Abram Builds an Altar

September 1, 2024 Background Scripture: Genesis 12 — 13 Lesson Passage: Genesis 13:8 - 18 Genesis 12 and 13 record Abram's movement as he followed God's instructions as well as responded to a famine in the land of Canaan. It is worth noting that the famine occurred after Abram arrived in the place where God told him to go, Canaan. Was this famine an early test of Abram's faith? Whether it was or not, Abram responded as any responsible head of household would have based on their concern for the welfare of their family. He moved his family to a land where there was no famine. Abram left Canaan and took his family to Egypt. That move was very risky for Abram and his wife; however, God had promised to protect Abram. The scriptures describe Abram's wife, Sarai, as a very beautiful woman, and Pharoah had a right to any woman he found attractive in Egypt. He could have killed Abram for Sarai. God protected them by plaguing Pharoah and his house. Pharoah returned Sarai to Abram untouched and sent them away. Abram returned to Canaan, the land God promised to give him and his posterity as an inheritance. Abram had his nephew, Lot, with him throughout the journeys he had taken. On a hill between Beth-el and Ai, Abram resumed what he started before the famine. This was the place where Abram built his second altar in Canaan. He returned to that altar and again called upon the name of the Lord. This was the practice Abram had become known for by the other tribes living in Canaan. Abram openly worshiped an invisible God. Abram did not bow down to an idol god as would have been common-—and perhaps expected by the other tribes. But rather, Abram offered sacrifices upon the altar he built to an invisible God. Over the course of time, the herdsmen of Abram and Lot quarreled with each other. This led Abram to suggest that they separate. Lot traveled east to the plains of Jordan. After Lot's departure God appeared to Abram again and renewed the promises He had previously made to him. Then Abram went to the place he would become known for, Hebron. And as he had done in the other two locations in Canaan, Abram built a third altar in Hebron. And in Hebron, Abram again openly called upon the name of the Lord. The topic of our lesson focuses on Abram's public display of piety and reverence for God at the altars he built for that purpose. The bible does not record that Abram built an altar prior to coming to the land God promised to give him. Neither does it record Abram building an altar in Egypt during his stay there. But in the land God promised to give him, Abram built three altars. Where Abram pitched his tent as a homesite, he built an altar there to offer sacrifices to God. Worshiping God publicly became part of Abram's lifestyle. The other tribes in Canaan took note of it. For those tribes, worshiping the invisible God would have become synonymous with the person of Abram; to know one was to know the other. Christians have had only one altar, and it was used only one time. A cross on Mount Calvary is the altar Jesus was offered to God on as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. It was one offering that will last throughout eternity. If we are to become synonymous with the God who orchestrated and accepted that offering, it must show up in our lifestyle. He is the same God Abram worshiped. We must live even as Jesus taught that we should live. It is not living by a list of commandments. It is living by the law of love for each other as demonstrated by Jesus with His followers. We didn't build the Christian altar, but we should become known for it. Robert C. Hudson August 17, 2024

