Lesson 244 - Junior

Memory Verse

"For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall" (II Samuel 22:30).

Notes

Hymns of Gratitude

David was grateful to God for all His rich blessings. David realised that without the help of the Lord, he was helpless. He had fought many hard battles when the enemy was much stronger than his own army, and if the Lord had not been on his side he would never have won. David felt so elated over the strength God had given him that he cried out, "By thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall."

David remembered to give thanks to God for that help. Many of the Psalms are David's hymns of gratitude to the Most High God who looked down upon humble man and sent divine aid.

David did not feel that God was too far away to hear his prayers. Away up there in Heaven, God heard and answered. King Solomon had that same faith when he prayed: "Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive" [1KG:8:30]). The Apostle John said that if we believe that Jesus hears us, our prayers will be answered ([1JHN:5:15]).

The Battles God Fought

How did God fight Israel's battles? In Egypt He sent plagues upon the inhabitants to force them to let the Israelites leave the country. God did things that man could not do. He changed the water of the Nile river into blood, so that no one could get a drink. And then He changed it back to water. He sent lice and frogs to pester the Egyptians, and on the fatal night He slew the eldest son in every Egyptian home.

After the Israelites had gone out of Egypt and had found themselves trapped between the mountains and the sea, with the enemy behind, God pushed back the water and let the Israelites go through on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to follow, God let the water come back and drown them all. Man could not have delivered those Israelites from their enemy but God did.

In conquering Canaan, God had caused the walls of Jericho to fall down, so the Israelites could enter the city. One time he sent hornets to sting the people and to make them run from the Israelites. Other times when great armies came against them which were far too large for them to conquer by themselves, God sent great hailstones, and "the stars in their courses fought against Sisera," who was Israel's enemy.

When Jonathan and his armour-bearer went up to the camp of the Philistines all alone -- two men against an army -- God sent an earthquake to give them victory.

The Blood of Jesus Our Deliverance

In all David's trouble, God had delivered him. He lived to please God. He had had his sins forgiven, and he did not need to worry about judgment. Neither do we if we have asked Jesus to forgive our sins and wash them away with His Blood. By repenting of our sins, we send them on to be judged now; and when Jesus comes to judge the world we will be able to say, "Saved by the Blood of the Crucified One."

David said, "He delivered me, because he delighted in me." God had not delighted in David when David was a sinner; but after his sins were forgiven and he loved God with all his heart, then God was pleased with what he did.

Does the Lord delight in what we do? Are our lives pleasing in His sight? Do we remember that God is watching everything we do? and do we do it so as to honour Him? When we do, we can expect the Lord to hear us when we pray, and to give us many good things. John wrote, "Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight" ([1JHN:3:22]). If our prayers are not answered, let us look into our own lives and see if we are doing anything that is not pleasing in His sight.

The Word Hidden in the Heart

David could say that he had kept the ways of the Lord and had obeyed His statutes. Another time he said, "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart" [PS:40:8]).

We must know the will of God, His Word, before we can hide it in our heart. We must read the Bible carefully so we will remember what the Lord wants us to do. The scribes and Pharisees in Jesus' day thought they knew the Law very well, and yet Jesus told them to search the Scriptures to make sure that they would be ready to enter Heaven. They had their own ideas about what it meant to be good, and they did not want to learn about mercy and love for the poor and the oppressed, as Jesus taught.

They thought it was all right to love their friends and hate their enemies, but Jesus said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" [MAT:5:44]). Those are things that are hard to do; but if we really love Jesus, He will help us to do them.

Mercy to the Merciful

If we are merciful to others, God will show mercy to us. David knew that and wrote, "With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright." Jesus has promised to forgive us if we forgive others.

We will find that we have many more friends if we are kind to people and show them that we love them, as Jesus wants us to. People will often treat us as we treat them; and if we are selfish and hateful, they will act the same way.

The story is told of a little boy who lived near the edge of a forest, and one day he stood outdoors and called, "Hello." He heard an echo, "Hello." He thought another boy had answered him, so he called out, "You are a bad boy!" Back came the echo, "You are a bad boy!" He called again, "Come here, and I'll whip you!" And the answer was, "Come here, and I'll whip you!" "I'm coming." "I'm coming."

The little boy ran into the house and told his mother, "There is a bad boy in the woods, and he is going to whip me." The mother answered: "No, I don't think he is a bad boy. You didn't talk to him very well. If you had spoken kindly, he would have been kind to you. Go and try again." So the boy went out and called again, "Hello." He heard the echoing "Hello." This time he said, "You are a good boy!" and the answer came, "You are a good boy!" "I love you" -- and the echo, "I love you." He ran back into the house, and said, "Mother, he is a good boy after all."

We will find many friends if we will be a friend. We may often through kindness win the hearts of those who have been mean to us. One is much happier when he does good to others rather than selfishly insisting on having his own way.

Strong in Battle

It was David's responsibility to destroy the enemies of Israel. Such people were the enemies of God, and deserved to be defeated. God made David strong in battle so he could carry out all God's commandments.

Other Nations Called

The Israelites were God's chosen people, and He dealt with them particularly, giving them every opportunity to learn about Him. He gave them everything they could wish for when they served Him with all their heart. But they, as a nation, had turned from God and served other gods.

In our lesson we are told that David prophesied of a time when people other than the Israelites would come and serve God: "A people which I knew not shall serve me. Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me."

Isaiah also was inspired by God to write: "Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee" [ISA:55:5]). Those are the Gentile People, other nations than the Jews, who are giving their hearts to God and serving Him. How happy we are that the love of God has included us.

Created to Praise Him

God created man to praise Him. "I have created him for my glory" [ISA:43:7]). And He wants us to enjoy all the pleasures of an eternal life with Him. But what a disappointment man has been! Most people do not love God; instead, they turn from Him and do wicked things.

Jesus is holding out His arms, saying, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" [MAT:11:28]). But man answers, "No, I won't." Jesus said that whosoever will might come. He is bidding everyone to come and be a joint-heir with Him of "all things" -- everything a person can imagine -- but many people are saying, "No, I want to live my own life."

Let us who know Him love Him fervently with all our heart. And let us tell Him so. Let us try to make up a little for the others who will not listen to Him. Let us sing continually, in our hearts if not aloud, as David did: "Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen and I will sing praises unto thy name." Never be ashamed of Jesus, but be a witness for Him everywhere He gives you the opportunity to live for Him and tell about Him. May our gratefulness and love to God well up in our hearts continually!

Questions

1. What made David strong in battle?

2. How had God worked for the Israelites?

3. What reason did David give for God's help?

4. How can we love our enemies?

5. Tell one way in which we can make friends.

6. How do we know that the Gentiles are included in God's love'

7. For what reason did God create man?

8. What kind of inheritance has Jesus for those who love Him?