CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES CLASS: S S 2 THIRD TERM

SCHEME OF WORK

SUBJECT: CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

WEEK TOPIC
SUPEREMACY OF GOD
1. Revision of first term work
2. The supremacy of God: (a) Elijah meets King Ahab and throw challenge 1 Kings 19:17-19; (b) The
contest on Mount Carmel, 1 kings 18: 20-46; 1 Sam. 5: 1-12
RELIGEOUS REFORM
3. Religious reforms: (a) Prevalent religious evils of the time of Josiah. 2 Kings 22. (b) Josiah’s
reforms in the North: 2 King 23: 4-14; 21-30 (d) Some areas of religious reforms in Nigeria e.g.
Removal of adulterous priests, spirits, homosexual, lesbian pastors. etc.
CONCERN FOR ONE’S NATION
4. Concern for one’s Nation: (a) The captivity and destruction of Jerusalem, 2 Kings 24, 25: 1-17. (b)
Report on the condition of the nation. Neh. 1: 3; (C) The concern of Nehemiah, Ezra, Zerubbabel
for their nation and their response to the state of the nation despite opposition.(d) |
Reconstruction of the nation in the face of opposition. Ezra 4, 5: 1-2. 6: 13-22, 4: 1-23 (e)
Responsibility to our nation Nigeria: i. Political and economic stability ii. Spiritual reawakening
etc.
FAITH IN GOD
5. Faith and courage: The command to worship King Nebuchadnezzer’s image Dan. 3: 1-7. (b)
Refusal of Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego; to worship the kings image (c) Punishment for
refusal and God’s deliverance (d) Effect of their faith and courage on the people – Babylonians
and Jews.
6. Faith and power of God: (a) A decree to worship the King: Dan. 6: 1-9; (b) Daniel expresses his
faith in God. Dan. 6: 10-15. (c) Daniel in the Lion’s den Dan. 6: 11-18; (d) The power of God
manifested Dan. 6: 19-24, (e) Effects of Daniel’s faith: Dan. 6: 19-24, Qualities of Daniel Dan. 1: 3-
8; 6: 3-5, 10: 16; 6: 22-23.
TRUE RELIGION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
7. True religion and social justice: (a) True Religion: It is not merely attending church services and
programs Amos 5: 21-23, 25; 4: 4-5. It demands purity of heart, honest desires and justice. Amos
5: 4; 14-15,25 (b) Social vices of the time of Amos 2: 6-8; 4: 1-2; 5: 7-13 (c) Opposition against
Amos by Amaziah, priest of the royal sanctuary. Amos 7: 10-17; (d) Divine judgment of evil doers
Amos 4: 2-3; 6-10 (e) Risks often faced by those who carry out divine messages (f) The need to
remain steadfast
8. Divine Love: (a) God asked Hosea to marry Gomer a harlot and raise children by her. To illustrate
Israel harlotry (b) The unfaithfulness of Israel to God and His continuous love for her Hosea 2:3
(c) Israel superficial response to God’s love Hosea 6: 1-11; (d) God demand steadfast love and
knowledge of Him Hosea 6:6; (e)Positive response to God’s love requires penitence Hosea 6: 1-
4; (f) God promises restoration to those who return to Him in repentance. Hosea 14.
9. Holiness and Divine call: (a) Holiness of God ( Isaiah1:10-20, 6:1-7) (b) Divine call ( Ezekiel
1,2,3:1-11)
10. Punishment and Hope: (a) punishment (Jeremiah 2:5, 14:1-12) (b) Hope
11. Revision/Examination.
 WEEK 2
TOPIC: THE SUPREMACY OF GOD

CONTENT:

1. ELIJAH MEETS KING AHAB AND THROWS CHALLENGE.

2. THE CONTEST ON MOUNT ZION.

ELIJAH MEETS KING AHAB AND THROWS CHALLENGE 1KINGS 18: 1-19

God is spirit and must be worshipped in spirit and truth as the highest, greatest, the ultimate
Being above all other gods. He is ever ready to provide us with solutions in the most difficult times and
problems. God’s supremacy was evident during the reign of King Ahab who imposed the pagan (bad)
worship on the people of Israel which gave rise to religious crises.

Ahab is described as the king who did evil in the sight of God more than all before him. This was
consequent to this marriage to the Sidonian princess- Jezebel who contaminated Israel with the worship
of ball, to the extent that the worship of true God was most forgotten and over thrown. Jezebel waxed
stronger with no respect or regard for the God of Israel. She was killing the prophets of God recklessly
and chasing others into hiding in order to enforce Baal worship in midst of persecution, Obadiah the
officer in charge of king Ahab’s household had to hide hundred of those God’s prophet in fifties in a cave
and fed them with bread and water, morning and evening.

As the situation persisted, God had to send Elijah to Israel (Ahab) to proclaim a 3 year drought in
Israel as punishment for abandoning their true God. Elijah was divinely directed to stay where God
provided for him away from the reach of Ahab and Jezebel. First in the Brook Cherith where he drank
from the brook as the ravens fed him with bread and meat.

The drought affected the land so much as the King Ahab himself with Obadiah had to go in
search of green pasture for the animals. The drought was partly as punishment to Israel for their
idolatrous practice and partly to show God supremacy over Baal and prove that He is the owner and the
controller of everything. He withheld rain for 3years, made provision for Elijah and used Obadiah to
protect and fed His prophets throughout the duration of the drought. When Ahab eventually met with
Elijah through Obadiah, Elijah challenged him to gather all the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. This
challenge and gathering of the Baal prophets led to the contest on Mount Carmel.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Why is Ahab described in the Bible as the king who did evil in the sight of God?
2. What were the religious problems caused by Baal worship in Israel?
3. What are the effects of idol worship on Christians in Nigeria today?
THE CONTEST ON MOUNT CARMEL 1KINGS 18:20- 46; 1 SAM 5: 1-12

God, being merciful adjust decided to end the suffering through the contest on Mount Carmel where
proved His supremacy through Prophet Elijah.

Elijah directed Ahab to gather on Mount Carmel the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and all the
Israelites for the contest. Elijah ordered that two balls be provided; and each would be offered to God
and Baal; and the one that would answer by fire would prove to be the true and supreme God. The
prophets of Baal were the first to offer a bull to their god, Baal. They prayed, cried and bruised (cut)
themselves from morning till evening calling on their god, but no fire came. Their god did not answer;
the bull they prepared remained on the altar unconsumed.

As Elijah’s turn to call on his God came, he re-prepared the altar with twelve stones according to the
twelve tribes of Israel. He cut the bull in pieces and placed the bull with the wood on the altar and dug a
trench ground about. He then directed the people to pour four jars of water on the burnt offering three
times repeatedly and the trench was filled up. Elijah called on God to send down fire to consume the
burnt offering to prove himself as God in Israel, to prove him (Elijah) as His true servant. Immediately,
the fire of the Lord fell from heaven and consumed the burnt offering, wood, the stones, and dust even
with the water and the trench licked. The prophets of Baal were filled awe seeing what happened, the
people fell on their faces and confessed “The Lord, He is God, The Lord, He is God”. Their faith in God as
the true supreme God was restored.

