WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday April 25, 2021

 

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THE NATION’S PLEA

(Prayer for restoration)

(Lamentation 5)

 

   The prophet Jeremiah probably penned the book of Lamentations in a time period that was sandwiched between the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon in 586 B.C., and the time he himself was taken into Egypt following the death of Gedaliah, who had been appointed Governor over the people who had been left in Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, circa 583 B.C.

    The name, “Lamentations”, finds its origin in “the Septuagint” where the name is translated from the Greek word “Trenoi”, which means “dirges”, or “laments”, and from the Latin “Vulgate” (the first Latin translation of the Bible), where it translates, “threni”. These terms were chosen because they best describe the contents of this “poetic” rendering by Jeremiah, who became known as “the weeping prophet”, and the translators of the English Bible followed suit.

    The first four chapters of the book of Lamentations are all written in “acrostics”. This means that each verse begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in consecutive order. For example, in English this would be like beginning the first verse with an “A”, the second verse with a “B”, and so on.

    There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabets, and thus there are 22 verses in chapters 1, 2, and 4 of Lamentations. Chapter 3, however, while still being written in acrostics, is a little bit different in that it contains three times as many verses as the other chapters (66 verses), and thus the acrostic pattern, or format, appears 3 times.

    The book of Lamentations is a mournful postscript to the book of Jeremiah, and through the use of five “dirges”, or, “funeral songs”, Jeremiah grieves over the painful effects of GOD’s judgment on Jerusalem because of her sins against HIM. It is a grim reminder of how sin, as exciting and alluring as it can be, does carry with it, a heavy weight of grief, sorrow, and pain.

    During this time in Israel’s history, there was an ever-tightening grip by the Babylonian army on Judah, as Nebuchadnezzar progressively laid siege on its capital city of Jerusalem. As the southern kingdom of Israel began to unravel, even the help of her unlikely ally, Egypt, could not save her from destruction. The long siege on Judah (2 years) had taken its toll, and now, it was a common sight to see starving mothers cooking and eating their own children to survive. And strangely, even now the practice of idolatry continued to flourish, and the wayward people of Israel sought after any and every god they knew, seeking their deliverance.

    The book of Lamentations also bears a striking relationship to Deuteronomy 28, as Jeremiah seems to be attempting to show Israel the fulfillment of the curses that were laid out by Moses some 850 years earlier. Here in this period of Lamentations, GOD is faithful in carrying out those curses.

    Ironically, the same characteristics that are shared in Deuteronomy 28, also makes this book of Lamentations, “a book of hope”, because the same covenant that promises “judgment for disobedience”, also promises “restoration for repent”.

    Here in Lamentations 5, the acrostic format is abandoned, even though it, like chapters 1, 2, and 4 also has 22 verses. This discontinuation of the acrostic pattern is probably no accident as Jeremiah may have been seeking to mimic the ebbing fortunes of the people of Judah, who, by now, were on the very verge of destruction, and their cries to GOD would bring them no further help.

    However, Jeremiah continues to use characteristic Hebrew repetition, piling on synonyms to emphasize his point. Here he strives to give a full account of the pain that Israel would feel because of their continued disobedience to GOD. It is “a prayer for restoration” from Jeremiah that would be answered because GOD is faithful, and not because the people of Judah were faithful.

    The prayer itself is composed of two sections, each of which summarizes the response that the remnant of Judah needed to have. The first section is a call for GOD to remember the condition that the people had gotten themselves into by way of their disobedience (Vs.1-18). This section also includes a confession of their sins against GOD. The second, smaller section, calls for GOD to restore HIS wayward people back into a relationship of friendship with HIM (Vs.19-22). It is a call to restore, both, the land of Israel, and GOD’s Covenant with Israel.

    Over in the book of Ezekiel, in chapter 4, verse 6, GOD tells HIS prophet, Ezekiel, in HIS warning of the coming siege of Jerusalem by Babylon, to lay on his right side for 40 days to symbolize one day for each year that Judah indulged in idolatry against HIM, while all the time, ignoring HIS messages through the prophet Jeremiah, during his final 40 years of Judah’s existence, prior to Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion.

