Lesson 140 - Junior
Memory Verse
"Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).
Notes
Rewards
We have studied what reward was promised to the obedient, and also what the disobedient would receive. "A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known" (Deuteronomy 11:27, 28). Some of the Children of Israel disobeyed even after this warning. They lost the blessing of the Lord by turning away from Him. God had told them what to do when such was the case. They were to remember the words of the Lord. They were to recall His instructions to them when the curse was fulfilled. He had told them how the curse could be lifted because God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9).
Captives
Many of the Children of Israel were taken captives into other lands ([2KG:18:11]; [2KG:24:10], [2KG:24:14]; [2KG:25:11]). "Ahaz . . . did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD. . . . Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus" (II Chronicles 28:1, 5).
There are many people today who are captives of the enemy of their soul -" Satan. God's promises are to them as well as to the Children of Israel. Because one does not now have God's smile of approval does not mean that he can never have it. God has set forth instructions that the curse for disobedience can be changed into the blessings for obedience.
The Reminder
The first step to God comes by considering one's condition and need. The Children of Israel realised that they were captives, that God was not fighting their battles for them as He once had. They remembered how God had been with them to bless them. They knew that their lives had been different. They were reminded of God's promise to those who would return unto Him.
The prodigal son who had left his father's house and spent all he had in riotous living, "came to himself" (Luke 15:17). He remembered the blessings he had enjoyed at his father's house. He realised that he was in a pitiful condition. He determined in his heart to return to his father ([LUK:15:18]). He did not excuse himself nor put the blame on another person. He knew that he was guilty before God and man.
The Return
There are many people who realise that there is sin in their lives. Like the prodigal son, they are hungry, friendless, and labouring in the swine pen of sin. Some seem to like living in such a condition, for they do nothing to remedy it. The prodigal son did more than plan to return to his father. He put his plans into action -" he returned and admitted his sin ([LUK:15:21]). Then he received his father's forgiveness and mercy instead of judgement.
The blessings of God did not come to the Children of Israel until they had returned to God. "But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there" (Nehemiah 1:9). Those who plan to turn to God but never act do not receive God's blessings. The Lord requires wholehearted obedience -" "with all thine heart, and with all thy soul."
Godly Sorrow
To say, "I am a sinner, lost and doomed," does not change one's condition. Only repentance (turning with sorrow from one's sinful state) with faith toward God will bring salvation and the blessing of God. "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation" (II Corinthians 7:10). One with godly sorrow has regret for doing the wrong thing, but not in view of the punishment it will bring. He is grieved for dishonouring and offending God. His grief is accompanied by a hatred for sin and a love for holiness.
The Lord said that He would cleanse the heart, and put in it the love of God instead of love for sin and evil. "And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart" (Jeremiah 24:7). God wants the whole heart. One cannot serve Him with divided affections ([MAT:6:24]).
Repentance
The New Testament as well as the Old Testament advises all people to repent. We read that God would for-give their transgressions and have compassion on them if the people would repent and return unto the Lord ([1KG:8:47-50]; [2CH:7:14]). Ezekiel told the Children of Israel to "repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions . . . for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" ([EZE:18:30-31]).
John the Baptist preached: "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," and "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance" (Matthew 3:2, 8). Jesus said, "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Matthew 9:13). Peter preached, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19). Through the whole Bible we find that "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations" (Luke 24:47).
Many Blessings
When one truly repents he brings his whole life to Jesus -" to obey, to love, to trust, and to depend upon Him. What has God promised to one who repents? He has promised mercy and pardon ([ISA:55:7]). God will give deliverance ([PS:34:7]; [DAN:6:27]). "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk upright-ly" (Psalm 84:11), for He has said that He will "do you good" (Deuteronomy 28:63). These are some of the blessings that God has promised to those who will turn to Him and continue to obey. All these are besides peace of mind, a clear conscience, victory over sin, faith, hope, and the love of God to reign in one's heart. Read, in Luke 15:18-24, all the good things that were bestowed upon the prodigal son when he returned home.
Plainness of the Word
Our lesson teaches that there is a way back to the Lord, and encourages a return "while he may be found" (Isaiah 55:6). The Children of Israel were urged to obey God. There could be no excuses, for the Word of God was plain, in a language that they could understand. Salvation and obedience to God are neither impractical nor impossible. One does not need to go to great expense, nor endure hard labour, nor have a long period of learning in order to find salvation. God set before the Children of Israel and before us today a choice -" life and good or death and evil ([DEU:30:15]). To receive "life and good," follow His instructions: Thou "shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul."
Questions
1. Why were the Children of Israel taken captives?
2. What did God tell them to do in order to return to the land of promise?
3. What does God do for a person who repents?
4. What does repentance mean?
5. How can one have God's blessing on his life?
6. What choice does God give to all people?
7. What must one do to have "life and good"?