God’s Covenant with the Returned Exiles Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock God’s Covenant with the Returned Exiles Lesson 9

Horizontal Visual Point to these images (or comparable ones of other nations) as you ask your class how the words memorial and memory relate.

Lesson Outline Introduction A. Never Forget B. Lesson Background Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Lesson Outline Introduction A. Never Forget B. Lesson Background

Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Never Forget! SEPTEMBER 2001 11 Tuesday, September 11, 2001, will long live in the memory of Americans. On that morning four passenger airliners were hijacked by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists and used in suicide attacks against symbolic U.S. landmarks. In total, the attacks claimed the lives of about 3,000 people. Click to add notes

Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Never Forget! SEPTEMBER 2001 11 It was the deadliest incident for firefighters and law enforcement officers in the history of the United States. On every anniversary, the names of the victims who died in New York City are called out against a background of somber music.

Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Never Forget! SEPTEMBER 2001 11 The president of the United States attends a memorial service at the Pentagon. The First Lady usually attends services in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. These reminders are designed so that Americans will never forget the attacks on that day.

Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Never Forget! SEPTEMBER 2001 11 Lessons of the past, even very painful ones, can help us prepare for the future. The exile to Babylon was a painful experience for the people God. Upon returning, the exiles took time to reflect on their past and sought guidance for their future.

Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Lesson Outline I. Pleading with God (Nehemiah 9:32-37) A. Faithful God (v. 32a) B. Unfaithful People (vv. 32b-37)

Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Always Remember! NEHEMIAH NEHEMIAH 9 9 In the chapters preceding today’s lesson text, Nehemiah discovered that Jerusalem was in spiritual and physical ruins. After addressing these needs, Nehemiah reviewed past actions that led to these situations, examined current conditions, and set a course for the people’s future.

Always Remember! 9 9 Read the given section of the text. Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Always Remember! NEHEMIAH NEHEMIAH 9 9 Read the given section of the text. Then look for information from those verses that describe that part of Israel’s history (past, present, or future). After you do so, we will present the information we found.

Always Remember! 9 9 Read Nehemiah 9:32-35. Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Always Remember! NEHEMIAH NEHEMIAH 9 9 Read Nehemiah 9:32-35. What information about Israel’s PAST do you find there? God was great and merciful and kept His covenants. Israel’s kings, princes, priests, prophets, fathers, and everyone else have been afflicted since the Assyrians conquered them.

Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Always Remember! NEHEMIAH NEHEMIAH 9 9 God has exacted justice on the Israelites for their wicked behavior. None of the Israelites have kept the law or obeyed the Lord. Their sin has brought God’s punishment. God gave the Israelites the bountiful land they live in. But the Israelites continued to ignore God and His law.

Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock What Do You Think? What steps should we take if we discover that our prayers are intensely “deep” only when we are in need or distress? Talking Points for Your Discussion Considering preparation to pray Considering location of prayer Considering our view of God Other 13

Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock What Do You Think? What place should affirmations of God’s justice have in prayers of new-covenant believers? Talking Points for Your Discussion Considering the evil present in the world Considering cultural definitions and redefinitions of right and wrong Other 14

Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock What Do You Think? How would you describe the relationship between a person’s “gratefulness index” and his or her dedication to God? Talking Points for Your Discussion In terms of speech patterns In terms of behavior In terms of prayer life Other 15

Always Remember! 9 9 Read Nehemiah 9:36, 37. Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Always Remember! NEHEMIAH NEHEMIAH 9 9 Read Nehemiah 9:36, 37. What information about Israel’s PRESENT do you find there? The Israelites are slaves in the land God had given them. The foreign kings who rule over the Israelites make a great profit from the Israelites’ land because of Israel’s sin. The Israelites’ bodies, livestock, and land all belong to their foreign overlords.

Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Lesson Outline II. Pledging to God (Nehemiah 9:38; 10:28, 29) A. Stated Commitment (9:38) B. Solemn Ceremony (10:28, 29)

Always Remember! 9 9 Read Nehemiah 9:38. Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Always Remember! NEHEMIAH NEHEMIAH 9 9 Read Nehemiah 9:38. What information about Israel’s FUTURE do you find there? The Israelites make a covenant commitment to God. Their leaders, priests, and Levites mark it with their seals, making it binding from then on.

Always Remember! 10 10 Read Nehemiah 10:28, 29. Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Always Remember! NEHEMIAH NEHEMIAH 10 10 Read Nehemiah 10:28, 29. What information about Israel’s FUTURE do you find there? All the other Israelites follow this example and set themselves apart for the Lord. They all agree to follow God’s law with an oath, binding themselves with a curse for failure to do so. The Israelites realign themselves to God’s will and resolve to turn away from sin.

Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock What Do You Think? What techniques can we use to separate ourselves from the world while still engaging it with the gospel? Talking Points for Your Discussion Considering “separation texts” such as 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Colossians 2:8; 1 Timothy 4:7; 1 John 2:15 Considering “engagement texts” such as Matthew 5:13-16; 28:19, 20; Acts 17:22-31 20

Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock What Do You Think? In what ways can we model submissiveness to God without appearing sanctimonious? Talking Points for Your Discussion In terms of speech patterns In terms of behavior Considering the difference between the words submissive and passive 21

Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Lesson Outline Conclusion A. The Greater Work B. Prayer C. Thought to Remember

Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Daily Memorial 1 THESS. 17 5 In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, the apostle Paul reminds us to pray all the time. In prayer we can rehearse the past, set apart the present, and anticipate the future. Take a moment to personalize and silently pray the following prayer.

Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Daily Memorial 1 THESS. 17 5 God, You are _______. In the past, when I was _______, You _______. Thank You for Your faithfulness and mercy in my life. I lift up _______ (name of person or people) to You and ask that You would speak to and restore him/her/them. Help me to remember that _______ and to serve, love, and honor You in all that I do. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Thought to Remember Reflect on the past, but pray for the future Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Thought to Remember Reflect on the past, but pray for the future

Faithful God, Unfaithful People Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 All rights reserved. Photo: © joebelanger | iStock Next Week’s Lesson Faithful God, Unfaithful People