Grade 11 Unit 1

Grade 11
Unit 1

BIBLE 1101
THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD

CONTENTS

I. THE AFFIRMATION OF GOD’S
FAITHFULNESS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2
The Declaration of God as to
His Own Faithfulness • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2
The Declaration of Man as to
God’s Faithfulness • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 5

II. THE NATURE OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS • • • • • • • 11
The Characteristics of God’s Faithfulness • • • • • • 12
The Contrasts of God’s Faithfulness • • • • • • • • • • 14

III. THE MANIFESTATIONS OF GOD’S
FAITHFULNESS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 18
The Providence of the Faithful Creator • • • • • • • • 19
The Message of the Faithful Witness • • • • • • • • • 21
The Work of the Faithful High Priest • • • • • • • • • • 23

IV. THE IMPLICATIONS OF GOD’S
FAITHFULNESS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 28
The Necessity of Faith • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 29
The Responsibilities of Faithfulness • • • • • • • • • • 31

GLOSSARY • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 36

Author: Eugene Hovda, M.S.
Editor: Alan Christopherson, M.S.
Graphic Design: Alpha Omega Staff

804 N. 2nd Ave. E., Rock Rapids, IA 51246-1759
© MCMXCVIII by Alpha Omega Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
LIFEPAC is a registered trademark of Alpha Omega Publications, Inc.

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tion to any companies whose trademarks may be listed in this material, other than their own.

THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD

Faithfulness is one of God’s attributes. Other In the light of what you will learn in this
attributes of God that you have studied or will LIFEPAC, the ever-changing scene can testify to
study are love, mercy, grace, justice, immutabili- the unchangeableness of our God. The monotonous
ty, eternality, holiness, and goodness. Attributes routine of life can be changed into an exciting
are those things that are essential to, or character- adventure into God’s faithful plan and purpose.
istic of, a person or thing. The Bible teaches us by God’s faithfulness can heal the wounds caused by
statements about God and by records of what God the fickleness of friends. You will learn that
has done that God is a loving God, a merciful God, although people often fail you, Jesus never will.
a just God, an unchangeable God. The Bible teach-
es that God has always existed and will always be. When you learn of God’s faithfulness you will
It teaches that He is perfect in holiness and good- more fully understand why He requires faithful-
ness. You have studied most of these attributes. ness of you. Your faithfulness is needed to intro-
The study of this LIFEPAC® is the biblical teach- duce an unfaithful world to a faithful God. Your
ing about God’s faithfulness. stability and confidence should shine as a light in
a dark place.
The knowledge of and belief in the faithfulness
of God as declared in Scripture can develop in you If you really learn God’s faithfulness—if you
a firm conviction of God’s credibility. accept it with your heart as well as your head—His
Word will be your handbook. You will start to count
If the study of this LIFEPAC convinces you of on Him—on His love for you and on His provision
God’s truthfulness and His trustworthiness, you for all of your needs. You will also let Him make
can benefit in many ways. Honest doubts can be you faithful to Him. All of these benefits and more
removed. God can begin to speak His Word to you are yours if you will allow the God Who is faithful
with authority. You can pray with confidence. to teach you.
Worship can become a genuine and personal
expression. Your service can be marked with readi-
ness and boldness.

OBJECTIVES

Read these objectives. The objectives tell you what you will be able to do when you have success-
fully completed this LIFEPAC. Each section will list according to the numbers below what objectives
will be met in that section.

When you have finished this LIFEPAC, you should be able to:
1. Write from memory Scripture verses relative to the faithfulness of God.
2. Illustrate the faithfulness of God from biblical history.
3. Describe the characteristics of God’s faithfulness.
4. Contrast the uniqueness of God’s faithfulness with the faithfulness of others.
5. Enumerate the manifestations of God’s faithfulness.
6. List and explain some of the implications of God’s faithfulness.
7. Relate God’s faithfulness to our stewardship.

