Profiles Of Perseverance

What is perseverance? By definition, “perseverance” is holding to a course of action, belief, or purpose without giving way. Perseverance, often used interchangeably with the word endurance, is the quality that enables a person to stand on his or her feet when facing a storm head on. It refers to active staying power and tenacity to hold up under some long-term burden, not just getting stuck in traffic. It carries the connotation of whole life experience.

By viewing the profiles (biographies) of several Old Testament believers during much of their lifetime, we see God’s faithfulness to them over many years, not just during a scene from their lives. By looking at their stories, we gain a long-term perspective through the rough-and-tumble of real life. We can be encouraged to endure faithfully throughout our own rough-and-tumble life in this troubling yet exciting world.

The Basic Study

This study guide consists of 13 lessons covering the evidence of perseverance seen in the lives of 4 Old Testament believers. If you cannot do the entire lesson one week, please read the Bible passage(s) covered by the lesson.

Process of Bible Study: Each lesson includes core questions covering the passage narrative. These core questions will take you through the process of inductive Bible study—observation, interpretation, and application. The process is more easily understood in the context of answering these questions:

·         What does the passage say? (Observation: what’s actually there)

·         What does it mean? (Interpretation: the author’s intended meaning)

·         How does this apply to me today? (Application: making it personal) Questions identified as “Your Life’s Journey” lead you to introspection and application of a specific truth to your life. You will be given opportunity to use creative means to express God’s faithfulness to you in your life’s journey.

Study Enhancements

Deeper Discoveries (optional): Embedded within the sections are optional questions for research of subjects we don’t have time to cover adequately in the lessons or contain information that significantly enhance the basic study. If you are meeting with a small group, your leader may give you the opportunity to share your “discoveries.”

Study Aids: To aid in proper interpretation and application of the study, five additional study aids are located where appropriate in the lesson:

·         Historical Insights

·         Scriptural Insights

·         From the Hebrew/Greek (definitions of Hebrew/Greek words)

·         Focus on the Meaning

·         Think About It (thoughtful reflection)

Getting The Most Out Of Historical Narratives

Because this study includes historical narratives set in various time periods, this is an excellent opportunity for you to learn how to use a Bible handbook, commentary, study Bible text notes or internet sources to discover information about the time period in which each person lived as well as the towns, the occupations, and other cultural information that would add understanding to your study. If you choose to do this research, you will enhance the discussion for everyone else as you share what you have learned at appropriate times in the small group discussion.

Sustained By Hope In The Rough-And-Tumble Of Real Life

Jesus said that we will surely have trouble in this world (John 16:33)—yes, even those of us who are faithful to Him. Whatever the struggles we face, we need a secure hope in order to “hang in there” over a lifetime of growing in His grace. The Christian life is not only empowered by faith, it is also sustained by hope. Only a secure hope rooted in the faithfulness of God enables us to weather the storms of life and persevere over a lifetime.

The writer of Hebrews pointed to the one focus in life that can give us hope that lasts, “keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). We must focus on what He is doing in the midst of what we are doing. It is our total confidence that Christ will complete the work He began in us that enables us to persevere through the rough-and-tumble of real life. Are you ready to develop perseverance in your life?!

“We have approached the Christian life as a subject to be learned rather than as a life to be lived. You can’t grow in grace in a classroom, through a seminar, or during a “quiet time,” as good as those things may be. As a matter of fact, you cannot grow in grace through reading a book…You can only grow in grace through a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, who teaches you truth from His Word, which you then take out into the rough-and-tumble of real life in the real world. The “curriculum” cannot be planned or anticipated. Through the sovereignty of a loving God, the pathway we will tread in this fallen world will be as unique as each one of us...Whatever the situations in your life may be, that is where you will have to grow in grace...in spite of our personal failures and sins… as we focus on what God is doing in the midst of what we are doing (Hebrews 12:1,2).”

—Bob George, Growing in Grace, p.13-15 (emphasis added)

The books of the Old Testament were composed by people living under the Old Covenant, the Law of Moses. It is important to keep that context in mind when studying them. Seek first to understand the intentions of the author in his time and place rather than reading into them meanings from the New Testament age or later.

Take for example Psalm 35:9: “Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation (NIV) or “be happy of his deliverance (NET).” The word “salvation” to most Christians calls up the blessings accomplished by Jesus Christ on the cross: forgiveness of sins, justification, eternal life. That, however, is not what David had in mind. “Salvation” in the Psalms nearly always refers to a temporal deliverance from trouble or danger. Verses 1-3 of the psalm explain the situation:

“O Lord, fight those who fight with me! Attack those who attack me! Grab your small shield and large shield, and rise up to help me! Use your spear and lance against those who chase me! Assure me with these words: ‘I am your deliverer!’” (Psalm 35:1-3)

The concept of God as “Judge” also has a different connotation. Most people today think of God’s judgment as something to be feared and avoided, and rightly so! However, the Psalms frequently present God’s arising for judgment as something earnestly desired. For example:

“Let the sky rejoice, and the earth be happy! Let the sea and everything in it shout! Let the fields and everything in them celebrate! Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy before the Lord, for he comes! For he comes to judge the earth! He judges the world fairly, and the nations in accordance with his justice.” (Psalm 96:11-13)

The reason for the difference in perspective: a “judge” in the Old Testament period was not pictured as a black-robed magistrate on a bench in a criminal court but more like a hero or knight in shining armor, one who defended justice and the cause of the poor and defenseless. C. S. Lewis wrote:

“The ancient Jews, like ourselves, think of God’s judgment in terms of an earthly court of justice. The difference is that the Christian pictures the case to be tried as a criminal case with himself in the dock; the Jew pictures it as a civil case with himself as the plaintiff. The one hopes for acquittal, or rather for pardon; the other hopes for a resounding triumph with heavy damages.” (C. S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms)

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He brought to a close the age of the Old Covenant, the Law of Moses, and simultaneously inaugurated the New Covenant in which we live. In every age, a person can only be accepted by God by His grace through faith, so that will be consistent. God’s method of managing His people, however, can be different, so how one’s faith is expressed and lived out can differ as well.

The most obvious difference to a reader will be the centrality of the Temple and sacrificial system of worship. The Temple represented the presence of God dwelling among His chosen people, Israel. There the priests represented the people to God, and sacrificial offerings were the prime way to publicly express worship, repentance, and thanksgiving. Superficial people often fell into believing they could “buy off” God through offering sacrifices without heart (Ps. 50:7-13). On the other hand, those like David who possessed insight and sincerity always knew that God wanted the worshiper’s heart first:

“Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice. The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit – O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.” (Psalm 51:16,17).

Then, where one’s heart was right, sacrifices could be acceptable to God as an expression of inner faith:

“Then you will accept the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings; then bulls will be sacrificed on your altar.” (Psalm 51:19)

While we no longer express worship to God through animal sacrifices, His desire from us is the same. He still desires the hearts of His people above all else.

Some Theological Differences

Some theological differences are reflected in the Old Testament books due to their pre-cross perspective. David prays after his sin with Bathsheba, “Do not reject me! Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me!” (Psalm 51:11). Do Christians need to fear that God will withdraw His Spirit from them because of sin? No. The ministry of the Holy Spirit in Old Testament times was different. Today, every Christian receives the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit at the moment he or she trusts in Jesus Christ. Before Christ came, however, the Holy Spirit came only upon certain individuals to empower them for special service (such as prophets or kings), and there was no promise of permanence. In that psalm, David is actually praying that God will not take away his anointed role as king of Israel as He actually had done to the previous king, Saul (1 Samuel 16:14). While disobedient Christians may face temporal consequences or the discipline of God because of sin, they do not need to fear that God will take away His Spirit, because He has promised, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5).

Forgiveness of sins also appears slightly different. Under the Law, the key concept was atonement, which means a “covering” for sin. Forgiveness was indeed offered by a gracious God to those who trusted in His lovingkindness, but it was at best temporary and up-to-date. Nowhere in the Law of Moses is there offered forgiveness for tomorrow’s sins. However, in the New Testament we find an emphasis on Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross. Where the Law offered a temporary “covering” for sins, Jesus Christ became “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). While “for the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins” (Heb. 10:4), now “by one offering [Christ] he has perfected for all time those who are made holy” (Heb. 10:14). The Christian has the blessing and privilege of rejoicing in the fullness of acceptance accomplished for us by our Savior Jesus Christ, “who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30).

Therefore, while reading the Old Testament books you want to read first to obtain accurate understanding of what their authors meant. But then you want to apply their great truths in the light of fully developed New Testament revelation by faith in Jesus Christ.

Brief Summary Of The Old Testament

About 1700 years after God created everything, He sent judgment on a rebellious race through a worldwide Flood. He later separated the nations with different languages and scattered them from Babel. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were founding fathers of the Hebrew people. Sold into slavery, Joseph became a powerful foreign leader. The Israelites developed into a great nation for ~400 years in Egypt, until their deliverance from bondage. Then Moses took the people across the Red Sea and taught them God’s Law at Mt. Sinai. Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land after a 40-year trek in the wilderness because of unbelief.

During the transition toward monarchy, there were 40 deliverer-rulers called “Judges,” the last of whom was Samuel. The first three Hebrew kings—Saul, David, and Solomon—each ruled 40 years. Under Rehoboam, the Hebrew nation divided into northern and southern kingdoms, respectively called Israel and Judah. Prophets warned against worshipping the foreign god Baal. After the reign of 19 wicked kings in the north, Assyria conquered and scattered the northern kingdom. In the south, 20 kings ruled for ~350 years, until Babylon took the people into captivity for 70 years. While Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah led the Jews back into Jerusalem over a 100-year period, Esther was a savior-queen in Persia. More than 400 “silent years” spanned the gap between Malachi and Matthew.

We live in a world where according to Jesus we will surely have trouble (John 16:33). Some trials and tribulations simply come from living in this fallen world and are those which are common to man. Some trouble is the unique variety that afflicts a child of God living in an unbelieving world. Some of our trials are internal—the “Romans 7” type—as we yearn to grow in grace, but find sin still firmly rooted within us. Whatever the brand of struggles we face, we need a secure hope in order to “hang in there” over a lifetime of growing in grace.

In Hebrews 6:19 hope is called an “anchor for the soul.” That is a tremendous image, the picture of an anchor giving security and stability to a ship in a midst of a storm. That is what hope does for us, and more. (Romans 5:2-5) We can remain steadfast, trusting God through present difficulties and pains, because we know the outcome…Only with a secure hope rooted in the faithfulness of God will we be able to weather the storms of life…It is our total confidence that Christ will complete the work He began in us that enables us to persevere over a lifetime. Without hope, people give up. The Christian life must not only be empowered by faith; it must also be sustained by hope. (Adapted from Growing in Grace, Bob George, pp. 131-132, 141, 144)

Day One Study

1. Using a dictionary, define perseverance and endurance.

·         Perseverance—

·         Endurance—

Let’s now define perseverance and endurance biblically. Read Hebrews 12:1-3. This is our key passage for the whole study. Notice that the imagery used here suggests an athletic contest in a great amphitheater with many witnesses. Just who are these witnesses?!

