A Redeemer in Zion

August 2, 2015 Background Scripture: Isaiah 59; Psalm 89:11 – 18 Lesson Passage: Isaiah 59:15 – 21 Isaiah was the most prolific of the writing prophets. The scope of his prophecy covers the range of the bible from Genesis to Revelation. Although much of the prophecy contains warnings about God’s judgment, it ends with a strong message of hope for the people of God. One message that comes across loud and clear is that God will judge Israel and her enemies. Although God may use unjust nations to punish Israel, those nations will face the wrath of God. If God punishes His people for iniquity, then how much more will God pour out His wrath against the unrighteousness of the wicked. Israel will be saved because it pleases God to honor His covenant with her forefathers. However, Israel has to repent and return to God for redemption. Because of sin, Israel was sold into captivity. The message of hope is that the captivity is for a limited time. Afterwards, Israel would be redeemed and restored to a right relationship with God. Today’s lesson points toward Zion’s ultimate redemption. It will only be necessary for the Redeemer to redeem Israel once because His work is eternal. This redeemer would stand in the gap and intercede between God and His people. The redemption would be once for all because the Redeemer ever lives to make intercession for the people of God. Hidden in the message of hope is God’s role in the redemption. God declared that there was no intercessor to stand between mankind and Him. Therefore, God took on the task Himself. The role would require spiritual warfare. Therefore, God clothed Himself for the spiritual battle. The Lord put on His armor of vengeance and came against his enemies and the enemies of His people. Unlike the Christian’s armor that is designed to withstand the attacks of Satan and his evil demons, the Lord’s armor includes provision for vengeance and zeal. Perhaps the Lord’s zeal, or eagerness to execute vengeance, lies in the absence of justice among His people. This warfare will not be waged in Heaven but rather the Lord will come to Zion. The enemy will be powerless to overcome the Lord. The enemy will attempt to attack the people of God but his effort will be thwarted. When the enemy goes on the attack, the Lord will lift up a protective spiritual barrier that the enemy will not be able to penetrate. God will destroy the enemy in the midst of His people. Israel’s long awaited Messiah will bring vengeance against her adversaries. Since the days of David, Israel had looked for the promised redeemer to deliver her and rule over her in peace. The prophet’s message reassured Israel that the Deliverer would come. After seasons of apostasy and punishment, the final redemption will take place and Israel will enter into the glory of the Lord. She will not have to go and seek redemption; for the Redeemer will come to Zion. Robert C. Hudson July 17, 2015

God’s Matchless Mercy

July 26, 2015 Background Scripture: Micah 7:11 – 20 Lesson Passage: Micah 7:14 – 20 The bible presents so many qualities and attributes that stand out when it speaks of God. At the risk of over-simplifying it, I believe it is reasonable to say that there are two qualities that people of God should identify with perhaps more than others; these are love and mercy. In fact, I believe the scriptures make detailed references to both when one considers the entire bible. Oftentimes, it is easy for me to boast of the love of God that He makes available to whosoever. After all, who doesn’t want to receive unmerited love? Once you have received it, it’s worth boasting about. God’s mercy, on the other hand, stands in contrast to the backdrop of human ethical and moral depravity and failure. We can speak of our reciprocating love as a proper response to the expression of God’s love in our lives. Reciprocating is not so easy when we reflect on our continuous need of God’s mercy. In fact, it takes a bit of spiritual maturity to admit that our need for God’s mercy is indeed continuous. God’s mercy is a reminder of just how frail human nature is and how our natural person is an enemy of God. Mercy is not just received but it demands the acknowledgement of guilt and the desire for mercy. We know this. On a human level, it is not always easy to extend mercy to others but we find it easier when the offending party admits wrong doing. Even then, we will sometimes only grant mercy conditionally. We might offer a probationary period or we might insist on seeing some fruits of contrition. That’s where I believe the greatest division happens that separates human mercy from God’s mercy. God’s mercy is unparalleled. God can and often does grant us mercy unconditionally. Sometimes before we even know we stand in need of mercy, God grants mercy without us so much as repenting or confessing our guilt. Such was the case when God sent the prophet, Nathan, to talk to King David about his sin. David confessed his sin while the prophet talked with him and Nathan told David that God had already put his sin away. God had provided mercy even before David was confronted with his sin and requested mercy. Note that God’s mercy did not remove all of the consequences of David’s sin. The ultimate goal of sin is to destroy the sinner but God’s mercy prevents the destruction of people who are kept by Him. David’s life faced much turmoil after his sin but he was not destroyed. In our lesson today, Israel is reminded by the prophet, Micah, that in spite of her sins and ensuing punishment, God’s mercy will prevail and the enemies of God were going to see it and be confounded. God would once again bless His people openly. (He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies.) God’s delight in giving mercy will be on display. God will remember the covenant He made with the forefathers of Israel and again honor it. Everyone is capable of showing mercy but none can compare to God’s matchless mercy. Robert C. Hudson July 10, 2015

