FOS 12 Gentleness (and the end of Faithfulness)

Psalm 86:15 ESV - 15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

God’s steadfast love and faithfulness are mentioned numerous times in Old Testament scriptures.  

The original Hebrew word used here for faithfulness is: ʼemeth, eh'-meth; contracted from H539; stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness:—assured(-ly), establishment, faithful, right, sure, true (-ly, -th), verity.¹

Another word used in the Old Testament for faithfulness is: ʼĕmûwnâh, em-oo-naw'; or (shortened) אֱמֻנָה ʼĕmunâh; feminine of H529; literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity:—faith(-ful, -ly, -ness, (man)), set office, stability, steady, truly, truth, verily.²

Review from the last lesson:

2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV - But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

Psalm 111:7 ESV - The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy;

Psalm 145:13 ESV -  Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.

In the three preceeding verses …

1. In what ways is the Lord faithful? He helps us in the battle against Satan. He is trustworthy and just. We can have confidence in his words and work, especially confidence that His kingdom will last forever.
2. In Psalm 111, what do we learn God’s works are, besides faithfulness?  How can those two work together with what you know of God? Just and trustworthy. We can trust that He will do what is right. We may not see those who are against Him being punished, but they will not escape His judgement in the last days. (All the more reason to tell others about Jesus)
3. In the above verses, how does His faithfulness help or affect believers? How has it affected you? For me it gives confidence when life gets hard. I know that if I am following His laws as best I can, and seeking His will over mine, then He will be faithful to accomplish what is needed in my life and through my life. His faithfulness also means that though I may fail, He does not and does not break His promises.

1 Samuel 2:35 ESV - 35 And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.

Numbers 12:7 ESV - 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house.

Hebrews 3:5-6 ESV - 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

The three passages above all work together to teach about the most important instance of God’s faithfulness. Again, be sure to read the complete passages, not just what I quoted.

1. In the 1 Samuel 2 passage, begin your reading in verse 27 to understand what God was angry about. What was God’s issue with Eli and his sons? What was their special calling? They were priests and instead of serving God by pointing others to Him, they were using their God given authority to take advantage of people. Not only were they harming the people physically and monetarily, but they were destroying the people’s faith in God by misrepresenting Him. Who do you think God refers to when He says He will raise up a faithful priest? Jesus!
2. Read the full 16 verse chapter of Numbers. Aaron and Miriam were Moses biological siblings (You may recall that he only lived his first few years with them before being raised by Pharaoh’s daughter. Also keep in mind that this is after God has brought all of Israel out of Egypt by the 10 plagues which He spoke through Moses with Aaron being his assistant. ). What things does God say about Moses’ character? The scripture says he was the meekest man on earth, and God says he is faithful in all my house. What example of that does Moses show in verse 13? He asked God to heal his sister even though she had been spiteful to him. He shows repeatedly that he cares about the people of God and about what they think of God. Throughout Exodus we see that Moses faithfully intercedes for Isreal when they sin against God. Even when God threatened to destroy all of Israel and accomplish His promises through Moses alone, Moses urges God to spare them.
3. The Hebrews passage quotes the Numbers passage and expands on it. Read verses 1-6. Who are the 2 people being compared and contrasted? Jesus and Moses. In what ways are they similar and different? Jesus is the Son of God but Moses is only a servant. Both were given responsibility over God’s people. Both cared/care greatly for God’s people. What do you think this is teaching us about Christ? Though Moses showed great concern for the welfare of God’s people, Jesus as a son bears the full burden of caring for them because God’s people ultimately belong to Him. Jesus also paid the ultimate sacrifice. I think of my husband’s office. He is the owner and though he has amazing employees who do much for the success of the office, ultimately He is responsible for the things that happen to it. Financially he/we will bear the burden if it succeeds or fails and through the years he has made many sacrifices when problems have arisen—sacrifices he would not expect those who don’t own the practice to make. Even more costly than the sacrifices my husband makes, Jesus sacrificed His life for His people.

Salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice of His life is the most important way God is faithful to mankind. He was faithful to the promise He made in Genesis 3:15 ESV - I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." This is the death blow to Satan. Satan’s power was destroyed when Jesus died on the cross and rose again and it will be completed on the last day. God is faithful.

Proverbs 14:5 ESV - A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.

