Sunday, July 29, 2012

On 8-5-12, Psalm 146 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Praise for God’s Justice.

Praise for God’s Justice
Psalm 146
International Sunday School Lesson
August 5, 2012



Commentary
By
Jed Greenough



If you live long enough someone is going to disappoint you.  It might be a politician who seemed to have it all: the answers, the charisma, the wit and intelligence.  Then a scandal or something as simple as a lack of desire takes them out.  Perhaps  for you it was a romantic interest, that certain someone who you knew was the love of your life.  Then they did something that changed everything.

People are people, in a lot of ways we are all like each other.  We have our strong suits, our good runs of time, our weaknesses and our failures.  Even the best among us in whom we invest so much faith are going to meet the same fate in the end just as it tells us today in verse 4.

Last week I mentioned in the “For Discussion” section that we have a secular system in place similar to Jehoshaphat’s of 2 Chronicles but not a religious or Christian one.  Ours is one of following men and as today’s scripture points out when men are gone they are gone back to the ground but God is forever.  Just imagine the superiority of the system or the superiority of a country that day after day, season after season and life after life followed God as the people come and go, live and die.  That system or that country would do the things of God such as what we read of in today’s verses.

When you think of empires what do you think about?  The Nazis lasted a mere 12 years, the Mongols rule is debated but we will say it lasted 54.  The British Empire lasted over 400 years and at least a couple Persian empires each lasted longer.  There were some that many do not think of often such as Portugal and a few in Africa.  The most famous, longest lasting and probably most familiar to Christians was the Roman Empire.

Each of these empires was here for a time but eventually all of them fell.  The Nazis defeated by the Allies, the Aztecs by the Spanish, the Mongols by a succession of squabbles.  With the British it seemed it was more the times that overtook it but the results are always the same.

The famous saying about the British Empire was that the sun never sat on the British Empire but the sun was and is God’s and it is still here while that empire is not.  One could also say that the church is His and the sun never sets on it either as it has now spread from one small part of the world to the farthest corners.

Just like the empires there are parts to the church that have seen them rise and then fall.  Some in spectacular fashion as they had meteoric rises and descents often times tied to their captivating leaders.  Others have been here for quite some time in human terms but their decline is visible and in the offing somewhat similar to the British Empire.

Whether it is the empires of the world, tiny churches or a mega-church each is made up of those who did as verse 3 says not to do, “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.”

No empire or church has truly lived up to its expectations.  As the psalm today says in verse 5 and 6 it is better to hope instead in God because He alone is faithful.  As a ruler makes promises or a church chooses to spend only certain amounts to sustain the hungry, help the oppressed, or reach the untouched so that they can spend more on their infrastructure instead, it is God who will remain faithful forever.

It seems easy to look at the empires of the world and see where in not following God they have failed but what about the empire that is the church that has lasted more than 2000 years?  Since it is His we know that it will last until the end but while we are here and a part of it how can we do a better job of ensuring that it reflects more of Him instead of resembling a worldly empire?


For Discussion:

1.      When considering verse 3 from today it is not that we can’t have trustworthy leaders especially in the church but we should not put too much trust there as only God saves.
2.      Discuss in general terms where you have been burned by placing your trust in someone.
3.      I watched a sermon last night by one of the most gifted preachers of our time in Adrian Rogers who passed away in 2005 and I have marveled at many of the sermons written by Charles Spurgeon who died in 1892.  Discuss this type of “prince’s” contribution and those of others you may be aware of across the church spectrum and discuss in light of verses 3 and 4.
4.      Those things in sight in verse 6 remind us of the timelessness of God.  Discuss how many different ways we can look at God’s being eternal.
5.      From your place in the empire that is the church, how is it doing in reflecting God in taking care of the issues mentioned in verses 7-9? 
6.      If you decided that your church needed to devote itself more to those items mentioned in verses 7-9 rather than the plans as mentioned in verse 4, how would you go about that, what results would you produce, what kind of opposition would you face?
7.      This may seem like a question you won’t want to consider, but has your church leader become a prince?  Have our leaders come to think of the church as their empire?  If they have, that will be a hard one to discuss, but I challenge you.
8.      In our worldly lives most of us plan for our inevitable demise when we reach the end of our life whenever that might come as it is only responsible.  Have you ever considered that it might be prudent to do the same in our churches however long a life they might yet have?


Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries


8-12-12:  God Promised a Righteous Lord Isaiah 9:2-7 or Isaiah 9:1-7
8-19-12:  God Promised a Righteous Branch Jeremiah 23:1-6; 33:14-18
8-26-12:  God Promised to Be with Us Ezekiel 34:23-31
9-2-12:    Faith Calls for Perseverance Hebrews 10:19-31





Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved


Sunday, July 22, 2012

On 7-29-12 2 Chronicles 19:4-11 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Jehoshaphat Makes Judicial Reforms.

Jehoshaphat Makes Judicial Reforms
2 Chronicles 19:4-11
International Sunday School Lesson
July 29, 2012



Commentary
By
Jed Greenough




Revelation 20:4 begins, “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.” 

One day we will be judges and maybe today you find the thought of yourself in that role hard to imagine and that’s okay.  Let’s take a look for just a moment at what we are more use to thinking of when we consider the role of judges.

In this country’s judicial system, judges of our courts do not just enter into the position but instead they go through a process that progresses through education and real experience that qualifies them over time as they learn the nuances of being involved in the legal system and over that time they gain understanding.  In this way, just as with most things, with experience comes a certain amount of expertise.

Unfortunately that is not always the case and the ones that become judges are not always the best suited individuals.  Sometimes the best and brightest do not want to leave legal careers that have become lucrative.  Sometimes the ones that become judges are there because of ego instead of a natural progression of their careers.  Would it surprise you if at times some judges that have risen to the post accomplished it through knowing the right people?  I am sure you aren’t surpised!

Once in the system you might say that some are entrenched so to speak.  For those judges that are truly just in their deliberations this is good in that it allows them to make decisions without considering whether or not they will keep their livelihoods.  But that also gives us the flipside of the coin in that it insulates poor judges from the fate they deserve.

Looking at the position from its job security side you can understand why in the Bible there is so much emphasis on the issue of judging rightly.  You can see how the judge who takes a bribe, who shows favoritism, who judges from a worldly rather than godly viewpoint can do so much damage.  The damage creates disorder because the system comes into doubt.  People who have been wronged will not have confidence that they can be made whole and the innocent would rightly fear that they will be found guilty.

Biblical history shows (Exodus 18), that Moses understood the need for his people to be taught and to have matters resolved.  In fact until prompted by his father-in-law Jethro, Moses was being run ragged by the people of Israel and all of their needs.  Thanks to Jethro’s advice, Moses appointed officials to judge and that would lead the people.

We can see from the book of Judges how God had those such as Othniel, Ehud, Gideon and so on.  With the upright judges came order and direction and that was the goal of Jehoshaphat as we read in today’s scripture and also a little further back in 2 Chronicles 17.  We see how Jehoshaphat chose people to teach and to judge the people of Judah.

So if Moses, Jethro, and Jehoshaphat all saw that one man alone could not do it; and if that one man were left alone to his own devices and not as they should in being just and following the ways of God what happens now?  What are we seeing of this today?  Do you think our God of order who is unchanging did just that and changed His mind for the church?

If we review the New Testament in places such as Titus 1 we see that Paul was telling Titus that the reason he had left him there in Crete was to straighten out what hadn’t been done but needed to be and that was the appointing of Elders in every town.  Reading on we see their qualifications and we see their duties that sound familiar to me as I read what Moses and Jehoshaphat had for their appointed officials.

