From Disoriented to United to Divided

Lessons from the Old Testament Survey Class.   Today's lesson is about learning to understand that God has better plans for our lives.  That sometimes, our plans, no matter how good they are, are no better than God's plan.   Isaiah 55:8-9 says, 



Let's consider three eras in our study today. 

ERA # 1:  Disoriented People

This was during the days of judges when God raised deliverers or judges in order to save His people.  The problem is that they kept on disobeying God and God was teaching them a lesson to trust Him.   The cycle of sin and repentance were lessonsyou will find in the book of Judges.  


Another problem is that God's people were never content.  They wanted a king like the rest of the world.   This leads us to the next Era.  


ERA # 2:  United Kingdom

God granted Israel's request for a King despite His warning.  There were three kings that ruled one after the other and their lives are a lesson for us to follow:  King Saul was rebellious, King David was repentant and King Saul was always compromising.   You can summarize their heart condition this way: 

King Saul - No Heart
King David - Pure Heart
King Solomon - Half Heart

ERA # 3:  Divided Kingdom 

It was downhill after King Solomon reigned.  The children of Israel rebelled over and over but God never lost a beat in reminding, calling, loving, and forgiving them.   The kingdom was divided and here is a summary of what we learn: 

THE NORTHERN KINGDOM
It was called Israel
20 Kings
No good kings

THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM
It was called Judah
19 Kings
8 good kings

CONCLUSION:  

  1. God is calling all His children to live a life of obedience
  2. God is calling ordinary people to carry out an extraordinary task  


QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:     

  1. What areas in your life need to be faithful before God? 
  2. Read Isaiah 55:8-9 (above) and state what that means to you?  
  3. What has God been calling you lately to do and identify your hesitations?  

I hope I have encouraged you today.  Don't forget to leave a comment below.   

  

Comments

  1. JApril 18, 2021 at 2:21 PM

    Hello

    ReplyDelete
  2. christineApril 18, 2021 at 2:44 PM

    1. school
    2. we have our own thoughts different from God, and even though it’s up to us to listen to Him, we’re encouraged to because His Will is greater
    3. stop and listen to myself

    ReplyDelete
  3. HinsonApril 18, 2021 at 2:46 PM

    I believe school would need the greatest influence from God, just because of the negative and secular influence that is present in school.
    The verse reminds us about the omniscience that God has, and encourages us to follow Gods ways rather than using what we know and received from the world.
    God could be asking me to invite my friends and family to shear God’s message.

    ReplyDelete
  4. christineApril 18, 2021 at 2:47 PM

    Hi this is Nathan.
    1. My friends because sometimes I get carried away with them.
    2. It means that we can do what we want and think how we want but should understand that Gods will and actions are better than ours and we should emulate that.
    3. To bring someone to church.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Daniel WangApril 18, 2021 at 2:48 PM

    1. My areas need to be faithful are College life's and Job life

    2. The verse meanings is we should encourage God's way because he is the creator and our king.

    3.God has been calling me lately to invite my friends to church. The hesitation is asking me think if they can accept it or not

    ReplyDelete
  6. Johnson YeeApril 18, 2021 at 2:54 PM

    1. My areas in of life need to be faithful before God is work.

    2. What does it mean to me is that God is higher than us.

    3. What has God been calling me lately to do is to stop hesitating and invite my friend to church.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Annie LamApril 18, 2021 at 5:41 PM

    Faithfulness is more than what appears on the outside. It requires constant mindfulness of motive, heart attitude, devotion, humility.... in service to God.

    God has used our adversities to accomplish his greater purpose. Rejoice in Isaiah 55:8-9!

    I think the extraordinary task that God is calling me to do is to influence a culture change in Living Faith. We must expand from being event evangelists to being everyday evangelists.

    ReplyDelete

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