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Roof Contribution Announcement
Matthew 16:18 ESV
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
New Bethel AME Church is asking for your assistance, as we continue to maintain our local assembly for a place of fellowship and worship. We have a goal to obtain funding to replace our roof by the end of this calendar year. We are asking you to partner with us in making a monthly or one-time donation. There are multiple ways to make your contribution. Please feel free to give online via New Bethel’s website (http://www.newbethelameredtop.com), via the donate icon, Givelify, or mail your contribution to the address listed below. Please add the comment ‘roof donation’. We appreciate your continued efforts
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Sunday School Lesson
December 15
Lesson 3 (KJV)
David’s House
Devotional Reading: Psalm 138
Background Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1–17; 24:18–25; 1 Chronicles 17:1–15; 21:18–30
1 Chronicles 17:1, 3, 4, 11–14
1. Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remaineth under curtains.
3. And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
4. Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in.
11. And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
12. He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.
13. I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:
14. But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.
1 Chronicles 21:18, 21–27
18. Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the Lord in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
21. And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
22. Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the Lord: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.
23. And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all.
24. And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.
25. So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.
26. And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the Lord; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.
27. And the Lord commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.
Key Verses
It shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.—1 Chronicles 17:11, 12
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Summarize David’s intention, God’s response, and David’s reaction regarding construction of a house (temple) for God.
2. Explain why David refused to offer sacrifices that cost him nothing.
3. Prepare a testimony of a time when he or she expected to serve God in a certain way, but found the plans redirected by Him.
HOW TO SAY IT
| Gad | Gad (a as in bad). |
| Jebusites | Jeb-yuh-sites. |
| Joab | Jo-ab. |
| Ornan | Or-nan. |
Introduction
A. Doors, Windows, and Houses
Most of us have heard the saying, “When God closes a door, He opens a window,” or some variation of that. The specific origin of that popular proverb is unknown. Many know it from the movie The Sound of Music. The would-be nun Maria speaks the words to herself as she unexpectedly leaves the abbey to serve as a governess.
The statement describes how, when one opportunity disappears, in time another opportunity will present itself. People of faith view these situations as much more than coincidence or luck. They see the sovereign hand of God at work to provide in His special and often surprising ways.
B. Lesson Context
Last week’s lesson examined a psalm that David commissioned for use in celebrating the arrival of the ark of the covenant in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 16:8–36). The text does not indicate how much time passed between bringing the ark to the city and the events studied in today’s text. David became troubled by a glaring discrepancy, which is the point at which today’s text begins.
The accounts in this lesson have parallel records in 2 Samuel 7 and 24. The first parallel, concerning David’s impulse to build a house, shows little variation between 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles 17. The second parallel, which follows David’s taking a census in Israel (2 Samuel 24:1–17; 1 Chronicles 21:1–17), is more detailed in 1 Chronicles than in 2 Samuel. The details differ significantly. Those differences pertinent to the printed text will be considered in the commentary below.
I. Building a House
(1 Chronicles 17:1, 3, 4, 11–14)
David captured the city of Jerusalem following his being anointed as king of Israel (1 Chronicles 11:3–5). He took up residence “in the castle” (11:7). This is either a preexisting structure in Jerusalem or, more likely, the home that King Hiram of Tyre had built for David out of cedar (2 Samuel 5:11).
A. A Realization (v. 1)
1. Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remaineth under curtains.
David becomes disturbed by the contrast between his own permanent house and the place in which the ark of the covenant now sits. It is still under curtains in the tent that David had erected in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:17). While Israel was walking through the desert, a portable home for the Lord was required. So the design of the tabernacle was given by God at Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:15–25:9; 26). Now that the Israelites are settled in the land, a permanent structure makes sense, at least to King David. Cedar is a strong, durable wood, frequently used in the Ancient Near East for building and decorating temples and palaces.
