Shining a light on the weekly Bible Lessons published in the Christian Science Quarterly®
Unreality
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; . . . They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; . . . Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
Whether indicating the desert of the Exodus from Egypt or the return from captivity in Babylon, wilderness in the Hebrew Bible depicts a state of adversity, confusion, and danger. The celebration of God’s deliverance in verse 6 forms a refrain repeated in verses 13, 19, and 28. And this deliverance becomes a prophetic metaphor for divine salvation in the book of Isaiah (see 35:1, 6; 40:3; 43:19).
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: . . . Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; . . . For I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
Resources cited in this issue
RR: White, R.E.O. Evangelical Commentary on the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1995.
Cit. 2: Buttrick, George Arthur, Nolan B. Harmon, et al., eds. The Interpreter’s Bible: A Commentary in Twelve Volumes. Vol. 1, General and Old Testament Articles, Genesis, Exodus. Nashville: Abingdon, 1951–57.
Cit. 9: Radmacher, Earl D., Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House. The NKJV Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007.
Cit. 13: Barclay, William. The Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Luke. Edinburgh: Saint Andrew, 1955. Revised and updated by Saint Andrew, 2001. Reprinted as The New Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Luke. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2001–04; Arnold, Clinton E. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002.
COPYRIGHT
Scriptural quotations marked New Century Version® are taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scriptural quotations marked Christian Standard Bible® are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Scriptural quotations marked New International Reader’s Version™ are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version™, NIrV™. Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scriptural quotations marked Good News Translation are taken from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version—Second Edition, copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
Scriptural quotations marked International Children’s Bible® are taken from the International Children’s Bible®. Copyright © 1986, 1988, 1999 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scriptural quotations marked New Living Translation are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
© 2024 The Christian Science Publishing Society. The design of the Cross and Crown is a trademark owned by the Christian Science Board of Directors and is used by permission. Bible Lens and Christian Science Quarterly are trademarks owned by The Christian Science Publishing Society. Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptural quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