2. Read Hebrews 11. Choose 5 of the witnesses to list below by name or description. Pay particular notice to any challenging life circumstances given about them.

3. The job of a witness is to testify. According to Hebrews 12:1-3, their lives testified that perseverance is possible. The question then is “How?” To help you derive an answer, first reread Heb. 11:1, 6 then look for one phrase that is consistently used in the Hebrews 11 chapter. What does this tell you about how the witnesses persevered through all those challenging (or ordinary) life circumstances?

From the Greek: The Greek word translated “endurance” (NET) or “perseverance” (NIV) literally means “an abiding under; to abide.” In other New Testament verses, it is translated “patience.” Patience may be passive, that is, endurance under the general trials of life, Christian service or discipline. Patience may also be active (perseverance) which involves persistence in well-doing, fruit-bearing and running the appointed race despite trials and distractions of life. (Vines Complete Expository Dictionary, page 462-463)

4. Although the words endurance and perseverance may be used interchangeably, perseverance carries the connotation of whole life experience and is active. It is staying power. It gives us a long-term perspective. Back to Hebrews 12:1-3, who is to be our focus as we run this race with perseverance?

5. Read John 15:5; 14:6; 8:31-32. What does it mean to fix your eyes on Jesus, and why should you?

Scriptural Insight: One truth providing a track for our journey is our life of dependent faith in the living Christ. When Jesus said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5), He meant exactly what He said. . . . The same Word which tells us “Apart from Me you can do nothing” also says “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13). The key words are through Him. That is diametrically opposed to a life of self-improvement, self-development, or self-control...It is imperative that we are not concentrating on “living by faith in Christ” but on “living by faith in Christ.” We can make ourselves nervous wrecks worrying about how much faith we have and trying to conjure up more, while totally missing Him who is the object of our faith. We “grow in grace” by focusing on Him “who is full of grace and truth.” We are called first and foremost to a Person... There is a striking parallel between the baby’s dependent relationship with its mother and our life of dependency on Christ. Because of its dependent life, a baby in the womb could say, “For me, to live is Mom.” In the same way, we can say, “For me, to live is Christ.” (Bob George, Growing in Grace, p. 22-26, 78)

Day Two Study

6. The Christian life is pictured as a long-distance race rather than a short sprint. Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Philippians 2:14-16. How are we to run? Explain in your own words.

7. Your Life’s Journey: Hebrews 12:1-2 refers to distractions that interfere with our running our “race of life” successfully. Think about things in your own life that are encumbrances or entanglements to you. No doubt they will be very similar to those distracting the people we will be studying through these lessons. Describe them through words or drawings in the space below.

8. Perseverance involves a choice. What are the benefits of choosing to persevere all the way to the finish? Read the following verses to derive your answer: James 1:2-4, 12; Romans 5:1-5; 2 Timothy 4:6-8.

9. Your Life’s Journey: Based on your answers to the previous question, how might choosing to persevere in your life give you real hope (a confident, eager expectation of a coming certainty) for today and for the future?

10. Read Isaiah 43:1-3; Romans 8:28, 38-39; Phil. 1:6. What does God promise to us as we run the race?

Our study will look at some of those witnesses mentioned in Hebrews 11—in particular, 4 Old Testament heroes whose lives were full of ups and downs. We will look at the circumstances challenging them year after year, what they believed about God and how that faith sustained them. Perseverance. We will also see choices they had to make to remain faithful to God or not, and how each was affected by the choices. Perseverance. Through their lives, we will glean truths about running with perseverance throughout our entire lives as believers. May God bless you as you study His Word.

Think About It: Living by faith is a life of total dependency, objectivity (Christ is trustworthy as the object of our faith) and availability. We live in total dependency upon the Person of the crucified and risen Christ, and we step out by faith in the objective truth of His written Word, trusting Him for the ability to do what He wills, and entrusting Him with the results of our actions. (Bob George, Growing in Grace, p. 86)

Genesis 37; 39:1-6

Background

The term patriarch denotes the father or male leader of a family or tribe. When used in biblical studies, it usually refers to the three main characters in Genesis 12-50: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Under God’s direction, Abraham left Ur in Mesopotamia, with its culture and conveniences, for the land of Canaan. Patriarchal life was seminomadic. The patriarchs wandered from place to place, searching for grazing land and water for their cattle. They measured their wealth in livestock and movable goods such as silver, gold, and tents.

Through Abraham and his descendants, God began to develop a people of His own. The Abrahamic Covenant contains many precious promises: Abraham would have numerous offspring; his descendants would possess the land of Canaan; and the Messiah would come forth one day from his line. These promises passed on to Isaac and then to Jacob. Jacob’s sons formed the nucleus of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Joseph is the long-awaited son born to Jacob (whom God later renames Israel), and his beloved wife Rachel. After many years of childlessness for Rachel, Joseph is born into an extended family of ten stepbrothers. Later, Rachel dies while giving birth to her second son—Joseph’s younger brother Benjamin. Joseph is deeply loved by his father and deeply bonded to Benjamin. Jacob’s 12 sons were the ancestors of the children of Israel, the people through whom God sent His Son, Jesus.

Reading Joseph’s Life In Context (Optional):

Read Genesis Chapters 37-50 to get the “Big Picture” for the 3-lesson study of Joseph.

Day One Study

Setting The Stage…

Use a Bible handbook, Bible text notes, or other sources to find out more information about the time period in which Joseph lived. Suggested topics to research:

·         The variety of uses of a cloak—

·         Caravans—

·         A slave’s life in Egypt—

·         The job of a steward—

·         Signet rings—

·         Egyptian storehouses—

1. Read Genesis Chapter 37:1-11. Describe the nature of Joseph’s relationship with his father and older brothers.

2. How do Jacob and Joseph both contribute to the seething resentment of Joseph’s brothers?

3. Read Genesis 37:11-36. Describe what happens to Joseph. What is the motivation behind such cruel treatment?

4. We get a glimpse of Joseph’s reaction to all of this in Genesis 42:21. How does he respond?

Think About It: “Although Joseph’s brothers didn’t kill him outright, they wouldn’t expect him to survive for long as a slave. They were quite willing to let cruel slave traders do their dirty work for them. Joseph faced a 30-day journey through the desert, probably chained and on foot. He would be treated like baggage, and once in Egypt, would be sold as a piece of merchandise. His brothers thought they would never see him again…” (Life Application Study Bible)

5. Read Genesis 39:1. Joseph is taken to Egypt, and purchased by Potiphar, who is captain of the guard for Pharaoh. In a short period of time, 17-year-old Joseph had been forcibly taken from his adoring father and a simple, rural environment to endure slavery in a foreign land and culture--all from the hand of his own brothers. What sort of traumatic adjustments do you suppose Joseph had to make physically, mentally, and emotionally?

6. Considering typical human nature, what potential reactions toward God might Joseph have experienced during this distressing time?

7. Read Genesis 39:2. Whatever his feelings and/or reactions towards God might have been, where does Scripture tell us God actually was during all of this (Genesis 39:2)?

8. Your Life’s Journey: God tells us in His Word that difficulties are a part of life, even for His children (Matthew 7:24). He also promises us that He will be with us in our darkest hour, just as He was with Joseph. Read the following verses. How do they encourage you? How can you apply them to your life?

·         Deuteronomy 31:6—

·         Isaiah 40:27-31—

·         Psalm 118:5-9—

·         Hebrews 13:5—

Day Two Study

9. Read Genesis 39:1-6. Joseph was rejected, betrayed and abandoned by his own family. His status changed in an instant from favored son in Canaan to anonymous slave in the house of an Egyptian. Notice that there is no mention of time in verses 1-6. We have no idea how long Joseph labored for Potiphar as these events began to unfold. It could have been months or it could have been years. At this vulnerable point in his life, Joseph could have easily given in to despair and hopelessness. Instead, he chose (i.e., exercised his will), to apply himself to service in Potiphar’s household. What does this response to such harsh, bewildering circumstances in his life demonstrate about Joseph?

10. How does God respond to His faithful servant Joseph (verses 2-6)?

11. Your Life’s Journey: Consider a time when you chose (exercised your will) to respond with faithfulness to God despite difficult circumstances in life.

·         How was God faithful to you? In what ways did He encourage you?

·         How can you encourage someone who is struggling with this right now?

Think About It: “Fill your mind with the thought that God is there. And once your mind is truly filled with that thought, when you experience difficulties it will be as easy as breathing for you to remember, ‘My heavenly father knows all about this!’…Jesus said there are times when God cannot lift the darkness from you, but you should trust Him. At times God will appear like an unkind friend, but He is not; He will appear like an unjust judge, but He is not. Keep the thought that the mind of God is behind all things strong and growing.. Therefore, you can rest in perfect confidence in Him…God does not give us an overcoming life—He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength…” (Oswald Chambers)

Genesis 39-41

Throughout his difficult ordeal, Joseph chose to trust God with everything that was happening to him. Therefore, he was able to carry on with his life, endeavoring to do his best in everything that was required of him. His efforts were blessed by God and noticed by Potiphar, who eventually entrusted everything to Joseph’s care. Then, as Joseph is honored with power and authority, he is forcefully confronted with temptation.

Day One Study

1. Read Genesis 39:1-19. Describe Joseph’s predicament.

2. What type of conflicting emotions do you imagine Joseph dealt with while being pursued by Potiphar’s insistent wife day after day?

3. How did Joseph deal with this seductive temptation?

4. What does Joseph’s response demonstrate about his attitude:

·         Toward sin?

·         Toward God?

·         Toward those who trust him?

Focus on the Meaning: “Temptation is a fact in God’s world. Temptation itself is not sin; it is something we are bound to face simply by virtue of being human... Beware of thinking that you are tempted as no one else—what you go through is the common inheritance of the human race, not something that no one has ever before endured. God does not save us from temptations—He sustains us in the midst of them.” (Oswald Chambers)

5. How is God able to sustain us in the midst of temptation? Glean your answers from the following verses:

·         Hebrews 2:17-18—

·         Hebrews 4:15-16—

·         1 Corinthians 10:13—

6. Read Genesis 39:20-23. Joseph remained faithful to God in the midst of temptation, but suffered unjustly for it and was sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Once again, where was God in the midst of such bitter, unfair circumstances? How did He encourage Joseph?

7. Your Life’s Journey: Have you, like Joseph, ever been faithful to God despite tremendous personal cost? How did God encourage you in your situation? Consider writing a poem of thankfulness for His faithfulness to you.

Think About It: The way to wisdom is to consider the cost of sin. Joseph did not yield to temptation because he was convinced God had something marvelous for him to do. Joseph would not throw away God’s blessings for the pleasures of sin. Nor was he troubled because he suffered for his faithfulness. God would ultimately honor him as He had promised. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament, p. 90)

Day Two Study

Falsely accused of attempted rape, Joseph remains in prison, forgotten by everyone (except God). He has now been a slave in Egypt for ~11 years. Despite the incredible wait, Joseph refuses to allow discouragement to imprison his heart and make him lose hope. He actively serves others, focusing on God with all of his mind and strength.

