COGIC Power for Living | HOPE SATISFIES – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 10/26/2014

HOPE SATISFIES – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 10/26/2014

click here for a supplemental handout

This review is brought to you by the Kentucky First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: explore the satisfactory conclusions of Job and God's conversation; affirm that God will answer our questions in ways best for us; and become involved in an active and hopeful prayer life.

BIBLE TRUTH: God can do all things, prevails over all things, and hears our prayers in trying situations.

Job 42:1-10 | King James Version (KJV)

1 Then Job answered the Lord, and said,

2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

7 And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the Lord commanded them: the Lord also accepted Job.

10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Isn’t it amazing what a life-changing experience can do for a person’s relationship with God? In looking at the verses of scripture regarding Job, from 2 lessons ago, he is now in a completely different place. He begins with confidence and reverence, “I know you can do anything…you’re omnipotent and omniscient!” He’s come a long way, right? We’re seeing here that Job is in awe of the Lord’s work. He’s realizing that his reaction to his own sufferings were misplaced. We’re seeing a truly changed man.

Notice that after all of this time of searching for the “whys” of his sufferings, Job never found it. At least, not what he expected to find. Instead, he finds God. He assumed that since he was losing his possessions and his friends were against him that God had abandoned him. NOW, in his maturing, Job finds that he CAN have an even deeper communing with God, IN his sufferings. This shows that Job has gone to a higher height and deeper depth in his relationship with God. He’s gone from being bitter, to being better!

SIDE NOTE: In many churches, there is a session called, “Testimony Service”. This is where believers can stand and verbally share what God has done for them, by way of bring them out of their trials. Or how He has blessed their life. Do you ever have a testimony? Or, are you the person who sits back and listens to everything someone else has to say about YOUR God? One day, you’ll experience God’s grace, blessings, and provisions firsthand. Hopefully, you’ll tell it!

At this point, Job had heard the testimonies of others and who God is through the point of view of others. Sometimes, secondhand knowledge is just that…a 2^nd pass at learning about something very important. More than likely, something will be left out. Based upon this knowledge, Job had the wrong idea about God. “Pray hard and God will get you out of your trial soon and bless you!” This isn’t always the case. So, in verse 5 Job was able to realistically understand who he was and needed to be in God. After seeing who he really was, it lead Job to repent! He took back all of the things he accused God of doing and felt awful about his own sense of pride and arrogance.

At that moment, Job traded in pleading his case and his cry of innocence, to have a higher revelation of God. In a quote from Charles Dickens, “Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape.” Job’s being was definitely refreshed by now! Our suffering comes to teach us something.

When a believer KNOWS that God is in control, it’s not important to understand the “why” of it all. It’s only important to draw closer to God and trust in His sovereign will in our lives. When others look upon us, they aren’t always promised to understand and console us throughout the suffering process. They could be “blockheads” like Job’s friends were. But, that may be a part of the test! How will you handle when your closest friends don’t understand God’s plans? Instead of looking for answers, know that Jesus IS the answer. That should be enough.

In verse 7, Job is vindicated a little, as God turns His wrath against Job’s friends. Notice that He excludes Elihu, since he spoke correctly of God. Their drilling and questioning of Job could have caused Job to fall. They misrepresented God’s word and His sovereignty. Even now, Job chooses to cover them in prayer. The same folks that kicked him while he was down, needed him to intercede on their behalf to God. They gave him pain and punishment, he is shown here to restore them through prayer. Job wins in the end!

SIDE NOTE: The scriptures reveal that God revered Job as a servant 4 times in these ending verses. He not only served God, but also his friends and family. Job served as a vehicle of restoration for his friends. He served as a sanctified witness to you and me, as we read these verses to deepen our understanding of God even the more. So, is being a servant popular? That is an answer only you can provide to yourself and your own life.

Visit our International COGIC Sunday School Site

COGIC Power for Living | HOPE COMPLAINS – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 10/19/2014

click here for a supplemental handout

This review is brought to you by the Kentucky First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday SCHOOL Department.

