Everyone is looking for hope. But where is it found? For some people, hope is found in the smile of a friend. For others, hope grows from financial security or a stable marriage. Where do you normally look for hope and courage?

In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet is writing to people who had lost hope in their exile. “By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion” (Psalm 137:1, NIV). But even though they are heartbroken, Jeremiah lays out reasons they should not give up hope.

What reasons for hope are given in Jeremiah 29:1-10?

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In this passage, there are three important sources of hope worth highlighting.

• First, God tells His people that they should not give up hope, because their situation is not the result of chance or unpredictable evil. For God Himself says, “I carried [Judah] into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon” (Jeremiah 29:4, NIV). Though evil seems to surround them, Judah has never left the center of God’s hands.
• Second, God tells His people that they should not give up hope, because He can work even within their present difficulties. “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:7, NIV).
• Third, God tells His people that they should not give up hope, because He is going to bring an end to their exile at a specific time: “This is what the LORD says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place’ ” (Jeremiah 29:10, NIV).

After God explains how He was in charge of their past, is in charge of their present, and will be in charge of their future, He then beautifully conveys His tender care for His people (see Jeremiah 29:11-14).

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

Amen!(2)

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“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13, NIV).

Someone once said, “When God seems far away, who is the one who has moved?” When problems strike, we presume that God has deserted us. The truth is that He hasn’t gone anywhere.

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God’s presence seemed very far away to the Jews in exile. Yet, through Isaiah God assures them of future deliverance. However, while the actual return to Jerusalem was still many years in the future, God wanted His people to know that He had not moved away from them and that there was every reason for hope.

Read Isaiah 41:8-14. What reasons for hope can you identify for people waiting eagerly for future deliverance? How does this promise help us as we wait for our exile on earth to end?

One of the most powerful images in these verses is found in Isaiah 41:13. The sovereign God of the universe says that His people do not need to fear, because He is the one who takes “hold of your right hand” (NIV). It is one thing to imagine God guiding events on earth from a big throne light-years away from our earth. But it is an altogether different picture to realize that He is close enough to hold the hands of His dearly beloved people.

When we are busy, it can be hard to remember that God is so close to us. But when we do remember that He is Immanuel, “God with us,” it makes such a difference. When God’s presence is with us, so are His purposes, His promises, and His transforming power.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

Amen!(2)

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Oswald Chambers writes, “Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do; He reveals to you Who He is.” — My Utmost for His Highest (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour & Company, Inc., 1963), Jan. 2.

What do you think Chambers means by this idea?

As we know, the book of Job begins with great personal tragedy for Job. He loses everything, except his life and his wife, and she suggests that he “curse God and die!” (Job 2:9, NIV). What follows is a discussion in which his friends try to work out why it has all happened. Throughout all of these discussions, God remains silent.

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Then suddenly in Job 38:1-41 God appears and speaks: “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2, NIV). Without pausing, God asks Job some 60 jaw-dropping questions. Open your Bible and scan through these in Job 38:1-41 and Job 39:1-30.

After the last question, Job replies, “I am unworthy — how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer — twice, but I will say no more” (Job 40:4-5, , NIV). But God is not finished. He then begins again and asks another set of “big” questions in succession.

Read Job’s final response in Job 42:1-6. What was God trying to tell Job, and what was the effect on him?

God never answers any of the “why” questions of Job’s friends. But God does paint a picture of His unparalleled greatness as revealed through the astonishing works of creation. After this, Job certainly does not need any answers. The need for explanations has been eclipsed by an overwhelming picture of the magnificence of God.

This story reveals a fascinating paradox. Hope and encouragement can spring from the realization that we know so little. Instinctively, we try to find comfort by knowing everything, and so we become discouraged when we cannot know. But sometimes God highlights our ignorance so that we may realize that human hope can find security only in a Being much greater than ourselves.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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Key Thought: Understanding the plan of salvation and prophetic events helps us to cultivate the hope that helps us overcome trials. The key is knowing who God is and that He is with us.
August 13, 2022

1. Have a volunteer read Job 42:1-6..

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What was God trying to tell Job and what was the effect on him?
3. Personal Application: Are there things happening right now that you can’t understand? How do we deal with these things? Ignore them? Try to face them? Share your thoughts..
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Why did Job abhor himself and repent in dust and ashes when he came into the presence of the Lord? Shouldn’t he have rejoiced that God had favoured him?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Isaiah 41:8-14.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What reasons for hope are there for people waiting for deliverance?
3. Personal Application: How can we make the reality of God holding our right hand sure in our lives? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why does God tell Jacob He is with him, but then calls him a worm? That doesn’t sound very encouraging.” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Jeremiah 29:1-10.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. What reasons for hope are given in Jeremiah?
3. Personal Application: What do you look for in hope? A friendly smile? Financial security? A stable marriage? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbours states: “Why does God tell Israel to not listen to those who said that God would bring them out of captivity? Why did He tell them that it would be seventy years before He would deliver them?” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 12:5-13..

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What is the message to us here?
3. Personal Application: What is the source, the response, or the goal of discipline? 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).

Amen!(0)

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Having scanned through the lesson quarterly, there are so many hymns from which to choose a theme. In effect, there is a commencing theme hymn which changes through the quarter to the finale theme hymn. To start with, we could use:
Hymn 552 – The Lord’s My Shepherd or 
Hymn 545 – Savior, Like a Shepherd.
Somewhere in the middle of the quarter one could change the theme and add in
Hymn 159 – On a Hill Far Away which is where we complete our studies in Lesson 13.

 Our lesson study title, as does Monday’s study, shouts so many hymns to us:
Hymn 214 – We Have This Hope,
Hymn 522 – My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less,
Hymn 5 – All My Hope on God is Founded, and
Hymn 440 – How Cheering Is the Christian’s Hope, just to name a few.

“When God seems far away, who is the one who has moved?” is an opening question for Tuesday giving us hymns to sing about solidity – no moving: 
Hymn 347 – Built On The Rock and 
Hymn 531 – We’ll Build On The Rock, showing that 
My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less – Hymn 522. The day’s study closes with God being so close to us, close enough to hold my hand –
O For A Closer Walk With God – Hymn 315.

 Wednesday brings back the issue of hope: 
Hymn 5 – All My Hope on God is Founded with the answer coming in 
Hymn 523 – My Faith Has Found a Resting Place because 
Hymn 99 – God Will Take Care of You. This answers the question 
Does Jesus Care? – Hymn 181.

 Paul describes all the trials on Thursday and it will be amazing to sing 
The Glory Song – Hymn 435 when all my labours and trials are o’er!  Paul goes on to say that it is faith that keeps us going when faced with all sorts of trying situations: 
O For A Faith that will not shrink – Hymn 533. “
The key is to fix our eyes upon Jesus ( Hebrews 12:3): 
Hymn 290 – Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.

Ellen White (Friday) encourages us to “plant our feet upon a foundation more firm that the everlasting hills, and new faith, new life, would spring into being”: 
Hymn 509 – How Firm a Foundation.

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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