As a result of this development, Elijah ordered the killing of all the prophets of Baal and they were killed
brook of Kishon. After the contest Elijah announced the coming of rain to mark the end of drought and
he went to the top of Mount Carmel and prayed and God answered with a heavy rainfall. Thus Elijah
demonstrated the supremacy of God over all false gods.

An instance of the demonstration of God’s supremacy is in the case of dragon and the ark of the Lord.
God demonstrated his supremacy over dragon the god of Philistines to fall down on its face, and had its
hands and head cut off from the trunk as the ark of the Lord and was brought to its abode (I Samuel 5:1-
12).

ASSIGNMENT

1. Show how the contest on Mount Carmel illustrates the supremacy of God.
2. Write an essay on “how Elijah flushed out the Baal in Israel”.
3. Give another instance of the demonstration of God’s supremacy.
 WEEK 3
TOPIC: RELIGIOUS REFORMS

CONTENT:

1. PREVALENT RELIGIOUS EVILS OF THE TIME OF JOSIAH: 2 KINGS 22

2. JOSIAH’S REFORMS IN JUDAH: 2KINGS 23:4-14; 21-30
3. RELIGIOUS REFORMS IN THE NORTH (2KINGS 23:15-20)
4. SOME AREA OF RELIGIOUS REFORMS IN NIGERIA E.G. REMOVAL OF ADULTEROUS PRIESTS,
SPIRITIST, HOMOSEXUAL, LESBIAN PASTORS ETC.

PREVALENT RELIGIOUS EVILS OF THE TIME OF JOSIAH 2KINGS 22

Josiah was the son of Amon and his mother was Jedidah. He was the grandson of king Manasseh of
Judah who was notorious for his introduction of many other religious beliefs and doctrine into the
Jewish Orthodox mode of worship. Manasseh was succeeded by his son Amon who walked in the way of
his fathers’ by serving idols.

After the death king Amon, his eight year old son, Josiah was crown king and he reigned for thirty one
years. At the time of King Josiah, the pagan practices which his grandfather Manasseh introduced
continued in Judah.

These pagan practices in line with pagan worship prevalent at the time include: prostitution in the house
of God; child sacrifice in accordance with the religious practice. This was done in Tophet in Judah; the
use of medium and wizard (witches and wizards); shrines and idolatrous priest were introduced in every
city of Judah.

King Josiah, having shown interest in the ways of God, decided to purge Judah of idolatry. In his eighteen
years of reign (at the age of twenty six years) he embarked on the repair of the temple in order to back a
focus on the true worship of God. It was during this period of repair and renovation that the book of the
law was found by the high priest, Hilkiah who later sent it to the king through Shaphan, the king’s
secretary who came to know the contribution for the work so far from Hilkiah. When the content of the
book were read to the king, by Shaphan, it became clear to him that the people had transgressed the
law and deviated greatly from the principles and ideals of the worship of God. He was so disturbed that
he tore his clothes as a sign of repentance. He therefore became concern and committed to reforming
the religious life of the people.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Why did King Josiah send Shaphan to the temple?

2. How was the book of the law discovered during Josiah’s reign?
3. Describe the king’s reaction when the contents of the law were read to him by his secretary
Shaphan.
JOSIAH’S REFORMS IN JUDAH. 2KINGS 23: 4-14; 21-30

King Josiah saw his kingdom in a pathetic state of spiritual mess and decay and made up his mind to
bring his kingdom and his people back to God and time worship of God. He started the reform in Judah
by eradicating idolatrous practices in the temple. All the foreign gods and their idols were destroy the
altars dedicated to Baal, Asherah, the sun god and all their accessories for worship were taken away
from the temple and burnt outside Jerusalem, at Kidron: all the idolatrous priests, priestesses and cult
prostitutes were removed from the temple with their houses burnt. All idolatrous priests in the cities of
Judah were deposed, the high places and foreign god in this area were defile and destroyed; child
sacrifice were abolished and Tophet, a place in the valley of the sons Hinnon where the people were
practising child sacrifice to the god Molech and was defile and destroyed, the use of medium (divination
or soothsaying) and wizards were abolished with their satanic practitioners. This Josiah purged Judah of
idolatry, restored the feast of Passover and rehabilitated the temple of Jerusalem.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. What role did the book of the law played in Josiah’s reforms?
2. What nature of reforms can be carried out today in our society in terms of religion?
3. Give two main factors that motivate Josiah’s reform.

RELIGIOUS REFORMS IN THE NORTH. 2KINGS 23:15-20

King Josiah did not restrict his religious reform to Judah but extend it to the North kingdom. He
destroyed all the idols and shrines (high places) built by Jeroboam the first king of the Northern kingdom
at Bethel and Samaria; and burnt all foreign gods there; he slaughtered all the idolatrous priests
officiating in those places. With the eradication of idolatrous practices of Judah, Jerusalem became again
the only legitimate place of worship.

The reform brought about spiritual revival as children of Israel rededicated to the service of God. The
Passover was again celebrated nationally by all the people in Jerusalem immediately after the reform as
the last celebration was at the time of the Judges.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. What was the significance of Josiah’s reforms?

2. What religious reforms did King Josiah execute during his tenure?

SOME AREAS OF RELIGIOUS REFORM IN NIGERIA

To reform is to correct or amend or rectify a bad or ugly situation or condition. Religious reforms
therefore, is to correct or rectifying a decaying or worsening conditions in the religious lives of people
with the purpose of bringing and ensuring a practical righteous living.
There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria as a nation today is characterised by spiritual vices and
idolatry that were evident in Judah and Northern kingdom during the reign of Josiah that warranted
reformation.

In Nigeria today, these vices among others stare us in the face. Adulterous priests abound in the society;
spirits have overtaken our streets, worship centres; the prevalence of witchcraft; idolatrous practices
under the cover of Christianity; human sacrifices in some area in Nigeria for kings burial; homosexual
and lesbian pastors so-called; emphasis on financial prosperity at the expense of morality and honesty;
indecent and provocative dressing tolerated by religious groups and leaders etc.

These, among other problem areas are possible areas of religions reform in Nigeria which beg to be
addressed squarely by concerned civil and religious authorities and individuals.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Mention the similarities between the religious situation during Josiah’s time and in Nigeria today
2. State ways by which Christian can maintain the purity of their religion.

WEEK 4
TOPIC: CONCERN FOR ONE’S NATION.

CONTENT:

1. The Captivity and destruction of Jerusalem 2 Kings 24, 25:1-17.

2. Report on the conditions of the Nation. Neh. 1:3
3. The concern of Nehemiah, Ezra, Zerubbabel for their nation and their response to the state of the
nation despite opposition. Neh. 1: 1-11; 2:9-20; Ezra 1:5-11; 7:1-10.
4. Reconstruction of the Nation in the face of opposition. – Ezra 4; 5:1-2, 6:13-22, 4:1-23.

THE CAPTIVITY AND DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. 2 KINGS 24, 25:1-17

Judah slid back into apostasy after the death of Josiah. The kings who succeeded him could not
maintain his religious reforms as a result of their moral and personal weakness. Consequently, the
nation began to experience turbulent and unpleasant situations due to their rebellion against God which
eventually led to the captivity and destruction of Jerusalem as a fulfilment of God’s word against their
apostasy.

