Sunday
June 9
1. DELIVERANCE THROUGH UNSEEN AGENCIES
a. When Elisha was surrounded by the horses and chariots of the king of Syria, his servant was troubled. What did Elisha tell him? 2 Kings 6:16.
b. What did Elisha pray for, and how did God answer his prayer? 2 Kings 6:17. How can we have the same protection in the day of trouble?
“Between the servant of God and the hosts of armed foemen was an encircling band of heavenly angels. They had come down in mighty power, not to destroy, not to exact homage, but to encamp round about and minister to the Lord’s weak and helpless ones.
“When the people of God are brought into strait places, and apparently there is no escape for them, the Lord alone must be their dependence.”—Prophets and Kings, p. 257.
“Pray much. Be willing to separate from everything that separates you from God. Then, in the day of trouble, he will come to your deliverance, and will hide you under the shadow of his wings.”—Historical Sketches, p. 234.
Monday
June 10
2. DELIVERANCE THROUGH OBEDIENCE
a. What test was given to Daniel’s three friends? Daniel 3:4–6. What was their response? Verse 12.
b. When brought before the king and given a second chance, what answer did the three young men give? Daniel 3:16–18.
“Conscience in regard to the things of God is a sacred treasure, which no human beings, whatever be their position, have a right to meddle with. Nebuchadnezzar offered the Hebrews another chance, and when they refused it, he was exceedingly angry and commanded the burning fiery furnace to be heated seven times hotter than it was wont to be heated. He told the captives that he would cast them into this furnace. Full of faith and trust, the answer came, Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us; if He does not, well: we commit ourselves to a faithful God.”—Mind, Character, and Personality, bk. 1, p. 327.
c. How did God deliver them? Daniel 3:19–27. What did the king acknowledge? Verse 29, second part.
“We should now purpose, as did Daniel and his fellows in Babylon, that we will be true to principle, come what may. The flaming fiery furnace heated seven times hotter than it was wont to be heated, did not cause these faithful servants of God to turn aside from allegiance to the truth. They stood firm in the time of trial, and were cast into the furnace; and they were not forsaken of God. The form of the Fourth was seen walking with them in the flames, and they came forth not having even the smell of fire upon their garments.”—Life Sketches, pp. 329, 330.
“If you are called to go through the fiery furnace for Christ’s sake, Jesus will be at your side. ‘When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.’ Isaiah 43:2.”—Our High Calling, p. 358.
Tuesday
June 11
3. DELIVERANCE THROUGH INTERCESSION
a. How did Satan influence a Persian king to make a decree against God’s people? Esther 3:12, 13.
“Haman cherished bitter malice against Mordecai, a Jew. Mordecai had done Haman no harm, but had simply refused to show him worshipful reverence. Scorning to ‘lay hands on Mordecai alone,’ Haman plotted ‘to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai’ (Esther 3:6).
“Misled by the false statements of Haman, Xerxes was induced to issue a decree providing for the massacre of all the Jews ‘scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces’ of the Medo-Persian kingdom. Verse 8. A certain day was appointed on which the Jews were to be destroyed and their property confiscated. Little did the king realize the far-reaching results that would have accompanied the complete carrying out of this decree. Satan himself, the hidden instigator of the scheme, was trying to rid the earth of those who preserved the knowledge of the true God.”—Prophets and Kings, pp. 600, 601.
b. What action did Esther take in response to the decree? Esther 4:15–17.
“Through Esther the queen the Lord accomplished a mighty deliverance for His people. At a time when it seemed that no power could save them, Esther and the women associated with her, by fasting and prayer and prompt action, met the issue, and brought salvation to their people.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 3, p. 1140.
c. How did God intervene to deliver His people? Esther 8:11–14; 9:1, 2.
“God wrought marvelously for His penitent people; and a counter decree issued by the king, allowing them to fight for their lives, was rapidly communicated to every part of the realm by mounted couriers. . . .
“Angels that excel in strength had been commissioned by God to protect His people while they ‘stood for their lives.’ Esther 9:2, 16.”—Prophets and Kings, p. 602.
Wednesday
June 12
4. DELIVERANCE AT THE END OF TIME
a. What great test will come upon God’s people just before the second coming of Jesus? Revelation 13:15–17.
“The decree has been passed by the highest earthly authority that they shall worship the beast and receive his mark under pain of persecution and death. May God help His people now, for what can they then do in such a fearful conflict without His assistance!
“Courage, fortitude, faith, and implicit trust in God’s power to save do not come in a moment. These heavenly graces are acquired by the experience of years. By a life of holy endeavor and firm adherence to the right the children of God were sealing their destiny. Beset with temptations without number, they knew they must resist firmly or be conquered. They felt that they had a great work to do, and at any hour they might be called to lay off their armor; and should they come to the close of life with their work undone, it would be an eternal loss.”—Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 213.
b. Who will follow this false system of worship? Revelation 13:8.
c. How can we retain our names in the Book of Life? Revelation 3:5.
“If we would be overcomers, we must search our hearts to be sure that we are not cherishing anything that is offensive to God. If we are, we cannot wear the white raiment that is here promised. If we would stand before God in the white linen, which is the righteousness of the saints, we must now do the work of overcoming. . . .
“Whose names will not be blotted out of the book of life? Only the names of those who have loved God with all the powers of their being, and their neighbors as themselves.”—Lift Him Up, p. 326.
“I beseech you, in the name of Christ, that you confess your sins and reform your ways, that your name may not be blotted out of the book of life, but may be confessed before the Father and before His angels. Jesus is pleading His blood before the Father; and now, while mercy lingers and probation is prolonged, seek the approbation of Heaven.”—Reflecting Christ, p. 57.
Thursday
June 13
5. GOD’S OVERCOMERS
a. How can we be overcomers in the last great conflict with evil? Revelation 12:11.
“It is through the grace of Christ that we are to be overcomers; through the merits of His blood we are to be of that number whose names will not be blotted out of the book of life.”—This Day With God, p. 175.
“The spotless robe of Christ’s righteousness is placed upon the tried, tempted, faithful children of God. The despised remnant are clothed in glorious apparel, nevermore to be defiled by the corruptions of the world. Their names are retained in the Lamb’s book of life, enrolled among the faithful of all ages. They have resisted the wiles of the deceiver; they have not been turned from their loyalty by the dragon’s roar. Now they are eternally secure from the tempter’s devices.”—Prophets and Kings, p. 591.
b. What is promised to those who are faithful? Revelation 2:7, 10; 3:21.
“We must share the conflicts if we wear the crown of victory. Like Jesus, we must be made perfect through suffering. . . . We can walk safely in the darkest path if we have the Light of the world for our guide.”—Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 71.
“The redeemed saints, who have loved God and kept His commandments here, will enter in through the gates of the city, and have right to the tree of life.”—My Life Today, p. 355.
Friday
June 14
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What daily sacrifice should we be willing to make in preparation for the deliverance God is seeking to give us in the future?
2. How can I be true to principle today, like Daniel’s three friends?
3. How did God bring salvation to His people in the time of Esther? What can we learn from this?
4. Whose names will be retained in the Book of Life?
5. What does it mean to “have the Light of the world for our guide”?