NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from The Gospel Project curriculum.
Bible Passages: Judges 4:4-7, 14-16; Judges 5:1-5, 9-11
Discussion Questions:
— Why might it be difficult for us to glorify God for the victories we experience?
— How can you see God’s hand in your past, even in the most difficult times? How can you rejoice in Him for that today?
Food for Thought:
Read Judges 5:1-11. Over time, we tend to exaggerate what was good in the past as we simultaneously forget its pains and problems. The “good ol’ days” are often tinted by the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia that we choose to wear. But we are wise to look back objectively and say: “Look where we’ve come from! Look at how much we messed things up. But look at how kind God has been to bring us to where we are today!” In doing so, we are more able to see God’s grace in our lives and give Him the praise He deserves, just as Deborah’s song of praise vividly recalled the Israelites’ hardest times in Judges 5:6-8.
When the past comes to mind and the pain comes with it, we can praise God for the fact that we’re not there anymore. He gives comfort and peace. He provides companions to walk with us through tough times. So we can praise Him today for yesterday’s troubles; or if still in that season, we can praise Him today for not abandoning us along the way.
God has recorded the faithfulness of those like Deborah and Barak in Scripture, in part so we might find encouragement from them. Deborah led through her wisdom, prophecy and wise judgment. Barak led with his sword and his ability to gather an army. But neither one sought acclaim for themselves; their song of praise was to the Lord.
Any victory we experience is not birthed through our abilities but is a gift from God, Who provided the plan and the power to achieve victory.
When we experience the victory of the Lord, it is a good and right thing to sing His praises. When we do, our singing in worship goes before three audiences:
— When we sing, our songs of worship are to be offered to the Lord as sacrifices of praise.
— When we sing, we also sing to ourselves.
— When we sing, our third audience is others.
Often we sing the most passionately when we recall God’s faithfulness during the darkest and most painful of times.
The Gospel Project
The Gospel Project is a chronological, Christ-centered study for kids, students and adults. The Bible is not a collection of stories. It is one story of God’s plan to rescue His people from sin and death. It is the story of redemption, the gospel message of Jesus Christ. More information can be found at LifeWay.com/gospelproject .
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool or ordered at LifeWay Christian Stores.
