Justice, Vengeance, and Mercy

January 2, 2022 Background Scripture: Genesis 4 Lesson Passage: Genesis 4:1 -15 The coronavirus pandemic has not led to lower crime rates as might have been expected with less travel and more lockdowns nationwide. In fact, our nation has experienced an uptick of homicides during the past two years. Perhaps it is fitting that we should begin this year's study by reviewing the first case of murder in human history. In this study, we can examine the root cause of the murder, consider the repercussions of it, and review God's response to it. It is very important that we review and try to understand God's response to this atrocity. The first three chapters of Genesis provide an overview of the creation of the universe, the creation of animal life on earth, and the creation of mankind. Adam was created in righteousness in the image and likeness of God. God gave Adam the freedom to use his will to make decisions, except he was told to avoid one specific fruit. Adam was given dominion over the creatures of the earth. With a rib from Adam, God made Eve to be a perfect helper for Adam. Today we refer to this as living in Paradise, or God's perfect place for humanity to exist. That ideal situation ended when Adam disobeyed God and ate the one fruit God told him not to eat. Adam and Eve had to live with some consequences of his disobedience to God. They were expelled from the Garden of Eden, where they were caretakers, and sent to till the ground and battle the elements to grow food for themselves. God told Adam that the burden of the work would cause him to perspire, and that they would eventually experience physical death. God told Eve that she would experience pain in labor bringing forth children. God provided for them garments to wear that were made from animal skins. In the course of time, Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel. The Bible mentions only one conception and two births, so it is likely that they were twins. Cain followed in his father's footsteps and became a farmer while Abel chose to become a shepherd. They each brought a portion of the fruit of their labor to God as an offering. Cain brought some of the produce of his crop after the harvest. Abel brought from some of the firstborn lambs and their fat. The Bible does not reveal to us how God did it, but it says that God showed favor to the offering presented by Abel but not to Cain's offering. God's response angered Cain, God told Cain that he could still do what God would be pleased with. And if Cain did, then God would accept him. Note that rejecting the offering also meant that the one bringing the offering was also being rejected, God warned Cain that if he did not seek to please God, it would lead to sin. Cain rebelled against God's instructions and, out of jealousy, killed his brother, Abel. God told Cain that farming would no longer be productive for him. Cain would live the rest of his life as a vagabond, or hobo, eating whatever he could find. As a result of his sin, Cain felt vulnerable to becoming the victim of murder at the hands of someone else. But God told Cain that if someone kills him, then they would be punished sevenfold for it. This was God's act of mercy on behalf of Cain. Cain faced repercussions for his sin just as his parents had. When Cain failed to please God, God gave him the opportunity to do so. When Cain committed the sin of murder, God extended mercy, but He did not exonerate him of his sin. We may think that Adam eating the forbidden fruit was not as severe as Cain murdering his brother. However, in the righteous holiness of God, they were both sins that had to be punished according to God's justice. Yet, even while punishing the sinner, God still extends divine mercy. Robert C. Hudson December 9, 2021