8. Read Genesis chapters 40-41. Describe how God dramatically secures Joseph’s release from prison and ultimately exalts and blesses His faithful servant.

9. In what ways, do you think, Joseph’s long period of “darkness” prepared him for the incredible “dawn” he would eventually experience?

Think About It: The dross of our character—pride, rebellion, self-sufficiency—melts in the crucible called waiting. Yet it is a crucible that we do everything to avoid. We even have a cultural myth that says to wait is to waste time…And even though suffering may force us to slow down, to wait, we complain and seek solace in mindless distractions and miss the refining of our character that God intended. (Chuck Swindoll)

10. Your Life’s Journey: Consider the following questions:

·         Do you consider waiting a waste of time?

·         Read 1 Peter 5:10. If you are currently in the “crucible of waiting”, consider this verse and ask God to help you see His work in your character with the following question: What in your character does God need to perfect or strengthen in you?

Thoughts To Ponder

Temptation is the oldest of all the inner conflicts in the human heart, and the battle against it is a hard fought one. Although temptation may lead to sin, it is not in and of itself a sin. Everyone, including Jesus, has struggled with it, but Jesus is the only person who hasn’t suffered the consequences of yielding to it (see Matthew 4:1-11). However temptation is “packaged,” it always entices us to step out of our faith relationship with God and believe that we can’t trust Him with the timing and the result of our predicament. If our circumstances are difficult, we can fall into the trap of concluding that God isn’t good and loving or that He doesn’t care about the hardships we are facing. Our tendency is to demand instant relief from our situation, choosing to give up on God rather than persevering, through faith, amidst the difficulties and/or drudgery of life.

In today’s society, Joseph “lost” 13 years of his life and would have been considered a “victim” of unjust circumstances—a man whose personal “rights” had been ignored or violated. But in reality, Joseph was a “victor”. For 13 years God tested and refined Joseph’s faith. Then, when Joseph had proven himself faithful to God throughout everything that happened to him, God exalted him. When life gets you down, and you are tempted to “give up” on God and take matters into your own hands, remember:

·         Who God is. He is God, and I am not. He is creator of the universe and all mankind; He knows me and loves me and sees my situation; nothing is hidden from Him.

·         Agree that God knows what He is doing. He has a greater purpose for me in the midst of my difficult situation. Although I may not see it right now, like it, or understand it, I can trust his character. His word is true, and He will honor his promises and meet my needs.

·         Let your actions be based on the truth of God’s Word, not your feelings or emotions which can lead you astray. Depend on Jesus for the power to persevere, and trust Him with the results.

11. Your Life’s Journey: How does the above information encourage you? How can you apply it to your life? Consider transferring the truths to a 3x5 card to keep handy for the next time you need to be reminded of them.

Genesis 42-45; 50:15-22

Background

Pharaoh’s terrible dream is realized: a severe famine grips the Earth. Joseph, as Pharaoh’s prime minister, has wisely prepared his country for the oncoming devastation, and Egypt is a land of plenty. Back in Canaan, Joseph’s family is starving. His brothers (except for Benjamin) journey to Egypt to buy grain. More than 20 years have passed since they threw Joseph into a pit. Joseph now lives as an Egyptian in dress and speech, and his desperate brothers do not recognize him as they stand before this powerful official, begging for food. But Joseph recognizes them. One can only imagine his shock as he looks at them. He must find out, without revealing his identity, if they still hate him or have since felt any sorrow or guilt for their wicked actions. He must see if these brutal men have changed in mind and heart. Joseph decides to test them severely, for bitter circumstances tend to reveal the true character of a person.

Day One Study

Read Genesis chapters 41 and 42.

1. In Genesis 42, describe Joseph’s treatment of his brothers during their encounter. What does Joseph demand of them (verses 15-16, 20)?

2. What types of feelings do Joseph’s actions awaken within his brothers (verses 21-22, 28)?

When Joseph’s brothers return home to collect Benjamin, they relate their startling news to Jacob. Angry and distraught, Jacob refuses to release Benjamin, only to relinquish him later when they run out of food. So Joseph’s brothers, burdened with anxiety and bearing gifts, arrive in Egypt with Benjamin.

3. Read Genesis 43:15-34. Make the following observations:

·         How does Joseph receive them this time?

·         How does he react to the sight of Benjamin?

4. Compare Genesis 43:26 with 37:7-8. What is happening?

5. After they feast and are given grain, the bewildered men depart. But Joseph must test them one more time to see if God has truly penetrated their callused hearts. His brothers are trapped by unfair circumstances, orchestrated by Joseph, just as Joseph had once been through their efforts. Describe their predicament (44:1-12) and their reaction (v.13-14).

6. In Genesis 44:15, Joseph probes his brother Judah’s conscience. (It was Judah’s idea to sell Joseph into slavery.) How does Judah respond (verses 15-34)?

7. To what event do you think his words in 44:16 are primarily referring?

8. What does this response demonstrate about Judah and his brothers?

Day Two Study

Joseph becomes emotional when he hears Judah offer himself in place of Benjamin. He realizes the testing is finished; the change in his brothers is genuine. Overwhelmed, Joseph realizes he can finally disclose his true identity. His dreams are fulfilled. Losing control, he emotionally tells them who he really is.

9. Read Chapter 45 and 50:15-22. How do Joseph’s brothers react to this news that this powerful Egyptian is really their brother, whom they mistreated and abused over 20 years ago?

10. What is Joseph’s continual attitude toward his brothers and everything that has happened to him?

11. In your opinion, how is such an attitude possible from someone who has experienced so much pain in his life?

12. Read Psalm 105:16-24. What further insight does this psalm give us about Joseph’s life?

God tells us in His Word that trouble is an everyday part of the human experience (Matthew 7:25). God also tells us that God can and will use each and every painful circumstance we experience in life to achieve a greater good (Romans 8:28). But when we are besieged with trouble, God’s greater purpose may not be immediately obvious to us. For Joseph, it took 13 years of waiting and choosing to respond in faith on a daily basis followed by 9 more years before he could look back and say, “God meant it for good.”

13. Your Life’s Journey: Through words and/or creative element (poem, picture, song), describe how our study of Joseph helps you rest in God’s promise that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

14. Your Life’s Journey: What in Joseph’s life encourages you to persevere?

Thoughts To Ponder

Joseph sends his brothers back to Canaan to bring their father and his household to Egypt. Jacob, in his old age, is brought to Egypt to be protected through the famine, living on fertile land granted to him by Pharaoh. Canaan, during the centuries that the Jews were in Egypt, was a highway for the armies of nations to the north and south. The Hebrews could hardly have grown in such numbers living there as they did in Egypt. In a very real sense, Egypt was a womb in which the seed of Israel grew and multiplied until in God’s own time a nation was born (Genesis 46:3-4).

Joseph’s emotional reunion with his father is detailed in Chapter 46. On his deathbed (chapters 48-49), Jacob prophesies over each of his sons who are the ancestors of the children of Israel. Chapter 50 ends with the death of Joseph.

And so God’s greater purpose for the nation of Israel continued through the fortitude and faithfulness of Joseph, whose amazing attitude towards the tragic circumstances of his life is summed up in 50:20: “you meant it for evil against me, but God meant it for good.”

1 Samuel 16; 18:1--22:2 and selected Psalms

Background

After Moses and Joshua died, the people of Israel were governed by a series of judges and priests. This was an effective system only if the leaders (e.g., the judges) and people were committed to following the Lord. The book of Judges in the Old Testament records the failure of the people and leaders under this system. God had predicted this failure (Deuteronomy 17:14-15) and knew that eventually Israel would be ruled by a king.

Just before 1051 BC, the year Saul became king, the people of Israel demanded that Samuel (the prophet) select a king to rule over them. Samuel’s sons were dishonest judges and thereby disqualified for the job. God had predicted Israel’s desire for a king so they could “be like other nations” (1 Samuel 8:20). However, God had called Israel to be different from all other nations. In calling for a king, Israel was indirectly rejecting God as ruler.

The Lord agreed to let the people have a king to rule them, thus Saul was chosen as the first king of Israel. Saul was a “choice and handsome man” and stood head and shoulders above all other men. Though Saul looked the part, he was impetuous, hot-tempered, disobedient and jealous. Saul was 30 years old when he became king and reigned over Israel 42 years. After Saul openly disobeyed God twice, God told Samuel (1 Samuel 13:13-14) that his kingdom would not endure and that God had sought out a man after his own heart. That man was David.

Most everyone who has ever been to Sunday school or Vacation Bible School as a child knows the familiar story of David and Goliath. We know David as the young shepherd boy who slew a giant with a one stone and a simple slingshot. We know that this brave shepherd boy grew up to be a great king of Israel. We also know that Jesus Christ descended from the house of David. But what else? Who was this David and what can we learn from him today?

Much is written in our Bibles about David. More has been written about David than any other character in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament there are sixty-six chapters written about David and in the New Testament there are fifty-nine references to this great man. We not only can read about David’s life in 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 Kings and 1 Chronicles, we can glean insight into what he thought and felt by reading many of the Psalms he wrote. Seventy-three Psalms are attributed to David.

In Hebrew the name David means “beloved.” David is the only person in the Bible whose epitaph reads “a man after God’s own heart “(1 Samuel 13:14, Acts. 13:22). David was born in 1040 BC and was the youngest son of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:10-11). He is described as handsome and ruddy with beautiful eyes (1 Samuel 16:12). He was anointed as a boy to be God’s chosen king by the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel. 16:13) and from that day forward, the Holy Spirit remained with him for the rest of his life.

Reading David’s Life In Context (Optional):

Read 1 Samuel 16-31; all of 2 Samuel; 1 Kings 1:1-2:12; and 1 Chronicles 28 & 29 to get the “Big Picture” for the 3-lesson study of David.

Day One Study

Setting The Stage…

Use a Bible handbook, Bible text notes, or other sources to find out more information about the time period in which David lived. Suggested topics to research:

·         The process and meaning of anointing—

·         The showbread—

·         The Urim and Thummim—

·         Bathing and hygiene practices—

·         The Philistines and why they were enemies of God and Israel—

·         Meaning of “the kings table”—

·         The “ark of the covenant” and its significance—

1. Read 1 Samuel 13:13-14; 1 Samuel 16:5-13, 18; 1 Samuel 17:26, 32-37, 45-47. The Scripture gives us a descriptive picture of David’s character. The above passages give us insight into what God saw in David. What do you observe about his character?

