Friday: Further Thought – ‘Ultimate Loyalty: Worship in a War Zone’
Daily Lesson for Friday 14th of November 2025
Read Ellen G. White, “The Blessings and the Curses,” Pages 499–503, in Patriarchs and Prophets.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
“According to the directions given by Moses, a monument of great stones was erected upon Mount Ebal. Upon these stones, previously prepared by a covering of plaster, the law was inscribed—not only the ten precepts spoken from Sinai and engraved on the tables of stone, but the laws communicated to Moses, and by him written in a book. Beside this monument was built an altar of unhewn stone, upon which sacrifices were offered unto the Lord. The fact that the altar was set up on Mount Ebal, the mountain upon which the curse was put, was significant, denoting that because of their transgressions of God’s law, Israel had justly incurred His wrath, and that it would be at once visited, but for the atonement of Christ, represented by the altar of sacrifice.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 500.
“But the Communion service was not to be a season of sorrowing. This was not its purpose. As the Lord’s disciples gather about His table, they are not to remember and lament their shortcomings. They are not to dwell upon their past religious experience, whether that experience has been elevating or depressing. They are not to recall the differences between them and their brethren. The preparatory service has embraced all this. The self-examination, the confession of sin, the reconciling of differences, has all been done. Now they come to meet with Christ. They are not to stand in the shadow of the cross, but in its saving light. They are to open the soul to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 659.
Discussion Questions
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In the world of Rugby Union Football, the New Zealand All Blacks are the kings. They win the World Cup so often, it should be named after them. If the All Black lose a game they have a National Day of Mourning in New Zealand. That does not happen very often. One of the features of their playing is that before each game they do the Haka. This is a Māori war dance that has to be seen to be believed. (look up All Black Haka on YouTube if you want to experience a performance.) The Haka has been considered as a very important part of the bonding between players.
On the field, when an All Black player throws a ball there is always a team mate to catch it. If they kick a ball, they already have a plan for regaining possession. They are not just players in a team; they work like a machine, each part working with precision and in unison with all the other parts. The secret of their success in their bonding with one another and part of the bonding is in the performance of the Haka.
In a sense, what have been reading about this week is the effort that went into the bonding of a rag-tag bunch of slaves into a national unit for the conquest of Canaan. The Exodus story is not about a group of people with a purpose. And it took about 40 years to give them a purpose. Part of the preparation was spiritual development; experiences that brought them closer to God, And in that process they were brought closer to one another. If I read the big picture ideas that were the subject of our study this week, much of it was about the importance of a relationship with God in the bonding process so the Israelites could work together for their common good.
In applying it to modern day Seventh-day Adventists, we should ask the question: Are we working together as Team-Adventist? And if we are not, what shared experiences should we adopt to ensure this happens. If we want to understand the growth of the early Christian Church, read the book of Acts and count how many times the phrase “One Accord” is used to describe the church members. We are indiviuala but we must work together in a team. The bonding glue is the love of Jesus.
Well said Maurice
Joshua teaches that God wants His people to worship because worship keeps us dependent and attentive. When Israel failed to seek the Lord, they relied on their own judgment—and found themselves bound by a covenant they didn’t intend to make. Worship prevents this drift. It re-centers our hearts on God as Commander and teaches us to listen before we act, just as He taught Joshua in earlier victories. In warfare—whether against walls like Jericho, armies like Ai, or lies like Gibeon—God desires worship because it invites His wisdom into every decision (Proverbs 3:5–6). Worship aligns us with His leadership so that we are not only victorious in open battles but also discerning in hidden ones.
In every war zone of life, visible or invisible, worship keeps us under God’s direction and within His protection. Israel entered a zone of war not one of swords and walls, but of deception and spiritual discernment. The Gibeonites tricked Joshua by pretending to be travelers from a distant land, and Scripture highlights the root cause of Israel’s mistake: “The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord” (Joshua 9:14). This moment shows why worship and surrender, listening, and seeking God’s voice—is essential not only when the enemy is visible but also when the battle is subtle. Just as worship positions our hearts to hear God in moments of physical warfare, it also protects us in spiritual and relational battles. Worship reminds us that we must continually come before God, acknowledge His authority, and wait for His guidance before making decisions. In worship we say what Joshua had said earlier: “What message does my Lord have for His servant?” (Joshua 5:14). This posture would have shielded Israel from deception.