Justice and Deliverance

December 26, 2021 Background Scripture: Nahum 1:1 - 3, 6 - 8, 12, 13, 15 Lesson Passage: Nahum 1:1 -3, 6 - 8, 12, 13, 15 It is not often that our Sunday School lesson focuses on the message of the prophet Nahum. Nahum is classified as one of the minor prophets. It should be noted that the classification of the prophets is based on the extent of writing, or length of the prophetic message. There are some major spiritual principles to be found in the collection of the minor prophets. Nahum is the second prophet of God to address Nineveh, the capital city of the Assyrian Empire. Jonah prophesied against Nineveh almost a century earlier. Jonah was disappointed that the citizens of Nineveh, led by their king, heeded his warning and repented. God spared the Assyrians because they responded to His message and repented. God used this Gentile empire to punish His people in the northern kingdom of Israel, Once again Nineveh was being warned by God of impending judgment because of their sins. This time the message was not heeded by the king at the time as the previous king had a century earlier. God may use wicked nations to punish His people, but He does not acquit the wicked. When the wicked refuses to amend his ways when God sends a warning, then God judges and punishes the wicked. This applies to people and to nations of people. Perhaps God's sparing of the city a century earlier had emboldened their descendants. Sometimes we misinterpret God's mercy as meaning that He is soft and will not execute severe punishment. When we say, "God is good all the time", we should not assume that executing righteousness and punishing the wicked is not part of God's goodness, God is always good. God is always righteous. God is always holy. Although God is patient, or longsuffering, He still executes judgment against unrighteousness. This message of warning against Nineveh should have encouraged Judah at that time. The people of Judah were aware that God had used the Asyrian Empire to destroy Israel as a sovereign nation and carry the people into captivity as slaves. Unfortunately, this knowledge of God's prior actions had confused some of those of Judah. With Nahum's message, God was clearing up that confusion for Judah. God establishes righteousness and executes judgment among all nations. Yes, Nineveh had been used by God to punish Israel. Yes, Nineveh had repented previously when God had warned them of impending judgment. But now, Nineveh was again being warned and they were not going to repent. They would be judged, and the people of Judah would see it. Nineveh did not have unfettered access when it came to threatening the people of God. God expects and rewards righteousness in all nations. Likewise, God judges and punishes sin as well. Whether among His people or among people who don't know Him, "God is good all the time." Judah was going to be delivered from the threat of Nineveh because God was executing justice in Nineveh. The prophet named all the sins of Nineveh for which she was being judged by God. There was reason to hope again in Judah. They could return to celebrating the sacred feasts before the Lord. Nahum is a reminder that God doesn't just punish God-fearing nations for their sins. God is God of all creation. In His patience, God allows time for wicked nations to turn to Him for deliverance. But He is not patient with them forever; and justice will be executed. Robert C. Hudson November 29, 2021

Justice and Righteousness

December 19, 2021 Background Scripture: Isaiah 9:1 - 7 Lesson Passage: Isaiah 9:1 - 7 The nation of Israel enjoyed success and prosperity under the leadership of her first three kings, Saul, David, and Solomon, respectively. After their reigns, the nation divided into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. The two kingdoms coexisted for about two hundred years until the northern kingdom of Israel fell to the invading Assyrian army. The devastation brought dark days for the people of God living in Israel. After two hundred years, their government had failed to protect them. Their enemy came in and plundered them and carried most of them away captive. A once proud and independent nation was put under the yoke of slavery in a foreign land, This was a fate their ancestors who established the sovereign kingdom thought would never happen. We understand this today from looking at their historical record. However, the kingdom of Israel was warned by God of her impending fate. God sent His prophet, Isaiah, to declare to Israel what was imminent. The historical events unfolded according to the prophetic word of Isaiah. This was Isaiah's prophecy to Israel in the previous chapter to our Lesson's text. Just as God showed the prophet what was coming, He also showed him what would come beyond that time. The opening of our lesson is a continuation of the prophetic message from Chapter 8. The land of Israel would indeed experience a time of darkness. However, that darkness would not last forever. God was going to shine a great light upon them from within. From those dark regions around Galilee, the Light of the world would come. He would have the qualities of the divine as well as the qualities of humanity. The Light would be born as a baby into the world of darkness. His arrival would signal the yoke of bondage being broken. He would govern the people with justice and righteousness. Unlike the previous rulers, His kingdom will never end; it will continue to increase until it encompasses the entire world. The names Isaiah ascribed to the Light were indicative of His dual nature, divine and human. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. In His humanity, He would be a wonderful counselor and even a prince (or promoter) of peace. In His Divinity, He would demonstrate that He is a Mighty God and declare Himself to be an Everlasting Father. Just as the fall of the glorious kingdom of Israel must have been difficult for them to fathom, trying to wrap their minds around the dual nature of their Deliverer must have been even more difficult. No one had ever known such a one. Today, Christians look back through the lens of the gospel message and praise God for what He did! God wrapped Himself in human flesh and was born into the world that He created. He was fully Divine and fully human. He was worthy to be worshiped, yet He did not come to be worshiped. He came to save mankind from our sin. He came as a sin offering to bear the punishment of sin in our stead. As a child and a man, He lived up to the righteous requirements of the Law, In His relationship with people, He defended the righteous justice of God. In becoming a sin offering, He set aside His righteousness and took on our sin. As sin, He submitted Himself to the divine justice of God in receiving the punishment for sin. He died a sinner's death. But God raised Him from the dead on the third day. Now, He has been given a name that is above all names. He is the Light for all who walk and live in the darkness of this world. He alone rules injustice and righteousness. Robert C. Hudson November 18, 2021

