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COLLECTIONS
Commentaries,
Word Studies, Devotionals, Sermons, Illustrations
Old and New Testament. |
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Deuteronomy
Devotional Commentary
Compiled from Today in the
Word - Moody Bible Institute
Also includes Our Homily Daily - F B Meyer
(Copyright
Moody Bible Institute. Used by permission. All rights reserved) |
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Read: Deuteronomy 1:1-4
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul. - Psalm 19:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
The book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament is said to follow the form of
an ancient Near Eastern treaty between nations--that is, between one
superior nation and one subject nation. These treaties, or covenants,
included a proclamation of the suzerain’s (king’s) power to make the
treaty; a review of events leading to it; promises and obligations on both
sides; and blessings for those who follow the covenant and curses for
those who break it.
God used this ancient literary form
to convey His truth to the ancient Israelites because it was a form they
understood. As we spend this month examining this important Old Testament
book, we, too, will become familiar with this treaty format.
As Deuteronomy opens, the Israelites had reached the end of forty years of
wandering and were poised to enter the Promised Land. Before they did,
though, Moses had some final exhortations. So while the literary form of
Deuteronomy resembles a suzerain-vassal treaty, the book is also built
around a series of sermons: “These are the words Moses spoke to all
Israel” (v. 1). We’ll signal these addresses as we go along. Deuteronomy
is the key to the theology of the Pentateuch and indeed to all of
Scripture--the book is quoted or alluded to nearly one hundred times in
the New Testament. Its main purpose was to renew the covenant between God
and Israel and to highlight major themes of His Law. These exhortations
would refresh the Israelites’ commitment to the Lord and prepare them
spiritually for the conquest.
The book’s themes include God’s election, obedience, love, worship, and
faith. The main content flows from Israel’s identity as the people of God.
Because He had chosen them, there were certain standards for their
behavior and worship. By obeying, they would remain in a right
relationship with Him, receive His blessing, and bring glory to His name.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Commentaries and other study resources can be very helpful tools,
especially when encountering people, places, and customs so distant from
our own lives. As we launch into our study of Deuteronomy, consider
purchasing a book such as the IVP Bible Background Commentary:
Genesis–Deuteronomy, by John H. Walton and Victor H. Matthews
(InterVarsity Press, 1997). It will prove to be a valuable asset in
answering questions concerning the culture, chronology, and geography of
the book of Deuteronomy. |
Deuteronomy 1:31
Our Daily Homily
F B MeyerA SAFE carriage
was that! In His love and in His pity God redeemed them, and bare them,
and carried them all the days of old. When the little lad was tired and
complained of his head, his father bade a servant carry him to his mother;
but God does not hand over His children to His servants, He carries them
Himself. When we realize that His everlasting arms are underneath, it is
safer riding than any the ingenuity of man can devise; and here we need
fear no ill.
"In all the way."--There are great
varieties in the way--sometimes the sleepers are badly laid, and the
carriage rocks and jolts; sometimes the gradient is steep, and the
progress tedious; sometimes the pilgrim has to go afoot, climbing with
difficulty from ridge to ridge; sometimes the route lies through a
territory infested with enemies, and haunted by miasma; but we can each
rejoice in the fact that the Lord "knoweth the way that I take," and that
all the way, those gentle and unwearied arms bear us up and on.
"All the days."--Never a day without
its cross, its lesson, its discipline, its peril; but never a day that God
does not bear us up in His hands, as some mighty river bears up the boat
of the missionary explorer. Through wilds, past villages of infuriated
savages, over reefs and rocks, the patient river bears the voyager and his
goods. Thus does God carry us. The Good Shepherd carries the lambs in His
bosom. Why, then, should we dread the future, or quail before the faces of
our foes? "The eternal God is thy refuge; and underneath are the
everlasting arms." So strong: so tender! Let yourself go, and trust. |
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Read: Deuteronomy 1:5-2:23
These forty years the Lord your God has
been with you, and you have not lacked anything. - Deuteronomy 2:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
James Armistead, an enslaved man, was a key spy during the Revolutionary
War. The English had offered freedom to any slave who joined them, and on
this basis Armistead pretended to feed information to British General
Cornwallis. But he was actually a double agent, risking his life many
times to bring valuable intelligence to French General Lafayette, fighting
on the colonists’ side.
Lafayette commended Armistead as
worthy of “every reward his situation could admit of,” and on his part
Armistead admired Lafayette so much that he added the general’s name to
his own. For his service during the war, he was emancipated by the state
of Virginia and later given a veteran’s pension.
Today’s reading has another good spy story, albeit one with an unhappy
ending. This is the start of Moses’ first sermon, in which he expounded on
Israel’s recent history to remind the people of the things God had done
for them and to set the context for the renewed covenant. The Hebrew word
translated “expound” means “to make clear, distinct, or plain” (1:5).
One thing Moses clarified for the Israelites was that this was their
second chance. Forty years before, the nation had been on the verge of
entering the Promised Land, until ten out of twelve spies brought a
fearful report (see Num. 13–14). Israel rebelled against God’s
instructions, and that generation failed to enter the land.
Another point that Moses stressed was the faithfulness of God. He built
Israel into a great nation, just as He promised Abraham (1:10). He
liberated them from Egypt. And despite their disobedience, He continued to
guide them and to provide for all their needs (2:7). Taking care of them
like a father, He disciplined them for their own good (1:29–31; cf. Heb.
12:7–11). More than just a formal treaty, this shows an intimate covenant
relationship.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In our Scripture reading, Moses began to review God’s hand in Israel’s
history, so today might be a good time for us to do the same. Begin to
draw out a timeline of your life, noting good times and bad times. When
were you, figuratively speaking, “wandering in the wilderness” or
“conquering the land”? |
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Read: Deuteronomy 1:9-18
Do not be afraid of any man, for
judgment belongs to God. - Deuteronomy 1:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
One writer says of the great Scottish reformer John Knox: 'Knox's bold
preaching of the Word of God, without fear of what others might say, was
his great strength. He firmly believed that everyone men and women, rulers
and subjects alike is subject to the rules of Scripture and the God of
Scripture.'
Men of conviction like John Knox
were the kind Moses needed in the days after Israel was liberated from
Egypt in the Exodus. He needed military commanders, administrators, and
judges who feared God and His truths more than anyone or anything else.
The covenant blessing of God on His people was obvious in the way they
were multiplying. The task of administering the nation had become too much
for Moses alone.
This administrative arrangement was part of Israel's history, but why did
Moses mention it here in Deuteronomy, forty years later, as he recalled
God's dealings with His people? One Bible commentator has the right idea
when he says that Moses was not simply rehashing the past.
Instead, the point of recounting this piece of history is captured in
verses 16-18 of today's reading. God wanted the Israelites to do more than
just conquer Canaan. His will was that justice and righteousness be
established in the land.
That way the Israelite rule in Canaan would be a reflection of their just
and righteous God. This alone was enough to make God's people distinct
from the pagan nations that inhabited Canaan.
Since Israel would enter the land as soon as Moses had delivered his final
sermons, his reminder of God's will for Israel's righteous living was very
timely.
The words of Moses were also somewhat of a warning. The Israelites were
not to let the opposition of the unrighteous turn them away from
administering God's justice. Just as Israel would encounter opposition to
their military invasion, they would be opposed in their efforts to
administrate in Canaan according to God's righteous standards.
This message still has a timely ring to it today. Our nation needs to hear
and to heed God's call to exercise righteous judgment. His standards have
not changed.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The words of the prophet in Isaiah 59:14-15 ring sadly true in America
today. We encourage you to read these powerful verses today and spend a
few minutes meditating on them. God cannot ignore the lack of justice,
righteousness, and truth at the highest levels in our land. In fact,
Isaiah says of unrighteous Israel: 'The Lord looked and was displeased'
(Isa. 59:15). After your reading, please join with the Today family in
praying for repentance and revival in our nation. |
Deuteronomy 2:37
Our Daily Homily
F B MeyerTHIS chapter .is
full of restrictions and prohibitions. There were territories which Israel
was forbidden to enter at that time; though afterward, in the days of
David, Solomon, and Hezekiah, they were all included in the possessions of
the chosen people.