Josiah was killed by Pharaoh Nero of Egypt in a battle at Megiddo. Consequently, Judah became a vassal
of Egypt. Jehoahaz who succeeded his father Josiah as king at the age of twenty-three reigned for three
months before he was deposed by Pharaoh Neco, and in his place made Jehoiakim (Jehoahaz brother) a
vassal king over Judah.

Egypt was later defeated by Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar and Judah was therefore made a vassal of
Babylon. Jehoiakim was encouraged by Egypt to revolt against Babylon contrary to the advice of Prophet
Jeremiah who saw Babylon as an instrument of God’s corrective punishment for Judah. Jehoiakim died
during the struggle and his eighteen years son, Jehoachin succeeded him on the throne.

In 598 BC, Nebuchadnezzar invade Judah and carried Jehoachin captive with his household, his mighty
men of valour, the craftsmen, palace staff and body guards and some prophets, including prophet
Ezekiel. All the precious vessels of gold in Jerusalem temple were plundered and carried to Babylon by
Nebuchadnezzar to the house of his god. This was the first exile or first deportation. Nebuchadnezzar
them appointed Jehoachin’s uncle, Mattaniah (whom he changed his name to Zedekiah) king. He was
twenty-one years old. However, it was not long before Zedekiah, just like Jehoiakim, revolted against
Nebuchadnezzar. This rebellion made Babylon invade Judah for the second time under
Nebuchadnezzar. This time, the Chaldeans laid siege to the city of Jerusalem which lasted from the
tenth month of the night year of Zedekiah’s reign to this eleventh year. This brought severe hardship
and famine in Judah.

When the Babylonian siege was on, King Zedekiah tried to escape but was caught by the Chaldean’s
army in the plains of Jericho. His two sons were killed in his presence and his two eyes plucked out. He
was bound with fetters and taken to Babylon where he died. Nebuchadnezzar ordered his army to
destroy the walls of Jerusalem and burn down the temple and the city. More Jewish captives were
deported to Babylon while Gedaliah was made governor over the remnant in Judah, consisting of the
aged, the wretched and the poorest. These predicaments were allowed by God as punishment for the
people of Judah and their leaders for their sins. This was the final destruction of Jerusalem and
deportation of exiles to Babylon in 586 BC. This is known as the second deportation or second exile.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Discuss Jehoiakim’s revolt and its consequences on the kingdom of Judah.

2. Zedekiah revolted against Nebuchadnezzar, but suffered for it, along with the entire people of
Judah. Explain.
3. Narrate the series of factors that led to the final disintegration of Israel as a nation.

REPORT ON THE CONDITIONS OF THE NATION. NEHEMIAH 1:3

In the month of chisler, after the exile, Nehemiah, one of the prominent and patriotic Jews in exile in the
palace and a cup bearer to Artaxerxes received the news of the pathetic state of Judah from Hanani one
of the Jews that came from Judah to Susan. Hanani reported to Nehemiah that the survivors who
escaped exile were in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem was broken down; and the gates
were destroyed by fire.
On hearing this, Nehemiah became sad. He sat down, wept, mourned and fasted for days. After
confessing the sin of the people of Judah which he was part of, he prayed to God to grant him favour
before the king. The following day, the king Artaxerxes observed Nehemiah countenance to be gloomy
and moody and asked him what was the matter. Nehemiah took the opportunity to request for
permission to go to Jerusalem and help the Jews rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. The king granted his
request and also gave him letters to governors of the provinces beyond the river’ instructing them to
allow Nehemiah pass through their territories. The kind also gave another letter to Asaph, the keeper of
the king’s forest, to provide Nehemiah with timber he needed for the gates, walls and the house in
which he would stay. Having obtained the king’s permission, authority and support, Nehemiah set off for
Jerusalem for the work.

THE CONCERN OF NEHEMIAH, EZRA AND ZERUBBABEL FOR THEIR NATION AND THEIR RESPONSE TO
THE STATE OF THE NATION DESPITE OPPOSITION. NEH 1:1-11, 2:9-20, EZRA 1:5-11; 7:1-10

Having obtained king Artaxerxes permission to go back Jerusalem to rebuild the city and the temple of
the Lord, Nehemiah left Shushan for the city and got there after three days. On reaching Jerusalem, he
stirred up public support; he inspired and assessed the extent of damage and the work to embark on. He
did the inspection at night with the few men he selected to avoid interference and distraction at the
early stage. After the inspection, and planning, he gathered the Jewish leaders – the priests, nobles and
officials and employed them to join in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem informing them how God had
given him favour before the king of Persia. In response, the people pledged their unalloyed support and
cooperation to ensure that the work was done.

As the rebuilding work commenced, the enemies of the Jews, Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the
Ammonite and Geshem the Arab opposed Nehemiah and the work. They used different kinds of tricks
and tactics to undermine and sabotage the effort of the Jews in the rebuilding project. Nevertheless,
Nehemiah was not overwhelmed. He remained courageous, bold determine and eventually completed
the project.

Apart from Nehemiah, other concerned Jews had taken the challenge and responsibility of building
Jerusalem. Zerubbabel and Ezra had made similar attempts. As soon as Babylon came under Persian
Empire the kings of Persia, Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem, by divine
providence, in fulfilment of the prophecy of Jeremiah. In line with this decree, the Jewish exiles (about
fifty thousand Jews) led by Zerubbabel and Sheshbazzar returned to Judah.

At this time, the Jews in Judah were confronted with many problems such as:

 Lack of a place of worship because the temple had been destroyed by the Babylonians.
 An adulteration of Yahweh worship which was one of the negative effects of the exile on the
Jews.
 Insecurity, as the walls of Jerusalem and its gates had been destroyed.

However, God used patriotic and concerned Jews like Ezra, Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, Jeshua, prophets
Haggai and Zechariah, to address these problems of the Jews.
ASSIGNMENT:

1. What lessons can be learnt about God’s nature through the conquest of Jerusalem.
2. How did the decree of Cyrus help in bringing the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning the returning
of the exiles to fulfilment?

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE NATION IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION. EZRA 4, 5:1-2, 6:13-22, NEH. 4:1-23

The books of Ezra and Nehemiah have different account of the opposition to the efforts of Nehemiah,
Zerubbabel and Ezra to rebuilding Jerusalem after its destruction and ruins. However, both books point
to the discouragement and frustration the builders faced from the enemies to hinder the completion of
the works they started. In Ezra, the Samaritans and some half Jews who were Israel’s enemies heard
that the returned groups for permission to participate in the scheme. This request of the band of evil
agitators was turn down by Zerubbabel on behalf of the chiefs of Israel. He told them publicly that they
had no legitimate right to partner with the Jews in building the temple. These adversaries, the
opposition group then resorted to the use of professional petition writers and cheap blackmail to
sustain their evil and wicked plot to stop the temple work. In one of the petitions sent to king Artaxerxes
by Bislam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of their accomplice, they convinced the king who were
through records and confirmed the allegation that Jerusalem had been a flash point for political
agitation and civil unrest; if the Jews were allowed to finish rebuilding the walls and foundation of the
city of Jerusalem, they would not pay tribute, custom or toll and that would affect the royal revenue. As
a result, the king issued a decree and stopped the work on the temple in Jerusalem temporarily.
Nevertheless, the Jews wrote a counter letter to the king Artaxerxes explaining that rebuilding was in
line with King Cyrus’ decree. When the king checked the records and confirmed that it was time, he
permitted them to resume the work which was eventually completed and dedicated with pomp and
pageantry by the Jews.

