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Ärende: LESSON 1 - Story and History
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LESSON 1
*September 25 - October 1
Story and History

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week's Study:

Gen. 39:6-12, Josh. 3:9-17, 1 Sam. 24:1-6, 1 Kings 12:1-16, Job 1:1-12.

Memory Text:

"Every Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God
may be capable and equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16, 17, NET).
 Though most folk harbor no great love for the study of history itself, most
people do love a good story. Every civilization has a rich repertoire of
stories that explain (or claim to explain) the origins, values, relationships,
and structures of its culture. These stories, told over generations, are often
teaching tools.

In the modern age, storytelling was downplayed: people looked for facts and
scientific answers to explain life. However, facts alone could not answer
life's most important questions. Today, a new generation, often dubbed
"postmodern," has rediscovered the power of stories.

In that sense, the Bible is so contemporary because it is full of stories. Not
legends, not "cleverly devised myths" (2 Pet. 1:16, ESV), but historical and
personal stories that reveal truth about God and His interaction with fallen
humanity. These stories describe real people, battling with real-life problems
and interacting with the living God, who offers answers to these problems.

Every story needs a setting. This week we will explore different settings and
their historical contexts in order to understand better the characters we'll be
studying all quarter.

*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 2.
SUNDAY
September 26

People and Plots

Plot is defined as the succession of events that lead to a conclusion. Everyone
is born, lives, and one day will die. These are the broad parameters of the
plot of life. In between, life consists of many smaller plots that are often
motivated by conflict or tension. Looking for a plot means trying to connect
all the relevant parts of the story in order to see the big picture. In the
book of Job, for example, there are two plots.

Identify the two plots in the story of Job. See Job 1:1-12.

If we want to understand the story of Job, we need to understand its
two-dimensional plot. As a matter of fact, the Bible has no one-dimensional
plots, because God is always active in history and human lives, even if working
behind the scenes. In the first two chapters of Job, we can imagine changing
channels, as on a TV set, as we jump between the earthly and the heavenly
plots.

Stories, however, are more than plots. People make stories.

Describe in as much detail as you can the prophet Huldah as described in 2
Kings 22:14. 
Characters are closely connected to the plot of the story. How we understand
the character(s) depends to a large degree on the information given by the
narrator, who may even be one of the characters. Let's take Huldah as an
example: Is she one of the main characters in the story? No. This story is
actually about the discovery of the book of the Law during the reign of King
Josiah. Though Huldah may not be a main character, every character in a story
is vital to the development of the story. Does Huldah have children? How old is
she? We don't know the answers to these questions. Biblical narrative tends to
be very concise and often abbreviated. This means that we need to pay close
attention to every piece of information we are given. Huldah was regarded as a
reliable prophetess of the Lord. The biblical author gives us information about
her husband's family, because women during Old Testament times were identified
with their husband's  families. Her address is also given. As in modern times,
official documents always require a name and an address to prove that a person
is who he or she claims to be.
What is your plot? What kind of character are you? If your story was written as
a Bible narrative, how might it read in contrast to how it ought to read? 
MONDAY
September 27

Where and How?

Setting conveys reality to the story and gives it atmosphere and mood. For
example, why, in Ruth 4:1, 2, does Boaz locate his legal case in the gate and
not in his home or in the house of the mayor of the city of Bethlehem?
Obviously, the gate--being the most public place in ancient times--adds an
important legal element to the story. Setting also can give us a clue about the
time period in which the narrative unfolds. If we hear a story that is located
inside a car or in an airport terminal, we know without much reflection that
the story does not come from the time of David or Martin Luther.

Compare the settings of the following two stories: 1 Samuel 24:1-6 and Genesis
39:6-12. How do the settings contribute to the plots of the stories? 
Settings help us to better understand the action of the story. David and his
men are alone with Saul, who is unprotected and extremely vulnerable. The
setting highlights the stellar character of David. He does not take advantage
of this ideal opportunity to rid himself of Saul before Saul seeks to rid
himself of David, a fact that reveals David's respect for God's anointed
leader.

The setting in the story of Joseph also paints an opportunity. Joseph is
handsome and in a position of power. His master's wife is infatuated with him,
and they are alone in the house. Joseph, like David, shows his sterling
character in resisting this opportunity.