There are temporary limitations in
all lives. Paul was forbidden to preach the Word in Asia, when first he
came on its frontiers; though two or three years after he so filled it
with his teaching that the trade of the silversmiths, who made shrines for
Diana, was affected.
Limitations in our
Usefulness.--Provinces of holy endeavor seem shut against you, as the
Gentile world from the public ministry of Jesus. Nevertheless, do your
best in what is open, as He did for the Jews, and the rest will be
unbarred; but if not, in God's good time, the field will be cultivated by
hands specially instructed and prepared.
Limitations in Knowledge.--There are
mysteries which, in the earlier stages of their experience, are not made
known to the saints; but which we come to know, as we follow on to know
the Lord. And while there may be much in God's providence that is
difficult to understand, yet our knowledge of Himself may increase as the
years go by, until we glory in this, that we understand and know Him (Jer.
9:23).
Limitations in Experience.--Not to
every one is it given to feel Christ's love as Rutherford did. Some are
excluded from the sunny realms, as Cowper was. Such is the choice of God
for them, and it must be best; but they shall all attain one day to the
stature of the perfect man, and possess the blessedness from which they
are now restrained. |
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Read: Deuteronomy 2:16-23
When the Most High gave the nations
their inheritance . . . he set up boundaries for the peoples. -
Deuteronomy 32:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
Magazine articles filled with ideas on how to express love for special
people are very popular these days. They usually show up under such titles
as 'Fifty Ways to Say ÔI Love You'' or 'Twenty-Five Ways to Make Your
Child Feel Special.' The idea, of course, is that true love is shown by
actions as well as by words.
The sermons of Deuteronomy in which Moses recalled God's dealings with
Israel are a stunning catalog of the ways God show His love and care for
His people.
It's true that Israel's disobedience and lack of faith are a part of the
story. But when we step back to look at the big picture, the nation's
forty-year trek through the desert is a testimonial to God's patience and
overruling love. Even Israel's failures become the backdrop for God's
grace in sustaining the people He chooses as His own.
In fact, Moses testified to God's care for the nations that bordered the
Promised Land. Today's reading includes an editorial note (vv. 20-23)
which reveals the way God enabled the Ammonites, another group who
descended from Lot, to conquer the same intimidating race of giant
warriors the Moabites had defeated.
Together with the Edomites, the people of Esau, this made three sets of
'in-laws' whose borders the Israelites were commanded to respect. Why?
Because God had set their boundaries, giving these people the strength to
overcome their enemies and establish their nations in security.
The fact that those nations later turned against Israel in various ways
and came under God's judgment does not negate His care for them in the
days of Moses.
Why did Moses take the time to remind his listeners of these historical
details? As we suggested earlier, the existence of Edom, Moab, and Ammon
was an object lesson to Israel of God's power in bringing about His
purpose for a nation.
The Ammonites, for example, did not have the promises of victory that
Israel had. Yet the Lord enabled the Ammonites to conquer a fearsome foe.
Since God showed His care for Ammon in this way, what greater thing would
He do for His chosen people if they would only obey Him?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The question of what God would do in response to obedience is not merely
historical. It is a question we can ask of ourselves.
The Bible testifies to God's
providential, daily care for all of His creation. Jesus said the rain
falls on both the righteous and the unrighteous (Matt. 5:45). Since God
has already proven His love for us in so many material ways, what greater
spiritual thing would He do for us if we would only obey Him? The answer
is exciting and challenging for us to consider! |
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Read: Deuteronomy 2:24-37
If God is for us, who can be against
us? - Romans 8:31
TODAY IN THE WORD
After V-E Day brought an end to World War II in Europe, General George
Patton gave a brief speech in which he referred to the utter defeat of the
enemy, including, he said, 'towns whose names I can't pronounce, but whose
palaces I have removed.'
Humanly speaking, Moses and the
Israelites were in much the same position as they faced an unknown enemy.
Chances are that Israel had never heard of Sihon or Og before they
approached these kings' borders and tried to negotiate safe passage.
God's people were still on the side of the Jordan River opposite Canaan
the eastern side of the river called the Transjordan. The forty years of
discipline were now complete; the last members of the disbelieving
generation having died in the desert (Deuteronomy 2:16). God was readying His
people for the invasion and conquest of the Promised Land.
To those awaiting God's command to cross the Jordan, Moses told the story
of how Israel had defeated an Amorite king who arrogantly defied God.
Sihon's kingdom lay on Israel's path, but it was Sihon who put himself in
Israel's way. There's a big difference between those two situations.
Moses' retelling of Sihon's defeat includes some details we didn't see in
Numbers. Since Deuteronomy was written from more of a theological vantage
point, God's activity in Israel's affairs is prominent. Moses reveals here
that God had put the 'terror and fear' of Israel upon every nation His
people would have to face (v. 25).
In today's passage Sihon's refusal is also seen against a new background.
He had set himself against God, so God saw to it that the consequences of
the king's stubbornness were played out completely. Israel won the battle
because God delivered Sihon into their hands.
The complete destruction of the Amorites was part of God's judgment
against the nations that had fallen into idolatry. Judgment such as this
often seems harsh to us because, even as believers, we can get a little
fuzzy on the absolute holiness and justice of God.
But if the greatest form of disobedience is to turn away from the true and
living God to worship idols, then the greatest form of judgment must
follow.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Being obedient to God doesn't mean that the enemy will simply disappear.
On the contrary, the enemy makes sure to get in our way when we are
determined to follow God.
So if you are encountering
opposition, it may be a signal for you to keep moving forward. But you may
say, 'I'm not sure if I should proceed or not.' Times like these are when
God promises His wisdom to those who will ask Him in faith, with a
believing heart (James 1:5-6). Bring your battle to the Lord, and seek His
direction. |
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Read: Deuteronomy 2:24-3:20
The horse is made ready for the day of
battle, but victory rests with the Lord. - Proverbs 21:31
TODAY IN THE WORD
The miracle of the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation was made possible by the heroic
defenders of Calais. Early in World War II, the German army swept through
France. What remained of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) waited at
Dunkirk, hoping for evacuation. Between them and the Germans lay only one
city: Calais. Prime Minister Winston Churchill cabled the commander there:
“Every hour you continue to exist is of the greatest help to the BEF. . .
. Have greatest possible admiration for your splendid stand.” Outgunned
and outmanned, the soldiers fought fiercely, holding out until they were
exhausted and nearly out of ammunition. Their brave stand bought enough
time for the evacuation to get organized and subsequently to succeed.
The Israelites had fought well
enough east of the Jordan River, but in fact, it was God Himself who won
the battles. As part of Moses’ historical review, he reminded the people
that their victories were thanks to God alone (cf. Ps. 135:10–12;
136:16–22). They should trust in Him alone. They were His people--He would
take care of them.
Before those battles had even begun, God saw them as done deals (see Num.
21:21–35). He arranged everything, inspiring the enemy with fear and
making King Sihon’s heart stubborn to provoke a fight. Exodus similarly
speaks both of God hardening Pharaoh’s heart and Pharaoh hardening his own
heart. From a divine point of view, God is sovereign. From a human point
of view, there’s a price to be paid for arrogance toward God’s people.
Why were Sihon, Og, and the Amorites utterly destroyed? Was Israel in the
wrong? No, they carried out God’s justice. He used Israel to judge the
Amorites for their sin, so the nation’s victory served the cause of
righteousness. In fact, the term “completely destroyed” indicates that
everything from the battle was given over to the Lord, or devoted to Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you started sketching out your personal timeline yesterday, go ahead
and finish that today. Do you see any patterns in how God has led you? Can
you find any links between the good times and the bad times? Would one or
more of the victories have been impossible without lessons learned or
character forged in the “deserts”? If you know the answers to these
questions, give thanks and glory to God. If not, ask the Holy Spirit for
insight into your experiences. |
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Read: Deuteronomy 3:1-11
You have been my refuge, a strong tower
against the foe. - Psalm 61:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
Generations of leaders have known that one of the best ways to motivate
the troops on the eve of a big battle is to remind them of their past
victories.