Justice and Kindness

December 12, 2021 Background Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1 — 7, 9 — 12 Lesson Passage: 2 Samuel 9:1 —7, 9— 12 Today's lesson is an Old Testament example of the concept of grace. It is rare that friendship reaches a level such as that which existed between David and Jonathan. Jonathan was King Saul's son and David was King Saul's servant/personal musician. Jonathan and David shared a loyal love for each other. Jonathan made David swear that he would show him the kindness of God and do the same for Jonathan's descendants after him. One must ponder what was intended in using the phrase "the kindness of God". The lesson's narrative unfolds based on their friendship and this oath. King Saul, Jonathan, and the rest of King Saul's sons were killed in battle against the Philistines. As prophesied, David had ascended to the throne and was crowned king of all Israel. After David had settled in as Israel's king, he inquired as to whether anyone was left of Saul's family that he might uphold his oath to Jonathan. When King Saul's servant, Ziba, was brought before David, he told David about Jonathan's son that was living with someone in Lo Debar. Jonathan's son became handicap as a child when he was accidentally dropped by his nurse at the age of five. As a result of the accident, he could not use his feet and was therefore dependent on others. Jonathan's son was named Mephibosheth. Upon learning about him, David sent for Mephibosheth at once. When Mephibosheth was brought before King David, he bowed in respect to the king. It was customary at that time for new kings of other nations to eliminate all descendants of their predecessors to prevent them from attempting to return the kingdom to their family's control. Therefore, fear was the natural reaction for someone in Mephibosheth's situation. However, David informed Mephibosheth that his plan was to show him kindness for the sake of his father, Jonathan. David was bound by an oath with Jonathan, and he was going to honor it. David informed Mephibosheth that he would become part of the king's court in that he would eat at the king's table from that time forward. In addition to that, David ordered that all land and property previously held by Mephibosheth's grandfather, King Saul, become the inheritance of Mephibosheth. David also ordered Ziba, Ziba's sons, and Ziba's servants to take care of the estate for Mephibosheth. As Ziba and his household had served King Saul, they would now be the servants of Mephibosheth. Now, back to my previous statement. It is rare that a friendship reaches a level such as that which existed between David and Jonathan. Even after Jonathan's death, the oath, as a result of their friendship, controlled David's actions, So how is this an example of the concept of grace? First, grace is an act of kindness bestowed upon someone who has done nothing to deserve it. David didn't know Jonathan still had family alive at that time. Secondly, an act of grace is motivated by a promise, or commitment, made to another person in advance that the kindness would be extended to designated persons later. Based on the norms of that time, David would have been within his rights to either ignore Mephibosheth or to have him and his family executed. It is unlikely that actions such as those would have been questioned by members of that society. But acts of grace defy the norm. Mephibosheth and his family benefited from an agreement he had no knowledge of; neither did the benefits require Mephibosheth to do anything to earn them. As with any act of grace, the recipient enjoys the benefits based on an arrangement they had nothing to do with and in many cases, had no knowledge of. Justice is maintained and kindness is extended whenever grace is bestowed. C. Hudson November 17, 2021