Sunday, October 26, 2014

On 11-2-14, Ezekiel 43:1-12 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as God’s Divine Glory Returns or God’s Glory Fills the Temple

God’s Divine Glory Returns         
Or
God’s Glory Fills the Temple
Ezekiel 43:1-12
International Sunday School Lesson
November 2, 2014
                                                                                 


Commentary
By
Jed Greenough

Remember before you start this study in Ezekiel that visions can be literal or figurative and they are written in a way that makes it nearly impossible to fully understand unless clarity is given within them.  By that I mean they take a moment and explain what was just seen and I think the best example is the book of Daniel but even then things aren’t always clear and much is debatable.
Having said that we know that the temple as described in Ezekiel has never been built which only leads to more questions and again debate.  For me, since it is a vision, I am comfortable in thinking this is an idea that would have taken place as an ideal temple had Israel been ideal.
We sometimes hear rumors today of certain Jews stock piling material to rebuild the temple one day.  Perhaps this is the temple they would build.  But Jesus put an end to sacrifice and the sacrifices and Sabbaths mentioned further along in this book would indicate a contradiction.
We know “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind.” (Numbers 23:19) so I believe we can be certain that this is not something that He would institute.
You can see the man mentioned in our first verse for today coming into view by going back and reading beginning at 40:3.  Here he was described interestingly as having an appearance like bronze appearing human enough to be called man.
This man and Ezekiel are together the next few chapters going in an about this visionary temple.  When they were finished the appearance of the glory of God arrived.  At this point I usually walk away from this as it literally hurts my mind trying to make sense of it all.
It would seem that God is speaking with certainty of a time when Israel would no longer defile His name.  That they would be as the people of the New Covenant we read about back in September while studying Jeremiah.  But then there is this matter of the sacrifices, it just doesn’t fit.
At the time that this was written the people of Ezekiel’s day were still in exile in Babylon.  We know that when they returned and rebuilt the temple this one which we are reading about today is not the one they built and after that temple was destroyed shortly after Jesus there has not been another.
Many argue that this temple will be rebuilt very near the End but this temple as we read in Ezekiel and its sacrifices seem to be what God desired.  But to do it in fulfillment now would be as I said a contradiction to what He wants since Christ’s sacrifice was once for all.
I cannot give you a clear understanding of this because I do not have one that I would care to pass on.  I hope that you can at least gather from today’s scripture that God is in fact consistent.  He does not want to be treated in an unholy way as we read in the verses in which He is speaking.  For Him to want to institute sacrifices would seem to be inconsistent and treat the blood of Christ’s sacrifice as an unholy thing.  Not gonna happen!

For Discussion:
  1. Discuss other appearances including those in the book of Ezekiel of God’s glory.
  2. Discuss certain details that are omitted from this temple as opposed to the others.
  3. Discuss how God wants to be treated in a holy manner.
  4. Discuss verse 8.
  5. Discuss verse 10-11.
  6. Discuss alternative ideas.



Upcoming Lessons
11-9-14     The Altar, A Sign of Hope or The Altar Offers Hope, Ezekiel 43:13-21
11-16-14   A Transforming Stream or Water from the Sanctuary Gives Life, Ezekiel 47:1-12
11-23-14   A Transformation Continued or Inheritance Marks a New Beginning, Ezekiel 47:13-23
11-30-14   Let Zion Rejoice or Good News Brings Rejoicing, Isaiah 52:1-2, 7-12
                                                                                                              
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved



Monday, October 20, 2014

On 10-26-14, Job 42:1-10 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Hope Satisfies or Things Too Wonderful for Me

Hope Satisfies                                  
Or
Things Too Wonderful for Me
 Job 42:1-10
International Sunday School Lesson
October 26, 2014
                                                                                 


Commentary
By
Jed Greenough

You have read what the Lord said to Job haven’t you?  If you haven’t that is where you need to begin with chapter 38.
Having done that the visuals in your mind are overwhelming and of course Job has a contrite spirit.  Having read all that you might think that God is upset with Job until you read verse 7.  There you can see God is instead angry at the friends as he says, “I am angry with you…you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”
If you have done your due diligence and read all of Job you might be a bit confused having read what Job said and read what the three friends said.  I think clearly however God is revealing what we can’t see, a man’s heart.
For the friends they must have been speaking mere words perhaps without faith but Job spoke with honesty while never losing faith.
Still a bit confused?  So am I.  In gives one a quandary to know what to do in certain situations of stress for others.  What to do, what to say.  I’m pretty certain the best path is to pray, admit if we have or haven’t experienced what the other person is experiencing and be there for them.
It seems those who “teach” are in fact judged more strictly (James 3) and these 3 friends certainly had a lot to say.  God’s reaction to them despite much of what they said seeming solid presents an interesting lesson to keep in mind.
For Discussion:
1.      Discuss God’s reaction.
2.      Discuss Job’s reaction.
3.      We talk above of God’s reaction to what the three friends said, discuss Job’s saying, “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand.”
4.      Do we talk too much?
5.      Do we “carry on” to much in our prayers?
6.      Discuss personal experiences.