Proverbs 28:20 ESV - A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

Isaiah 25:1 ESV - O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

What do you learn about faithfulness in the above verses? A faithful person doesn’t lie and will abound with blessings. I will note here that the blessings of God are not to be confused with prosperity, perfect health, and the other things commonly considered earthly blessings. God’s blessings may include some of these things, but His real blessings are those of an eternal nature. Matthew 6:20 ESV - but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

How has God been faithful in your life? In my own life it began with Him placing me through adoption in a home with a mother who loved the Lord (my dad didn’t become a Christian until I was in college) and a father who encouraged her to take us to church and participate in church activities even when he had no personal interest. My mom pursued God, studied her Bible, and encouraged me and my siblings to follow the Lord. We were later enrolled in an amazing Christian school that steeped us in the Word of God. Even through the years I can see times that I made questionable choices and God protected me and gave me opportunities to grow closer to Him. What about you? I would love to hear some of your story of God’s faithfulness.

More about faithfulness in scripture:

Matthew 24:45 ESV - "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?

Matthew 25:21, 23 ESV - His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' ... 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

Acts 11:23 ESV - When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,

1 Corinthians 1:9 ESV - God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV - 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Hebrews 10:23 ESV - Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

1 John 1:9 ESV - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Revelation 2:10 ESV - Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Revelation 17:14 ESV - They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful."

Revelation 19:11 ESV - Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

Praise God for His faithfulness and the truths of the Revolation verses! Consider how you can reflect God’s faithfulness to a world that is filled with broken promises and unsure of what tomorrow holds. Let us be people who keep our word and offer stability. 

When you doubt those promises, remember God hasn’t left us to languish on our own. He has given us a deposit, a down payment of what’s to come—the Holy Spirit. It is He who will help you as you push back against temptations and seek to glorify God.

Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

2 Corinthians 5:4-5 ESV - For while we are still in this tent (our pre-revelation body), we groan, being burdened--not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

God’s faithfulness gives me the confidence to lay down my earthly desires, listen to Him, and follow His plan for me. From the faithfulness He has shown me personally and from what I have seen of His faithfulness in the lives of those I know and people in the Bible and from the past, I know He keeps His promises.

¹ ”H571 - 'ĕmeṯ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (esv)." Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 2 Apr, 2025. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h571/esv/wlc/0-1/

² "H530 - 'ĕmûnâ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (esv)." Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 2 Apr, 2025. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h530/esv/wlc/0-1/

Gentleness:

Psalm 18:35 ESV - You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.

What does it mean to be gentle and have the fruit of gentleness? Does it mean that we never say or do anything against anyone? Does it mean we give in even when wrong is done in the name of gentleness? As with all of the other fruit of the Spirit, lets look at how God portrays gentleness. The passage below comes before the verse above. You may want to read all of the chapter to get a better understanding of how God acted in David’s situation.  Verse 1 explains that this is written when God spared David from the hand of Saul and David’s other enemies.

Psalm 18:12-15 ESV - Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. 13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. 14 And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them. 15 Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

The verses above depict a strong and decisive God who stands up to the foes of His people, while verse 35 calls God gentle. Let’s take a closer look to what we find out about gentleness in God’s word.

Homework:

2 Corinthians 10:1-6 ESV - I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!-- 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

1. In the above scripture, what are the two situations that Paul communicates with the Corinthians and what does he do differently in those situations?
2. Which situation is he in as he writes the letter with meekness and gentleness?
3. Consider that warfare is mentioned in the passage and what that means for us? What types of situations is this warfare part of in these verses?

Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV - I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

1. In the Ephesians passage, what character qualities are grouped with gentleness?
2. Who are Christians being called to be gentle towards? Why?

1 Timothy 6:10-12 ESV - For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

From the Timothy verses:

1. What are we to pursue?
2. What are we to flee?
3. Once more the term “fight” is used. How do we fight the good fight of the faith? (This isn’t explained in this scripture, but based on your knowledge what would you say?)

2 Timothy 2:23-26 ESV - Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

1. What breeds quarrels?
2. How do we avoid or redirect quarrels?
3. What is our hope that will result from our acting differently?

1 Peter 3:15-17 ESV - but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

1. What do you learn about how to witness and share the gospel in 1 Peter 3?
2. What will happen to those who revile you and what do you think that means?