But setting is not the only important element of a story. We need to look at
the point of view of the narrator, as well. We see the story unfold through the
narrator's eyes, which usually provide us with important information but may
sometimes withhold information from us. This is particularly true in secular
stories. Though we do have points of view in biblical accounts, we must read
them on the assumption that they are inspired by the Holy Spirit and that the
truth revealed is God's truth.
Think of David and Joseph in those particular settings. How easily they could
have rationalized doing something other than what they did. The fact that they
didn't tells us so much about their character. How often do you rationalize
your wrong actions? 
TUESDAY
September 28

From Victory to the "Dark Ages"

For the rest of this week we will take a closer look at a few crucial periods
of Israel's history that will function as the backdrop for all the individuals
we will be studying. We begin with Israel's entry into the Promised Land.

After God's mighty acts during the Exodus and the wilderness journey, the
people of Israel have for a second time reached the border of the Promised
Land. Under their new leader, Joshua, they are about to cross over the Jordan
on dry land (Josh. 3:16, 17), a miracle that echoes the crossing of the Red Sea
during the time of the Exodus (Exodus 14).

Read Joshua 3:9-17. What is the purpose this miracle? 
Canaan was not taken by Israel because of Joshua's military genius or Israel's
valiant efforts. Victory over the inhabitants of the Canaanite city-states was
achieved only by God's powerful intervention. When Israel was obedient, God
gave victory; however, when the Israelites relied on their own strength, they
failed hopelessly.

After the death of Joshua and the elders, some sections of the Promised Land
were still dominated by the Canaanites (Judg. 1:27, 28). It seems that the
Israelites' faith grew smaller as their vision shrunk. Instead of seeing the
whole Promised Land in their possession, they became preoccupied with their own
livelihoods and lost the larger vision and ideal that God had for Israel as a
people. Many scholars call the following centuries the "dark ages" of Israel.

Read Judges 17:6. What kind of moral climate does it reveal? 
When we lose the big picture of what God has in mind for us, minors become
majors. Israel lost its perspective as a nation; tribalism took over.
Throughout the book of Judges, the various tribes and clans were ready and
willing to fight one another. Religious practices were fused according to
personal convenience, and compromise with the surrounding cultures was
widespread. According to the author of the book of Judges, this was caused by
intermarriage with the Canaanites who were still living in the land (Judg.
3:3-7). As a result of this spiritual decline, Israel slipped into a cycle of
domination by foreign powers, liberation, idolatry, and, again, domination.
What's so dangerous about compromise is that it comes quietly, slowly, and
almost imperceptibly. How differently do you live now than a few years ago?
Might some of these changes be a result of compromise? 
WEDNESDAY
September 29

Of Kings and Princes

Though given so much by God, and promised so much more were they to obey, the
Israelites were influenced negatively by the surrounding culture. For instance,
they saw in the surrounding kingdoms a very different political structure. All
of these nations had a king. Combined with the fact that Samuel's sons did not
emulate their father's behavior and leadership but "took bribes, and perverted
justice" (1 Sam. 8:3, NKJV), the tribal leadership of Israel felt that it was
time to appoint a king over Israel (1 Sam. 8:4, 5). Samuel is not at all happy
with this decision but is told by the Lord to comply (1 Sam. 8:7).

The Benjamite Saul is anointed as king by Samuel (1 Sam. 10:1) and begins his
reign in Gibea. However, as already foreseen by God, things are not easy for
the new king. Tribal tensions continue. Israel's very existence is in jeopardy
due to pressure from the powers surrounding her. The new king is not committed
to following God's requirements (1 Sam. 15:3, 8, 9) and, as a result, God
finally rejects Saul.

Afterward, David is anointed as the future king of Israel. As expected, Saul
does not want simply to hand over the power to the new military champion,
David, and the next decade is marked by internal strife, with David always
being on the run.

The next major turn in Israel's history comes when Saul and his sons are killed
in battle against the Philistines (1 Sam. 31:1-6). David is first made king
over Judah and then, seven years later, over all of Israel. David establishes
Jerusalem as the new capital of the united monarchy. His military exploits are
successful; he extends the borders of the kingdom. After a forty-year reign,
David dies in Jerusalem (2 Sam. 5:4; 1 Kings 2:10, 11). Similar to our own
lives, David's reign is marked by great victories, some bad choices, and a lot
of God's grace. He is succeeded by his son Solomon, who also reigns for forty
years (1 Kings 11:42).

