Deuteronomy 4
Be faithful to what taughtverses 1-13
Now therefore hearken – O Israel
to the statutes and unto the judgments
which I TEACH you – for to do them
that you may live
and go in and possess the land which the
LORD God of your fathers gives you
You shall not ADD to the word which I command you
neither shall you DIMIINISH aught from it
that you may keep the commandments of the
LORD your God which I command you
Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baal-Peor
for all the men that followed Baal-peor
the LORD your God has destroyed them
from among you
BUT you that did cleave to the LORD your God are ALIVE
every one of you this day
BEHOLD – I have TAUGHT you statutes and judgments
even as the LORD my God commanded me
that you should do so in the land
whither you go to possess it
Keep therefore and do them
for this is your wisdom and your understanding
in the sight of the nations
which shall hear all these statutes
and say – Surely this great nation is a wise and
understanding people
For what nation is there so great – who has God so nigh to them
as the LORD our God is in all things that we call on him for?
And what nation is there so great
that has statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law
which I set before you this day?
Only TAKE HEED to yourself – and KEEP your soul diligently
lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen
and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life
BUT TEACH them your sons – and your sons’ sons
Specially the day that you stood before the LORD your God in Horeb
when the LORD said to me – Gather ME the people together
and I will make them hear MY words
that they may LEARN to FEAR ME all the
days that they shall live on the earth
that they may TEACH their children
And you came near and stood under the mountain
and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven
with darkness – clouds – thick darkness
AND the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire
you heard the voice of the words
BUT saw no similitude
only you heard a voice
And HE declared to you HIS covenant
which HE commanded you to perform – even ten commandments
and HE wrote them on two tables of stone
Warning against making idolsverses 14-19
AND the LORD commanded me at that time to TEACH you
statutes and judgments – that you might do them in the land
whither you go over to possess it
Take you therefore good heed to yourselves
for you saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD
spoke to you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire
lest you corrupt yourselves – and make you a graven image
the similitude of any figure
the likeness of male or female
the likeness of any beast that is on the earth
the likeness of any winged fowl that flies in the air
the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground
the likeness of any fish that is in the waters
beneath the earth
and lest you lift up your eyes to heaven
and when you see the sun – moon – stars
even all the host of heaven
should be driven to worship them
and serve them
which the LORD your God has divided to all nations
under the whole heaven
Deliverance from Egyptverse 20
BUT the LORD has taken you and brought you forth
out of the iron furnace – even out of Egypt
to be to HIM a people of inheritance
as you are this day
Warning not to break covenantverses 21-24
Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes
and swore that I should not go over Jordan
and that I should not go in unto that good land
which the LORD your God give you
for an inheritance
BUT I must DIE in this land – I must not go over Jordan
BUT you shall go over and possess that good land
TAKE HEED to yourselves
lest you FORGET the covenant of the LORD your God
which HE made with you
and made you a graven image
or the likeness of any thing
which the LORD your God has forbidden you
FOR the LORD your God is a CONSUMING FIRE
even a JEALOUS God
Warning of captivityverses 25-28
When you shall beget children – and children’s children
and you shall have remained long in the land
and shall corrupt yourselves
and make a graven image – or the likeness of any thing
and shall do evil in the sight of the
LORD your God to provoke HIM to anger
I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day
that you shall soon utterly perish from off the land
whereunto you go over Jordan to possess it
You shall not prolong your days on it
BUT shall utterly be destroyed
And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations
and you shall be left few in number among the heathen
whither the LORD shall lead you
And there you shall serve gods
the work of men’s hands wood and stone
which neither see – nor hear – nor eat – nor smell
Seeking the LORD will be rewardedverses 29-31
BUT IF from thence you shall seek the LORD your God
you shall find HIM – IF you seek HIM
with all your heart and with all your soul
When you are in tribulation – and all these things are come on you
EVEN IN THE LATTER DAYS –
IF you turn to the LORD your God
and shall be obedient to HIS voice
(For the LORD your God is a MERCIFUL God)
HE will not forsake you – neither destroy you
nor forget the covenant of your fathers
which HE swore to them
Past demonstration HIS powerverses 32-40
FOR ask now of the days that are past – which were before you
since the day that God CREATED man on the earth
and ask from the one side of heaven to the other
whether there has been any such thing as
this great thing is or has been heard like it?
Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking
out of the midst of the fire as you have heard – and live?
OR has God assayed to go and take HIM a nation from the midst of
another nation – by temptations – signs – wonders – war
a mighty hand a stretched out arm – great terrors
according to all that the LORD your God
did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
TO you it was shown – that you might know that the LORD HE is God
there is none else beside HIM
Out of heaven HE made you to hear HIS voice
that HE might INSTRUCT you
and upon earth HE showed you HIS great fire
and you heard HIS words out of the midst of the fire
And because HE loved your fathers
therefore HE chose their seed after them
and brought thee out in HIS sight with
HIS MIGHTY POWER out of Egypt
To drive out nations from before you greater and mightier than you are
to bring you in – to give thee their land for an inheritance
as it is this day
KNOW therefore this day – and consider it in your heart
that the LORD HE is God in heaven above
and upon the earth beneath
THERE IS NONE ELSE
YOU shall keep therefore HIS statutes and HIS commandments
which I command you this day – that it may go well with you
and with your children after you
and that you may prolong your days on the earth
which the LORD your God give you
FOR EVER
Refuse cities on east side of Jordanverses 41-43
Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan
toward the sunrising
that the slayer might flee thither
which should kill his neighbor unawares
and hated him not in times past
and that fleeing to one of these cities he might live
namely – Bezer in the wilderness
in the plain country of the Reubenites
and Ramoth in Gilead of the Gadites
and Golan in Bashan of the Manassites
Victories on east side of Jordanverses 44-49
And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel
these are the testimonies – and the statutes – and the judgments
which Moses spoke unto the children of Israel
after they came forth out of Egypt
On this side Jordan – in the valley over against Beth-peor
in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites
who dwelt at Heshbon – whom Moses and the
children of Israel smote
after they were come forth out of Egypt
And they possessed his land – and the land of Og king of Bashan
two kings of the Amorites – which were on this side Jordan
toward the sunrising
From Aroer – which is by the bank of the river Arnon
even unto mount Zion – which is Hermon
and all the plain on this side Jordan eastward
even unto the sea of the plain
under the springs of Pisgah
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish aught from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (3254 “add” [yacaph] means again, increase, exceed, to make addition to or increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of i.)
DEVOTION: The Law of the LORD was the Law of the LORD. It was not to be added to or taken from by any or all teachers of it. It was to be presented just as Moses received it from the LORD. He also taught it to the people. He was to be an obedient teacher which meant that he could not present anything that the LORD had not taught.
The problem with this is that man thinks that he can add to or take away from the commands of the LORD without consequences. This is not true. There are consequences. Moses found it to be true and we will find the same thing out in our time.
There are many teachers who are not teaching the Word of God as the LORD presented it to the children of Israel or to the church. God has not changed in HIS moral standard. It has remained the same.
We are to be individuals who are obedient to the commands of the LORD. HE wants us to live lives that are pleasing to HIM. Today that means following the commands of Jesus Christ while HE was on this earth.
There are many people in our churches who want to add to the laws of God. There are many in our churches who want to take some of the commands away because they are not happy to follow them.
This verse informs us that the LORD is watching what we are doing and what we are teaching and we will be held accountable for how we act and how we train others to act.
Our children and grandchildren need to be able to follow are example we are genuinely following the LORD. They have to know that we are not sinless but that we confess our sins on a regular basis to keep our fellowship with the LORD close.
CHALLENGE: Can your children and grandchildren follow your example on a regular basis and call themselves genuine followers of the LORD?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 7 For what nation is there so great, who has God so nigh to them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call on him for? (7138 “ nigh” [qarowb] means neighbor, kin, approach, imminent, close relationship, close proximity, kin, or nearness in space)
DEVOTION: Can we compare any nation to the children of Israel and their relationship with the LORD? The answer is NO!! HE chose Israel to be HIS representative of what it was to follow the one true God.
