Sunday School is for All Ages!

In Exodus 18:1-12, we read of the sweet reunion between Moses and his family, with specific emphasis on his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian.

Despite the fact that Jethro and Moses did not share the same ethnic heritage or faith, Moses shows great honor to the man who had accepted him as a son (Exodus 2:11-22). We read how Moses goes out to meet Jethro. He doesn’t wait to be approached with a stiff request for audience; he displays open joy at Jethro’s arrival, showing honor and respect. Moses bows down before Jethro, kisses him, and invites him into his tent to catch up. In a day when we stumble so hard over our differences, Moses’s treatment of Jethro lands like a balm—a reminder that we can show respect and honor even while we continue to await the work of God to bridge differences.

And God’s work in Jethro is a thing of beauty! When Jethro hears from Moses the report of the LORD on behalf of Israel, he gives praise and glory to God and is gifted saving knowledge (Exodus 18:11). He makes a declaration of faith in the One true God. A Gentile, pagan priest receives the gift of faith in response to the report of the Lord. Jethro gets saved!

Think about it. Do any of us have someone about whom we secretly think, “I love [name], and it is never going to happen. I’ve prayed and prayed for so long now?” But, if God can save Jethro of Midian, a priest devoted to a foreign religion, simply because he hears the mighty deeds the LORD has done to deliver those who love Him, then who needs to start hearing the stories of our deliverance? Who else might God save through the hearing of our testimony, the report of the LORD in our lives?

Sunday School for all ages begins weekly at 9:45 AM. All are warmly welcome.

Read the Bible: Psalm 119:129-136 (Pe)

פ Pe

129 Your decrees are wondrous;
therefore I obey them.
130 The revelation of your words brings light
and gives understanding to the inexperienced.
131 I open my mouth and pant
because I long for your commands.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your practice toward those who love your name.
133 Make my steps steady through your promise;
don’t let any sin dominate me.
134 Redeem me from human oppression,
and I will keep your precepts.
135 Make your face shine on your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes pour out streams of tears
because people do not follow your instruction.

Psalms 119:129-136 (CSB)

Read all of Psalm 119 using the link below.

COMING SOON: Homecoming & Fall Revival Services

Join us for Homecoming at Springfield on Sunday, September 22. Special guest speaker will be Rev. Harvey Whaley, Jr. Sunday School for all ages begins at 9:45 AM, followed by Morning Worship at 11 AM. Dinner will be served in the Fellowship Hall following Morning Worship.

Fall Revival Services will begin Sunday, September 22 at 6 PM, and will continue Monday, September 23 through Wednesday, September 25 at 7:30 PM. All are warmly welcome.

NEXT WEEK: Clean-Up Day

Read the Bible: Psalm 119:121-128 (Ayin)

ע Ayin

121 I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Guarantee your servant’s well-being;
do not let the arrogant oppress me.
123 My eyes grow weary looking for your salvation
and for your righteous promise.
124 Deal with your servant based on your faithful love;
teach me your statutes.
125 I am your servant; give me understanding
so that I may know your decrees.
126 It is time for the Lord to act,
for they have violated your instruction.
127 Since I love your commands
more than gold, even the purest gold,
128 I carefully follow all your precepts
and hate every false way.

Psalms 119:121-128 (CSB)

Read all of Psalm 119 using the link below.

TOMORROW: Ladies' Auxiliary Breakfast

Join the Ladies’ Auxiliary Quarterly Fellowship Breakfast, tomorrow, 8:30 AM, at Cracker Barrel. All are welcome.

Read the Bible: Psalm 119:113-120 (Samek)

ס Samek

113 I hate those who are double-minded,
but I love your instruction.
114 You are my shelter and my shield;
I put my hope in your word.
115 Depart from me, you evil ones,
so that I may obey my God’s commands.
116 Sustain me as you promised, and I will live;
do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
117 Sustain me so that I can be safe
and always be concerned about your statutes.
118 You reject all who stray from your statutes,
for their deceit is a lie.
119 You remove all the wicked on earth
as if they were dross from metal;
therefore, I love your decrees.
120 I tremble in awe of you;
I fear your judgments.

Psalms 119:113-120 (CSB)

Read all of Psalm 119 using the link below.

Read the Bible: Psalm 119:105-112 (Nun)

נ Nun

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet
and a light on my path.
106 I have solemnly sworn
to keep your righteous judgments.
107 I am severely afflicted;
LORD, give me life according to your word.
108 LORD, please accept my freewill offerings of praise,
and teach me your judgments.
109 My life is constantly in danger,
yet I do not forget your instruction.
110 The wicked have set a trap for me,
but I have not wandered from your precepts.
111 I have your decrees as a heritage forever;
indeed, they are the joy of my heart.
112 I am resolved to obey your statutes
to the very end.

Psalms 119:105-112 (CSB)

Read all of Psalm 119 using the link below.

Read the Bible: Psalm 119:97-104 (Mem)

מ Mem

97 How I love your instruction!
It is my meditation all day long.
98 Your command makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is always with me.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers
because your decrees are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the elders
because I obey your precepts.
101 I have kept my feet from every evil path
to follow your word.
102 I have not turned from your judgments,
for you yourself have instructed me.
103 How sweet your word is to my taste —
sweeter than honey in my mouth.
104 I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every false way.

Psalms 119:97-104 (CSB)

Read all of Psalm 119 using the link below.

Sunday School is for All Ages!

Exodus 17:8-16 tells of the first battle in which Israel is commanded to directly engage the enemy. But the battle strategy is a little, well, different. Moses instructs Joshua to select some men to fight Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses plans to stand on the hilltop holding the staff of God.

That’s it. That’s the plan.

The next day, Joshua dutifully engages the enemy, while Moses assumes the position on a hill with the staff of God’s judgment in his hand. As long as Moses’s hands are raised, Israel wins in battle. When Moses’s arms tire and his hands droop, Amalek gains the advantage. In Exodus 17:16, we learn about the specific direction toward which Moses’s hands were raised: “toward the LORD’s throne.”

This odd battle strategy makes no sense until we pause to actually picture Moses’s posture on that hill, his cruciform positioning with his arms outstretched, bearing the staff of God’s judgment. Until we recognize Moses’s position on that hill as a mediator between the children of God and God, and until we visualize the scene of battle, we’ll miss the message God is foretelling.

Because so many years later, a truer and better Mediator will take His place on a hill with His arms outstretched bearing the weight of God’s judgment against all sin for all time. And the arms of this truer and better Mediator, Jesus Christ, will not drop until the victory is fully and finally won.

Even on the day of victory, it is given to Moses to appreciate a great work of God on behalf of Israel. To commemorate the victory, he builds an altar named Jehovah Nissi—the LORD is my banner.

In battle, a banner or an ensign was crucially important. It was the symbol of the kingdom for which one fought. It identified the proper rallying point—the place where soldiers would fall back to summons strength or courage; a place to recover and reorganize when the battle threatened to scatter the troops. Moses was given eyes to see that the people of God fought under the banner of God for the kingdom of God by the power of God who would assure their victory until the end.

Indeed, the LORD is still our banner.

Sunday School for all ages begins weekly at 9:45 AM. All are warmly welcome.