What has happened to this position of elder from the Bible?  According to what I read it was a pretty big job fulfilling the role and according to 1 Timothy 5 it is one for which they should be paid and double if they preach and teach.  This is a role similar to the judges in sight today who could handle the affairs of the church.  How do you think we are doing with this position now?  I think we are seeing the resulting chaos because we aren’t doing very well.



For Discussion:

1.      Reading verse 1 discuss if we had a leader such as Jehoshaphat who encouraged the people to God.
2.      Considering verses 5-7, discuss the effect on our country if that leader mentioned in 1 above were to appoint judges in place who were Christians as well.
3.      Discuss the “supreme court” nature of what Jehoshaphat set up beginning with verse 8.
4.      Discuss your country’s judicial system.
5.      Discuss how we have a secular version of the system discussed in today’s verses but not a religious one that turns people back to God.
6.      Discuss the system that Paul and the other apostles had set up and how we have modified it?
7.      Discuss the consequences of not doing what is so clear in the scriptures and what can be done about it.

Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries


8-5-12:    Praise for God’s Justice Psalm 146
8-12-12:  God Promised a Righteous Lord Isaiah 9:2-7 or Isaiah 9:1-7
8-19-12:  God Promised a Righteous Branch Jeremiah 23:1-6; 33:14-18
8-26-12:  God Promised to Be with Us Ezekiel 34:23-31





Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved

Sunday, July 15, 2012

On 7-22-12 2 Kings 8:1-6 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as A King Acts on a Widow's Behalf.







A King Acts on a Widow’s Behalf
2 Kings 8:1-6
International Sunday School Lesson
July 22, 2012



Commentary
By
Jed Greenough



It was said by Jesus according to Acts 20:35, “It is better to give than to receive.”  Hopefully through today’s scripture we can take a moment to consider what we have given.

Our scripture begins with Elisha speaking to the Sunammite woman who is identified for us as the one whose son had been restored to life!  Now if that isn’t enough to get you to go back and flesh out your understanding a bit, I don’t know what is!

In order for us to do that we would go back to 2 Kings 4:8 in order to find the first mention of Elisha and the woman.  There we find that the woman is wealthy and that she had invited Elisha to stay for a meal and then not just once but whenever he was at Shunem which according to verse 9 was often.

It was important to this woman that they provide these meals for him because he was a man of God and that mattered to her.  Having taken the first step in showing this to Elisha she obviously considered what more she could do.  She a. knew that Elisha needed fed and b. that he also needed a place to stay.  She cared to find out what this man of God’s needs were and she set out to not just meet the most basic but also to make him comfortable in the process.  Whenever he came he would also have a room for his private use.

Naturally Elisha sought to give her thanks and tried to find a way to express his gratitude but the woman was content.  Not surprisingly if you read about Elisha he decided to act anyway and to this woman whose husband was old he promised a son would be born.  But as you know from today’s scripture that son would die but would be restored to life.

As far as the woman’s life goes we are now caught up.  Because of her generosity to this man of God she was forewarned of a severe famine that others in the land of Israel would have to endure.  We don’t have clarity as to whether the property that would have still been hers was taken by someone or whether somehow it had gone to this king.  In any event the woman again had her property restored to her just as she had had her son restored more than 7 years earlier because of her association with Elisha due to her generosity.

The examples for today could be a bit extreme so I won’t pretend to tell you that the same can happen to us, at least not while we are here, but we do know that in eternity we will receive our reward for what we have done for the kingdom while we were here.

Do you believe Galatians 6:6, “Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.”?  Do you inquire or observe as to the needs of those that minister to you or to those who do this work in general as did this woman?

To the wealthy woman the meals she provided and the bed, and table and lamp in a private room might not have seemed like much.  To Elisha who didn’t have these things they must have been considerable gifts.

As for the woman she obviously received much as we consider her receiving her son so late in life, then that son’s life restored, warning from the famine and when she returned the property and income she had left behind in her obedience was returned as well.

