God Promises to Hear and Forgive

January 1, 2023 Background Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:1 - 22 Lesson Passage: 2 Chronicles 7:12 - 22 Our Lesson Passage is God's response to Solomon's prayer. This was God's second appearance to Solomon. God appeared to Solomon at night as He did the first time soon after Solomon's inauguration as Israel's king. In God's first appearance to Solomon, God asked Solomon what he wanted the Lord to give him, Solomon requested wisdom to lead and be an example in the presence of God's people. God was so pleased with Solomon's request that He granted it, and He also gave Solomon great wealth. God's second appearance to Solomon was in response to Solomon's prayer of dedication for the temple constructed under Solomon's guidance. Solomon's prayer was a clear demonstration of the wisdom God had given him. In his dedicatory prayer, Solomon recognized that all people sin. He requested that God honor the temple by acknowledging the prayers that were made there, or in the direction towards it by God's people whenever they repented of their sin. Solomon's prayer recognized several consequences God could send in response to the sins of His people. Those consequences could include famine, pestilence, drought, war, and even captivity in a foreign land. Solomon prayed that repentance by God's people and acknowledgement of the temple would be sufficient for God to hear the prayers of His repentant people and to forgive their sins. In sanctifying the temple, God declared that He would be attentive to prayers that were offered in it. It is worth noting that God did not say He expected those outside Jerusalem to acknowledge the temple along with their repentance. God expected (and expects) His people to have a relationship with Him and not with a physical temple. God would hear the prayers of those away from the temple just as He would hear the prayers of those in the temple. The prerequisite to God hearing and answering prayers is repentance by His people. God's promised response to a prayer of repentance is threefold. God will hear the prayer, forgive the person's sin, and bring the necessary healing to the land. That healing would take away whatever prompted the repentance; whether it is famine, pestilence, drought, war, or captivity. After responding to Solomon's prayer petitions, God then turned His attention to Solomon as His servant. Solomon was reminded of the relationship God expected to have with him. Solomon was expected to walk in obedience to God, and to follow the commands God give him. In turn, God would maintain the secession of Solomon's offspring as heir to the throne of Israel. The consequences of Solomon not following God, but worshiping idol gods would be devastating for all the people of God. They would be uprooted from the land of Canaan, and the temple would be destroyed. This made it abundantly clear that Solomon had a huge burden in leading God's people. His leadership could cause generations of prosperity, or it could bring the nation to ruin. The people of God would be examples to the rest of the world. When they followed God's commands, the other nations would see and know the reason for their prosperity. When the leader failed to follow God, the nation would be destroyed, and the other nations would know it was because they had rejected the God who delivered them from Egypt and established them as an independent nation in the world. God's people would be an example to the rest of the nations, either through their obedience to God or through their disobedience. But through their repentance, God promised to hear their prayers and forgive their sins. Robert C. Hudson December 15, 2022

Mary Rejoices

December 25, 2022 Background Scripture: Luke 1 :46 - 55 Lesson Passage: Luke 1 :46 - 55 There are many ways to react to a promise. Sometimes I tend to take the posture of "wait and see". I don't like to get all worked up about the prospect of some future promise in this world. However, there are other times when I am overly excited in anticipation. It is the latter experience that helped me to identify with Mary in today's Lesson Passage. Mary was visited by an angel sent from God as a messenger. The message the angel delivered would impact the entire worlds Let's consider the circumstances of this visit. We learn later in the scriptural timeline that Mary was a poor unmarried young woman. First, the fact that God would inform her of His plans for all people for all times seemed unusual. Why wouldn't God tell the religious leaders of the Jews about His plans, and they, in turn, inform the masses? The Jewish religious system was already in place, and it did not include Mary as an official. Secondly, Mary was told that God would use her as an integral part of His plan for mankind. Mary would become the mother of God's Son. Yes, God was going to have a human Son, and Mary would give birth to His Son. Mary's question was: How could she have a baby and she was still a virgin? The angel told her that the pregnancy would be a miracle of God. He reminded her that nothing is impossible with God. Then he told her about her cousin Elizabeth, who was beyond childbearing age, being in her sixth month of pregnancy as a result of God's power. That was enough to cause Mary to submit herself to the will of God as His servant. The angel left Mary, and Mary hastily left home to go and visit Elizabeth. When Mary walked into the house and greeted Elizabeth, it set off a chain reaction. Elizabeth proclaimed the very message the angel had delivered to Mary, and called Mary blessed for believing the message. Elizabeth declared that God was going to fulfill the promise He had sent to Mary. Our Lesson Passage is Mary's response to Elizabeth's proclamation to her. There was an overflow of joy from Mary's heart. She knew what God would do through her would cause generations of people in the future to call her blessed. Although Mary was a poor, and perhaps relatively unknown person, God would make her one of the most recognized persons by name of all times. In today's vernacular, Mary would be the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all times) among women. She recognized that her reverent fear, or worship, of God was an integral part of why God chose to bless her beyond what she would have asked. In contrast to her humble existence, the well-known and well-positioned people in her society were overlooked by God in favor of her. Mary would be elevated by God to the highest level of any person on earth. Mary knew that it all connected with the covenant God made with Abraham and his descendants. This was one of the most remarkable things about her expressions. Mary knew that she was blessed by association. Mary knew she was blessed because she was a descendant of Abraham. Likewise, all Israel was being blessed for the same reason. Mary declared that her blessings were based on a promise God made to Abraham thousands of years before she was born. Although she was poor, Mary was taught about the God of her fathers. She was taught to trust the promises of God. And she was taught that God's promise to Abraham covered her with blessings although sh