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will:explore Job’s complaint about the appearance that God does nothing to call wicked people to account; appreciate that, although the timing of God’s justice is often inscrutable to us , it is certain; and determine ways to help God bring justice to the poor and weak.

BIBLE TRUTH: God takes care of the unjust and saves the needy and gives the poor hope in the battles they are waging.

JOB 24:1| King James Version (KJV)

Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?

JOB 24:9-12| King James Version (KJV)

9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.

10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;

11 Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.

12 Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.

JOB 24:24:19-25| King James Version (KJV)

19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.

20 The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.

21 He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.

22 He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.

23 Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.

24 They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.

25 And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?

A couple of things are going on in this lesson. Job is dealing with himself inwardly, as well as trying to convince his friend that he has not sinned (like last week). As 24:1 opens, Job is struggling to understand why the wicked and the sinner don't get the type of punishment that he is going through, and they actually HAVE sinned. He's done NOTHING strong. We don't always see how God is dealing with those who we "think" may be getting away with doing bad things.

Next, Job's last friend, Bildad, was wearing him down. It seems that Bildad hoped that Job would confess to being a sinner. But, Job stood by his testimony. Remember, these 3 friends came to encourage him, yet they made him feel awful! It's hard for some people to understand that sometimes bad things happen to good people.

Visit ou International COGIC Sunday School Site

COGIC Power for Living | EVEN SO, MY REDEEMER LIVES – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 10/12/2014

This review is brought to you by the Kentucky First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

click here for a supplemental handout

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: understand that Job had unwavering belief in God’s redemption even as he was made to suffer; affirm that, through we suffer much, God loves us and offers us redemption; and acknowledge ways we are loved and blessed during times of trouble.

BIBLE TRUTH: God, the Redeemer, lives and constantly sends forth steadfast love to all people.

JOB 19:1-7 | King James Version (KJV)

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?

3 These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.

4 And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.

5 If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:

6 Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.

7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.

JOB 19: 23-29 | King James Version (KJV)

23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!

24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!

25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

28 But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?

29 Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.

If you are a regular attendee at church, chances are that within the past 30 days, you have heard a sermon preached out of the Book of Job. This man and his story are very familiar to us. But, don’t take it for granted that you “already know” this story. Our lesson focuses in on a piece of the story worth revisiting.

Since we’re popping into verse 19, here’s some background (just in case you really didn’t know). As Job begins suffering, his friends don’t necessarily come to his rescue. Instead, 3 of them take turns trying to explain to Job why he needs to straighten up his thinking. During this entire time, Job is defending his character, letting his wife and 3 friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar) know that his sufferings weren’t present because of anything he had done. Eliphaz has already tried talking to Job, now it’s Bildad’s turn. In verse 18, Bildad went into all of the reasons why it just HAD to be Job’s fault that he was suffering. Our lesson begins with Job’s answer to Bildad.

In verse 1, Job asks Bildad about how long will the torturing question and answer session between them last? Instead of being friends, this is the second set of interrogating questions that Job has sat through. According to this passage, at least 10 times. He was severely ill. He was so disfigured that his friends barely recognized him, yet they didn’t let up from accusing him of sinning. Finally, when he can’t stand it any longer, Job looks to God for some sort of defense and doesn’t find it. He then accuses God of leaving him and judging him unjustly.

Once we get to verse 23, we see a different side of Job! After learning that his family and friends weren’t loyal to him, he finally turned back to God. We see Job’s confidence in God flourish.

Job wants to shout it from the roof top that he has a redeemer that is very alive! “Redeemer”, in Job’s times, referred to a person who provided legal representation, like an attorney. He’s confident that God will surely defend and rescue him. Look at verse 26, “even after I’m dead, I’m see God!” This is a blessed assurance for Job! No matter what came, Job believed in his God to vindicate him and make him totally whole again.

