Daily Lesson for Monday 1st of January 2024

King David, whose name appears in the titles of most psalms, was active in organizing the liturgy of Israel’s worship. He is called “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1). The New Testament attests to Davidic authorship of various psalms (Matthew 22:43-45; Acts 2:25-29,34-35; Acts 4:25; Romans 4:6-8). Numerous psalms were composed by the temple musicians who were also Levites: for example, Psalms 50:1-23 and Psalms 73:1-28−83 by Asaph; Psalms 42:1-11, Psalms 44:1-26−47, Psalms 49:1-20, Psalms 84:1-12, Psalms 85:1-13, Psalms 87:1-7−88 by the sons of Korah; Psalms 88:1-18 also by Heman the Ezrahite; and Psalms 89:1-52 by Ethan the Ezrahite. Beyond them, Solomon (Psalms 72:1-20, Psalms 127:1-5) and Moses (Psalms 90:1-17) authored some psalms.

The Holy Spirit inspired the psalmists and used their talents in service to God and to their community of faith. The psalmists were people of genuine devotion and profound faith and yet prone to discouragements and temptations, as are the rest of us. Though written a long time ago, the Psalms surely reflect some of what we experience today.

“Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry. For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to the grave” (Psalms 88:2-3, NKJV). This is a cry of the twenty-first-century soul as much as it was of someone 3,000 years ago.

Some psalms mention hardships; some focus on joys. The psalmists cried out to God to save them and experienced His undeserved favor. They glorified God for His faithfulness and love, and they pledged their untiring devotion to Him. The Psalms are, thus, testimonies of divine Redemption and signs of God’s grace and hope. The Psalms convey a divine promise to all who embrace, by faith, God’s gifts of forgiveness and of a new life. Yet, at the same time, they do not try to cover up, hide, or downplay the hardships and suffering prevalent in a fallen world.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24a-01-meet-the-psalmists/

Daily Lesson for Sunday 31st of December 2023

The Psalms were composed for use in private and in communal worship. They were sung as hymns in temple worship, as suggested by the musical annotations that mention instruments (Psalms 61:1), tunes (Psalms 9:1), and music leaders (Psalms 8:1).

In the Hebrew Bible, the title of the book of Psalms, tehilim, “praises,” reflects its main purpose—that is, the praise of God. The English title Book of Psalms is derived from the Greek psalmoi, found in the Septuagint, an early (second and third century B.C.) Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.

The Psalms were an indispensable part of Israel’s worship. For example, they were used in temple dedications, religious feasts, and processions, as well as during the setting down of the ark of the covenant in Jerusalem.

“The Songs of Ascents” (Psalms 120:1-7−134), also known as the pilgrimage songs, were traditionally sung during the pilgrimage to Jerusalem at the three major annual festivals (Exodus 23:14-17). The “Egyptian Hallel” (Psalms 113:1-9:1-9−118) and the “Great Hallel” (Psalms 136:1-26) were sung at the three major annual festivals, including the festivals of the New Moon and the dedication of the temple. The Egyptian Hallel received a significant place in the Passover ceremony. Psalms 113:1-9:1-9 and 114 were sung at the beginning of the Passover meal and Psalms 115:1-18−118 at the end (Matthew 26:30). The “Daily Hallel” (Psalms 145:1-21−150) was incorporated into the daily prayers in the synagogue morning services.

The Psalms did not only accompany the people’s worship, but they also instructed them on how they should worship God in the sanctuary. Jesus prayed with the words of Psalms 22:1-31 (Matthew 27:46). The Psalms found a significant place in the life of the early church, as well (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19).

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24a-01-the-psalms-in-ancient-israels-worship/

The Mission program of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is an opportunity for us to understand the needs of others and share in supporting them. Please click on the image below to watch the Mission Spotlight presentation for this week:

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/mission-spotlight-for-december-30/

Daily Lesson for Saturday 30th of December 2023

Read for This Week’s Study

1 Chronicles 16:7; Nehemiah 12:8; Psalms 25:1-5; Psalms 33:1-3; Romans 8:26-27; Psalms 82:8; Psalms 121:7.

Memory Text:

“Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” (Luke 24:44-45, NKJV).

The Psalms have been a prayer book and hymnbook for both Jews and Christians through the ages. And though the Psalms are predominantly the psalmists’ own words addressed to God, the Psalms did not originate with mortals but with God, who inspired their thoughts.

Indeed, the Lord inspired them to write what they did, which is why, as in all of Scripture (2 Peter 1:21), God in the Psalms speaks to us through His servants and by His Spirit. Jesus, the apostles, and the writers of the New Testament cited the Psalms and referred to them as Scripture (Mark 12:10; John 10:34-35; John 13:18). They are as surely the Word of God as are the books of Genesis and Romans.

The Psalms have been written in Hebrew poetry by different authors from ancient Israel, and so, the Psalms reflect their particular world, however universal their messages. Accepting the Psalms as God’s Word and paying close attention to the Psalms’ poetic features, as well as their historical, theological, and liturgical contexts, is fundamental for understanding their messages, which reach across thousands of years to our time today.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 6.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24a-01-how-to-read-the-psalms/

Inside Story for Friday 29th of December 2023

By Andrew McChesney

Joseph Delamou had prayed to God to reveal His true church, but Joseph didn’t know where to worship in Conakry, capital of the French-speaking country of Guinea in West Africa. After studying the Bible with his English teacher, a Seventh-day Adventist named Fortunate Kaloubilori, he fasted for three days and pleaded with God to reveal His will.

Then Joseph had a dream in which he was locked up in prison. A prison guard was a relative, and he begged him for freedom. “I cannot free you even though we are from the same family,” the relative said.

Joseph attempted to escape but was caught and reproved by his relative.

“Don’t play with me,” the relative said. “If you try that again, I will punish you in a way that you will never forget.”

A voice boomed out with a description of the punishment. “Someone will bring straw and put it under you and set it on fire,” the voice said.

Joseph understood that the punishment represented hell after Jesus’ coming. He prayed, “I’m not better than the others. Only don’t let me die here. I want to accomplish something for You before I die.”

After the prayer, he was somehow removed from the prison cell and into the presence of three soldiers. One soldier said, “Joseph, you must pay the ransom for your freedom.”

“Only God freed me, not you,” Joseph replied. “Jesus paid the price on the cross. I owe you nothing.”

But the soldier insisted, “If you don’t pay, we will take you back to prison.”

“My freedom did not come from you, and you cannot go against God, who freed me,” Joseph said. “My life depends on God, and if you harm me, you are not harming me but God.

The soldiers left, and Joseph turned around and saw Fortunate.

“Your freedom is from God,” Fortunate assured him.

Then Joseph woke up. It was 3:00 a.m., and he was sweating. The dream seemed so real.

He prayed, “Thank You, God. Every time I ask for help, You answer me. I thank You, not for answering me but for loving me.”

Today, Joseph is 24 and a faithful Adventist.

“When I was a child, I asked God to lead me to the right path,” he said. “God answered this prayer by bringing me to the Adventist Church. I am ready to serve God.”

Your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this Sabbath will help spread the gospel in the West-Central Africa Division, which includes Guinea. Thank you for your generous offering.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/23d-13-inside-story-dreaming-dreams-part-3/