Good News brings Rejoicing

November 30, 2014 Background Scripture: Isaiah 52:1, 2, 7 – 12; Psalm 33 Lesson Passage: Isaiah 52:1, 2, 7 – 12 It was the custom of the time to use runners to carry good news from the battlefield to the rulers back home. When the watchman of the city spied a single runner coming their way, it was clear that the person was bearing good news and bringing it in haste. A single runner coming was a beautiful sight to behold. The swiftness of their feet would not delay the celebration for the families who were waiting in anticipation of news from the battlefield. The watchman would shout to the gatekeeper so that the gate could be opened to receive the runner. The prophet, Isaiah, used the imagery of the runner to describe the prophetic word as the delivery of good news from God to His people. Isaiah had good news from the Lord and he wanted to ensure that Israel understood it as such and celebrated it. The nation of Israel was in captivity in Babylon but God was about to deliver them from exile. Our lesson today exhibits one of the characteristics often found in prophetic writing. It contains a message that has more than one interpretation. First, the text of today’s lesson provides an encouraging note to the Israelites in Babylonian exile. They were encouraged to praise God and shout for joy because their long anticipated deliverance was at hand. Israel would be returning to Zion. They would not have to rush because God would be their rear guard and escort them. In other words, they would not be rushed or fear for their safety because God had their back. They were admonished to purify themselves and separate from anything unclean as they ceremonially prepared for the arrival of their God. The nation that claimed the Lord as their God would be blessed. The completeness of their deliverance is indicated by the assurance that no one who was outside of the covenant family would again enter the Holy City, Jerusalem. The uncircumcised Babylonians had razed the city and destroyed the temple as well as the wall around the city. However, the day was coming when Jerusalem would again be a citadel for physical protection. The purity of the temple and the sanctity of the city would be protected by God. As one continues to examine the content of the good news of the text, it becomes clear that there is another interpretation that will not be fulfilled until Christ sets up his earthly kingdom. The very presence of mortal people will defile the Holy City. Only after the presence of sin is banished forever will the church be glorified. At that time, the redeemed, who will have glorified bodies, will populate Jerusalem and the city shall be pure. The beautiful sight of the swift feet of the runners of old caused celebration to break out in the city. The prophetic word of Israel’s deliverance from exile and return to Zion was reason for celebrating God’s goodness. Today, we can celebrate everyday because we know that Jesus will return and set up an earthly kingdom. This good news should cause rejoicing. Robert C. Hudson November 24, 2014

Inheritance Marks a New Beginning

November 23, 2014 Background Scripture: Ezekiel 47:13 – 23; Acts 2:37 – 47 Lesson Passage: Ezekiel 47:13 – 23 How many times in life do we reach the point where we want to start over again? It may not be a total reset of our entire life but just an adjustment that gets us back to a time when things were saner. Oftentimes we reach this point in life because of poor decisions on our part—especially as it relates to our relationship with God. Spiritual maturity helps us to understand that we need to try harder to seek God’s face after we have messed up rather than shun Him because of our embarrassment. Quite often, God provides the only opportunity we have to reset our lives in a positive manner. Our lesson today reminds us that God provides those opportunities for us to reset. Judah had messed up really bad. To make matters worse, they had the opportunity to observe the behavior of Israel to their north and avoid repeating their mistakes. Israel constantly walked in sin before God until God sent them into exile permanently. Even if Judah refused to heed God’s word or His warnings sent through His prophets, Israel’s example should have served as warning enough. Instead of being mindful of Israel, the southern kingdom of Judah followed down the same road and found herself in exile in Babylon. Unlike Israel, God did not forget about Judah. He sent prophets into exile with Judah to continuously exhort them to repent and return to the Lord. Ezekiel was one of the prophets who were carried into exile as part of the kingdom of Judah. Ezekiel prophesied that the Lord would return Judah to the land of Zion. He told the exiles that they would again have the task of dividing the land into twelve regions by lot. They were given the boundaries of the land that would be the inheritance of the nation. Simply put, God gave them the opportunity to reset. Spiritually, they were being allowed to return to a time that corresponded to their ancestors’ wilderness years when they were told about the division of the land. The land as defined by Ezekiel did not include the land east of the Jordan River which was given to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh during the original conquest of the land. Regardless of the change of the eastern border, the good news was that the southern kingdom would again be a sovereign nation. This was especially good news given that they received this message while living as exiles in the land of the Babylonians. They would again inhabit the land God promised by covenant to Abraham. As Abraham’s heirs, they were assured they would return to Zion as a people to inherit it. God used Israel’s birthright as an opportunity to reset the nation’s life and give them a new beginning. The nation was taken captive and shamefully carried into exile because of the sinful way they had lived in God’s presence. God deemed their captivity to be punishment enough for them because they had repented while in exile. Note that God did not start all over with them. He chose a time in the nation’s past and used that as a new beginning for them. Israel’s covenant right to inherit Zion would mark their new beginning after their future return from exile. Robert C. Hudson November 11, 2014