February 17, 2001 – February 23, 2001
MEMORY VERSE: “And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15.
STUDY HELP: Great Controversy, 613–634.
Introduction
“Those who are earnestly seeking a knowledge of the truth and are striving to purify their souls through obedience, thus doing what they can to prepare for the conflict, will find, in the God of truth, a sure defense. ‘Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee’ (Revelation 3:10), is the Saviour’s promise. He would sooner send every angel out of heaven to protect His people than leave one soul that trusts in Him to be overcome by Satan.” Great Controversy, 560.
“Exceeding Great and Precious Promises”
1 What promises of divine help in time of trouble have we been given? Psalm 46:1–3; Psalm 91:3–10.
NOTE: “Our God is an ever-present help in every time of need. He is perfectly acquainted with the most secret thoughts of our heart, with all the intents and purposes of our souls. When we are in perplexity, even before we open to Him our distress, He is making arrangements for our deliverance. Our sorrow is not unnoticed. He always knows much better than we do, just what is necessary for the good of His children, and He leads us as we would choose to be led if we could discern our own hearts and see our necessities and perils, as God sees them.” Signs of the Times, May 25, 1888.
2 How swiftly does God hear the cry of His children? Isaiah 65:24. (Compare Daniel 9:21.)
NOTE: “Since He has made such gracious promises, why do we not trust God? Why do we not take Him at His word? We must have increased faith.” Review and Herald, May 27, 1884.
“As Daniel’s prayer is going forth, the angel Gabriel comes sweeping down from the heavenly courts, to tell him that his petitions are heard and answered. This mighty angel has been commissioned to give him skill and understanding—to open before him the mysteries of future ages. Thus, while earnestly seeking to know and understand the truth, Daniel was brought into communion with Heaven’s delegated messenger.” Review and Herald, February 8, 1881.
“I Also Will Keep Thee”
3 What is required on our part to ensure that God will watch over us in time of trouble? Revelation 3:10.
NOTE: See The Great Controversy, 593.
4 What is even more necessary than a mere knowledge of the Scriptures? Revelation 1:3.
NOTE: “When the books of Daniel and Revelation are better understood, believers will have an entirely different religious experience. They will be given such glimpses of the open gates of heaven that heart and mind will be impressed with the character that all must develop in order to realize the blessedness which is to be the reward of the pure in heart. The Lord will bless all who will seek humbly and meekly to understand that which is revealed in the Revelation. This book contains so much that is large with immortality and full of glory that all who read and search it earnestly receive the blessing to those ‘that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.’ One thing will certainly be understood from the study of Revelation,—that the connection between God and His people is close and decided. Let us give more time to the study of the Bible. We do not understand the Word as we should. The book of Revelation opens with an injunction to us to understand the instruction that it contains…. When we… understand what this book means to us, there will be seen among us a great revival.” The Faith I Live By, 345.
“Thy Words were Found and I did East Them”
5 What brought consolation to Jeremiah in his time of trouble? Jeremiah 15:15, 16.
NOTE: “The word of the living God is not merely written, but spoken. The Bible is God’s voice speaking to us, just as surely as though we could hear it with our ears. If we realized this, with what awe would we open God’s word, and with what earnestness would we search its precepts! The reading and contemplation of the Scriptures would be regarded as an audience with the Infinite One. When Satan presses his suggestions upon our minds, we may, if we cherish a ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ be drawn into the secret pavilion of the Most High.” [Psalm 27:5.] Testimonies, vol. 6, 393.
6 What precious promise may we claim in prayer? John 14:26.
NOTE: See The Great Controversy, 600 and The Desire of Ages, 355.
“Hezekiah Prayed unto the Lord”
7 What example of prayer for deliverance are we given from the life of Hezekiah? Isaiah 37:16–20.
NOTE: “When the king of Judah received the taunting letter, he took it into the temple and ‘spread it before the Lord’ and prayed with strong faith for help from heaven, that the nations of earth might know that the God of the Hebrews still lived and reigned. The honor of Jehovah was at stake; He alone could bring deliverance.” Conflict and Courage, 239.
8 In what wonderful way was Hezekiah’s prayer answered? Isaiah 37:36. (Compare Psalm 91:7, 8.)
NOTE: “Hezekiah was not left without hope. Isaiah sent to him, saying, ‘Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.’… That very night deliverance came. ‘The angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand.’… The God of the Hebrews had prevailed over the proud Assyrian. The honor of Jehovah was vindicated in the eyes of the surrounding nations. In Jerusalem the hearts of the people were filled with holy joy. Their earnest entreaties for deliverance had been mingled with confession of sin and with many tears. In their great need they had trusted wholly in the power of God to save, and He had not failed them.” Conflict and Courage, 239.
“Our Eyes are upon Thee”
9 What wonderful prayer of faith in God’s deliverance did Jehoshaphat pray? 2 Chronicles 20:9–12.
NOTE: See Prophets and Kings, 200.
10 How did Jehoshaphat express his confidence in God’s power to save? 2 Chronicles 20:17. (Compare Exodus 14:13, 14.)
NOTE: “We dared not venture in a mist and perplexity, and were obliged to stand still and see the salvation of God. The words from the living oracles teach us when tried and tempted and surrounded with difficulties, the safe course for us to pursue is to patiently wait, to be of good courage, and commit the keeping of soul and body to God.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 3, 325.
11 How was Jehoshaphat’s prayer answered? 2 Chronicles 20:20–22.
NOTE: See Prophets and Kings, 202.
“My God Hath Sent His Angel”
12 What examples of deliverance are to be found in the lives of Daniel and Paul? Daniel 6:19–23, Acts 27:20–25.
NOTE: “A man whose heart is stayed upon God will be the same in the hour of his greatest trial as he is in prosperity, when the light and favor of God and of man beam upon him…. The power that is near to deliver from physical harm or distress is also near to save from the greater evil, making it possible for the servant of God to maintain his integrity under all circumstances, and to triumph through divine grace.” Conflict and Courage, 255.
13 What promise of final deliverance is given to God’s people? Daniel 12:1.
NOTE: “‘They have come out of great tribulation. They have walked in the fiery furnace in the world, heated intensely by the passions and caprices of men who would enforce upon them the worship of the beast and his image, who would compel them to be disloyal to the God of heaven. They have come from the mountains, from the rocks, from the dens and caves of the earth, from dungeons, from prisons, from secret councils, from the torture chamber, from hovels, from garrets. They have passed through sore affliction, deep self-denial, and deep disappointment. They are no longer to be the sport and ridicule of wicked men. They are to be no longer mean and sorrowful in the eyes of those who despise them. Remove the filthy garments from them, with which wicked men have delighted to clothe them. Give them a change of raiment, even the white robes of righteousness, and set a fair mitre upon their heads.’ They were clothed in richer robes than earthly beings had ever worn; they were crowned with diadems of glory such as human beings had never seen. The days of suffering, of reproach, of want, of hunger, are no more; weeping is past. Then they break forth in songs, loud, clear, and musical; they wave the palm branches of victory, and exclaim, ‘Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.’ Oh, may God endue us with His Spirit and make us strong in His strength! In that great day of supreme and final triumph it will be seen that the righteous were strong, and that wickedness in all its forms and with all its pride was a weak and miserable failure and defeat. We will cling close to Jesus, we will trust Him, we will seek His grace and His great salvation. We must hide in Jesus, for He is a covert from the storm, a present help in time of trouble.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, 210.