Deuteronomy 6
Fear the LORDverses 1-2
Now these are the commandments – statutes – judgments
which the LORD your God commanded to TEACH you
that you might do them in the land
whither you go to possess it
that you might FEAR the LORD your God
to KEEP all HIS statutes – commandments
which I command you – your son
your son’s son
all the days of your life
that your days may be prolonged
Love the LORDverses 3-9
Hear therefore – O Israel – and observe to do it
that it may be well with you – that you may increase mightily
as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you
in the land that flows with milk and honey
Hear – O Israel – the LORD our God is one LORD
and you shall love the LORD your God
with all your heart – soul – might
And these words which I command you this day – shall be in your heart
and you shall TEACH time diligently to your children
and shall TALK of them when you SIT in your house
WALK by the way – LIE DOWN – RISE UP
And you shall BIND them for a sign on your hand
and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes
and you shall WRITE them on the
POSTS of your house and on your GATES
Don’t forget the LORDverses 10-13
And it shall be when the LORD your God shall have brought you into
the land which HE swore unto your fathers
to Abraham – Isaac – Jacob
to give you great and goodly cities
which you build not
and houses full of all good things
which you filled not
and wells digged
which you dig not
vineyards – olive trees
which you planted not
when you shall have eaten
and be full
THEN beware lest you FORGET the LORD
which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt
from the house of bondage
YOU shall FEAR the LORD your God and serve HIM
and shall swear by HIS name
Worship the LORD aloneverses 14-19
YOU shall not go after other gods
of the gods of the people which are round about you
(For the LORD your God is a JEALOUS God among you)
LEST the anger of the LORD your God be kindled
against you and destroy you from off the
face of the earth
YOU shall not tempt the LORD your God
as you tempted HIM in Massah
YOU shall diligently keep
the commandments of the LORD your God
and HIS testimonies – statutes
which HE has commanded you
And you shall do that which is RIGHT and GOOD
in the sight of the LORD that it may be well with you
that you may go in and possess the
good land which the LORD
swore to your fathers
to cast out all your enemies from before you
as the LORD has spoken
Answer the question of your childrenverses 20-25
AND when your son ask you in time to come saying
What mean the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments
which the LORD our God hath commanded you?
THEN you shall
say to your son
We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt
and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand
and the LORD showed signs and wonders – great and sore
on Egypt – Pharaoh – all his household before our eyes
and HE brought us out from thence – that HE might bring us in
to give us the land which HE swore to our fathers
And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes
to FEAR the LORD our God – FOR our good always
that HE might preserve us alive – as it is at this day
AND it shall be our RIGHTEOUSNESS
IF we observe to do all these commandments
before the LORD our God – as HE has commanded us
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it: that it may be well with you, and that you may increase mightily, as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you, in the land that flows with milk and honey. (8104“observe” [shamar] means heed, keeper, preserve, to keep, guard, watchman, retain, restrain, or keep watch and ward, protect or save life)
DEVOTION: Obedience is the key throughout the Word of God. Obedience brings blessing. Obedience brings protection from our enemies. Obedience keeps us walking in the right direction.
The children of Israel were promised a land flowing with milk and honey. They were farmers by trade. They needed good soil to work with. They needed times of rain to cause their crops to grow. They needed the right weather in harvest. These things were promised them if they were obedient.
Also we find that God would bless them with many children. In those days, parents wanted children. Children helped with the work on the farm. We have many farmers today that have enough children to help them on the farm. In an area where I had my second church we had one woman who had twenty-two children to help with the work on the farm.
The promises of God were important to the children of Israel and obedience was important to the LORD. This is true today as well. We like the promises of God. HE has promised us strength to face each battle we will face in our world. HE has promised to provide for our every need. HE has promised us a mansion in heaven where we are supposed to store our treasures for eternity.
Today we need to continue to listen CLOSELY to the instructions of the LORD. If we are obedient we receive the blessing that HE has promised.
CHALLENGE: HE doesn’t answer the prayers of those who are not obedient. Or you might say HE says NO to all the prayers of the disobedient.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 7 And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up. (8150 “diligently” means to sharpen, whet, to teach an impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions, inculcate, or teach by rote)
DEVOTION: Moses is instructing the children of Israel that there is always a good time to train our children. Every moment of every day we are instructing our children whether we are saying a word or not. They are watching our every move and listening to our every word.
Children are like sponges that soar up their world. Parents are very important to them. Parents are the ones they trust the most. Parents are the ones they are around the most.
Some parents think they are not qualified to train their children and use it as an excuse to not spend time with them. Some parents have children that they really don’t want and their children know it. This should never happen in a Christian home. Children should always be considered a blessing from the LORD.
Every parent needs to be diligent in their training of their children because before too long they might stop listening to us. So we have to use every opportunity to train them properly.
Even children we think don’t want us around really do. Their actions might be just to get our attention because they think that we don’t love them as much as their siblings.
We need to spend our time with each of our children. Many Christian fathers take their children out one on one on a regular basis. This way there can be equal time with each child. Children want and need to feel important to their parents.
