Read Isaiah 26:14 and Isaiah 26:19. What is the contrast between those who will perish forever (Isaiah 26:14; see also Malachi 4:1) and those who will receive eternal life (Isaiah 26:19)?

The book of Isaiah presents a major contrast between the majesty of God and our human fragility (see Isaiah  chapter 40). Though we are like the grass that withers and the flower that fades, the word of God remains forever (Isaiah 40:6-8). Despite our human sinfulness, however, God’s saving grace is available to all human beings and becomes effective even to the Gentiles who embrace His covenant and keep the Sabbath (Isaiah chapter 56).

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In the book of Isaiah, the hope of the resurrection is broadened significantly. While previous biblical allusions to the resurrection were expressed more from personal perspectives (Job 19:25-27, Psalm 49:15, Psalm 71:20), the prophet Isaiah speaks of it as including both himself and the covenantal community of believers (Isaiah 26:19).

Isaiah 26:1-21 contrasts the distinct destinies of the wicked and the righteous. On one side, the wicked will remain dead, without ever being brought to life again, at least after the “second death” (Revelation 21:8). They will be completely destroyed, and all their memory will perish forever (Isaiah 26:14). This passage underscores the teaching that there are no surviving souls or spirits that remain alive after death. Speaking about the final destruction of the wicked, which comes later, the Lord stated elsewhere that the wicked will be completely burned up, leaving them “neither root nor branch” (Malachi 4:1, NKJV).

On the other side, the righteous dead will be raised from death to receive their blessed reward. Isaiah 25:1-12 highlights that the Lord God “will swallow up death forever” and “will wipe away tears from all faces” (Isaiah 25:8, NKJV). In Isaiah 26:1-21 we find the following words: “Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead” (Isaiah 26:19, NKJV). All the resurrected righteous will participate in the joyful feast that the Lord will prepare for all people (Isaiah 25:6). The final resurrection will bring together all the righteous from all ages, including your beloved ones who already died in Christ.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

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In Lesson 4, The Old Testament Hope, we learn valuable insight into dealing with death. Join the discussion. 

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Key Thought: The Old Testament hope is grounded on the final resurrection of the dead. If God was able to create life in the first place, why shouldn’t we believe in His capacity to recreate life and restore its original identity?
October 22, 2022

1. Have a volunteer read Job 19:25-27.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. Under what circumstances was Job expecting t see God and when?
3. Personal Application: What kind of faith do we need to trust God when things aren’t going our way?. Share your thoughts..
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “How did Job know about the resurrection and second coming of Jesus, when He hadn’t come and died on the cross yet?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Psalm 49:11-15..

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. In what ways have you seen the folly of those who trust in their wealth and accomplishments?
3. Personal Application: How do you know that God is going to redeem you from the power of the grave? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Shouldn’t a person try to accomplish a lot in life and doesn’t everyone strive for economic and financial security and make a difference in their community? What is the difference between David and other self-indulgent rulers?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Isaiah 26:14,19

1. Ask class members to share a short
2. What is the contrast between those who will perish forever and those that receive eternal life?
3. Personal Application: How do you want to be remembered, and by whom? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “Did the ones before the cross believe in their redemption because of their relationship with God through obedience or through faith? If faith, how did they know what to have faith in?” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Daniel 12:1,2.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What does Michael standing up have to do with the resurrection of th dead, both of the just and the unjust?
3. Personal Application: Do you want to live to see Jesus coming or sleep in the dust until the resurrection? What factors might be involved? 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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Read Psalm 71:1-24. What did David imply when he asked God to bring him up “again from the depths of the earth” (Psalm 71:20, NKJV)?

In Psalm 49:1-20 we found a touching expression of hope in the resurrection, in contrast to the false assurance of the fool who trusted in his wealth. In Psalm 71:1-24, David seeks security and hope from God while surrounded by enemies and false accusers who say that God has forsaken him (Psalm 71:10-11).

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Amid his trials, David finds comfort and assurance in recalling how God had cared for him in the past. First, he realizes that God had upheld him from birth and even took him out of his mother’s womb (Psalm 71:6). Then, he acknowledges that God had taught him from his youth (Psalm 71:17).

With the certainty that God was his rock and his fortress, David pleads with Him, “Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually” (Psalm 71:3, NKJV). “Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails” (Psalm 71:9, NKJV). “O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!” (Psalm 71:12, NKJV). And then David adds, “You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth” (Psalm 71:20, NKJV).

The expression “from the depths of the earth” could be understood literally as an allusion to the future physical resurrection of the psalmist. But the context seems to favor a metaphorical description of David’s condition of deep depression as if the earth were swallowing him (compare with Psalm 88:6 and Psalm 130:1). So, we could say that “it is primarily figurative speech, but also hints at a physical resurrection.” — Andrews Study Bible, p. 726, note on Psalm 71:20.

In the end, what’s important to grasp is that, whatever our situation, God is there, He cares, and ultimately, our hope isn’t found in this life but in the life to come — the eternal life we have in Jesus after our resurrection at His return.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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The theme hymn for this quarter’s studies “On Death, Dying and the FUTURE HOPE” is 
Hymn 214 – We Have This Hope.

The Memory Text shows us the first hymns for this week:
Hymn 304 – Faith Of Our Fathers, 
Hymn 608 – Faith Is The Victory and 
Hymn 518 – Standing On The Promises. The Sabbath afternoon reading then gives us 
Hymn 522 – My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less finalizing with 
Hymn 633 – When We All Get To Heaven where we will gain answers to all our questions of life on this earth.

Job did not question 
Will Your Anchor Hold? – Hymn 534 and maintains he is able to 
Hold Fast Til I (Jesus) Come/s – Hymn 600. We find it is wise to believe and be 
Standing On The Promises – Hymn 518.

We are reminded in 
Hymn 136 – Good Christians, Now Rejoice (verse 3) that “ye need not fear the grave” as does our study on Monday. Christ has conquered the grave: 
Hymn 166 – Christ the Lord Is Risen Today. The study also shows that we are to 
Rescue the Perishing – Hymn 367.

David’s story (Tuesday) encourages us to remember The Rock and Fortress: 
Hymn 506 – A Mighty Fortress because 
God Will Take Care of You – Hymn 99.

Oh, what a day that will be 
When We All Get To Heaven – Hymn 633.

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 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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