Have you further stopped to consider that it wasn’t just to Elisha that she gave?  By being able to eat and sleep in this location often this man of God was able to do the work of God both more diligently and no doubt more frequently for the people of the area than he could have otherwise?

This is a simple statement: you may not always know the benefits of giving but it isn’t hard to know that we need to give.






For Discussion:

1.      Our title says she is a widow and her husband was old but we do not know that he died.  As we read in the earlier accounts of her generosity she was a take charge type of woman.
2.      Discuss why God had decreed a famine for Israel.
3.      Elisha’s servant Gehazi is an interesting read if you care to go back a few chapters.
4.      If you read of the activities of Elisha you can understand the king wanting to hear of “all the great things Elisha had done.”  Discuss
5.      Discuss God’s timing especially in this case on behalf of the woman (verse 5).
6.      Clearly what was left behind by the woman and her family was substantial but they did as this man of God directed.  Discuss.
7.      Sometimes I think we feel guilty when we consider the reward we will receive one day but if it were bad it wouldn’t be a part of God’s plan.  Spend a little time checking out what you might receive.
8.      Going back to number 7’s idea of a reward my favorite scriptural example is more poetic than specific from the words of Daniel 12:3, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”

Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries


7-29-12:  Jehoshaphat Makes Judicial Reforms 2 Chronicles 19:4-11
8-5-12:    Praise for God’s Justice Psalm 146
8-12-12:  God Promised a Righteous Lord Isaiah 9:2-7 or Isaiah 9:1-7
8-19-12:  God Promised a Righteous Branch Jeremiah 23:1-6; 33:14-18




Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved

Sunday, July 8, 2012

On 7-15-12 1 Kings 3:16-28; 2 Chronicles 9:8 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Solomon Judges with Wisdom and Justice.






Solomon Judges with Wisdom and Justice
1 Kings 3:16-28; 2 Chronicles 9:8
International Sunday School Lesson
July 15, 2012



Commentary
By
Jed Greenough




Today you are studying the often quoted example of wise leadership as demonstrated by Solomon.  Solomon knew that the true mother would protest his supposed decision to have the baby cut in two, but how did he know that the other wouldn’t give up her ruse and show compassion as well?  That would have posed a new dilemma indeed as he would have had to come up with Plan B.

Not having been there that day there are probably some nuances not shared by the scriptures but visible to the king.  Clues that told him that though both women were of low moral character as prostitutes, one was acting as a mother and the other was only thinking of herself, not about the other mother and not the child.  Solomon was wise enough to know that this type of person would betray herself as she did.

It made no sense did it, that after the real mother said, “…give her the living baby!  Don’t kill him!” in verse 26 that the other woman would not take her victory?  Instead she said, “Cut him in two.”  Again, I think Solomon could tell from the things we weren’t privy to that this woman would reveal the devil inside her if you will.  Only satan is happy when man makes choices such as these.

Three things keep reverberating in my mind because of this lesson: intelligence, division and satan.  In this lesson we have Solomon’s intelligence, the threat of the baby being divided and the evil woman’s choice that made no sense except to satan.

I have read, but cannot verify of course, that Benjamin Netanyahu the Prime Minister of Israel has an IQ of 180.  That would make him very intelligent indeed but do you think politically he has still made decisions that have caused division?

Let’s consider Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln both purported to be very wise men but divides occurred because of both men’s choices.

How about us?  Let’s look at the choices we make as Christians, as the church, shall we say has done.  As for wisdom, we have no excuse because we have the wisdom of God; it is available to us if we choose to utilize it.

In Romans 14 Paul instructs us in how to handle disputable or debatable matters and yet we often do not accept this wisdom as given to us by God but handle these matters in ways that divide us.  Is this pleasing to God or is our choice that causes division like the evil woman’s and pleasing to satan instead? 