How well did they do? The answer is not too well. HE was very longsuffering with them. HE had to judge them many times in the wilderness. HE had to teach them on a regular basis what HE expected of them. HE had to pick their leadership and even they didn’t follow HIM every well.
Working with humans is difficult but without the help of the LORD it was impossible to please HIM. Some pleased HIM but most were rebellious. Joshua and Caleb were two that did please HIM.
Today it is the same. Those who are followers of the LORD are HIS chosen people. All of those who follow the LORD are still sinners. All who follow the LORD need correction on a regular basis.
Is the LORD near us today? The answer is YES!! HE blesses HIS people. HE strengthens HIS people. HE corrects HIS people. We have the ministry of the Holy Spirit with us at all times who helps us pray for the right things in our life. HE doesn’t give up on us but continues to teach us like HE did the children of Israel.
The LORD promises HIS presence in our life each day of our life. HE will never leave us or forsake us. Jesus likens HIS presence with us as a friend. Praise HIS name!!!
CHALLENGE: We need to listen closely to the LORD’S instructions each day from HIS Word the Bible. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to do a good work in us.
: 9 Only take heed to yourself, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life: but teach them your sons, and your grandsons.
DEVOTION: We are responsible to remember the past. We are to learn from our past. Every circumstance that has come into our lives is for the purpose of our maturing in the faith since we became a believer. God doesn’t waste our time. HE wants us to learn and mature, so that, we might bring glory to HIS name.
The children of Israel are given instruction that they are to never forget what has happened to them since they left Egypt. They were not to forget what happened in Egypt before they left. All their memories were to be stored, so that, they could teach their children and grandchildren what they have learned from the LORD.
Why is this important? If they learned the lessons and taught the lessons to their children and grandchildren maybe the next generation wouldn’t have to go through the same things they went through.
The problem is that many times we don’t learn from our past and we keep repeating the same sins that we had done in the past. If this is what is happening than our children and grandchildren will see the same sins we have committed in the past and continue in those sins.
If we mature and train our children and grandchildren in what we have learned and we are not still practicing those sins our children and grandchildren will have a good example to follow.
Moses is telling them to “watch out.” He is telling us to “watch out.” If we listen our children and grandchildren might be better followers of the LORD because of these lessons. Wouldn’t that be great!!!!
CHALLENGE: What are we teaching our grandchildren about the LORD by our actions and words? [On June 5, 2017 I deposited the first donation of any of my thirteen grandchildren into the account of Small Church Ministries. The next generation is supporting this ministry]
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 30 When you are in tribulation, and all these things are come upon you, even in the latter days, if you turn to the LORD your God, and shall be obedient to HIS voice (319 “latter” [’achariyth] means the last or end, future, hinder, posterity, or residue)
DEVOTION: Throughout the book of Deuteronomy we will receive a second giving of the law. Moses is reminding the children of Israel of all the laws the LORD had given to them.
Following the commandments of the LORD could mean life or death to the children of Israel. They were not to add to or diminish the laws of the LORD. In the past they didn’t follow the laws and were judged for their actions.
Moses wanted them to keep diligent in their actions and keep their eyes on the LORD at all times. They were not only to keep their eyes on the LORD at all times but were to teach the next generation coming up to do the same. All generations were to learn how to FEAR THE LORD.
They had seen the LORD in action on Mount Sinai. They had heard HIS voice and saw the two tables of stone with the Ten Commandments on them.
They needed to know that they were a blessed people. They were a loved people by the LORD. They were a chosen people of the LORD.
However, at the same time they needed to understand that the LORD was a consuming fire. HE was a jealous God. HE didn’t want to share them with false gods.
He is warning them to not get complacent in the Promises Land and forget the LORD. He informs them about the problem of worshiping false gods. He warns them that they could go into captivity if they go into false worship. He also informs them that when they return to the LORD, HE will help them. The battle on this earth is real. A lack of obedience can lead to captivity and/or tribulation.