Scriptural Insight from 1 Samuel 16:14-15: The Spirit of God not only departed from Saul, but God permitted an evil spirit to “terrorize” (NAS, “torment” NIV) Saul as judgment for Saul’s sins. Saul was then left to rule in his own strength without the Holy Spirit to help him. Note that the Spirit of the Lord departs from Saul BEFORE an evil spirit came. Before Pentecost (Acts 2), the Holy Spirit never permanently resided on anyone except for David (1 Samuel 16:13) and John the Baptist (Luke 1:15, 41). The Spirit of God would come for a temporary time to enable someone for an act of service to God and then depart (and then possibly come again for another act of service). The absence or presence of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament says nothing about salvation. However at Pentecost, and to the present era, the Holy Spirit comes into the believer at the moment of salvation and seals us until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). He will NEVER, EVER depart from us!

2. Read 1 Samuel 16:14-23. David now knew that God had something more for him than tending sheep the rest of his life, yet he waited patiently on God’s timing and direction. What did David do after Samuel anointed him? (1 Samuel 16:17-19 and 1 Samuel 17:15).

3. What does this show you about David’s character even as a teen? (Note: David was about 16 when he was anointed by Samuel and 30 when he became king over Judah.)

4. Your Life’s Journey: Have you ever been in a position where you knew God was leading you in a certain direction, yet the timing wasn’t right? Describe how you knew the timing was not right and what you did.

Think About It: I wonder how many people think that David, after he killed the giant, within a matter of just a few days took the throne and became the youngest king in the history of Israel? Well, in case you were one who thought that, you need to know it didn’t happen that way. (Charles Swindoll, David, p. 51)

5. Read 1 Samuel 18-19:2. (Chapter 17 tells the story of David’s valiant defeat over Goliath. You may read it for background information although we will not be looking in detail at that chapter.) Discuss David’s life, challenges and rewards, after being anointed as future king.

6. Like Joseph, David was treated unfairly by others. It would have been easy for David to feel deserted by God and alone. But what was really happening (verses 5, 12, 14, 28, & 30)?

7. Read 1 Samuel 19-22:2 (or just the following verses if you are short on time). Saul becomes more and more jealous of David. These chapters describe Saul’s efforts to kill David and David’s efforts to escape Saul’s wrath. Discuss God’s provision for his escape from Saul in the following verses (see map at the end of this lesson):

·         1 Samuel 19:11-12; 18-24—

·         1 Samuel 20 (specifically verses 30-42)—

·         1 Samuel 21:1, 8-9—

·         1 Samuel 21:10-15—

8. Your Life’s Journey: David, the boy anointed by God as the next king of Israel was now on the run from a madman (and would be for 13 years!). David was now living in a cave with 400 malcontents (those who were evading over-taxation by Saul or who were discontented with how Saul had treated them). Imagine! What could have been David’s reaction towards God if David had focused on outward circumstances?

Think About It: “If God allows you to be stripped of the exterior portions of your life, he means for you to cultivate the interior.” (Oswald Chambers)

Day Two Study

We can get an inside view of what David felt and did during his years of flight from Saul. It was probably during this time that David wrote many of the wonderful Psalms we know (in particular Psalms 34, 52, 54, 56, 63, and 142). Suggestion: Put slips of paper to hold your place in each psalm.

9. What was the first thing that David did? (Psalm 34:4; 54:2; 142:1, 2, 5)

10. What did David know about God’s character that helped him to persevere? (Psalm 34:4, 6, 8, 9; 52:8, 54:4, 56:4,8; 142:3,5)

11. What else did David consistently do in these Psalms? (Psalm 52:9, 54:6, 56:10, 12, 142:7)

12. Though STILL living as an exile from Saul when he wrote these Psalms, David uses PAST tense in Psalm 52:9, 54:7, and 56:13. What does this tell you David was thinking?

13. Your Life’s Journey: The bottom had seemingly dropped out of David’s life, yet he persevered despite hopeless circumstances. Though God had provided a means for escape, every tangible support system in David’s life had been removed one by one until he had nothing left to lean on except God. Yet David had hope in “the God who accomplishes all things (NAS) / fulfills His purpose for me (NIV)”as expressed in Psalm 57:2. Where is your hope when all else fails? Support your answer with scripture.

14. David understood waiting on God. If we live by David’s example we need to learn how to wait (to be patient) on God’s perfect timing. God is in the “human development business.” What can we know for sure while we wait? Read Philippians 1:6 and 1 Thessalonians 5:24 for insight. (Note: If you doubt that God has a plan for YOU, read Ephesians 2:10.)

From the Greek: The Greek word for patience (one definition) is hypomone. It is defined as the “quality of endurance under trials. Those possessing this virtue are free from cowardice or discouragement. It is mainly an attitude of the heart with respect to things” (or circumstances). (Adapted from The NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible, by J.D. Douglas and Merrill C. Tenney)

15. Your Life’s Journey: How does David’s example of patiently waiting on God encourage you to wait on God in whatever circumstances you find yourself?

Map Of David’s Travels To Escape Saul

Taken from Ryrie Study Bible, 1995 expanded edition, p. 461

1 Samuel 24-25

Background

As a young boy, David tended his father’s sheep (1 Samuel 16:11). While in his teens, he gained national attention by killing Goliath, the Philistine giant from Gath (1 Samuel 17). He was employed by King Saul to periodically appear in his palace to soothe him with his skillful harp-playing (1 Samuel 14:23). During this time, Saul’s son, Jonathan, became David’s closest friend (1 Samuel 18:1). Soon after David’s victory over Goliath, Saul became exceedingly jealous over David’s notoriety. Saul openly sought to kill David, thus began a thirteen year period of time that David was forced to flee from Saul.

In 1 Samuel 24 we find David and his band of 600 men living in the wilderness (in the “strongholds” – caves) of Engedi. (See map at the end of lesson one.) Engedi is east of Hebron on the shores of the Dead Sea. It was marked by many caves in limestone cliffs, lush vegetation, fresh water springs and waterfalls. The caves were a natural refuge and provided a lookout spot from which to see an enemy approaching. From 1 Samuel 23:14 (as well as what we learned in our last lesson), we know that Saul was committed to killing David and was still pursuing him ardently.

Day One Study

1. Read 1 Samuel 24:1-7. What is happening in verses 1-3?

2. What did David’s men (numbering ~600) encourage David to now do?

3. Discuss what David did and his response to his men.

4. David KNEW that he had been anointed for a special purpose. It seemed obvious to everyone that he would be the next king. This was a golden opportunity to kill Saul and take the throne as the rightful leader. Christ was similarly tempted in the wilderness. Read Matthew 4:8-10. How are these situations similar?

5. What prevented David from seizing the moment and killing Saul?

Think About It: The Bible is a real book, and this unique story is living proof. In the midst of his mad rush for vengeance, Saul must answer the call of nature. So he finds himself crouching in the privacy of a cave – but not just any cave. He tromps right into the mouth of the cave where David and his men were hiding. Talk about being vulnerable! Bad enough for the king to be seen at that moment, but to be in the very presence of the enemy. Oh, man! (Charles Swindoll, David, p. 84)

6. Read 1 Samuel 24:8-22. Why do you suppose David risked his life by going after Saul in verse 8?

7. What does David say to Saul? Why?

8. How does Saul react to David?

9. Considering human nature, what impact could this have had on David’s men who were watching?

10. The desire for vengeance or revenge can be one of life’s most subtle temptations. We may suffer a personal injury and we wait for just the right opportunity to repay the offending party. Read Romans 12:17-21.

·         What does the Scripture say about revenge?

·         According to these verses, how often are we to take revenge?

·         What are we to do instead?

Focus on the Meaning: Whatever we call it, God calls it revenge. And His feelings toward it are anything but ambivalent. Since we are not all-seeing and all-wise, it’s best to leave vengeance in the hands of our just and holy God. (Charles Swindoll)

David was able to restrain himself from killing Saul, but he couldn’t resist the temptation to cut off some of his robe. We often do the same to those who have hurt us with a little cut here or a little jab there. Cutting off Saul’s robe may have felt good at the moment, but it didn’t mend David’s injury. Healing came for David when he confronted Saul with the truth.

11. Your Life’s Journey: In what ways does David’s honest confrontation with Saul give you a positive example of how to deal with someone who has wronged you?

12. If a confrontation is not possible, what can you do to bring closure to a painful situation? (See also Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:12-13, and 1 Peter 3:8-12.)

13. Deeper Discoveries (optional): For insight into what David felt during this time in the cave, read Psalm 57.

Day Two Study

1 Samuel 25 opens with a tremendous loss to David and Israel – the death of Israel’s last judge and David’s mentor, Samuel (verse 1). In verse 44, Saul has also given David’s wife, Michal, to another man. David and his men move on to the wilderness of Maon, a desert area 8 miles south of Hebron. There, they protected the shepherds who watched over Nabal’s flocks. According to the customs of the day, during sheep shearing time the rancher would set aside a portion of the profits and give it to those who had protected his shepherds. This was, in a sense, a gratuity, just as we tip a waiter for good service. The tradition was not a law, but an implied contract.

1. Read 1 Samuel 25:1-42. Who is Nabal? How would you describe him?

2. Who is Abigail? How would you describe her?

3. Each character in the story makes a choice amidst the many conflicts and personal agendas. Make the following observations:

·         What choices did Nabal make?

·         What choices did Abigail make?

·         What choices did David make?

4. Throughout the conflict God was at work in the situation.

·         How was God faithful to Abigail?

·         How was God faithful to David?

5. In the first half of this lesson we find David immediately responsive to God’s Holy Spirit (1 Samuel 24:5). However his quick temper reduced him to initially responding in the flesh (i.e., fallen human nature) to Nabal’s selfishness. How can this be?! Paul experienced the same conflict as recorded in Romans 7:15-25. How then can we live victoriously in this life we live on earth? Is it possible? Read the following scriptures for insight.

·         John 15:5 ––

·         Galatians 2:20 ––

·         Galatians 5:16 ––

6. Your Life’s Journey: What encourages you in learning about how David or Abigail chose to respond in potentially explosive situations?

2 Samuel 12

Background

Saul tried three times to seize and kill David, but was not successful (1 Samuel 23, 24, 26, Psalm 7:4; 54:3; 57:6). In 1 Samuel 31 we find Saul and his three sons (including Jonathan) killed on the battlefield. Second Samuel opens with David receiving the news of the deaths and mourning the loss, especially the loss of his dear friend, Jonathan. David waits for God’s direction as to where to go next. God then tells David to go to Hebron where he is made king over the house of Judah for seven and a half years. After the death of Saul’s son, King Ish-Bosheth, David was made king over all of Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-5, 1 Chronicles 11:10, 12:38). This occurred 20 years after he was taken out of the sheep pastures and anointed by Samuel.

During this time in history (since the days of Joshua), the people of Israel thought more in terms of tribal than national identity. David was successful in unifying Israel and Judah (the two main factions) by centralizing the government in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was a wise choice politically and served to create harmony and unity between the two factions.

Through David, Jerusalem also became the center of worship for the Israelites as foretold by God in Deuteronomy 12:5. From that time on, Israel offered sacrifices only at Jerusalem and celebrated three special religious festivals there each year. From 1002 to 995 BC, David expanded his kingdom on all sides and rest from war followed (2 Samuel 7:1). Though David did not build the temple, he designed it and made elaborate preparations for his son, Solomon, to build it (1 Chronicles 22).

