The Sabbath-School by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 16, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 27.

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The Sabbath-School.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

LESSON FOR THE PACIFIC COAST—AUG. 8.

Inheritance of the Saints.—Continued.

PROMISE CONCERNING THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL.

1. Why was Saul rejected from being king of Israel?

"For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king." 1 Sam. 15 : 23.

2. Who was chosen in his stead?

"Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts. I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel." 2 Sam. 7 : 8.

3. By whom was David chosen to be ruler?

4. Where do you find the record of his anointing? 1 Sam. 16 : 1-13.

5. Repeat the promise which the Lord made to David concerning his house and kingdom.

"And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee; thy throne shall be established forever." 2 Sam. 7 : 16.

6. What promise did the Lord make at the same time concerning Israel?

"Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime." 2 Sam. 7 : 10.

7. What did he say he would appoint for them? Ib.

8. Where should they dwell? Ib.

9. From what should they be free? Ib.

10. From 2 Sam. 7 : 10, quoted above, what conclusion must we draw concerning the promises made to Abraham, and to the Israelites at Sinai?

We must conclude that those promises were not fulfilled in the possession of the land of Canaan by the Israelites. If they had been, we would not at this time find the Lord renewing the same promise, when they were already in the land that the Lord had given to them.

11. In what condition was the kingdom of Israel when the Lord made the promise recorded in 2 Sam. 7 : 10?

"And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies." 2 Sam. 7 : 1.

12. Then what must we conclude concerning that promise of rest and peace?

Since the Israelites were already dwelling in the land that the Lord had given them by Joshua, and were at peace with all around them, it follows that the promise of a land of their own, and of rest and peace, must refer to something in the future, something far greater than anything yet known. This can only be found in that perfect inheritance when the "kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom." Dan. 7 : 27. This will be the perfect rest that remains for the people of God, for when the meek inherit the earth they shall "delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Ps. 37 : 11.

13. Who was David's immediate successor? 1 Kings 1 : 32-39.

14. What had the Lord said concerning him?

"And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." 2 Sam. 7 : 12, 13.

E. J. W.