In the future there would be times when the children of Israel would go into captivity. If they returned to the LORD, HE would be available to help them. This could also refer to the end times when the Messiah would return and set up HIS kingdom on earth.
The children of Israel were warned. We are warned in the New Testament that we have to stay close to the LORD. There is a world out there that wants us to follow it. Here we have a warning about a future that will have tribulation.
Being a Christian might get rough for us in every country before the LORD calls us home. We have to remain faithful to HIM. Even during times of tribulation, we can return to the LORD. HE is willing to be found by obedient people. Are we listening to HIS voice? Are we obeying HIS voice? The future times of the LORD’S return can be soon!!!! Are we watching?
CHALLENGE: When we are faced with a time of tribulation, do we turn to the LORD for help? Do we try to handle it ourselves? Moses is instructing us to put our confidence in the LORD.
: 39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD HE is God in heaven above, and in the earth beneath, there is none else. (369 “none (“ayin) means never, nothing, innumerable, or for lack of)
DEVOTION: Today we find many people trying to say that there is more than one way to get into heaven. Or they might say that all religions lead to the same place. Or they might say that God is love and therefore everyone is going to heaven. Another saying is that there is no afterlife anyway.
Well, the Bible teaches something different from what these individuals might believe. The Bible teaches that there is a life after death. The Bible teaches that there is a way to please God.
The children of Israel were to be followers of God no matter what. They were to obey HIS laws, statutes, judgments and teachings. If they followed HIS law perfectly, they would get into heaven, right? NO!! God knew that they couldn’t follow HIS laws perfectly so HE gave them a sacrificial system that would look forward to a time when the perfect sacrifice would come and take away their sins. HE knew there was no other way.
So, the children of Israel had to learn that there was NO OTHER GOD. All other gods were false. All other religions are false. There is only one TRUE God and HE is the God of the Bible.
The second fact that we know is that there is NO OTHER WAY to get into heaven but through Jesus Christ who was the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Only those who repent and make a genuine commitment to Jesus Christ will spend eternity in heaven. All others will spend eternity in the lake of fire reserved for the devil and his angels.
CHALLENGE: The Bible teaches that God is exclusive and that HE has provided a way to escape the lake of fire.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Wrote Ten Commandmentsverse 13
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Callverses 7, 26
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Heard voice of the words of LORDverse 12
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Statutesverses 1, 5, 6, 8, 14, 40, 45
Judgmentsverses 1, 5, 8, 14, 45
Commandmentsverses 2, 40
Lawverse 8
Ten Commandmentsverse 13
Two tables of stoneverse 13
Covenantverse 31
Testimoniesverse 45
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD (Jehovah)verses 1-5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 15, 19-21, 23-25, 27, 29-31, 34, 39, 40
God (Elohim)verses 1-5, 7, 10, 19, 20, 21, 29-35, 39, 40
LORD God of your fathersverse 1
Commandments of the LORDverse 2
LORD your Godverses 2, 4, 23, 34
LORD thy Godverses 3, 10, 19, 21, 23–25, 29-31, 40
LORD my Godverse 5
God nigh to Israelverse 7
LORD our Godverse 7
LORD spoke out of the fireverse 12
HIS covenantverse 13
LORD was angryverse 21
LORD thy God is a consuming fireverse 24
Jealous Godverse 24
Sight of the LORD thy Godverse 25
LORD shall lead you – out of landverse 27
Voice of Godverses 30, 33
Merciful Godverse 31
Not forsake HIS peopleverse 31
Neither destroy HIS peopleverse 31
Neither forsake HIS covenantverse 31
Creatorverse 32
God uses temptations, signs, wonders war, mighty hand, stretched out arm, great terrorsverse 34
None elseverses 35, 39
LORD HE is Godverses 35, 39
Hear HIS voiceverse 36
Instruct Israelverse 36
Show great fireverse 36
LORD loved the fathersverse 37
Chose Israelverse 37
LORD HE is God in heaven above and in earth beneathverse 39
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Baal-peorverses 3, 46
Nation will hear of God’s statutesverse 6
Nationsverses 19, 27
Egypt (Iron Furnace)verses 20, 34, 37, 45, 46
Jordanverses 21, 22, 26, 46, 49
Heathenverse 27
Amoritesverses 46, 47
Sihon – king of the Amoritesverse 46
Og – king of Bashanverse 47
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Add to the wordverse 2