The Lord has not mentioned wanting a new residence (compare 2 Samuel 7:6, 7; 1 Chronicles 17:5, 6). However, David believes that the portable tabernacle has become obsolete. A permanent home should be erected for God in the land He has given to His people. Why should David, a mere human king, have a more elaborate residence than the king of the universe?
David voices his concern to Nathan the prophet. Apparently, Nathan has served as a counselor to David for spiritual matters (2 Samuel 7:1–4, 17; 12:1–14, 25; 1 Kings 1). Though many prophets experience tumultuous relationships with kings (1 Kings 18:1–19:9; 2 Kings 6:24–33; Jeremiah 38:1–13; etc.), David respects God and His messengers (1 Samuel 22:5; 2 Samuel 7:17–29; 12:1–14; 24:10–17; 1 Kings 1). First Chronicles 17:2, not in today’s text, records Nathan’s initial response to David’s observation: he encourages David to pursue the matter, assuming with the king that this is what the Lord would have David do. David and Nathan make their plan without consulting God first.
B. A Word (vv. 3, 4)
3a. And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan.
The Lord wastes no time in reacting to Nathan’s counsel to David. The phrase the word of God came indicates that what follows will not reflect a human’s understanding. Though Nathan has presumed God’s approval in responding to David, God now makes known what He really wants.
3b, 4. Saying, Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in.
The Lord makes His will for David quite clear to Nathan. But God’s denying David his desire is not the Lord’s final word. In the following verses (1 Chronicles 17:5–9, not in today’s text), the Lord clarifies that He has not asked for a temple. God reminds David through Nathan of His abundant blessings for David. But the Lord has even more planned for His faithful servant.
| What Do You Think? What habits can you cultivate to help you remain faithful when your prayers result in answers that are not what you hope for? Digging Deeper |
The Plan (vv. 11–14)11. And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
The Lord declares that He will build a house for David, not the other way around (1 Chronicles 17:10, not in today’s text). God makes clear that His intention is not to replace the physical house of cedar David already has. Instead, after David has gone to be with his fathers—an expression describing death (compare 2 Samuel 7:12)—one of his sons will succeed him as king over Israel.
At this point, it is not obvious to David which son this will be; he has several sons, by several wives, who could seek the throne (1 Kings 1:5–14; 1 Chronicles 3:1–9). For God to establish his kingdom suggests that He will bless the line of the next king with longevity on the throne (compare 1 Kings 11:9–13; 2 Kings 8:19; 2 Chronicles 21:7).
| What Do You Think? What are some ways to encourage a believer who feels that God is taking a long time to acknowledge his or her prayers? Digging Deeper |
12a. He shall build me an house.
God addresses David’s concern for the Lord’s house. His word for David is not that building a temple is an absurd idea. Instead, God reveals that the man to build the house will be the son that God raises up after David (2 Chronicles 2:1–5:1).
Unfulfilled Dream
Chief Henry Standing Bear had a dream. He wrote to the Department of the Interior and offered to trade 900 acres of his farmland for Thunderhead Mountain, located about 17 miles from Mount Rushmore. The National Forest Service agreed. Standing Bear commissioned Korczak Ziolkowski to carry out his dream: to carve the image of Sioux warrior, Crazy Horse, into the mountain.
The memorial has been under construction since 1948 and is far from finished. Standing Bear died in 1953 and saw little of the progress made on fulfilling his dream. Forty-five years later, the face of Crazy Horse was completed and dedicated. When completed, the monument will be the world’s largest sculpture, measuring 641 feet wide and 563 feet high.
King David dreamed of building a temple to honor the God of Israel. Like Standing Bear, David died before his dream was fulfilled. Both men planned for a future they would not see. What dreams can you only see by faith?
—J. E.
12b. And I will stablish his throne for ever.
After assuring David that the temple will be built, God reveals His greater plan. This plan will encourage David to think in far more sweeping terms about his legacy. The promise that the throne of David’s successor will last for ever will cause confusion for the exiles, especially during the events surrounding the Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 25:1–14). Ultimately, this promise is fulfilled in Christ in a much greater way than David could imagine (Isaiah 11:1–9; Matthew 22:41–45; Romans 1:2–4).