In the book of Nehemiah the Jews were threatened by an opposition group led by Sanballat who in the
presence of his people and of the Samaria ridiculed the Jews by describing them as feeble-minded who
engaged themselves in an impossible task. Tobiah the Ammonite said that the wall the Jews were
rebuilding was so fragile that if a fox would go on it, it would crumble. Nehemiah, instead of engaging
their enemies in verbal battle, prayed to God to judge them for ridiculing, despising and taunting His
people. As the work progressed, the enemies again, including Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the
Ammonites and Ashdodites got angry and planned secretly to attack the Jews at work to create
confusion and disorganized them. When Nehemiah knew of the plot, he prayed to God and mounted
protective guards with swords, spears and bows against their enemies day and night.

God frustrated the evil plans of the enemies and the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt eventually under
the divine inspiration and concerned leadership of Nehemiah.
ASSIGNMENT:

1. Narrate how Nehemiah, Zerubbabel and Ezra contributed to the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
2. What two lessons could be learnt from the three men’s concern for their nature?
3. Mention three quantities of a patriotic leader as learnt for Nehemiah.

RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR NATION NIGERIA

Responsibility implies the call of citizen to civic duty. This is apart from the rights, and duties of citizens
in their respective communities and societies.

It is about the systematic and orderly ways of doing things in a society necessary for unity, progress and
peaceful coexistence. Ensuring that the lives and property of citizens are protected; policies initiative by
the three levels of government (the executive, the legislature and the judiciary) are implemented and
executed accordingly, while anarchy, oppression and civil disobedience are prevented.

 To ensure the presence of peace, progress and economic development and advancement in the
nation, every citizen, politicians and political office holders should not abuse their civic
responsibility to the nation.
 Every authority on the earth and the responsibility attached to it belong to God hence we should
respect and honour the authority set over us. We are to be law abiding no matter who and what
we are.
 As Nigerian citizens, we have the responsibility of paying taxes, rates, levies, electricity, water
and other utility bills promptly.
 Anyone holding top public office of authority should use the position to be agent of positive
economic and social development of the country.
 He should participate in public enlightenment campaigns toward eradicating social ills like
cultism, examination malpractices and illiteracy, the spread of communicable disease, drug
addition, homosexuality etc.
 He should avoid gossip and rumour mongering.
 He should not vandalize government property.
 He should refrain from nepotism, favouritism, tribalism, and being religious fanatics.
 He should not use his position of authority to compromise state security and anti-social
behaviours.
 He should champion the inculcation of good work ethics and morals as vehicles of re-awakening
the mind.
 He should join to salvage the situation wherever there is crisis in the nation.

ASSIGNMENT:
 1. Explain what you understand by responsibility.
2. Give at least four responsibilities of a citizen to his/her nati

WEEK 5
TOPIC: FAITH IN GOD

CONTENT:

1. THE COMMAND TO WORSHIP KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S IMAGE. DANIEL 3:1-7

2. REFUSAL OF SHADRACH, MESHACH AND ABEDNEGO TO WORSHIP THE KING’S IMAGE.
3. PUNISHMENT FOR REFUSAL AND GOD’S DELIVERANCE.
4. EFFECT OF THEIR FAITH AND COURAGE ON THE PEOPLE – BABYLONIANS AND JEWS.

THE COMMAND TO WORSHIP KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S IMAGE (FAITH AND COURAGE)

Faith is the bedrock and foundation on which the Christian religion is built. Faith is an absolute trust in
God and His power in spite of unfavourable situations. It is man’s personal conviction and trust in God
arising from a direct personal relationship with God.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were young Hebrew men who had faith and confidence in God even
while they were in captivity in Babylon. They dedicated themselves to the worship of God and a strict
observance of God’s ordinances and statutes. Their virtues, qualities and their excellence in the special
school of the Chaldeans earned them appointment as officials in the Babylonian kingdom. It happened
that the king Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image which he set up in the plain of Dura in the province
of Babylon. He invited all the principal officers of the province for the dedication ceremony. He ordered
the people regardless of language or nationality to fall down and worship the image as soon as they
heard the sounds of musical instruments played. He had clearly stated the punishment for flouting the
order which was that the offender would be thrown into a burning fiery furnace. All the people in his
domain complied with the provision of the king’s decree by worshipping the image.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. What do you think informed the command to worship the golden image by Nebuchadnezzar/
2. Assume you are in the three Hebrew children’s (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) shoe, what
will be your response to the king’s command?

REFUSAL OF SHADRACH, MESHACH AND ABEDNEGO TO WORSHIP THE KING’S IMAGE. DANIEL 3:8-18

The people in king Nebuchadnezzar’s domain complied with king’s order accordingly except Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego (the three Hebrew young men). The Chaldeans went to the king and reminded
him of the content of his decree regarding worship of the image. Then they maliciously reported to the
king that certain Jews Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who were officers appointed over the affairs of
Babylon neither obeyed the king, nor served his god, nor worshipped the image set up by him.
On hearing these report, Nebuchadnezzar angrily ordered that the three Hebrew faithful servants of
God be summoned before him to find out whether the allegation was true. On finding out from them
that the allegations were true, he proposed to give them “soft landing” if they would comply and
worship the image. But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego openly refused to worship the image or serve
the king’s god. They pointed out to the king without reservation that their God whom they serve would
deliver them from the burning fiery furnace and from him the king.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Give an account of the dedication ceremony of the golden image, pointing out the highlight of
Nebuchadnezzar’s address to the people.
2. Explain the encounter between Nebuchadnezzar and the three faithful servants of God,
concerning the report against them before the king.

PUNISHMENT FOR REFUSAL AND GOD’S DELIVERANCE. DANIEL 3:19-28

The response of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego greatly angered the king and the expression on his
face changed against them. He ordered the fiery furnace to be heated seven times more than its normal
heat. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were then bound by mighty men of the king’s army and cast
into the overheated burning fiery furnace. The furnace was so hot that the flames killed those men who
cast the three Hebrew young men into the furnace.

The king together with everybody was surprised when he saw four men walking in the midst of the fire
unhurt. Nebuchadnezzar immediately asked his counsellors, “were there not three men in the furnace?
Where then does the fourth looking like the Son of God come from? He came near the burning fiery
furnace and called “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come forth,
come out here”. When they came out, the officers of the province and the king inspected them and
discovered that the fire had no single effect on them. The expression of boldness, courage and faith by
these three Hebrew young men demonstrated to king Nebuchadnezzar, picture of God by saying,
“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who had sent His Angel and delivered His
servants who trusted in Him and set at naught the king’s command and yielded their bodies rather
than serve and worship any god except their own God”. (Daniel 3:28)

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Trace the circumstances that led to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being thrown into the
heated fiery furnace.
2. How did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego prove their faith in God in the land of Babylon?

