Daily Lesson for Wednesday 28th of February 2024

The portrayal of God as the Messiah’s Father points to the coronation of the king when the king was adopted into God’s covenant (Psalms 2:7, Psalms 89:26-28). Psalms 2:1-12:7 foresees Christ’s resurrection and exaltation as the dawn of the new everlasting covenant and Christ’s royal priesthood (Acts 13:33-39, Hebrews 1:5, Hebrews 5:5).

Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com

The Messiah sits at God’s right hand as Someone who has unprecedented honor and authority (Psalms 110:1; Acts 7:55-56). “Moreover, the interplay between the Lord and the ‘anointed’ (Messiah) even suggests an intention to identify this Davidic Messiah with the Lord Himself. . . . If the one who sits at the right is the Lord, then, the Lord is the Messiah, since the latter is also seen at the right [see Psalms 110:1, 5]._”—Jacques Doukhan, _On the Way to Emmaus (Clarksville, MD: Lederer Books, 2012), pages 26, 27.

In the end, Christ will have absolute victory over His enemies. To make the enemies a “footstool” is an image that reflects the custom of the ancient Near Eastern kings to place their feet on the necks of their defeated enemies to demonstrate total dominance over them. Yet, Christ’s rod here is not a tool of terror (Psalms 2:9, Psalms 110:2).

The rod (“staff”) was originally held by tribal leaders as the symbol of the tribe (Numbers 17:2-10). Christ’s rod comes from Zion because He represents the people of Zion. His rod is a symbol of divine judgment, which ends the rule of evil and depicts Christ’s unrivaled reign (Revelation 2:27, Revelation 12:5). Even the wicked kings are given a chance to repent and submit to the Messiah (Psalms 2:10-12).

One graphic depiction of Christ’s ultimate victory is found in the pre-Advent scene in Daniel 7:1-28, which shows that, after judgment is given “ ‘in favor of the saints of the Most High’ ” (Daniel 7:22, NKJV), His kingdom is established, and “ ‘His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom’ ” (Daniel 7:27, NKJV). Because of the Cross, the promise of the kingdom is assured.

A blessing is promised to all who trust in the King, and the people rejoice in the Messiah’s sovereign and righteous reign (Psalms 2:12, Psalms 89:15-17).

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For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. Colossians 1:19-20 NLT

Why did God need to make peace with heaven? This verse right here may help us understand just how real the war in heaven was. Even after Lucifer was cast out, those who remained may have still had their doubts. Did God really love them, or did Lucifer have some good points about God just being a tyrant?

Photograph by William Earnhardt

On earth Eve was convinced God did not care for her, and she needed to eat the fruit and disobey, if she really wanted to be happy.

While all this was going on, is it possible some of the remaining angels in heaven still had some questions? Have you ever been loyal to a boss not because you thought he was fair, but because you did not see any way out? So out of fear, you remained loyal to him, still wishing you weren’t in that situation? If so, what did it take for you to reconcile the situation so you could have peace at work and not just conformity?

When the Son of God died on the cross, He was not just atoning for Eve taking a piece of fruit she was told not to. Eve’s disobedience was a symptom of her doubts. The Cross of Christ did not just take care of the symptoms of sin. The Cross took care of sin itself! The Cross removed all doubt about God’s love. All questions in heaven and earth are answered at the cross! There can be conformity while rebellion is still in the heart. The cross goes way beyond bringing us into conformity and outward obedience. The cross replaces our thoughts of rebellion with peaceful thoughts towards God.

That which alone can effectually restrain from sin in this world of darkness, will prevent sin in heaven. The significance of the death of Christ will be seen by saints and angels. Fallen men could not have a home in the paradise of God without the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Shall we not then exalt the cross of Christ? The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels before the fall of Satan. Angelic perfection failed in heaven. Human perfection failed in Eden, the paradise of bliss. All who wish for security in earth or heaven must look to the Lamb of God.-Ellen White, Signs of the Times, December 30, 1889

Some have the idea that once we get to heaven, God will flip a little switch in the back of our heads that makes us stop sinning. After all, we will be in heaven and so we automatically won’t sin, right?

Wait. Where did sin begin? Heaven!

The reason why humans and angels will not sin, is the same reason why God reconciled both heaven and earth to Himself. The cross of Jesus. The cross cures the root cause of sin which is doubting God’s love. The reason there will be no sin in heaven is not due to a mechanical correction that the flip of a switch will fix. The reason there will be no sin in heaven will be because the cross will cure humans and angels alike from ever doubting God’s love, and thinking we need anything God has not given us. There will be no reason to rebel.

Rules without relationship cause rebellion. The love of Christ on the cross removes our fear of God, so we are not afraid to have an intimate relationship with Him. With our relationship cured, we will have no reason to rebel. We won’t be conformists. We will be free-thinking moral agents who are at peace with God because God is love.

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Daily Lesson for Tuesday 27th of February 2024

The Davidic covenant contains God’s promise of everlasting support of David’s line and prosperity of God’s people (1 Samuel 7:5-16; Psalms 89:1-4,19-37; Psalms 132:12-18).

Image © Linda Lovett from GoodSalt.com

The permanence of the covenant was established on God’s solemn oath and the king’s faithfulness to God. However, even the devoted kings, such as King David, were not always faithful to the Lord. Psalms 89:1-52 laments over the harsh reality that seems to indicate that the glorious promises of the Davidic covenant have been lost. Is Israel hopelessly deserted by God? The answer, of course, is—no!

