WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 28, 2011
DOING WHAT IS HONORABLE
(GOD expects HIS people to do the honorable thing)
(Ruth 4)
The Book of Ruth paints a beautiful portrait of a woman of Moabite origin who becomes the ancestress of King David himself. In the “days of the Judges”, this sweet and simple story clearly raises the earliest questions as to whether or not the exclusiveness of Judaism had been carried too far.
Boaz was a wealthy and honorable man who lived outside the town of Bethlehem, and was a member of the tribe of Judah. He was a close relative of Naomi’s late husband, Elimelech, and this qualified him as a “Kinsman Redeemer” of Elimelech’s surviving family (Lev. 25:25-26). However, he was only second in the line of responsibility to fulfill this “redeemer right” to Naomi. There was a man who lived in Bethlehem who was even a closer relative than Boaz was (Ruth 3:12). In Ruth chapter 4, Boaz sets out to town to talk to this family redeemer. He sat down at the city gates, which was a place where business transactions were completed on a daily basis, and, where elders often met to judge civil and criminal matters that were brought before them. Boaz waited on the relative to pass by, and when he did, he summoned him over for a meeting.
Here we see the honor of Boaz being put on display, as he plans to hold his discussion with the family redeemer in an open environment, in front of ten witnesses that also happened to be community leaders in Bethlehem. And while written records were also kept in those days, there too, was a great dependence on the eyewitness, who would be able to attest to any agreements that might be reached there at the gates.
Boaz wished to do the honorable thing by making it clear publicly, that he was acting in regards to the whole heritage of Elimelech, including his sons, Mahlon and Kilion. He correctly realized that, ongoing ownership of land and property, and continuing on, the family bloodline of a deceased relative, were intimately and divinely related. Sure he wanted to acquire the land, but by acquiring Ruth also, he showed that he was not only acting on behalf of himself, or Elimelech, but also on behalf of Mahlon, Ruth’s deceased husband.
Boaz clearly informs the other Family Redeemer of all the particulars of his concerns, and after he lays it all out to him regarding the land and property, the man tells Boaz that he wants to buy the land from Naomi. However, when he hears that marrying Ruth, and giving her a child, was also a part of the deal (Deut. 25:5-10), he changed his mind and decided to give up his right of “first choice”. He stated that he did not want to jeopardize his own existing inheritance and estate (Ruth 4:3-6).
In those days, it was customary for anyone who was transferring a right of purchase to remove his sandal and hand it over to the other party. This act served to publicly validate the transaction. And so the man took off his sandal and handed it to Boaz, and he says to him, “You buy the land”. All the witnesses who were standing about confirmed, and blessed, both the deal, and, Boaz’s upcoming marriage to Ruth (Vs. 7-12).
And so the way was now cleared for Boaz to fulfill his role as Naomi’s Family Redeemer. Boaz married Ruth and took her home to live with him, and when GOD allowed her to become pregnant, she gave birth to a son, whom they named, Obed. Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi, took care of Obed as if he were her own son.
When Obed grew up and married, he begat Jesse, who would become the father of David, who became the second and greatest king of Israel, in the direct bloodline of CHRIST JESUS, all because Boaz was first, willing to do the “honorable thing”.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
Larry D. Alexander's Storefront - Lulu.com
YouTube - Alexander Sunday School Lesson
Larry D. Alexander Weekly Sunday School Lesson
Friday, August 26, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 21, 2011
DEPENDING ON THE COMMUNITY OF GOD
(Helping the needy is the duty of every Christian)
(Ruth 2)
In Ruth chapter two, we are introduced to a man named Boaz, who is a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband, Elimelech. Boaz comes into the lives of Ruth and Naomi at a time when they had no one to care for them following the deaths of their husbands. Boaz was one of the most prominent, GODly men in the Israelite community at that time, and his relationship to Naomi’s deceased husband, qualified him as a “Kinsman Redeemer” under Old Testament family law (Leviticus 25:35-36).
This law requires, first, that a relative take care of another relative who has fallen on hard times financially, or otherwise, and can no longer support themselves. Also in this situation involving Boaz, Naomi, and Ruth, there is another duty of the Kinsman Redeemer that comes into play, and that is, the obligation of the redeemer to marry the childless widow of a relative for the purpose of producing an offspring to carry on the lineage of the dead spouse, and, to preserve their property (Ruth 4:1-6).
Old Testament Law also gave any persons who were poor, the right to gather any produce that was left in the fields or orchards of an owner, after they had completed their first picking of the harvest (Leviticus 19:9-10 & Deuteronomy 24:19-21). It was at the beginning of the barley harvest, and Ruth is no doubt, drawn by GOD, to the fields of Boaz after she had asked Naomi if she could go to the fields to glean leftovers from the harvesters. After Naomi consented, Ruth went out and, inadvertently, found herself working in the fields of Boaz, and while she is there, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and came out to greet the harvesters, as was his custom.
Upon noticing Ruth, he asked his foreman who she was. The foreman replied that she was a woman from Moab who had come back to Judah with his relative, Naomi. He told Boaz that she had asked if she could glean the leftovers from the harvest, and, that he had graciously allowed her to do so.
Boaz went over to Ruth and invited her to continue on working with them. He also told her that he had already warned the young men not to bother her. Ruth thanked him warmly and informed him of her foreign roots. He told Ruth that he was already aware that she was a foreigner from the land of Moab, however, he was more impressed with her loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and, by her choosing to come to live in a foreign land among complete strangers. He said to her, “May the LORD, the GOD of Israel, under WHOSE wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully”.
On that day Ruth was able to gather up about 40 pounds of grain, an unusually high amount for a gleaner. When she returned home to Naomi, Naomi knew that someone had purposely helped her young daughter-in-law to gather such a large amount. And when she discovered that that person was Boaz, she encouraged Ruth to continue working only in his fields. Here we see that Naomi has already begun to hope and plan for Ruth’s future in her new chosen community of Israel.
When we leave our old lives behind and come to dwell in the community of GOD, we can always count on a warm welcome and acceptance. In fact, JESUS has already accepted the obligation to “redeem” us, and to welcome us, despite the terribly high price that HE had to pay in advance, on the cross, and despite the terrible things that we may have already done in our past.
GOD is a Rewarder to anyone who earnestly seeks HIM through their acceptance of CHRIST JESUS, and, HE will never leave us to hunger or thirst when we do. HE will provide for all of our needs, especially when HE sees us showing unselfish love and kindness to those who are in need.
It was King David who wrote, “The steps of the GODly are directed by the LORD. HE delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand. Once I was young, and now I am old, yet I have never seen the GODly forsaken, nor seen their children begging for bread” (Psalm 37:23-25) (NLT).