EFFECTS OF THEIR FAITH AND COURAGE ON THE PEOPLE – BABYLONIANS AND JEWS. (DANIEL
3:29)

Having recognised the supremacy and power of God through the miraculous deliverance of Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego, Nebuchadnezzar therefore promulgated a new decree which made it unlawful
for any person, nation or language to speak against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Anybody who did so would be destroyed with his household. He declared, “There is no other god who is
able to deliver in this way, as the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego”. He then promoted
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
ASSIGNMENT:

1. Discuss the effects of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego faith on the Babylonians, the Jews and
king Nebuchadnezzar.

WEEK 6
TOPIC: FAITH AND POWER OF GOD

CONTENT:

1. A DECREE TO WORSHIP THE KING. (DANIEL 6:1-9)

2. DANIEL EXPRESSES HIS FAITH IN GOD. (DANIEL 6: 10-15)
3. DANIEL IN THE LION’S DEN (DANIEL 6:11-18)
4. THE POWER OF GOD MANIFESTED. (DANIEL 6: 19-24)
5. EFFECTS OF DANIEL’S FAITH (DANIEL 6:19-24)
6. QUALITIES OF DANIEL. (DANIEL 1:3-8; 6:3-5; 10:16; 6:22-23)

A DECREE TO WORSHIP THE KING. (DANIEL 6:1-9)

Daniel was one of the Jewish captives taken to Babylon. While in Babylon, his faithfulness, honesty and
peculiar divine endowment made him to progress in that foreign land.

King Darius had divided his kingdom into one hundred and twenty provinces for administrative
convenience. Each of these provinces was headed by a Satrap (i.e. a governor). The further appointed
three presidents to oversee these Satraps. Daniel happened to be one of the three presidents. He
distinguished himself and became popular in the kingdom and the most favoured of the three
presidents because he was filled with an excellent spirit. The king planned to set him over the whole
kingdom. This move by the king attracted jealousy and hatred against Daniel from the other presidents
and Satraps hence they sought ways of bringing him into disrepute before the king, so as to bring his
downfall. When they could not find grounds to bring about his fall, they decided to use his religion to
establish an offence against him before the king because they knew well that Daniel loved God and
served Him continually.

The conspirators (the other two presidents and the officers in the land) went to the king, persuading him
to establish a law which would make at an offence to pray to any other god or man other than the king,
for a period of thirty days. The penalty for such offence was to cast the person into the den of lions.
They further requested the king to make the law, not subject to change, in accordance with the law of
the Medes and Persians.

Daniel disregarded the law and prayed in his house three times a day, as was his practice, giving thanks
to the Almighty God.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Daniel’s excellent ministry attracted both honour and jealousy for him. Discuss
SUB TOPIC 2: DANIEL EXPRESSES HIS FAITH IN GOD. DANIEL 6:10-15

After learning that the document had been signed by the king, Daniel went to his house where he had
windows in his upper chamber opened towards Jerusalem and prayed to God three times every day. The
men who wanted to implicate him came and found Daniel praying to his God and immediately reported
him to the king. They further reminded the king that his law concerning worship was not subject to
change, implying that the punishment must be strictly inflicted on Daniel.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. What was Daniel’s reaction on discovering that the document on worship had been signed by the
king?

DANIEL IN THE LION’S DEN. DANIEL 6:11-18

When king Darius heard of Daniel’s violation of his decree on worship, he was greatly worried. He was
reluctant to inflict the harsh punishment of the law on Daniel. He tried to free him but following the
persuasion of the other officers of the land, especially those who hated Daniel, that the law of Medes
and Persians was unchangeable and must be applied accordingly, the king order that Daniel be cast into
the den of lions.

However, the king said to Daniel, “May your God whom you serve continually deliver you”. The king
having acted against his wish went back home, fasted and was without sleep due to his unhappiness
over what had happened to Daniel.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Do you think the king was just by casting Daniel into the den? State your reasons.

THE POWER OF GOD MANIFESTED. DANIEL 6:19-24

The next day, as early as possible, the king hurried to the den of lions. He wanted to see whether Daniel
was dead or alive. When he came near the den, he cried with a loud voice “ Daniel, servant of the Living
God, has your God whom you serve continually been able to deliver you from the lion?” Daniel greeted
the king and informed him that the Lord sent His angel to close the mouth of the lions because he was
blameless before God and before the king. The king was very happy when he found that Daniel was alive
and he immediately ordered the he be brought out of the den. When he was brought out, he was found
unhurt. The king being convinced that it was a plot against Daniel, immediately ordered that the
accusers of Daniel be cast into the den of lions with their wives and children. The lions broke their bones
into pieces before they reached the bottom of the den.

The king commanded the God of Daniel as the only Living God.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Explain how God vindicated Daniel before the king and the officers of the land.
EFFECTS OF DANIEL’S FAITH

Following Daniel’s deliverance by God, king Darius promulgated a decree directing everybody in his
kingdom to worship the God of Daniel as the Living God who rescues, works signs and wonders in
heaven and on earth, whose kingdom shall never be destroyed and whose dominion shall be to the end.
Daniel’s popularity and greatness increased throughout the reign of king Darius and of Cyrus, the
Persian king.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. What are the effects of Daniel’s faith in God during the reign of king Darius?

QUALITIES OF DANIEL. DANIEL 1:3-8; 6:3-5; 10:16; 6:22-23

The qualities of Daniel cannot be overlooked. The following are some of the qualities seen in Daniel:

i. Daniel was from a royal family.

ii. He was endowed with knowledge and understanding
iii. He was learned and competent in many things
iv. He had an excellent spirit. This was the reason he was able to interpret the king’s dream.
(Daniel 5:12, 6:3)
v. He was faithful and no error was found in him. This was his enemies’ testimony about him
(Daniel 6:4-5)
vi. He was an upright man and blameless in the things of God.
vii. He had an absolute and unshakable faith and trust in God. (Daniel 6:23)
viii. He was a devout worshipper of God.
ix. He was uncompromising

ASSIGNMENT:

1. State and explained at least four qualities of Daniel.

WEEK 7
TOPIC: TRUE RELIGION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

CONTENT:

1. TRUE RELIGION: IT IS NOT MERELY ATTENDING CHURCH SERVICES AND PROGRAMMES. AMOS
5:21-23, 25; 4:5. IT DEMANDS PURITY OF HEART, HONEST DESIRE AND JUSTICE.
 2. SOCIAL VICES OF THE TIME OF AMOS. AMOS 2:6-8; 4:1-2; 5:7-13

TRUE RELIGION

True religion is the combination of our worshipping God and the practice of righteousness at all time. It
is the combination of the ceremonial aspect of our faith with the moral requirements. The ceremonial
aspect involves our regular attendance to church services on Sundays or holy days, and payment of
tithes, offerings and church dues or levies. The moral aspect of our faith is the practicing of
righteousness in human relationship through the works of kindness, love, hospitality, honesty, justice,
forgiveness etc.

Amos was the earliest eighth century prophet. Before his call to prophetic work, he was a shepherd and
dresser of sycamore tree. He was a native of Tekoa in Judea but prophesied in the northern kingdom
during the reigns of Jeroboam and the time of Uzziah in Judea. During this period, there was an
economic boom in the northern kingdom (Israel) which resulted in increased disparity between the rich
and the poor. Oppression of the poor by the rich became rampant and social evil in the society. This
social evil co-existed with religious insincerity.

