The Adult Sunday School

Sunday, June 24, 2012

On 7-1-12 1 Samuel 7:3-11, 15-17 or 1 Samuel 7:3-17 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Samuel Administers Justice.

Samuel Administers Justice

1 Samuel 7:3-11, 15-17

1 Samuel 7:3-17

International Sunday School Lesson

July 1, 2012

Commentary

Jed Greenough

Individuals and nations they seem quite separate because with the numbers involved the human factor becomes blurred. The impact that leaders have on the nations and on the individual though perhaps imperceptible to some is nevertheless huge. The leaders we choose matter; choosing a leader that is a “good man” or the best among the group to choose from will change the nation and the individual but not for the good if they do not worship the only God. For Israel their leader in Samuel was a man of God and the impact on Israel was clear. For us today the impact on our nations and on us is not always distinct but what is distinct and what we can draw from today’s scripture with confidence is this:

1. If you realize you need to turn or return to the Lord you can draw from today as an example. Verse 2 says that, “all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD.” Last week for the benefit of individuals who need to seek God I quoted Deuteronomy 4:29, “you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” God will hear you and you will find Him if you similarly mournfully seek Him.

2. You must associate yourself with a discerning, Biblically sound and strong leader. In verse 3 from today we see that Samuel advised the people of Israel what they needed to do. They not only had to act they had to react. They had to do more than show up, they need to do more than talk, they needed to serve Him exclusively. How badly do you want the relief that only God can provide you? Are you ready yet to serve Him?

3. Do you have a leader who can with confidence intercede on your behalf? Yes, we can all approach God in prayer but with the strains of guilt and the weakness that exists within those who have been “away” there is an issue of faith that must grow. James 5:13-16 “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

4. Like the water that was poured out the people of Israel were pouring out their hearts in a penitent nature. We must pour out ourselves; empty ourselves of the sins that have separated us from Him. Yes, the pouring out of the water was a symbolic act but it symbolized the substantive nature of their confessing hearts.

5. Though they had turned to the Lord, this faith issue again shows the need for the strong Godly leader. We/they are not without faith but weak from our sins and need the Godly who can cry out with fervor to God on his people’s behalf.

6. As demonstrated by Israel in today’s scripture the once fearful or panicked can be emboldened by their leader and the effectiveness of prayer.

7. As a monument or memorial Samuel set up a reminder that the Lord had helped the people of Israel. The people did not worship this stone but whenever they would have passed by they would have recalled the victory God had provided. What reminders should we have in place to recall the victories provided by God for us?

8. Because of Samuel, God’s hand was against the enemies of Israel. Consider what a leader that is pleasing to God can do for your church, for your country.

Yes, even today an individual can change a nation or a church when the mournful recognize the need to return to God.

For Discussion:

1. Discuss the idea that the Philistines came to attack, not because Israel had gathered but because they had gathered to return to the Lord. Satan works in ways we often don’t consider.

2. Discuss that you might be able to converse about the country’s need to return to God but if there is an issue with your church it might not be so easy. What can you do to tackle this issue if it exists?

3. Should we set up reminders in some fashion like the stone named Ebenezer? Has time caused you to forget God given healing or victories?

4. Find a map that shows the towns mentioned in verse 16 from Samuel’s circuit. I think you will be surprised.

5. To know Samuel a bit more read chapters 1-3 and 8.

6. Sometimes it is too late for earthly leaders to intercede, read Jeremiah 15:1.

Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries

7-8-12: David Embodies God’s Justice 2 Samuel 23:1-7; 1 Chronicles 18:14

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

Sunday, June 17, 2012

On 6-24-12 Deuteronomy 10:12-22; 16:18-20 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as The Heart of the Law aka Love God; Love People.

The Heart of the Law

Love God; Love People

Deuteronomy 10:12-22; 16:18-20

International Sunday School Lesson

June 24, 2012

Commentary

Jed Greenough

I know that some of you who read my words are like me but that most are not and at times the thought consumes me. Your initial thought to that must be something like, “we are all different” or “that is a little conceited don’t you think?” But take it from me, I don’t want you to be like me, like me, but rather I am consumed with the desire that everyone have a similar characteristic. This is summed up in the first two verses from today.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13

And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

Again, before you think I am holding myself up to be more than I should, let me say I mess up daily, but I get up again and I know that what God is asking of Israel here in today’s scripture is something He shouldn’t have to ask of us.

I often wonder how many visit this blog as they prepare for Sunday School not out of a passion for Him but for a variety of reasons that might range from obligation, to habit, to create false appearances, even because of a certain man or woman that attends your class. I hope that in the end for you that don’t have the need “to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” that eventually that will come, that your heart will be circumcised and that you will be then consumed to help others feel as you do.

I almost said it literally breaks my heart but that would be impossible wouldn’t it but you get what I mean don’t you, to read the first verse? But a literal tear did come to my eye and I am not an overly emotional person but it really touches my heart to see that Moses must explain to His people that God is asking these things.

After he does that, it doesn’t get any easier to read as Moses feels he must lay out some reasons they should fear, love, serve, and honor and obey God.

For one thing, he says that it is for their own good but in case self-preservation isn’t enough Moses goes on. Last week we touched a bit on one of the reasons for God’s Sabbath was so that Israel recognized God’s mastery over all creation and here we see it mentioned again in verse 14. In pointing that out it serves to show how special the place is that God has put the people of Israel in by choosing them. Moses says circumcise your hearts, which means just as the literal act of circumcision set apart those from Abraham forward (Genesis 17) as being His so would this figurative cutting of the heart show that Israel was God’s. Having one’s heart in this manner shows the rest of the world that they were His.

As Moses continues, he reminds them that their God is the only god just as he did in Deuteronomy 6:4. They didn’t need to make a god for rain and a god for harvest or a god for fertility, no they had in Him the only real God.

Their God, Moses reminds them is a fearsome God with mighty and awesome ways but He is also their God who is one of love. In verse 15 I like how Moses words it, “the Lord set His affection on your forefathers and loved them…” The God of love who defends widows and orphans and takes care of the aliens, and so Moses in this way reminds them that they should act as well. Which we see again in the verses covered by 16:18-20.

For us as Christians we always have to ask how the Old Testament lessons apply. Last week I told you that the three parts of the Sabbath did not apply to you but I said that the principles and the character as they deal with God still do apply. And today if Moses were here he would still be able to apply these words from Deuteronomy to you.

For Discussion:

1. Have people share with the group what they think when they read, “fear the LORD your God.”

2. For those who don’t currently passionately act as it says in verse 12, “to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” but want to have that passion please do as advised elsewhere in Deuteronomy, “you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29

3. Are those where you worship encouraged regularly that they should seek, serve and love God in this manner?

4. If you care to address this matter, we talked about having a sense of urgency for this back on 10-16-11 when we looked at Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:7, 13.

5. Concerning 10:20, discuss how we can hold fast to God.

6. Do a concordance search and study on God and the alien or foreigner, God and fatherless, God and the widow, God and justice.

7. Today’s 16:18-20 has reminded me of a time when Moses took on too much. Is too much expected of your Minister/Pastor/Preacher similar to Moses? Read Exodus 18:13-26.