The meaning of our religion should be Christ. He is the bridge between us and God. Christ is the link that was severed by Eve when she chose curiosity, followed by Adam. Christ can bind what separates the creatures from their Creator.
As Adventists, the belief that Jesus is ministering for us in the heavenly sanctuary is a powerful source of hope. It reminds us that our salvation rests not on our weakness but on His perfect righteousness. Jesus intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25), meaning He represents us before the Father with His own merit. This gives us confidence instead of fear, because the judgment is carried out by the very One who died to save us.
Knowing that Christ is working for us in this antitypical Day of Atonement assures us that sin is being dealt with, that forgiveness is real, and that victory is possible. His work shows that heaven is not searching for reasons to condemn us but working to secure our salvation. This truth strengthens our faith, anchors us in difficult times, and gives us hope as we prepare for His soon return.
As Adventists, we cherish a powerful truth: Jesus is ministering for us right now in the heavenly sanctuary. This isn’t just doctrine—it’s the source of our daily hope and strength. Knowing that Jesus is interceding for us (Heb. 7:25) is especially good news as we live in the antitypical Day of Atonement.
Jesus understands us perfectly because He was “tempted in all points” like we are (Heb. 4:15). When we approach God, we meet not a distant ruler but a compassionate High Priest who welcomes us to receive mercy and grace (Heb. 4:16). And because He “ever lives to make intercession,” His saving work is constant and unfailing, securing our relationship with God.
In this judgment hour, we have nothing to fear because the One leading the judgment is the same One who died for us. Our Judge is our Advocate. He stands against every accusation, presenting His own perfect righteousness on our behalf, desiring to save us “to the uttermost.”
Christ’s work in the Most Holy Place is the final phase of His plan to remove sin forever. It’s the last step before He returns to take us home. Our salvation rests safely in His hands—and because those hands bear the marks of the cross, we can trust His love and His power completely
What does it mean in plan simple English that Jesus intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25), meaning He represents us before the Father with His own merit?
In simple terms, Jesus interceding for us means He stands before God on our behalf. Instead of God seeing our failures, He sees Jesus’ perfect life and sacrifice covering us. Jesus represents us with His own goodness, not ours, so we can be accepted, forgiven, and helped every day.
Here is the process in simple, clear steps:
1. We come to God with weaknesses and sins. On our own, we don’t have the righteousness needed to stand before a holy God.
2. Jesus presents His perfect life and sacrifice in our place. Instead of relying on our goodness, He offers His own perfect obedience and His death for our sins.
3. He speaks for us before the Father. This doesn’t mean convincing God to love us—God already loves us. It means Jesus acts as our representative, bringing our prayers, needs, and repentance before God with His own merit attached.
4. God accepts us because of Jesus. The Father receives us, forgives us, and treats us as righteous—not because we deserve it, but because Jesus covers us with what He has done.
5. We receive help, mercy, and strength. Because Jesus intercedes, we can confidently come to God, knowing He listens, cares, and provides everything we need for salvation and daily living.
In short: We come with our need → Jesus steps in for us → He offers His merit → God accepts and helps us.
I am very glad to read Ellen G. White’s quote in this ‘Further Thoughts’ lesson: “ They are not to stand in the shadow of the cross, but in its saving light. They are to open the soul to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness.” 2 Cor.5:17.
After the children of Israel left Egypt, they were not to look back and dwell or recall their old life in Egypt; wondering ‘what if’, or, 'what could have been’. Their lives were to begin anew in the promises God had in store for His children - Isaiah 43:18-19.
I consider Jesus’ time with His disciples at the Passover feast to convey another ‘New Beginning’. He admonished His disciples for the last time to leave the ‘old’ and the ‘wrongs’ behind, and embrace the ‘Good News’ as their new way forward in faith and confidence that God would fulfill His promises 2 Cor.1:20.
Jesus commissioned them to “go into the world to preach and teach His Good News’, not His suffering on the cross. 'Heavenly Light' is the legacy of our Lord Christ Jesus ‘to enable all to walk in the Light of the Newness of Life' - Mark 16:15.
Its path are the unfolding promises of God. We do not look back, we look forward to fully engage in this new life, trusting that it unfolds according to the Will of God’s great Work toward our Salvation – Rom.8:28..