religious forms and practices and yet weak in applying their faith in a practical manner. God is calling His church today to be a force for good, echoing the call of the Old Testament prophets to demonstrate the … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: God never intended for human beings to suffer in poverty, loneliness pain, and brokenness. He has called us to help care for those who are suffering. Justice and Mercy in the Old Testament: Part 1 – July 16, 2016 1. Have a volunteer read Psalm 146:7-9. a. Ask class members to share a thought … Continue reading –>
As an American, I find the timing of this week’s lesson on Justice and Mercy in the Old Testament: Part 1 providential. Our nation, not unlike nations around the world, is grappling with social unrest that includes the question of Justice and Mercy. How justice is meted out and how mercy is applied leaves a lot … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “Justice & Mercy in the Old Testament – Part 1” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the … Continue reading –>
Isaiah 58:1-14 provides a special prophetic message of rebuke and hope for God’s people in Isaiah’s time and for us today. After an announcement that He is upset with His people (see Isa. 58:1), what is God’s description of those He is addressing? Read Isaiah 58:2. Though we don’t know the exact “tone of voice” … Continue reading –>
“ ‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy’ ” (Prov. 31:8-9, NIV). How do we take the principles here and apply them for today? So far this week we have noted that … Continue reading –>
Seventh-day Adventists often prefer to think of the gospel in terms of the second coming, the investigative judgement, the mark of the beast, or the nature of Christ, rather than social responsibility. However, reading through Matthew and the other Gospels recently, I find that Jesus was just as concerned about how we treat one another … Continue reading –>
Mercy to the needy. You were probably touched by the story in the lesson about the child who was treated so kindly by a woman that in amazement he said, “Are you God’s wife?” Isn’t that our primary role in today’s world–to let God’s love show in what we do so strongly that people marvel … Continue reading –>
Read Genesis 2:1-3. What does this tell us about the universality of the Sabbath? If we truly observe the Sabbath, we will not remain satisfied with only our own rest (Exod. 23:12), redemption (Deut. 5:12-15), and ultimate restoration in the new earth (Isa. 66:22-23). Indeed, the seventh-day Sabbath tells us that God is the Creator … Continue reading –>