13. I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee.
God had indeed removed His mercy from Saul who was king before David. As a result, Saul was tormented (1 Samuel 16:14, 15, 23; 19:9, 10), and his line did not continue on Israel’s throne (16:1; 23:16–18; 24:16–20). In contrast, a strong bond will be established between the Lord as father and the son who will build the Lord’s house. Solomon will fall far short of being the greatest fulfillment of the promises within this verse (1 Kings 11:1–13). Once again, the promise is fulfilled in Christ (Luke 1:31–33; 24:44–49).
14. But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.
Twice in this verse the Lord emphasizes the eternal nature of the house, kingdom, and throne that He will establish. It becomes clear that God’s promises look beyond the circumstances of David and his son, even beyond the construction of the Lord’s house in Jerusalem. His intentions for David’s family are very grand indeed.
When Gabriel will speak to Mary about becoming the mother of Jesus, he will echo God’s promise here. Mary’s son will inherit a throne, house, and kingdom forever (Luke 1:32, 33). Jesus is a far greater son of David than Solomon (Matthew 12:42; John 18:36; Acts 2:29–31). The eternal realm of Heaven is the consummation of the throne, house, and kingdom (Revelation 7:9–17; 11:15).
II. Providing a Site
(1 Chronicles 21:18, 21–27)
Following several military victories (1 Chronicles 18–20), David commanded Joab (the king’s chief military commander) to conduct a census in Israel (21:1–17). Taking the census either reflected pride on the king’s part or revealed a lack of faith in the Lord’s protection. Joab objected to the order but yielded to the king’s demand.
As Joab anticipated, the Lord was displeased with David’s action. The Lord sent a seer, Gad, to give David a choice of three punishments. David chose a plague from the Lord that would last for a period of three days. As a result, 70,000 men perished in Israel (1 Chronicles 21:14).
A. A Command (v. 18)
21:18. Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the Lord in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
The angel of the Lord has been sent to destroy Jerusalem, but now the Lord’s mercy prevails to spare the city. The angel is stopped at the threshingfloor of a Jebusite (1 Chronicles 21:15).
The Jebusites have long lived in the promised land (Genesis 15:18–21; Exodus 3:8, 17); they inhabited Jerusalem before David conquered the city (Joshua 15:8). The Jebusites continued to live in the land until David’s taking Jerusalem (15:63; Judges 1:21; 2 Samuel 5:6, 7), at which point they rapidly fade from history. This account concerning Ornan and his threshingfloor constitutes one of the final references to Jebusites in the Bible.
The angel of the Lord who has been inflicting the plague now speaks to the prophet Gad. That man has not been mentioned in 1 Chronicles until now. He was with David during the attempt to escape from the hand of jealous King Saul (1 Samuel 22:5). The instruction to set up an altar marks the end of God’s punishment of Israel for David’s sin (1 Chronicles 21:17). Altars built by the patriarchs and the nation of Israel often mark locations where God had done something incredible (Genesis 12:7, 8; 22:9, 13; 26:24, 25; 35:1–7; Exodus 17:15; Judges 6:23–32; etc.). This particular altar on Ornan’s threshingfloor will remind the nation not only of the plague they have suffered but, more importantly, God’s mercy in cutting it short (1 Chronicles 21:15).
| What Do You Think? What procedure can we adopt to discern that a person’s counsel to us represents God’s will? Digging Deeper |
A Negotiation (vv. 21–25)
21. And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
While threshing wheat, Ornan first sees the angel (1 Chronicles 21:20, not in today’s text), then David. The man appropriately bows in homage as he recognizes the king.22a. Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the Lord.
A typical threshingfloor is a level and hard piece of ground. It is usually located in the open air where the task of threshing (dividing the chaff from the usable grain in kernels of wheat) can be carried out. Building an altar implies that David plans to offer sacrifices.22b. Thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.
