THE SUNDAY SCHOOL OVERVIEW WILL FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LESSON EACH WEEK. BIBLICAL TRANSLATIONS WILL VARY, BUT THE MAIN RESOURCE WILL BE THE TOWNSEND PRESS SUNDAY SCHOOL COMMENTARY, 95th EDITION. THIS FEATURE IS DESIGNED TO BE OF HELP TO THOSE WHO CANNOT ATTEND THEIR LOCAL CHURCH AND/OR SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson Title: THE FEAST OF BOOTHS
Adult/Young Adult Topic: HERITAGE AND HOPE
Printed Text: Leviticus 23:33-43
Key Verse: Leviticus 23:42-43 (NIV)
“Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”
Source: Townsend Press Sunday School Commentary – 95th Edition, 2015-2016
UNIFYING LESSON PRINCIPLE:
Families need rituals of celebration in order to remember their heritage and to pass it on to their children. How can their heritage be remembered and passed on to succeeding generations? The Israelites’ celebration of the Festival of Booths assisted them in renewing their commitment to their guiding and protecting God and in passing on their faith to their children.
CONCLUDING REFLECTION:
As African Americans, as with Israel, our heritage (history) is one of hope: the power of life, the power of being, and the power of newness in our God. There was nothing permanent about life in the wilderness; they were sojourners bound for the Promised Land, and by God’s power of life, being, and newness they made it. Once in the Promised Land, they were commanded to reenact certain aspects of their wilderness journey. Approximately 5000 years later, many Jews around the world still observe the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths).
PRAYER:
“God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us thus far on the way” we pause to give You thanks for Your love and faithfulness over the years. We are who we are today because You have suffered it to be; therefore, our prayer is that we, too, will be faithful to You and keep alive those things from our pasts that have given shape to who we are as Your beloved people. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Sunday School Review “Heritage and Hope” was originally published on oldschool955.hellobeautiful.com