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
Larry D. Alexander's Storefront - Lulu.com
YouTube - Alexander Sunday School Lesson
Larry D. Alexander Weekly Sunday School Lesson
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 21, 2011
DEPENDING ON THE COMMUNITY OF GOD
(Helping the needy is the duty of every Christian)
(Ruth 2)
In Ruth chapter two, we are introduced to a man named Boaz, who is a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband, Elimelech. Boaz comes into the lives of Ruth and Naomi at a time when they had no one to care for them following the deaths of their husbands. Boaz was one of the most prominent, GODly men in the Israelite community at that time, and his relationship to Naomi’s deceased husband, qualified him as a “Kinsman Redeemer” under Old Testament family law (Leviticus 25:35-36).
This law requires, first, that a relative take care of another relative who has fallen on hard times financially, or otherwise, and can no longer support themselves. Also in this situation involving Boaz, Naomi, and Ruth, there is another duty of the Kinsman Redeemer that comes into play, and that is, the obligation of the redeemer to marry the childless widow of a relative for the purpose of producing an offspring to carry on the lineage of the dead spouse, and, to preserve their property (Ruth 4:1-6).
Old Testament Law also gave any persons who were poor, the right to gather any produce that was left in the fields or orchards of an owner, after they had completed their first picking of the harvest (Leviticus 19:9-10 & Deuteronomy 24:19-21). It was at the beginning of the barley harvest, and Ruth is no doubt, drawn by GOD, to the fields of Boaz after she had asked Naomi if she could go to the fields to glean leftovers from the harvesters. After Naomi consented, Ruth went out and, inadvertently, found herself working in the fields of Boaz, and while she is there, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and came out to greet the harvesters, as was his custom.
Upon noticing Ruth, he asked his foreman who she was. The foreman replied that she was a woman from Moab who had come back to Judah with his relative, Naomi. He told Boaz that she had asked if she could glean the leftovers from the harvest, and, that he had graciously allowed her to do so.
Boaz went over to Ruth and invited her to continue on working with them. He also told her that he had already warned the young men not to bother her. Ruth thanked him warmly and informed him of her foreign roots. He told Ruth that he was already aware that she was a foreigner from the land of Moab, however, he was more impressed with her loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and, by her choosing to come to live in a foreign land among complete strangers. He said to her, “May the LORD, the GOD of Israel, under WHOSE wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully”.
On that day Ruth was able to gather up about 40 pounds of grain, an unusually high amount for a gleaner. When she returned home to Naomi, Naomi knew that someone had purposely helped her young daughter-in-law to gather such a large amount. And when she discovered that that person was Boaz, she encouraged Ruth to continue working only in his fields. Here we see that Naomi has already begun to hope and plan for Ruth’s future in her new chosen community of Israel.
When we leave our old lives behind and come to dwell in the community of GOD, we can always count on a warm welcome and acceptance. In fact, JESUS has already accepted the obligation to “redeem” us, and to welcome us, despite the terribly high price that HE had to pay in advance, on the cross, and despite the terrible things that we may have already done in our past.
GOD is a Rewarder to anyone who earnestly seeks HIM through their acceptance of CHRIST JESUS, and, HE will never leave us to hunger or thirst when we do. HE will provide for all of our needs, especially when HE sees us showing unselfish love and kindness to those who are in need.
It was King David who wrote, “The steps of the GODly are directed by the LORD. HE delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand. Once I was young, and now I am old, yet I have never seen the GODly forsaken, nor seen their children begging for bread” (Psalm 37:23-25) (NLT).
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
Larry D. Alexander's Storefront - Lulu.com
YouTube - Alexander Sunday School Lesson
Larry D. Alexander Weekly Sunday School Lesson
Friday, August 12, 2011
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 14, 2011
CHOOSING A COMMUNITY
(A relationship based on GOD lasts forever)
(Ruth 1)
The book of Ruth is a shining example of how GOD continues to move on the hearts of HIS people, even during their times of spiritual, moral, and economic struggle and decline. The events chronicled in the story of Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, take place during the period when Judges ruled over Israel. It was one of the darkest periods in Israel’s history and it sets itself against the backdrop of massive national irresponsibility, and declining moral and spiritual character.
The book of Ruth is one of only two books in the Christian bible that is named after a woman, the other is Esther. It is also one of only two books in scripture that are named after a Gentile, the other of course being the Gospel of Luke. Early, but un-substantiated rabbinic tradition identifies the prophet Samuel as the author of the book of Ruth, as well as Judges, and first and second Samuel, which bear his name.
Here in the book of Ruth, we find people (namely Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi) who seem to portray a welcoming contrast to the chaotic era of the Judges. They provide us with a refreshing relief from the immorality, bloodshed, famine, and mayhem that was running rampant in the land of Israel during the eleventh century B.C. This book serves to show us that even in times of crisis and despair, we can still continue to live by GOD’s principals and directives, and also that, GOD will reward us richly when we do.
“Faith”, “hope”, and “love” are the three great enduring things. They are “virtues” that will always overpower the “anti-virtues” which are “doubt”, “depression”, and “fear”. However, we can only access those virtues when we choose to incorporate GOD’s plan, instead of our own, into our lives.
Here in chapter one we find a man called Elimelech, who is struggling to survive in a time of great famine in Palestine, moving his family from Bethlehem to the country of Moab. His family consisted of his wife, Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Kilion. Unfortunately, while in Moab, Elimelech died leaving Naomi alone with her two sons. The two sons each grew up and married Moabite women. One’s son’s wife was named Orpah, and the other son’s wife was named, Ruth. Ten years later, however, both sons died leaving all three women alone with no children (Ruth 1:1-5).
One day Naomi received news that the famine in Palestine was over, and GOD had begun blessing the people of Judah with bountiful crops again. She decided it was time to return home, and so she struck out on the road back to Judah, taking her two daughters-in-law with her. Along the way, she decided that maybe it was not the best thing that Orpah and Ruth should leave their homeland and travel with her to Palestine. She felt that she had nothing to offer these two young women in the way of security through new marriages. She felt that she herself was too old to bear more sons for them to marry, and besides, it wouldn’t make sense for the two women to have to wait years for those sons to grow to marrying age (Ruth 1:6-13).
One of the women, Orpah, agreed with Naomi and decided to return home to Moab, while the other, Ruth, made the decision to stay with Naomi and commit to finding a new life, in a new community, in the land of Judah (v. 14). In verses 16-17, Ruth utters her, now famous statement of loyalty to Naomi, and to GOD, when she says, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go, and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your GOD will be my GOD. I will die where you die and will be buried there. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us” (NLT).
This renowned expression of commitment to Naomi, not only shows her loyalty to a friend, but it also exhibits clear theological insight. In Old Testament times, even most outsiders eventually came to know that GOD had a covenant relationship with Israel. And by Ruth identifying herself with GOD’s covenant people, she also qualified herself to claim Israel’s GOD as her own.
Apparently, Naomi had lived the kind of exemplary life around Ruth, that enabled her to draw Ruth out of the world, and into the blessed community of GOD, where JESUS exemplifies through HIS OWN vicarious sacrifice, that HE wants us all to be.
