WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday August 18, 2013

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DEDICATION OF THE WALL

(Celebrating GOD with music)

(Nehemiah 12:27-43)

Music was an important part of everyday life for the ancient Hebrew people, just as it is also, for us living here in the twenty-first century. It was and is a part of family celebrations, such as the homecoming for “the prodigal son” (Luke 15:25), celebrating victories, milestones, weddings, birthdays, etc. Miriam, Moses’ sister, and other women, sang, danced, and celebrated with music when the Israelites were miraculously freed from Egypt by GOD, as is recorded in Exodus 15. And, Moses’ song that is recorded in the same chapter is the earliest recorded song in the bible.

The bible tells us that the Hebrews have been a very musical people throughout their history, and the music history of man dates back to Jubal, who was “the inventor of the harp and the flute” (Genesis 4:21). However, professional musicians do not appear in the bible before King David’s time. David himself served as a “minstrel” (which is by biblical definition, “a player of stringed instruments”-2 Kings 3:15) for King Saul, as he was called by Saul to play a “spirit” out of him with a stringed instrument (1 Samuel 16:16-23).

David was the first to introduce music as a regular part of “sanctuary worship”, and his son Solomon continued that newly found tradition after the first temple was built (2 Samuel 6:5 & 1 Kings 10:12). Music went on to become an important part of service and we later see that the two “reform kings”, Hezekiah, and Josiah, saw to it that music was included in their respective “Reformations” (2 Chronicles 29:25 & 35:15).

The Book of Psalms itself serves as the earliest existing “hymn book”, as these individual poems were highly suitable for singing in the worship of GOD. They represent pure and holy songs that have always been “used only for worship and praise of GOD”. They were originally written for the worship and praise of GOD, and for the most part, have never intentionally been used for any “profane purposes”. They started out in the Church, and today, they remain in the Church. They were “not borrowed from the world”, or “written and produced by worldly people”, nor were they songs that were written for the world, and then, remixed into gospel versions like much of the music that is played in the church today, particularly the predominately African-American Christian Churches.

Also, the writers of these church hymns were not awarded by the world with “Dove Awards, and other such accolades. GOD does not hand out earthy awards to people who praise and worship HIM, only the devil does that. The singers and musicians also were not being worshiped and praised by the people, for their work, but instead, people gave their worship and praise, and honor and glory to GOD, through the music.

Today, the largest producer and distributor of “gospel music” (Sony), is also the largest producer and distributor of “secular music”. And so, the company that Michael Jackson himself, called “the devil” (and he ought to know) is the same company that produces most of the gospel music in the world today. No wonder they all look and sound alike (Mary Mary).

In Nehemiah 12, verses 27-36, Nehemiah had all the Levites who had re-settled in the various towns around Jerusalem, to join in with the other priests who resided in Jerusalem, to participate in the ceremonies to dedicate the rebuilt wall around Jerusalem. They were to first, dedicate themselves, then the people, the gates, and the wall, through a “purification ceremony”, or “ceremonial cleansing” (v.30). They were to also take part in this joyous occasion with their songs of thanksgiving, and, with the music of their cymbals, lyres, and harps. “The singers”, who had built their own separate villages around Jerusalem (v.29), were all brought together to sing songs of worship and praise on this joyous occasion.

Nehemiah led the leaders of Judah to the top of the wall and organized two large choirs to give thanks in song. One of the choirs proceeded southward along the wall toward the “Dung Gate”, and half the leaders followed that group, including some priests who played trumpets, and those who played other instruments that were prescribed by David during his reign as king.

The second choir went northward along the wall past the “Tower of the Ovens” to the “Broad Wall”, past the “Ephraim Gate” to the “Old City Gate”, past the “Fish Gate”, all the way to the “Guard Gate” where they met up with the first choir and stopped, and Nehemiah and several other leaders followed them (Vs.31-39). The two choirs gave thanks to GOD and then proceeded to the Temple of GOD, where they took their assigned places. Nehemiah and the other leaders did likewise. They all played music and sang together loudly and clearly under the direction of the choir director (Vs.40-42).