Moses followed that tradition. He
may even have helped to invent it! His retelling of Israel's victories
over Sihon and Og gave the people important encouragement as they faced
their biggest battle of all the conquest of Canaan.
King Og was worth only a few verses in Numbers 21 (vv. 33-35), but here in
Deuteronomy Moses devotes more space to the story. The extra detail was
important for these Israelites to know because the defeat of Og was
another example of God's faithfulness.
'Do not be afraid of him,' God told His people concerning Og (Deuteronomy
3:2)Ñand they weren't. What a difference it would have made if, about
forty years earlier, the exodus generation had moved out as confidently as
this one in response to God's promise.
But to Israel's credit, the troops moved out here and enjoyed the victory
God had already prepared for them. It didn't hurt that the victory over
Sihon was still very fresh on the people's minds. God made sure they
didn't forget by using Sihon as an encouragement to do the same in Bashan.
Og and his people suffered annihilation, the same fate that befell their
fellow Amorites. People may debate the morality of God's command for the
destruction of a people, but the reality of the command is undeniable.
Moses made this truth explicit in the case of the Canaanites (see
Deuteronomy
7). God's reasons were grounded in His holiness.
The summary of Israel's conquests in the Transjordan had to be another
source of encouragement. The extent of their land holdings in this region
secured them from attack by other enemies as they turned west to enter
Canaan.
But Moses was not quite finished with this story. It turns out that Og was
a Rephaite, the race of giants we read about earlier. Israel's cousins,
the Edomites and the Ammonites, had defeated those giants with God's help.
Now Israel too could point to victory over an intimidating enemy as proof
of God's blessing.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Maybe the enemy we talked about yesterday looks like a giant from where
you stand. Because Satan knows that most of us are afraid of things that
seem bigger than we are, he has a way of making problems appear to be
gigantic. One way for us to bring that problem down to size is to do what
Moses did recall a previous victory God has given us in this area. Whether
our need is strength in temptation, patience with a difficult person, or
faithfulness in serving God, reviewing yesterday's victory can encourage
us to trust God for today's triumph. |
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Read: Deuteronomy 3:12-20
Anyone who enters God's rest also rests
from his own work. - Hebrews 4:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
It's a truism in sports that a team's success is more important than the
statistics of individual players. Even the jargon of sports reflects this
thinking. Baseball has the sacrifice bunt. And a batter who deliberately
makes an out to move a runner along is said to 'give himself up.' This
collective effort is called teamworkÑ nd few teams win without it.
Teamwork was indispensable for the Israelites too. After the defeat of the
Amorite kings who held large portions of the Transjordan, Israel was in
the position to invade Canaan. The goal of the battle was victory so that
every Israelite could enjoy rest in the land God had promised His people.
But before Israel crossed the Jordan, Moses had to deal with a request by
the tribes of Reuben and Gad, along with half of Manasseh a tribe that was
divided between those who worked the land and those who raised livestock.
It was the latter group that joined the other two tribes in asking Moses
for permission to settle east of the Jordan, land ideal for grazing their
herds (Num. 32:1-5).
Moses was angry at first, since it appeared that these Israelites were
content to settle in comfortably and let their brothers fight the
Canaanites. So Moses insisted that the armed men of these tribes go with
the rest of Israel into Canaan until the whole nation was at rest. The men
involved readily agreed to these terms (Num. 32:18).
What would be the blessing for these tribes' obedience to God in this
matter? First, the families and livestock they had left behind east of the
Jordan would be safe while they were away.
Second, the land they claimed would also be held for them. Since God had
given this land to them as their possession they didn't need to worry
about losing their homes while they were serving in the Israelite army.
Someone has said that there is no safer place for anyone on earth than in
the will of God. The tribes who settled in the Transjordan certainly
discovered that truth. When the time came to sacrifice for their brothers,
they left home as they had promised. Their families and herds were never
safer than when these warriors were helping their fellow Israelites enter
into God's rest.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The writer of Hebrews uses Israel's rest in Canaan as a picture of the
greater rest we have in Christ the cessation of our attempts to please God
and reach heaven on our own merits.
Do you know someone today who is
still struggling and working hard to earn God's favor? The best thing you
can do for this friend or family member is to reach out in love and share
the good news of God's grace in Christ. Why not pray that God will give
you a special opportunity to talk to that person? |
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Read: Deuteronomy 3:21-29
Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your
God himself will fight for you. - Deuteronomy 3:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
There is a definite note of sadness in today's story. Moses reminded the
people of God's judgment on his disobedience at Meribah (Num. 20:12-13),
which resulted in his being banned from Canaan. Bible commentator Dr. Jack
Deere says that Moses' conversation with God 'reveals something of the
intimacy of Moses' relationship with God. It also heightens the feeling of
tragedy in the experience of a man who devoted his life to fulfilling
God's promise for Israel but knew he would never see its completion.'
Yet despite his own deep disappointment and knowing that his life was
drawing to a close, Moses did not lose sight of the larger objective
before Israel. The nation had conquered Sihon and Og, two powerful Amorite
kings, and was ready for greater conquests in Canaan. Joshua was at Moses'
side as God's appointed commander to lead the people into the Promised
Land.
Look at the way Moses encouraged his young successor. Verses 21-22 of
Deuteronomy 3 provide a classic biblical formula for encouragement. Moses
told Joshua, in effect: 'Look at all
that God has done for you in the past. There is nothing you will face in
the future that He cannot handle, because He is the same God today.'
Then Moses turned from speaking with Joshua to speaking with the Lord.
It's not hard to imagine the anguish in Moses' voice as he stood on the
very doorstep of the land he had spent forty years trying to reach. He
must have been hopeful that God would relent and allow him to enter
Canaan.
The text indicates that Moses kept on asking God to change His mind. But
God became angry with Moses quite angry, according to the original
language. He did allow Moses to go to the top of a mountain called Pisgah
from where he could view the Promised Land from a distance. But that was
the end of the issue.
Even though Moses had to stay in the Transjordan, he still had an
important work to do. Joshua would need all the strength and courage he
could muster for the task ahead of him.
God was ready to supply Joshua's need, but He also wanted to make sure
that Israel's new leader had Moses's blessing. So Moses commissioned
Joshua, signaling that Joshua was God's choice.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
With God the future is never up for grabs, because 'Jesus Christ is the
same yesterday and today and forever' (Heb. 13:8).
What an encouraging word of hope! Is
there anything you have encountered to this point that was too big for the
Lord? Since He was faithful yesterday, you can trust Him for today. And
because He never changes, your tomorrow is already secure in Him. That's
worth taking time to praise God for right now. Your praise delights Him! |
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Read: Deuteronomy 3:21-4:14
Keep my decrees and laws, for the man
who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord. - Leviticus 18:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
One blot marred Moses’ record of leadership during the Exodus: his sin at
Meribah. Suffering from lack of water, Israel complained: “Why did you
bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place?” Moses and Aaron sought
the Lord, and in reply He told them to speak to a rock. Out of it would
come enough water for everyone.
In anger and frustration, however,
Moses struck the rock twice with his staff, rather than obeying the Lord
exactly. As a result of this disobedience, God judged him: “Because you
did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the
Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them”
(Num. 20:12; cf. Num. 27:12-14).
In today’s reading, Moses’ review of Israel’s history took a personal
turn. Because of his sin, he would be allowed only to gaze upon but not to
enter the Promised Land. How agonizing it must have been for him--all that
waiting and wandering, the burdens of leadership, and then to be stopped
just short of the goal. In God’s judgment, the people saw the necessity of
obedience. Even a great leader like Moses was not above God’s law, and he
suffered the consequences for his disobedience.