Ruth made a commitment to stay with Naomi, and, to care for her. She desired to have the kind of life that she had observed in Naomi’s family over the years. It didn’t seem to matter to her about the living conditions, or the challenge of following the laws of their GOD. She voluntarily gave up the worldly ways of her Moab tradition and upbringing, and instead, chose to follow the ways and traditions of the true and living GOD, WHO is our SAVIOR, through JESUS CHRIST. And as a result of her decision, she went on to become a prominent member in the direct lineage of CHRIST, through her future Jewish husband Boaz.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
Larry D. Alexander's Storefront - Lulu.com
YouTube - Alexander Sunday School Lesson
Larry D. Alexander Weekly Sunday School Lesson
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 14, 2011
CHOOSING A COMMUNITY
(A relationship based on GOD lasts forever)
(Ruth 1)
The book of Ruth is a shining example of how GOD continues to move on the hearts of HIS people, even during their times of spiritual, moral, and economic struggle and decline. The events chronicled in the story of Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, take place during the period when Judges ruled over Israel. It was one of the darkest periods in Israel’s history and it sets itself against the backdrop of massive national irresponsibility, and declining moral and spiritual character.
The book of Ruth is one of only two books in the Christian bible that is named after a woman, the other is Esther. It is also one of only two books in scripture that are named after a Gentile, the other of course being the Gospel of Luke. Early, but un-substantiated rabbinic tradition identifies the prophet Samuel as the author of the book of Ruth, as well as Judges, and first and second Samuel, which bear his name.
Here in the book of Ruth, we find people (namely Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi) who seem to portray a welcoming contrast to the chaotic era of the Judges. They provide us with a refreshing relief from the immorality, bloodshed, famine, and mayhem that was running rampant in the land of Israel during the eleventh century B.C. This book serves to show us that even in times of crisis and despair, we can still continue to live by GOD’s principals and directives, and also that, GOD will reward us richly when we do.
“Faith”, “hope”, and “love” are the three great enduring things. They are “virtues” that will always overpower the “anti-virtues” which are “doubt”, “depression”, and “fear”. However, we can only access those virtues when we choose to incorporate GOD’s plan, instead of our own, into our lives.
Here in chapter one we find a man called Elimelech, who is struggling to survive in a time of great famine in Palestine, moving his family from Bethlehem to the country of Moab. His family consisted of his wife, Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Kilion. Unfortunately, while in Moab, Elimelech died leaving Naomi alone with her two sons. The two sons each grew up and married Moabite women. One’s son’s wife was named Orpah, and the other son’s wife was named, Ruth. Ten years later, however, both sons died leaving all three women alone with no children (Ruth 1:1-5).
One day Naomi received news that the famine in Palestine was over, and GOD had begun blessing the people of Judah with bountiful crops again. She decided it was time to return home, and so she struck out on the road back to Judah, taking her two daughters-in-law with her. Along the way, she decided that maybe it was not the best thing that Orpah and Ruth should leave their homeland and travel with her to Palestine. She felt that she had nothing to offer these two young women in the way of security through new marriages. She felt that she herself was too old to bear more sons for them to marry, and besides, it wouldn’t make sense for the two women to have to wait years for those sons to grow to marrying age (Ruth 1:6-13).
One of the women, Orpah, agreed with Naomi and decided to return home to Moab, while the other, Ruth, made the decision to stay with Naomi and commit to finding a new life, in a new community, in the land of Judah (v. 14). In verses 16-17, Ruth utters her, now famous statement of loyalty to Naomi, and to GOD, when she says, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go, and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your GOD will be my GOD. I will die where you die and will be buried there. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us” (NLT).
This renowned expression of commitment to Naomi, not only shows her loyalty to a friend, but it also exhibits clear theological insight. In Old Testament times, even most outsiders eventually came to know that GOD had a covenant relationship with Israel. And by Ruth identifying herself with GOD’s covenant people, she also qualified herself to claim Israel’s GOD as her own.
Apparently, Naomi had lived the kind of exemplary life around Ruth, that enabled her to draw Ruth out of the world, and into the blessed community of GOD, where JESUS exemplifies through HIS OWN vicarious sacrifice, that HE wants us all to be.
Ruth made a commitment to stay with Naomi, and, to care for her. She desired to have the kind of life that she had observed in Naomi’s family over the years. It didn’t seem to matter to her about the living conditions, or the challenge of following the laws of their GOD. She voluntarily gave up the worldly ways of her Moab tradition and upbringing, and instead, chose to follow the ways and traditions of the true and living GOD, WHO is our SAVIOR, through JESUS CHRIST. And as a result of her decision, she went on to become a prominent member in the direct lineage of CHRIST, through her future Jewish husband Boaz.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
Larry D. Alexander's Storefront - Lulu.com
YouTube - Alexander Sunday School Lesson
Larry D. Alexander Weekly Sunday School Lesson
Friday, August 5, 2011
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 7, 2011
OUR CHILDREN HAVE POTENTIAL AND PROMISE
(We must help our children reach their full GODly potential)
(Judges 13-16)
In biblical times, the Jews had a saying that, with the birth of every child there are three parents, the father, the mother, and the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD. They believed that no child could be born without the approval of the SPIRIT. I believe that too. And it may well be that Old and New Testament stories of childbirth, are little more than just lovely and poetic ways of saying, that, whether our father is human or not, the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD is operative in child birth, in a very special way. And, as for men, while it may not make life easier, it has always been what makes men great. The paradox for women is that, it confers upon her, at one and the same time, perhaps, her greatest emotional joy, and hopefully the greatest physical pain, that she will ever have to endure.
The forty-years of oppression that was suffered by the Israelites at the hands of the Philistines, that are chronicled here in chapters 13-16 of the book of Judges, is the longest such stint of suffering that is recorded in the whole 340-year period, which this historic book covers. In these verses, the author of GOD relates to us, the colorful life of Samson, who judged over Israel for 20 years.
Samson, whose name itself means “distinguished”, was a man whose great physical strength, and equally great, moral weaknesses, made him both famous, and infamous, throughout the land of Canaan, in his day. In fact, even today, the story of his life, and his divinely and un-divinely inspired exploits, serve to make his tenure as the last judge of Israel, a legendary one. And, even though his parents, Manoah and his unnamed wife, exhibit evidence of their great faith in GOD, Samson, on the other hand, seems quite clearly to be a product of his era, or, a “man of the world”, probably, most of his life.
The LORD had instructed Samson’s parents through the Angel of GOD, even before his birth, that he should be raised as a “Nazirite”. This meant that Samson would be dedicated to GOD from birth, and would serve as an example to Israel, personifying a commitment to GOD forever, by abstaining from all the unnecessary things of the world (Judges 13: 3-5). He is one of only three men in scripture who were born under a “lifetime nazirite vow”. The other two are Samuel, and John the Baptist.
Samson, however, fell far short of living up to his parent’s nazirite vow to GOD, and most likely, so did they (Judges 14:1-11). Samson’s passion for pagan women led, first, to his physical blindness and enslavement (Judges 16:21), and then ultimately, to his untimely demise during a festive celebration of his own capture by the Philistines (Judges 16:23-30). In the dramatic conclusion of his colorful life he prayed to GOD for the strength to push down the pillars that held up the pagan idol temple of Dagon. GOD granted his request, and as a result, Samson was able to kill more Philistines in one day, than he had slain in his entire life combined, including the time he slew 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey (Judges 15:14-17).