    GOD never has to be reminded of our troubles and pains that come as a result of our disobedience to HIM. HE HIMSELF, through those troubles and pains, is reminding us of what the results from our sinful choices must entail. And GOD remains the same forever, for HE has no reason to change. Perfection never needs to change. It is us, the imperfect, who need to fall in line with the LORD’s Will, and HIS ways. And when we do, unlike us, GOD is faithful to do what HE says HE will do to restore us, and deliver us, into salvation.

          

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 April 18, 2021

 

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THE RESTORING BUILDER

(Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem)

(Nehemiah 2)

 

   The book of Nehemiah continues the story of the Jews’ return to Judah following their 70 years of captivity in Babylon. The book takes its name from its central figure and author, Nehemiah, who was granted governorship of Judah by King Artaxerxes of Persia. Nehemiah had been serving as a high official (Cupbearer) in Artaxerxes’ royal court.

    The book of Nehemiah focuses primarily on the re-building of the wall around the city of Jerusalem, which had been torn down by King Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian forces during their final invasion and annihilation of Judah in 586 B.C.

    Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem around 446 B.C., about 100 years after the first group of Jewish exiles had returned home. Perhaps the greatest value of the book of Nehemiah lies in the biographical study of Nehemiah himself. He was a wealthy official in the Persian Empire who sacrificed comfort and riches, in order to serve GOD, and his people, in a then, desolate and forsaken land.

    Nehemiah’s great courage in the face of the stiff opposition that he found in his arch enemies, Sanballat and the Samaritans in the north, Tobiah and the Ammonites in the east, Geshem and the Arabs from the south, and many men from Ashdod (a Philistine city west of Jerusalem) is prominently displayed throughout this terse, but powerful book. Also highlighted in this biblical account, is Nehemiah’s commitment to GODliness, and his unwavering trust in GOD, along with his fierce determination to spur his people toward righteousness while living under duress.

    In Nehemiah 2, verses 1-4, about 4 months after Nehemiah’s prayer to GOD to grant him “access” to King Artaxerxes so that he could obtain his permission to go to Jerusalem to rebuild its wall, GOD places Nehemiah in “a position of opportunity” to make that happen. Nehemiah already knew that his request would be a bold one, because only a few years earlier, the king had put an end to the rebuilding in Jerusalem. He fully realized that he would be putting his life on the line by asking Artaxerxes to reverse his previous edict.

    And so, to soften the blow, Nehemiah avoided naming Jerusalem in particular, and instead, requested to go to Judah to rebuild the city where his ancestors were buried. By stating it that way, he was appealing instead to King Artaxerxes’ “sense of respect for the dead”. Artaxerxes’ heart responded to Nehemiah’s statement, and he in turn, willingly offered Nehemiah his help in any way that he could.

    Artaxerxes’ permission to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, is the decree that the prophet Daniel had prophesied some 95 years earlier (539 B.C.) (Daniel 9:25). Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem two to five months later, only to face opposition from the enemies of the Jews, from all sides of the city.

    Three days after Nehemiah arrived, he took a few men and slipped out into the night to survey the ruins of the wall. At that point he had not exposed to anyone, the plans that the LORD had given him for Jerusalem, not even to the city officials. When he finally told the religious and political leaders of his mission, and how the LORD, and King Artaxerxes, had given him approval, they were all overfilled with joy and enthusiasm to get started on the rebuilding.

    A relationship with GOD that is nurtured by regular prayer time is the context by which we can also have our “instant prayer requests” answered favorably. We are taking the lead in the eyes of GOD when we seek to follow and obey HIS Word. In other words, “we lead best, when we follow GOD”, and oftentimes that requires us to make bold moves that only the person to whom GOD has given the vision can fully understand.

    Nehemiah’s personal testimony that he mentions here in verse 18 of this passage, was a key motivating factor to help spur the Jew’s enthusiasm to rebuild their city. The “courage to act” comes from the conviction that GOD is with us in our efforts to do that which HE has called us to do. And we will often face ridicule from those around us, who satan uses, both wittingly and unwittingly, to discourage us from following GOD’s plan.

    Mockery has kept a many Christians from living out, his or her faith. That is why we can all use the example of Nehemiah’s leadership in our own leadership endeavors, and in other trials. His example will help to encourage us to keep our eyes on GOD, especially while being under duress from the spirits of satan.

 

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 April 11, 2021

 

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THE FAITH-IN-ACTION PREACHER

(Confessing of sin)

(Ezra 10:1-18)

 

   The Book of Ezra chronicles the story of the return of the Israelites to the land of Palestine following their release from their 70-year captivity in Babylon. When they returned home, they saw it as the fulfillment of GOD’s promise through HIS prophets. They would now receive a second chance to get things right with GOD, WHO had promised to never completely abandon them. They had been judged and punished for their iniquities, and most were excited and ready to re-enter into the land that they had come to love so much.

    In Ezra chapter 1, he had spoke about how GOD had stirred the heart of King Cyrus of Persia to rescind Babylonian policy and allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem, and, how HE had stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to rebuild HIS temple there.

    Ezra chapters 7-10 deals with events that took place in Jerusalem after Ezra’s personal return from Babylon in and around 458 B.C. Fifty-eight years had passed since the Passover celebration that is recorded in Ezra chapter 6, and the Persian Empire is now headed by King Artaxerxes, the grandson of King Darius.

    Ezra was a direct descendant of Aaron, the original Levite priest, and brother of Moses, “the Prophet of Deliverance”. He was also a “Scribe” who was well-versed in “the Law of GOD” that was given to Moses on Mount Sinai. When he came to Jerusalem (chapter 7), King Artaxerxes gave him everything that he asked for, because the hand of GOD was upon him, just as HIS hand had been upon his predecessors, Darius, and Cyrus. Some additional Israelites, as well as some of the priests, Levites, and other temple officials and servants, came up to Jerusalem with Ezra during this seventh year of Artaxerxes reign.

    During this time in Palestine, the teachings of GOD’s Law was being increasingly ignored, and temple worship was becoming more and more lax and 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 and Persian Law in Judah. However, he had also been instructed by Artaxerxes to “use the wisdom of GOD” in his appointing of all officials, and to appoint only those who were familiar with GOD’s Law to govern over the people of Judah.

    Ezra himself was charged by Artaxerxes to personally teach all those people who were not familiar with GOD’s Laws, and if they refused to comply with HIS Laws, and the laws of the Persian Empire, they would be immediately punished with “death”. And because Ezra was determined to study and obey the Law of GOD, and to teach GOD’s Word to the people of Israel, GOD graciously blessed him and his company of faithful servants with safety as they traveled through dangerous territories with large amounts of treasure.

    And so, we see here in Ezra chapter 10, that, as a result of Ezra’s faithful works, the people were moved to confess their sins and repent. Here in verse 1, this “Prophet of Faith-in-Action” is seen praying, confessing, and throwing himself to the ground in front of “the Temple of the LORD”, and a large crowd of people, men, women, and children, gathered around and begin to weep bitterly with him.

    That day all the people who were assembled there, confessed their unfaithfulness to GOD, and all the men made a covenant with GOD mainly to divorce their pagan wives, whom they were “unequally yoked with”, and send them away with their children (v.3a). They vowed to, from that day forward, follow the advice of those who respect the commands of GOD, and to strictly obey the Word of GOD moving forward, particularly towards intermarriage.

    The sincerity of Ezra’s distress over Israel’s sin in this passage is emphasized by the intensifying Hebrew verbs that are used to describe his actions in the original language. His physical posture and his spiritual posture are equally expressed here before the LORD, as both his body and spirit exude brokenness and sorrow.

    It is not enough just to be sorry for our sins. It is also a necessity that we correct our ongoing sinful behavior under GOD. Ezra, for example, also went into a rare “total fast”, in other words, lasting all day and all night, from all foods and water, to show GOD the seriousness of his repentant state.

    Ironically, out of the 113 men who had intermarried with pagan women, almost 25% of them were religious leaders. Whenever spiritual decline is seen in Christian leadership, there is very little prospect for the spiritual health of the future Church to convince others to come to CHRIST. Our faith, or lack thereof, is always best exemplified through our behavior, and not so much through our public speech and persona.  

   

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 April 4, 2021

 

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THE SUFFERING SERVANT

(GOD gives hope to all who suffer)

(Isaiah 53)

 

   The prophet Isaiah was born in Jerusalem into the family of Amos who was related to the Royal House of Judah. He spent his early years as an official of King Uzziah (Azariah) who reigned over Judah for 52 years (2 Chronicle 26:3). In the year that Uzziah died of leprosy, around 740 B.C. (2 Kings 15:5), Isaiah received his calling from GOD in a stirring vision while in the temple at Jerusalem (Isaiah 6).

     Isaiah was married to a woman described only as “the prophetess” in Isaiah 8:3. He was the father of two sons who bore highly symbolical names, “Shear-jashub” and “Maher-shalal-hash-baz”. Shear-jashub means “a remnant shall return” and is actually a prophesy concerning the return of the Jews to Judah following their 70-year captivity in Babylon.

    Maher-shalal-hash-baz, which is the longest word in Scripture, means “swift spoil, speedy prey”. It prophesies the doom of Damascus and Samaria, and the destruction of Syria and Israel, who had formed an ungodly alliance against Jerusalem.

    Isaiah 52:13-53:13 is the fourth and most compelling of all of the so-called “Servant Songs” of the Holy Bible. This passage contains the Old Testament’s clearest description of “the suffering of CHRIST” which would occur some 700 years later in Jerusalem. This forecasted “Passion Week” would culminate with JESUS’ “death walk to Golgotha”, and subsequent earthly expiration on the cross.

    In Acts 1:3 the word Luke uses for “passion” is “pascho” (pas-kho), and it means “to experience the sensation or impression of pain”. This is the only time in Scripture that this particular word is for “passion”, and there it describes “the suffering of CHRIST” that is depicted in the “Passion Narratives” of the four Gospels (Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-15, Luke 22, and John 19). These particular passages represent the fulfillment of the prophesy of this fourth Servant Song that was spoken and recorded here by Isaiah.

    Theologians of the “Post-Apostolic Age” often struggle to find an explanation as to “why” JESUS had to die. This passage by Isaiah gives us, perhaps the clearest explanation of “why”, that the Scriptures has to offer. Here Isaiah tells us, in effect, that, JESUS was offered up as a “guilt offering”, or “offering of atonement” for the sins of man, past, present, and future (53:10-12). It was the only offering that could be acceptable to GOD the FATHER in Heaven.

    And so, we see here in this passage, “a theology of atonement” being developed. Isaiah tells us in 52:13 that JESUS, the SERVANT, was so badly beaten and bloodied, that, one would have a hard time recognizing if HE was even a human being. He also tells us in 53:2 that there was already nothing physically beautiful or majestic about HIS appearance that would draw anyone to HIM.

    Isaiah also tells us in verse 3, that, in addition to JESUS’ physical suffering, HE would be rejected and despised, and would be a man of sorrow, all too acquainted with bitter grief. Sadly, we would not recognize that it is our weaknesses and sorrows that weighed HIM down in the first place (v.4).

    Isaiah says in verse 5 that we would think that JESUS’ troubles were a product of HIS OWN sins. However, we who are “on the road to salvation” now understand more clearly that HE was wounded and crushed for our sins instead. HE was beaten so that we might have peace, and HE was whipped so that we might be healed.

    In verse 7 Isaiah tells us that JESUS was oppressed and treated harshly, yet HE never said a word. HE was led as a lamb to slaughter, and as a sheep is silent before the shearers, HE did not open HIS mouth. And finally, the prophet says that JESUS would be buried like a criminal, but in a rich man’s grave (see Matthew 27:57-60 regarding Joseph of Aramathea, the rich man who buried JESUS in his own tomb).

    Our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST’s suffering was a unique event in the annals of human history. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that HE is the SON of the LIVING GOD, and that HIS vicarious sacrifice was what won us our salvation. No one, and nothing else could have provided us with such a precious gift. HE was counted among sinners, but in reality, HE actually bore the sins of sinners, and interceded for every man in general, and everyone who follows HIM, in particular.