There was an additional warning here. When Moses said he’d sinned “because
of you” (3:26), he wasn’t rationalizing, but recognizing that his sin had
resulted in part from their sin of grumbling and complaining. They’d often
been guilty of this, and he wanted them to see sin’s serious consequences.
Actually, Israel’s entire history from Egypt to the present time had been
pounding home this very lesson (4:9). In this context, Moses urgently
exhorted them to fully obey God’s commands: “Follow them so that you may
live” (4:1).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In light of the national scope of Deuteronomy, and given that today is
Independence Day, we suggest that you spend some extra time in prayer for
our country. |
Deuteronomy 3:26
F. B. Meyer
Our Daily HomilyWE are to
pray without ceasing; always praying, never fainting; asking, seeking,
knocking. But there are some subjects concerning which God says, "Speak no
more unto Me of this." In some cases these topics have to do with others,
but more often with ourselves, as in the case of the Apostle Paul (2 Cor.
12:9).
It is an awful thing when God says
of certain individuals, Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone; and
when the conviction is wrought within us that the sin unto death is being
committed, concerning which even the Apostle John said, "I do not say that
he should pray for it." Such times come comparatively rarely; and so long
as you feel able to pray for another, so long as no negative has been
spoken, you may be sure that God waits to be entreated, and that your
prayer will assuredly be answered.
But have you not realized at times
that God has said about some earthly boon you were craving?-'' Child, do
not ask Me more, leave it with Me. I know what you want, and what is best
for you. Seek first My kingdom, and all these things, literally or in
their equivalent, shall be added." It is well when we have been praying
eagerly, to allow God's winnowing-fan to pass over our petitions, to
winnow away all that is not in His mind to give; so that only those
desires may remain which His Spirit has indicted, and which He is
therefore pledged to bestow. If He does not give the exact thing you ask,
He will give the Pisgah view and more grace. He will say to you, as to
Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in
weakness." |
|
Read: Deuteronomy 4:1-8
Observe [God's laws] carefully, for
this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations. - Deuteronomy
4:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
In Worldwide Challenge magazine, Dan LaGue describes a dramatic moment in
Chinese missions: 'On a warm, summer night in 1904, a small hunting party
. . . showed up at the door of Methodist missionary Samuel Pollard.
Pollard . . . recognized the hunters as Miaoa people from the nearby
Yunnan mountains who worshiped gods of wood and stone. The Miao wanted to
learn to read. They had a burning desire to know the God of the
Christians, too, although [Pollard] didn't know it. But he soon
understood, for the following Friday five more Miao appeared at his gate,
and within a month, nearly 100 tribesmen had visited him.'
Somehow the Miao people had learned
about the true God, and they saw enough of His reality in the lives of
Christians that they wanted what the Christians had. Samuel Pollard
devoted the next eleven years to learning the Miao language, reaching
those people for Christ and establishing a thriving church in their
villages.
What a blessing it is when the witness of God's people draws unbelievers
to Him! Israel had a definite responsibility to its idol-worshiping
neighbors. The people's obedience to God was designed to distinguish
Israel from the other nations and to be a powerful witness to God's
greatness and righteousness.
Moses made God's intent clear in the opening verses of Deuteronomy 4,
which marks a new point in his sermon. To this point, Israel's lawgiver
had been reviewing the nation's history. Now he turned to an exhortation
based on what the people had heard.
Today's reading divides neatly into two points two motivations for the
people to obey God's law.
First, obedience to God produces blessing, the theme of this month's
studies (vv. 1-4). The Israelites who 'held fast to the Lord' were the
ones who had survived the desert wanderings and were ready to take
possession of the Promised Land. If the people needed a reminder of the
disaster of disobedience, they needed only to recall God's judgment at
Baal Peor (Num. 25:1-9), where 24,000 sinning Israelites died in a plague.
Obedience had a second benefit a witness to the nations (Deuteronomy 4:5-8).
When God's people are faithful to Him, they radiate blessing to those
around them wherever they go.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We usually think of our witness as something we do or sometimes as what we
fail to do. But the Bible indicates that our witness is primarily a matter
of what we are. Both Paul (Phil. 1:27) and Peter (1 Pet. 2:12) urge us to
live exemplary Christian lives. One reason for this is that those outside
the faith will see our testimony and glorify God. Since that's the case,
this weekend would be a good time for us to review the quality of our
witness in recent days. |
|
Read: Deuteronomy 4:9-14
Watch yourselves closely so that you do
not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your
heart. - Deuteronomy 4:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
The 18th-century actor Charles Macklin once boasted to fellow actor Samuel
Foote that he could repeat any speech after hearing it just once. So Foote
challenged Macklin to repeat what he was about to say and then launched
into a very hard-to-remember series of nonsense sentences. Macklin had to
admit defeat.
It's hard to remember perfectly
something we have heard only once. That's why God repeated His commands
through each generation of His spokesmen and then recorded them so that we
might obey Him and be blessed.
Moses knew how forgetful the Israelites were. He was well aware that they
had trouble remembering even the amazing miracles of God's grace they had
witnessed in the desert. If the generation standing before him was prone
to forget, how in the world would their children ever learn and remember
the lessons of obedience?
The answer was to instill the decrees of God in each generation of
children as if they were the first people ever to receive them. Later on
we'll review the great Shema, the confession of Israel's one God, that God
commanded the people to teach to their children (Deut 6:4-9).
Moses anticipated that command by cautioning the people not to forget the
giving of the Ten Commandments at Horeb, or Mount Sinai. It was such an
awe-inspiring visitation of God that it seems impossible that anyone who
saw it could forget what happened.
Deuteronomy 4:9 helps us to understand that Moses was not worried about a
simple memory lapse on the people's part. He was concerned that God's holy
commands would slip from their hearts that is, that they would grow
lackadaisical in their obedience. And if the parents became careless in
following God, where would their children end up?
The presence of God on Sinai was so terrifying that even Moses trembled
with fear (Deuteronomy 9:19). This business of remembering and obeying God's law
was serious stuff. Why? Because day-to-day blessing from God depends on
obedience to Him even though we have the ultimate blessing of redemption
in Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The author of Hebrews cites Israel's experience at Sinai to illustrate the
superior covenant we have in Christ (Heb. 12:18-24).
We can thank the Lord that we do not
have to stand at the foot of Sinai but we can't afford to forget that we
serve the same holy, awe-inspiring God. He still demands that His people
reverence His holy name. Hebrews 12 ends with this reminder: 'Our God is a
consuming fire' (v. 29). Ask God today to help you give Him the worship
and reverence that is due Him. |
|
Read: Deuteronomy 4:15-24
The Lord your God is a consuming fire,
a jealous God. - Deuteronomy 4:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
Have you ever looked at the stuff in your attic or basement and sighed at
your collection? It's amazing how easily most of us seem to accumulate
things we once intended to use, or at some point thought too valuable to
discard. However good our original purpose, though, most of what we store
in our attics, basements, and garages will not be looked at again until
the next yard sale or moving day.
The tendency to let once-useful
things accumulate seems to be born into most people. It's easier to let
the stuff pile up when it's out of sight and therefore, out of mind. If we
carry this attitude over into our spiritual lives, however, it can be very
dangerous.
When this happens, we find a believer who once devoured God's Word now
treats it like a discard from the attic. Or spiritual disciplines that
were once part of this person's daily walk with the Lord are now laid
aside and forgotten.
It may seem as if Moses was belaboring his warning to the Israelites.
'Watch yourselves very carefully,' he warned (v. 15). 'Be careful not to
forget,' he cautioned (v. 23).
Why was Moses so concerned that the people not allow God's commands to be
shoved back into the attics of their minds and hearts? Because he knew
human nature. Moses had forty years' worth of scars on his soul from the
complaints and threats of Israelites who couldn't seem to remember God's
goodness from one watering hole to the next.