Many sacrifices were offered on that joyous day, because GOD had given the people cause for great joy. All of the women and children also participated in the celebration, and the joy of the people of Jerusalem could be heard far, far away (v.43).

The music (psalms) and the singers (v.29) were all set apart for use in worship and praise in GOD’s Temple only. They were not a bunch of “unbelievers” brought out of the world and then paid exorbitant amounts of money to sing one or more of their “profane” songs in the Church (Kanye West, T-pain, etc.). In fact, we learn in the following chapter that such unbelievers were even excluded from such activities altogether, by Nehemiah (Nehemiah 13:1-12).

It is good to joyfully acknowledge GOD through music and songs, however, the music can’t be used in “the club”, and in GOD’s worship services too (Kirk Franklin), and the people who perform them needs to also be “true believers”, those who’s “lifestyle and behavior” indicates that they are on GOD’s side, not satan’s.

The Apostle John warns of such foolishness as this in his first letter to the Christian Church, 1 John 4:1-3, were he says;

 “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the SPIRIT. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from GOD. For, there are many false prophets in the world. This is the way to find out if they have the SPIRIT of GOD: If a prophet acknowledges that JESUS CHRIST became a human being, that person has the SPIRIT of GOD. If a prophet does not acknowledge JESUS, that person is not from GOD. Such a person has the spirit of the antichrist. You have heard that he is going to come into the world, and he is already here” (NLT).  

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

      

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday August 11, 2013

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COMMUNITY OF CONFESSION

(Confess your unfaithfulness to a faithful GOD)

Nehemiah 9

Nehemiah chapter 9 details a “revival” which followed the Festival of Booths celebrations and observances in chapter 8. This revival took place fifteen days later, and it is marked by six key elements which perhaps any Christian revival today should contain:

·         They humbled themselves (v.1)

·         They separated themselves from the foreigners who were not a part of theirs and their ancestors sins against GOD (v.2)

·         They confessed their sins, and the sins of their ancestors (Vs.2-3)

·         The Word of GOD was read to them for three hours (v.3)

·         They continued to praise GOD and acknowledge HIS goodness, and HIS grace in prayer (Vs. 4-37)

·         They made a solemn promise in writing to obey the LORD their GOD (v.38)

“The Word of GOD” has to have a great impact on the lives of a community, if it is to undergo “true change”, or be “revived”. Only the Word of GOD can truly change a person for the better, permanently. The Israelites, in this passage, began their revival with the Word of GOD because the Word is what shows a person his or her sin, and convicts them. We become aware of what is “wrong” only by being shown what is “right” in the eyes of GOD, not, in the eyes of man.

In this passage the Israelites confess a total of 20 “repetitive sins” against GOD, from the time of Abraham to their present day. During this prayer they also acknowledge over 70 facts about GOD and HIS faithfulness. In it they review the history of Israel, and it reveals, both, the majesty and splendor of GOD, and, the depravity of man, at one and the same time.

We see in this chapter how “feasting” evolved into “fasting”, fasting into “confession”, confession into “prayer”, and prayer into, “a promise of obedience”, however, it was the Word of GOD that “convicted” the people, and got the ball rolling toward forgiveness. “True worship” involves hearing the Word of GOD, praising GOD, praying to GOD, confessing sin to GOD, and then removing ourselves from situations that displease GOD. The better we know GOD, the more we respond to HIM through “imitation” of HIS ways, that were demonstrated to us by CHRIST JESUS, during HIS earthbound mission.

Perhaps, it is the events of the Book of Judges, which are alluded to here in verses 28-31 that demonstrate to us most clearly, the Israelites repeated pattern of “sin”, “servitude”, “supplication”, “salvation”, and “silence”. The tragedy that that cycle presents in Israel’s history is that they never relinquished their rebellious ways against GOD, and in fact, with each downswing, GOD would have to increase the severity of their “self-imposed” consequences.

GOD speaks to us through the Holy Scriptures, and we must respond by speaking to HIM, through “prayer” and “praise”. In this “National Prayer” of the Jews, they acknowledge their persistent sin, and GOD’s persistent judgment and mercy, and, this prayer also shows us GOD is just in exercising “compassion”.