Delightful Precepts

July 21, 2024 Background Scripture: Psalm 119:73 - 80 Lesson Passage: Psalm 119:73 - 80 Psalm 119 celebrates the Law of God in both a broad and narrow sense. In the broad sense, the Law of God refers to God's revelations that extended from Moses to the Old Testament prophets. In a narrow sense, the Law of God refers to God's presentation of the Ten Commandments to Moses. Psalm 119 refers to both. This psalm uses an artistic literal)' form known as an acrostic. Much can be appreciated about this Psalm from understanding its artistic form. Psalm 119 has twenty-two sections with each section corresponding to one of the twenty-two Hebrew alphabets. Each section contains eight verses. Each verse begins with the same Hebrew alphabet that pertains to its place in the alphabets. Our lesson focuses on the tenth Hebrew alphabet. In Hebrew, each verse of our Lesson Passage begins with the tenth Hebrew alphabet. The acrostic nature of Psalm 119 does not carry over when it is translated from Hebrew into English. Again, this psalm is a total celebration of the Law of God. Since it follows the Hebrew alphabet from start to finish, in English we should think about this psalm as celebrating the Law of God from "A" to "Z". That is to suggest a complete celebration of God's Law. When each alphabet is considered then nothing is left out. Because of the use often synonyms to reference the Law of God in this psalm, the author referred to God's Law in some fashion in each of the one hundred seventy-six verses of this psalm. In today's lesson the author does so by using the expressions: Your commandments, Your word, Your judgments, Your word (again), Your law, Your precepts, Your testimonies, and Your statutes. Again, we lose the beauty of the acrostic form in English because we don't see each verse beginning with the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. However, the celebration of God's Law is powerfully expressed in this psalm even without the acrostic form being evident in English. About one third of the psalms are listed with unknown authorship. Psalm 119 is a part of that group. Many believe Ezra was instrumental in its current form as a leader of Israel after the Babylonian captivity. Within these verses in our lesson the Law is described as God's revelation to His covenant people. In that revelation, we find God's standard of conduct for His people, the pattern of life they are expected to live, and the judicial decisions they are to make. The Law is not presented as a punitive and burdensome requirement placed on people who want to be saved from God's wrath. Contrariwise, the Law is presented as a blessing that God bestows upon His covenant people. Understanding and following the Law leads to a blessed life for the people of God. The Law was not given as punitive; it taught them how to live a blessed life. Even in times of difficulties, they viewed the Law as providing guidance and protection. Within the verses of our lesson, the author prays for understanding that he may learn God's Law. The author believed that others can be encouraged by seeing him survive because of his hope that comes from knowing the Law. Even when God's hand was seen as chastising His people, it was not seen as inflicting unbearable wrath. God never placed more on them than they could bear. God's chastisement was seen as leading to their betterment because of the Law. Summarizing this in English terms, the author's desire was to be wrapped up, tied up, and tangled up in the Law of God. He delighted in God's precepts. Robert C. Hudson July 15, 2024

Expectant Watchfulness

July 28, 2024 Background Scripture: Psalm 130 Lesson Passage: Psalm 130 Psalm 130 is one of the Psalms identified with the returning remnant of Israel after the Babylonian captivity. The nation was allowed to be carried into captivity because of their wicked leaders who did not fear God. The remnant praised God as they traveled up to Judea from Babylon. The psalmist wrote about crying out to God out of the depths. Overwhelming sorrow is often described as being in a deep hole, or pit. There is a clear sense that the only hope is to be rescued from such a situation by a powerful God. The cry goes out for God's mercy. The psalmist readily admits that he does not deserve to be saved from his situation. The psalmist describes in clear details the grueling struggle of the repentance of the remnant coupled with the knowledge of a forgiving and loving God. If God kept track of a person's sins, then no one would be able to stand before Him in judgment. Destruction would be our destiny. Thankfully, God forgives sins rather than keep track of them. If for no other reason, God's forgiveness of sin would make Him worthy of the worship of the sinner. The use of the word fear in this psalm is not in the sense of a reaction to impending doom. Here, the word is used to imply reverence for God by those who identify as His children because we know and have experienced His goodness. We tremble in awe of God's majestic love and forgiveness not in anticipation of His wrath. God gives assurance of His steadfast character in His revealed word to the believer. The knowledge of it leads the believer to have patience as God works all things together for good to those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose. Believers lean on the promises of God which are found in His word. The hope of the believer comes from the revelation of God's word. The believer's hope is filled with expectancy of the work God will do on his behalf. As the night watchman awaits daybreak, so too does the believer look forward to the light of God's deliverance. At daybreak, the threat of the enemy under cover of darkness leaves. At daybreak, the work of the night watchman comes to an end. At daybreak, the night watchman who has family will be joyously reunited with them for some much-needed rest. The psalmist repeated the analogy of the night watchman to emphasize the appropriateness of it. The psalmist' s personal prayer and praise transitioned to national hope and deliverance for Israel as this psalm moves towards its closing. Truly, this psalm is about Israel's hope and the faith that arises because of it. Again, their hope is described as resting on the knowledge of God's mercy towards His own. The reason for the rescue, or salvation, from the pit is stated plainly: God's children experience redemption. Our sins are not merely wiped away as though they don't matter. Redemption is the declaration that those sins were paid for. Redemption means to buy back. Sin destines a soul to eternal destruction and the wrath of God. That's a high price to pay for one's sin. Salvation only comes when those sins are paid for through a divine transaction. Since Israel's redemption is spoken of as a future event in Psalm 130, clearly the psalmist was alluding to the Messiah God promised Israel. The Messiah would not eliminate specific sins of Israel. Israel would be redeemed from all his iniquities. With such a grand promise from God, the child of God could not help but patiently watch for it expectantly. Robert C. Hudson July 15, 2024