Now the people were entering a land of idolaters who worshiped creatures
on earth and the lights in the sky. Again Moses referred to the fact that
he would not be allowed to accompany Israel into Canaan. So these messages
contained in Deuteronomy were his last chance to warn the people against
spiritual failure.
One way God's people could keep from slipping was to remember the day God
gave them His commandments. They saw no form representing God, so they
were not to make anything to represent Him. Obedience to a 'consuming
fire' kind of God is the only path of blessing for His people.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Is there anything in your spiritual attic that needs to be brought out,
dusted off, and put to use or maybe discarded?
One way to find out is to look back
to the early days of your Christian life. Was there a spiritual discipline
you used to follow with enthusiasm that has since fallen by the wayside?
Maybe it's your prayer life, your desire to tell others about Christ, or a
habit you've acquired that you used to have a strong conviction against.
This might be a good day to do a little personal attic-cleaning,
remembering why it's so important not to put anything between yourself and
God. |
|
Read: Deuteronomy 4:15-43
Acknowledge and take to heart this day
that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no
other. - Deuteronomy 4:39
TODAY IN THE WORD
n many jobs, it’s difficult to imagine life without a photocopier. So it
might be hard for you to believe that this vital piece of office equipment
has been around less than fifty years. In 1959, Xerox introduced its 914
copier machine, the first to make copies on plain paper. The 914 was a
quick success, and soon “Xerox” became a virtual synonym for “copy.”
When it comes to worship, however,
nothing but the “real thing” will do! The great “I Am” is the one true
God, and all the idols of the nations are just cheap copies. As he
concluded his first sermon (in today’s reading), this was the key lesson
Moses wanted Israel to learn from his historical review.
God is not any created thing--He is the Creator. He is transcendent. At
Sinai, the nation had seen that they could not fashion anything into an
image for worship, so they should not be deceived and drawn into the
Canaanite religions.
God is also personal, and He had put Himself on display, so to speak, in
His actions toward Israel. He rescued them from slavery. He made a
personal covenant and was personally present with them. He sovereignly
chose them, provided for their needs, and gave them holy laws.
His uniqueness is the most important truth the people were to remember and
obey. This truth is spelled out in the verses just before the Ten
Commandments (Ex. 20:3–6). The metaphor of a furnace conveys that the
period of slavery in Egypt was a time of purification, or preparation,
against the corruption of idolatry, to be the Lord’s special inheritance
(v. 20; cf. Deuteronomy 8:2–5). If they fail to do this--after all, that was the
historical pattern--they’ll be punished, but when they wholeheartedly
repent and return to God, He’ll show mercy.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Who is like unto our Lord? He and He alone is God! Respond to this truth
from today’s devotional with heartfelt worship. Seek out hymns and
choruses that exalt God’s greatness and lift up His name. We might suggest
such songs as “O Worship the King,” “Glorify Thy Name,” “O Magnify the
Lord,” and “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.” Singing these could be
part of your personal worship time, or an experience you share with your
family or small group. |
Deuteronomy 4:20
F. B. Meyer
Our Daily Homily
THE Apostle' prays that we may know
the riches of the glory of God's inheritance in His saints. God is our
inheritance, and we are His. We are called to possess Him; He desires to
possess us. His nature will yield crops of holy helpfulness to those who
diligently seek Him; and He demands crops of holy love and devotion from
ours.
What Sovereign Grace is here!--There
was nothing in us to distinguish us from others. We were but part of the
great moorland waste, when He fenced us in, and placed us under His
tillage and husbandry. It is by the grace of God that we are what we are.
"To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted
in the Beloved: in whom we have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."
What responsibility!--Three times
over in this chapter we are bidden to take heed to ourselves. It is no
small thing to have been the subjects of God's special workmanship;
because He is a jealous God, very quick to mark the least symptom of
declension, and very searching in His dealing and discipline. As we learn
here, our God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
What Hope!--We cannot derive much
from ourselves, however we toil and strive. Self cannot discipline self to
any advantage. The field is worked out. The Divine Husbandman must put
into us what He would take out of us; He needs therefore to have almost
infinite resources. But these are God's, and if we yield ourselves to Him,
He can make all grace abound toward us, that we, always having all
sufficiency in all things, may abound unto every good work. |
| Read:
Deuteronomy 4:25-28
You shall have no other gods before me.
- Exodus 20:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
During his first term as president, Franklin Roosevelt teased a patriotic
group about its obsession with the pedigree of its members. 'Remember,
remember always,' Roosevelt said, 'that all of us, and you and I
especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.'
Moses made a similar plea to Israel.
'Remember where you came from, and to whom you belong,' was his message in
Deuteronomy. For God's people of that day, the first step to disobedience
seemed to be forgetfulness.
The passages we will study today and tomorrow are brief but remarkable.
Here Moses speaks not only as lawgiver but as prophet, looking far into
Israel's future to predict the nation's unfaithfulness and eventual
expulsion from the land.
We can imagine the passion and pain in Moses' voice as he spoke of a
future day when Israel might forget God and their obligation to worship
Him alone. Forgetting God would make the people susceptible to the
corruption of idolatry a sin Moses had just warned them against
committing. Idolatry was the ultimate insult to God and an abomination in
His sight.
Moses called heaven and earth as witnesses because they were fixed and
permanent, in contrast to the fickle nature of the people's hearts. If, as
Moses said, Israel insisted on flirting with idols, God would permit the
nation to consummate the unholy union. He would, in fact, send His people
into captivity in nations where they would have their fill of idolatry.
The danger Moses warned about in these verses changed the focus from the
immediate to the more distant future. Up to this point, his concern had
been that the Israelites not fail to obey God and possess Canaan.
But there was also the opposite danger that after the immediate challenge
was met, the curse of complacency could set in and cause a massive case of
spiritual amnesia.
Once again, Moses tied the issue to the need for each generation to learn
about God for itself. If the current generation failed to pass along
vibrant faith in God, their grandchildren would be left with only a musty
memory of long-ago blessings and warnings from a God they didn't know very
well.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Most people don't become excited about hand-me-downs, whether it's
clothes, furniture, or faith.
We said earlier that the Christian
life can't be lived second-hand. Faith must be a personal possession. But
let's turn today's warning around and remember that if our faith is a
bright fire, those within our influence will be drawn to the flame. Is
your Christian life the kind others would want to imitate? It can be,
because if we turn to Him God is ready to do more than we could ask or
think. |
| Read:
Deuteronomy 4:29-31
You will seek me and find me when you
seek me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the horrors of modern-day persecution against Christians is the
practice of child slavery in the north African nation of Sudan. The
radical Muslim dictatorship that seized power in 1989 has been sponsoring
raids against Christian villages in the south. Thousands of children and
other young people have been kidnapped in these attacks and taken north to
be sold to Muslim masters. One young man who was recently rescued said
that after seven years in bondage, he had almost forgotten his family.
Thankfully, his family never forgot him or abandoned their efforts to
bring him home.
What a picture of the tragedy that befell Israel hundreds of years after
Moses! The people were not innocent victims like the child slaves in
Sudan. But their land was attacked and devastated, and they were carried
off into bondage in faraway countries all because they allowed themselves
to forget God.
On the edge of Canaan, in his final message to God's people, Moses looked
far ahead and saw the coming danger. The same spirit of rebellion and
disobedience that plagued Israel from the Exodus to the conquest of Canaan
manifested itself many years later.
Seven hundred years after Moses, the northern kingdom of Israel was
conquered by the Assyrians. More than a century later, Judah would fall to
the Babylonians. But even in their exile, the people of God were never far
from His heart and mind.
What was this cord of faithfulness that connected God to His people which
would give them hope, even in captivity? It was His covenant promise made
to Abraham, an oath that was still in force because God is a gracious
Father who never forgets His promises or reneges on His Word.
These verses may have seemed like a distant issue to the people listening
to Moses. But by proclaiming them, and then later writing them down, Moses
planted a seed of hope that would one day come to fruition.