Samson fell victim to the world because he desired greatly to have what he saw in the world, and out of his weakness, he was made strong by the power of GOD. He was a person with great potential, who fell short, because of his sin and disobedience to GOD. His life represents a clear warning against the dangers of self-indulgence, and lack of discipline, which both, most likely stemmed from poor parenting. Verses 1-3 and 10-11 of chapter 13 suggests that Samson was accustomed to having his way with his parents, even when they knew he was wrong.
Fortunately for him, Samson was able to come to his senses in end, but it is always better late, than never. His captivity, and, GOD’s taking away of his strength, caused him to reflect on his dependence on the LORD to survive, and in the end, GOD used his weakened state to lure the Philistines into a state of complacency, and thus, set the stage for their own demise.
GOD blesses each of us with gifts, talent, and potential, that may be uniquely our own. And when we are motivated first by our parents to begin to seek GOD, and, to establish a personal, experiential relationship with HIM, GOD begins to show us what our unique gifts and talents are, and, just how HE wishes us to use them in HIS service. If we, as parents “don’t”, “won’t”, or “can’t”, lead our children by exhibiting GODly principles to them early in life, then satan, surely stands ready to show them how to use those same gifts and talents, in ways that are un-pleasing to GOD, or, anti-CHRIST.
Samson, had not, himself, asked for the gift of great strength, but rather, it was granted to him by GOD, from birth. The “Nazirite Vow” was not his own, but rather, had been laid upon him by GOD, through his parents. Nevertheless, it is just that way with any of us, who have been born into this world. No person has ever asked to be born. However, hopefully we will eventually come to realize the full purpose for which we came into this world, and that is, to serve GOD.
Perhaps William Barclay said it best when he wrote, “The great paradox of Christianity is that, the only way to victory is through surrender, and the only way to power is by admitting one’s own weakness”. GOD has something in mind with the birth of every child, from the moment they are conceived in the womb. And just like in the case of Samson, all people have a special calling and mission that requires help and strength from GOD. However, GOD chose to use parents, or parent figures, in the life of every child, in order to help that child to achieve his or her full potential for HIM. And so, we as parents fail GOD, when we first, fail to lead our children in ways that are pleasing to GOD, and we have all been guilty of that, at one time, or another. Amen.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
Larry D. Alexander's Storefront - Lulu.com
YouTube - Alexander Sunday School Lesson
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 7, 2011
OUR CHILDREN HAVE POTENTIAL AND PROMISE
(We must help our children reach their full GODly potential)
(Judges 13-16)
In biblical times, the Jews had a saying that, with the birth of every child there are three parents, the father, the mother, and the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD. They believed that no child could be born without the approval of the SPIRIT. I believe that too. And it may well be that Old and New Testament stories of childbirth, are little more than just lovely and poetic ways of saying, that, whether our father is human or not, the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD is operative in child birth, in a very special way. And, as for men, while it may not make life easier, it has always been what makes men great. The paradox for women is that, it confers upon her, at one and the same time, perhaps, her greatest emotional joy, and hopefully the greatest physical pain, that she will ever have to endure.
The forty-years of oppression that was suffered by the Israelites at the hands of the Philistines, that are chronicled here in chapters 13-16 of the book of Judges, is the longest such stint of suffering that is recorded in the whole 340-year period, which this historic book covers. In these verses, the author of GOD relates to us, the colorful life of Samson, who judged over Israel for 20 years.
Samson, whose name itself means “distinguished”, was a man whose great physical strength, and equally great, moral weaknesses, made him both famous, and infamous, throughout the land of Canaan, in his day. In fact, even today, the story of his life, and his divinely and un-divinely inspired exploits, serve to make his tenure as the last judge of Israel, a legendary one. And, even though his parents, Manoah and his unnamed wife, exhibit evidence of their great faith in GOD, Samson, on the other hand, seems quite clearly to be a product of his era, or, a “man of the world”, probably, most of his life.
The LORD had instructed Samson’s parents through the Angel of GOD, even before his birth, that he should be raised as a “Nazirite”. This meant that Samson would be dedicated to GOD from birth, and would serve as an example to Israel, personifying a commitment to GOD forever, by abstaining from all the unnecessary things of the world (Judges 13: 3-5). He is one of only three men in scripture who were born under a “lifetime nazirite vow”. The other two are Samuel, and John the Baptist.
Samson, however, fell far short of living up to his parent’s nazirite vow to GOD, and most likely, so did they (Judges 14:1-11). Samson’s passion for pagan women led, first, to his physical blindness and enslavement (Judges 16:21), and then ultimately, to his untimely demise during a festive celebration of his own capture by the Philistines (Judges 16:23-30). In the dramatic conclusion of his colorful life he prayed to GOD for the strength to push down the pillars that held up the pagan idol temple of Dagon. GOD granted his request, and as a result, Samson was able to kill more Philistines in one day, than he had slain in his entire life combined, including the time he slew 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey (Judges 15:14-17).
Samson fell victim to the world because he desired greatly to have what he saw in the world, and out of his weakness, he was made strong by the power of GOD. He was a person with great potential, who fell short, because of his sin and disobedience to GOD. His life represents a clear warning against the dangers of self-indulgence, and lack of discipline, which both, most likely stemmed from poor parenting. Verses 1-3 and 10-11 of chapter 13 suggests that Samson was accustomed to having his way with his parents, even when they knew he was wrong.
Fortunately for him, Samson was able to come to his senses in end, but it is always better late, than never. His captivity, and, GOD’s taking away of his strength, caused him to reflect on his dependence on the LORD to survive, and in the end, GOD used his weakened state to lure the Philistines into a state of complacency, and thus, set the stage for their own demise.
GOD blesses each of us with gifts, talent, and potential, that may be uniquely our own. And when we are motivated first by our parents to begin to seek GOD, and, to establish a personal, experiential relationship with HIM, GOD begins to show us what our unique gifts and talents are, and, just how HE wishes us to use them in HIS service. If we, as parents “don’t”, “won’t”, or “can’t”, lead our children by exhibiting GODly principles to them early in life, then satan, surely stands ready to show them how to use those same gifts and talents, in ways that are un-pleasing to GOD, or, anti-CHRIST.
Samson, had not, himself, asked for the gift of great strength, but rather, it was granted to him by GOD, from birth. The “Nazirite Vow” was not his own, but rather, had been laid upon him by GOD, through his parents. Nevertheless, it is just that way with any of us, who have been born into this world. No person has ever asked to be born. However, hopefully we will eventually come to realize the full purpose for which we came into this world, and that is, to serve GOD.