Amos observed that their religion was highly developed on the ceremonial side, and totally lacking on
the spiritual and moral aspect. The religion was characterized with hypocrisy, idolatry and empty
formalism. The people assembled regularly for worship; made costly offerings and had magnificent
places of worship, yet social evils still prevailed. This according to prophet Amos showed that the people
were not practicing true religion. Some of the religious practices unacceptable to God outlined in Amos
that displeased God include the following:

1. Festivals and merry making that lacked true, interpersonal communication and a real
communication with God.
2. Holding of sacred services that were shallow and hypocritical.
3. The people followed religious double standards- they worshipped idols at Bethel and gilgal.
4. Pollution of the land by the people’s moral corruption- they were going to Bethel and Gilgal to
not to worship but to engage in all forms evil practices such as cult prostitution, drunkenness and
unnecessary fines which affected only the poor.
5. Little regard for holy periods.

DEMANDS OF TRUE RELIGION. (Amos 5:14-15, 24)

True religion demands purity of heart, honest desires and justice, humility and fair play. It is not
characterized by regular worship and offerings. This was what Amos meant by declaring that God
demanded justice and righteousness from his people and sacrifice (Amos 5:21-24). The kind of worship
God demanded from the Israelites according to Amos includes:

1. Seeking God with passion so that they will live.(Amos 5: 4)

2. Doing everything good and with honest report while shunning evil (Amos 5:14)
3. Justice, fair play and being seen to be constantly doing what is right (Amos 5:15, 24)
 4. Righteousness should be allowed to reign in the lives of the people(Amos 5: 24)
5. Repentance and returning to God for forgiveness.
6. It is necessary to note here, that God does not condemn regular worship, sacrifices- tithe and
offerings etc, rather Amos meant that religious activities that are not followed by righteousness
are meaningless.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Give the characteristics of true religion.

2. Describe any three practices which Amos condemned in the religious life of Israel and three
things he recommended in their place.

SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE TIME OF AMOS (AMOS 2:6-8; 4:1-2; 5:7-13)

The society of Amos’ time was characterized by and enmeshed in official injustice, corruption, greed and
false worship. Their social vices were so excessive and unbearable that God had to send Amos to warn
them of the disastrous consequence of their actions if they failed to repent: in condemning the social
vices of his time, Amos that God is not only one-time and universal God, but also a just and righteous
one, who demand justice and righteousness from his people.

He then exposed and condemned the social vices of the day which among others include:

1. Bribery and corruption which was the order of the day. The judges perverted justice by collecting
bribes from the rich. The poor were denied justice as the judges could easily be bought over,
even with a pair of shoes (Amos 2:6-8; 5:10).
2. Dishonesty of the merchants- they use false measures: in most cases, they sold refuse as wheat
to the poor (Amos 8:4-6).
3. Greed and drunkenness: the women of Samaria were making excessive demands on their
husbands who in turn robbed and crushed the poor to meet their wives’ demands. Those women
were overfed and Amos described them as cows of Bashan, who must consequently be taken
captive to Harmon in Assyria.
4. Selfish luxury of the rich: the wealthy became abundantly prosperous and lived in affluence,
dwelling in expensive buildings (stone houses) and using costly beds made of ivory at the cost of
the poor in the society (Amos 6:4-6).
5. Licentiousness: indiscriminate sex pervaded the society. A son and father went in to the same
maiden (Amos 2:7)

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Discuss three social vices that prevailed at the time of Amos.

2. Do social vices of Amos’ time still exist today in our country?
 SUB-TOPIC: TRUE RELIGION
1. OPPOSITION AGAINST AMOS BY AMAZIAH, PRIEST OF THE ROYAL SANCTUARY. (AMOS 7:10-
17).
2. DIVINE JUDGMENT OF EVIL DOERS (AMOS 4:2-3; 6-10).
3. RISKS OFTEN FACED BY THOSE WHO CARRY OUT DIVINE MESSAGES.
4. THE NEED TO REMAIN STEADFAST.

OPPOSITION AGAINST AMOS BY AMAZIAH, PRIEST OF THE ROYAL SANCTUARY.(AMOS 7:10-17)

Amos’ prophecy against the sanctuaries, especially the destruction of Bethel, the exile of the whole
people of Israel including king Jeroboam 11, and members of his family, did not go down well with
Amaziah, the priest of Bethel. Amaziah saw Amos’ prophesy as conspiracy and treason to overthrow the
government of king Jeroboam. He therefore reported the prophet to the king. He also ordered Amos to
go back to his country, the southern kingdom (Judah) and prophesy there to earn a living and stop
prophesying any longer at Bethel because it was the king’s sanctuary and court.

Responding, Amos politely told Amaziah that he was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son but God
called him out of his former occupation as a shepherd and a dresser of sycamore trees to go and
prophesy to the people of the northern kingdom (Israel). He was God’s mouth-piece hence a prophet of
God (Amos 7:10-14).

He further prophesied about the impending exile, during which their wives would be harlots in the city
and their sons and daughters would fall by the sword.

ASSIGNMENT:

What is your impression on how Amos responded to the opposition to Amaziah?

DIVINE JUDGEMENT OF EVIL DOERS (AMOS 4:2-3; 4:6-10; 5:14-20; 7:16-17; 8:9-10)

God tried to make the people of Israel to return to him by visiting them with drought, famine and
pestilence, yet, they remained unrepentant and continued with the prevalent social and religious vices.
Amos therefore prophesied and outlined the impending divine judgment.

1. The sanctuaries would be destroyed.

2. The people of Israel would suffer captivity through Assyria. The rampaging enemy forces would
be so vicious and heartless.
3. Natural disasters in form of famine, drought, crop failure and plagues such as wind and sand
storms, lice, locust invasion, natural calamities etc.
4. The upper class of the society would be the first to go into exile and would lead the columns of
refugees (Amos 6;6-7).
5. Lack of safety as one who ran to the house for safety, leaning his hand on the wall would be
bitten by snake (Amos 5:19).
6. Amaziah would be taken to a defile land where he would cease to perform his priestly duty, and
would die in land of captivity.
 7. Amaziah’s wife would be left alone as a widow. She would end up being a prostitute for a living.
8. The so called day of the lord, the Jews were hoping for would be a doom-day and a day of
darkness.

ASSIGNMENT:

What lessons can we learn from the punishment lined up against Israel?

RISKS OFTEN FACED BY THOSE WHO CARRY OUT DIVINE MESSAGES (1 PETER3:17, 4:12-19, ACTS 9:10-
16; 20:22-24, 1 KINGS 19:1-3)

Risks mean exposing oneself to danger or something harmful. The carriers of divine messages are not
immune from risks. By the virtue of the messages they carry, they can be called men of God, servants of
God, Evangelists, pastors, preachers, apostles, prophets etc.

These messengers stand the risk of being molested, physical abused, harassed, intimidated or even
murdered in the course of spreading the divine message of salvation especially to a predominantly
pagan society.

They run the risk of being rejected, falsely accused and assaulted. There are examples of such
messengers in the bible who suffered such fate e.g Elijah at the hand of Ahab and Jezebel his wife; Amos
accused of treason by Amaziah who reported him king Jeroboam.