As king of Israel, David can simply seize Ornan’s land for whatever reason desired. The Jebusites are a conquered people whose land had been promised to Israel (Exodus 3:8; 34:11; Deuteronomy 7:1). They were meant to be destroyed in the original conquest of the land (Deuteronomy 20:17). But instead of seizing what he requires, David insists on paying Ornan the full price for his property.
The angel of the Lord has stopped at the threshing floor (1 Chronicles 21:15, 16) because the next move is David’s. Because the plague came on the people as a result of David’s sin, he is responsible for the sin offering to show repentance (Leviticus 4:1–5:13). When the Lord forgives David, as the king believes God will do, the punishment on David and his people will come to an end.
| What Do You Think? How visible should be our refusals to use power or privilege to personal advantage, considering the tension between Matthew 5:14–16 and 6:1–4? Digging Deeper |
And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all.Ornan holds nothing back. He is willing to give David everything the king needs in order to build the altar and offer sacrifices on it.
No reason is noted for the generous offer. Given that he sees the angel of the Lord nearby (1 Chronicles 21:20), Ornan may recognize that the Lord has determined for David to receive this land and therefore doesn’t desire to impede God’s intentions. (Meat in this case refers to the fleshiest, best wheat to use in a grain offering.)24. And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.
In refusing Ornan’s counteroffer, David states an important principle: he will not take something for the Lord’s use without cost. This is especially significant regarding animals that are used for burnt offerings. Such an offering ordinarily is to be taken from one’s personal livestock and must always be “a male without blemish” (Leviticus 1:1–3). Sacrifices are therefore costly in quality and quantity; to offer a sacrifice that is flawed or cheap suggests terrible things about one’s reverence for the Lord (compare Malachi 1:8) and trust in His provision.
David knows that sin carries “wages” (a concept that Paul will later make clear in Romans 6:23). He has admitted that he and his family should have been “plagued” (1 Chronicles 21:17), not the 70,000 who have died thus far. For these reasons, nothing Ornan says can convince the king to take the property for free.25. So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.
The payment noted here is far more than the “fifty shekels of silver” noted in the parallel account 2 Samuel 24:24—perhaps 180 times as much when considering silver vs. gold. The difference may be explained by noting that 2 Samuel 24:24 mentions only the threshing floor and the oxen being purchased. The verse before us, however, appears to include the entire site, a much larger area (consider 1 Chronicles 21:28–22:1).Price of Doing Business
Today, the public might simply refer to the Teapot Dome incident as just another example of “pay-to-play” policy making. At the time, however, the scandal was considered sensational, tarnishing the administration of U.S. President Warren G. Harding.
To ensure that the navy had sufficient oil available, several oil fields, including Teapot Dome, were designated as Naval Oil Reserves. The Department of the Interior came to supervise the land in 1921. Harding’s Secretary of the Interior, Albert B. Fall, had the authority to issue leases without competitive bidding. What he was not permitted to do was to accept money to influence his decisions. Following Congressional hearings, Fall was convicted of accepting bribes from two oil companies, bribes amounting to over $400,000.
Some leaders still view “pay-to-play” politics as a perk of governance. King David firmly rejected that view in the case of Ornan’s threshing floor. David insisted that this site should cost him something. What do the value of your gifts to God say about your view of Him?
—J. E.C. An Altar (vv. 26, 27)
26a. And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the Lord.
The scene is reminiscent of what occurred at the ceremony during which the ark of the covenant was brought to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 16:1, 2). In both instances, David addressed acts of disobedience to the Lord (13:7–14).
26b. And he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.
The response of fire falling from heaven … upon the altar is similar to other occasions in the Old Testament, including Solomon’s (future) dedication of the temple on this site (2 Chronicles 7:1) and the Lord’s answer to Elijah’s prayer on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:36–38). In these instances, God chooses to demonstrate dramatically His pleasure with the offerings.