Perhaps William Barclay said it best when he wrote, “The great paradox of Christianity is that, the only way to victory is through surrender, and the only way to power is by admitting one’s own weakness”. GOD has something in mind with the birth of every child, from the moment they are conceived in the womb. And just like in the case of Samson, all people have a special calling and mission that requires help and strength from GOD. However, GOD chose to use parents, or parent figures, in the life of every child, in order to help that child to achieve his or her full potential for HIM. And so, we as parents fail GOD, when we first, fail to lead our children in ways that are pleasing to GOD, and we have all been guilty of that, at one time, or another. Amen.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Friday, July 29, 2011
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday July 31, 2011
RETURN TO OBEDIENCE
(GOD forgives and delivers repentant sinners)
(Judges 10)
In the biblical Greek, the word used for “world” is “kosmos”. It is from that word that we derive our English word “cosmos”. In the spiritual sense, it is “That complex intertwining of sinful desires that shape our world of lost humanity”.
When we choose “the Christian Walk”, we automatically should become strangers to worldly behavior. We are then no longer permanent residents of this earth, but rather, we become citizens of Heaven, and therefore, the Laws of GOD should become paramount to us. It is not until a person falls in love with “goodness” that “wrong things” no longer fascinate, or have power over them. An experiential relationship with GOD is a Christian’s greatest asset. And so, the person that loses his or her heart to the things of this world becomes the person most vulnerable to satan.
The end of all things is near, for each of us, personally. For, that is the warning in the messages that the ancient prophets, and, New Testament writers and thinkers all leave us with. And those warnings remain as valid today as they ever were. The fact that, when we become Christians we cast everything over to GOD, does not give us a right to sit back and do nothing. We still must reflect GOD’s image to others through our behavior at all times. In other words, we are to teach the world to be GOD-like, through the way we behave, and not let the world influence us to return back to our former ways.
In Judges, chapter 10, after the deaths of Tola and Jair, who judged over Israel for a total of forty-five years (23 and 22 respectively), the Israelites once again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD by worshipping the gods of the nations who lived around them. Not only did they place the images of the Baals and the Ashtoreths at the top of their worship list, they also stopped worshipping their GOD, WHO is the Creator of Heaven and earth, completely.
As, the book of Judges records, the people of Israel struggled very badly at being faithful to GOD, and they failed over and over again, to extricate themselves from their desires to be like the people of the world around them. To this point, GOD had already given Israel victory over seven of the surrounding nations that had oppressed them, yet, they continued to seek after, and serve, the gods of some of those same nations.
Here in Judges, chapter 10, when the Israelites cry out to GOD for help, they exhibit a totally different attitude than on any of the other previous occasions in this book. This time, they seem to finally realize that the root cause of their problems is their own sin against the Almighty GOD, WHO had been their faithful SAVIOR over the years.
This time, they confess their sins to GOD, which is a mighty important first step if a sinner is truly interested in earnest repent, and really expects to gain the ear and mercy of GOD. In fact, here they are taking all the right steps, as they turn from their worship of the false gods around them, and re-establish their loyalty to the Only Wise GOD, the CREATOR and SAVIOR of all mankind.
Because GOD understands the nature of mankind, HE has always instructed us through HIS Word, to “remember” (i.e., “This do in remembrance of ME”). GOD knows how quickly the human mind forgets. HE knows how we become so pre-occupied with our own “worldly affairs”, that, eventually, we always fail to recall how HE has brought us through the self-imposed miseries and circumstances, that, we always find ourselves in, whenever we choose to go our own way.
Over time, Israel went from loathing their enemies to sleeping with their enemies. They lived comfortably among them, and ultimately, became just like them. They failed to fulfill their roles as GOD’s chosen people, and, as they lost sight of the LORD, and began to focus on the people and things of the world around them, they, inevitably, embraced their sinful ways, and in fact, made sin a habit.
“True repentance” is a thing of the heart, not just words, or even actions. The heart is where repent begins, and ends. It is having a compunction that motivates us to “change our minds” before we sin, not after. The fact that “we feel bad afterwards”, does not excuse the fact that “we did it anyway”. The truth is that, we didn’t change our mind, but rather, we chose to serve ourselves rather than GOD, by doing what we wanted, and ignoring what GOD wanted us to do.
Only when we make a conscience decision to love the LORD with all of our heart, soul, and mind, will we ever be able to fall in love with goodness, and cause even our sinful thoughts, to begin to break our hearts. Then, and only then, will be able we make a serious, earnest effort to “return to obedience to GOD”, and allow HIM, to take control of the throne of our lives.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
Larry D. Alexander's Storefront - Lulu.com
YouTube - Alexander Sunday School Lesson
Larry D. Alexander Weekly Sunday School Lesson
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday July 31, 2011
RETURN TO OBEDIENCE
(GOD forgives and delivers repentant sinners)
(Judges 10)
In the biblical Greek, the word used for “world” is “kosmos”. It is from that word that we derive our English word “cosmos”. In the spiritual sense, it is “That complex intertwining of sinful desires that shape our world of lost humanity”.
When we choose “the Christian Walk”, we automatically should become strangers to worldly behavior. We are then no longer permanent residents of this earth, but rather, we become citizens of Heaven, and therefore, the Laws of GOD should become paramount to us. It is not until a person falls in love with “goodness” that “wrong things” no longer fascinate, or have power over them. An experiential relationship with GOD is a Christian’s greatest asset. And so, the person that loses his or her heart to the things of this world becomes the person most vulnerable to satan.
The end of all things is near, for each of us, personally. For, that is the warning in the messages that the ancient prophets, and, New Testament writers and thinkers all leave us with. And those warnings remain as valid today as they ever were. The fact that, when we become Christians we cast everything over to GOD, does not give us a right to sit back and do nothing. We still must reflect GOD’s image to others through our behavior at all times. In other words, we are to teach the world to be GOD-like, through the way we behave, and not let the world influence us to return back to our former ways.
In Judges, chapter 10, after the deaths of Tola and Jair, who judged over Israel for a total of forty-five years (23 and 22 respectively), the Israelites once again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD by worshipping the gods of the nations who lived around them. Not only did they place the images of the Baals and the Ashtoreths at the top of their worship list, they also stopped worshipping their GOD, WHO is the Creator of Heaven and earth, completely.
As, the book of Judges records, the people of Israel struggled very badly at being faithful to GOD, and they failed over and over again, to extricate themselves from their desires to be like the people of the world around them. To this point, GOD had already given Israel victory over seven of the surrounding nations that had oppressed them, yet, they continued to seek after, and serve, the gods of some of those same nations.
Here in Judges, chapter 10, when the Israelites cry out to GOD for help, they exhibit a totally different attitude than on any of the other previous occasions in this book. This time, they seem to finally realize that the root cause of their problems is their own sin against the Almighty GOD, WHO had been their faithful SAVIOR over the years.
This time, they confess their sins to GOD, which is a mighty important first step if a sinner is truly interested in earnest repent, and really expects to gain the ear and mercy of GOD. In fact, here they are taking all the right steps, as they turn from their worship of the false gods around them, and re-establish their loyalty to the Only Wise GOD, the CREATOR and SAVIOR of all mankind.
