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Responding to the Gifts of God
Lesson 2 - September 11, 2016
Focus Text: Psalm 19:1-14
Central Truth: While all people are blessed by God's gifts, the truly blessed are those who respond positively to those gifts.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify at least three ways they can respond positively to the gifts they have received from God.
Lesson Outline:
- The Gift of Creation (Psalm 19:16)
- The Gift of Revelation (Psalm 19:711)
- The Gift of Cleansing (Psalm 19:1214)
Prayer – Lesson 1, Studies in the Psalms
Heavenly Father, as our classes begin this new quarter, enrich our faith as we study the "hymnal" of the Bible. Help us to respond to crises by worshiping Christ. In Jesus' name, we pray.
How do you approach God in times of trouble?
In "God's Word for Today" David Woods writes:
The faithful respond to crises by expressing faith in God. David was surrounded by wicked nations. He was distressed. Instead of uttering a panicky prayer, however, he worshiped God, and while doing so poured out his concerns and desires to God.
Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 5.
What does it mean for God to be "sovereign"?
In "Doctrinal Discussion" William Sillings writes:
Sovereignty can be defined as the essential quality of God by which He exercises His supremacy because of who He is and in harmony with whom He has revealed Himself to be. His sovereignty does not allow Him to act outside of His other essential characteristics. That is, being sovereign, He is also holy, just, loving, eternal, etc. His sovereignty does not detract from or diminish His other attributes.
For practical implications of the sovereignty of God, see the "Doctrinal Discussion" in Adult Teacher's Insights!
Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 8.
King of Kings
“The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret” (Daniel 2:47).
Each ancient nation had its own god. These gods were territorial gods who ruled the land in which their worshipers lived. Jehovah is unique. He is not a god; He is the God of gods. He is the creator of the heavens and the earth. The Babylonians considered Marduk as supreme in the pantheon of gods. However, when Nebuchadnezzar saw the power of Daniel’s God, he exclaimed, “Of a truth, your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings.”
In the ancient world, the status of a god gave status to his worshipers. The Jewish people were captives, but they were worshipers of the King of kings. How they must have rejoiced when even Nebuchadnezzar recognized the power and majesty of their God.
Today, Christians face scorn from society’s elites. But never forget that you serve the King of kings. Someday, every knee will bow before Him. Regardless of the opposition of this world, our Lord reigns forever and ever. (Randall McElwain)
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
King of Kings! And Lord of Lords!
And He shall reign forever and ever. Hallelujah!
(Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus: Public Domain)
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p style="text-align:center;font-style:italic;">Do not live in defeat and discouragement.
You are a child of the God of gods and King of kings.
This devotional is the Saturday, September 3, 2016 entry of Opening the Word.
Can we be sure of God's answer to our prayer?
In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes:
David called for God to exert His power against David's enemies not only because of the rightness of his case, but also in judgment of their evil deeds. (The Hebrew grammar here allows us to understand verses 5 and 6 either as a request for God's action or that David was so sure that God would answer his prayer that he put the verbs in past tense although the event was still future.) In effect, David was saying, “Act in defense of your great name, as well as for my benefit.” Put out their name for ever.
Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 5.