Visit our International COGIC Sunday School Site

COGIC Power for Living | REJOICE ANYWAY – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 10/5/2014

“When You Can't Track Him, or Trace Him, Just TRUST Him!”

This review is brought to you by the Kentucky First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: hear God’s message of patience for the people and assurance that God will act with justice; experience the feeling of joy when we patiently awaited God’s promises; and practice responding to difficulty by trusting in God’s presence and by praising God for strength to endure.

BIBLE TRUTH: Job, the psalmist, and Habakkuk all affirm that – no matter what calamities might come their way – they will trust God, rejoice in God’s presence in their lives, and praise God for strength to carry on.

Habakkuk 2:1-5 | King James Version (KJV)

1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

5 Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people

Habakkuk 3:17-19 | King James Version (KJV)

17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Ever had to wait for something? I mean…really WAIT!? Welcome to Habakkuk’s world! This week, we’re studying about a prophet who was concerned about God’s sovereignty and sense of justice. We’ll see that he asks, and God answers!

Habakkuk cried out over and over to God, wondering how long he would have to wait to hear something back from the Lord. Of course, we know God, who is omniscient, hears sees and knows all. He just hadn’t replied to Habakkuk’s satisfaction..yet…until now. Habakkuk took time to remind God of the condition of Judah. There was violence and rage throughout the Lord. How could god just sit back and watch this terribleness unfold from day to day? What’s more, how could God allow for the Chaldeans, who were heathens, to be the judge of His chosen people?

The Lord spoke to Habakkuk to take what He said, make it super simple and easy to read and write it on a tablet made of clay or metal. When anyone saw it, they would immediately understand the meaning and be filled with motivation to run and spread the word to others.

The whole point is, this prophesy was not promised within any foreseeable timeframe, it was for the future. God let Habakkuk know that it would unfold IN TIME, and he had to wait on it. God’s timing is not our timing, by any stretch. The most important objective, is to inscribe the vision on the hearts of the people, so that when these events finally did come to pass, it would cause a trust in God, understanding that He is in control, and an ultimate commitment to God.

As the lesson fast-forwards to Verse 3:17, we see a shift in Habakkuk’s outlook and attitude. Now, he resolves to rejoice! So, he went from questioning God to understanding that he may as well praise the Lord anyhow. He had to wait for the ball to drop, according to the Lord who said that the Babylonians would get wickeder and stronger towards the Judeans. It was horrible to know that these horrific things would be happening to his nation and his people, and there was nothing that could stop God’s judgment. Habakkuk praised the Lord who could save him! This is evidence that Habakkuk had PURE FAITH!

In our world today, many of us go through struggles and pain. We see our situations unfolding and see the inevitable coming, and there is absolutely NOTHING we can do to change things. Some people lose their minds, result to their own tactics which lead to even more trouble, and grow bitter throughout the experience. But, there are some who develop a “no matter what” praise for God. No matter what, I’ll trust God. No matter what, I’ll praise Him. No matter what, I’ll run even closer into His arms. The “no matter what” brings about a reassuring and matures a person in their walk with God. Faith grows in these times. Which person will you be in your next trial or test?

Visit our International COGIC Sunday School Site

COGIC Power for Living | IMPROBABLE POSSIBILITIES – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 9/28/2014

“Sorrow Now, Joy Later” | click here for a supplemental handout

This review is brought to you by the Kentucky First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: realize that God’s promise to follow punishment with forgiveness and restoration is still a valid promise; affirm that with God, punishment, forgiveness, and healing come as a package; and design a thanks offering for hope, healing, and forgiveness we receive from God.

BIBLE TRUTH: God is willing to forgive and recovery, healing, and restoration.

Jeremiah 33:2-11| King James Version (KJV)

2 Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name;

3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

4 For thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;

5 They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.

6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

7 And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.

8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

9 And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.

10 Thus saith the Lord; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,

11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts: for the Lord is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the Lord.