Because GOD understands the nature of mankind, HE has always instructed us through HIS Word, to “remember” (i.e., “This do in remembrance of ME”). GOD knows how quickly the human mind forgets. HE knows how we become so pre-occupied with our own “worldly affairs”, that, eventually, we always fail to recall how HE has brought us through the self-imposed miseries and circumstances, that, we always find ourselves in, whenever we choose to go our own way.
Over time, Israel went from loathing their enemies to sleeping with their enemies. They lived comfortably among them, and ultimately, became just like them. They failed to fulfill their roles as GOD’s chosen people, and, as they lost sight of the LORD, and began to focus on the people and things of the world around them, they, inevitably, embraced their sinful ways, and in fact, made sin a habit.
“True repentance” is a thing of the heart, not just words, or even actions. The heart is where repent begins, and ends. It is having a compunction that motivates us to “change our minds” before we sin, not after. The fact that “we feel bad afterwards”, does not excuse the fact that “we did it anyway”. The truth is that, we didn’t change our mind, but rather, we chose to serve ourselves rather than GOD, by doing what we wanted, and ignoring what GOD wanted us to do.
Only when we make a conscience decision to love the LORD with all of our heart, soul, and mind, will we ever be able to fall in love with goodness, and cause even our sinful thoughts, to begin to break our hearts. Then, and only then, will be able we make a serious, earnest effort to “return to obedience to GOD”, and allow HIM, to take control of the throne of our lives.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
Larry D. Alexander's Storefront - Lulu.com
YouTube - Alexander Sunday School Lesson
Larry D. Alexander Weekly Sunday School Lesson
Friday, July 22, 2011
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday July 24, 2011
TRUST GOD AND LET HIM RULE
(Only the LORD is qualified to rule over you)
(Judges 6-8)
In Judges 6:13, as it was recorded in the original Hebrew text, the word the author uses for “forsaken” is “nastash” (naw-tash), and it means “to withdraw from, reject, or, leave alone. This is the only time in Scripture that this particular word is used for “forsaken”, and it describes exactly how Gideon felt about the plight of Israel, around the time when he was first approached by the “Angel of GOD”. It was a time when the LORD had removed HIS favor from the Israelites because of their recurring sinful lifestyle and idolatry.
Gideon had been working hard threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress, which he used to hide his grain from being detected by the pilfering Midianite army. Gideon also feared that the Midianites would kill him, just as they had slain his brothers (Judges 8:19), if he had been caught with the grain. One day, when he came up from the winepress, “the Angel of the LORD” appeared to him and told him that “the LORD is with him”. However, Gideon replies to the Angel that, “If GOD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about?”…the LORD has abandoned us and turned us over to the Midianites”. Then the LORD said to Gideon, “Go with the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites”. It was a statement that Gideon found very difficult to grasp at that time.
In Judges, chapters 6-8, the author of GOD uses 100 verses to relate the story of Gideon’s HOLY SPIRIT-possessed exploits, and his 40-year reign as judge over Israel. Chapter 6 opens with Israel’s, now familiar, continuing 5-cycle pattern which consisted of “sin”, “servitude”, “supplication”, “salvation”, and “silence”. First, they would “Sin” against GOD. And then, as punishment, GOD would place them into “Servitude” to the various enemy nations that lived around them. This stage would later be followed by a stage of repentance with “Supplication” to GOD for forgiveness. GOD would then, through HIS ever-present grace and mercy, bless the Israelites, with a taste of “Salvation”, in the form a mighty Judge, who would rescue them from their oppression. And then finally, they would be able to experience “Silence”, or peace, throughout the lifetime of that presiding Judge. It is a pattern that would continue to repeat itself, throughout the 340 years of Israel’s history that is chronicled in the Book of Judges (1390 B.C. to 1050 B.C.).
In verse (1a), we see that, once again, the Israelites had fallen into sin. In verses (1b-6a), GOD, as a result, allows them to keep right on falling, right into the hands of their enemies, the Midianites. The Midianites were a nomadic group of people from south of the land of Edom, and GOD would allow these pagan invaders to oppress the Israelites for seven years, as a form of retribution for their disobedience to HIM.
The Midianite’s power and strength was credited to their unique incorporation of the “Camel” into their military strategy. In fact, this documentation, here in the book of Judges, of the use of Camels in warfare, is the earliest known documented case of such, in world history. A Camel could carry 400 pounds, plus a rider, for one week without drinking, and, could travel up to 100 miles per day. This made their military, a very formidable and superior force.
The author of Judges tells us that the Midianites would attack the Israelites at harvest time every year, destroying their crops and eventually driving them to the brink of starvation. In verse (6b), we see the Israelites repent and cry out to GOD for help, and GOD, as HE always does, answers their call, first, by sending in a Prophet, and then, by calling up Gideon, whom HE would use, in this case, to rescue HIS fallen people from their sorrows.
The angel, who appears as a “theophany” (a manifestation of GOD’s own presence), tells Gideon to “go with the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you”. Gideon replies, “But LORD, how can I rescue Israel? My tribe is the weakest of all the tribes of Manasseh, and I am the youngest of my family. The LORD said to him “I AM with you. You will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man”.
We may sometimes feel as weak as Gideon obviously felt, but if the LORD is with us, we always have strength enough to conquer our problems, and we don’t have to put our faith in “the protection of man”, we only need to put our faith in “the protection and security of GOD”.
And so, when Gideon and his army of 32,000 men got up early one morning and went down to the Spring of Harod, just south of where the Midianites were camping in the valley near the hill of Moreh, GOD tells Gideon he has too many men in his army, and eventually, HE narrows Gideon’s army down to 300 warriors. HE tells Gideon that, with these 300 men, “I”, not “you guys”, will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Sometimes, we may not be successful in life, because we have too many unnecessary people in our lives dragging us down and holding up our blessings that GOD wants to give us.
This lesson serves to show us that, when GOD is with us, there should be no such thing, as “us” being outnumbered, overwhelmed, or depressed. When we have access to GOD’s mighty power, we don’t have to hesitate to rise to any of the challenges that this life may send our way. With GOD’s help, Gideon went on to defeat the mighty Midianites, and he judged over Israel, and kept them faithful to GOD, for 40 years.
The presence of GOD’s SPIRIT, and HIS possession of Gideon, was the key to the victory that followed. We as Christians have the same powerful advantage today, with the same powerful wonderful GOD, working in, and through us, enabling us to overcome our own ever-present weaknesses. We too can succeed in GOD’s strength when we have faith enough to call on GOD, and let HIM rule. HE can apply HIS great power to help us to overcome our seemingly overwhelming circumstances, and HE wants to be our “first choice”, not our “last resort”.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
Larry D. Alexander's Storefront - Lulu.com
YouTube - Alexander Sunday School Lesson
Larry D. Alexander Weekly Sunday School Lesson
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday July 24, 2011
TRUST GOD AND LET HIM RULE
(Only the LORD is qualified to rule over you)
(Judges 6-8)
In Judges 6:13, as it was recorded in the original Hebrew text, the word the author uses for “forsaken” is “nastash” (naw-tash), and it means “to withdraw from, reject, or, leave alone. This is the only time in Scripture that this particular word is used for “forsaken”, and it describes exactly how Gideon felt about the plight of Israel, around the time when he was first approached by the “Angel of GOD”. It was a time when the LORD had removed HIS favor from the Israelites because of their recurring sinful lifestyle and idolatry.