God’s wrath is, yes, an expression of divine judgment (Psalms 38:1, Psalms 74:1). Yet, it does not last forever because God’s everlasting love forgives people’s sins when people repent. However, while it lasts, God’s discontent with His erring people is serious. The people feel the bitter consequences of their disobedience and realize the gravity of their sins (Psalms 89:38-46). Yet, they ask, “How long?” appealing to the passing character of God’s wrath (Psalms 89:46). Renewed hope springs from new assurance in God’s faithfulness to “remember” His grace (Psalms 89:47,50).

In short, although the human component of the covenant failed, the people could rest in the promise of God’s unchanging purposes through the Messiah, who embodies all righteousness and salvation of Israel and of the whole world. That is, in the end, God will prevail, and His eternal kingdom will be established forever—but only because of Jesus and not because of God’s people.

Jesus Christ is the Son of David and the Messiah (Matthew 1:1, Hebrews 1:8). He is called “the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15, NKJV), alluding to Psalms 89:1-52:27, which calls David, who was a type of Christ, God’s firstborn. “Also I will make him My firstborn, / The highest of the kings of the earth” (NKJV).

Clearly the title “firstborn” does not express David’s biological status, because David was the eighth child of his parents (1 Samuel 16:10-11). It’s the same with Jesus. This title signifies His special honor and authority (Colossians 1:16,20-22). God made Jesus the supreme King over the whole world when He raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:30-31).

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Daily Lesson for Monday 26th of February 2024

Many psalms express the agonizing feelings of utmost forsakenness of the suffering Messiah (e.g. Psalms 42:1-11, Psalms 88:1-18, and Psalms 102:1-28). Psalms 22:1-31 is a direct Messianic prophecy because many details in this psalm cannot be historically connected to King David but perfectly fit the circumstances of Christ’s death. Jesus prayed with the words of Psalms 22:1-31:1 on the cross (Matthew 27:46).

Image © Lars Justinen at Goodsalt.com

The torment of Christ’s separation from His Father, caused by Christ carry­ing the entire world’s sins, can be measured only by the extent of their closeness, namely, their unparalleled oneness (John 1:1-2; John 10:30). Yet, even the depths of inexplicable suffering could not break the unity between the Father and the Son. In His utter forsakenness, Christ unconditionally entrusts Himself to the Father, despite the utter depths of despair He faced.

“Upon Christ as our substitute and surety was laid the iniquity of us all. He was counted a transgressor, that He might redeem us from the condemnation of the law. The guilt of every descendant of Adam was pressing upon His heart. The wrath of God against sin, the terrible mani­festation of His displeasure because of iniquity, filled the soul of His Son with consternation.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 753.

The threatening animal imagery of strong bulls, roaring lions, and dogs highlights the people’s cruelty and animosity that Christ, who is compared to a harmless and helpless worm, met in His final hours. With amazing accuracy, Psalms 22:1-31 conveys the venomous remarks of the crowd that mocked Jesus with His own words to the Father (Psalms 22:1,8; Matthew 27:43) and the soldiers dividing Jesus’ garments (Psalms 22:18, Matthew 27:35). Little did the people understand then that the “worm” they sought to crush would become the chief “cornerstone” of the Temple and secure its foundation (Psalms 118:22).

However, the rejected Messiah became the Source of salvation for God’s people after His resurrection from the dead (Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:10-12). Christ suffered the rejection of humanity, but God glorified His Son by making Him the living “chief cornerstone” of God’s spiritual Temple (Ephesians 2:20-22, 1 Peter 2:4-8). For those who reject this Stone, namely, God’s means of salvation, it will become the agent of judgment (Isaiah 8:14, Matthew 21:44).

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The beautiful picture on the front of our lesson pamphlet brings us our theme hymn for this quarter with its two variations in melody: Hymn 552/546 – The Lord’s My Shepherd.

 Psalm 95:1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

 Our Shepherd is explored this week giving us our theme hymn along with 
O Shepherd Divine – Hymn 192, My Shepherd Will Supply My Needs – Hymn 104, 
The King Of Love My Shepherd Is – Hymn 197 and 
Saviour Like A Shepherd – Hymn 545. As we learn more about our Shepherd, we will listen to Him: 
Hymn 361 – Hark! ‘Tis The Shepherd’s Voice I Hear.

It is with sorrow that we read of The Suffering Messiah:  
Hymn 158 – Were Your There? and 
Hymn 154 – When I Survey The Wondrous Cross all because Jesus had to 
Go To Dark Gethsemane – Hymn 157 for our sins.

Marvelous Grace – Hymn 109 is shown to us (Tuesday) with the 
Wondrous Love – Hymn 162 of our Lord, Jesus. 
O Brother, Be Faithful – Hymn 602 to our Lord Jesus, and our Gracious God.

Our Eternal King (Wednesday) – 
Eternal Father Strong To Save – Hymn 85 helps us to look forward and pray to have more faith in 
Son Of God, Eternal Saviour – Hymn 637 and strive to see His coronation – 
Crown Him With Many Crowns – Hymn 223 as we gain victory – 
Faith Is The Victory – Hymn 608.

 We sing of our Eternal Priest in 
Hymn 249 – Praise Him! Praise Him! (verse 2) and H
ow Sweet The Name! – Hymn 238 (verse 4).

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

 Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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