Memory Text: Romans 9:21 SATURDAY: All true Bible readers knows that it uses symbols for concepts and ideas other than themselves. ...
Memory Text: Romans 9:21
SATURDAY: All true Bible readers knows that it uses symbols for concepts and ideas other than themselves. Such was the earthly sanctuary which was a symbolic prophecy of the plan of salvation. Daniel and Revelation, the prophetic books, is filled with symbols. It's only through the gospel that we can uncover its truths. Jesus Himself used symbols to explain deep truths. The lesson unveils symbols used in the book of Jeremiah and their meanings.
SUNDAY: Cain and Abel depicted two classes of people who'll live at the end of the age, those who'll try to work their way to heaven, and those who rests on the grace of God (Genesis 4:3-7). The Israelites by looking at the bronze serpent on the pole showed faith and trust in God (Numbers 21:4-9, John 12:32). The sanctuary service presents truth about the death and priestly ministry of Jesus, the advent judgement and final destruction of sin (1 Corinthians 5:7).
MONDAY: Doubt filled Jeremiah as he faced constant persecution from the nation. God used the symbol of the potter and the clay (Jeremiah 18:1-10) for Jeremiah to know that, He is in control of the world and will previal at the end (Isaiah 29:16, 45:9, 64:8). Paul further explains Jeremiah 18:6 by stating that, we can always trust in the love of God. It's His love and will that will prevail but not evil (Romans 9:21).
TUESDAY: Judah was to be holy and special to God, yet they profane the name of the Lord and made sacrifices to gods (Jeremiah 19:4). They lost their unique character that would have made them a witness to the Lord, and became like everyone else (Exodus 19:5,6). God had commanded the Israelites not to offer human sacrifices (Deuteronomy 18:10), yet they disobeyed (Jeremiah 19:5). Even us sinful beings abhor it, how much more the Holy Lord?
WEDNESDAY: The elders and the priests of Judah, who led the nation to ruin were to serve as witnesses to the act of God through Jeremiah (Jeremiah 19:1-15). The nation had fallen into deep deception and God wanted to wake them up. Jeremiah was to go to the potter's house again, this time to smash a jar. Though God gave them hope, the breaking of the jar symbolises how useless the nation will become if they failed to turn to God.
THURSDAY: Jeremiah was ordered to perform another symbolic act (Jeremiah 13:1-11). The linen belt symbolised both the house of Israel and Judah, which was pure at the time God made the request. The man wearing the belt is God Himself, which shows how closely we're tied to God. And just as the belt had been ruined, the pride of the nation will be ruin too. They once clung to God's waist but now had defile themselves.
FRIDAY: Though the image of the potter and clay and brings up human quest to understand God's actions, God's thoughts and ways are different from that of man's (Romans 9, Isaiah 55:8). Human knowledge about God is limited, but what we do have is the Cross. The Cross gives us hope to trust God even though we may not know why some things occur in this world. We stand at risk of being blinded to truth revealed in God's word when we seek to know the origin of sin.
-Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 492.
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