Deuteronomy

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“So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3 NKJV)

March 27, 2015

Believers who have gone through a season of poverty depending on the Lord, know His divine care. They have found the Lord’s Word is faithful and that He does not let His people go “begging bread” (Psa. 37:25). God disciplines us to teach us that He is the One to depend on, not our money and possessions. Deut. 8:3 was a favorite passage of Jesus. He quoted it to the devil in Matthew 4:4 when He was tempted to turn the stones to bread. He referred to it in John 4 when He told the disciples that His “food was to do the will of the Father.” Have you learned to trust the Lord’s provision? His Word is better than wealth.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4 NKJV)

March 26, 2015

In Deuteronomy, Moses restated the wilderness stories and God’s law to encourage the Israelites to remember and keep their covenant with the Lord. He encouraged them to make God’s Word a daily part of their lives, so that they knew it in their hearts. The above verse is known as the “Shema” (Pronounced “shee-mah,” it means “listen, hear”). It became the centerpiece of the the Jewish morning and evening prayers. Today, you can still hear it sung by the cantor in the synagogue every Sabbath and taught to every Jewish child as a bedtime prayer. “Shema, Yisrael Adonai eloheinu Adonai echad.” The cantor sings in a lilting baritone, sounding like a cross between singing and chanting. Of course, they substitute the word “Adonai” (Lord) for the actual name of God (“YHWH – Yahweh”) as found in Deuteronomy, because they consider the Name too holy to say. Singing, repeating daily, praying, and memorizing God’s Word can help us know it by heart. Yet, if we want the Word “written” on our hearts, only faith in Christ will move it from stone tablets to circumcised hearts.

“These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness” (Deuteronomy 1:1 NKJV)

March 23, 2015

The book of Deuteronomy is a recap of the Israelites’ wilderness journey. It is the fifth and final book of the Torah (“Torah” – Hebrew for “law.” Also referred to as the Books of Moses or the Pentateuch). It’s title comes from the Greek translation, the Septuagint, and literally means “Second Law” (“deutero” – two or second; “nomos” – law). The Hebrews call the book “Devarim,” which means “words,” taken from the opening verse, “These are the words…” Deuteronomy is made up of three sermons that Moses gave to the Israelites to prepare them to finally enter the Promised Land. In these sermons, he reminded them of all that they had learned together in their wilderness wanderings, of God’s laws and God’s promises. For the modern reader, Deuteronomy is a helpful “Cliff’s Notes” version of the previous three books. It also gives insight into how Moses viewed the events recorded previously.

“There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:10 NLT)

April 10, 2014

Many attributes of Moses’ ministry could have been mentioned here that made his prophetic office unique. Challenging Pharaoh, leading Israel out of Egyptian slavery, shepherding them in the wilderness, giving them the laws of God… any one of these would make him one of the greatest prophets in Israel. Yet, here it is supported by the fact that the Lord knew him “face to face.” It was this intimate relationship with God that marked Moses’ ministry. He was a mediator, a go-between for God and Israel. In this, Moses was a Christological type, one whose life pointed to a future fulfillment in Christ Jesus. Unlike Moses, who could never really “see” God in all His glory (Read Exodus 33-34), Jesus came from God Himself. As John wrote: “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1:18). Jesus is our Great Mediator. There never has been, nor will there ever be another like Him!

“You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life” (Deuteronomy 30:20 NLT)

April 6, 2014

Moses gave final instructions to the Israelites before his departure. He told them that they all had to make a choice between life and death. Both paths are clearly marked, yet few choose life. Here, Moses said that the “key to life” is to love, obey and commit yourself to God. Yet, the only One to really accomplish this is Jesus, who alone expressed love, obedience and commitment to the Father fully. When we “choose” Jesus (who has already chosen us), we choose life.

“If someone has committed a crime worthy of death and is executed and hung on a tree, the body must not remain hanging from the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone who is hung is cursed in the sight of God” (Deuteronomy 21:22-23 NLT)

April 2, 2014

This Mosaic law along with the double importance that the Passover Sabbath began at sundown was the motivation behind the Jews’ insistence that Pilate remove the bodies of Jesus and the two thieves from their crosses before sunset. Strange that they cared so much for this minor law, yet willingly broke the commandment not to murder. Also, it is significant that the law says that anyone who is executed on a tree is “cursed.” This emphasizes the degree to which Christ took on our sin and death that he became “accursed” for us. So, the apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13).

“So be careful to obey all the commands I give you. You must not add anything to them or subtract anything from them” (Deuteronomy 12:32 NLT)

March 29, 2014

The addition and subtraction from God’s Word began even in the Garden. When the serpent questioned God’s command, Eve added to it saying, “You shall not eat of the fruit of this tree, neither shall you touch it lest you die” (Gen. 3:3). God never said anything about “touching” it. This was her addition. Then the serpent made his subtraction saying, “You shall not surely die” (Gen. 3:4). I wonder did the devil hand it to her so that she might “touch it” first? And after touching it and not dying, decided it was good. It is no surprise that the devil works to subtract from God’s Word, but isn’t it surprising that our flesh works in league with him by adding to it? I suppose we think we are doing a good thing when we add to God’s commands, that we are moving the railing back farther from the precipice. But external law cannot control the flesh. Adding to the law, we make it so hard that we break the spirit of the law and instead become utterly lawless. Be careful not to add or subtract from God’s Word, turning neither to the left or to the right (Joshua 1:7). Instead, receive the righteousness of Christ Jesus, who kept the law perfectly, so that the commands of God are written on your hearts.

“These are the words that Moses spoke to all the people of Israel while they were in the wilderness east of the Jordan River” (Deuteronomy 1:1 NLT)

March 23, 2014

So begins the 5th book of the “Torah” (Hebrew: Law). The name Deuteronomy (From the Greek Septuagint: deutero “second” + nomos “law”) means “second law” because it’s a re-telling of the 40 days in the wilderness by Moses. For those who are reading the Bible for the first time, it is a bit confusing because the story starts over again after the book of Numbers. It is helpful to see Deuteronomy as the record of three speeches that Moses made to the Israelites reminding them of everything that had happened, and of all that God commanded, before they finally enter the Promised Land.

“Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land” (Deuteronomy 34:1)

April 10, 2013

I’ve been on Mt. Nebo. It is located in the modern nation of Jordan. The Bible says that Moses could see all the promised land from there. I’ve stood on Mt. Nebo and I can confirm that this is true. The five books of Moses can be confirmed archaeologically and geographically. Here are some photos taken from Mt. Nebo…

“Take care lest you forget the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 8:11 ESV)

March 27, 2013

The Lord warned the Israelites not to forget Him after they possessed the promised land. As long as they were wandering in the wilderness, they were dependent on God, but soon they would have houses, lands, vineyards, flocks and wealth. Would God’s blessing actually result in them forgetting the One who gave them this bounty? Yes. Within a generation after those who had experienced Egypt and the wilderness had died, they forgot the Lord (read the book of Judges). Can you think of a nation that has experienced more of God’s blessing in modern history than ours? Where is the generation that remembers from where this blessing came? Do you remember?