Such scenes anticipate Pentecost, when tongues of fire will fall on the disciples. The coming of the Holy Spirit at that time will demonstrate God’s choosing and empowering them to carry out their mission (Acts 2:1–4).27. And the Lord commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.
David’s offering provides the “sweet savour” that is pleasing to the Lord (Leviticus 1:9). The plague thereby ends, although one can imagine that this incident stays in David’s memory long after it occurs.
Conclusion
A. Looking Ahead
When God says no to something we propose to do, that answer can be devastating. Initially, David probably felt very good about his intended construction project. He had already brought the ark to Jerusalem. What better way to complete the task than to provide a dwelling place in honor of Israel’s true king?But God had other plans. He denied the king’s plan, but then proclaimed His choice of David to participate in the building of the temple in a very important way. What had begun as a terrible punishment for sin resulted in David’s offering sacrifices and purchasing the place for his son to build the Lord’s house (1 Chronicles 22:1).
What was true with David applies to us as well: the Lord may reject what we have in mind, but that doesn’t mean He rejects us. With the denial of David’s desire came one of the most significant promises in all of the Old Testament: the Lord’s promise to build a house for David.
The advice of Proverbs 3:5, 6 remains sound: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” May we, like David, trust God in both His yes and no to use our lives to His glory.B. Prayer
Father in Heaven, be our guide through times of discouragement. Open our eyes to see when your plans should replace ours. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.C. Thought to Remember
Trust God during times of both His yes and no.
KID’S CORNER
The Worshipers the Father Seeks
Sunday, December 15, 2019
John 4:20-29
John 4:20-29
(John 4:20) “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”
The woman told Jesus that she perceived He was a prophet; therefore, she asked Him a religious question. It is difficult to know the exact motivation for her question. Perhaps she wanted to turn the conversation away from further discussion of her past sinful life. Many times, people prefer to talk about theological or Biblical controversies and disagreements rather than make the moral changes and choices that God has commanded in the Bible. Others think that because Jesus’ statement convicted her of sin that she wanted to know where she could go to find forgiveness and a new beginning. If her question was motivated by a desire to go before the true God to offer sacrifices and find forgiveness; then, her question could have referred to the right place for true worship: should she go to Mount Gerizim where the Samaritans worshiped or should she go to the temple in Jerusalem. Since she knew Jesus was a Jew and a prophet, she probably expected Jesus to tell her to go to the temple in Jerusalem. She even said to Jesus, grouping Him with the Jews she knew of, “but you say.” If Jesus had told her Jerusalem, as she probably expected, she was probably ready to discuss their religious differences and why the Samaritans were right and the Jews were wrong.
(John 4:21) Jesus *said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
Jesus did not answer as she expected. Jesus did not choose between the two choices she gave Him. Rather, as a prophet, Jesus spoke as a prophet. Jesus did not speak exclusively of Samaritans or Jews; rather, He spoke of her situation and what she should and would do personally. Notice particularly what Jesus said to her, “Believe me.” Believing Jesus is the key to understanding the truth about God, salvation, where, and how people should worship. Jesus kept the discussion personal. He looked to the future and told her about HER future. After talking to Him, She would come to believe Jesus. In the future, on that very day, in the presence of Jesus, she would praise and worship the Father, the true God, without needing to go to a mountain or a temple. Her worship of the true God, the Father, would not be either the Samaritan place of worship or the Jewish place of worship, but Jesus’ way—through faith in Jesus. When Jesus used the word “you” in speaking to her, he was not speaking about Samaritans or Jews, for even today some Samaritans worship on Mount Gerizim and some Jews in Jerusalem; rather, He spoke to her directly as a woman and foretold what she would soon do. Those who truly worship the Father can worship the Father anywhere on earth. In their heart and mind the person who believes in Jesus, the Son of God, can worship God any time and any place. Through faith in Jesus, the woman would soon worship the Father near Jacob’s well.