Chapters 5-10 of 2 Samuel detail David’s many military successes. The tone changes in chapter 11 as it tells of David’s sin with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah. The scripture paints a very clear picture of God’s hatred for sin and the sad consequences David must face as he endures many family crises resulting from his moment of indiscretion.

In looking at this low point in his life, we wonder HOW God could possibly call David “a man after God’s own heart.” The answer comes not in looking at David’s personal successes or spiritual failures, but in looking at David’s responsiveness to the Holy Spirit (as we saw in the last lesson) and to his teachable heart. [Optional: If you are not familiar with the story of David and Bathsheba, you may wish to read 2 Samuel 11 as background information for this lesson.]

Day One Study

1. Read 2 Samuel 12. The prophet, Nathan, comes to David with a parable representing David’s sinful deeds. How does God view David’s actions? (Look back also at 2 Samuel 11:27.)

2. Read carefully through verses 7-14. What does God (through Nathan) say is going to happen as a result of David’s sin?

3. How does David react?

4. Instead of David’s contrite (repentant) response, how could he have responded? (See also Proverbs 19:3 for insight.)

Historical Insight: God never lies. All that He said through Nathan came to pass. We can trace the line of David’s sin with Bathsheba to eight consequences that led him on a downward path of grief and heartache.

§         David and Bathsheba’s newborn son dies. (2 Samuel 12:14-18a)

§         David’s son, Amnon, rapes his half-sister, Tamar. (2 Samuel 13:1-21)

§         David’s son, Absalom, hates Amnon. (2 Samuel 13:22)

§         Absalom murders Amnon. (2 Samuel 13:28-29)

§         Absalom rebels and runs away. (2 Samuel 13:37-39)

§         Absalom leads a conspiracy. (2 Samuel 14:1-24)

§         Absalom violates David’s wives. (2 Samuel 16:22)

§         Joab, David’s general (& nephew), murders Absalom. (2 Samuel 18:14 & 33)

(Adapted from Charles Swindoll, David, Bible study guide)

Keep in mind that David lived under the Mosaic LAW not under GRACE as believers do today. God judged David for his behavior and pronounced him guilty. As king, David had great accountability for his actions. Since he was anointed by God, his reputation reflected on God. Therefore, for the sake of God’s HOLY reputation among the nations, David’s sin of adultery had to be judged (2 Samuel 12:14)

5. According to the Law, David deserved death for adultery with Bathsheba (Leviticus 20:10) and murder of Uriah (Leviticus 24:17). However God does not permit it – what did God say? (verse 13)

6. What does this tell you about God? (See also Nehemiah 9:31; Exodus 33:19.)

7. One of the best illustrations of living through the consequences of deliberate sin is found in the life of David. Re-read 2 Samuel 12:16-25. Let’s examine David’s response to the situation. What was the first thing David did when the baby became ill? Where was David’s focus?

8. When the child died what did David do?

9. In such a tragic, emotional circumstance how could David have reacted?

Day Two Study

Psalms 32 & 51 are emotionally descriptive psalms written by David during this time period. (Read both of these if you have time.) In Psalm 51 David confesses his guilt and asks for forgiveness. In Psalm 32 David describes the blessing of forgiveness. Note that in Psalm 32:5, David says God not only forgave him, He also cleansed David of his guilt.

Confessing our sins to our heavenly Father (which is simply agreeing with God about the truth that you have sinned) is oftentimes easier than accepting His unconditional forgiveness. We often believe we are forgiven but hang on to the guilt. Satan uses guilt to render us useless. As a New Testament believer, we have been declared “not guilty” by God. At the cross, Jesus Christ bore our sins (past, present and future sins) as well as God’s judgment on those sins. We will never have to worry about punishment or judgment as those who are in Christ (see Romans 8:1 & Colossians 2:13-14.)

10. Your Life’s Journey: Are you still beating yourself up about something for which you have received forgiveness? What does David’s acceptance of God’s complete forgiveness teach you about forgiving yourself?

11. Your Life’s Journey: David, having received and accepted God’s forgiveness, went on in his life as King of Israel. Guilt can paralyze us from serving God and make us ineffective in our pursuits. According to Hebrews 9:14, what is the result of being free from guilt?

Scriptural Insight: The New Testament declares that believers have been freed from punishment (John 3:16-18, 5:24; Romans 5:9, 8:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 1 John 4:17-19). Under the New Covenant, God disciplines His children in order to conform them to the likeness of His son (Romans 8:28-30; Philippians 1:6; Revelation 3:19). We live under grace. As New Testament believers we deal with a loving Father who teaches, trains and corrects.

12. We are encouraged as those in Christ to be holy (set apart for God’s special use as in 1 Peter 1:15, 2 Corinthians 7:1) and perfect (mature). We are to avoid allowing sin to reign in our bodies (Romans 6:12-14). We accomplish these admonitions by making choices. How do the following verses relate to the choices we make in our lives?

·         Romans 12:2 –

·         Ephesians 4:22-32 –

·         Philippians 4:8-9 –

Focus on the Meaning: Discipline is training that develops character, self-control or orderliness and efficiency. It is forward looking to a change of behavior and/or character, is individually tailored, personally applied, and is chiefly concerned with what will benefit the individual in question.

13. Though God can and does forgive our sins, He will never call sin “Okay” in order to make you feel good about yourself. Read Hebrews 12:7 and Proverbs 3:12. What does God do for His children?

14. Your Life’s Journey: Explain how God loving us enough to discipline us is beneficial for our walk of faith towards godliness (God-likeness).

15. Your Life’s Journey: Though David fell in his walk of faith, he got back up and went on with his life. David was able to cling to certain truths about God, such as God’s sovereignty, the eternal perspective of life, and God’s love for us even during times of discipline. To what truths about God are you encouraged to cling as you’ve studied this portion of David’s life?

16. Your Life’s Journey: What in David’s life encourages you to persevere in a life of faith despite your successes or failures?

Thoughts To Ponder: A Heart Of Gratitude (1 Chronicles 28-29)

More than 50 years after God plucked David from his father’s sheepfold, God’s work with David is nearly finished. We have seen a life of faith unfold as we’ve followed David from pasture to exile to military success as king to sinfulness and restoration. Now in 1 Chronicles 28 and 29 as David’s life draws to a close, we read about David’s parting words to the people as well as to his son, Solomon, the next king.

Instead of reflecting on his many great accomplishments as warrior-king, David focuses on worship of his God (1 Chronicles 28:2-3). David reflects on the covenant God has made with him to bring about an enduring dynasty through David (see also 2 Samuel 7). Rather than focusing on what he couldn’t do (build the temple), he praises God for what God had given him.

David’s advice to Solomon is good advice to us all. His first advice is in 1 Chronicles 28:9: know the Lord. Next he encourages Solomon to serve the Lord (1 Chronicles 28:9b). Finally, David tells his son to seek the Lord (also verse 9). David concludes his words to his son by giving him detailed instructions for the temple Solomon would build. David’s beautiful prayer of praise and worship is recorded in 1 Chronicles 29:10-19. David’s positive example produced a great outpouring of worship from the people who witnessed the exchange of power.

David had a heart of gratitude for God. David praised God in the field with his father’s sheep. He praised God for delivering him from his enemies. He praised God for helping him bring the ark back to the people of Israel. He praised God for promising him a dynasty that would end in the Messiah. He praised God in good and bad. And at the end of his life he still had a heart to praise God for all he had been blessed with in his lifetime.

The last words written about David’s life in Chronicles appear in 29:28a (NAS): “Then he died in a ripe old age, full of days, riches and honor…” What an epitaph! God was faithful to complete the good work He began in a shepherd boy many years beforehand. David faithfully served God as one of the greatest kings that ever lived and is remembered by God as “a man after my own heart.”

1 Kings 16:29-17:24

Background

Under Saul, David and Solomon, the loosely associated 12 tribes of Israel formed one nation (1050-930 B.C.). For centuries before that, though, friction had existed between the northern and southern tribes. So after Solomon died (930 B.C.), the 10 tribes dwelling primarily north of Jerusalem broke off and formed a new nation referred to as the northern kingdom, or Israel, with the hilltop city of Samaria as its capital. The 2 remaining tribes—Judah and Benjamin—became known as Judah (Judah was the larger of the two) and is sometimes referred to as the southern kingdom with Jerusalem as its capital. For the most part, Israel’s kings were idolatrous and rebellious against God. Some of Judah’s kings were likewise.

Our study of Elijah begins during the reign of Ahab in Israel who became king in 874 BC, ~66 years after the death of Solomon. Those six decades were characterized by murder, deception and hatred proceeding from the very throne of Israel. Then the throne was turned over to Ahab who married Jezebel. The mention of the marriage is significant for two reasons: 1) Jezebel was the dominant member of the marriage who controlled Ahab’s reign and 2) she initiated Baal worship in Israel (to be discussed in more detail in Lesson 2). Her hometown (Sidon in the land of Phoenicia—see map at the end of lesson one) was the birthplace of this idolatry. It had not found its way into Israel until this marriage.

Both nations, Israel and Judah, were falling deep into idol-worship, so God chose special men and women to be prophets, His mouthpieces. Some, like Elijah, were called into a lifetime of service to God, while God asked others to perform one simple, yet important job. Yet, all responded to God’s call to give God’s messages to both kings and ordinary people.

Reading Elijah’s Life In Context (Optional):

Read 1 Kings 16-21; 2 Kings 1-2 to get the “Big Picture” for the 3-lesson study of Elijah. To follow Elijah’s travels, see the map at the end of this lesson.

Day One Study

Setting The Stage…

Use a Bible handbook, Bible text notes, or other sources to find out more information about the time period in which Elijah lived. Suggested topics to research:

·         What ravens eat—

·         The uses and value of cooking oil—

·         The plight of widows—

·         The life of prophets—

·         God’s promise concerning giving or withholding rain—

·         What was this Baal worship that so provoked the Lord to anger?

The mention of Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1 is abrupt. Unlike David or Joseph, we know nothing of his age, family or youth. His name combines 2 names for God: El (from Elohim which is translated God) plus jah (from Yahweh which is the personal name God told the Hebrews to call Him). So, his name means My God is Yahweh. This was his choice and his message. His place of birth was across the Jordan River in a land of solitude and outdoor life. The people were rugged, muscular, uneducated and unpolished. Elijah’s style was likewise bold with no frills. His clothes—a rough, hairy garment probably woven from goat’s hair (called sackcloth) and large leather belt—were part of the dress of prophets at that time (2 Kings 1:8). Our study will reveal why Elijah was indeed a man like us.

1. Read 1 Kings 16:29-17:6; James

·         What kinds of problems does a drought normally bring?

·         So, what did Elijah trust God to do?