Survey the LIFEPAC. Ask yourself some questions about this study. Write your questions here.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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I. THE AFFIRMATION OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

In His Word God asserts His faithfulness. He the Bible records many witnesses of man to the
states repeatedly that He can be trusted to take faithfulness of God. God constantly cares for His
care of His people. The record of what He has done people in normal experiences and in stressful expe-
for His people affirms the truth of what He says. In riences.
addition to these testimonies from the divine side,

§ Read Psalm 89; Psalm 136; Psalm 23; and Job 1–2, 13 and 40–42.

SECTION OBJECTIVES

Review these objectives. When you have completed this section, you should be able to:
1. Write from memory Scripture verses relative to the faithfulness of God.
2. Illustrate the faithfulness of God from biblical history.

VOCABULARY

Study these words to enhance your learning success in this section.

attribute covenant people immutability witness

Note: All vocabulary words in this LIFEPAC appear in boldface print the first time they are used. If you are unsure of the
meaning when you are reading, study the definitions given.

THE DECLARATION OF GOD
AS TO HIS OWN FAITHFULNESS

God is a self-revealing God. We could know are in agreement and complement each other.
nothing of God if this statement were not true. God Together they give us a more complete revelation
has used various ways to reveal Himself. Two of of God’s faithfulness. God makes a claim to faith-
these ways are His Word (what He has said) and fulness; His works support His claim.
His work (what He has done). These two witnesses

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The testimony of God’s Word. God declares Isaac God said (Genesis 26:3), “…I will perform the
in His Word that He is faithful. Psalm 89 is a dia- oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father.”
logue between the writer of the psalm and God. When God gave Jacob the dream about the ladder
Verses nineteen to thirty-seven record the words of that reached from earth to heaven (Genesis
the Lord concerning His promises and plans for 28:12–15), the Lord stood above it and said, “…
David, His anointed servant. In this declaration, Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all
the Lord God makes clear that all of the plans and places whither thou goest, and will bring thee
promises are guaranteed by His faithfulness. In again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until
addition to the term faithfulness, such words and I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”
phrases as “establish,” “for evermore,” “stand fast,” The writer of the letter to the Hebrews, probably
“to endure,” “not…fail,” “not break,” “nor alter,” and referring to what God said to Jacob, states
“not lie” are used by God. (Hebrews 13:5) “ … for He hath said, I will never
leave thee, nor forsake thee.” In the passage given,
In other places in the Bible, commands or as well as in others, God clearly states in His own
promises spoken directly by God to a man or men words that faithfulness is an essential element of
are accompanied by such expressions as (Joshua His character.
1:5 “ … I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.” To

ª Write these verses.

1.1 Read Psalm 89:19–37 and list by number the verses in which the term “my faithfulness” is
found. Write out the statement that God made in each instance.

a. ______________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________

ª Match the words or phrases to the verse in Psalm 89 in which they are found. Write
the letter on the line.
1.2
1.3 _______ vs. 2 a. made a covenant
_______ vs. 3 b. my covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of
1.4
1.5 _______ vs. 3 my lips
1.6 _______ vs. 4 c. I will not lie unto David
1.7 _______ vs. 28 d. establish
1.8 _______ vs. 28 e. mercy will I keep forever more
_______ vs. 29 f. will I make to endure forever
1.9 g. my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my
1.10 _______ vs. 33
1.11 _______ vs. 34 faithfulness to fail
_______ vs. 35 h. have sworn
ª i. to all generations
j. my covenant shall stand fast
1.12
Write the definition.
ª
Using a Bible dictionary or a Bible encyclopedia, write a definition of God’s faithfulness.
1.13 ________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer these questions.