Diminish the wordverse 2
Forget the things seenverse 9
Depart from heartverse 9
Corrupt with idolsverses 16-19, 23, 25, 28
Likeness of male or female
Likeness of anything that creeps
Likeness of birds
Likeness of fish
Worship the heavens
Graven images
Neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell
Work of man’s hands
False worshipverse 19
Serve false godsverses 19, 28
Forget the covenantverses 23, 31
Forbidden thingsverse 23
Evilverse 25
Provoke God to angerverse 25
Not prolong your daysverse 26
Kill verse 42
Slayerverse 42
Hateverse 42
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Hearkenverses 1, 10, 12, 33, 36
Teachverses 1, 5, 9, 10, 14, 36
Obedienceverses 1, 5, 6, 30
Lifeverse 1
Giftsverse 1
Keep the commandmentsverse 2
Observe evidence of work of LORDverses 3, 9
Cleave to the LORDverse 4
Inheritanceverse 5
Wisdomverse 6
Understandingverse 6
Presence of the LORDverses 7, 31
Righteousverse 8
Take heedverses 9, 15, 23
Keep soul diligentlyverse 9
Hear God’s wordsverse 10
Learn to fear the LORDverse 10
Teach childrenverses 10, 25
Covenantverses 13, 23, 31
Inheritanceverses 14, 20, 21, 38
Take good heedverse 15
Prolong your daysverse 26
Seek the LORD= find HIMverse 29
Turnverse 30
Mercyverse 31
Loveverse 37
Choseverse 37
Prolong lifeverse 40
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Israelverse 1
Judgment at Baalpeorverse 3
Wise and understanding peopleverse 6
Moses set law before peopleverse 8
Stood before the LORD at Horebverse 10
Given Promised Land (good land)verses 14, 21, 22
Tribulationverse 30
Covenant with fathersverse 31
Hear voice of Godverse 33
God bring Israel out of Egyptverse 34
LORD loved the fathersverse 37
Mosesverses 41, 44-46
Three cities of refugeverses 41-43
Bezer – Reubenites
Ramoth in Gilead –Gadites
Golan in Baashan – Manassites
Children of Israelverses 45, 46
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Moses to dieverse 22
Latter daysverse 30
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QUOTES regarding passage
4:6 These statutes (and those about to be promulgated, v. 8) would do more than merely provide guidelines for successful life in the land. By obeying them, God’s people would also display before the nations what it means to be the people of the Lord and to have him in their midst (vv. 6–7). In a clear linkage with wisdom thought, Moses argued that keeping and doing the commandments of the Lord is in itself a definition of wisdom (ḥokmâ) and understanding (bînâ). That is, the very essence of wisdom is conformity with the will of God. Even the pagan nations—by whom wisdom was prized and highly sought after—would see in Israel’s covenant provisions a wisdom of a higher order, one to be eagerly emulated. This, of course, was part of the attraction of Israel by which they were to become a means of blessing the whole earth (cf. 1 Kgs 10:4, 7, 23–24). (Merrill, E. H. (1994). Deuteronomy (Vol. 4, pp. 116–117). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
4:5–8. One purpose of the Law was to give the Israelites a full life as they obeyed God (vv. 1–4). In verses 5–8 another purpose of the Law is revealed: to make Israel morally and spiritually unique among all the nations and thereby draw other nations to the Lord. In contrast with all other nations Israel was not to be distinguished by her natural resources, wealth, or military might, but by her moral skill and close relationship to God, both of which would come from her obeying her moral constitution. If Israel would obey the Law she would be the envy of all nations. They would see her as (a) being wise and understanding, (b) having a God who is near her, and (c) possessing righteous decrees and laws. (Deere, J. S. (1985). Deuteronomy. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 269). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Moses went on to show that faithfulness to God had already brought life, and wickedness, death, in Israel’s experience (3–4). Properly understood, keeping God’s laws brings freedom and delight (see Ps. 119:45, 47). This was Israel’s true destiny in the land. Other nations had their wisdom, but would envy that of Israel, whose very laws were wisdom (6). Israel’s laws were unlike any others, just as her God was unlike any other (see 3:24). Their righteousness (8) implies that they bring salvation. Law and life are intimately related. (McConville, J. G. (1994). Deuteronomy. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 205). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press)