In comparing today’s lesson to a parent with their child, we can liken the oracles within Jeremiah with our human relationships. If mom said, “if you disobey me, you will be punished!” She meant it, right? Then, when the child strays away, the parent has to make good on their promise to chasten the child. 

This is what we’re seeing in today’s Sunday School lesson. Jeremiah is anointed to declare the word of the Lord to His people. As God was using Jeremiah to speak to the nations of Israel and Judah through His prophet, He was assuring them that He saw the fight they were in. He understood what the Chaldean armies were doing to them and the siege that they were under. But, He has permitted this to happen to them, based upon their sins.

Punishment can only last for a season, God also assured His people that there will be a day of reconciliation, healing, and peace. He said He’d bring back the captives and rebuild the ruins from the Babylonian plunder and disaster. In verse 8, God says He will forgive them of their sins.

In verse 9, the prophet dictates that “God’s people shall fear and tremble”. This is very important to point out. 2 Timothy 1:7 declares that God has not given us a spirit of fear. The “fear” in Jeremiah is speaking to reverence. God wanted His people to fear (reverence) Him to the point where they would keep His commandments and flee from the very appearance of sin.

As human beings, think about what the nation of Israel was seeing during this time. Dead bodies being stacked up one by one. No people, animals, or life going on in the city. Just a shell of what used to be their life. It would be depressing. God, in verse 11, proclaims that there would be joy and laughter returning to this same place. He said He’d make sure that they were restored to their previous state, just like they were in the first Promised Land.

Visit our International COGIC Sunday School Site

COGIC Power for Living | A NEW FUTURE – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 9/21/2014

“This Land is Your Land…” | click here for a supplemental handout

This review is brought to you by the Kentucky First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: retell the hopefulness of Jeremiah’s purchase of a field while he awaits the invasion and siege of Jerusalem; appreciate hope and hopeful actions in the face of deep hardship; and review our personal times of hardship in the past that held, hold for the future.

BIBLE TRUTH: While Jerusalem was under siege, God instructed the prophet Jeremiah to purchase property as a sign that there was a future for the people and their land beyond defeat and exile.

Jeremiah 32:2-9, 14-15 | King James Version (KJV)

2 For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house.

3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;

4 And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;

5 And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the Lord: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.

6 And Jeremiah said, The word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

7 Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.

8 So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the Lord, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.

9 And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.

14 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.

15 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.

Welcome to the longest book of the Bible, Jeremiah! Jeremiah is a prophet, and is one of the Major Prophets. Not because his message is more important, but due to the length of the book itself.

Jeremiah has taken a faith challenge! We’re finding in this lesson, that common sense has NO place in God’s plan for our lives. We must fully TRUST Him, and Him alone. In verse 2, our lesson opens up with a view of Jeremiah captured and detained in a maximum security prison. Apparently, he’s being held there by order of King Zedekiah, for somewhat of treason. In the true meaning of “don’t kill the messenger”, Jeremiah was simply preaching and sharing what thus saith the Lord! King Zedekiah didn’t appreciate it, because prophesy foretold that King Zedekiah and Jerusalem would be captured by the Babylonians and there would be no chance for Judah to win. Zedekiah was the last king of Judah, so there was a lot of pressure on him and he responded very seriously to “threats”, although this time, it was a promise!

So, while Jeremiah is behind bars, the Lord revealed to him that he was going to have a visit from one of his family members, his cousin, Hanamel, offering him to buy some land. There’s only one thing…this land being offered to Jeremiah was actually a part of the battlefield! This property had already been seiged and confiscated. It’s not like Jeremiah was going to be given an opportunity to get out, take a look at it, and make a decision afterwards. Hanamel possibly figured that the land would be overtaken in war anyway, so, on his way out of the country as an exile, he devises a way to still turn a profit on it, even if it was “scamming” a family member (so he thought). But, as we continue, God already knew the plan and the plot…and He used it for the good of Jeremiah. By the way, Jeremiah was well aware that his family members didn’t support him, take a look at verse 12:6).

