Sabbath School Lesson for January 18-24, 2025
Introduction of Lesson 4, God Is Passionate and Compassionate
Memory Text: ” ‘Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.’ ” Isaiah 49:15 NKJV
God’s emotions are often described in human terms like that of a mother, father, or married couple. Emotions are not bad in themselves, even though we humans often mishandle them. God has endowed His created beings with the capacity to be emotional, and He Himself often passionately displays emotions, such as love, anger, and even jealousy.
Uncontrolled emotions in humans, however, can result in experiencing and displaying them in problematic ways. God’s emotions, on the other hand, are perfectly balanced, rational, and controlled. His response to our negative behaviors, for instance, is totally in line with the loving, merciful character of our perfect Creator.
In order for us to manage our emotions in the most positive and uplifting way, we would do well to explore more fully the emotions of God, which include both His passionate and compassionate nature in dealing with the problems of His people.
- Sunday: More Than a Mother’s Love–God is the perfect parent figure.
- Monday: Gut-Wrenching Love–God’s emotions are not only tender, they are deep.
- Tuesday: The Compassion of Jesus–Jesus’ compassion moved Him to action.
- Wednesday: A Jealous God?–God’s jealousy is never unprovoked or unreasonable.
- Thursday: Compassion and Passionate–We can trust God to help us control our emotions.
Sunday: More Than a Mother’s Love
We are shown many times in the Scriptures how God’s love is like that of a parent. Isaiah 49:15 reminds us of a mother’s love for her newborn, which causes her to tenderly meet the physical needs of that child. Certainly, many people are fortunate enough to have mothers who excel in the kind of love needed by their children for their whole lives.
Even though some mothers fail to supply that love, God will never fail to love us with all the motherly, tender-loving care we need to grow spiritually in this world. God longs to be our “parent” (father and mother)–protecting us from danger, carrying us in His arms, shielding us from the storms of life. As the psalmist says, “As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:13).
When our own parents are missing or negligent, maybe even abusive, it is comforting to know that our heavenly Father is there to fill in the gaping holes of our love cup and fill it to overflowing (Psalm 23:5). Good parents, even when they aren’t our own, can be found to help us understand God’s love. There’s always room at the family table God has prepared for us.
Verses to discuss:
Psalm 103:13 and Isaiah 49:15
- Where else in the Bible are we reminded of God’s parental role in loving us?
Monday: Gut-Wrenching Love
We find in Hosea 11:1-9 a passage that describes the churning emotions of a parent for their child. In this case, it is Ephraim, the youngest son of Joseph, whom Jacob adopted as his own. God blessed his tribe abundantly when the twelve tribes were set up in Israel, until the Assyrians later invaded those who had turned away from God. Parents readily understand how it grieves the heart of God whenever punishment is needed and the consequences of sin are felt by His wayward children.
The deep-felt emotions of God were also exemplified in the case of Hosea’s marriage. God gave this prophet the unusual instruction to take a harlot for a wife (Hosea 1:2). Through this troubled marriage, Hosea and those who knew him understood more clearly how God feels when His beloved people reject His love and turn their backs on Him in idolatry. The unfaithful actions of Hosea’s wife caused him to repeatedly woo her back, and even raise her illegitimate children.
We can’t help but see the deep emotions of God in these examples. King Solomon was able to determine which woman was the mother of a child they both claimed as their own by their reactions when he offered to cut the baby in half. 1 Kings 3:26 says the real mother “yearned with compassion” for the baby to the point of offering to let the other woman take him. This shows us the kind of sacrificial love God has for His children.
What devastating pain we cause our heavenly Father when we turn our backs on Him and don’t take full advantage of His amazing, sacrificial love for us.
Verses to discuss:
Hosea 11:1-9 and Jeremiah 31:20
- Who does Ephraim represent in these verses?
1 Kings 3:26
- Why was it obvious who the real mother was?
- What does this show us about God’s reaction when we fall into the dangerous clasp of Satan?
Tuesday: The Compassion of Jesus
The Bible is full of God’s mercy and compassion. It originates with Him, who is the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). Ephesians 2:4 says He is “rich in mercies”, causing Him to redeem us because of that “great love” He has for humans.
