Winter Quarter Sunday School 2010 s2

SUMMER QUARTER SUNDAY SCHOOL 2012 JUSTICE DEFINED AND PRACTICED GOD’S WAY FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT UNIT ONE: THE FOUNDATION OF JUSTICE “REMEMBERING GOD’S LAW…THE FOUNDATION OF PRACTICAL JUSTICE”

Sunday School Lesson No. IV – June 24, 2012 Presented by Rev. Frank Davis, III, Pastor-Teacher Lesson Text: Deuteronomy 10:12-22; 16:18-20 Required Reading: Deuteronomy 10:1-22; 16:18-20 Memory Text: Deuteronomy 10:12, “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” Reliable Resources: Union Gospel Press Expositor and Illuminator; Libronix Electronic Library; Precepts for Living (UMI), Word Search 9 Electronic Library; “The Maxwell Leadership Bible” (Dr. John Maxwell)

INTRODUCTION And now we focus on the very foundation of practical justice, the Law of God. The lesson looks at Moses on the plains of Moab as he rehearses the Law of God and the history of the nation. The original citizens who left Egypt are dead, having died in the wilderness over a period of 40 years. (Read Numbers 14:20-35). Only two, Joshua and Caleb, would enter the Promised Land. Now the new generation is set to enter the land of promise and Moses calls for a recommitment to the Laws and Promises of God. This is the basis of the Book of Deuteronomy (The Second Giving of the Law)…the same Law just re-written, for the first writing was destroyed by Moses (Exodus 32:19-24). Now it is re-written and re-explained, because the first generation who received it was now dead and God’s practical justice is based on the absolute foundation of His Laws!

Let us examine the Anticipated Power Points for this week’s lesson, Remembering God’s Law…The Foundation of Practical Justice.  God’s Justice Demonstrated Daily. Deuteronomy 10:12-22  God’s Justice Impartially Administered. Deuteronomy 16:18-20

LESSON OUTLINE EXPLORED

I. God’s Justice Demonstrated Daily. Deuteronomy 10:12-22 “Love is the heart of God’s law – love for God and for our fellow man. It is understanding the very essence of a thing that either grants or denies its significance. Every believer must accept and embrace every one of God’s laws and humbly submit to them. Selective obedience is not an option.” (Jane E. Campbell). With this in mind, let us note the following: A. Requirements. vss. 12-15 In demonstrating the loving justice of God daily, He offers the following requirements. John MacArthur describes these in vss. 12-13: “1.) To fear the Lord your God. To hold God in awe and submit to Him; 2.) To walk in all His ways. To conduct life in accordance with the will of God; 3.) To love Him. To choose to set one’s affection on the Lord and on Him alone; 4.) To serve the Lord your God. To have the worship of the Lord as the central focus of life; 5.) To keep the commandments of the Lord. To obey the requirements the Lord had imposed.” Now why can God require these things? Verses 14-15 summarize the answer in simplicity – because of God’s total sovereignty! Psalm 24 makes it crystal clear, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” God reminds the new generation that their existence and future has been a total act of His sovereign grace. From the choosing of their fathers to their present and future existence! B. Removing. vss. 16-17 Moses uses the term “circumcise” here to describe the actions of the faithful towards God out of total reverence and respect of His Person. Circumcision was the surgical removal of the foreskin of a man’s penis. It was a sign given to the males of Abraham’s heritage. (Read Genesis 17:1-14). It had medical purposes as well. The cutting away of the foreskin helped the Israelite men from infecting their wives with diseases and bacteria. Remember their travels through lands without the abundance of water for cleansing. Also circumcision carried a deeper meaning of the heart of the person. Note Dakes, “Circumcision of the heart – opening it to God by removing all reservations, coverings, secrets, and unbelief – is a command. God promises to help man in this matter (Deut. 30:6), providing he will humble himself and permit Him to.” God could demand this of His people because of His sovereignty and impartiality. C. Reciprocation. vss. 18-19 These verses are to remind the Israelite and the Christian of today of the practice of the “Golden Rule.” As one looks at His love and concern for all who are oppressed and in need, so shall His people show mercy and benevolence. We read in Proverbs 19:17, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” And in James 1:27 we find, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” D. Remembrance. vss. 20-22 Moses closes this section by reminding the Israelites to Remember! Don’t ever forget God’s character, compassion and be totally committed to Him. In fact, “cleave” to Him! MacArthur says: “To stick to” or “to hold onto.” “As a husband is to be united to his wife. Genesis 2:24.” Deuteronomy 10:20-21. Also, they were to remember that God raised Israel from nothing, a small band of about 70 souls became a great nation by the power of God’s grace and mercy. (Read Psalm 148:1-8). God is awesome!

II. God’s Justice Impartially Administered. Deuteronomy 16:18-20 The Sunday lesson closes with more practical thoughts of how Israel was to continually carry out the mandates of God’s practical justice. “Moses instructs the people on how to select the judges and officials in the land. He lets them know that God has a say in this selection as well.” This also speaks in our day politically and ecclesiastically. When we are faced with choosing new leaders, especially at the level of the local church and our organizational structures, let us use the formats of scripture given to us by God. Let us not lean to our own understanding. Jeremiah 3:15 tells us, “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Read I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9)

CLOSING The closing words of our country’s Pledge of Allegiance embody the lesson of this week… “With Liberty and Justice for All.” This is God’s true expectation. Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church, New Orleans, LA & Little Bethel Baptist Church, Amite, LA Mailing Address: Post Office Box 19768, New Orleans, LA 70179 Phone: (504) 486-7876 Email: [email protected] Website: www.thestudyhour.com TV Broadcasts: WHNO TV 20, Sunday, 6:30 a.m. – Channel 14 (Hammond-Amite area), 6:30 a.m. Radio Broadcasts: WLNO AM 1060, Saturday 8:30 a.m.; Sunday 5:30 a.m. AM 1570 (Hammond-Amite area) Saturday 1:00 p.m. LOOKING AHEAD: July 1, 2012 I Samuel 7:3-11, 15-17 PASTOR DAVIS TEACHES THE LESSON ONLINE VIA VIDEO AT www.thstudyhour.com and at Bibleway every Wednesday at noon. Please come and hear the lesson in person, and ask questions as needed.

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