I ask you to consider our churches, denominations, universities and ministries.  Examine their Statements of Belief, their What We Believe pages and see if they are professing disputable or debatable matters, keeping away those who would worship, fellowship and grow there because someone doesn’t agree.

If you take the time, and you had better, examine your group’s statements.  I pray that what they contain are the matters that unite us as Christian’s and not those that divide us.  I will not name names but I can tell you that there are places that I would not as a Christian be totally at home in the minds of those who also call themselves Christians.  They would not be comfortable with me because I disagree that they can say who the antichrist is.  Similarly there are places where I would not be welcome to study in places of Christian education because I don’t agree with their understanding of the scriptures concerning eschatological matters.  You know as I do that we cannot enter just any church and join with our so-called brothers and sisters and share communion with them.

Those are just three common instances that I would use to demonstrate that by our choices we are not using the wisdom of God that can be ours.  We are in fact instead doing as we are told not to in Romans 14 and causing others to stumble which is pleasing to satan.  Likewise by so doing we are condemning ourselves by what we approve which is most pleasing to satan (Romans 14:22).

Solomon had the wisdom to see the traits of satan and used the example of division to bring it out.  What will you do to change the divisions over the debatable so that we unite?



For Discussion:

1.      Yes, I know satan is “supposed” to be capitalized, I just refuse to!
2.      Discuss matters that unite and divide?
3.      Read Romans 14 and apply it to where you can make a difference?
4.      The way we worship and the way we interpret prophecy are just two matters dividing our churches.  This is clearly pleasing to satan and we need to discuss how we can reverse our choices so that we are not stumbling blocks to our fellow Christians.  If we are brave enough to consider it, put ourselves in the role of the evil mother from today and consider what we are willing to say and do for the positions we hold.  Just as the real mother thought first of her child we must consider each other first.  Will you?  Discuss.
5.      According to Editor Roy P. Basler Abraham Lincoln’s “A House Divided against Itself Cannot Stand” speech cost him the senate election in 1858 but Lincoln ultimately stood by his position regarding slavery and the speech whose title was taken from Mark 3:25.
6.      Discuss verses 26-27 as if it pertained to matters in the church.
7.      Discuss today’s 2 Chronicles 9:8 by placing ourselves as Christians in Solomon’s place in this verse.


Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries


7-22-12:  A King Acts on a Widow’s Behalf 2 Kings 8:1-6
7-29-12:  Jehoshaphat Makes Judicial Reforms 2 Chronicles 19:4-11
8-5-12:    Praise for God’s Justice Psalm 146
8-12-12:  God Promised a Righteous Lord Isaiah 9:2-7 or Isaiah 9:1-7





Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved


Sunday, July 1, 2012

David Embodies God's Justice from 2 Samuel 23:1-7; 1 Chronicles 18:14 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as David Embodies God's Justice.







David Embodies God’s Justice
2 Samuel 23:1-7; 1 Chronicles 18:14
International Sunday School Lesson
July 8, 2012



Commentary
By
Jed Greenough



He was a violent man, in fact he killed and had people killed.  He was a passionate man, in fact he committed adultery.  In the Bible we can see David from youth to manhood and finally a man of advanced age.  As his life story is revealed we see both the defeats and the victories.  We are given a view of all of his passions both the good and the bad and also his joy and his sadness.  And not just David himself is exposed but perhaps more telling in some people’s view are his children’s lives, both good and bad that are shown as well.  All that he was is available to us if we read the pages of the Bible.

David appeals to all sensibilities when you consider that he was a shepherd, a warrior, oppressed and victorious, romantic, musician, poet and prophet.  But what appeals to me and I would think what appeals to many is that this man is not portrayed as the great King David only.  He is also simply shown as a man, thus giving us encouragement by not just showing great successes but by his mortal characteristics that mirror ours.

David sinned and repented just as we do.  We may feel confident that we will not commit murder or adultery as David did,  but if David served God greatly perhaps one day  we too can serve the Lord despite our sins and likewise leave a lasting legacy to the Lord. 