       

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 March 28, 2021

 

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PROPHET OF COURAGE

(The contest on Mount Carmel)

(1 Kings 18:1-40)

 

   The books of First and Second Kings were originally one book in the Hebrew scriptures. They were named such because they recorded and interpreted the reigns of all of the kings of northern Israel and Judah except Saul, Israel’s first king. Saul was not of the line of the Davidic kings appointed by GOD, but rather, was chosen by the people of Israel in contrast to GOD’s will for them.

    The Septuagint, the first Greek translation of the Old Testament, divides “Kings” into the two parts we still have in our modern translations today. However, in the Septuagint, they are called “Third” and “Fourth Kingdoms”, and the books of First and Second Samuel are called “First” and “Second Kingdoms”.

   The title “Kings” is derived from Jerome’s “Vulgate”, the first Latin translation of the Hebrew scriptures which was written about 600 years after the writing of the Septuagint. Jerome’s translation was commissioned by the Catholic Church for their own personal use, and he titled the writings, “The Book of Kings”.

    First and Second Kings chronicle three major historical periods in Israel’s past: “the United Kingdom” under the rule of David and Solomon, “the Divided Kingdom”, which followed the rebellion of northern Israel (ten tribes) against Judah before they were carried off into captivity by Shalmaneser and the Assyrians in 722 B.C., and “the Surviving Kingdom” of Judah prior to and during their devastating defeat at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian forces in 586 B.C.

    First and Second Kings also chronicles the lives of several courageous prophets, particularly, “Elijah” and his divinely chosen protégé, “Elisha”. In first Kings 18, during the final year of a three-year drought that had been imposed upon Israel by GOD, we see the well-known “prophet of courage”, Elijah, being informed by the LORD to go and pay a visit to the evil king Ahab, who, at that time, ruled over Israel.

    Elijah was instructed by GOD to tell Ahab that the drought would soon be over. This drought and famine had been directed at Ahab and his evil wife, Jezebel, who had killed several of the LORD’s priests, and replaced them with prophets of the male idol god, “Baal” and his female counterpart, “Asherah”.

     When Elijah arrived in Samaria, he instructed “the man of GOD” there, Obadiah, who was in charge of the king’s palace, to go to his king and tell him that he was there to see him. Obadiah reluctantly does so, and King Ahab came out to meet with Elijah. Elijah tells the king to assemble all the prophets of Baal and Asherah (850 in all) at the foot of Mount Carmel.

    Then Elijah proceeds to put on a demonstration that would prove to the king once and for all, that his LORD is the only wise and powerful GOD of the universe. And by the time Elijah had concluded his demonstration, all the people of Israel who watched, were in agreement. Elijah then commanded the people to seize all the false prophets of Baal and Asherah, who had failed miserably in their counter demonstrations, and take them down to the Kishon Valley and kill them all.

    There were obviously many people in northern Israel who still believed in the LORD, however, most of Israel, had apostatized, or rebelled against the LORD and abandoned their faith. This well-known account of Elijah’s contest with the prophets of Baal and Asherah at the foot of Mount Carmel is of extreme historical importance to Israel.

    First of all, after this confrontation, Elijah had proven himself as the spokesman for GOD, to whom Ahab must submit. Ahab had abandoned the ways of GOD and taken up the worship of the gods of his wife, Jezebel, whose father, Ethbaal III, was widely believed to be the very personification of the idol god Baal himself. Secondly, the extent of the apostasy in Israel as a whole, can be seen in the sheer number of false prophets (850), who were used to service the spiritual needs and demands of the people that had followed King Ahab into idolatry.

    That day Elijah stood in front of the people of Israel and challenged them to end their double-minded practices of “straddling the fence” between GOD and the Baals, a fence that in all reality, belongs to satan. He demanded that they make a choice that very day, and either choose GOD, and hold to HIM entirely, or choose the Baals, and follow them.

    When GOD created man, HE blessed him with the unique ability, among all HIS creation, to choose between “right” and “wrong”. HE could have made us all like “robots” that were compelled to stay within HIS Will. However, HE chose instead to give us “wills that are free”, mortal mental capabilities and freedom to make up our own personal minds about HIM.