John the Baptist Appears

December 18, 2022 Background Scripture: Luke 3:1 - 20; John 1 Lesson Passage: Luke 3:2b - 6, 15 - 18 Our lessons have progressed quickly from the announcement of John' s conception to his birth and circumcision; and now today's lesson introduces his public ministry. That span of time covers about thirty years. That's three decades for us, but it is insignificant to an eternal God. God speaks of tomorrow with the same assurance as when He speaks of yesterday or today. Just as God foretold John's conception in his mother's womb, He also spoke of the details involved in John's public ministry as an adult. It was prophesied by the angel that John would go in the spirit and power of Elijah. John made it clear to the Jews who came and asked about his identity that he was not Elijah. But John's ministry mirrored much of Elijah's ministry. Elijah's ministry seems to have started rather abruptly. Likewise, John quickly appeared on the scene preaching the baptism of repentance. The region around the Jordan River was John's pulpit, and the Jordan River was his baptistry. He was bold just as Elijah was bold. He preached the word of God with conviction. Elijah also spoke the prophetic word of God with conviction, John challenged his listeners to demonstrate true repentance and to be baptized for the remission of their sins. Elijah challenged his listeners to choose between serving the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob or Baal. Many were convicted by the preaching and the miracles wrought by God through Elijah. Many were also convicted by John's preaching and asked for instructions on how to show true repentance. John demonstrated the wisdom of God by giving them practical ways to live a life of repentance. He told them to share their excess clothing and food with those who needed the same. Tax collectors were warned not to overcharge people for their own benefit. Likewise, soldiers were warned not to intimidate, bully, or falsely accuse anyone. John was preparing Israel for the coming of the Messiah, or the Anointed One of God. Some were confused and thought that John was the one God had sent to deliver them. John quickly corrected them and assured them that he was not on the same level as the Messiah God was sending to Israel. And just like Elijah, John spoke truth to power. Elijah confronted King Ahab because he had led Israel into apostacy and Baal worship. John rebuked Herod the tetrarch for having his brother's wife. John also pointed out many other evil acts Herod had performed. As an aged deacon once remarked: John was put in prison for meddling! John's imprisonment was yet another evil act of Herod. John's ministry was public, profound, and provocative. The hearers of John the Baptist's sermons were moved to act either positively towards God or further away from Him. People were not able to hear the message without responding to it. After Elijah appeared on the scene, nothing was the same in Israel due to his ministry. After John appeared on the scene, he paved the way for the coming of the Son of God. Nothing has been the same since John's ministry. In essence, John's ministry was a wakeup call to Israel. It was necessary for the Son of God to go to His own first. Israel's rejection of the Messiah opened the door for the rest of the world to receive Him. Israel has not and will not be rejected by God. Israel shall be saved. But people of all nations have benefited because one day John the Baptist appeared. Robert C. Hudson November 21, 2022

