Sabbath - Lord's Day - International Sunday school Lesson, Outline for Teacher's & Student's

March 15

Lesson 3 (KJV)

Consequences for Injustice

Devotional Reading: Psalm 130

Background Scripture: Habakkuk 2

Habakkuk 2:6–14

6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!

7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?

8 Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

9 Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on

high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!

10 Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.

11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

12 Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by iniquity!

13 Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts that the people shall [labor] in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?

14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

Key Verse

Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood and stablisheth a city by iniquity!—Habakkuk 2:12

Justice and the PROPHETS

Unit 1: God Requires Justice

Lessons 1–5

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. List some characteristics and consequences of injustice.

2. Contrast “the knowledge of the glory of the Lord” with human knowledge and its consequences.

3. Make a plan to exchange unholy human thought for “the knowledge of the glory of the Lord” in one regard in the week ahead.

Lesson Outline

Introduction

A. Gone with the Fire

B. Lesson Context

I. First Woe (Habakkuk 2:6–8)

A. Unbridled Greed (v. 6)

B. Unexpected Punishment (vv. 7, 8)

To Rob a Thief

II. Second Woe (Habakkuk 2:9–11)

A. Built to Escape Evil (vv. 9, 10)

Living High

B. Buildings Protest Evil (v. 11)

III. Third Woe (Habakkuk 2:12–14)

A. Fiendish Cities (v. 12)

B. Futile Human Efforts (v. 13)

C. Future Divine Plan (v. 14)

Conclusion

A. Justice for All

B. Prayer

C. Thought to Remember

HOW TO SAY IT

Babylonians	Bab-ih-low-nee-unz.
Chaldeans	Kal-dee-unz.
Coniah	Ko-nye-uh.
Edom	Ee-dum.
Habakkuk	Huh-back-kuk.
Obadiah	O-buh-dye-uh.
seraphim	sair-uh-fim.
Zechariah	Zek-uh-rye-uh.

What Do You Think? Which problem should take priority in being addressed: greed that leads to injustice, or the injustice itself? Digging Deeper Does the answer change depending on [the] local context? Why, or why not?

What Do You Think? What are some practical ways to exercise a faith that says “God is still in charge” during periods of societal unrest? Digging Deeper How would you explain to someone that such faith isn’t blind faith, but is [a] faith based on the evidence of history?

What Do You Think? How can you recognize when your desire for something crosses the line into greed or covetousness? Digging Deeper What blind spots do you see in others in this regard? How will you keep those blind spots from becoming your own?

What Do You Think? In what contexts of modern injustice will declarations of shame be either effective or ineffective? Why? Digging Deeper In what ways do 1 Corinthians 4:14; 6:5; and 1 Corinthians 4:15:34 influence your response?

What Do You Think? What are some ways to use Habakkuk 2:14 as a faith anchor in the face of injustice? Digging Deeper How can we ensure that we won’t use the promise of this verse as an excuse not to act against injustice?

Prayer

Father, may the works of our hands anticipate the day when the earth will know Your glory. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thought to Remember

The Lord, the righteous judge, makes certain that justice prevails.

 Redford, Douglas, Jim Eichenberger, and Matt Lockhart. “Consequences for Injustice.” The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2019–2020. Ed. Ronald L. Nickelson et al. Vol. 67. Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2020. 251. Print.