What did God promise Joshua? _______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________

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1.21 Read Psalm 136:4–9, and list five works of creation that are recorded there.
a. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
1.22 b. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
c. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
ª d. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
e. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
1.23
1.24 Read Psalm 136:10–24, and enumerate the preserving and establishing work of God relative
1.25 to Israel. Look for the phrase “to him that” or “to him which” as indicators. Write the phrases
here.
ª
a. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
1.26 b. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
1.27 c. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
d. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer these questions.

What verse in the book of Matthew gives a promise of the preservation of God’s Church?
Give the reference and write the promise. ____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does Isaiah 55:11 say? Write it in your own words. ____________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are the five areas in which God’s preserving faithfulness may be seen?

a. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
b. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
c. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
d. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
e. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Memorize these verses.

Memorize Matthew 16:18.

Memorize Isaiah 55:11.

Adult check ______________________

Initial Date

THE DECLARATION OF MAN
AS TO GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

In Psalms 89 and 136, the psalmist has testified addition, man testifies to God’s faithfulness in
to God’s faithfulness, primarily from the viewpoint times of special testing and trials (man’s unusual
of revelation and history. Man also bears witness to and stressful experiences). Man under pressure
God’s faithfulness to him personally and intimately continues to testify of God’s faithfulness. Job 42
through life’s normal, common, and universal expe- records such a testimony.
riences. We read such a witness in Psalm 23. In

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The testimony of man’s normal experi- The Good Shepherd
ence. Psalm 23 is probably the best known, most
loved, and most frequently memorized of the
psalms. The mental picture it paints of the shep-
herd’s care is tender and beautiful; but its univer-
sal appeal lies in the fact that David, the writer,
saw himself as the sheep; and readers can identify
with this concept. Even readers with no experience
of the pastoral life can quickly put themselves into
the picture.

Other passages of Scripture picture God’s faith-
ful care of men with other metaphors; but the sim-
ple, comprehensive recital that David gave in Psalm
23 covers all normal life experiences. The state-
ments of Psalm 23 cover man’s needs in every area
of his life—waking, sleeping, food gathering (mak-
ing a living), relaxation of body, restoration of spiri-
tual well-being, safety, moral and mental strength,
comfort in the experience of death, and certainty of
life everlasting with the Good Shepherd Himself.
Anyone who has trusted the Good Shepherd, the
Lord Jesus Christ, to become his Savior and
Shepherd can have David’s experience.

ª Read Psalm 23 carefully, noting its structure. Then complete the activities.

1.28 Identify by verse(s) the sections of the psalm that present the following concepts.
1.29 a. The statement of relationship and assurance _______________________________________________
b. The reasons why the Shepherd’s care is adequate (These reasons are written in the third
1.30
person.) __________________________________________________________________________
c. Additional reasons for assurance (These reasons are written in the second person.) _____

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
d. Future certainties based on the Lord’s faithfulness ________________________________________

Write a brief paragraph of assurance relative to each of the following italicized emphases.
a. The LORD is my shepherd. _______________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
b. The LORD is my shepherd.________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
c. The LORD is my shepherd.________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
In your own words, explain the statement, “I shall not want.” ________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

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ª Put these statements in the sequence in which the concept is found in Psalm 23.
Write the letter on the line.
1.31
1.32 ______ a. His presence is with me in the valley of the shadow of death.
1.33 ______ b. He makes me lie down in green pastures.
1.34 ______ c. He comforts me with His rod and staff.
1.35 ______ d. He makes my cup run over.
1.36 ______ e. He restores my soul.
1.37 ______ f. He leads me beside still waters.
1.38 ______ g. He leads me in the paths of righteousness.
1.39 ______ h. He prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies.
______ i. He anoints my head with oil.

ª Answer these questions.

