Commentary on "Happy Are You, O Israel!"

ANE EDWARDS

 

Day 5: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 - An Attitude of Surrender

 

OVERVIEW

Today's lesson highlights the danger of dead meaningless worship rituals and traditions and cautions against self-exaltation. It also explains the importance of coming before the Lord with an attitude of complete self-surrender.

 

OBSERVATIONS

The lesson states:

"There is always the danger of falling into dead rituals and traditions that become ends in themselves instead of the means to an end—and that end is true worship of the Lord in a way that changes our lives and brings us into conformity with His will and character (Gal. 4:19)."

I find it completely ironic how this lesson highlights Galatians 4:19, without addressing what some of those dead rituals and traditions might actually look like, as outlined in Galatians 4:

"... now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you." —Galatians 4:9-11

Here we find Paul teaching the observance of special days, months, season and years can cause enslavement, in fact Paul defines them as "weak and miserable forces". 

Paul's passage actually deals a devastating blow to the SDA understanding of the "first angel's message" as I already called attention to in Saturday's lesson.

 

SUMMARY

• Be careful about limiting your worship to observing only special days, months, seasons and years. It can result in dead meaningless rituals and traditions that could result in enslavement.

 

GO TO DAY 6

 

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Official Adventist Resources

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