(John 4:22) “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
In John 3:11, Jesus told Nicodemus, “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen.” Very soon, the woman would know by experience the meaning of John 3:34, “He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.” The woman’s way of life indicated that she did not know the true God or how to worship the true God. But Jesus and His disciples did worship the true God, the Father. Jesus and His disciples worshiped the true God according to the Scriptures, which included the prophets, and according to the revelation of Jesus to His disciples up to that time. Salvation (Jesus the Messiah) would come from the Jews, as a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and King David according to Biblical prophecy. The Samaritans did not know all they needed to know about the Messiah coming from the Jews because they only accepted the first five books of Moses as Scripture—not the prophets. When Jesus changed her life by telling her the truth about himself and giving her the Spirit (the living water), the woman soon learned that indeed salvation was from the Jews.
(John 4:23) “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
Jesus answered her questions about the proper location for worship. He told her that special “religious” physical locations for worship are not important. Worshiping God “spiritually” and “truthfully” and worshiping God as “the Father” from the heart and mind are important to God, and always will be important to God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. When Jesus told the woman that the hour is now here, He indicated that in that very hour she would become a true worshiper and she would worship the Father in spirit and in truth, with all her heart and mind. She would soon learn enough truth from Jesus to believe in the true Father and in Jesus the Messiah. After receiving the living water from Jesus, she would also worship the Father in Spirit and truth. For more than 2,000 years, this statement of Jesus has applied to all who would follow Him. The true worship of the Father must be in spirit and in truth, and in the Holy Spirit that Jesus gives His followers and in the truth of Jesus’ words and the Bible—words that believers can understand with their minds and with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Father seeks the worship of those committed to the truth of His words and of who He is: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as revealed in the Bible.
(John 4:24) “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
God is Spirit. God is not material or physical. God is not a golden calf, an idol, or any other manmade representation of God. When Jesus was born, He was born in material, physical, human flesh: fully God and fully human. Believers must worship God with their mind based on the truth about God—the truth revealed by the Bible. Jesus came to reveal the truth about God. In worship, we mentally thank God for the truth He has revealed in Jesus, and we praise God for all God is and all God does. The followers of Jesus must worship God according to the way God is, and not according to what they or others might imagine God to be. People either believe that Jesus spoke the words of God because He is the Son of God, or they choose to disbelieve the truth that God has revealed in the Bible (see John 3:34).
(John 4:25) The woman *said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.”
With this statement, the woman revealed and proclaimed her faith in the Messiah who was to come. She believed what the Bible taught about the Messiah and His coming based on as much of the Bible that she knew, that the Samaritans claimed to be inspired by God (the five books of Moses). She believed that when the Messiah came, He would proclaim the truth that would explain and settle all theological arguments. He would proclaim all they needed to know for salvation. When she expressed her faith in all the truth she knew, Jesus confirmed her belief and pointed to himself as the Messiah, as the fulfillment of what she believed about the Messiah. Jesus had revealed and would continue to proclaim to her all the truth that she would need to know to believe in Him, along with the help of the Holy Spirit that He would give to her without limit as “a spring of water gushing up to eternal life” as He promised her (John 4:14). Jesus’ work of redemption for all (Jews and Gentiles) who would believe in Him preceded what Paul later told the Jews in Acts 28:28, “Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
(John 4:26) Jesus *said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
In this verse, Jesus boldly proclaimed to her that He was the Messiah; furthermore, as the Messiah He was speaking to her, a Samaritan woman, and He was clarifying and explaining and settling once and for all time her theological questions. This is the first time in the Gospel of John that Jesus made this bold declaration that He in fact was the Messiah, and He made it to a Samaritan woman. Others may have these or similar questions later, and these are the answers of the Messiah on how to worship God the Father, and that true worship is of God the Father according to Jesus’ teachings. Furthermore, after she had perceived that Jesus was a prophet, if the woman did begin seeking to worship the true God, the forgiveness of her sins, and a new beginning, after learning from Jesus that He was the Messiah and after believing in Him, she began to receive from Him all that she sought.
