Sabbath School Lesson for May 17-23, 2025
Introduction of Lesson 8, “In the Psalms: Part 1”
Memory Text: “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.” Revelation 14:1 NKJV
God’s character will be imprinted on our minds, or written on our foreheads, as John described it in Revelation 14:1. We will be forever grateful for the Lamb who makes us worthy to stand with Him on His holy Mount.
The range of human experiences and emotions, found in the book of Psalms, can be useful for God’s people. These beloved songs and poems are especially helpful for those in the last days of earth’s history, when similar challenging situations threaten to overcome us.
Still struggling with the enormous weight of our sins and the need of the Savior’s blood to cover them, we are drawn to the eloquent, emotional words of David and others in this powerful collection of Psalms in the Old Testament.
The detailed, prophetic words of John in the book of Revelation come alive when we read them next to these moving Psalms of praise and worship. We have been given the same assignment as David’s people. We are to be a beacon of light and hope to a dying world. The nations need to hear our cries of warning, as we call people to worship and obey our Creator God.
- Sunday: Our High Priest–sanctuary imagery found in Revelation
- Monday: On Mount Zion–with the Lamb of God
- Tuesday: Law in Our Hearts–His character in our minds
- Wednesday: Psalm 5–the redeemed and the wicked contrasted
- Thursday: Teach Transgressors Your Way–preaching the everlasting gospel
Sunday: Our High Priest
It’s fairly obvious that Christ, who laid down His life for us, would be represented as the High Priest who offered up sacrifices for God’s people in the tabernacle and later, the temple. The book of Psalms gives us glimpses into the hearts of the ordinary people who came to worship there.
Knowing about the sanctuary services in the Old Testament helps us grasp the full significance of what we see in John’s visions in Revelation. Chapter four, for instance, is full of sanctuary imagery. God’s throne room has very similar furnishings as those found in the temple in old Jerusalem. Psalm 122 expresses the joy of being in God’s presence back then–the same joy as that of the redeemed at the end of earth’s history.
Other stories of people in the Bible shed some light on their worship experiences, but the emotion-packed praises and laments found in Psalms, as people expressed what brought them to God’s house and what kept them going there, are extremely helpful as we read the prophetic words in Revelation about another time when we will be praising God in His heavenly sanctuary.
Verses and questions:
Hebrews 9:11-14
- Why is it helpful to know what Christ is doing for us in the heavenly sanctuary?
- Why are the sacrifices there better than the animal sacrifices required for the earthly sanctuary?
Psalm 122:1-9
- What kind of feelings did the worshipers in the temple have about being there, and why?
Monday: On Mount Zion
Revelation 14 begins with a scene depicting the Lamb of God standing on Mount Zion, a place known to be God’s dwelling place. A group of 144,000 worshipers join Him there, singing the joyful songs of those who have been redeemed. They have God’s name on their foreheads. In other words, they have developed a character like God’s.
When we read about the worshipers in Psalms 15 and 24, we understand more about the life and character of those 144,000. We are told that the redeemed walk uprightly (Psalm 15:2) and have clean hands and pure hearts (Psalm 24:4). Their thoughts and actions are in accordance with God’s will. They have been covered with the blood of the Lamb, and it shows in their godly deeds and demeanor.
No one is there because of their own righteousness. We have all sinned, and most of us continue struggling with negative behaviors and thoughts. But the Lamb of God is always there to cover our “filthy rags” with His robe of righteousness (Isaiah 64:6 and 61:10). There is reason to be joyful and thankful when we stand on God’s holy Mount Zion.
Verses and questions:
Revelation 14:1-5
- Who are the 144,000 and why is the number likely to be symbolic? (keep in mind that 12 x 12 x 1,000 = 144,000)
- Why is the song of the redeemed a “new” song? What makes it so special?
Tuesday: Law in Our Hearts
Having the Father’s name written on our foreheads indicates that we belong to Him (Revelation 14:1). It shows that He is willing to share His character and reputation with us. We should want to know as much about His character as possible, so we can live up to God’s name. After all, the third commandment says we should not take the Lord’s name in vain.
The ten commandments, being the essence of His character, show us those behaviors the Lord expects of His children. Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, mentions the words “commandments” and “law” 45 times. This psalm reveals how we are to relate to His law. The law should bring joy and comfort to our hearts, as it did for the anonymous author of Psalm 119. “Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!”, he tells us in verse 10.
There are two main reasons why we love God and keep His commandments. First of all, for who He is–a powerful, loving Father, “merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abounding in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6). And the second reason should be for what He has done for us, both individually and corporately.
Verses and questions:
Exodus 33:18-23, 34:1-7
- How did God show Himself to Moses and why was He so careful in the way He did it?
- How would you sum up God’s character in words, in just a sentence or two?
Psalm 119:55
- What is the psalmist saying here?
1 John 5:3
- How can we keep the law without it being a burden?
For more on how to keep His commandments without it being a burden, see this article:
How to Keep the Ten Commandments…the easy way
Wednesday: Psalm 5
Psalm 5 is just one of many psalms that consist of a prayer of worship to God. These prayers are expressions of praise, gratitude, and requests for some needed blessing.
Revelation, especially chapter 14, speaks often of worship. Therefore, the Psalms are helpful to our understanding of what is in the heart of a worshiper. We naturally want to be as much like them as possible.
Since evil can’t dwell with God, those who come into His dwelling place, must have their sins forgiven. They come to Him as His repenting, humble, trusting children. The righteous love God’s name, and in return, He will bless and protect them. Psalm 5 also informs us that God won’t dwell with or bless those who delight in sin–those who are boastful, lying, and in any way unfaithful to God.
Verses and questions:
Psalm 5:1-12 and Revelation 14:1-12
- What do these passages tell us about those who are saved and those who are not?
- How does the everlasting gospel give us hope?
- Why is a loud voice needed in the last-day warnings found in Revelation 14?
Thursday: Teach Transgressors Your Way
After being touched by God and knowing his sins were forgiven, the prophet Isaiah was ready to answer God’s call. He enthusiastically declared “Here am I! Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). King David also, after repenting and being forgiven, knew he could teach transgressors the way of God (Psalm 51:13).
Being near God’s illuminating glory causes people to shine (Revelation 18:1). This is how the gospel is shared with the world. People are so transformed that their preaching becomes louder, because their renewed lives become a shining example, showing people how they, too, can live for God.
This is how the world will be warned “with a loud voice” of the three angels’ messages (Revelation 14:6-13). It includes a bright light, the illuminating glory of God, which shines upon His last-day people. With the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence, the messages will reach every nation, tongue, tribe, and people (Revelation 14:6).
Verses and questions:
Psalm 51:7-15
- How and why was David able to teach transgressors the way of God?
Revelation 14:6
- Why is the everlasting gospel so important to preach, even before the warnings of the three angels?
Friday: Final Thoughts
The Psalms, a collection of songs, was also known as the Book of Praises. The wide range of emotions and subject matter it encompasses have made it a favorite devotional guide of God’s people down through the ages.
David, who wrote almost half of the collection of 150 songs, was called a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). And yet, we find in Psalm 51 a very stirring plea of David for forgiveness after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba. David wasn’t perfect and needed God to create a new heart for Him–evidently, one more like God’s heart.
Like King David, the 144,000 people mentioned in Revelation 14:1 will also be men and women after God’s own heart. They will teach sinners about God now (Psalm 51:13), and have the opportunity to teach the universe about God’s saving grace when they get to heaven.
Next Week: In the Psalms, Part 2
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