4:6 the peoples. Israel’s obedience to God’s law would provide a testimony to the world that God was near to His people and that His laws were righteous. One purpose of the law was to make Israel morally and spiritually unique among all the nations and, therefore, draw those nations to the true and living God. They were from their beginnings to be a witness nation. Though they failed and have been temporarily set aside, the prophets revealed that in the future kingdom of Messiah they will be a nation of faithful witnesses (cf. Is 45:14; Zec 8:23). a wise and understanding people. The nations would see 3 things in Israel (vv. 6–8). First, the Israelites would know how to apply God’s knowledge so as to have discernment and to be able to judge matters accurately. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Dt 4:6). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Ver. 6. Keep therefore and do them, &c.] Observe them, take notice of what is expressed by them, and perform them, both as to matter and manner, as they require: for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations; that is, their wisdom and understanding would appear to other nations by their observance of the commands of God; which shall hear all these statutes; which they had a report, and got knowledge of by some of the philosophers who travelled into those parts, and by the translation of the Bible into the Greek language: and say, surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people; that had such a body of laws, in which they were instructed, and according to which they were governed, and in which they walked; that were so agreeable to reason, truth, justice, and equity; insomuch that so far as they became known they were admired and copied after, both by Greeks and Romans; and hence it was that the oraclef declared, that only the Chaldeans and Hebrews were a wise people; the Hebrews came from Chaldea, as Abraham the father of them. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, pp. 17–18). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
6. Keep therefore, and do them. In order that they may set themselves more cheerfully about the keeping of the Law, and may proceed more steadily in this endeavour, he reminds them that nothing is better or more desirable for themselves. For God is not duly honoured, except with ready minds and voluntary obedience, to which we are rather attracted by pleasure than forced by rigour and violence. Now, since all desire to excel, he says, that this is the chief excellence of Israel, that they have God for their Lawgiver and Master. If any object that what he says may be refuted by two arguments, namely, because the Law of God was unknown to heathen nations; and because the form of God’s worship prescribed in it, and the whole Jewish religion, was not only despised but hated by them; I reply, that other nations are not here absolutely stated to be the judges or arbitrators, but that the words must be thus understood, viz., that there will be no nation, if it should come to a right understanding, which will dare to compare itself, much less to prefer itself to you; for by the very comparison it will acknowledge to what a height of dignity God has raised you. Wherefore, although the doctrine of the Law should remain neglected, nay, detested, by almost all the world, still Moses with truth declares, that since God has deigned to deliver to the Jews a rule of life, a stage had been erected before other nations, whereon the nobility of that one people would be conspicuous. For it was unreasonable that the glory of God should be tarnished or extinguished by the ignorance of the blind. But we gather from this passage that we then are truly wise, when we depend on God’s words, and submit our feeling to His revelations. Where I have rendered the words, “Surely (certo) this people,” the Hebrew particle, רק, rak, is used, which is often applied in an exclusive sense, so that it would appropriately bear this meaning: “Only this people,” &c. Unquestionably, the eminent condition of the people, on account of their gracious privileges, is referred to. (Calvin, J., & Bingham, C. W. (2010). Commentaries on the Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Form of a Harmony (Vol. 1, pp. 347–348). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
The love of God (vv. 32-43. When you’re raising small children, you use rewards and punishments to teach them to obey; but when they get older, you hope that character and love will motivate them to shun evil and do what is right. When Israel turned from the true and living God and began to worship idols, they were sinning against God’s grace and love. The LORD hadn’t chosen any other nation and given it His covenant, nor had He spoken to any other nation and given it His holy law. God had led His people and cared for them from the days of Abraham to the time of Moses, and He had done this for no other nation. Why? It wasn’t because Israel deserved these blessings but because of God’s everlasting love (v. 37; see 7:7-8; 13; 23:5 (The Bible Exposition Commentary)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