That day was centuries later, when God's people called to Him from foreign
places and He heard their pleas. It took defeat and slavery to rid Israel
of its love for idols, and it took a gracious God to forgive and restore
His chosen ones.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Although we may not bear the marks of physical slavery under foreign
masters, we were once slaves too. We were slaves to sin. Jesus said so
Himself (John 8:34). We were servants in the 'dominion of darkness' (Col.
1:13), under the control of Satan. But even while we were oblivious to
God, He did not forget us. In grace He rescued us from our helpless
spiritual condition and transferred us to the kingdom of Christ. Do you
need a bright spot in your week? Consider where you were and where Christ
has brought you! |
|
Read: Deuteronomy 4:32-38
You were shown these things so that you
might know that the Lord is God. - Deuteronomy 4:35
TODAY IN THE WORD
Fanny Crosby was the great American hymn writer who lived in blindness
throughout her long life. Dwight Moody once asked this amazing woman what
she would ask for if God granted her one request. She replied that she
would ask God to allow her to stay blind, so the first thing her eyes saw
would be the face of Jesus.
Fanny Crosby was a unique person who
'saw' God in a way that no sighted person could duplicate. In the same
way, Israel was a unique people group that had the opportunity to see God
as no other nation could. Out of all the nations on earth, only Israel saw
God do such amazing works with their own eyes.
The claims Moses made in today's reading were not the gloatings of a human
ruler. And they were not limited to a few recent events or a few years of
history. All the way from creation itself to the giving of the Law at
Sinai, nothing this great had ever happened to anyone but Israel.
With these words Moses turned from Israel's future to her past. Each
question Moses asked demanded the same answer: No, this had never happened
before. No other nation had seen God's wonders and signs and mighty power
the way Israel had seen them. No other people could point to a divine
birth for their nation. Israel alone was the apple of God's eye.
Why did Moses want the Israelites to consider their miraculous origin? So
that they might understand the greatness and uniqueness of their God that
He alone is God among all the so-called gods of this world.
The knowledge Moses wanted to impart was not merely intellectual, though.
This was much more than a history lesson or an attempt to fire up the
people for conquest. Moses rehearsed God's greatness toward Israel so that
the people would love and fear Him and desire to keep His commandments.
God loved Israel's forefathers and promised by a covenant to love their
descendants after them. The Israelites were not the recipients of God's
covenant love because they were better or stronger or smarter than anyone
else. It was because they had a gracious God who chose to set His love
upon them.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Fanny Crosby's fruitful life reflected her deep commitment to Christ.
Can we say the same of ourselves?
For example, take a look at your schedule for the month of August. Does it
reflect your commitment to serve and to obey Christ, or are your days
consumed with 'just getting by?' Obeying Christ means that everything we
do should be done in His name (Col. 3:23) and for His glory. Renewing your
commitment to this priority would be a great way for you to end the
summer. |
|
Read: Deuteronomy 4:39-40
Keep his decrees and commands . . . so
that it may go well with you and your children after you. - Deuteronomy
4:40
TODAY IN THE WORD
Aspiring preachers have long been taught that even the best sermon falls
short if the speaker fails to call for a response to the truth that has
been presented.
Moses made no such mistake in the
first of his sermons to the assembled people of Israel. He called on his
hearers to 'take to heart' what they had heard and to 'keep [God's]
decrees and commands.' These are the final words in this first of several
powerful messages of warning and encouragement.
The exhortations of verses 39-40 grow out of the previous section in which
Moses demonstrated God's unique choice of Israel and His exclusive ability
to perform His will. Moses' concern was for Israel's obedience to God,
both in their conduct while capturing Canaan and in their manner of life
once they had settled in the land.
Moses knew what it would take to keep God's people faithful to Him. They
had to constantly remember that there is no God beside the Lord;
therefore, no one else could claim their love and loyalty.
The uniqueness of Israel's God was certainly on Moses' mind. 'Besides Him
there is no other' (Deuteronomy 4:35). Then, to make sure the people got the
point, Moses repeated this reminder (v. 39).
Moses was so fervent in his message because he knew something that few
others realized. Israel's future security and stability depended entirely
on the nation's ability to remain true to her God.
Canaan would be full of temptations for the people to worship and serve
other gods. And sadly, God's chosen nation would eventually succumb to
these enticements. Moses had a prophetic sense that Israel was headed for
ruin if the people ever took their eyes off the Lord and started
worshiping the gods around them.
There was a great deal at stake here. Obedience to God was, and is, the
path to long life and blessing from generation to generation. Fearing and
obeying God alone was not just a theological requirement for Israel. God
had intertwined faithfulness to Him with blessing from Him in such a way
that the two rose or fell together.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Providing long-term financial security for one's family is a major
industry in America. The Bible encourages us to provide for tomorrow. But
biblical stewardship goes beyond our finances. Have you ever sat down to
list the spiritual assets you want to leave to your children or other
important people in your life? We encourage you to try it and to be
specific in your desires. It's an exercise that will help you focus on
what is truly valuable in light of Christ's eternal kingdom. Then turn
your list into a prayer list, asking God to help you lay up spiritual
treasure. |
|
Read: Deuteronomy 4:44-5:33
Be careful to do what the Lord your God
has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. -
Deuteronomy 5:32
TODAY IN THE WORD
Earlier this year, tens of thousands of people thronged the streets of
Taipei, Taiwan, to get a glimpse of one of Buddhism’s most famous relics.
The relic, which belongs to a temple in Xian, China, was kept in a
jewelled casket under tight security. What was it? A finger, it is
believed, of the Buddha himself, the religious leader who died more than
two thousand years ago. During the festivities, this finger bone was taken
to a stadium and placed on a platform strewn with orchids. Thousands of
the faithful chanted, waved flags, and came to venerate the finger.
How sad. Thousands went to worship a
long-dead finger bone, without any knowledge of the God whose finger wrote
the Ten Commandments (5:22; cf. Ex. 31:18).
Today’s reading marks the beginning of Moses’ second sermon, which runs
through Deuteronomy 26:19 and contains the bulk of the actual covenant.
“Hear, O Israel,” he began, making a serious and solemn call to the nation
to listen and respond (5:1). What were the historical facts of the
covenant? God had taken the initiative to make it with the people. It
wasn’t an ancient legend, but an event from their own lifetimes. At Sinai,
the Lord had revealed Himself personally. Moses had been the mediator, at
the people’s request, but they had seen and felt for themselves His
awesome presence. What was the core of the covenant? The Ten Commandments
(5:6–21; cf. Ex. 20:1–17). Many of these deal with the holiness of God and
the necessity of worshiping Him alone. Others forbid doing wrong to
people. Generally speaking, these commands outline or summarize what our
behavior should be toward both God and other people. They defined what it
meant for the Israelites to be the “people of God.” Two copies were made,
which was customary with covenants or treaties at that time (5:22). Both
copies were deposited in the Ark.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you’ve never done so before, why not memorize the Ten Commandments? |
Deuteronomy 5:29
F. B. Meyer
Our Daily HomilyHERE is a
sigh from the Divine heart. It recalls the tears of the Lord Jesus over
Jerusalem. The people insisted on their willingness to do all that was
required of them, but they were destined to learn and teach that the will
may be present, without the power; just as a sick man may have the will to
walk across his bedroom, and will fall to the floor because he has no
strength.
God's Commandments are for our
Welfare.--We find men shrinking from consecration to complete obedience
because they fear that it will mean loss and pain. There may be loss and
pain; but only in the excision of things which they would be the first to
put away, if they understood their nature and outworking as God does.
Those who obey God most literally find the most blessedness in life,
whether now or hereafter.
We approve them with our Will--More
than once the people insisted that they would do as God commanded. We are
not so destitute of moral perception as not to see the beauty of a life
wholly yielded to God; but let us not rest content with this, or we may
have yet to cry with the Apostle, The law is holy, just, and good; but I
am carnal, sold under sin.