Jesus Christ is a perfect example. He suffered more than one can think of. He was brutalise, persecuted
and finally crucified on the cross (a shameful death) because the divine message of salvation he brought
to the dying world. Having known that his disciples (followers) would suffer the same fate of suffering
persecution, he forewarned and encouraged them to be of good cheers.

The main reason why the messengers of God and human defender face threats to their safety and lives
is because people hate the truth. Pride also makes people refuse to listen to the truth that will set them
free. They prefer to hear what will favour them hence they oppose and persecute those who speak the
truth to them.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. State and explain three risks the carriers of divine message face in doing their given tasks.
2. What do you think are the reasons why the preachers of the gospel are being persecuted?

THE NEED TO REMAIN STEADFAST

Steadfastness is demanded from everyone that believes in God (Jesus) and propagates the goodness of
salvation for mankind. Christians (including men of God, evangelists, preachers, pastors, prophets,
apostles etc) are encouraged to endure persecution and suffering and to see them as test of their faith.

Jesus made it clear that those who will lead a godly life, standing on the truth must suffer persecution.
Persecution is temporary; and it is something that strengthens the believers’ hope in the glory he will
share with Christ at the end. Christians should therefore entrust their souls into the hands of God and
remain steadfast in faith as they deliver God’s messages.

i. Steadfastness in the faith has and will continue to lead to the extension and spread of the
gospel to the Gentiles.
ii. Steadfastness makes it easy for a believer to carry out his mission without hesitation.
iii. Steadfastness attracts God’s presence to remain with believers.
iv. Christians who are steadfast in the faith bring glory and honour to God while those who
advocate for social justice bring glory to their nation.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Why is steadfastness demanded from every Christian?

2. Discuss at least, three benefits of steadfastness.

WEEK 8
TOPIC: DIVINE LOVE

CONTENT:

1. GOD ASKED HOSEA TO MARRY GOMER A HARLOT AND RAISE CHILDREN BY HER, TO
ILLUSTRATE ISRAEL HARLOTRY (HOSEA 1).
2. THE UNFAITHFULNESS OF ISRAEL TO GOD AND HIS CONTINUOUS LOVE FOR HER. HOSEA 2-3
3. ISRAEL SUPERFICIAL RESPONSE TO GOD’S LOVE. HOSEA 6:1-11
4. GOD DEMANDS STEADFAST LOVE AND KNOWLEDGE OF HIM (HOSEA 6:6)
5. POSITIVE RESPONSE TO GOD’S LOVE REQUIRES PENITENT (HOSEA 6: 1-4)
6. GOD PROMISES RESTORATION TO THOSE WHO RETURN TO HIM IN REPENTANCE. (HOSEA 14).

GOD ASKED HOSEA TO MARRY GOMER A HARLOT AND RAISE CHILDREN BY HER (HOSEA 1)
Hosea is referred to as the “prophet of love” because his messages centred on God’s love for the
children of Israel in spite of their unfaithfulness. His marital experience served as a practical example to
his message of love. His message was against immorality, political and religious corruption. He
encouraged the people to repent and turn back to God. His period of prophecy spread through the
reigns of king Uzziah, Jothan and Ahaz in the southern kingdom and Jeroboam in the northern kingdom.

Unlike Amos, he was a native of Israel (i.e. Northern kingdom), and he delivered his message there. At
the time of his prophetic ministry, northern kingdom was witnessing a period of political instability and
religious syncretism. At this point, God instructed Hosea the son of Beeri to marry a harlot, Gomer, the
daughter of Diblaim, and have children of harlotry through her.

Hosea obeyed God’s order and eventually had three children with Gomer- two sons and one daughter.
These children were given symbolic names that expressed God’s anger at the people of Israel who had
forsaken, their God to play harlotry with other gods.

The name of the first son was Jezreel which meant that God would punish the house of Jehu for the
“blood of Jezreel”. This refers to the innocent blood which the wicked Jehu shed at the valley of Jezreel
of valley of Jezreel during his revolution.

The second child – the daughter’s name was Lo-ruhamah or ‘Not pitied’ or ‘No mercy’.

This signified that God would no longer have pity upon the house of Israel.

The third child – the son’s name was Lo-anmi or “Not my people” this meant that God would no longer
regard Israel as his people as they had forsaken him.

1. To multiply them greatly like sea sand that could not be numbered.
2. To forgive and restore the whole nation of Israel- the Northern kingdom and Judah (southern
kingdom) after the corrective punishment. Both kingdoms would be united under one leader.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Mention the names of Hosea’s three children and explain the meaning of each of the names.
2. In what three ways are names significant in your society?

THE UNFAITHFULNESS OF ISRAEL TO GOD AND HIS CONTINUOUS LOVE FOR HER (HOSEA 2-3)

Hosea had provided and cared for his Wife Gomer. Yet, after giving birth to her three children, she left
Hosea and ran after her worthless lover she had hoped to benefit more from. Gomer became unfaithful;
due to Hosea’s persistent love for her, he continued to plead with her to come back because he knew
that she was not going to benefit from those other men but to suffer. Gomer refused to come back. He
sent her children to plead with her but she ignored them as well. In spite of Gomer’s unfaithfulness,
Hosea still persisted in his love for her. At last, not knowing what else to do, Hosea divorced her.
Nevertheless, he reclaimed her back to himself eventually.
The marital experience of Hosea was synonymous with God’s relationship with the Israelites. God, as the
husband, had demonstrated a lot of love to the Israelites right from the time he set them free from
Egypt with a lot of signs and wonders to the period of Hosea’s ministry; God had also established
covenant with them, but Israel had never been faithful in keeping the lord’s commandments. They
indulged in sin of idolatry- running after other gods like Hosea’s wife Gomer who ran to other men.

As Hosea divorced Gomer for refusing to come back to him after many pleadings, so God had sent many
prophets to appeal to the Israelites to turn from their evil ways and return to God but all appeals were
in vain. God had no option but to divorce Israel. Nevertheless, God’s love for Israel still persisted in spite
of their unfaithfulness. God still hoped and expected they would repent and come back to him. He
pleaded with them severally to forsake Baal and worship Him. Hosea pointed out that the priests and
prophets who refused to rebuke Israel for their unfaithfulness would equally be punished.

The bottom line in Hosea messages is the willingness and readiness of God to accept his people back if
they genuinely repented.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. How does the story of Hosea and Gomer portray the nature of God?
2. What lessons can we learn from the story of Hosea and Gomer?

ISRAEL’S SUPERFICIAL RESPONSE TO GOD’S LOVE (Hosea 6:1-11)

Israel’s response to God’s love was a typical example of man’s negative response to God’s love and call.
The people of Israel immediate response were not genuine. They worshipped God with their lips but
hearts were far from him. They thought that to affect a superficial return to God would be enough to
alleviate their suffering. They care with much sacrifice and burnt offerings in order to please God but
their hearts were far away from him.

