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

Psalm 67:4 – O, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!

Our studies so far this quarter are summarized in Sabbath afternoon’s introduction:
Hymn 109 – Marvelous Grace creating in us a clean heart to live by faith: 
Hymn 517 – My Faith Looks Up To Thee and we are then blessed knowing that 
Faith Is The Victory – Hymn 608

“The life of faith is maintained by walking in the law of God” says Sunday’s study: 
Hymn 444 – I’m A Pilgrim and then we find 
My Faith Has Found A Resting Place – Hymn 523. “The Psalmist delights in the law because the law assures him of God’s faithfulness,” says Psalm 119:77, 124: 
Hymn  100 – Great Is Thy Faithfulness.

 Savior, Teach Me – Hymn 193 is what Monday’s study portrays for us in our daily living and learning.

 With all the pitfalls and failings in today’s society, the Blessings of Righteous Living (Thursday) comes with 
Peace, Perfect Peace – Hymn 463. Ellen White, in Great Controversy p. 675 says we “shall find a home” as does 
Hymn 420 – Jerusalem My Happy Home and 
Hymn 436 – The Homeland, where we will have peace forevermore.

 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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Key Thought: Wisdom for righteous living is gained with God amid temptations and challenges. We need an ongoing commitment to walk in faithfulness to the Lord.
February 24, 2024

1. Have a volunteer read Psalm 81:7,8; 95:7-11; 105:17-22.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What does Divine testing involve in these texts?
3. Personal Application: What has been your own experience with how sin hardens our hearts? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of you relatives states, “.How and why should we keep God’s commandments? What blessings do we get for obeying Him? How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Psalm 119:1-16.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How did Christ demonstrate the power of God’s word in His life?
3. Personal Application: What do you think happens when people conscientiously and constantly reject God’s teaching? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Christ kept the commandments because He was God. The Bible tells us since we are sinners, we can’t keep God’s commandments/ He died on the cross to forgive our sins – past, present, and future. We focus on the cross, not on the commandments.” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Psalm 141.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What does the Psalmist pray for?
3. Personal Application: How does the cunning and progressive character of temptation afflict our souls and cause us distress? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “Why do the unrighteous and non-Christian seem to be doing very well? Why would their lives seem more desirable than those who diligently follow God?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Psalm 1:1-3; 112:1-9.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What blessings are promised for those who revere the Lord?
3. Personal Application: Why is the death of Christ on the cross the guarantee of the promises of what God has in store for us? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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Daily Lesson for Monday 19th of February 2024

Fallen human existence is but a vapor in the light of eternity. A thousand years in God’s sight is “like a watch in the night,” which lasted three or four hours (Psalms 90:4, NKJV). Compared to divine time, a human lifetime flies away (Psalms 90:10).

Image © Susan Unoura at Goodsalt.com

The strongest among humans are analogous to the weakest among plants (Psalms 90:5-6; Psalms 103:15-16). Yet, even that short life is filled with labor and sorrow (Psalms 90:10). Even secular people, who have no belief in God, mourn and lament the shortness of life, especially in contrast to the eternity that’s out there and that, they know, threatens to go on without them.

Psalms 90:1-17 places the human predicament in the context of God’s care for people as their Creator. The Lord has been the dwelling place of His people in all generations (Psalms 90:1-2). The Hebrew word ma‘on, “dwelling place,” portrays the Lord as the shelter or refuge of His people (Psalms 91:9).

God restrains His righteous wrath and extends His grace anew. The psalmist exclaims, “Who knows the power of Your anger?” (Psalms 90:11, NKJV), implying that no one has ever experienced the full effect of God’s anger against sin, and so, there is hope for people to repent and gain wisdom for righteous living.

Wisdom in the Bible depicts not merely intelligence but reverence for God. The wisdom that we need is knowing how “to number our days” (Psalms 90:12). If we can number our days, it means that our days are limited and that we know that they are limited. Wise living means living with an awareness of life’s transience that leads to faith and obedience. This wisdom is gained only through repentance (Psalms 90:8,12) and God’s gifts of forgiveness, compassion, and mercy (Psalms 90:13-14).

Our fundamental problem stems not from the fact that we are created as human beings but from sin and from what sin has wrought in our world. Its devastating effects are seen everywhere and in every person.

Thanks to Jesus, however, a way has been made for us out of our human predicament (John 1:29, John 3:14-21). Otherwise, we would have no hope at all.

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Daily Lesson for Sunday 18th of February 2024

The Bible depicts a daily life of faith as a pilgrimage (“walk”) with God in His path of righteousness. The life of faith is maintained by walking “in the law of the Lord” (Psalms 119:1, NKJV) and by walking “in the light of Your countenance” (Psalms 89:15, NKJV). These are by no means two different walks. Walking in the light of God’s countenance implies upholding God’s law. Equally, walking “in the law of the Lord” involves seeking God with the whole heart (Psalms 119:1-2,10).

Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com

Being “undefiled in the way” is another way the Psalms describe the righteous life (Psalms 119:1). “Undefiled” describes a sacrifice “without blemish” that is acceptable to God (Exodus 12:5). Likewise, the life of the righteous individual is a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). Thus, a love for sin must not defile it. A life devoted to God is also a “perfect way,” meaning that the person assumes a right direction in life that is pleasing to God (Psalms 101:2,6; see also Psalms 18:32).

Keeping God’s commandments has nothing to do with a legalistic observance of divine rules. On the contrary, it consists of “a good understanding” of the difference between right and wrong and good and evil (Psalms 111:10; see also 1 Chronicles 22:12), and involves the whole person, not merely outward actions. Being “undefiled,” keeping God’s commandments and seeking God with the whole heart, are inseparable attitudes in life (Psalms 119:1, 2).

God’s commandments are a revelation of God’s will for the world. They instruct people on how to become wise and to live in freedom and peace (Psalms 119:7-11,133). The psalmist delights in the law because the law assures him of God’s faithfulness (Psalms 119:77,174).

“Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble” (Psalms 119:165, NKJV). The image of stumbling depicts moral failure. As the lamp to the psalmist’s feet (Psalms 119:105), God’s Word protects us from temptations (Psalms 119:110).

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Daily Lesson for Saturday 17th of February 2024

Image © Pacific Press

Read for This Week’s Study

Psalms 119:1-16, Psalms 90:1-17, John 3:16, Psalms 95:7-11, Psalms 141:1-10, Psalms 128:1-6.

Memory Text:

“So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalms 90:1-17:12, NKJV).

As we have seen, God’s grace provides for the forgiveness of sin, and it creates a new heart in the repentant sinner, who now lives by faith.

God’s Word also provides instructions for righteous living (Psalms 119:9-16). Keeping God’s law is by no means a legalistic observance of rules but life in an intimate relationship with God, a life full of blessings (Psalms 119:1-2; Psalms 128:1-6).

However, the life of the righteous person is not without temptations. Sometimes the righteous can be tempted by the cunning nature of sin (Psalms 141:2-4) and even fall to that temptation. God allows times of testing to let His children’s faithfulness (or unfaithfulness) be clearly revealed. If God’s children heed God’s instruction and admonishment, their faith will be purified and their trust in the Lord strengthened. Wisdom for righteous living is gained through the dynamics of life with God amid temptations and challenges. Thus, the prayer that God would teach us to number our days so that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalms 90:12) reflects an ongoing commitment to walk in faithfulness to the Lord.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 24.

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