God wants the Heart.--He will not
trust Himself to us, so long as the heart is a stranger to the indwelling
of the Divine Spirit. "Oh, that there were such a heart in them!" We need
to cry to Him to create in us a clean heart, to ask that He would exchange
the heart of stone for one of flesh, to entreat that His love may be shed
abroad in our heart, that we may perfectly love Him. "My son, give Me thy
heart!" |
|
Read: Deuteronomy 6:1-5
Love the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. - Deuteronomy 6:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
You've heard the old saying that familiarity breeds contempt. It's
debatable how much truth there is in this formula. But after spending time
in the Book of Deuteronomy, we can safely assume that at the very least,
familiarity can breed complacency.
This was one of the dangers Moses
tried to nip in the bud before the Israelites headed off into Canaan. We
have fast-forwarded in the book to chapter 6, because we want to end the
month with one of the most important chapters in Scripture.
Some Bible teachers have argued that Deuteronomy 6:4 is the single most
indispensable verse in the Bible. This confession of God's true nature is
called the Shema, from the Hebrew word that means 'hear.' This verse alone
is enough to set the one true God totally apart from any competitor or
impostor.
We have learned by now that Moses was intent on establishing the
uniqueness of Israel's God in the minds and hearts of His people. None but
the true God could claim their complete allegiance and loveand that is
exactly the response that God wants from His own.
Once again, the context of Moses' message was blessing for those who heard
and obeyed. Verses 1 through 3 drip with promised blessing, the way the
Promised Land dripped with milk and honey. Obeying God would bring
possession of the land, long life, and great increase. There is also the
implied blessing, elsewhere stated explicitly, that future generations of
the obedient would also enjoy God's abundance.
Moses' concern that God's people enjoy long life is repeated nine times in
Deuteronomy, underscoring the fact that God's intent is to bless His
people.
Why does God command us to love Him with all that we have and all that we
are? Because He deserves no less, and because He pours out His blessing on
those who please Him.
God's commands are not too hard for His people to understand or to keep.
Jesus said, 'My yoke is easy and my burden is light' (Matt. 11:30). For
those who are 'careful to obey'
(Deuteronomy 6:3), and willing to obey from hearts of sincere love for God, the
blessings of heaven are available.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One way children get into trouble is by not listening to what their
parents are telling them. This can happen also to us as adults in our
relationships to God. One measure of our love for God is how willing we
are to listen to what He wants to tell us. We can listen as we meditate on
Scripture and spend time being quiet in God's presence. Find some time
this weekend to come before God with a listening ear and an open heart. He
will meet you there. |
|
Read: Deuteronomy 6:1-25
Love the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. - Deuteronomy 6:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Medieval church leader Bernard of Clairvaux asserted: “God is entitled to
our love. Why? Because He gave Himself for us despite the fact that we are
so undeserving. What better could He have given? If we ask why God is
entitled to our love, we should answer, 'Because He first loved us.’ God
is clearly deserving of our love especially if we consider who He is that
loves us, who we are that He loves, and how much He loves us.”
In the same vein, Moses exhorted the
Israelites in today’s reading concerning the sweet, urgent necessity of
loving God. In yesterday’s reading, the Law was summarized in Ten
Commandments--in today’s reading it’s distilled to just one. Moses
preached that the people should love the Lord their God with all their
heart and soul and mind and strength--with their whole being, with
everything they had (v. 5; cf. Matt. 22:37–40). God was exclusively worthy
of this love, not only because He alone is supreme, but also because He’d
shown through His mighty deeds His enduring love for Israel.
Even in modern times, verses 4 through 9 are regarded as a creed and
recited daily by pious Jews. This passage provides a picture of God’s law
permeating everyday family life (also illustrated in vv. 20–25). The
covenant was not merely to be inscribed on stone tablets and put away in
the Ark, but was to be written on Israel’s hearts. It was the nucleus of
everything they were and everything they did (cf. Jer. 31:33–34).
Many Jews take literally the language of verses 8 and 9. Some tie
phylacteries, small boxes with Scripture inside, to their foreheads and
left arms; similar objects called mezuzot are attached to the doorframes
of their houses. These images suggest that God’s Word should control our
actions (hand), decision-making (forehead), family life (doorframes), and
hospitality (gates).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One emphasis that emerges from today’s reading is the need for God’s Word
to be an integral part of family life. The Israelites were instructed to
discuss the Law in their homes and to teach it to their
children--figuratively speaking, to write it on the doorframes of their
houses. |
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Read: Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the
Lord is one. - Deuteronomy 6:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Welcome to the last year of the millennium! It's safe to say that 1999
will produce much excitement, uncertainty, and speculation. The countdown
to 2000 has begun in earnest, and many people will be looking for
something solid to hold on to amid predictions of computer meltdowns and
end-time upheavals.
All of this makes January 1999 a
perfect time to anchor our souls in 'the word of the prophets made more
certain' (2 Pet. 1:19). These are the great truths of Scripture that will
never change or fail, because 'the words of the Lord are flawless' (Psalm
12:6).
In other words, theology matters! It's not just a branch of study for
religious professionals. The word theology itself means the study of God,
literally 'the word of God.' That alone tells us theology should matter
for every Christian. What we believe has a profound affect on the way we
live and the decisions we make.
Therefore, we need to know and affirm what the Bible teaches especially in
these days when truth is defined as whatever feels right to any given
person in any given situation.
At Today in the Word, we want to encourage you in every way possible this
year. You may already have noticed one important addition to our ministry
lineup for 1999, a column entitled 'Theology Matters,' written by Moody
faculty member Dr. Harry Shields, who is chairman of the Pastoral Studies
Department.
Each month, Dr. Shields will shed light on the great truths God's people
have confessed and affirmed for centuries. Our studies this month are
another effort to help you lay a solid foundation for your Christian life
in this new year.
Deuteronomy 6 is a logical place to start, since verse 4 affirms the basic
truth that our God is unique in His oneness. Notice that Moses does not
simply state the fact of God's character and then leave it. Theology
always demands a response.
That is very clear in today's reading. Since the Lord is the only true
God, we are called to love Him with every part of our being, and impress
His truth on our children. Fulfilling these commands is a challenge worth
our best efforts in 1999!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One of the best ways to let God's Word sink down into your heart and guide
your actions is to memorize Scripture.
If you have been a Today family
member for very long, you know how much value we place on Scripture
memory. Writing Deuteronomy 6:4-5 on the 'doorframes' of your mind is a
great way to begin the year. And, if possible, why not make it a group
project to memorize these life-changing verses? Encourage your family,
roommates, prayer partners, or others to join you in this project.
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Deuteronomy 6:5
F. B. Meyer
Our Daily Homily"LOVEST
thou Me?"
"Who art Thou, Lord, that I should
love Thee?"
"I am He that liveth, but I died; I
loved thee, and gave Myself for thee; I have made thee mine forever in a
bond that even death cannot break; I have loved thee with an everlasting
love; I shall never be at rest till thou art with Me where I am."
"Indeed I would love Thee; but how?"
"Thou shalt love Me with all thine
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."
"This were impossible unless Thou
give me the love Thou requirest."
"This I will do for thee, since love
is of God. Only obey these simple directions:
"1. Abstain from all wrath, anger,
malice, evil speaking, and all else that would grieve my Holy Spirit.
"2. Yield thyself to the Spirit,
that He may produce in thee His choice fruit--Love. 'The fruit of the
Spirit is love.' 'He sheds love abroad in the heart.'
"3. Consider my love to thee,
especially that I died for thee when thou wert yet in thy sins. Meditate
much upon the sacrifice I made for thee, that thou mightest have thy sins
blotted out, and enjoy the peace which passeth all understanding.
"4. Believing that thou hast
received the love of the Spirit, begin to let it work through thy life to
all around thee.