The Word of God

August 4, 2024 Background Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:13 - 3:5 Lesson Passage: I Thessalonians 2:13 - 3:5 The word of God is powerful. Some first century Christian congregations survived great persecution by clinging to the promises in God's word. They believed God's promises and willingly faced suffering and death rather than deny God's word. Many, if not most, of them expected Jesus to return for the saints in their lifetime. It can be quite challenging today to understand the struggles of first century Christian congregations, We live in a country that embraces the principle of religious freedom—or freedom from religion! In many cases, people who promote and practice different forms of religion are not harassed or persecuted for doing so. Many of the past leaders of this nation believed in Judeo-Christian doctrine. Over the years, this nation has become more tolerant of other religious faiths as well. This is not the general practice everywhere in the world. We must be openminded as we study the extreme persecution Christian congregations endured in the first century. Living contrary to the common practices of Judaism was often fatal for first century Jewish leaders. It is in this light that we should read what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians in the Background Scripture of today's lesson. Paul reminded the congregation what he and his fellow laborers, Silas and Timothy, suffered because of sharing the gospel of God with them, Paul and his companions ministered in the Jewish synagogue in Thessalonica for three Sabbaths. Many of the worshipers there believed in Jesus because of Paul's teaching from the Old Testament scriptures. Paul taught them that Jesus fulfilled those scriptures. The Jewish worshipers who rejected Paul' s teaching stirred up a mob against him. They accused him of turning the world upside down and denouncing Caesar as king. As a result, Paul was run out of Thessalonica for teaching the Thessalonians about Jesus and the kingdom of God. Before he was run out, Paul warned the members of the Christian congregation that formed because of his teaching that they too would also suffer because of their belief in Jesus. Many were saved because Paul shared the word of God with them, and they believed Paul's teaching to be God's word. Believing Paul's teaching to be God's word rather than Paul's word was significant in their conversion to Christianity. They confessed their sins and accepted Jesus as their Savior. Afterwards, they also became the target of persecutors. Paul knew the threat was too great for him to return to Thessalonica. Therefore, he sent Timothy to them with this letter. Paul used the technology of his day, written communications, to reach those he could not be present with. Paul took advantage of this virtual connection to continue to minister to the Thessalonians from a distance. Paul wrote about his deep longing to be in their presence, but through this letter, he assured them that Timothy could continue the work that he had begun with them. Their salvation was not based on Paul's presence with them. They were saved because they embraced the word of God as Paul rightly divided it. Nevertheless, Paul was concerned about that infant congregation continuing to grow in the faith in the face of persecution. Paul assured them that Timothy was up to the task of helping them since his own presence would create more problems for them, Timothy would continue the work of teaching them about Jesus and His eventual return to receive the saints. Paul wrote about wanting to be with them on the day that Jesus returns. Paul's joy would be in knowing that the word of God had sustained them, and the tempter had not overthrown their faith. Robert C. Hudson July 25, 2024