Gideon had been working hard threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress, which he used to hide his grain from being detected by the pilfering Midianite army. Gideon also feared that the Midianites would kill him, just as they had slain his brothers (Judges 8:19), if he had been caught with the grain. One day, when he came up from the winepress, “the Angel of the LORD” appeared to him and told him that “the LORD is with him”. However, Gideon replies to the Angel that, “If GOD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about?”…the LORD has abandoned us and turned us over to the Midianites”. Then the LORD said to Gideon, “Go with the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites”. It was a statement that Gideon found very difficult to grasp at that time.
In Judges, chapters 6-8, the author of GOD uses 100 verses to relate the story of Gideon’s HOLY SPIRIT-possessed exploits, and his 40-year reign as judge over Israel. Chapter 6 opens with Israel’s, now familiar, continuing 5-cycle pattern which consisted of “sin”, “servitude”, “supplication”, “salvation”, and “silence”. First, they would “Sin” against GOD. And then, as punishment, GOD would place them into “Servitude” to the various enemy nations that lived around them. This stage would later be followed by a stage of repentance with “Supplication” to GOD for forgiveness. GOD would then, through HIS ever-present grace and mercy, bless the Israelites, with a taste of “Salvation”, in the form a mighty Judge, who would rescue them from their oppression. And then finally, they would be able to experience “Silence”, or peace, throughout the lifetime of that presiding Judge. It is a pattern that would continue to repeat itself, throughout the 340 years of Israel’s history that is chronicled in the Book of Judges (1390 B.C. to 1050 B.C.).
In verse (1a), we see that, once again, the Israelites had fallen into sin. In verses (1b-6a), GOD, as a result, allows them to keep right on falling, right into the hands of their enemies, the Midianites. The Midianites were a nomadic group of people from south of the land of Edom, and GOD would allow these pagan invaders to oppress the Israelites for seven years, as a form of retribution for their disobedience to HIM.
The Midianite’s power and strength was credited to their unique incorporation of the “Camel” into their military strategy. In fact, this documentation, here in the book of Judges, of the use of Camels in warfare, is the earliest known documented case of such, in world history. A Camel could carry 400 pounds, plus a rider, for one week without drinking, and, could travel up to 100 miles per day. This made their military, a very formidable and superior force.
The author of Judges tells us that the Midianites would attack the Israelites at harvest time every year, destroying their crops and eventually driving them to the brink of starvation. In verse (6b), we see the Israelites repent and cry out to GOD for help, and GOD, as HE always does, answers their call, first, by sending in a Prophet, and then, by calling up Gideon, whom HE would use, in this case, to rescue HIS fallen people from their sorrows.
The angel, who appears as a “theophany” (a manifestation of GOD’s own presence), tells Gideon to “go with the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you”. Gideon replies, “But LORD, how can I rescue Israel? My tribe is the weakest of all the tribes of Manasseh, and I am the youngest of my family. The LORD said to him “I AM with you. You will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man”.
We may sometimes feel as weak as Gideon obviously felt, but if the LORD is with us, we always have strength enough to conquer our problems, and we don’t have to put our faith in “the protection of man”, we only need to put our faith in “the protection and security of GOD”.
And so, when Gideon and his army of 32,000 men got up early one morning and went down to the Spring of Harod, just south of where the Midianites were camping in the valley near the hill of Moreh, GOD tells Gideon he has too many men in his army, and eventually, HE narrows Gideon’s army down to 300 warriors. HE tells Gideon that, with these 300 men, “I”, not “you guys”, will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Sometimes, we may not be successful in life, because we have too many unnecessary people in our lives dragging us down and holding up our blessings that GOD wants to give us.
This lesson serves to show us that, when GOD is with us, there should be no such thing, as “us” being outnumbered, overwhelmed, or depressed. When we have access to GOD’s mighty power, we don’t have to hesitate to rise to any of the challenges that this life may send our way. With GOD’s help, Gideon went on to defeat the mighty Midianites, and he judged over Israel, and kept them faithful to GOD, for 40 years.
The presence of GOD’s SPIRIT, and HIS possession of Gideon, was the key to the victory that followed. We as Christians have the same powerful advantage today, with the same powerful wonderful GOD, working in, and through us, enabling us to overcome our own ever-present weaknesses. We too can succeed in GOD’s strength when we have faith enough to call on GOD, and let HIM rule. HE can apply HIS great power to help us to overcome our seemingly overwhelming circumstances, and HE wants to be our “first choice”, not our “last resort”.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
Larry D. Alexander's Storefront - Lulu.com
YouTube - Alexander Sunday School Lesson
Larry D. Alexander Weekly Sunday School Lesson
Friday, July 15, 2011
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday July 17, 2011
IN GOD’S STRENGTH
(GOD uses unlikely, ordinary people to do HIS work)
(Judges 3)
After the death of Joshua, GOD allowed certain Israelite enemy nations to continue to exist. In addition to the Canaanites, the LORD left alive and prospering, the nations of the five Philistine rulers (Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza), the Sidonians (the Phoenicians), and the Hivites (the Horites of Mittanni), who lived in the hill country of Lebanon. HE would later use those “unlikely” nations to do HIS bidding, and to test those of HIS “chosen people”, who had not yet participated in the wars to conquer the “Promised Land”.
GOD wanted to ensure that the next generation of Israelites would be able to keep HIS commands to drive out the Canaanites, and, HE wanted them to be just as experienced and battle-ready, as the generation that preceded them. HE also wanted them to be militarily able and ready to hold and keep the territories that had been gained through the blood and sweat of their predecessors. But, above all, HE wanted them to continue to be faithful and obedient to HIS word (Judges 3:1-4).
Sadly however, the Israelites failed GOD’s test miserably, as they, instead, began to live and intermingle with the sinful Canaanites and the other nations around them, marrying, and giving in marriage to their sons and daughters, and also, worshipping their gods, namely, the Baals and the Asherahs.
Angered by the Israelites behavior, the LORD handed them over to the evil king, Cushan-rishathaim (koo-shan-rish-ah-THAY-im), the king of Aram (Mesopotamia), who’s very name means “double wickedness”. They remained in servitude to him for eight years before they repented and the LORD sent HIS judge, Othniel, one of only four judges in scripture, of whom it is said that, “The SPIRIT of the LORD was upon”, and he rescued them from their oppression. Afterwards, there was peace in the land of the Israelites for forty years (Judges 3:5-11).
In Judges 3:12-30, after the death of Othniel, the Israelites returned to doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and this time, HE gave them over to the control of King Eglon, the obese dictator who ruled over Moab. Eglon joined forces with the Ammonites and the Amalekites and they attacked Israel and took control of Jericho. After that, the Israelites would remain in servitude to Eglon, for another eighteen years.
