The Lesson is from Page 1- 10 and E. G. White’s comments are on pages 11–14.s: The Judges
Lesson 4* July 16-22 Justice and Mercy in the Old Testament: Part 2
* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 23.
Memory Text: “ 'Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live’ ” (Ezekiel 47:9, NIV).
A neighborhood that had flourished in the 1950s and early 1960s had become like a war zone in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The majority of the families moved away, leaving behind a trail of abandoned, run-down, and burned-out tenements. Businesses moved out and drugs and crime moved in, further making the neighborhood very undesirable.
In 1986 a Christian family left their comfortable home in suburbia and moved into this depressed urban community. A pastor from another city joined them. They rebuilt two burned-out buildings and made them their homes. The two families spent time in the streets, meeting with community groups and mingling with those who remained in the area. These two families were the catalyst that God used to begin a church that brought healing and transformation to this dead community. Their work and impact continues today, having made a big difference in many lives there.
God has something to say about the role of His church in “hopeless” situations such as this. This week’s lesson continues “listening” to the chorus of Old Testament voices that call upon God’s people to reveal His character of benevolence to the world.
Sunday July 17 Alive in Christ
The grace of God that brings revival to those who are dead in transgression and sin is graphically revealed in Ezekiel 37. In vision, the prophet Ezekiel is transported by the Spirit to a valley full of dead, dry, and scattered bones. These bones represent the whole house of Israel. God asks, “Son of man, can these bones live?” (Ezek. 37:3).
The answer to this question unfolds as the prophet prophesies to the bones.
Read Ezekiel 37:1-14. The Dry Bones Live 37 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it wasfull of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they werevery dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” 4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’” 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. 9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. 11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’”
12. Open your graves. In v. 2 the bones were represented as “in the open valley.” Here they are spoken of as being in their graves. The new figure may point to the larger promise of awakening those who have gone to their graves in the hope of the kingdom of God. There is no apparent reason why this glorious prospect should be withheld from the pious hearted in Israel. Such an event was to mark the climactic consummation of the whole restoration. On the other hand, this prophecy should not be taken as primarily a forecast of the final resurrection at the end of the Christian Era. God’s original plan for a restoration, culminating in a resurrection, was not realized by literal Israel. That which God would have accomplished with the nation of Israel will now be worked out through the Christian church. With circumstances thus altered, certain features of the prophecy are changed. NT writers have the function of informing us how these prophecies, which should have met an earlier fulfillment, will ultimately meet their application (see pp. 35–38). These writers clearly describe the time and the circumstances of the final resurrection (John 5:28, 29; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17; Rev. 20:1–5; etc.).
What was God going to do for His people? A Possible Answer: The Holy Spirit now interprets the symbolic vision. The primary intention was doubtless to depict the restoration of the nation, or the “house of Israel,” whose condition at the time was appropriately symbolized by these dry bones. Hence God was going to revive and restore them.
The results of the message delivered to the dry bones are that (1) they “came to life and stood up on their feet-a vast army” (Ezek. 37:10, NIV); (2) God will settle His people in their own land (Ezek. 37:14); (3) and they will know that it was God who did it (Ezek. 37:14).
But being revived is not enough. God’s people are revived for a mission, for a purpose. Israel was to be a light to the nations.
Read Ephesians 2:10. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
10. His workmanship. Gr. poiēma, “that which is made or done,” “a work,” “a creation.” The English word “poem” is derived from poiēma. The reference here is to God’s spiritual re-creation of man. We are remade by Him for the purpose of “good works.”
Created in Christ Jesus. Of himself man cannot bring forth good works. It is necessary for him to be spiritually re-created in Christ before he can produce the good works God purposes he shall bring forth. By a change of the will, affections, and purposes the privilege and duty of witnessing by good works become possible (Matt. 5:14–16).
Before ordained. Or, “prepared beforehand.” Before creation it was planned that those saved by grace should have good works as a witness to the fact. That sequence was written into the spiritual code by which man was to live.
Walk in them. For the NT sense of “walk” see on v. 2. The walk here described is in contrast with that described in v. 2. Walking in good works should be a habitual practice, not as something demanded, but as a natural expression of the new life that has been created in the believer. If one is not walking in good works, it may reasonably be asked whether he has received grace. The Architect of the universe is also the Architect of souls, working according to an eternal purpose (ch. 1:4). God has provided not only the opportunity for good works but also the means for their performance (John 15:16; 2 Tim. 2:21).[1]
Why are we made alive-spiritually re-created-in Christ? A Possible Answer: We where made spiritually alive for the purpose of doing good works...thus bringing glory back to our Creator.