What the Lord Requires

July 19, 2015 Background Scripture: Micah 6 Lesson Passage: Micah 6:3 – 8 Micah had delivered God’s message that condemned the leaders of Israel and Judah along with the wealthy for their evil deeds. God had denounced greed, corruption, and lying prophets. Impending destruction was prophesied for both nations. One might ask: Why was God so angry with His people? God’s complaint was that He had been faithful to His people. He had delivered them from their enemies and provided leaders for them that feared Him and led them to worship Him. On the other hand, the people desired religious rituals that they could use to appease God. The people questioned what amount of material goods they needed to offer God to satisfy Him. They were even willing to bow down before Him if it were necessary. They recognized that God was not satisfied with them because of the message of prophets such as Micah. They accepted that they had indeed transgressed the laws of God. Knowing that they could not undo their actions, they wanted to know what it would take to make their relationship with God okay again. They were willing to make enormous sacrifices even to the point of offering the firstborn child to God. However, none of those things were going to satisfy God’s desire for righteous living on the part of His people. God requested three things of His people: justice, mercy, and humility. These are character traits that should define people who are made in the image and likeness of God. Justice demands fairness in all dealings with people. The rich should not be judged differently than the poor. God’s people did not have to define justice or figure it out for themselves. God had given them the Law and justice is established by the law of God. God had given them the standard of justice to judge both people and matters. Adherence to God’s law insures justice. On the other hand, this type of justice, if unrestrained, would condemn everybody. To prevent this wholesale condemnation, it is necessary that mercy be applied. The application of mercy should be the desire of God’s people. God’s people should love mercy. When we recall all of the times God delivered us, we should enjoy and celebrate seeing God deliver others. There is none righteous—no, not one. All of God’s children are the recipients of God’s divine mercy. It was part of the deliverance package. As we have received mercy, we should be quick to extend mercy to others. Finally, God requires His people to walk in humility. God despises a proud look. None of us have anything we can boast on that did not come from God. Humility is a reminder that God is the only one who is perfect in holiness. Humility also reminds us that God has delivered us from bondage to sin and is upholding us by His own power. Since we could not deliver ourselves and we cannot keep ourselves from evil, then what do we have to boast about other than the goodness of God? We have no room for pride or self-righteousness. But as we walk “with” God, He keeps us in the path of righteousness and because of His presence, we should be humble. This is what the Lord requires. Robert C. Hudson July 8, 2015

No Tolerance for Corrupt Officials

July 12, 2015 Background Scripture: Micah 3 Lesson Passage: Micah 3:5 – 12 What do we expect of our leaders? I believe that there are at least three things we should desire of our leaders: set directions for the followers, communicate with the followers, and be fair to all followers. When leaders become corrupt, fairness is bound to be the first thing to suffer. When followers cannot expect fairness from their leaders, then some followers will likely suffer injustice. This holds true for both civil and religious leaders. Today’s lesson continues Micah’s prophetic warning against injustice among God’s people and the ensuing consequences of it. Chapter 3 in its entirety is a condemnation of the leadership of Israel and Judah. The leaders were corrupt and, as expected, the people suffered as a result of it. In spite of the warnings of several prophets, the leaders continued to speak the right thing and do the wrong thing. Israel’s leaders were expected to set the proper example for God’s people. Civil leaders are supposed to know and uphold justice but Israel’s leaders were guilty of perverting justice. They were accused of hating that which is good and loving that which is evil. In other words, in their unrighteousness, Israel’s officials had become the enemies of God. Even some of the prophets of Israel had become corrupt. Therefore, God was going to take away their vision that they would not be able to prophesy. They would not be able to speak about a future vision because God was not going to allow them to see one. As if things couldn’t get any worse, a graver charge against the leadership was that they were in it for money. God condemns greedy leaders in both the Old and the New Testaments. Today’s text is a clear example of one of the many examples in the Old Testament where God plainly exposed leaders who were greedy for money. Whether it was civil officials receiving bribes or religious leaders performing their duties for money, justice and fairness were being corrupted for the sake of money. Officials who are willing to be bribed will always destroy the integrity of an institution that exists for the good of a group—especially if the group consists of those who cannot fend for themselves. All fairness or justice is destroyed when officials act based on receiving money rather than evaluating the merits of each specific case or situation. When money is involved, the rich gains an advantage over the poor. In such cases, the rich can buy a favorable outcome from the justice system while the poor is apt to suffer at the hands of it even when he or she is innocent. However, God is the defender of the poor, orphans, and widows. God’s lack of tolerance for corrupt leaders provides salvation for the disadvantaged. It was in vain that Israel’s leaders thought that their lip service in speaking of the Lord was going to bring them favor with God. Contrary to what they thought, the nation would be destroyed because of their corruption. The suffering of the people would be on their hands and they would be held accountable for it by God. Robert C. Hudson July 1, 2015