After hearing the Israelites familiar cry for help, the LORD once again sends them salvation in the person of a judge, this time, a man named Ehud, an “unlikely hero” who was a southpaw (lefthander), from the tribe of Benjamin. His being “left-handed” would later provide an opportunity for him to “single-handedly” pull off a highly unlikely and daring deed inside the very palace of King Eglon.
We pick up the story in verse 15, as the Israelites send young Ehud and a small entourage of men to deliver Israel’s tax money to Moab, which Eglon had imposed upon them when he took over ruler-ship of the Israel. Ehud made for himself, a double-edged dagger eighteen inches in length. He then strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing. After delivering the money, and while heading back to Jericho, Ehud stopped near Gilgal, and sent the rest of the men on home. He then turned around and went back to see King Eglon under the pretense that he had a secret message for him. When Ehud arrived back at the palace and informed Eglon as to why he returned so soon. The king then sent all of his servants away, not wanting any of them to hear what the secret was. Ehud then approached the king and told him that his message was from the LORD. When the king stood up Ehud drew his dagger and plunged it so deep into the king’s belly that the whole handle was concealed by fat of his body. Ehud then locked all the doors, climbed down the latrine, and escaped through the sewer access. It was quite a long while before King Eglon’s servants discovered that the king was dead.
Meanwhile Ehud ran all the way back to the hill country of Ephraim and sounded a call to arms. He then led a band of men back to the shallow part of the Jordan River across from Moab. There they killed over 10,000 Moabite soldiers as they tried to cross the river and they conquered Moab that day, and were able to abide in peace all the days of Ehud’s life, which was about eighty more years, because they were faithful and obedient to the LORD all the while.
There have been many people, who were thought of by man, to be awkward, incapable, or even inadequate to do GOD’s work. But for those of us who study the history of GOD’s word, we know that that is exactly the kind of people whom GOD most often uses, because it is “in GOD,s strength” that one who is called by GOD, will have to work anyway. Being left-handed in the days of the judges was considered to be a handicap, and Ehud certainly wouldn’t have been the one most men would have chosen to perform the lofty and courageous mission that he did. And although we as a people may often see the work of ordinary people as unimportant, GOD does not, and, JESUS doesn’t either. In fact, JESUS showed us throughout HIS three-year earthly mission, how GOD always seems to want the man, woman, or child, that, nobody else seems to want.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
Larry D. Alexander's Storefront - Lulu.com
YouTube - Alexander Sunday School Lesson
Larry D. Alexander Weekly Sunday School Lesson
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday July 17, 2011
IN GOD’S STRENGTH
(GOD uses unlikely, ordinary people to do HIS work)
(Judges 3)
After the death of Joshua, GOD allowed certain Israelite enemy nations to continue to exist. In addition to the Canaanites, the LORD left alive and prospering, the nations of the five Philistine rulers (Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza), the Sidonians (the Phoenicians), and the Hivites (the Horites of Mittanni), who lived in the hill country of Lebanon. HE would later use those “unlikely” nations to do HIS bidding, and to test those of HIS “chosen people”, who had not yet participated in the wars to conquer the “Promised Land”.
GOD wanted to ensure that the next generation of Israelites would be able to keep HIS commands to drive out the Canaanites, and, HE wanted them to be just as experienced and battle-ready, as the generation that preceded them. HE also wanted them to be militarily able and ready to hold and keep the territories that had been gained through the blood and sweat of their predecessors. But, above all, HE wanted them to continue to be faithful and obedient to HIS word (Judges 3:1-4).
Sadly however, the Israelites failed GOD’s test miserably, as they, instead, began to live and intermingle with the sinful Canaanites and the other nations around them, marrying, and giving in marriage to their sons and daughters, and also, worshipping their gods, namely, the Baals and the Asherahs.
Angered by the Israelites behavior, the LORD handed them over to the evil king, Cushan-rishathaim (koo-shan-rish-ah-THAY-im), the king of Aram (Mesopotamia), who’s very name means “double wickedness”. They remained in servitude to him for eight years before they repented and the LORD sent HIS judge, Othniel, one of only four judges in scripture, of whom it is said that, “The SPIRIT of the LORD was upon”, and he rescued them from their oppression. Afterwards, there was peace in the land of the Israelites for forty years (Judges 3:5-11).
In Judges 3:12-30, after the death of Othniel, the Israelites returned to doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and this time, HE gave them over to the control of King Eglon, the obese dictator who ruled over Moab. Eglon joined forces with the Ammonites and the Amalekites and they attacked Israel and took control of Jericho. After that, the Israelites would remain in servitude to Eglon, for another eighteen years.
After hearing the Israelites familiar cry for help, the LORD once again sends them salvation in the person of a judge, this time, a man named Ehud, an “unlikely hero” who was a southpaw (lefthander), from the tribe of Benjamin. His being “left-handed” would later provide an opportunity for him to “single-handedly” pull off a highly unlikely and daring deed inside the very palace of King Eglon.
We pick up the story in verse 15, as the Israelites send young Ehud and a small entourage of men to deliver Israel’s tax money to Moab, which Eglon had imposed upon them when he took over ruler-ship of the Israel. Ehud made for himself, a double-edged dagger eighteen inches in length. He then strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing. After delivering the money, and while heading back to Jericho, Ehud stopped near Gilgal, and sent the rest of the men on home. He then turned around and went back to see King Eglon under the pretense that he had a secret message for him. When Ehud arrived back at the palace and informed Eglon as to why he returned so soon. The king then sent all of his servants away, not wanting any of them to hear what the secret was. Ehud then approached the king and told him that his message was from the LORD. When the king stood up Ehud drew his dagger and plunged it so deep into the king’s belly that the whole handle was concealed by fat of his body. Ehud then locked all the doors, climbed down the latrine, and escaped through the sewer access. It was quite a long while before King Eglon’s servants discovered that the king was dead.
Meanwhile Ehud ran all the way back to the hill country of Ephraim and sounded a call to arms. He then led a band of men back to the shallow part of the Jordan River across from Moab. There they killed over 10,000 Moabite soldiers as they tried to cross the river and they conquered Moab that day, and were able to abide in peace all the days of Ehud’s life, which was about eighty more years, because they were faithful and obedient to the LORD all the while.
There have been many people, who were thought of by man, to be awkward, incapable, or even inadequate to do GOD’s work. But for those of us who study the history of GOD’s word, we know that that is exactly the kind of people whom GOD most often uses, because it is “in GOD,s strength” that one who is called by GOD, will have to work anyway. Being left-handed in the days of the judges was considered to be a handicap, and Ehud certainly wouldn’t have been the one most men would have chosen to perform the lofty and courageous mission that he did. And although we as a people may often see the work of ordinary people as unimportant, GOD does not, and, JESUS doesn’t either. In fact, JESUS showed us throughout HIS three-year earthly mission, how GOD always seems to want the man, woman, or child, that, nobody else seems to want.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
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