Solomon is not a warrior or conqueror. Instead, he seeks and receives divine
wisdom (1 Kings 3:3-13); he constructs the Lord's temple in Jerusalem; he
designs efficient administrative structures that control and organize Israel;
but, toward the end of his life, he turns away from the Lord, following the
religious practices of his many wives (1 Kings 11:1-8).

Read 1 Samuel 8:7-20. How does this passage show that God's ways are better
than man's? How often do we find ourselves doing the same thing, wanting to do
things our own way instead of God's? 

 
THURSDAY
September 30

Rehoboam's Folly

Solomon's death marks another important turning point in Israel's history. The
strong-handed administrative approach, the labor-conscription laws, and the
experiments in religious pluralism all led to great tension at the beginning of
the reign of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon.

Read 1 Kings 12:1-16 and try to capture the drama of the situation. Looking at
Rehoboam's leadership, what can we learn from this story about our own
attitudes toward whatever power we possess in various life situations? What can
we learn from his mistake? 
After the division of Judah and Israel, God's once-united people begin to go
different ways. Seeing that the center of worship, sacrifice, and adoration was
located in Judah, King Jeroboam I of Israel had two golden calves made (1 Kings
12:26-29) and set up two places of worship with altars--one in Bethel and the
other in Dan. Things did not look good for Israel, and over the next two
hundred years the Israelites had a roller-coaster experience. Some kings
followed (at least half-heartedly) God's call to repentance; others stubbornly
refused to listen to the prophets. Dynasties changed, and political
assassination abounded. Twenty kings reigned from Jeroboam I to the last king
of Israel in Samaria, Hoshea, signaling the unstable condition of the kingdom.
Finally, in 722 B.C., Samaria was captured by the Assyrians and Israel was
taken into  captivity.

On the other side of the border, things did not look much better. The Davidic
dynasty was maintained, but not all the descendants of David could emulate the
faith of their forefather. Some kings, such as Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and
Josiah, tried to return to the Lord and in the process also bring Judah as a
whole to repentance. Their efforts were aided by scores of prophets who spoke
to particular situations and specific spiritual and social needs in Judah.

In 586 B.C. Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians. The leadership and much of the
city's population are taken to Babylon. The temple is destroyed. The royal
"experiment" has come to an end.
One would think that, with the disaster of the Babylonian destruction and
captivity, that was the end of the Jewish people. What does their restoration
after this calamity tell us about God's patience and grace? In what ways have
you seen that same patience and grace in your own life? What should your
reaction to this grace be? 
FRIDAY
October 1

Further Study:


"The Lord calls upon all to study the divine philosophy of sacred history,
written by Moses under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The first family
placed upon the earth is a sample of all families which will exist till the
close of time. There is much to study in this history in order that we may
understand the divine plan for the human race. This plan is plainly defined,
and the prayerful, consecrated soul will become a learner of the thought and
purpose of God from the beginning till the close of this earth's history. He
will realize that Jesus Christ, one with the Father, was the great mover in all
progress, the One who is the source of all the purification and elevation of
the human race."--Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 3, p. 184.

"In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to
our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what God has wrought, I
am filled with astonishment and with confidence in Christ as Leader. We have
nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has
led us, and His teaching in our past history. We are now a strong people, if we
will put our trust in the Lord; for we are handling the mighty truths of the
word of God. We have everything to be thankful for."--Ellen G. White, Selected
Messages, vol. 3, p. 162. 
Discussion Questions:

  God's active involvement in history is a very important concept in Scripture.
Read Daniel 2:21. What does this passage say about the interaction between God
and human history? Why is this reality so important for us to keep in mind
today, for us who are living near the true "end of history"? 
  Why do we like stories so much? What makes a good story? How can stories be
very effective tools in teaching truth? Who are some of your favorite
storytellers, and why do you like them? 
  The Ancient Israelites had been called to be witnesses to the whole world of
the true God and of His message regarding salvation by grace for everyone. Yet,
look at how internal fighting so weakened ancient Israel. What lessons might we
be able to draw from that sad historical truth for ourselves today? 
 Background is so important for understanding any situation. Yet, in most cases
there's so much background information that we just don't know about. Because
so much is hidden from us, why is it so important that we not judge others? How
often have you hastily judged someone before knowing important facts about the
person and his or her circumstances? How often have you been judged by those
who didn't know all the pertinent facts about you? 

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