It is right for GOD to punish, and it is equally correct for HIM to forgive. HE is perfectly free to do what HE pleases, and it pleases HIM to offer man forgiveness of sin through CHRIST JESUS. GOD does not have to change for us, for HE is perfectly righteous in everything that HE has done, and will do. It is us who must change, because it is us who are in error, and, are in need of HIS “forgiveness”.

A Sunday school lesson by

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

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WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday August 4, 2013

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FESTIVAL OF BOOTHS

(GOD’s Word guides our worship)

(Nehemiah 8)

A week after the construction of the walls of Jerusalem were completed, all the people of Israel re-assembled on the square just inside the “Water Gate”, on the east wall of the city. They asked Ezra, the priest, teacher, and scribe, to bring out the book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had given for Israel to obey.

It was now mid-autumn, during the Jewish month of “Tishri” (the seventh month on the Jewish calendar), and the people of Israel, which numbered between thirty and fifty thousand, needed “a fresh infusion of commitment”, or “spiritual revival” to “re-fuel them” following their exhausting task of finishing the wall.

In Nehemiah chapter 8, Ezra brings the scroll of the Law of Moses before the assembly of men and women, and children who were old enough to understand, and began to read aloud to them. The people stood on their feet and praised the LORD, just as Ezra and all the priests and Levites did, and they all raised their hands toward Heaven. Then they bowed down with their faces to the ground and worshiped GOD some more.  

Afterwards, the thirteen Levite priests who were present, along with Ezra and Nehemiah, instructed the people, as they interpreted and translated the Scripture from “Hebrew” to “Aramaic”. Most of the people could not speak or read in the ancient Hebrew tongue that was widely used before their “Babylonian captivity”. The majority of them now spoke in the “Aramaic tongue of Babylon”, which was a “Semitic language” that was actually widely used, even by non-Aramean people like the Jews, from circa 7 B.C. to A.D. 7. In fact, it is also the language that JESUS HIMSELF communicated in, while here on HIS earthbound mission.

Here in this chapter, we see three very positive responses to the Word of GOD;

·         An “Intellectual Response” (Vs.1-8) - The Israelites had an overwhelming desire to know what GOD’s plan for them was, and, just how GOD wished for them to live their lives.

·         An “Emotional Response” (Vs.9-12) – The Israelites experienced a “conviction” by GOD’s Word that is associated with the “joy” of knowing of GOD’s forgiveness. The association of these two things (conviction and joy) may seem strange on the surface, however, the more we become aware of the extent of our sins, the greater our joy will be in GOD’s forgiveness of those sins.

·         A “Volitional Response” (Vs.13-18) – The family leaders, and the priests and Levites, met with Ezra to go over the details of the Law of Moses, the man of GOD, more closely. As they studied, they discovered that the LORD had commanded that the Israelites should live in shelters during the upcoming “Festival of the Tabernacles”, or, “Festival of Booths”. The people were to go to the hills and get branches from olive, myrtle, palm, and fig trees, and use them to make “shelters” or “booths” in which they could live during the seven days of the festival. And so all of the people who had returned from captivity in Babylon, “willingly and voluntarily” went out and cut and gathered the branches, and built their shelters to dwell in during the festival week.

The Israelites had not celebrated this way since the days of Joshua, and Ezra read to them from the Scriptures on each of the seven days. On the 15^th day of the month, they held a solemn assembly, just as the Law of Moses required.

This harvest-time festival had previously always been a time of great rejoicing and celebration. However, this particular Feast of Tabernacles was marked with exceptional joy, because, now GOD had defeated the Israelites enemies, and Jerusalem was once again, “a walled city”.

The “revival” that followed was not unlike what our modern-day revivals should be like. It should be “a self-humbling experience” that is expressed in “fasting”, “earnest repent”, “confession of sins”, and “an eagerness to study GOD’s Word”.

History teaches us that GOD is faithful, and, that HE remains faithful to HIS commitment to us, even today. And we should show praises to GOD because HIS grace and mercy has remained upon us, as HE patiently waits on us to return to HIM, and accept HIS offer to us, of “eternal life”, through CHRIST JESUS.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

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WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday July 28, 2013

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GIFTS FOR THE TEMPLE

(Consecrate your gifts to GOD)

(Ezra 8:24-36)

After praying for traveling grace, Ezra appointed twelve leaders of the priests (each representing one of the twelve tribes of Israel), including Sherebiah and Hashabiah to be in charge of transporting the silver, gold, and other items that King Artaxerxes, his council, and other leaders, and, the people of Israel had given for the temple of the LORD at Jerusalem. Ezra carefully weighed the treasure, cataloged it, and gave it to the men to transport. This is the full measure of his account;

·         24 tons of silver

·         7,500 pounds of silver utensils

·         7,500 pounds of gold

·         20 gold bowls that were equal in value to 1,000 gold coins

·         2 fine articles of polished bronze, as precious as gold

And then Ezra gave the priests this message; “You and these treasures have been set apart (consecrated) as “holy to the LORD”. This silver and gold is a “freewill offering” to the LORD, the GOD of our ancestors. Guard these treasures well until you present them, without an ounce lost, to the leading priests, the Levites, and the leaders of Israel at the storerooms of the LORD’s Temple in Jerusalem”.

And so they broke camp at the Ahava Canal, and embarked on their 900-mile journey to Jerusalem. It was a journey that would take the better part of four months. And the LORD protected them and secured them from the enemies and bandits along the way, because they invited HIM in and sought HIS help at the beginning of their travels.

Whenever we call on GOD at the start of any “Christian journey”, or endeavor, HE will abide with us all along the way, and deliver us safely to our destination. We must continue on our Christian journey, with a faith that is unwavering, even when we are faced with the trials and tribulations that we will surely encounter, because we are going against the grain of this world.     

After arriving in Jerusalem, they rested for three days, and on the fourth day, the treasures were weighed at the Temple of GOD and entrusted to Meremoth and Eleazar the priests, and to Jozabad and Noadiah the Levites. Everything was accounted for, both in number, and in weight, and was officially recorded.

Afterwards, all the people, who returned from exile with Ezra, and all the Jewish residents of Jerusalem gathered together as “a show of the unity of GOD’s people”, and they sacrificed burnt offerings to GOD, all the day long. They presented up to HIM;

·         Twelve oxen (as burnt offering)

·         Ninety-six rams

·         Seventy-seven lambs

·         Twelve goats (as sin offering)    

After finishing up with all spiritual matters concerning GOD, then, King Artaxerxes decrees were delivered to his officials in the province west of the Euphrates River, who then showed their full cooperation to the people of Israel, and to the Temple of GOD.

Ezra was a faithful steward of what GOD had entrusted him with, and the people freely gave back to GOD, those gifts that came from the excesses of their blessings from HIM. They all responded in the “right way” with their “time”, “talents”, and “treasures”, and thereby, set a wonderful early biblical example for all Christians, for all time.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

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WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday July 21, 2013

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FASTING AND PRAYING

(Preparing for GOD’s Service with fasting and prayer)

(Ezra 7:25-28 & 8:21-23)

Chapters 7-10, of the Book of Ezra, deals with events that took place in Jerusalem, after Ezra returned from Babylon in 458 B.C. Fifty-eight years have passed since the “Passover Celebration” that is chronicled at the end of chapter 6, and the Persian Empire is now being headed by King Artaxerxes, the grandson of Darius.

Ezra was a direct descendant of Aaron the Priest, the brother of Moses, the man of GOD. He was a “Scribe” who was well-versed in the “Law of GOD” that was given to Moses on Mount Sinai. When he came up to Jerusalem (Chapter 7), Artaxerxes gave him everything that he “asked for”, because the hand of the LORD was upon him, just as HIS hand was upon his predecessors, Darius and Cyrus.

Some of the people of Israel, as well as some of the priests, Levites, and other temple officials, and servants came up with Ezra during the seventh year of Artaxerxes reign, into Palestine. During this time, the teachings of GOD’s Law, was being increasingly ignored, and temple worship was becoming more and more routine, with each passing day.

When Ezra arrived, he brought with him, large donations for the temple, and a royal commission to appoint judges, and to enforce, both, Old Testament Law, and, Persian Law, in Judah. He had been instructed by King Artaxerxes to “use the wisdom of GOD” to appoint magistrates and judges, who were familiar with the Laws of GOD, to govern over the people of Judah. And if the people weren’t familiar with those laws, Ezra himself, was charged to teach them. Anyone who refused to comply with GOD’s Laws, and the laws of the Persian Empire, would be immediately punished with death (Vs. 25-26)   

Because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of GOD, and to teach the Word to the people, while preparing them with “prayer and fasting”, GOD graciously blessed him and his company as they had traveled for several months through dangerous territories with a large amount of treasure and no human security (Vs.8-10).

In verses 27-28 we see Ezra beginning to refer to himself in the “first person” for the first time in his writings. Here he praises the LORD for touching the heart of Artaxerxes and giving him the desire to want to “beautify the temple of the LORD” in Jerusalem with his own finances (v.27). He also thanked GOD for honoring him before the king, and before all of his royal court in Persia (v.28).

In Ezra 8:15-20 Ezra tells us that they assembled by the Ahava Canal (9 miles north of Babylon), which was used as “a staging area” for the Jews who were preparing to return to Palestine from Babylon. There they camped for three days while he went over the list of the names of those who were present, and among them, was not one volunteer Levite priest to be found.

And so Ezra sent for a group of “Israelite leaders” and “wise men”, and then, he sent them all to a Levite named Iddo, who was the leader of the Levite priests at Casiphia in Babylon. Their charge was to request that he send some Levites to minister in the temple at Jerusalem. Iddo sent Sherebiah, who was a very astute man, along with 18 of his sons and brothers. He also sent Hashabiah, Jeshaiah and 20 of his sons and brothers, along with 220 other temple workers.

When they reached the staging area, Ezra ordered everyone that was traveling to Jerusalem with him to “fast” and “pray”, and “humble themselves” before the LORD. They prayed that GOD would give them “traveling grace”, and protect them, their children, and their cargo from harm.

The king had already been so generous to them that Ezra was ashamed to request that, in addition, he supply them with horses and soldiers for protection. And besides, he wanted to show everyone that they could “depend on the protection of GOD” during their journey. And so GOD heard and answered their “earnest prayers” and HE granted them safe passage back to Jerusalem.

Prayer should never be an attempt to bend the will of GOD, but rather, should always be aimed towards submitting our wills “TO” the will of GOD. Ezra and the Israelites conformed their wills to the will of GOD, through earnest prayer, and then they “fasted” to “take their focus off the flesh” (off themselves), and place it firmly on GOD, so that they might “successfully carry out GOD’s will” to the letter, during their assignment in Jerusalem.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

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            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

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WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday July 14, 2013

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DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE

(Dedicating our work to GOD)

(Ezra 6)

In Ezra chapter 6, after Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and other government officials sent a letter to King Darius of Persia seeking to halt the construction on the temple at Jerusalem by Zerubbabel and others (Ezra 5:6-17), the king ordered a search of the Babylonian archives to find out if it was true that King Cyrus, his predecessor, had ever issued a decree to rebuild it (6:1).

The search was made first in the palace at Babylon, and then later at the royal summer palace at the fortress of Ecbatana, in the province of Media. In the palace in Media, a scroll was found that told of King Cyrus’ original decree to allow the Israelites to rebuild the temple of GOD there in Jerusalem (6:2). King Darius then, instead of stopping the reconstruction of the temple, ordered that Tattenai and his officials stop their interference in the building project, and further ordered them to fully finance and personally assist in the completion of the work (Vs. 6-12).

