Bible Study - Sabbath School Podcast

The Posture of Prayer
When something goes wrong in our lives, most of us call a close friend to talk about it. When we have good news, we find someone to share it with. We can do the same with God. “Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend.”--Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 93.
Prayer not only keeps us connected to God but tells the devil whose we are. When we kneel to pray in the morning, it’s like a physical declaration to the powers of darkness that we choose God this day. Not only that, but God sends angels to our side when we pray, and we are fortified and covered from the enemy of darkness (Psalm 91).
The physical act of kneeling in submission shows a humble posture. It’s somehow different from sitting in a chair or lying in a bed while we pray, although we can pray in these positions, too. However, when we kneel before God we show that we are ready to serve God with all our hearts, as our body and our words declare that He is sovereign and that we are merely His created children.
Read the following Bible passages and consider the lives of these individuals who knelt when they prayed: Dan. 6:10, Luke 22:41, Acts 7:60, Acts 9:40, Acts 20:36.
Standing in prayer was a common practice in Bible times (2 Chron. 20:5-6, 13; 1 Sam. 1:26; Job 30:20; Luke 18:11, 13). The Bible also shares examples of people who sat when they prayed (2 Sam. 7:18). Others prostrated themselves before God, with their face on the earth--although this posture was less commonly associated with prayer, but rather submission before a superior (1 Kings 1:47, Mark 14:35).
What is your usual posture when you pray? The Bible doesn’t require us to pray in any particular posture, but postures are important, as they reflect our reverence, our inner feelings, and our desire to surrender to God. Some people are unable to kneel, so, ultimately, it’s the heart condition that matters most. If you can kneel but usually don’t, why not try kneeling next time you pray and see how it affects your time with God?
The Bible invites us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17), implying constancy (Col. 4:2) and perseverance (Rom. 12:12). Today, as you stand, sit, lie, or walk, turn your thoughts to God and talk to Him as your Friend. Begin right now.

Faithful Daniel
Daniel is one of the great heroes of the Bible. We know the first story, too (see Daniel 1): “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies” (Dan. 1:8, NKJV). Also, to Daniel and his three friends, “God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams” (Dan. 1:17, NKJV). The Bible describes Daniel as wise (Dan. 1:20; Dan. 2:14, 21, 23, 48) because the Spirit of God was in him (Dan. 4:9, 18; Dan. 5:14; Dan. 6:3), and he was greatly beloved by Heaven (Dan. 9:23, Dan. 10:11). These are some descriptors of a man who had a strong, abiding connection with God.
In Daniel 2, when King Nebuchadnezzar issued a death decree to all wise men in Babylon, Daniel sought God’s mercy concerning the secret of his dream (Dan. 2:18). When God revealed the king’s dream to Daniel, he immediately prayed.
Read Daniel 2:20-23. Why did Daniel pray, and what can we learn from this prayer?
As the years passed by and kings rose and fell, Daniel remained an advisor to the kings and was described as distinguished “because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm” (Dan. 6:3, NKJV). “He was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him” (Dan. 6:4, NKJV). Despite fierce jealousy and evil plotting (Dan. 6:5-9) from his peers, Daniel remained ever constant and fearless in his prayer life.
Read Daniel 6:10-11. What do these verses tell us about Daniel?
When faced with difficulty, Daniel prayed. Although the threat was against his life, he was consistent and persistent in prayer (three times every day, as was his custom), and predictable (at his open window three times a day as he prayed toward Jerusalem). His prayer was a physical act (he knelt) and focused on thanksgiving and supplication.
In light of a story like this, how weak are your excuses for not praying?

Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Dan. 2:20-23; Dan. 6:10-11; Acts 20:36; Gen. 5:22-24; Exod. 33:15-23; Exod. 32:31-32
Memory Text: “I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live” (Psalm 116:1-2, NKJV).
Imagine if you rarely spoke to your best friend or your spouse. Very soon the relationship would break down, and there’d be a problem. In the same way, prayer is an essential part of having a close relationship with God. It is a crucial devotional habit, one that each of us needs and can strengthen. If we don’t pray often and continually, we will wander from the Lord sooner or later.
In the Bible, we learn about the lives of different individuals who prayed in different ways. We can step back and catch a glimpse into how their communion with God impacted their relationship with Him, how and what we might also pray for, and how their prayers changed the lives of others. It is true: our prayer life impacts not only ourselves but others as well.
Just like Bible study, this topic of prayer is both huge and important and much broader than what can be covered in just two weeks. This week we’ll learn some lessons from some of the those in the Bible who prayed and showed us just how central prayer is to having a strong relationship with God. Let’s learn from their examples.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, May 9.

Further Thought: The purpose of Bible study is to know God and to grow in your relationship with Him, for this is what life eternal is--to be forever with the God we love (John 5:39, John 17:3).
Part of any relationship is mutual engagement. We read in Revelation 3:20 that Jesus seeks to have this with us, yet we must realize that, as created beings, we can always learn more about our Creator. Like a miner digging for precious jewels, we should be constantly searching in the Bible. There is always more to glean, no matter how many times we’ve read certain stories or Bible passages. “Whatever may be man’s intellectual advancement, let him not for a moment think that there is no need of thorough and continuous searching of the Scriptures for greater light. As a people, we are called individually to be students of prophecy.”--Ellen G. White, Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 41.
We should also not try to make the Bible fit into our own human opinions or thoughts. “How shall we search the Scriptures? Shall we drive our stakes of doctrine one after another, and then try to make all Scripture meet our established opinions? or shall we take our ideas and views to the Scriptures, and measure our theories on every side by the Scriptures of truth? Many who read and even teach the Bible, do not comprehend the precious truth they are teaching or studying.… Many give the words of Scripture a meaning that suits their own opinions.”--Ellen G. White, Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 36.

Discussion Questions:
What attitude do you usually come to the Bible with? Is there anything that needs to shift? Why is an attitude of humility and surrender to the Word so crucial?
Are there any established opinions that you might need to lay aside to allow Scripture to speak for itself? If so, how can you start praying about them right now?
How might originality become a stumbling block in a person’s outward relationship with God? That is, how might the desire to find something new and innovative lead someone astray, especially if they are doing it for selfish purposes?
Summary: Personal Bible study is at the heart of having a vibrant and enduring relationship with God. God’s Word speaks into our twenty-first-century lives in meaningful ways, just as it has during past centuries. In a similar way to keeping any friendship alive, we should look for ways to keep our devotional lives vivid as we abide in Jesus, trusting His promise that His Word “shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:11, NKJV).

’Tis So Sweet!
Think about your favorite dessert. Is it good for your health? Perhaps you use honey as a sweetener, or you may even use Manuka honey for its purported medicinal benefits. If you’ve ever tried honeycomb, you’ll know how sweet the soft texture is as it melts onto your tongue.
In Psalm 119:103-104, the psalmist describes the Bible as a honeycomb--a metaphor for delight: “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding” (NKJV).
What does it mean that “through your precepts I get understanding”? (Ps. 119:104). Why is this idea important in grasping what Bible study does for us?
Yes, God’s words are indeed sweet to our souls and unlike anything else the world offers us. Unlike many desserts, the sweetness of God’s Word is healing to our souls and life-changing for our characters. If you’ve been distant from God, you can fall on your knees, open His Word, and drink from the living water that alone will satisfy.
In Isaiah 55:1-13, the prophet expands on the message mentioned above. Spend some time reading this chapter now and then answer these questions:
What does the Lord give to those who come to Him, to “eat” from His Word?
What is His invitation to you here?
What is His challenge?
What is His promise?
God’s living and powerful Word cuts straight to our hearts, minds, and souls as it challenges us to grow in Christ. But it can do this for us only to the degree that we take the time and effort (and yes, it takes effort) to delve into the Word with an attitude of submission and humility and a willingness to follow what it teaches.
What are concrete ways you can “seek the LORD while He may be found” (Isa. 55:6, NKJV)?