2. Read 1 Kings 17:7-24. Concentrating on verses 7-16, discuss the following:

·         the life circumstances of Elijah—

·         the life circumstances of the widow (her impossible situation)—

·         the choices Elijah made—

·         the choices the widow made—

·         God’s faithfulness to both—

Historical Insight: A room on the roof was a sign of once having prosperity, since only a wealthy man could afford to add another addition to his home. Oil was used not only for cooking but also for lighting the house at night as well as medicine for wounds and bathing or deodorizing the skin when there was little water.

3. Concentrating on verses 17-24, what further challenge did the widow face?

4. How did Elijah’s knowledge of and faith in God benefit this family?

Scriptural Insight: Commentators disagree about the woman’s faith initially. Her oath in the name of the Lord was either an accommodation to Elijah whom she recognized as an Israelite or a genuine expression of previous knowledge of and commitment to the God of Israel. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that she responded in obedience to the word of the Lord, which demonstrates faith. The Lord honored her faith by fulfilling His promise miraculously. They could get this provision nowhere else. Something only God could provide. Only the true God could provide flour and oil in a drought! Only the true God can give life!

5. Read 2 Kings 4:1-7, a similar account of another woman in an impossible situation during the ministry of Elisha who was Elijah’s successor. [The ministry of Elisha is found in 2 Kings 2-9.] What Elijah learned in his time with the widow of Zarephath, he must have certainly shared with Elisha who didn’t hesitate to help another woman. Her husband had been in the ministry as a prophet at one of the three schools where men were trained in the word of God similar to modern seminaries. Discuss the following:

·         their life circumstances—

·         the choices she and her children made—

·         God’s faithfulness to them—

6. List those circumstances or situations in our lives today that would parallel anything in either of these passages, I Kings 17:1-24 or 2 Kings 4:1-7? Example: being a single mom.

Day Two Study

We will focus on 3 applications to this lesson, all centered on what to do with an impossible situation.

Step #1 Identify It.

7. Your Life’s Journey: The woman of Zarephath (and the prophet’s widow) grew in knowledge of God in their “kitchens” through an impossible situation. What are you (or someone close to you) facing today that is bleak and/or impossible?

Step #2 Think Rightly About It.

When the boy died, the woman immediately entertained error in her thinking, “God is punishing me for my sin by killing my son. It’s all my fault.” This is a common reaction among many people who do not know God or His ways when personal tragedy enters their lives. But, it is wrong thinking. Although some hardship comes as the consequence of a person’s wrong choices (as in David’s later life), most does not as we have seen in our study so far. Based on our study of Joseph, was he put into slavery, jailed, etc. as a consequence of his behavior? No! Was David on the run from Saul for 13 years because of his own fault? No! And, God was with both of them.

8. Your Life’s Journey: Are you blaming yourself (or someone else), thinking that God is punishing you with this impossible situation? Read the following verses to see what God says regarding this error in our thinking: John 9:1-3; Matthew 5:45; 7:24-27 (what happened to both houses?); Romans 8:1. Make any comments below.

Step #3 Bring It To God. Trust That God Loves You, He Knows What Is Going On, And He Can Do Something About It.

9. How does Elijah deal with the difficult situation of the boy’s death, a situation outside of Elijah’s control? [Hint: Where does he go? How does he react?]

10. Read the following verses: Psalm 27:14; Isaiah 30:18; Luke 1:37; Matthew 19:25-26. What do these verses promise to you about an impossible situation, and how does this encourage you?

11. Think through what you do when tragedy strikes or when a test comes.

·         What’s your usual response?

·         Based upon what we have learned so far in this study, is this the correct (Biblical) response?

12. What have you learned from today’s lesson that will help you deal with what appears to be an impossible situation you may be currently facing? Describe anything you have learned about going to God when tragedy strikes. Place on your “bed” that critical situation—that burden that is burning your energy, weighing on your mind. God is still the God of IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS.

Think About It: Reflect on one man’s choice of how to think in a difficult time: First, God brought me here. It is by His will that I am in this straight place. In that fact, I will rest. Next, God will keep me here in His love, and He will give me grace to behave as His child. Then, God will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn and working in me the grace He means to bestow. Last, in God’s good time, He can bring me out again—how and when, He knows. Let me say, I am here: 1) by God’s appointment, 2) in His keeping, 3) under His training, 4) for His time. Amen. (In Quietness and Confidence, Dr. Raymond Edmund, former professor at Wheaton College)

Map Of Elijah’s Travels

Bible Knowledge Commentary OT, page 523

1 Kings 18

Background

Baal was the Canaanites’ chief fertility god as well as the storm god in charge of clouds, wind, and rain—all necessary for crops to grow. Ancient statues show him gripping a lightning bolt in his left hand, ready to hurl it as a spear toward earth. The three-and-one-half year drought had been a great embarrassment to worshipers of Baal. So, Elijah’s test to Baal’s followers seemed like a good opportunity to vindicate their god and they readily agreed to it.

This chapter (I Kings 18) is one of the most significant chapters of the Bible. It could be titled “Winner Takes All” or “The Fight of the Century.” It is the showdown between the living God of heaven and the idols of men on earth. After three years of drought, God tells Elijah to come out of hiding and go back to show himself to Ahab. He was a wanted man; Ahab thought of him as a snake, a viper. No doubt, the stench of death was all around. The famine was severe by now…

Day One Study

1. Read 1 Kings 18:1-15. (See the map after the previous lesson to follow Elijah’s travels.) Besides Elijah, who else was learning about faith in God at this time? How?

2. What is Elijah commanded to do and how does he respond?

Read I Kings 18:16-40. There are 3 main groups represented at this showdown: the “No Comment Fence-Sitter” Israelites, Ahab + Jezebel’s Baalites, and Elijah plus God. Let’s look at them one at a time to glean our lessons.

The “No Comment Fence-Sitters” Of Israel

3. Why was this showdown necessary for them? What did Elijah do in v. 31-32, 36 to remind them of their identity?

4. Divided allegiance is as wrong as open idolatry. It is likely that hundreds, if not thousands, congregated on Mount Carmel in answer to Elijah’s directive for Ahab to summon them (v. 19). The people were lukewarm toward God, “straddling the fence,” perhaps trying to combine both religions. The easiest thing to do in the hour of decision is to remain uncommitted. But, with God, it’s either/or, not both. Read Revelation 3:15-16; James 4:4-5. What does the Bible say about people who try to “straddle the fence?”

5. Your Life’s Journey: Follow the steps below to overcome being a “no comment fence-sitter” in your life.

·         Step 1: Choose to become committed to God and His ways. One of God’s purposes was to turn the hearts of the people back to Himself. This involves a choice. Read John 8:12. If you haven’t made this choice for your life already, why not do it today?

·         Step 2: Choose to stay committed. Read the following questions and answer any that apply to your life. Have you felt that tension between your Christian faith (often snubbed as “traditional”) and the pull of your modern culture? In what ways is the tension most challenging to you and why? Have you sometimes been tempted to desert some of God’s ways to fit in better by taking the “embrace the best of both worlds” approach? Or, have you stood firm for God and His ways in spite of opposition? What have been the results of any of these choices?             

Ahab + Jezebel’s Baalites

6. In today’s passage in 1 Kings 18, contrast the religious practices of the Baal worshipers with Elijah as a worshiper of the true God.

7. What does God honor? Read also Romans 10:8-13; Ephesians 2:8-9; and Hebrews 11:1,6. How do these scriptures encourage you as a Christian?

Think About It: When we stray away from Christ as our life, we have no alternative but to return to self-generated, self-centered, and self-disciplined religious experience and the “counsel of the ungodly.” (Bob George, Growing in Grace, p. 36)

Elijah Plus God

8. Review from last week: What had Elijah come to know and understand about God over the previous 3 years that prepared him for this very public challenge?

9. Discuss Elijah’s prayer and God’s answer.

10. How did the people respond?

Day Two Study

11. In 1 Kings 18:15, Elijah refers to God as “The Lord Almighty (NIV)” / “The Lord of Hosts (NAS).” This is a very meaningful title for God. Read any or all of the following verses where this title for God is also used: 1 Samuel 17:45; Isaiah 5:16, 6:3; Jeremiah 11:20, 31:35, 50:34; Zechariah 7:9-10. List what is told about Him as the Lord of Hosts.

12. Your Life’s Journey: In what ways does your life reflect the reality of God’s being Lord of Hosts? For instance, do you find reassurance in His power or have you experienced His help? Are there some fearful situations that you have given over to Him?

13. Your Life’s Journey: Allow God to grow you; you can become the Elijah in your sphere of influence. As Elijah did, you can make the choice to be committed to God and the specific job He has given you to do. Elijah points out the truth and doesn’t back down. John Knox, Scottish evangelist of the 1600s, once said, “God and one are a majority.” Never underestimate the influence of one unique, totally dedicated life.

·         What is your sphere of influence right now in your stage of life?

·         Where do you need to be totally committed to Him?

·         Make a list right now of 5 people in your sphere of influence who need to know the one true God and commit to pray for God to reveal Himself to them in an unmistakable manner. In confidence, wait for and watch Him work.

14. Read 1 Kings 18:41-46. How did God, through Elijah, finish up His Mount Carmel demonstration?

15. What does it teach us about God?

Thoughts To Ponder

Our day is characterized by mediocrity. Christians blend into the scenery of the times. God looks for special people at such difficult times, and His methods are often surprising. We expect flash; He uses ordinary, everyday lives. He uses women who are engaged in constant ministry to their families in their homes. It may be to only 1, 2, or 3 people. We shouldn’t look down on that. What we must remember is that first and foremost, we stand before God. He looks for men and women whose hearts are completely His, who won’t blend into the scenery of their culture, bowing the knee to idols. God found a man who was completely His. Would God find you to be completely His today?

1 Kings 19; 2 Kings 2

Day One Study

Setting The Stage…

Use a Bible handbook, Bible text notes, or other sources to find out more information about the significance of these:

·         Mount Horeb—

·         The mantle worn by Elijah—

·         The horses and chariots of fire—

After the phenomenal experience on Mt. Carmel, you might expect to find Elijah openly preaching to all Israel. Instead . . .

1. Read 1 Kings 19:1-18. (See the map after the first Elijah lesson to follow Elijah’s travels.) Describe all the reasons Elijah gives for being dejected and fleeing to Mt. Horeb.

2. Considering the great victory on Mt. Carmel, when Elijah stood alone but boldly proclaimed God, why do you think he now lost courage? For more insight, read also what happened to Peter in John 18:1-10; 15-18; 25-27.

Think About It: In 1 Kings 19:9, the Hebrew text says, “he came to the cave,” possibly the very cleft of the rock where God had placed Moses as His glory passed by (Ex. 33:14-23). The Lord told Moses, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” What might Elijah have been seeking at Mt. Horeb?

3. Looking back at 1 Kings 19:3-14, and continuing to read vs. 15-18, what was God’s response to Elijah’s need? Describe all the ways God helps, encourages, and shows His love for Elijah.

