Daily Lesson for Thursday 18th of December 2025

The only way Israel will be able to avoid the temptation of idolatry and the wrath of God is not by constantly remembering the “don’ts” of the covenant but by fostering a conscious and consistent allegiance to the Lord. The same verb, “to cleave, adhere” to the Lord (see Deuteronomy 4:4), also is used to describe the marriage covenant that was intended between wife and husband (Genesis 2:24) or the loyalty of Ruth to Naomi (Ruth 1:14). It is important to note that, according to Joshua’s evaluation, such faithfulness has characterized Israel as a nation “to this day.” Unfortunately, the same assertion will not be true for later periods of Israel’s history, as the book of Judges sadly demonstrates (Judges 2:2,7,11; Judges 3:7,12; Judges 4:1, etc.).

Image © Kevin Carden from GoodSalt.com

In order for the Israelites to continually enjoy the blessings of the covenant, they will have to stay loyal to God. The Hebrew is extremely emphatic: “Be very careful for the sake of your own soul.” The word ’ahabah, “love,” can refer to a wide range of human affections, including friendly attachment, sexual intimacy, maternal tenderness, romantic love, and loyalty to God. If we understand love for God as a conscious commitment and devotion to Him, it can be enjoined without violating its true nature (compare with John 13:34). God always intended that obedience to His commands should spring from a personal relationship with Him (“I . . . brought you to Myself” [Exodus 19:4, NKJV]; Deuteronomy 6:5; compare with Matthew 22:37) based on what He has done for them in His great mercy and love.

The command to love God also expresses the mutual, but not symmetrical, nature of divine love. God desires to enter into an intimate, personal relationship with every person who reciprocates His love. Thus, His universal love to all constitutes the framework for the manifestation of our voluntary, mutual love.

<–Wednesday Friday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25d-12-cling-to-god/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=25d-12-cling-to-god

Is this True, Somewhat True, or False? In spiritual matters, faithfulness and obedience are one and the same. Join the Hit the Mark panel as they discuss Sabbath School Lesson 12 – God Is Faithful!. It’s the fastest hour of the week!

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/god-is-faithful-hit-the-mark-sabbath-school/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=god-is-faithful-hit-the-mark-sabbath-school

Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Dr. Barna Magyarosi, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson.”

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/12-god-is-faithful-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=12-god-is-faithful-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author

View an in-depth discussion of God is Faithful! in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris.
Click on the image below to view the video:

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

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/12-god-is-faithful-hope-sabbath-school-video-discussion/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=12-god-is-faithful-hope-sabbath-school-video-discussion

Daily Lesson for Wednesday 17th of December 2025

Israel already has experienced the Lord’s anger during the wilderness wanderings (Numbers 11:33, Numbers 12:9) as well as in the Promised Land (Joshua 7:1) and was fully aware of the consequences of provoking Yahweh’s anger by flagrantly breaking the covenant.

Image © Darrel Tank at Goodsalt.com

These verses represent the climax of the severity of Joshua’s rhetoric. It is shocking to hear that the Lord will destroy Israel, as the same term has been previously used to refer to the annihilation of the Canaanites. As surely as the promises of the Lord have been faithfully fulfilled concerning Israel’s blessing, the curses of the covenant (Leviticus 26:1-46, Deuteronomy 28:1-68) also will become true if the Israelites reject the covenant. In light of the dispossession and destruction of the Canaanites, these verses demonstrate once again that Yahweh is ultimately the judge of all the earth. He declares war against sin, irrespective of where it is found. Israel was not sanctified, and did not acquire special merits, through participation in holy war any more than pagan nations did when they later became the means of Yahweh’s judgment against the chosen nation.

It lies within Israel’s power of choice to make the glorious certainties of the past the foundation for facing the future.

At first glance, the biblical teaching on God’s anger seems to be incompatible with the affirmation that God is love (John 3:16, 1 John 4:8). Yet, it is exactly in the light of God’s wrath that the biblical doctrine of God’s love becomes even more relevant. First, the Bible presents God as loving, patient, long-suffering, and ready to forgive (Exodus 34:6, Micah 7:18). However, in the context of a world affected by sin, the wrath of the Lord is the attitude of His holiness and righteousness when confronted by sin and evil. His wrath is never an emotional, revengeful, unpredictable overreaction. The New Testament teaches that Christ became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), and through His death we have been reconciled with God (Romans 5:10). Whoever believes in Him will not have to face God’s wrath (John 3:36, Ephesians 2:3, 1 Thessalonians 1:10). The concept of the wrath of God presents God as the righteous judge of the universe and the One who upholds the cause of justice (Psalms 7:11, Psalms 50:6, 2 Timothy 4:8).

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25d-12-the-anger-of-the-lord/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=25d-12-the-anger-of-the-lord