Zacharias Hears from God

December 4, 2022 Background Scripture: Luke 1:5 - 23 Lesson Passage: Luke 1:8 - 20 Luke began his account of the gospel by explaining the reason he wrote the account. It is worth noting that Luke did not write that God had inspired him to write the account. Luke wrote that he took it upon himself to write an orderly account of what happened because he perfectly understood all things from the beginning. However, I believe anyone who seriously reads Luke's account will be convinced that he was inspired of God to write it. Luke began the narrative of the events by sharing Zacharias' experience of hearing from God. Zacharias was an aged priest who was married to an aged woman who descended from Israel's first high priest, Aaron. They were both considered pious, or spiritual people, by others. The couple was childless because the wife was barren. Zaharias was in the temple burning incense while a multitude were outside praying. Because there were several priests at the time, each was assigned a time to serve in the Temple. It was Zacharias' time to serve by burning incense while the people prayed outside. The altar of incense was in the Holy Place in the temple. God established that the priest was to burn incense on the altar of incense twice each day; once in the morning and again in the evening. As Zacharias discharged his duties, an angel appeared beside the altar of incense. The presence of the angel frightened Zacharias. Two of Aaron's sons were destroyed by God for offering improper offerings by using fire that was not authorized by God. Zacharias understood that a misstep in burning incense before God could cost him his life. He must have thought: Why is this angel here? Fortunately for him, this was not the angel of death but rather a messenger sent from God. (God spoke directly to some, and for others He dispatched an angel with a message.) The angel brought a message to Zacharias from God. Zacharias was informed that his prayer had been heard and his wife would bear him a son. His son was to be named John and he was to be raised as a Nazarene. John was destined for greatness in the Lord's sight. Zacharias was told what John's life purpose would be before John was conceived. Now, back to the announcement. The messenger brought an answer to Zacharias' prayer. When did Zacharias pray to God for a son? At the time of his encounter with the angel, Zacharias and his wife were both aged people. It was not reasonable, or likely, that Zacharias would ask God for a son at an advanced age. Maybe that was a prayer Zacharias prayed when they were younger, and God was finally sending the answer when it would be clear that the answer was a miracle from God! Afterall, everything about the conception and birth of John was miraculous. None of us knows how long Zacharias waited to receive this answer to his prayer. Without Luke's account of the gospel, we would not know about this. Luke brought to the forefront many people who were in the margins in their society—yet they were used by God. Zacharias was not the high priest; he was just one of several priests. But Luke informs us that God heard and answered Zacharias' prayer. And the one who was the answer to Zacharias' prayer became instrumental in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy concerning the Messiah. Before Luke wrote about the events involving the Messiah, he introduced his reader to other individuals who were inextricably connected to the Messiah's ministry. John's public preaching ministry began before Jesus' ministry so that he could prepare the hearts of the people to receive Jesus. And this was preceded by Zacharias' prayer; and God heard Zacharias' prayer and Zacharias heard from God. Robert C. Hudson November 17, 2022

Zacharias Speaks

December Il, 2022 Background Scripture: Luke 1 :57 - 80 Lesson Passage: Luke 1:57 - 66, 76 - 79 In our previous lesson, Zacharias heard from God through the angel, Gabriel. Zacharias was interrupted by Gabriel as he went about his assigned duties as a priest in the Holy Place. At an advanced age, Zaharias was informed that God had heard his prayer and he would become a father. Gabriel's message was so amazing it was difficult for Zacharias to believe it. He wanted it to be true. Zacharias asked Gabriel how he could be certain that the message was the truth. Gabriel informed Zacharias that he would be given a sign to assure him that the message was from God. The sign was Zacharias was made mute until after the birth of his promised son. There were people outside the Holy Place praying during Zacharias' conversation with the angel. When Zacharias came out of the Holy Place, he was unable to speak and used hand gestures. The people outside recognized that Zacharias had seen a vision while he was in the Holy Place, When Elizabeth's pregnancy was fulfilled, she gave birth to the promised son. The public naming of the baby was scheduled for the eighth day when he was to be circumcised according to the Law. Some who attended the circumcision wanted the baby to be named Zacharias after his father. Elizabeth objected and told them, "No, he shall be called John." They were confused by her decision to name the baby John. There was no one in their family named John. They used hand gestures to ask Zacharias for his input concerning the baby's name. Zacharias signaled for a tablet and wrote on it: His name is John. His speech returned to him immediately after that. This amazed those who were gathered at the circumcision. The miracle of his speech returning made the people question what manner of person this baby would become. They were sure that there was a direct connection between God and the baby. Then, the Holy Ghost filled Zacharias and he began to prophesy. He prophesied about the salvation God was going to send to His people, Israel. God was going to fulfill His promise to Abraham, the progenitor of the Jews. Abraham's offspring were going to be delivered from the oversight and bondage of their enemy. This baby would be instrumental in God's plan. John was born to be God's prophet. John would prepare the hearts of God's people to receive the Lord. He would teach them about the salvation God was sending. John was a mere eight days old, and yet his father prophesied into the hearing of the people John's life purpose as a servant of God. In the previous lesson Zacharias heard from God, but in this lesson, Zacharias spoke for God. There is nothing like being in the right place at the right time. Who, among that crowd, knew that attending a baby boy' s circumcision would cause such a stir among them. Perhaps it was that stir that prompted his parents to move him away from town and into the rural area. There they could raise him as a normal boy without the overbearing expectations of the town's people. They needed to train him in the way he should go as a member of Jewish society. It was not their responsibility to train him to fulfill his life's purpose; only God could do that. In isolation, John grew to become a young man who was filled with the Spirit of God. He remained isolated until his public ministry was set to begin. The Jews knew that John's ministry would be something special because under the anointing of God, his father, Zacharias, had spoken it. Robert C. Hudson November 21, 2022