The Washing of Regeneration

August 25, 2024 Background Scripture: Titus 3:3 - 1 1 Lesson Passage: Titus 3:3 - 11 Old habits are hard to break even when we make up our minds to do so. The fact is they are habits because we habitually do them. Therefore, it helps to be reminded of our commitment to do something that has not yet become a habit. Paul shares this advice prior to closing this letter. The Cretans were notorious for being lawbreakers. As Christians, they were obligated to become law-abiding citizens. Apparently, the Cretans were taught this before, therefore Paul instructed Titus to remind them of who they had become in Christ. They were to display a humble attitude towards all people. To aid them in this, Titus needed to remind them that they were at one time just like those who they may be tempted to disrespect or look down on. Behaving more Christlike towards others will also show that being a Christian makes a difference in one's character. That difference came about because of salvation in Jesus Christ. Although this letter addresses the importance of a change in behavior that comes because of salvation, Paul is careful to point out that good works do not produce salvation. Salvation is an act of God's grace to deliver us from the penalty of our sin. Because God has graciously saved us, we are now joint heirs of eternal life with Jesus Christ. Paul used the phrase "the washing of regeneration" to describe the spiritual baptism of the believer by the Holy Spirit, Judaism defined many washings, or purifications, in the Law. Those are physical examples of something that God does spiritually. Water baptism is a reminder that the believer has been immersed in the Holy Spirit by Jesus Christ. This is what John the Baptist talked about when he said that he came baptizing with water, but the one who was coming after him will baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit. John's baptism with water was symbolic of Jesus' baptism with the Holy Spirit. Every Christian has been saved through immersion in the Holy Spirit by Jesus. The Holy Spirit washes and regenerates us. Jesus declared that anyone who does not have the Holy Spirit does not belong to Him. The phrase "renewing of the Holy Spirit" follows the "washing of regeneration" in this letter. Together these phrases describe justification and sanctification. Justification is the instantaneous, once and for all times, work of the Holy Spirit to save a person from the penalty of their sin; that is the washing of regeneration. Christians are only saved one time. We cannot be saved and then lost and then saved again, When we are saved, it is forever. We have been justified and are seen by God just as if we have not sinned. After we are saved from the penalty of sin, there is a progressive deliverance from the power of sin in our daily living. This is the "renewing of the Holy Spirit" which we refer to as sanctification. This is how we can do good works that please God although we still have issues. Because of God's gracious act of salvation, we should be careful to continue in good works. Good works demonstrate our sanctification. Again, Christians don't do good works to be saved. Christians do good works because we have been saved. Good works have the practical benefit of helping people. Christians are also advised to avoid pointless arguments that do not edify, or build up, anyone. Finally, Paul wrote that people who reject the basic tenets of the Christian faith in favor of satisfying their own lusts should be rejected by the church after being admonished twice to no avail. They will continue to live according to their own desires until they too receive the washing of regeneration. Robert C. Hudson August 15, 2024

Continual Proclamation

July 14, 2024 Background Scripture: Psalm 71:12 - 21 Lesson Passage: Psalm 71:12 - 21 What causes one to offer continual proclamation of the Lord? The general tenor of Psalm 71 is that of a mature God-fearing person who is aware that a crisis could occur at any time. The psalmist recorded that God had been faithful to rescue him/her from troubles in the past. It is this experience of past deliverance that is repeated in the psalm as the psalmist's reason for always having hope. The relationship we developed with God in the past is our strength today. The psalmist vowed to praise God continually because of deliverance. And if that were all the psalm contained, it could be considered one of the Hallelujah Psalms of praise. But the constant plea for future deliverance suggests more than a psalm of praise. It is as though the psalmist perfectly captured the struggle, or tension, between our faith in God and the weakness of our flesh which is in rebellion against God. Once delivered, it is relatively easy to boast of God's powerful response to one's problems. The challenge is to have faith and seek God's continuous deliverance considering one's ongoing failures to live holy before God. This is the space where grace germinates. The grace of God is overwhelming to us. As undeserving as we are, God deals with us as His own precious children. We are constantly surrounded by sin and its consequences. And yet, God often treats us as though we have not sinned at all! We should be continuously grateful. We should praise God continually. A mature person of faith knows this from personal experience. However, human response to grace is often more sin. Therefore, the grace of God always abounds more than sin could ever overpower. We trust God with our difficulties because we know He can deliver us from our situations. We have faith to believe God will deliver us although we know we are undeserving. God's continuous deliverance, considering human frailties, evokes a continuous praise from grateful hearts. Children of God can hate sin and still be victimized by our failure to avoid it. The Lord is the good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep and rescues the one sheep who has strayed and lost his way. Grateful hearts that are constantly delivered by God will continuously proclaim the goodness of God to all that will hear. Furthermore, as we mature in life, we desire for our praise and proclamation of God's goodness to live on long after we are gone. Therefore, we seek to ensure this by expressing our praise for the deliverance of God to younger generations. When we come to know God in our youth, our testimonies are many in our old age. We want our testimonies to be sufficient to encourage others to seek God so that they may also proclaim His righteous deliverance throughout the remainder of their lives. Sin causes us to suffer many bitter troubles. God delivers us out of them all. We don't boast about our moral failures. We boast about God's faithfulness despite our moral lapses. There is none who can be compared to God. This is the message that an aging believer should desire to convey to younger generations. Younger generations can be overly eager to inherit material things from their elders. However, the moral and spiritual values developed over a lifetime of experiencing God's faithfulness is to be preferred to anything physical. That's the message the mature person of faith wants to convey. So, elderly believers seek to pass on their values and spiritual insights to the younger generations more than anything. This adds purpose to one's life. Those values have eternal significance whether one lives in wealth or in poverty. Those values will become the reason for continual proclamation of God's goodness and faithfulness for generations to come. Robert C. Hudson June 26, 2024