(John 4:27) At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why do You speak with her?”
The disciples expressed the typical viewpoint of the Pharisees and many Jews. Jewish men avoided, as much as possible, speaking to a woman in public. In this verse, they did not express the ideas of Jesus and His way of treating either women or Samaritans. They had not been with Jesus long enough to recognize the fact that Jesus did not hold any prejudice or resentment against those of a different gender or race. Jesus never prejudged anyone, for He knew what was in everyone. God and Jesus loved the world, and Jesus did not come to condemn the world. He came to save everyone who would believe in Him, and that included women and those of all races. By the grace of God, they did not interrupt Jesus’ and the woman’s conversation by speaking to either one of them. They quietly watched.
(John 4:28) So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and *said to the men,
When the woman heard Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah that the Samaritans expected (and not because the disciples had said anything to her), she was so excited she left her water jar and went back into the city and spoke to people. When Jesus had told her that “salvation is from the Jews,” He was not being racist or claiming the Jews were superior to Samaritans (see John 4:22). Rather, Jesus was explaining that the Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah (which was in the former Southern Kingdom). This was a fulfillment of prophecy by Jacob as recorded by Moses in Genesis 49:8-10, “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion’s whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches down, he stretches out like a lion, like a lioness—who dares rouse him up? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and the obedience of the peoples is his.” The Samaritans believed this prophecy was the word of God because these verses were included in the five books of Moses. The woman believed according to the Bible as Jesus and the Holy Spirit gave her understanding.
(John 4:29) “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?”
With the woman’s reputation, the Holy Spirit did not lead her to directly proclaim her newfound belief to her neighbors or the residents of Sychar. They would probably have ridiculed her. She told them how Jesus had known and revealed all she had ever done (that the whole town probably knew about); therefore, she helped the townspeople perceive that Jesus was a prophet. Then, she simply asked them if they thought Jesus could be the Messiah. This question along with the change they perceived in the woman led them to go see for themselves—at least out of curiosity. Jesus fulfilled, would fulfill, and will completely fulfill the prophecy in Genesis 49:8-10. He was of the tribe of Judah. He was a Jew. He was the long-expected Messiah. He was the fulfillment of the prophecy given by their ancestor Jacob, the one who dug Jacob’s well. The woman did not claim that Jesus was the Messiah, because she knew she would not be believed (perhaps because of her past behavior). She told them what Jesus had said (they also had expectations about the Messiah’s coming). Then, she asked them a question (as though seeking their help). So, the townspeople went and met Jesus and decided for themselves that Jesus was the Messiah based on the words He spoke to them directly and from their experiences with Him. Jesus’ testimony and their results among these Samaritans give us good and sufficient reasons to believe that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God.
The Worshipers the Father Seeks
Sunday, December 15, 2019
John 4:20-29
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him (John 4:23—KJV). But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers (John 4:23—NASB). But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him (John 4:23— NRSV).
For several years ministers and parishioners have discussed worship styles and the effects of contemporary, traditional, and blended worship styles on church growth. Debates on worship styles have even been labeled “the worship wars.” Missing from some of these conversations is the question, “What does God want?” When the Samaritan woman wanted to discuss true places of worship with Jesus, Jesus changed the focus and told her that more important than places of worship are what kind of worshipers the Father wanted. Jesus revealed to her that the Father wants, and even seeks, true worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. Perhaps ministers and parishioners need to pray and ask God how they can help people best worship God in spirit, with heartfelt love for God and a deep desire to glorify God, and what they can do to promote the true spirit of worship. Perhaps they need to ask the Father what they and others need to do to worship God in truth, with a right understanding of who God is and what He requires of His children. From reading the entire New Testament, translators are also justified when translating Jesus’ words as uppercase Spirit and Truth. The Father seeks those who will worship God in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, who Jesus sends to indwell all who receive Him as Lord and Savior. Furthermore, the Father seeks those who worship God in Truth. In John 14:6 and in 17:17, Jesus proclaimed that He is the Truth and God’s Word is Truth.