4. In 1 Kings 19:13; 19-21, how does Elijah respond to God’s word and love?

5. Your Life’s Journey: Although God can and does display His power in mighty acts like that on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18), the majority of us experience His presence as Elijah did—the gentle “whisper.” Personal. For us alone. As Christians, we have access to this “power” daily. Read John 14:26; 16:12-15; and Romans 8:15-16; 26-27. Explain in your own words how God has already provided for us to know His presence and power. Add any other verses.

Think About It: God “draws” us to Himself in a loving personal relationship. In Romans 8:15, 16, Jesus introduced a revolutionary truth when He taught that we can relate to God on this level. How can we NOT be drawn to a God who loves us in this way? (Bob George, Growing in Grace, p. 70-71)

The God Who Loves Me As I Am

Elijah became weak because He stopped trusting God. Peter failed (question 1b) because he stopped trusting God. In God’s sight, sin of adultery and murder (David) is just as bad as that of not trusting Him. Romans 14:23 says, “Everything that does not come from faith is sin.” The wonderful thing about Jesus Christ is that He knows all about our human weakness and failures. Our God accepts us as we are.

6. He understands my weaknesses and failures. Read Hebrews 4:14-16; Psalm 56:3-4; and 1 Peter 5:7.

·         What does He tell us to do with our fears?

·         Name some practical ways you can do this.

Think About It: There is only one way to determine your identity that cannot be shaken, one foundation that cannot be taken away from you: “I am a child of God.” Now you might be a child of God who happens to be a businessman...or a Now you might be a child of God who happens to be a businessman...or a mother...or an athlete. But the core source of your identity is your relationship with your God and Father. Only in this way can you ever begin to discover true security…At moments of failure, we need to be reminded of who we really are so that we can return to dependency upon Him and act in accordance with our true identity. We never outgrow our need to be reminded of who we are in Christ! It is something that God is trying to teach us from the first day of our Christian lives until the day we go home to heaven, and this truth provides a constant standard against which we learn to measure our thinking and responses throughout life...It is only as we learn and rest in what the Word of God teaches us about our total acceptance before God that we can become free. (Bob George, Growing in Grace, p. 22, 63, 84)

7. He responds to my need. Fear, confusion and despair distorted Elijah’s thinking, and he ran instead of praying. He withdrew from his sphere of influence and neglected his body’s needs. He wallowed in self-pity. God responded to Elijah’s need.

·         Have you ever followed Elijah’s stressed-out steps? What happened, and how did God help you out of such a painful place in the past?

·         Have you thanked Him for this? Consider writing or drawing something to express your thankfulness today.

Scriptural Insight: Preventing despair is far easier than recovery! Next time you encounter a frightening situation, dwell on Philippians 4:6-8; John 14:27; and Psalm 27.

Day Two Study

A No-Death Contract

As a prophet, Elijah represented God during the time period 875-848 BC. That means for 27 years, he remained faithful and persevered through drought and discouragement. This perseverance produced fruit in his own life, as well as in the life of Elisha whom he trained to take over after him. He most likely also spent time at the various schools of the prophets, also called the “sons of the prophets,” located at Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho where men were in training for the life of a prophet—the earliest “seminaries.” These schools were apparently begun by Samuel to teach the Israelites the revealed Word of God and encouraged by Elijah as he visited them. What an abundant life Elijah led!!

8. Read 2 Kings 2:1-18. What does God do for Elijah on his last day on earth?

9. Your Life’s Journey: One day, Christians will also be taken up directly to heaven without seeing death. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. This is commonly called the Rapture, a much anticipated event for it signals the time when Christ will come to defeat His enemies on earth and set up His earthly kingdom. Thinking about Elijah, what would you do if you knew today was your last day on earth?

Scriptural Insight: The influence of Elijah did not end here nor was God finished using Him to do His will. In Malachi 4:5,6, God promises “behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” This expectation of the return of Elijah appears frequently in the NT, as John the Baptist (Matt. 11:14; 17:10-13; Mark 9:13; Luke 1:17; John 1:21, 25); and Jesus (Matt. 16:13, 14; Mark 6:15, 8, 28; Luke 9:8, 19). Elijah appears to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:3, 4; Mark 9:4, 5 Luke 9:30-33). James and John are reminded of how Elijah called down fire from heaven (Luke 9:54). Some thought Jesus called fro Elijah to recue Him from the cross (Matt. 27:47-49; Mark 15:35, 36). The epistle of James Elijah as an example of a man who prevailed in prayer (James 5:17-18). Whether Elijah is one of the two witnesses, together with Enoch, in Revelation 11, is a matter of interpretation, resting on the fact that Enoch and Elijah are the only two men recorded as being taken up to heaven without dying. (Adapted from The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, p. 256)

10. What in Elijah’s life encourages you to persevere?

Think About It: God can achieve His purpose either through the absence of human power and resources, or the abandonment of reliance upon them. All through history God has chosen and used nobodies, because their unusual dependence on Him made possible the unique display of his power and grace. He chose and used “somebodies” only when they renounced dependence on their natural abilities and resources. (Oswald Chambers)

Going Further With Elishah (Optional)

2 Kings 2:2-9:13; 13:10-20

Elisha was one of those persons who lived much of his life in the shadow of a great individual. Elijah blazed the trails; Elisha enlarged them. Elijah was the prophet of fire. Elisha’s ministry was less dramatic. He was the son of a well-to-do farmer, enjoyed living in cities, and relished the comforts of home. Even after Elijah was gone from the scene and Elisha was well-established in his own work, he was still known as the man who “used to pour water on the hands of Elijah” (2 Kings 3:11)…For generations, a special chair has been set for Elijah at the circumcision ceremonies of every Jewish boy. And Elisha? He remains in the shadows…the obscure understudy of a great prophet. Even though God performed twice as many miracles through Elisha as He did through Elijah, the former would probably be content to be remembered as the man who followed Elijah.

Elisha’s first ministry was simply to become Elijah’s friend. To be a listening ear, to offer words of counsel. To just be there. It was true that Elisha poured water over Elijah’s hands as a servant. But more important that that, he poured the refreshing water of encouragement over Elijah’s heart as a close companion. For ten years, until the older prophet was finally called into the presence of the Lord, Elisha served Elijah, walked the dusty roads of Samaria with him, and stood by his side until the very end.

It’s easy to overlook a ministry of friendship and encouragement. Often it goes unnoticed. It isn’t the kind of ministry that grabs a lot of attention and headlines. Jonathan was David’s friend at a critical time in David’s life. David went on to the throne and to fame and renown, but it was Jonathan who had stood beside him. It was Jonathan who had encouraged the son of Jesse when David felt like life wasn’t worth living. Paul initiated the major first-century thrust for Christian missions, but as you read his letters you discover it was several supportive friends who made the difference in his life: Barnabas…and Onesiphorus…Timothy.

If you were Elisha, gifted with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit and launched into your own career as a prophet, how would you begin to shape your ministry? Elisha never tried to imitate Elijah! It was not Elisha’s mannerisms, style, or methods he had requested; it was Elijah’s strength and spirit. Now, endowed with the strength, Elisha was free to utilize his own gifts—he was free to be himself. Elijah was a prophet of fire and judgment; Elisha became a prophet of mercy and compassion. Elijah was a man on the move; Elisha enjoyed the tranquility of home life. Elijah’s ministry was one of stern warning; Elisha’s ministry was one of tender teaching.

11. In what ways might Elisha have encouraged Elijah during his years of service to the prophet?

12. Your Life’s Journey: Has God called you to a “background” ministry of encouragement? How?

Think it through: Your infinitely creative God delights in diversity! That’s why He created you exactly the way you are. He has gifted you with the ability to reflect the life of Jesus Christ in a way that no one else who ever walked the earth (or ever will) can hope to duplicate. Have you found the freedom to be yourself in your ministry and not have to match someone else’s style, results or expectations? (Adapted from Talk through the Bible, Dr. Bruce Wilkinson, pages 116-123)

Nehemiah 1–6

Background

God had promised Israel that if they obeyed Him, He would bless them as a nation. If they did not, then He would judge them and cause them to be taken into captivity (Deuteronomy 28). As God had forewarned, His hand of judgment fell on all of Israel because of their sin. The Northern Kingdom (Israel) fell first and the people were taken into captivity by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. The Babylonians brought about the fall of the Southern Kingdom (Judah) in 586 B.C.

The Israelites of the Northern Kingdom were absorbed into Assyria and eventually into other cultures. However, the people of the Southern kingdom remained intact in Babylon, and after the power of Babylon was broken by the Medes and the Persians in 539 B.C., many Jews returned to their homeland. In 538 B.C. the first group returned to Judah under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 1:1-2:2). Over a period of years and tremendous opposition from the Samaritans, the returnees eventually succeeded in rebuilding the temple in 515 B.C. Ezra, the priest, then led another return to Israel and restored worship in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. Nehemiah also returned in 444 B.C., 14 years after Ezra’s return to Jerusalem, and God used him to guide Judah in rebuilding the city’s walls and in reordering the people’s social and economic lives. What he accomplished in a brief period of time was an incredible feat. How he accomplished this goal is one of the major emphases in the book that bears his name. (Adapted from The Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament, Walvoord and Zuck, p. 673)

Early in the book Nehemiah is employed as cupbearer to the King of Persia. Though Nehemiah retains this position throughout the time of the events of the book of Nehemiah, different roles take precedence in his life at different times. Midway through the book Nehemiah is the builder of the wall around Jerusalem, and in the third part of the book, Nehemiah is the governor of the city and surrounding sections of Jerusalem. The book of Nehemiah is a personal account written by Nehemiah himself. No information is given about Nehemiah’s childhood, his adolescent years, or even about his family, with the exception of his father’s name (Hacaliah) and one brother (Hanani). Nehemiah begins with Israel in a condition of breakdown and ruin, then grows into a place of peace, security, restored order and usefulness.             

Reading Nehemiah’s Life In Context (Optional):

Read all of Ezra, Esther & Nehemiah to get the “Big Picture” for the 2-lesson study of Nehemiah. As you read the book of Nehemiah, notice the personal, eyewitness perspective of this record. The book of Nehemiah is a diary, journal, or memoirs written by Nehemiah himself. As the book of Nehemiah begins, Nehemiah is employed as cupbearer to the King of Persia, King Artaxerxes.

Day One Study

Setting The Stage…

Use a Bible handbook, Bible text notes, or other sources to find out more information about the time period in which Nehemiah lived. Suggested topics to research:

·         Persian kings and government—

·         The significance of city walls and gates—

·         Sackcloth—

Historical Insight: “…It was the cupbearer’s responsibility to taste the king’s wine before it was served to make sure that no one had poisoned it. In those days of totalitarian monarchs, assassination was the only way one could be removed from office. The usual method was to poison his food or his wine. This was a dangerous job Nehemiah had. It is obvious that he had to be a man of unlimited integrity and trustworthiness. The king relied upon him to keep him safe. He must always be above suspicion, keeping the king’s trust at all times. If the king grew suspicious or distrustful, Nehemiah’s life would be in danger. He would not only lose his job, he could also lose his head.” (Ray Stedman, Sermon notes, January 8, 1989)

1. Read Nehemiah 1:1-11. What was Nehemiah concerned about at this time?

2. How did Nehemiah respond to the news he was given?

3. What does Nehemiah’s response reveal about this character?

4. What do you observe about the spiritual condition of God’s people at this time? (Nehemiah 1:6,7)

5. Reading Nehemiah 1:5-11 again, what do you learn about who God is, from Nehemiah’s prayer? List your observations in the space below.