The Love of God

August 11, 2024 Background Scripture: Lamentations 3:16 - 24; Psalm 30; Jeremiah 52:1 - 30 Lesson Passage: Lamentations 3:16 - 24 When one considers the Background Scripture for today's lesson, the use of the word "love" in the title can seem farfetched. But the more we look at these passages of scripture, the more we see the overwhelming love of God bringing deliverance. The passage from Jeremiah gives the account of the final days of Babylon's ultimate destruction of Judah's capitol city of Jerusalem. Jeremiah wrote an eyewitness account of the devastation and destruction and the tyranny that preceded it. It is a very depressing account of the siege that left the inhabitants of the city starving until the king and the remnant of his military attempted to escape one night. They were chased down and captured. They were taken to Babylon where some were tortured and maimed and others were put to death. The king watched as his sons were executed in his presence. Then his eyes were put out and he was placed in bonds and taken to prison until the day of his death. Some of the other inhabitants of the city were taken to Babylon and some were put to death. A few poor people were left to maintain things. The magnificent temple of King Solomon was destroyed and the gold, silver, and brass furnishings, tools, and utensils were plundered and taken back to Babylon. Both Psalm 30 and the passage from Lamentations are reminders that children of God can find hope during seasons of despair. In Psalm 30, David wrote about being delivered by God from a sure death. David called upon the saints of God to sing praises to Him for His favor (grace). We may cry at night, but God's favor assures us that joy will return. We are reminded that God's anger is temporary, but His favor is eternal. The Lord disciplines those He loves. Disobedience to God can lead us to a place of despair as we are punished. It is because of His great love for us that God does not allow us to live under a cloud of condemnation forever. God punishes us because of our disobedience so that we will not be condemned with the world. No one wants to be punished—even when it is deserved! Yet, it is during punishment that we are reminded that we belong to God. While enduring punishment, we take note that we are not destroyed because of God's mercy towards us. Punishment prevents us from continuing down the road to damnation. It is during times of punishment that hope arises in us. So, where does the word "love" fit into this discussion? God's love is the source of our hope. God's love is benevolent. God is motivated to act on our behalf based on our need. Even when receiving punishment that is deserved, we need the mercy of God to limit such punishment, Sin renders us worthy of death, i.e., separated from God eternally. There is no way we can undo sin. God's word declares that the soul that sins shall die. It is because of God's mercy that we are not consumed. God's grace, unmerited love and favor, sustains us so that we do not perish. After we are delivered from our troubles, praise freely flows from our hearts to God; we know our deliverance was undeserved. Sin condemns us, but God allows us to live by separating sin from us rather than allow sin to separate us from Him. Although marred by sin, we still have within us the image and likeness of God. God desires to forgive all that call upon Him for salvation and deliverance. It is because of God's great love for us that sin is not allowed to consume us. During Judah's destruction, we can see evidence of the love of God by His favor towards His people. Robert C. Hudson August 5, 2024