1.40 When the sheep know their Shepherd, what hope do they have which is based on His faith-
fulness? (See verse 6)
1.41 a. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Can you testify to the following statements from Psalm 23 based on God’s faithfulness to you?
If so, give scriptural reasons for your confidence.
a. I shall not want. ___________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
b. I will fear no evil. __________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
c. I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. _____________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

ª Memorize this verse.
Memorize Psalm 23:1–6.
1.42

Teacher check ______________________

Initial Date

The testimony of man’s stressful experi- After all the unwise pressure and counsel of his
ences. Sometimes under pressure the believer three friends had taken its toll, God spoke (Job
doesn’t see God through his new eyes but just as an 40–41) in faithfulness to Job; and Job saw things
unbeliever sees. This was not the case with Job. Job he had never before seen and realized he had spo-
knew God’s faithfulness was not in jeopardy when ken without understanding (Job 42). Through all of
God allowed Satan to take away what God had Job’s stressful experiences, he found God faithful.
given to him. Job’s first recorded words testify to
this: (Job 1:21) “ … Naked came I out of my moth- The example of Job is not popular in an era
er’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the when the emphasis is on “the good life,” having fun
LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; and being happy. In the Bible the same original
blessed be the name of the LORD.” Even after the word is sometimes translated happy and some-
second encounter Job had insight enough to rebuke times translated blessed. If to be blessed by God is
his wife and declare God’s unchanging faithfulness to be happy, we can understand why believers can
(Job 2:10): “…What? shall we receive good at the be happy under the most stressful circumstances.
hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?...” James wrote (James 5:11), “Behold, we count them
happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience

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1.45 Read Psalm 119:73–80.
a. Which statement in this section gives a good explanation of Job’s experience?
ª _________________________________________________________________________________________________

1.46 b. What follows affliction in the experience of a believer?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Memorize this verse.

Memorize James 5:11.

Adult check ______________________

Initial Date

§ Review the material in this section in preparation for the Self Test. The Self Test will check
your mastery of this particular section. The items missed on this Self Test will indicate spe-
cific areas where restudy is needed for mastery.

SELF TEST 1

Write true or false on the line in front of each statement (each answer, 2 points).

1.01 ______ God has revealed His faithfulness through His work.
1.02 ______ Faithfulness is an attribute of God.
1.03 ______ God made a covenant with Abraham but not with David.
1.04 ______ God cares for His people in stressful circumstances.
1.05 ______ In normal circumstances, man alone is responsible for his well-being.
1.06 ______ God has used various ways to reveal Himself.
1.07 ______ God said, “I will perform the oath which I swore unto Abraham thy father.”
1.08 ______ “For his mercy endureth forever” is a refrain of Psalm 136.
1.09 ______ The history of Israel’s journey through the wilderness is a testimony to God’s faith-
fulness.
1.010 ______ The history of Israel’s victories over the kings that came against Israel is only a tes-
timony to Israel’s courage.
1.011 ______ The Shepherd Psalm is Psalm 89.

Answer this question (each item, 2 points).

1.012 What three “I will” or “I shall” statements can the LORD’s sheep make when he knows the
Shepherd?

a. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
b. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
c. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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1.032 James 5:11 ____________________________________________________________________________
1.033 _________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Joshua 1:5–6 __________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

70 Score ______________________
88
Adult check ______________________

Initial Date

II. THE NATURE OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

God’s faithfulness is unique. He is faithful in a be true to His Word. Because God’s faithfulness is
way no other one is capable. The clearest picture of unique, the quality of it is difficult for human
His faithfulness comes through the revelation of beings to understand. We have nothing with which
Scripture. We know what His faithfulness is like to compare it. However, God’s Word both describes
because He has told us, and we have found Him to it and contrasts it with the faithfulness of others.

§ Read Hebrews 6:13–20; Genesis 9:8–17; Isaiah 40:18–31; and 1 Kings 18.

SECTION OBJECTIVES

Review these objectives. When you have completed this section, you should be able to:
1. Write from memory Scripture verses relative to the faithfulness of God.
3. Describe the characteristics of God’s faithfulness.
4. Contrast the uniqueness of God’s faithfulness with the faithfulness of others.

VOCABULARY

Baal idolatry omnipotence omniscience

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