A closed hand is based on the faulty assumption that we know more about what’s best for us than our all-knowing God whose wisdom is unfathomable. An open hand, however, reflects the humble awareness that the Lord Jesus can do more than we can do and that His plan for us is better than any we can devise. An open hand says, “Lord, You know how precious this thing is to me, but I acknowledge You as more precious. You have a greater plan for my life, and I don’t want to miss it by clinging to my own tarnished treasures. I’m opening my hand to You in surrender and trust.” (p. 170, Signs of Life by David Jeremiah)
The CHURCH in an AGE of CRISIS by James Emery White
Today, twelve – thirteen year-old girls are among the highest paid models in America; they are presented to us as knowing and sexually enticing adults. Young adult fiction is as mature in its themes as anything on the adult lists. The language of adults and children – including what they address in life – has become the same. It is virtually uncontested among sociologists that the behavior, language, attitudes, and desires – even the physical appearance – of adults and children ae becoming indistinguishable. (p. 126)
Whether that was a result of new parenting styles or simply the way of the world, the parenting pendulum has swung. From hands on to hands off; from discipline to persuasion; from moral authority to moral influence. And while today we may have backed off from some of the more radical ideas. Spock put forward that our parents and their parents embraced, here’s what stuck: the one thing you don’t want to do as a parent is be overprotective. And we’ve attached all kinds of pejorative words to it:
· Hovering
· Smothering
· Babying
· Coddling
· Sheltering (p. 127)
Quench not the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:19
A characteristic of dead orthodoxy is a dislike of enthusiasm. If you like it in more biblical terms, I could put it like this: It is to be guilty of quenching the Spirit. To dislike enthusiasm is to quench the Spirit. Those who are familiar with the history of the church, and in particular with the history of revivals, will know that this charge of enthusiasm is the one that has always been brought against people who have been most active in a period of revival.
This has been a common accusation throughout history. Read, for instance, the stories of the men of the eighteenth century. A charge that George Whitefield constantly had to answer and rebuff at the hand of bishops was this charge of enthusiasm. They said, “Look here, we’re not objecting so much to your doctrine it is the way you are preaching it, it is the way you are doing it. John Wesley was constantly charged in the same way, even by his own mother, Susannah Wesley. Why could he not preach like everybody else? What was he so excited about? Why all this disturbance? Susannah Wesley was a very godly woman, but she could not understand this son of hers, who suddenly had become an enthusiast. One of the things that comes out very clearly as you read the literature of the eighteenth century in terms of the Christian church is that this charge was constantly brought forward.
So, then, we must look at this subject because clearly this opposition to what is called enthusiasm can be one of the greatest hindrances to revival. And it is the particular danger of people who are in a state of dead orthodoxy. As I understand the matter, there are two great principles laid down in the New Testament for our help and guidance. The first principle is that everything must be done “decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). But there is another statement: “Quench not the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
A Thought to Ponder: To dislike enthusiasm is to quench the Spirit. (Dr. Martyn Lloyd–Jones)
The Christian ministry has never been for the faint of heart. The ministry, biblically defined, is combat duty in spiritual warfare. These graduates have been prepared to be front-line officers in that warfare. Today is part of their commissioning. They are to be sent out as ambassadors of the Gospel of Christ, as heralds of the Kingdom that cannot be shaken, as stewards of the mysteries of Christ, and good soldiers of King Jesus. In the centuries since the apostles, the ministry has not changed, the assignment has never changed, but the context has changed and changed and changed again. Jesus told his disciples: “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” [Matthew 10:16, ESV] The wolves have not grown friendlier. (Dr. Albert Mohler)
2 Timothy 1
Paul exhorts Timothy to rekindle his zeal for the Christian life and ministry.
