Daily Lesson for Friday 1st of March 2024

Read Ellen G. White, “God With Us,” pages 19–26, in The Desire of Ages.

Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com

Being both Christ’s prayers and prayers about Christ, the Psalms provide a unique revelation of Christ’s person and redeeming ministry as the One who is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Jesus is “God with us” in the battling prayers of forsakenness and suffering. He is “God with us” in the cries for justice and deliverance. Jesus is “God with us” by not abandoning us to our lostness and despair but showing us the way of faith victorious. He became for us the eternal Priest and King to save us from the everlasting doom of sin. In Christ, the perfect Davidic King, all God’s solemn promises of salvation find their fulfillment (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Ellen G. White insightfully describes Christ’s unity with humanity: “By His humanity, Christ touched humanity; by His divinity, He lays hold upon the throne of God. As the Son of man, He gave us an example of obedience; as the Son of God, He gives us power to obey. It was Christ who from the bush on Mount Horeb spoke to Moses saying, ‘I AM THAT I AM. . . . Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.’ Exodus 3:14. This was the pledge of Israel’s deliverance. So when He came ‘in the likeness of men,’ He declared Himself the I AM. The Child of Bethlehem, the meek and lowly Saviour, is God ‘manifest in the flesh.’ 1 Timothy 3:16. And to us He says: ‘I AM the Good Shepherd.’ ‘I AM the living Bread.’ ‘I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life.’ ‘All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.’ John 10:11; John 6:51; John 14:6; Matthew 28:18. I AM the assurance of every promise. I AM; be not afraid.”—The Desire of Ages, ages. 24, 25.

Discussion Questions

1. How has God demonstrated His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant despite the people’s unfaithfulness? What reassurance does that bring to God’s struggling children today?
2. How does Christ’s unique and superior priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek strengthen the certainty of salvation for God’s people?
3. The Gospels show that many Messianic promises in the Psalms were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. How does this demonstrate the veracity of God’s Word? Why must we resist any and every sentiment that tends to weaken our trust in God’s Word?
4. What great consolation can we get from Christ’s words, “ ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth’ ” (Matthew 28:18)? How do we apply this promise to our own experience?

(0)

The post Friday: Further Thought – Blessed Is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24a-09-further-thought-blessed-is-he-who-comes-in-the-name-of-the-lord/

Daily Lesson for Thursday 29th of February 2024

God endows the Messiah with an everlasting kingship (Psalms 110:1-3) and a priesthood of a superior rank, the order of Melchizedek (Psalms 110:4-7). The Lord seals His word with a solemn promise (Hebrews 6:18).

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

God’s oath not to relent from giving us a perfect Priest is a sign of His grace. People’s sins and open rebellions constantly provoke God to abandon His people, but God’s oath is unchangeable and guarantees God’s grace in revoking His judgment over the repentant people (Exodus 32:14, Psalms 106:45).

The divine oath introduces a novel element to the Davidic covenant by declaring that the Messiah King is also a Priest (Psalms 110:4). Israel’s kings could never function as Levitical priests (Numbers 8:19, 2 Chronicles 26:16-21). When Scripture mentions kings or people offering sacrifices, it implies their bringing sacrifices to the priests, who actually offered them. Psalms 110:1-7 sets the Messiah King apart from Israel’s other kings and priests. Christ’s eternal priesthood derives from Melchizedek, who was both the king of Salem (Jerusalem) and the priest of “the most high God” (Genesis 14:18-20). The Old Testament never speaks of King David or any other Israelite king as possessing the priesthood in the order of Melchizedek, except for Psalms 110:1-7. Clearly, the psalm speaks about a distinctive king-priest in Israel’s history.

Being both Divine King and everlasting Priest, Christ has unprecedented superiority over human priests and kings; so, we may take hope. Christ upholds a superior covenant that is based on God’s oath, not human promises. He serves in the heavenly sanctuary. His priesthood is not affected by sin or death, like that of human priests, and thus, He can intercede for and save His people forever. The reconciling work of Christ as the perfect and compassionate Priest gives His people a lasting assurance of abiding in God’s very presence (Hebrews 6:19-20). Christ’s royal priesthood will abolish the rule of evil, not only in people’s hearts but also in the world. He will keep the promise of Psalms 2:1-12 that every nation and ruler will be subject to the royal judgment of Christ Jesus (Psalms 2:6-9; Psalms 110:1-2,5-6). Jesus’ wonderful royal priesthood makes an absolute claim on our obedience and trust.

(0)

The post Thursday: Eternal Priest in the Order of Melchizedek appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24a-09-eternal-priest-in-the-order-of-melchizedek/

Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Dragoslava Santrac, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson, “The Lord Reigns.”

(0)

The post 9: Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord – It is Written – Discussions with the Author appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/9-blessed-is-he-that-comes-in-the-name-of-the-lord-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author/

View an in-depth discussion of Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris.  
Click on the image below to view the video:

With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

(0)

The post 9: Blessed Is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord – HopeSS Video Discussion appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/9-blessed-is-he-who-comes-in-the-name-of-the-lord-hopess-video-discussion/

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).

(0)

The post Wednesday: Eternal King of Unrivaled Power appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24a-09-eternal-king-of-unrivaled-power/