Thinking Further
The Worshipers the Father Seeks
Sunday, December 15, 2019
John 4:20-29
Name ___________________________________
- Why do you think the Samaritan woman asked Jesus a question about where people should worship?
- What did Jesus tell the woman to do in John 4:21? What does that command mean to you?
- How does a true follower of Jesus worship? What kind of person does the Father seek to worship Him?
- What did the woman tell Jesus she believed about the Messiah? Was her belief right or wrong? What did Jesus tell her in response?
- What did the woman do after she believed in Jesus? Why did she do this?
Discussion and Thinking Further
- Why do you think the Samaritan woman asked Jesus a question about where people should worship? To either turn their attention away from further discussion of her sinful past or to find the right place to go to make sacrifices for the forgiveness of her sins.
- What did Jesus tell the woman to do in John 4:21? What does that command mean to you? He told her “Believe me.” That command tells me that I need to not only believe in who Jesus is but also believe what He commands and says.
- How does a true follower of Jesus worship? What kind of person does the Father seek to worship Him? A true follower of Jesus worships the Father in the Spirit and in truth. The Father seeks those who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
- What did the woman tell Jesus she believed about the Messiah? Was her belief right or wrong? What did Jesus tell her in response? She believed he would explain everything. Right. He told her that He was the Messiah (not just a prophet, as she thought at first).
- What did the woman do after she believed in Jesus? Why did she do this? She was so excited she left her water jar behind and went to tell the people of the town. The Holy Spirit and her belief in Jesus so changed her life that the townspeople could see the change, and the Holy Spirit guided her testimony about Jesus.
Word Search
The Worshipers the Father Seeks
Sunday, December 15, 2019
John 4:20-29
Name __________________________________
R D W S J N D S K T I R I P S
J E C L H E R Z C N S J Z G O
S I H R I U W Q O Q P E H L E
K T A T O P C S M E I R E J M
N Q N H A G L Z I A H U O K L
O W C L Y F C P N D S S P C S
I J E S U S M J G W R A E I Q
T L S R B F O N S O O L G M P
A R T G N V U M P N W E N E H
V Q O L E Q N K E K U M S T A
L D R H I C T Q X S A Y U L G
A Z S O T V A E M W S R M Z I
S L Q M H C I U L A T I F O X
N I N D E P N X F O J P A V K
L O Y V R B T Z S Q M O W H A
Ancestors
Worship
Mountain
Jerusalem
Hour
Coming
Neither
Know
Salvation
Jews
Father
Seeks
Spirit
Truth
Messiah
True and False Test
The Worshipers the Father Seeks
Sunday, December 15, 2019
John 4:20-29
Name __________________________________
Circle the True or False answers. Correct the False statements by restating them.
- Jesus told the Samaritan woman that she could save time and money by worshiping on the mountain where her ancestors worshiped. True or False
- Jesus told the woman that an hour was coming when she would worship the Father neither on the mountain nor in Jerusalem. True or False
- Jesus told the woman that she worshiped what she did not know. True or False
- Salvation is from the Jews. True or False
- True worshipers must worship God with loud joyful dancing and singing in the streets. True or False
- God seeks worshipers who will give lots of money to the church and lead others to join the church and give money too. True or False
- God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. True or False
- When the woman asked Jesus if He was the Messiah, He told her that was a secret only Jews were supposed to know. True or False
- When the disciples saw Jesus was talking to a woman they were astonished and exclaimed, “What in the world are you doing?” True or False
- After the woman talked with Jesus, she went to tell others in the city, “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” True or False
True and False Test Answers
- False
- True
- True
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- False
10.True
Prayer
Father in Heaven, be our guide through times of discouragement. Open our eyes to see when your plans should replace ours. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.