Nevertheless, Jeremiah struck that deal! He paid 17 shekels of silver, signed and sealed the deed, in front of witnesses (probably the guards). According to the Lord’s instruction, Jeremiah gave the original purchase document to Baruch, with witnesses present. One needed to be sealed and one unsealed. As background info, this was the way that authenticity was proven. One contract would be placed inside of a case WITH a seal on it. A seal was like a signature. The other contract would be placed on the outside. If ever a question arose as to the authenticity of a contract, the case would be broken open and compared to the document on the outside. In this way, the Lord was assuring Jeremiah that in spite of captivity which was getting ready to take place; Israel would return to the land and resume life as usual eventually.

Visit our International COGIC Sunday School Site

COGIC Power for Living | RESTORATION – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 9/14/2014

"Take Me Back!”

This review is brought to you by the Kentucky First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: know God's new covenant to reveal Himself to all the people, forgive their sins, and hold them accountable; sense the relief and joy that come from starting over in agreement with someone and make plans for renewing our personal covenant with God.

BIBLE TRUTH: Jeremiah assures the people that God will make a new covenant with God's people that will nurture and equip them for the present and the future.

Jeremiah 31:31-37 | King James Version (KJV)

31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

35 Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name:

36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.

37 Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord.

We get the opportunity to visit the words of the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah today. Jeremiah introduces the words “New Covenant” in his message to the people of God. It’s the only time these words are found in the Old Testament, making this a great and wonderful insight and source of encouragement to the Israelites.

But why is it new? The old covenant was the Mosaic Covenant. As we have seen, the Israelites broke it over and over again by worshipping idols and leaning to their own understanding, despite God’s faithfulness and unwavering commitment to His word. God explains here that, “I was a righteous and faithful husband to you…” It was the church which strayed from God each time.

Taking an even more divine approach, God wouldn’t leave it up to His people to only learn of His word through one man teaching another, He said He would write it on their hearts! Understanding that out of the heart are the issues of life (Prov. 4:23), God decided to give His people a spiritual heart transplant! To receive this new instinctive nature, the people of God had to receive from God what they could never do for themselves.

Notice in verse 34, status and rank don’t come into play in the New Covenant. No matter who the person is or fell in the social classification of life, God is calling for a relationship with everyone, from the least to the greatest. In fact, as you read these verses, notice that no human interaction is called upon in the New Covenant. Theologians believe that this is because God is “saving” this work for His Son, Jesus Christ; who will teach the Israelites when He later comes to Earth.

Earlier in the lesson, the Lord likens Himself to a husband. Now, He’s saying that all will “know” Him. This meaning of “know” is more that knowledge and wisdom. Just like in a marriage, a husband and wife share intimate time and experiences with one another. God is wanting that level of intimacy and true love with Him. He’s asking for total commitment. God says He will forgive and not remember their sins anymore. This is a switch for them. Before, sacrifices were given to “atone” or cover their sins. We’re now transitioning from the blood of bullocks and rams, and will be getting ready for the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. God promises to forgive their sins and not remember them anymore. The people of God would now experience the turning point from the Mosaic Law to that of God’s grace.

In verse 35, God takes ownership of being the controller of the universe. He proclaims that He dictates when the sun rises, He controls the sea and the waves, He has all of a nature under His command.

SIDE NOTE: How many times, in our daily grind, hustle and bustle, do we need to stop and be reminded that God is in control and our lives are in HIS hands? Many believe that the future is what they make of it, but ultimately, it’s God who already knows our ups and downs; strengths and weaknesses. God is the One who provides promotion and the abilities to reach the goals we set for ourselves. For this reason, it is important to acknowledge Him in all that we do, so He’ll help us understand which way we should direct ourselves.

As you can imagine, the New Covenant was refreshing for the Israelites. Moreover, God promises that He will always have this special relationship with Israel for all times.

Visit our International COGIC Sunday School Site