"5. If thy heart is unwilling to
love any, put thy will on My side, and confidently believe that I am able
to work in thee to will and to do of My own good pleasure." |
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Read: Deuteronomy 6:5-9; 20-25
These commandments that I give you
today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. -
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
TODAY IN THE WORD
A visitor to the hospital room of Dwight Eisenhower reported that at one
point in their conversation, the former president who was near death
raised up in his bed and declared, 'I still have something to say to the
American people.' It was an expression of Eisenhower's desire to complete
what he considered his legacy of leadership.
Every Christian has a legacy to
complete too not only a personal and perhaps a family legacy, but a
clearly defined body of truth to preserve and pass on to future
generations. It's here that older believers in the final season of faith
may make their most important contribution to the kingdom of God, and it's
a good place to end this part of our study.
Don't let the familiarity of these classic verses in Deuteronomy 6 cause
you to miss their solemn importance. There is no way to measure adequately
the power of life-related teaching about God's truth by someone who is
living it in front of his or her 'students.'
This kind of generational teaching begins in the home, and it is still the
most effective kind of teaching when done consistently. Although older
believers usually do not have their children or grandchildren living with
them, they can form a tremendous 'second line' of teaching and example for
the generations coming after them.
In verse 20 you'll see one reason a godly legacy is so effective. Moses
assumes that some day the younger generation will ask, 'What does all of
this mean?' That's when the older generation has a golden opportunity to
explain God's goodness and faithfulness to them.
Notice that this includes a divine history lesson. Your story of God's
leading and blessing ought to be a solid part of your family's story that
every member knows and can recite.
But it goes beyond history. The older generation is instructed to tell the
younger people about God commands, and to urge the younger to obey God and
enjoy His blessing.
In other words, a spiritual legacy is not just a body of material about
the past. It should help guide those coming behind us to walk in God's
ways.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you ever considered preserving your personal and family spiritual
'story' so your children and grandchildren will have a solid foundation to
build on?
If not, this might be a good time to
begin writing down or recording the things you want to share with the
younger generation. Or if you have an older believer in your family with a
lot to share, offer to help him or her tell the story of God's
faithfulness to them. |
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Read: Deuteronomy 6:6-9
These commandments that I give you
today are to be upon your hearts. - Deuteronomy 6:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
When the late basketball star 'Pistol' Pete Maravich was a youngster, he
practiced his dribbling and other skills so relentlessly that he was
able to dribble a basketball out the window of his father's car at thirty
miles per hour! Maravich always had a basketball in his hands, and the
training paid off in the ball-handling skills that made Pete a legend by
the time he had graduated from college.
Transfer that kind of dedication to the spiritual realm, and you get some
idea of what Moses had in mind for the training of children in the matters
of God.
It's not that parents and children are to walk around all day with a Bible
in their hands although some later Jewish groups took Moses very literally
and wore small boxes of Scripture on their foreheads and wrists. God's
purpose is always that His Word become a vital part of a family's daily
routine.
We usually hear about the family setting when this passage is taught. But
we can't afford to pass by verse 6 too quickly. The process begins with
the adults, not the children. God's Word must be fully at home in our own
hearts before we can transmit it effectively to our children and to others
around us.
Only then are we really equipped to impress God's truth on those who are
within our sphere of influence. The best setting for this is not
necessarily formal instruction, although Deuteronomy 6 certainly does not
prohibit that.
But Moses was after something more than intellectual instruction. God's
law was given to guide the moral behavior of His people, not simply to
enlighten their minds. If something is going to affect the way we live
each day, it needs to be deeply ingrained within us.
Every cult leader knows this, which is why false groups practice such
intense indoctrination. But a child or other young person who is
well-grounded in the Word and can apply it to the issues of life has
little to fear from a peddler of lies.
Moses knew that eventually the Israelites would settle in Canaan and build
houses for themselves. He was eager to make sure those houses were well
furnished with God's truth.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In light of today's lesson, this weekend is a good time for us to make
sure our homes are places where God's Word is prominent. We'll talk about
this today and tomorrow.
The first step is to minimize
distractions, things that keep our minds absorbed with the stuff of this
world and that drown out the Word. Think through a typical week around
your house. Do the television, radio, CD player, or computer command large
chunks of your time and attention? If you see an area of concern, this may
be the time for an honest evaluation. |
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Read: Deuteronomy 6:10-12
Be careful that you do not forget the
Lord. - Deuteronomy 6:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
Few things in life are as unattractive as ingratitude. Failing to be
thankful for what we have received, and even forgetting the source of our
blessings, is not just bad manners. It is a sin, since everything we have
is a gift from God (1 Cor. 4:7). The Israelites were on the verge of
inheriting an incredible windfall of blessing the well-developed and
fruitful land of Canaan. The way Moses described what was ahead for the
people of God must have made their heads spin.
After all, these were the children and grandchildren of people who had
known nothing but slavery in Egypt. Forty years of traveling in circles in
a harsh desert didn't do much to upgrade their lifestyle either. Now all
of a sudden, they were facing a future of unprecedented prosperity.
All that stood between Israel and this wealth was the people's obedience.
Yet once more, Moses set things in their proper context. This was no 'name
it, claim it' deal. The land of Canaan was a gift of God's grace in
fulfillment of His covenant promises to Israel's forefathers.
That means the people listening to Moses could not go back to their tents
and say, 'God is blessing me because of all the wonderful things I've done
and the great person I am.'
Don't misunderstand. God's blessing was most definitely an act of goodness
to the people He loved. But He did not want the Israelites to go into
Canaan with the idea, 'We deserve this for all we've suffered. We've
earned a reward. It was our skill in battle and our power that won Canaan
for us.'
People who start thinking like this commit a grievous sin, one of
forgetting whose hand has provided all they have. If there's one lesson
that is written large across the pages of Numbers and Deuteronomy, it is
the danger of forgetting and thus the need to remember who God is and what
He has done.
A very wise man named Agur once asked God to give him neither poverty nor
wealth. The danger of gaining the latter was that too much material gain
can lean one to disown God (Prov. 30:9). Does our abundance make us
grateful, or forgetful?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
These words from the Proverbs make up one of the lessons that need to be
learned at home.
Yesterday we talked about the
importance of making God's Word prominent in the daily life of our
families. One idea is to look for current events that can become the
springboard for a dinnertime discussion of a biblical principle. You might
use a Bible story such as Daniel and his commitment to God (Dan. 1:8-16)
to ask family members how they would handle a similar situation. The
teaching opportunities are there if we are alert to them. |
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Read: Deuteronomy 6:13-19
Do what is right and good in the Lord's
sight, so that it may go well with you. - Deuteronomy 6:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
Many years ago, a young hotel clerk in Philadelphia explained to an older
couple that no rooms were available for the night. But instead of turning
the pair out into the pouring rain, the clerk insisted that they take his
own room. The next morning the man thanked the clerk and told him he
deserved to be the manager of the finest hotel in America. 'Maybe some day
I'll build one for you.' The clerk simply smiled. Two years later,
however, he found himself in New York as the first manager of the new
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel! The couple he had befriended were Mr. and Mrs.
William Waldorf Astor.
Talk about the rewards of service.
The Lord lavishes His goodness upon those who serve Him faithfully and
obediently. 'No good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is
blameless,' the Bible says (Ps. 84:11).
Moses drew on all the passion of his heart to warn, teach, and exhort
Israel to love and to serve the Lord God faithfully. He realized that if
the people stopped following the God of Abraham, they would begin
following the worthless idols of the nations around them. As one Bible
commentator has pointed out, God created us with the need to worship.
The opposite of serving and obeying God is to put Him to the test to doubt
His goodness, take for granted His provisions, and provoke Him to anger.
The Israelites had just about cornered the market on that sin. Massah
(Deuteronomy 6:16) was another name for Meribah, the occasion when the people's
temporary thirst caused them to question the eternal God.
That was a painful memory for Moses. The only thing more painful would be
for the nation to repeat that sin once they had entered Canaan and had
experienced times of need. God's promise of provision did not mean the
people would never be in temporary need.
But the key was to remember | |
