On 3-10-13, Daniel 9:4-14, 17 or 9:4b-14 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Daniel’s Prayer

Daniel’s Prayer

Daniel 9:4-14, 17 or 9:4b-14

International Sunday School Lesson

March 10, 2013

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

Because of the self-centered way in which we all too often live out our lives we almost fail to see the end of the story because we are so busy living.  But just as there was an end for those alive during the days of Noah when “people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark.”  So is there an end to all things.

Daniel was right and just in praying to God and in what he said about his people and about God.  But despite the esteem which God held him the time has already been mapped out.

God told the people what He would do (Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28) if they sinned against Him and He knew that they would.  But Daniel prayed for them and while he was praying an answer came. 

Had Daniel even expected an answer, what he got surely would have been unexpected.  Daniel knew according to verse 2 that the desolation of Jerusalem was to last 70 years.  What he was told was a rapid fire synopsis of history in which sin would be put to an end and everlasting righteousness would reign.

No, not all this is in today’s scripture, but what could we take away from today if we didn’t look at the rest?  That a righteous man prays to God on his people’s behalf confessing their sin and his own.  Sure, that is just but acknowledging transgressions and praying for forgiveness doesn’t change the history that has always been known by God.

Daniel and his people had a limited amount of time to be obedient and serve God but most fell away but Daniel did not.  Still Daniel praised God, served Him, witnessed for Him and prayed for his people.  But the end was still measured out.  Similarly we may be given the opportunity according to the scriptures as we understand them to be obedient and serve God but most will fall away.

We will pray like Daniel that they will turn and so be saved and we should but most won’t.  It may have seemed like an empty future at first to Daniel but as we read ahead in the answer that he was given we to are privy to the fact that in the end righteousness will rule.

As great as Daniel’s role was, I daresay that our roles are similarly great.  We understand a bit more than even Daniel did because of the coming of Christ.  Daniel was told that “multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.  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.” 12:2-3 I doubt Daniel knew what that meant, but we do!

God gave Daniel a time table.  Daniel had his time and now rests in the dust of the earth.

Now it is our time and we know a bit more about that time table and while here have a job to lead many to righteousness while there is still time.  Share the gospel!

For Discussion:

1.      Discuss the difficult reality in knowing that your country has been sinful, needs to repent, need to turn to God and so be saved, know that you need to pray all that but that most won’t repent and God already knows it.

2.      Discuss God keeping His word always with regard to both punishment and reward.

3.      Discuss ways your country has turned from God, has started to be punished and yet does not return to Him.

4.      Discuss the not included verse 18’s, “We do not make request of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.”

5.      Ask who in your group wants to shine like “the stars for ever and ever” and then ask what they are doing about it.

6.      Discuss what it would be like to be paid a visit by Gabriel!

Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries

3-17-13:  Gabriel Interprets Daniel’s Vision aka Gabriel’s Interpretation Daniel 8:1, 15-26 or 8:19-26

3-24-13:   The Lord’s Supper Luke 22:14-30

3-31-13:   The Lord Lives aka The Lord Has Risen Indeed! Luke 24:13-21, 28-35

4-7-13:     The Lord Appears Luke 24:36-53

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

On 11-25-12, Acts 28:16, 17, 23-31 or Acts 28:23-31will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Paul Evangelizes in Rome.

Paul Evangelizes in Rome

 Acts 28:16, 17, 23-31 or Acts 28:23-31

International Sunday School Lesson

November 25, 2012

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

From the scripture for today, do you see failure?  One would think because of Paul’s reaction that he was unsuccessful in winning any new converts to the Way.  In fact it is hard not to think that when you read the quote from Isaiah that Paul like Jesus uses but I see frustration.

I personally do not want you to come away with the idea that Paul was unsuccessful.  Our scripture for today remarkably says that Paul preached or taught from morning until evening.  It seems clear that in our preceding verses these Jewish people were very tolerant and eager to hear Paul.

One could read these verses and either think that people came and stayed all day and then left with some having been convinced.  Or one could think that these people came and went from morning until evening and Paul taught them all which is where I think I am inclined to stand.

Regardless, I see a great victory for the kingdom and what was being accomplished was exactly what God intended.

When Paul got to Rome he was given relative freedom through a type of house arrest rather than being thrown into some dungeon.  From here he was able to make a call out to the Jewish leaders of the city in 28:17.  And when they arrived the turnout was greater than expected as we read in verse 23.

Some were convinced (verse 24) by what he had to say and again I see this as a great victory but Paul in his ambition wanted to convert them all and have them convert all that they had influence with and soon all of Rome would be Christian.

This zeal perhaps led him to error or perhaps the disagreement among the Jews there was too intense.  Perhaps Paul could tell due his prior experiences that no more would be convinced.  Regardless, they were still there and it wasn’t until Paul made his final statement concerning them when he quoted Isaiah that they began to leave his presence.

I can’t know that Paul wasn’t under guidance of the Holy Spirit and this final statement may have been wholly true concerning those who were unconvinced.  Or Paul may have shut down any chance of further communication because a frustrated and tired Paul made a comment that offended.  What do you think?

Paul is my hero but I know he wasn’t perfect as only Christ is perfect.  But even if I am wrong on which side of the question I come down on I think I will stand on the side that would say it would be a little easier to have a chance of converting them tomorrow if you don’t offend them today.

In any case, in the end, this day and this time for Paul in Rome was a victory, “Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” verse 31 

For Discussion:

1.      It is theorized that besides preaching Paul also wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon during this time in Rome.

2.      Discuss Paul’s form of imprisonment.

3.      Discuss how many times or the situation in which you have either discussed the gospel or heard the gospel discussed from morning till evening.  Have you?

4.      Discuss how Paul was received by these Jews.

5.      Discuss how they reacted.

6.      Discuss Paul’s reaction.

Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries

12-2-12:   Blessed in Christ aka Spiritual Blessings in Jesus Christ Ephesians 1:3-14

12-9-12:   One in Jesus Christ Ephesians 2:11-22

12-16-12: Part of One Body in Christ aka Unity in the Body of Christ Ephesians 4:1-16

12-23-12: Alive in the Light of Christ aka Live in the Light John 1:1-5, 14; Ephesians 5:1, 2, 6-14

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