Crisis of Identity

Lesson 1
Memory Text: Isaiah 1:18

SABBATH: “Who am I?” All who profess to be Christians ought to answer this crucial question. Our selfhood/ identity is not defined by our color, race or class but our relationship with God. Wandering cows are able to find their owner’s barn, & kids when lost are able to find their mothers. Yet, we live in a land of forgetfulness where men have forgotten God (Isa. 1:2, 3). The Judaeans forgot their identity.

SUNDAY: The book of Isaiah gives a historical & political account of events in Judah under the era of 4 kings. Isaiah, the son of Amoz who received the vision spoke about how his own people violated the covenant between them & God (Isa.1:1-9, 2 Kings 15-20 & 2 Chron. 26-32). God’s witness to this treaty was “heaven & earth” (Deut. 30:19; 31:28; 4:26). Judah lost its identity in God. What of the church today?

MONDAY: The Judaeans did not for a moment hesitate in oppressing others. Yet, they lifted their iron hands in praise & used it to offer sacrifices to God. They made their service a mere ritual by maltreating others. God despises those who malign & oppress their brethren. The ritual service was to point them to Christ but they went astray (Isa. 1:10, 11-15; 58:3, 4, Lev. 1-16; 1 Kings 8:10, 11; Matt. 23:23-28).

TUESDAY: God’s justice & equity is blended with mercy & forgiveness. Judah had sinned but they were not out of God’s mercy (Isa. 1:18). A solemn appeal from God to the people called them to repent (Isa. 1:2-15; 16, 17). Thus, in God there is hope for every sinner. God is able to wash the bloodstained hands of the people for them to be pure, as He did for David (Ps. 51:7, 14). God is merciful & kind (Isa. 1:18; 44:22).

WEDNESDAY: As God presented to Israel blessings & curses (Deut. 30:19, 20), at the table of the Judaeans was two options; to obey & “eat the good of the land” or to disobey & be “eaten by the sword”. In God, there is no middle ground & lukewarmness. We either choose eternal life or eternal death (Isa. 1:19-31). Judah was the beneficiary of the covenant but violating it would lead the nation into ruins.

THURSDAY: Out of love, God put His choice vines on a fertile ground expecting a rich harvest. Yet, the vine bore fruits contrary to God’s expectations (Isa. 5:1-7). Thus, God blessed Judah with all it needed to reflect His character (1 John 4:8). Yet, Judah became corrupt & oppressive (see 2 Sam. 12:1-13). Probation would ceased one day (Isa. 5:4-6; 2 Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22:11; Matt. 12:31, 32; Heb. 6:4-6).

FRIDAY: Judah had sunken so deep into sin that they deemed God as one devoid of mercy & forgiveness. The people were spiritually blind. They could not see their sins & continued to “deepened the guilt that was already upon them”. They found solace in the dark than in God’s light. They departed from godly wisdom & understanding (Isa. 1:4).

—The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 1137.

Keywords

Vineyard of God- The house of Israel

Judah- A plant in the vineyard (house of Israel)

Captions

SUNDAY- “hear, O Heavens!”
MONDAY- Rotten Ritualism
TUESDAY- The Argument Of Forgiveness
WEDNESDAY- To Eat Or Be Eaten
THURSDAY- Ominous Love Song

Discussion Questions

📌 How can you “wash yourselves”? What does that phrase mean? (See Phil. 2:12, 13.)

📌 How did Jesus adapt, expand, and apply the love song of the vineyard? (Matt. 21:33-45, Mark 12:1-12, Luke 20:9-19.) What lessons are in the above story for us as Seventh-day Adventists?

📌 What is the relationship between the forgiveness God offers and the transformation He accomplishes in our lives? Which comes first, transformation and then forgiveness, or forgiveness and then transformation? And why is it important to know which comes first?

📌 In the quotation above, Ellen G. White says people placed themselves in opposition to “the providences of God.” What does that mean?

Entire Lesson Summary

When God’s people forget Him and take His blessings for granted, He reminds them they are accountable to their covenant with Him. Mercifully, He points out their condition, warns them about the destructive consequences of abandoning His protection, and urges them to allow Him to heal and cleanse them.

For December 26-January 1. Happy Sabbath