Scriptures for Sunday School (Uniform Series) – March 16
King David spoke of the resurrection of Christ long before Christ was born. This point is well supported by the scriptures for this Sunday’s lesson. I’m writing and recording this on the fly and plan to add a few comments along through the week as I reflect on these scriptures. I encourage those who are preparing Sunday school lessons to share insights in the comments below for other Sunday school teachers. I would also appreciate suggestions on how I can make these blog posts more helpful.
I hope the recordings are helpful. I find I get more out of the scriptures by reading them aloud with expression. As I read and re-read them to get better and more appropriate expression in my voice, I am able to understand the scripture better. I am ADHD, and for me, this process helps me to focus. I also believe I would get more out of the scripture the first time through if I were able to listen to an expressive reader as I followed along with the text.
My comments will not be extensive. To me it seems a bit arrogant to think I can add all that much to God’s word with my comments. These scriptures should be the heart of our Sunday school lessons. Any comment should serve the purpose of explaining passages that may be confusing in our culture.
Psalm 110
1 The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.”
2 The Lord will extend your powerful kingdom from Jerusalem[a];
you will rule over your enemies.
3 When you go to war,
your people will serve you willingly.
You are arrayed in holy garments,
and your strength will be renewed each day like the morning dew.
4 The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow:
“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
5 The Lord stands at your right hand to protect you.
He will strike down many kings when his anger erupts.
6 He will punish the nations
and fill their lands with corpses;
he will shatter heads over the whole earth.
7 But he himself will be refreshed from brooks along the way.
He will be victorious.
–Psalm 110 (NLT)
22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene[a] by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. 25 King David said this about him:
‘I see that the Lordis always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
26 No wonder my heart is glad,
and my tongue shouts his praises!
My body rests in hope.
27 For you will not leave my soul among the dead[b]
or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.
28 You have shown me the way of life,
and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’[c]
29 “Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. 30 But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. 31 David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.
32 “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. 34 For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
35 until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.”’[d]
36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
–Acts 2:22-36 (NLT)