It is the classic story of how GOD will provide for those who are attempting to do HIS work in the world, HIS way. When GOD gives a person a task to do, HE always gives them the power necessary to carry out and complete that task to HIS satisfaction. Oftentimes, GOD has already prepared us, long in advance, for the work HE will call us to do at some future date, and HE will always remove those roadblocks that satan sets up in our way. Here in this passage, GOD not only removes the roadblock out of the way of Zerubbabel and the Israelites, but HE also uses those who sought to block the way, to actually pitch in and help out, in addition to fulfilling their regular duties for their king.

The Jewish leaders, and the people, continued their work and were greatly encouraged by the preaching and help of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah along the way. The temple was finished in four years, and it was constructed just as it had been commanded by GOD, and sanctioned by the kings of Persia (Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes).

In 515 B.C., on the twelfth day in the last month of the year, exactly 70 years after the temple was first destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C., the reconstruction of the temple was completed. This was about five and a half years after GOD had sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to tell the Israelite people to go back to work on the temple (Ezra 5:1-2).

And although this temple never quite reached the glory of the one built by King Solomon, the people still rejoiced in its dedication with just as much zeal as anyone ever had before them. And although nothing is said of it being filled with the glory of GOD as the original temple was, one must know that GOD was indeed pleased with their efforts.

During the dedication ceremony 712 animal sacrifices were made, including 12 male goats as sin offerings for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then the priests and Levites were divided into their various divisions to serve in the temple, following all of the instructions of Moses, the man of GOD (Vs. 17-18). In the spring of the following year, the returning exiles were able to celebrate their first Passover in the new temple of GOD (Vs. 19-22).

This temple was later enlarged to a more magnificent scale and was further beautified by King Herod the Great, at the beginning of the first century A.D. However, it was destroyed again in A.D. 70 by the Romans, at the hands of the Emperor Titus. JESUS had foretold of this destruction during HIS three-year earthbound ministry (Mark 13:1-2 & Luke 19:41-44).

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander   

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

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            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

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WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday July 7, 2013

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THE TEMPLE RESTORED

(Give thanks to GOD)

(Ezra 3:8-13)

In the second month (mid-spring) of the second year of the Israelite’s return from Babylon, all the available people began to work on re-building the temple of the LORD. It was the same month that Solomon had begun building the original temple in Jerusalem. All the Levites who were twenty years old or older were put in charge of the re-construction project.

The people had spent more than seven months just gathering and collecting material and now they were ready to begin laying the foundation to GOD’s house of praise and worship. And so, in the spirit of a “great revival”, Israelite unity was the order of the day. They were not just building a “physical foundation” made of bricks and mortar, they were also building a “spiritual foundation” that would allow them to resume the life of a believer in the Almighty GOD, through prayer, worship, sacrifice, praise, and obedience.

They sang together while they worked and prayed together to get the foundation laid to perfect specifications under the law of Moses, the man of GOD. Everyone, young and old united their voices together in praise and worship to the LORD for HIS continued goodness to HIS people throughout the years.

However, in verse 12 we can almost sense an “interruption” in that unity as the older priests, who had been around long enough to remember the first temple built by the skillful leadership of Solomon and his crew, began to weep aloud when they saw the new foundation. Perhaps they were longing for the old and golden times, and the absolute splendor of the original edifice, or, perhaps they were weeping because it was the sins of their generation that led to the fall of the “United Kingdom” of David and Solomon. They knew that if their generation had heeded the warnings of GOD’s prophets, Jerusalem and the temple would still be standing.

Nevertheless, the younger crowd continued with their “joyful shouts”, and those shouts, began to mingle together with the “weeping of the old”. And together, they created a commotion that personifies the ups and downs of the “human experience” and also that of the “Christian experience”.

“Christian unity”, can and will, always transcend the differences of the human experience, and, it will always transcend the ages, from generation to generation. We see here in this passage that, even before we knew what Christian Unity was, it was already present in the hearts of men. It is the kind of unity that JESUS prayed about in John 17, and, the kind of unity that Paul wrote about, to the Churches in all of his “doctrinal letters”. Christian unity is not a unity, not born, of bricks and mortar, but rather, it is “a unity of personal relationships”, not unlike the one we’ve already seen between the FATHER and the SON, as an example to us, for all times.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

 

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                                 

                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website