Upcoming Lessons
11-2-14     God’s Divine Glory Returns or God’s Glory Fills the Temple, Ezekiel 43:1-12
11-9-14     The Altar, A Sign of Hope or The Altar Offers Hope, Ezekiel 43:13-21
11-16-14   A Transforming Stream or Water from the Sanctuary Gives Life, Ezekiel 47:1-12
11-23-14   A Transformation Continued or Inheritance Marks a New Beginning, Ezekiel 47:13-23
                                                                                                              
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved


Sunday, October 12, 2014

On 10-19-14, Job 24:1, 9-12, 19-25 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Hope Complains or I Will Call on God

Hope Complains
Or
I Will Call on God
 Job 24:1, 9-12, 19-25
International Sunday School Lesson
October 19, 2014
                                                                                 


Commentary
By
Jed Greenough

Do you ever ask why things happen or are the way they are?  It wouldn’t be normal if you didn’t and it is even more normal when we ask the types of questions as Job is when we are experiencing something.  We empathize with what others are experiencing too just like Job is doing in today’s scripture.
When I read today’s scripture I immediately thought of Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes.  Different words but still just like the wonderings of man and woman when they encounter tough times and reach a certain point in their lives.  Was Solomon thought less of by God, was Job?  Read God’s reply in verse 40 and one might think so but we will get our answer for sure next week!
As Christians we can wonder about these types of thoughts and continue in our faith but we must be prepared to give an answer to those who are not believers who ask thoughts such as:
How can a loving God…?  Why would God allow…?  If God is real why does…?
We know the questions and we had best know some answers for in my mind not being so equipped and not stepping up to answer is akin to rejecting God if we profess to know Him.  We might say that God does not cause anyone to sin from James 1 also we might say that we know clearly from the beginning of the Bible of our world’s fallen state that sin is in the world and everything can therefore happen in that state and furthermore that bad things happen to so called good people as a result.
You must see that there are as many ways to answer as there are Christians but you do need to be prepared to give an answer.
For Discussion:
1.      Seldom grateful for hardships at the time do you look back later and see that it improved you?
2.      Isaiah 55:8-9
3.      Discuss instances of discussing with non-Christians why things happen as they do in the world.
4.      If you need assistance understanding, discuss with your class.
5.      It might be hard for a non-Christian to understand but discuss how God doesn’t want anyone to perish but for everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) even those who commit the injustice as mentioned by Job.
6.      Discuss the church and a Christian’s role to help the poor, needy, naked and hungry as mentioned by Job.
Upcoming Lessons
10-26-14   Hope Satisfies or Things to Wonderful for Me, Job 42:1-10
11-2-14     God’s Divine Glory Returns or God’s Glory Fills the Temple, Ezekiel 43:1-12
11-9-14     The Altar, A Sign of Hope or The Altar Offers Hope, Ezekiel 43:13-21

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



Sunday, October 5, 2014

On 10-12-14, Job 19:1-7, 23-29 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Even So, My Redeemer Lives or I Know That My Redeemer Liveth

Even So, My Redeemer Lives
Or
I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
 Job 19:1-7, 23-29
International Sunday School Lesson
October 12, 2014
                                                                                 


Commentary
By
Jed Greenough
                                                            
Last week I proposed that God did not answer Habakkuk’s complaining but rather spoke past him.  This week as we begin in Job we see that he figured that out too when he said in verse 7 that he’d been wronged but got no response from God.  But Job is still in for some surprises as we study this book over the next couple weeks.
Have you been wronged or suffered and cried out to God but felt that you got no response?  Perhaps you know someone who has fallen away because this happened to them.
Job has demonstrated in this week’s scripture what being a faithful Christian today can be like when we suffer in all the myriad of ways we will.  Job lost his family, his servants and his livestock.  He suffered from depression and had to “endure” his friends.  Despite the fact that there is nothing new under the sun, to Job this was a unique experience as it seems to each of us when we suffer.  But I think to be fair to ourselves I believe it is important to read Job and gain inspiration because sometimes we can be a little too hard on ourselves and our faith when we do suffer.
We read the thoughts that are going through Job’s mind I ask you to consider that God knows them so why “hide” them?  We see that Job asks God about what is happening and there isn’t anything wrong with that per say but in the end as God replied to Habakkuk that the righteous will live on by faith we see that is what Job did, live on by faith.  We read this in perhaps the most famous verse from Job when he said, “I know that my redeemer lives.”
Sometimes when I read Job it seems he has lucid and then unclear moments and if we don’t keep his suffering in mind we might not give Job the weight it deserves.  If you’ve had this problem concentrate on the fact that despite what he’d been through He wished ironically enough that his words of faith were recorded.  He still yearned for God and the day when he would meet Him.

For Discussion:
1.      Do you still sing the great old song I Know That My Redeemer Liveth?
2.      Discuss what Job has been through.
3.      Discuss helpful examples from your life or another’s.
4.       Discuss Job’s speaking out of his despair.
5.      Discuss Job’s friends.
6.      Discuss why Job calls God “my Redeemer”.
7.      On a side note pray for all your fellow students throughout the world.  Some are strong but many are just beginning and others are facing a myriad of challenges.

Upcoming Lessons
10-19-14   Hope Complains or I Will Call on God, Job 24:1, 9-12, 19-25
10-26-14   Hope Satisfies or Things to Wonderful for Me, Job 42:1-10
11-2-14     God’s Divine Glory Returns or God’s Glory Fills the Temple, Ezekiel 43:1-12
11-9-14     The Altar, A Sign of Hope or The Altar Offers Hope, Ezekiel 43:13-21

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