They did not return with repentant heart, rather, they returned because they were suffering. Their
concern was just to be free from God’s chastisement. They did not care to know where and how they
offended God so as to repent and forsake that very sin. The cause of their broken relationship with God
was lack of love and knowledge of God hence Hosea declared that God desired steadfast love and
knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. How did the people of Israel respond to God’s love and call to repentance.
2. Compare Israel’s response to our response of God’s love to us

GOD DEMANDS STEADFAST LOVE AND KNOWLEDGE OF HIM (HOSEA 6:6)

Hosea appealed to the people of Israel to genuinely return to their God for they had stumbled
and failed because of their sins and iniquities. He advised them to manifest genuine repentance; confess
their sins; and accept only those things that are good in the sight of God. He also advised them to show
mercy to the needy; and to desist from idolatry. He warned them to stop their political alliance with the
Assyrians as that would not bring solution to their political crisis.

These, according to prophet Hosea were the only things that would deliver and save them from
divine judgment and no their numerous offerings and sacrifices without corresponding righteousness
and holiness.

ASSIGNMENT:

What were the things Hosea advised the people of Israel to do as means of true repentance?

POSITIVE RESPONSE TO GOD’S LOVE REQUIRES PENITENT (HOSEA 6: 1-4)

God’s love for Israel was a steadfast and persisting love. This was demonstrated with Hosea’s
marital experience. God was like Israel’s husband. As a husband is normally jealous seeing his wife run
after other men, so was God not happy to see the Israelites forsook Him for other gods. In His effort to
see and persuade the Israelites to return back to Him, He sent prophets to them to warn them to desist
from their evil ways and come back to God. As a husband would naturally divorce an unfaithful and
wayward wife, God threatened to divorce Israel by allowing a nation to overwhelm them and carry them
away in captivity.

To avert God’s punishment, they pretended to have repented while in their mind, there was no genuine
love for God. However, God still persisted in loving them in spite of their unfaithfulness and was
prepared to take them back to Himself once they showed sign of genuine repentance.

In the same vein, God’s love for man generally, is steadfast and persistent. He protects and provides
abundantly for man to enjoy. But man, on his part has not been faithful to God. Many people profess to
love God but their love is hypocritical and conditional. They only come to God when they have problems
for solution.

Since God does not want anyone to perish, He expects us to respond positively to His love by
genuine repentance with sincerity of heart and confession. As we desist from superficial, negative and
selfish repentance, our relationship will be established based on His love for man.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Mention ways Christians can respond to God’s love.

2. Discuss the binding force in man’s relationship with God.

GOD PROMISES RESTORATION TO THOSE WHO RETURN TO HIM IN REPENTANCE. (HOSEA 14)
God responded to Israel’s superficial and fake repentance by expressing His love for them. He
reminded them that what He required from them was sincere and genuine repentance not mere plea
for mercy. Their rituals and sacrifices were not good enough until they were matched with genuine
repentance. Then He promised to heal them of their unfaithfulness so that they would return to Him
and worship Him in sincerity; He would restore them by making them return to their land after His
corrective punishment; Israel and Judah would be united under a divinely appointed leader who would
rule them in the fear and knowledge of God, unlike their corrupt leaders that had led them astray. This
divinely appointed leader would come from the dynasty of David – a reference to the coming of the
Messiah.
God promises restoration to Christians who return to Him in genuine repentance from their sins
and backsliding state. The mercy of God is available to those who acknowledge, confess, and forsake
their sins, and exercise faith in God.

ASSIGNMENT

1. What were the things God promised to do for the people of Israel after chastising them?
2. Compare Israel’s response to God’s love and call for repentance to our response of God’s love to us.

WEEK 9
HOLINESS AND DIVINE CALL

Holiness of God (Isaiah 1: 10-20, 6:1-7) Divine call (Ezekiel 1,2,3:1-11)

Holiness of God (Isaiah 6:1-7)

Holiness is the state of being sacred spiritually purified blameless and without blemish. God is an
epitome of holiness and He admonishes and expects his children to be holy.

Divine call is a call from God to his anointed servants commissioning and preparing them for a particular
task in the life of man and human’s relationship with God.

HOLINESS OF GOD (Isaiah 6:1-7) ISAIAH’S VISION AND CALL

Prophet Isaiah had the vision of the holiness of God in the year king Uzziah died . On the vision, he saw
the Lord sitting upon a throne in the temple and his angels filled the temple, surrounding the Lord, above
him stood the angles each had six wings two wings covered his force, another two wings covered his
feet and the flew with the other two wings.

Prophet Isaiah heard the angels crying out,

Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Host, the whole earth is full of his glory

The temple of God was tilled with someone and the glory of God manifested at this point, Isaiah
recognized his moral and spiritual weakness. Having found himself unworthy to behold the glory of God,
said

“Woe, is me for I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of the
people of unclean lips for my eyes have seen the thing, the Lord of host.
After this knowing fully well that he is not worthy to behold the glory of God, one of the angels flew to him
with a burning coal and touched your quit is taken away, and your sin forgiven”

Isaiah went further to advice the people to be holy. He make it clear that the true worship of God is built
on holiness. He also made it known people that God is holy and sacred and He expect his children to be
holy. He also said that religious ceremonies, sacrifices and prayer without purity of heart are evil before
God. God does not answer the prayer of a sinful person and does not accept his offering. He went
further to condemn those that practice injustice and oppressed the poor and appear to them to change
by saying.

“Wash yourselves make yourselves clean, remove the evil of your dungs from before my eyes,
cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek justice, correct oppression, defend the fatherless and
plead for the wisdom”

He went on to let them know that God is ready forgive them if they repent from their sins but failure
represent would attract punishment.

EZEKIEL’S VISION AND CALL ( EZEKIEL 1,2,3:1-3 OR 1:4-20)

Ezekiel was the son of Buzi and an exotic prophets He had a vision of the likeness of the glory of God he
was afraid by the vision and he fell upon his face and the Lord spoke to him, saying son of man, stand
up your feet, and I will speak with you.

Ezekiel on hearing the voice of God was filled with the spirit, and he stood firming on the ground to listen
to the ground to listen to the voice. The Lord commissioned Ezekiel to go and prophesy to Israel in exile,
whom he described as rebels. God knew it was going to be different but for him, he urged him to be
courageous and never be afraid.

The Content of God’s message to Ezekiel to people of Israel in exile, was committed to writing in a
scroll- God therefore gave him the scroll to eat. According to Ezekiel the scroll contained words of
laminations and woes, tasted very sweet as sweat as honey. When he ate scroll God directed him to
speak His word to the people of Israel. God again reminded him of the people’s stubborn heart and their
forehead God assured him that he had been prepared to face the people courageously.

JEREMIAH’S VISION AND CALL (JEREMIAH 1:4-10)

Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah Priest of Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin. His call to prophetic office
came in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah. God instructed him to go and prophesy to
the Jews in exile the word of the Lord came to him saying

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, an before you were born, I consecrated you, I
appointed you a prophet to the nations”

Jeremiah reacted to the call by saying that he is in capable of discharging the assignment, taking into
account of his youthful age. He said,

“Aw, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth
God promised him of his guidance and direction, part-taking where to go and want to speak. The Lord
also straightened out His hand and touched Jeremiah mouth and said to him.

“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth”

SIGNIFICANT POINT TO HOLINESS AND DIVINE CALL

1. The Ministers of God should be recognized as God’s representatives on earth and should be
respected.
2. The holiness of God requires that the children of God should be holy.
3. Failure to live in accordance with the will of God can lend to down fall and suffering.
4. God’s call can come in different ways and experience