David was called, so too are we all called, as Christians.  We are each called to do certain things,  but in our enthusiasm just like David’s aspirations to build God a temple were denied, we might not be able to accomplish all for which we aspire.  But rather than this being a negative I think that this too inspires us that David was real just like us.  Why?  Well, if a man were to create a slayer of giants he would not only have him slay a Goliath but he would have built that temple to the Lord as well.  But we should know that in our lifetimes we might only be good for one “giant killing” in our serving capacity to God but we can aim for more like David.

What was David in his own sight, a mighty ruler, long lasting King, unifier of peoples, one from whom a legacy flows?  I like what he had to say about himself in verse 1, “Israel’s singer of songs.”  From David all the people of Israel and all that care to hear him sing long after his death heard psalms such as:

Psalm 1, 17, 34 and more instructing about righteousness.
Psalm 2, 22, and 110 and more which are some examples of God revealing the Savior to come.
Psalm 6, 32, 38, and more that demonstrate appeals to God.
Psalm 23, 37, 91 and more that demonstrates how to trust God.


When now we hear in today’s scripture the last words of David that are recorded for us in 2 Samuel 23:1-7, what does a very successful follower of the Lord who was also a very victorious King relate with what are supposed to be his last words?  He uses the words that had been instructions from God, given to him as to how a king should lead: in righteousness in the fear of God (verse 3).  And in David’s last words you can see that he will depart with confidence, that his house was right with God (verse 5).

David shows us that you can fall and get back up again on a path to pleasing the Lord.  Often times leaders seem to have a preoccupation with a legacy more than leading but David shows what really matters not just to leaders but to all of us.  If you want to leave a legacy that will last then make your leading and your living about the Father, then your house also will be “right with God” (verse 5).



For Discussion:

1.      Discuss how we can be encouraged and motivated by the life that David lived.
2.      Discuss how David’s whole life was exposed and how one day also ours will be as well.
3.      As we approach the election season consider the things that we look at when we elect a leader.  See 1 Samuel 16:7a with regard to David.
4.      With regard to selecting leaders, those of us in America are bombarded with looking at the person as a whole and not to have litmus tests, but discuss whether you feel better with a successful businessman, a dynamic personality, an excellent speaker or one from the words of verses 3 and 4.
5.      See how David instructed his son Solomon 1 Kings 2:1-4.
6.      See what Solomon asked of God in 1 Kings 3:1-15.
7.      Discuss verse 1 in light of David’s beginnings.
8.      See 2 Peter 1:21 when considering verse 2.
9.      Discuss verse 3’s “God of Israel” “Rock of Israel”.
10.  Discuss verse 3 in light of the fact that no man is righteous so therefore David could not have really completely done this but his descendant Jesus could.
11.  Verse 4 is beyond merely poetry.  Discuss how one feels with regard to those moments mentioned in this verse.
12.  Discuss the words of David in verse 5.  Do people consider these words as confident, arrogant, prideful, matter of fact or what?
13.  Make it a point to discuss that these are the last recorded words of David and how that should play into our considering what is recorded here.  Rather like the weight given in legal cases in certain instances to the declaration of a dying person.
14.  Necessary to today’s verse 5 and the whole passage in general is reading 2 Samuel 7 especially when one considers certain happenings in the latter parts of David’s rule.
15.  Discuss the rough treatment that is used with thorns as mentioned in verses 6-7 in light of the Harvest at the End of the Age discussed in Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 and Hebrews 6:7-8.



Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries


7-15-12:  Solomon Judges With Wisdom and Justice 1 Kings 3:16-28; 2 Chronicles 9:8
7-22-12:  A King Acts on a Widow’s Behalf 2 Kings 8:1-6
7-29-12:  Jehoshaphat Makes Judicial Reforms 2 Chronicles 19:4-11
8-5-12:    Praise for God’s Justice Psalm 146




Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved