The Adult Sunday School

Sunday, June 30, 2013

On 7-7-13, Ezra 3:8-13 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Restoring the Temple aka Temple Restored

Restoring the Temple aka Temple Restored

Ezra 3:8-13

International Sunday School Lesson

July 7, 2013

Commentary

Jed Greenough

I wonder how many of you that read today’s simple scripture came up with the same thought as I that drew parallels with the church of today?

In this scripture the people are following order by choosing men of a certain age and of a certain tribe in the Levites to do the work. We see that joyously the people are praising God and doing what all want in rebuilding the temple.

But…there is weeping by some because they remember the old temple. We aren’t told if they are weeping because the new won’t measure up to the old, because of lost time since the temple was destroyed or because they just fear change or for some other reason.

The parallel I draw with today are the changes that occur in our churches today when they change. All involved with a growing church can be joyous if the church is Biblical in its offices. All involved can be joyous when God is being praised and all can be joyous when the church is being built up.

But amongst all of that there can be “weeping” and like in today’s scripture no one notices for all the joy of everyone else. I have a problem with that.

I have heard those who weep over the change being criticized from the pulpit for not getting on board wholeheartedly with regard to these changes and that is about as much consideration as they receive.

Of course that isn’t consideration at all is it?

These people who weep over change should be considered with love and given help to feel that the church is still their church. Do you understand why that is important? They may have been among the group that built the church, nurtured it and kept it alive to bring it to this point of change. I feel that they deserve in fact special consideration and the older they are the more consideration that should be.

All too often we seek out the way of youth in how we can build something in the church to appeal to them but we forget that someone older shared their faith either directly or in a chain of witnessing that led to our faith. Like the temple had to be built we didn’t spontaneously turn in to Christians someone laid a foundation let’s remember that.

In praising God as we grow as a church let’s not forget our neighbor.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40

For Discussion

1. Discuss why you think there was weeping

2. Discuss 20 year olds then versus now

3. Discuss why it took so long after their arrival to begin the work

4. Discuss how age changes us in all ways

5. Discuss not being aware of weeping in our midst

6. Discuss the differences that we are aware of between the temples

Upcoming Lessons

7-14-13: Dedicating the Temple aka Dedication of the Temple Ezra 6:13-22

7-21-13: Fasting and Praying Ezra 7:6-10; 8:21-23 or 8:21-23

7-28-13: Giving Gifts for the Temple aka Gifts for the Temple Ezra 8:24-35 or 8:24-30

8-4-13: Feast of Tabernacles aka Festival of Booths Nehemiah 8:2, 3, 13-18 or 8:13-18

Sunday, June 23, 2013

On 6-30-13, Ezra 3:1-7 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Restoring Joyful Worship aka Joyful Worship Restored

Restoring Joyful Worship aka Joyful Worship Restored

Ezra 3:1-7

International Sunday School Lesson

June 30, 2013

Commentary

Jed Greenough

The will and purpose of God is all according to His plan and cannot be denied and for the most part He makes it known in advance and I am instantly reminded of this when I read today’s scripture.

Jeremiah mad this advance announcement that we see concerns todays scipture on behalf of “the Lord Almighty”, “I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, declares the Lord, and I will bring them against this land (Israel) and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations….This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians, for their guilt, declares the Lord, and will make it desolate forever.” Jeremiah 25:9 and 11-12.

And if that were not enough He said this through Isaiah in 44:28, “who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, Let it be rebuilt, and of the temple, Let its foundations be laid.”!!! (My exclamation marks of course).

Truly, all should pay attention when He says, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” Isaiah 46:10

Clearly the Bible has much more to say regarding Israel that is yet to be fulfilled but has been likewise revealed. What else does God foretell us? Some things are heavily cloaked in prophecy but those matters dealing with a person’s salvation or the opposite are straight up literal. I think more than what had been fore told about Israel, the temple and Cyrus we should come away from today’s lesson with that!

“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act” Numbers 22:19

God makes things plain really. He doesn’t hide what He wants nor what He will do and His word is true.

For Discussion:

1. Study other scriptures dealing with God using Cyrus against Babylon

2. Discuss how God uses even those who do not worship Him

3. Discuss the use of the prophecies dealing with Israel and Cyrus as a method of witnessing to those who doubt

4. Note that God evidently only wanted some to be motivated to make this important return in rebuilding the temple

5. Discuss who all God might have moved to make this happen

6. How many years prior to Cyrus did Isaiah make that prophecy?