Archive for the ‘vocation’ tag
June 21, 2009: David, the Shepherd Boy
The text for this lesson is 1 Samuel 16:11; 17:32–35; Psalm 23.
Key Points
- While David tended his flock, the Lord was David’s shepherd—protecting him, leading him, and providing for him.
- Law: Many jobs involve real danger, and though we are often unaware of it, Satan has the power to do us harm at any moment.
- Gospel: Our Good Shepherd walks with us even through the valley of the shadow of death, assuring us that no matter what evil we encounter, He will defend us into eternal life.
- Law: As we handle the tasks assigned to us, we may rely on ourselves and wrongly think we are the ones doing great things.
- Gospel: God accomplishes great things and honors us by using us.
Context
The Lord delivered Israel out of Egyptian slavery in 1446 BC and led them into the Promised Land in 1406. After the deaths of Moses and Joshua, various judges exercised leadership in Israel, from about 1380–1050 BC. Israel, however, wanted a king; they foolishly rejected the Lord’s kingship over them (1 Samuel 8:1–9).
Saul reigned from 1050 until 1010. He wickedly disobeyed the Lord’s Word (1 Samuel 13:1–14; 15:23), and so the Lord rejected him and chose “a man after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14) to replace him. In about 1025 David was anointed to succeed Saul as king (1 Samuel 16:1–13) and took the throne in 1010.
June 14, 2009: Jacob’s Death and Burial
The text for this lesson is Genesis 49:29–50:14.
Key Points
- Jacob requested burial in Canaan, rather than in Egypt, because Canaan was the land to which God had promised to send the One through whom all the families of the earth would be blessed—Jesus (Genesis 12:1–3; 46:2–4).
- Law: Death is a time of tremendous grief.
- Gospel: We do not grieve as those who have no hope, because Jesus has overcome death and the grave.
- Law: We ourselves must also face death. Gospel: Because Jesus died in our place, we can look ahead to God’s promised land of heaven.
- Law: How we deal with death—our own and that of a loved one—can sometimes give a witness of doubt, worry, and fear.
- Gospel: By God’s grace, comforted with the assurance of our resurrection in Christ, we are able to testify to the hope that is in us.
Context
After Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, their father Jacob presumed him dead (Genesis 37). However, the Lord preserved and prospered Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 39–41). After Joseph helped his brothers during a famine (Genesis 42–45), Jacob came to settle in Egypt (Genesis 46). Joseph and Jacob were happily reunited. Before Jacob died, he blessed his sons (Genesis 49:1–28).
The Messiah first promised to Eve (Genesis 3:15), then to Abraham (Genesis 12:7; Galatians 3:16), Isaac (Genesis 26:3), and Jacob—renamed Israel (Genesis 35:9–12), would come through Judah (Genesis 49:8–12). Matthew 1:1–2 traces Jesus’ lineage from Abraham to Judah. Matthew 1:17 presents Jesus as the promised Christ, “who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).
June 7, 2009: Rebekah Serves at the Well
The text for this lesson is Genesis 24:10–28.
Key Points
- By moving Rebekah to selfless service (drawing countless gallons of water for a man and his camels), God identified an ancestor of the One who would serve us by His suffering and death.
- Law: In our sinfulness, we think only of our own convenience and pleasure.
- Gospel: Jesus’ selfless sacrifice of His life and death (Romans 8:32) gives us all we need and frees us to serve others gladly.
- Law: As sinful people, we labor only for the value or compensation it brings us.
- Gospel: God uses even our seemingly insignificant chores to accomplish His perfect will for the world.
Context
Genesis 12:1–9 sets the stage for the entire history of Israel—and of the Christian Church! God called Abram to leave his homeland and become “a great nation” (Genesis 12:2) and the one in whom “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). The Messiah (Christ), first promised to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15), would come from Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 12:7; Galatians 3:16). His son Isaac would need a wife to continue the Messianic blood line. Isaac had to remain in the Promised Land but not intermarry with the local Canaanites, so Abraham commissioned his chief servant to go find a wife for Isaac among Abraham’s kin in Mesopotamia (Genesis 24:1–9). Abraham promised that the Lord would send an angel ahead the servant (Genesis 24:7).
