Sabbath: The Lord Hears and Delivers

Daily Lesson for Saturday 20th of January 2024

Image © Pacific Press

Read for This Week’s Study

Psalms 139:1-18; Psalms 121:1-8; Psalms 17:8; Matthew 23:37; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; Hebrews 4:15-16.

Memory Text:

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles” (Psalms 34:17, NKJV).

Again and again, the Psalms highlight the truth that the Sovereign Lord, who created and sustains the universe, also reveals Himself as a personal God who initiates and sustains a relationship with His people.

God is close to His people and to His creation, both in heaven and on earth (Psalms 73:23,25). Though He “has established His throne in heaven” (Psalms 103:19, NKJV) and “rides on the clouds” (Psalms 68:4, NKJV), He also is “near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalms 145:18, NKJV). The Psalms unswervingly uphold the truth that the Lord is the living God, who acts on behalf of those who call upon Him (Psalms 55:16-22). The Psalms are meaningful precisely because they are prompted by, and are addressed to, the living God, who hears and answers prayers.

We should remember that the proper response to the Lord’s nearness consists in a life of faith in Him and of obedience to His commandments. Nothing short of this faith and obedience will be acceptable to Him, as the history of Israel often revealed.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 27.