Jesus, who came to show us the Father, was likewise full of compassion, especially when He saw the multitudes of people who were suffering and in need of comfort. Many times we are told that He healed all who came to Him (Luke 4:40). This should move us to action for those in need as well, when we see with the eyes of Jesus and feel that same, overwhelming compassion and love.
Jesus lamented over the city of Jerusalem and expressed the desire to take the people under His wings, like a hen who gathers her chicks (Matthew 23:37). And this same sentiment and expression of finding refuge under His wings is found in the Old Testament, such as in Deuteronomy 32:11 and Psalm 91:4. God has always had compassion on us, and we should find ourselves more compassionate toward others as we draw closer to Him.
Verses to discuss:
Matthew 9:36, 14:14, and Mark 6:34
- Why was Jesus moved with compassion for people?
- What did Jesus do with those feelings of compassion?
Matthew 23:37, Deuteronomy 32:11, and Psalm 91:4
- Why does God love people so much that He wants to take them under His wings?
Wednesday: A Jealous God?
We are aware in our own human relationships that where there is deep, abiding love for someone, there is also profound disappointment and jealousy felt when that individual rejects us. God is no different in this. There is a difference, however, in how He deals with jealous feelings when we provoke Him by turning to other gods (meaning loving anything or anyone more than God).
This divine, godly jealousy (2 Corinthians 11:2) is shown in the way God removes Himself from our presence, and allows us to go our own way when we cease to desire a relationship with Him. This separation from God naturally leaves us open to experiencing negative consequences that so often accompany unrighteous living. Although God does not directly cause these consequences, they are the result of His “godly jealousy”.
The love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, paints an ideal picture of what human love should look like. 1 Corinthians 13:4 mentions that “love does not envy” (or “is not jealous”, as some versions say). The reason for this admonition against jealousy is no doubt, because our human reaction to jealousy often causes us to display many unloving actions and emotions. It can make us impatient, unkind, rude, selfish, and easily provoked–all things we are also advised not to foster in our relationships with each other.
Verses to discuss:
1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 2 Corinthians 11:2, and Psalm 78:58
- What does “godly jealousy” look like, compared to the kind we often see in human relationships?
Thursday: Compassion and Passionate
God not only sympathizes, or feels sorry for us, but through the experiences of His Son when He dwelt among us, He is also able to have empathy for the human family. In other words, He “feels with” us, providing a much deeper emotional bond with His children.
God sympathizes with our suffering and is longing to hear our prayers and comfort our hearts. With His reputation as a caring, compassionate God, we can be assured that His Holy Spirit imparts His love into our lives, so we can pass it on to those around us. Only God can change the heart–our own heart and the hearts of those we love and serve.
We need to practice the love standards found in 1 Corinthians 13. Having God’s love imparted to us helps us believe, hope, and endure all things (1 Corinthians 13:7). Faith, hope, and love are needed to navigate this world of sin; but as Paul observed, love stands above all the others as the life skill to be most desired (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Verses to discuss:
1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13 and Romans 5:5
- What love/life skills do we need to develop, in order to be loving, growing Christians and reach the world with the gospel?
- How do we get the kind of love needed for ourselves and others?
Friday: Final Thoughts
Religion devoid of feelings does nothing for our sin-sick souls. We must recognize the deep emotional ties that bind us to the Father’s heart before we can find true, positive expression for our own feelings of love. Love must be passionate (intense) and also compassionate (caring), just like our Father’s. The feelings God has for us and we are to have for Him are indeed visceral, or inwardly-felt at the deepest level.
“…our compassionate Savior will meet you a great way off, and will throw about you His arms of love and His robe of righteousness…Does Satan plead loudly against our souls, accusing of sin, and claiming us as his prey, the blood of Christ pleads with greater power.” ~Ellen G. White, Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pp. 8, 9.
This passionate and compassionate nature of God might be described as both jealous and zealous. God is jealous of our love, both individually and as a church. And He is also zealous in reclaiming us as His own. As noted, Christ pleads for us with greater power than Satan. His blood speaks loudly in our favor, pleading with us to accept His salvation.
Next Week: The Wrath of Divine Love
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