INSIGHT
A number of years have passed between the writing of 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy. During that time, Timothy has faced great trial and opposition and is in danger of discontinuing his ministry. Paul writes a terse letter of exhortation, urging strength and constancy. A list of phrases used in this book include:”stir up,” “do not be ashamed,” “hold fast,” “be strong,” “endure hardship,” “be diligent, “flee youthful lusts,” “pursue righteousness,” and “preach the word!” In the heat of battle, short and powerful commands are easy to comprehend. (Quiet Walk)
As an adult leader, I arranged a student field trip to an obstacle course. We instructed students to slip into safety gear and scale an eight-foot wall. Those who went first encouraged each climber to trust the harness and keep moving forward without looking down. One of our students stared at the barrier as we secured belts and buckles around her waist. “There’s no way I can do this,” she said. Affirming the strength of her harness, we encouraged her and cheered when she climbed up the wall and stepped onto the high platform.
When we face problems that seem impossible to conquer, fears and insecurities can cause doubts. The assurance of God’s unchanging might, goodness, and faithfulness creates a strong harness of trust. This confident assurance fueled the courage of the Old Testament saints, who demonstrated that faith trumps our need to know every detail of God’s plan (Hebrews 11:1-13, 39). With conviction, we seek God earnestly, often standing alone when we trust Him. We can adjust the way we approach our challenges by viewing our circumstances with an eternal perspective—knowing our trials are only temporary (vv. 13-16).
Focusing on the steep climbs in life can prevent us from believing that God will bring us through. But knowing He’s with us, we can harness our uncertainties by faith as we trust God to help us overcome obstacles that once seemed impossible.
By Xochitl Dixon (Our Daily Bread)
GOD DWELLS IN US
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:12
God dwells in us. That is one of the grounds of my assurance, my certainty. “No man hath seen God at any time.” Very well, then, do we go on in doubt and almost in despair wondering whether there is a God? No! says John; “if we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”
Now, I confess very readily that I approach a theme like this with fear and with a sense of awe. Consider the great statement in John 14 of this intimate union between the believer and God the Father and God the Son, of Their abiding in us and dwelling in us. We are familiar with chapters 14, 15, 16, and 17 of John’s Gospel, and here we have the same thing again. “God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” And John goes on to say in 1 John 4:13, “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit,” and in verse 15, “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.”
At this point, like Moses, we take off our shoes! We are concerned with something that is glorious and magnificent, and so we have to be very careful as we handle it. The statement is that if we love one another, God—God who is love, God the Almighty, God the eternal—dwells in us. I think that the great thing at this point is to realize that we must not materialize that conception. We must not think of God in material terms; God is spirit. It is God, who is spirit, who dwells in us.
A Thought to Ponder: It is God, who is spirit, who dwells in us.
(From The Love of God, p. 85, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Maker and Owner
“I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.” (Jeremiah 27:5)
“The earth, the man and the beast” are the three entities that God is said to have “created” (Hebrew bara—note Genesis 1:1, 21, 27) in the Genesis account of creation. However, they are also said in Genesis to have been “made” (Hebrew asah—note Genesis 1:25-26; 2:4), and that is the emphasis in our text above. Of course, both aspects were accomplished in the six days of the creation week, after which God “rested from all his work which God created and made” (Genesis 2:3). This statement makes it abundantly plain that the present processes of nature do not “create” (call into existence out of nothing) or “make” (build up into more complex forms) anything, as our modern theistic evolutionists and evangelical uniformitarians allege. God has rested from both of these works, except in occasional miraculous intervention in the present laws and processes of nature.
Now, because God did create and make all things, He also “owns” all things. “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). “Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10). “The LORD hath made all things for himself” (Proverbs 16:4).
Therefore, all that we possess—as individuals or as nations— has simply been entrusted to us as God’s stewards, and “every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). Without a doubt this accounting will be of our handling of our goods, our minds, and our opportunities, among others. For “it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). Let us be thankful—not covetous, and industrious—not slothful, in everything He has entrusted to us.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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