6. As Nehemiah prays, do you think his focus is more on who God is, or more on the immediate situation? Explain your answer.

7. Your Life’s Journey: Think of one or two areas in your life that most concern you at this time.

·         When you pray for these situations or people, do you tend to focus more upon God and His power, or upon the situation?

·         How do you think focusing more upon God and who He is might affect your ability to persevere through these times?

8. Read Nehemiah 2:1-8. Nehemiah received the report about Jerusalem and began praying in the month of Kislev (November-December) and now it is Nisan (March-April), four months of praying later. What do you observe Nehemiah choosing to say and do in this time of opportunity before the King?

9. Take a moment to think about this scene, with Nehemiah in front of the King of Persia. Remember the job description of a cupbearer and that the King had the power to put anyone to death if that person displeased him or caused him to suspect them of allegiance to someone else. What other choices could Nehemiah have taken at this time?

Historical Insight: Nehemiah faced many difficult issues as he pressed on and led God’s people through the task of rebuilding the wall. But the importance of the task was indisputable. The wall of an ancient city symbolized strength and protection. The building of the walls would fill the need for security and strength among the inhabitants. For instance, the walls of the city of Babylon as recounted in the story of Daniel were some 380 feet thick and over 100 feet high, therefore the city of Babylon was considered very safe! The ruins of the wall around Jerusalem had been there for over 100 years and approximately 1.5 miles of the wall needed to be rebuilt to a thickness of 9 feet.

Day Two Study

10. As time allows read through Nehemiah 2:11-6:19 (or just read the specific verses listed). Determine what is the problem/challenge presented and Nehemiah’s response. Take special note of the role of prayer in these situations.

·         Nehemiah 2:10; 19-20—             

·         Nehemiah 2:17-18—             

·         Nehemiah 4:1-6—

·         Nehemiah 4:7-9—             

·         Nehemiah 4:10-15—             

·         Nehemiah 6:1-9—             

11. Your Life’s Journey: Looking back over the previous question, what are some of the lessons you learn from the responses of Nehemiah and the people, and how do these lessons both encourage and teach you positive ways to deal with challenges and problems in your own life?

Think About It: One of the most helpful things that we can do to resist temptation {or distractions} is to remember that God has called us to a great task. This is true of every believer in Christ. I do not care how young or old you are in the Lord, you are called to a tremendous work today. That task is: to model a different lifestyle so that those who are being ruined by wrongful practices will see something that offers them hope and deliverance. If they see in you peace in the midst of confusion, an invisible support that keeps you steady and firm under pressure, they will learn that there is another way to live than the destructive ways they have chosen. That is the great work that God has called us to. We ought never to give allegiance to anything less. (Ray Stedman, Sermon notes, January 29, 1989)

12. Your Life’s Journey: Nehemiah was a special man for a special time, but that also can be said for each of us. Where do you think God has placed you in order to accomplish His purposes? Or, what position and/or responsibility do you hold that might be useful in bringing about good in the lives you touch?

“So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it came about when all of our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.” Nehemiah 6:15-16

Nehemiah 7-13

Day One Study

Setting The Stage…

Use a Bible handbook, Bible text notes, or other sources to find out more information about these:

·         Scrolls & writing in Nehemiah’s time—

·         The Levites—

Think About It: Nehemiah not only led the people of Judah to rebuild the walls of their city; he had led them to renewed commitment to God and to His revealed will…Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem had given the people a new sense of their identity as God’s people. Success despite opposition had helped them realize that their God was truly among them, as small as their people and land had become. (The Teacher’s Commentary, p. 308, 310)

1. As we ended the last lesson, we read Nehemiah 6:15,16. Read those verses again for review, and then, as the story continues, read Nehemiah 7:1-5. What choices and actions do you observe Nehemiah taking now that the wall is built?

2. Read Nehemiah 8:1-12. One indication of an effective leader is the willingness and the ability to turn the responsibility over, or to share the job of leading with other qualified people. That is what happens as Nehemiah shares the stage (literally) with Ezra and then Ezra helps lead the people further spiritually. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are actually one book in the Hebrew Bible. (See any introduction material you may have in your Bible at the beginning of the book of Ezra.) What do you learn about Ezra from this passage?

3. How do the people respond to the word of God at this time? Start at the beginning of chapter 8 and trace the people’s responses through verse 12.

Scriptural Insight: Notice that this seems to be a spontaneous gathering. These people come “as one man.” No invitations were sent out. No public notice was given. People were hungry for answers to their problems, for guidelines from the word of God, and with one accord they gathered in this great square before the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the priest to bring the book of the Law of the Lord and to read it to them. This would undoubtedly be the entire Pentateuch—the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. This indicates the tremendous desire of these people for the truth. They listened, while standing, from daybreak until noon! Certainly this long attention indicates how deeply they were aware of their ignorance about life and how much they needed answers from God. (Ray Stedman, Sermon Notes, January 1989)

4. Your Life’s Journey: Recall the problems and challenges of Nehemiah 1-6 covered in the last lesson. God’s people went through hard times, yet there was a time for celebration and joy. What do you celebrate? What brings you joy? List the three things that come first to your mind in each of these areas. Use any creative means to illustrate your joy.

5. Read Nehemiah chapter 9. Nehemiah 9:5-38 is the longest recorded prayer in the Bible, and it recalls the highlights of Israel’s history. Some of us are inclined to be indifferent to history, but as you read this prayer, observe the very personal involvement of God in the history of the Jewish people, and remember that God does not change. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

·         Write out as many of the actions of God as you can in the space below.

·         What jumps out at you the most?

·         Write our own prayer recalling God’s faithfulness through the years to you.

Day Two Study

So the city of Jerusalem grew. Chapters 11 and 12 of Nehemiah detail this growth.” Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while nine-tenths remained in other cities. And the people blessed the men who volunteered to remain in Jerusalem.” (Nehemiah 11:1,2)

6. The wall has been built, the gates are hung, the city is now well defended and filled with people. The time for dedication and celebration has come. Read Nehemiah 12:27-47. Describe the celebration in your own words.

7. Read Nehemiah 10:28-39. Before the celebration in chapter 10, the people made some covenant agreements with God. What are the major elements of the agreement?             

8. Read Nehemiah 13:1-31. These events occurred ten years later. What were some of the ways in which the people fell back into disobedience?             

9. What did Nehemiah do about these situations?

Think About It: Nehemiah’s actions were extreme. Chuck Swindoll offers the following comments on what he calls “taking problems by the throat.” Nehemiah faced the wrong head-on. He dealt with the wrong severely. Nehemiah worked toward a permanent correction and always followed up with prayer…The final scene in Nehemiah’s book portrays him on his knees asking God for grace. He fought hard for the right, but he had kept his heart soft before the Lord. What a magnificent model of leadership. He was a man of honesty, conviction and devotion. (Chuck Swindoll, Hand Me Another Brick, p. 179)

Nehemiah was a leader of a great many people. Yet, God has given each of us people whose lives are intertwined with ours as well. Some of those people (younger, older, or the same age) follow us.

10. Your Life’s Journey: Think about the ones who are following you. What kind of a leader do you think you are to them? Specifically, as we are examining dealing with sin, how do you normally react to wrong in the lives of those who follow you, or those people whose lives are closely linked to your own?

11. Your Life’s Journey: What in Nehemiah’s life encourages you to persevere?

This lesson is a summary of what we learned throughout this whole study. You will be asked to review your lessons from each section. This should involve a time of reflection as well as evaluation.

Day One Study

Read Hebrews 12:1-3. This has been our key passage for the study. Review the lesson titled “What Is Perseverance?” Skim through the questions and your answers as well as the boxes.

1 What does it mean to run the race of life with PERSEVERANCE?

2. What does the phrase “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” have to do with how we “run?”

3. How does this benefit us?

Joseph: A Man Of Faith

4. Review the 3 lessons from the life of Joseph.

·         What one thing from Joseph’s life would you like to remember?

·         What is the most encouraging thing about living a life of faith that you have learned from studying Joseph’s life?

David: The Man After God’s Own Heart

5. Review the 3 lessons from the life of David.

·         What one thing from David’s life would you like to remember?

·         What is the most encouraging thing about living a life of faith that you have learned from studying David’s life?

Day Two Study

Elijah: God’s Humble Prophet

6. Review the 3 lessons from the life of Elijah.

·         What one thing from Elijah’s life would you like to remember?

·         What is the most encouraging thing about living a life of faith that you have learned from studying Elijah’s life?

Nehemiah: An Awesome Leader

7. Review the 2 lessons from the life of Nehemiah.

·         What one thing from Nehemiah’s life would you like to remember?

·         What is the most encouraging thing about living a life of faith that you have learned from studying Nehemiah’s life?

May God continually bless you as you run with PERSEVERANCE the race set before us.

Thoughts To Ponder

We have approached the Christian life as a subject to be learned rather than as a life to be lived. You can’t grow in grace in a classroom, through a seminar, or during a “quiet time,” as good as those things may be. As a matter of fact, you cannot grow in grace through reading a book…You can only grow in grace through a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, who teaches you truth from His Word, which you then take out into the rough-and-tumble of real life in the real world. The “curriculum” cannot be planned or anticipated. Through the sovereignty of a loving God, the pathway we will tread in this fallen world will be as unique as each one of us...Whatever the situations in your life may be, that is where you will have to grow in grace...in spite of our personal failures and sins. How? As we focus on what God is doing in the midst of what we are doing (Hebrews 12:1,2). (Bob George, Growing in Grace, p. 13-15)

Douglas, J.D. and Merrill C. Tenney. The NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible

Edmund, Raymond Edmund. In Quietness and Confidence

George, Bob. Growing in Grace

Lewis, C. S. Reflections on the Psalms

Life Application Study Bible

Ryrie, Charles. Ryrie Study Bible, 1995 expanded edition

Stedman, Ray. Sermon Notes, January 1989

Tenney, Merrill. The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary

The Teacher’s Commentary

Swindoll, Charles. David

Swindoll, Charles. David, Bible study guide

Swindoll, Charles. Elijah, Man of Heroism and Humility study guide

Swindoll, Charles. Hand Me Another Brick

Vine, W.E., Merrill F. Unger, and William White, Jr. Vines Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words

Walvoord, John and Roy Zuck. Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament

Wilkinson, Bruce. Talk through the Bible

Quotations from Oswald Chambers, Chuck Swindoll, and Jonathan Edwards are named but not sourced.