    In the years since that time, we have been purchased with the high price that is the blood of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS, the CHRIST. We need only to recall, as Elijah did, the great and wonderful things that GOD has done for us in our undeserving existence. We need to recognize GOD for WHO HE is, and then make “the only wise choice” we have available to us, and that is to love, worship, and serve only HIM, with our whole heart, soul, mind, and physical strength. The choice will always be ours, until GOD says, that it is not.    

 

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 March 21, 2021

 

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PROPHET OF WISDOM

(Josiah’s rule in Judah)

(2 Kings 22)

 

   The book of Second Kings chronicles the history of the “divided kingdom” (Northern Israel and Judah) of Israel from 850 B.C. all the way up through the destruction of Samaria by the Assyrians in 722 B.C., and the final annihilation of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian forces in 586 B.C.

    Events in Israel and Judah were dramatically affected by emerging powers from the north. And even though GOD held back the Assyrians during the time of King Ahab, by 586 B.C., neither Israel, nor Judah existed anymore as a nation. In fact, by 605 B.C., Babylon had already begun to devastate Judah and re-settle its population with its own citizens.

    Leading up until that time, most of Israel’s kings had sinned mightily against GOD, and some, like Ahab and Manasseh, had actually sinned more than the pagans that had dwelled in the land before them. Very few walked faithfully in the ways of GOD, and only Hezekiah, Jehoiada, and Josiah actually instituted religious reforms.

    In 2 Kings 22, we see an eight-year-old Josiah, ascending to the throne of Judah where he would reign for the next 31 years. He did what was right in the sight of the LORD and did not turn aside from HIS righteous ways. In the eighteenth year of his reign, he ordered the restoration of the temple of the LORD which Solomon had built more than a century earlier. It would become the final revival for Judah, who would be conquered by Babylon just four years later.

    Unfortunately, this final revival of Judah still failed to reform the hearts of its people. That is evidenced by what the prophet Habakkuk, who lived during that time, states in his book, in his plea to the LORD, concerning the state of the nation, just prior to Nebuchadnezzar’s initial invasion of Jerusalem (Habakkuk 1:1-4).

    In verses 14-20, King Josiah sent several priests led by Hilkiah, the father of the prophet Jeremiah, to the newer section of Jerusalem that was situated in the lower elevation of the city, to consult with the wise prophetess known as Huldah. Huldah was the wife of Shallum, the son of Tikvah. She relayed to the priests, GOD’s message of impending doom that surely awaited HIS defiant chosen people, Israel, and they brought that message back to King Josiah.

    And even though King Josiah re-instated the Passover celebration in grand fashion, exterminated all mediums, idol gods, psychics, and every other kind of idol worship throughout Judah, the anger of the LORD still burned against Israel, because of all the great sins of King Manasseh before him. However, because Josiah had humbly repented of the sins and misdirection of the people under his regime, GOD held back the destruction of Judah until after his death.

    To develop a sense of who GOD is, and a desire to serve and worship HIM properly, can be a lifesaving, life-preserving thing. To those who undergo spiritual reform in their lifetime, GOD will often grant longevity, and always grant the spirit of peace.

    The religious reforms of King Josiah had temporarily removed the symbols of idolatry from Judah, however, only a severe dedication to discipline could have expelled idolatry from the hearts of the people. That same policy of discipline must apply to us today if we wish to please GOD, through our behavior at any time.

    It is impossible for one to do those things that are not in one’s heart. What is in one’s heart is exactly what is manifested through one’s outward behavior and actions, especially during pressure situations. People are like tubes of toothpaste, in that regard, when we are squeezed, what is in us, is what comes out.

    We must be careful not to take GOD’s wonderful salvation and grace lightly. It is as precious as the blood that our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST shed to purchase it. We owe it to the WHOLE OF GOD to honor and praise HIM wholeheartedly. It is a spiritual obligation that GOD will not allow us to shirk, and HE will not hold blameless, those who fail to recognize HIM during their lifetime here on earth.