“Our acceptance with God is sure only through His beloved Son, and good works are but the result of the working of His sin-pardoning love. They are no credit to us, and we have nothing accorded to us for our good works by which we may claim a part in the salvation of our souls. Salvation is God’s free gift to the believer, given to him for Christ’s sake alone. The troubled soul may find peace through faith in Christ, and his peace will be in proportion to his faith and trust. He cannot present his good works as a plea for the salvation of his soul.
“But are good works of no real value? Is the sinner who commits sin every day with impunity, regarded of God with the same favor as the one who through faith in Christ tries to work in his integrity? The Scripture answers, 'We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. ’“In His divine arrangement, through His unmerited favor, the Lord has ordained that good works shall be rewarded. We are accepted through Christ’s merit alone; and the acts of mercy, the deeds of charity, which we perform, are the fruits of faith.” - Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 3, pp. 199, 200.
Monday July 18 A Flowing River
Read Ezekiel 47:1-8. The Healing Waters and Trees
1 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side.
3 And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. 4 Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. 5 Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. 6 He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river.
7 When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. 8 Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed.
1. Door of the house. This is the door of the temple itself. Waters issued out. What has been said with regard to the interpretation of the temple vision should be borne in mind here (see on ch. 40:1)....
Inasmuch as these predictions never were fulfilled in their original intent, they will have a measure of fulfillment in the Christian church. It is John the revelator who picks up the imagery of these chapters and explains what features of them will be fulfilled in the new earth (see, for example, Eze. 47:12; cf. Rev. 22:2).
Physical arrangements are frequently also designed to teach spiritual lessons. Here the stream, beginning in a small way, increased as it flowed out toward the desert. So the blessings of the covenant, of which the Israelites were the first recipients, were to flow out, ever increasing until they embraced the whole world. By the same figure the work of the Advent Movement may be illustrated (see 7T 171, 172).
If the stream was miraculously originated and increased, it would stand as a perpetual evidence of the power of an ever-present God working in behalf of His people. Such a demonstration would be similar to the presence of the pillar of fire and cloud that accompanied the Israelites in their wilderness wanderings (Ex. 13:21, 22) and of the miraculous supply of drinking water (Ex. 17:1–7; etc.).
2. The gate northward. Possibly because the east inner gate was reserved for the prince (ch. 46:1–8) and the east outer gate was closed (ch. 44:1, 2). On “utter gate” see on ch. 42:1. 3. Through the waters. The measurements described in vs. 3–6 graphically portray the phenomenal increase of the waters. At 4,000 cubits (1.1 mi.; 1.8 km.) the trickling stream had become a sizable river that could not be forded (v. 5). 7. Very many trees. Compare Rev. 22:2; see on Eze. 47:1. 8. Desert. Heb. ‘arabah, the depression of the Jordan, the Dead Sea, and the valley extending from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqabah. The modern term Arabah designates only the valley south of the Dead Sea. The sea. The description here given makes clear that the Dead Sea is intended.
What’s going on with the temple that Ezekiel saw in vision? A Possible Answer: What we see here is the vision of the holy waters, 1-5 and the virtue of them 6-12. The vision was a pictorial prophecy describing a literal economy. The presentation sets forth conditions as they might have been, and there seems to be little reason for departing far from the literal language. Whether the stream was fed miraculously or by a series of springs or other streams is not discussed by Ezekiel. His responsibility was simply to describe what he saw. The intent must have been reasonably plain to the Israelites. Abundant water, such as here portrayed, was the sign of adequate precipitation and resultant prosperity. Such blessings were further emphasized by the mention of the fruit trees and the teeming life in the waters (vs. 7–12).
The temple appears to have sprung a leak. You may wonder, did a pipe break, or what? In this case, the leak was a good thing.
This water leaking out of the temple was going “toward the east.” East of Jerusalem is the Salt Sea (also known as the Dead Sea), the lowest body of water on earth. Between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea is approximately 21 miles (about 34 kilometers) of largely desert country, which includes the Arabah, also known as the depression of the Jordan and the Dead Sea. That sea itself is so salty that nothing can live there.