    We have only this life to get it right with GOD, and after we draw our final breath, all of our chances to reform ourselves will have been exhausted. The “right time” to come to GOD is always “right now”, and the “right way” to come to GOD is always “just as you are”.  

     

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 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                                 

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WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday March 14, 2021

 

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PROPHET OF CONQUEST

(The fall of Jericho)

(Joshua 5:13-6:20)

 

   The book of Joshua is the first of the so-called “historical books” of the Holy Bible. The others are Judges, Ruth, 1^st and 2^nd Samuel, 1^st and 2^nd Kings, 1^st and 2^nd Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.

    The book of Joshua gives the account of how the Israelites conquered the land of Canaan under the spiritual and military leadership of Joshua, “the prophet of conquest”. GOD chose Joshua to succeed Moses and to lead the people across the Jordan River, and into “the promised land”.

    Joshua, whose name means “YAHWEH saves” was also charged by GOD to assign by lot, all the parcels of the land of Palestine to eleven of the twelve tribes of Israel (the descendants of Jacob, excluding Levi). The priestly line of Levi was not to own any land, but instead, were to be supported by all the other tribes while they themselves would serve GOD exclusively in the coming Church.

    Joshua’s appointment marked the beginning of a 450-year period during which a succession of judges would rule over “GOD’s chosen people”. This period would end with the prophet Samuel, the last judge of Israel, who would then, by GOD’s instruction (because the people of Israel requested it), appoint Israel’s first king (Saul). Samuel was later instructed by GOD to replace Saul with HIS beloved “David”, the youngest son of Jesse, thus beginning the dynasty of “the Davidic Line” of kingship rule.

    The book of Joshua serves to remind us of “the faithfulness of GOD”, and how, through our obedience to HIM, we are able to win in both spiritual and military warfare, and claim HIS promises for, and in, our everyday lives. It is very appropriate how this book opens with a description of GOD’s preparation of this young leader for his “personal creation role” and calling within HIS divine plan.

    Joshua’s divine calling required him to be faithful, strong, and courageous. GOD’s promises can only be claimed by carefully following HIS laws and instructions, and as Joshua walks the path that GOD defines for him, the LORD is with him wherever he goes. And so, we see that, here in this biblical account, obeying the whole law of GOD becomes the dominant theme for Joshua of his own life experiences as leader over Israel.

    Here in Joshua chapter 5, taking up at verse 13, as Joshua and his army approached the city of Jericho, he looked up and saw the figure of a man (“a theophany of CHRIST”) facing him with a sword in HIS hand. Joshua walked up to HIM and asked was HE “friend or foe” and the man replied, “neither one”, but rather, “I AM the COMMANDER of the LORD’s army”.

    Immediately Joshua fell, face-down to the ground in reverence, saying, “I am at YOUR command”, “What do YOU want YOUR servant to do?”. The COMMANDER of the LORD’s army then instructed Joshua to “Take off your sandals, for this is holy ground.” And Joshua complied to the LORD’s command.

    And so, in Joshua chapter 6, the LORD now speaks to Joshua through HIS COMMANDER, telling him that the tightly shut gates of Jericho would be opened, and that HE would give him victory over Jericho, the next city that stood in the way, in his pursuit to conquer the land of Canaan. In fact, the COMMANDER says that the very walls of Jericho would collapse by supernatural means if they followed HIS specific instructions to the letter (Vs.1-5).

    We often think of Joshua as being just an excellent military leader, and we do not always consider the fact that he was also a great prophet. He is remembered mostly for his actions with a sword, more so than he is as a man who strongly proclaimed GOD’s messages to HIS people. However, GOD spoke through Joshua and gave many instructions and directions to the Israelites after HE called Moses, “the prophet of deliverance” home to be with HIM.

    In this passage, the people obeyed everything that Joshua received from the LORD, and they did not sway from HIS instructions, not one iota (Vs.6-20). They understood, by faith, that the city of Jericho was being conquered by GOD’s power, and not through their own power and might. And before their victory was ever physically realized, it had already become an accepted spiritual reality, based on their faith in GOD, and their belief that Joshua’s leadership role came, from GOD.

 

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

 

 

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