Spend quality time with each child on a regular basis and if there is one who thinks you love the others more, they might begin to understand that you love them all the same.
CHALLENGE: Try not to show favoritism toward any one child.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 18 And you shall do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land which the LORD swore unto your fathers. (3190 “well” [yatab] means be accepted, amend, benefit, be make better, make cheerful, or glad.)
DEVOTION: If we look around at this present time in our world it seems that things are not going well for those who are followers of Jesus Christ. It seems that the governments of the world are not protecting Christians. Many are allowing them to be abused and killed and do nothing about it. Each year there are laws passed in this country to take everything Biblical out of the public square while letting other religions to run wild. It doesn’t seem right.
However, we realize that the LORD is still on the throne. HE is still working HIS plan for our world. We know that in the end we are WINNERS.
The children of Israel are starting a new phase as a nation. They are about to leave the wilderness phase and starting to conquer their Promised Land with the LORD’S help.
The Bible tells us that the LORD wants our joy to be full. The LORD wanted the same thing for the children of Israel. The LORD kept HIS promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Their descendants were going into the Promised Land.
They are instructed in this chapter to teach their future generations to love the LORD with all their heart, soul and might. The warning was given that they might FORGET the LORD when they conquered the Land.
In the field of ethics, the two words “right and good” come into play. If we are to be ethical people, we need to do what is right and good. Here we find that God tells the Israelites that if they are Biblically ethical people it will be will with them.
The “right and good” is what God and HIS word tell us to do. The world has its own “right and good” but it is not Biblical. Only the Biblical “right and good” is right and good in God’s eyes.
Does this mean that we will not have trials if we do what is right and good? NO!! It does mean that we will receive benefits from the LORD while we are going through our trials.
Living a “right and good” life now is not easy. It is completely different from the lifestyle of those who are not followers of Christ. Too often we can fall into the trap of allowing their world to come into our world.
CHALLENGE: If we were brought up in their world it is hard to get their worldview out of our thinking process. It is necessary. It is work. It is worth it all.
: 20 And when your son asks you in time to come, saying, “What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God has commanded you?” (7592 “asks” [sha’al] means enquire desire, request, beg, consult, seek, find out, question, or interrogate)
DEVOTION: Have you ever had your children or grandchildren come up to you and ask what something in the Bible means? Have they ever come up to ask you why you do things the way you do? Have you ever had them ask you why you don’t use certain language in your conversation? How about the opposite? Have they ever asked you why you ask them to lie on the phone when you have them tell someone you are not home when you are?
Children are inquisitive. They want to know things. We have a four-year-old who always asks “Why?” of his grandparents. I had one of my grandchildren ask who to use a devotional book I gave him for Christmas.
We have to be ready at any time to answer questions of our children and grandchildren. Here we have Moses instructing the fathers of Israel to answer their children when they ask questions about all the standards God has set down for them to obey.
If we don’t understand the doctrines of the Bible when our children ask, we need to get busy and find out the right definitions for different doctrinal terms because they are important to understand the Word of God.
All parents should have reference books regarding the Bible in their home to look up what is a good definition of sin, righteousness, honesty, and tithe.
If you don’t know what references you should have ask your pastor or write me. You should have a theological library based at the age you children can understand. We are not to use big terms to confuse them.
CHALLENGE: Always be available at a moment’s notice to answer any Biblical questions your children and grandchildren might ask. Also have a good person you can to get an answer.
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)
Writeverse 9
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)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Statutesverses 1, 2, 17, 20, 24
Judgmentsverses 1, 20
Commandmentsverses 1, 2, 17, 25
Commandverses 6, 17, 25
Testimoniesverses 17, 20
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD (Jehovah)verses 1-5, 10, 12 ,13, 15-22, 24, 25
God (Elohim)verses 1-5, 10, 13, 15, 20, 24, 25
LORD your Godverses 1, 16, 17
LORD thy Godverses 2, 5, 10, 13, 15
LORD God of thy fathersverses 3, 18
LORD our God is one LORDverse 4
LORD thy God is a JEALOUS Godverse 15
Anger of the LORD thy Godverse 15
Sight of the LORDverse 18
LORD our Godverses 20, 24, 25
LORD showed signs and wondersverse 22
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)
Abrahamverse 10
Isaacverse 10
Jacobverse 10
Land of Egypt (house of bondage)verses 12, 21, 22
Enemiesverse 19
Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egyptverse 21
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Forgetverse 12
Other godsverse 14
Tempt the LORD (Massah)verse 16
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Teachverses 1, 7
Actionsverse 1
Fear the LORDverses 2, 13, 24
Serve HIMverse 13
Swear by HIS nameverse 13
For our goodverse 24
Preserve us aliveverse 24
Be our righteousnessverse 25
Prolonged lifeverses 2, 24
Hearverses 3, 4
Observeverses 3, 25
Wellverse 3
Increaseverse 3
Promiseverse 3
Inheritanceverses 3, 11, 23
Love with whole heart, soul and mightverses 5, 6
Train childrenverses 7-9, 20-25
Beware of forgetting verse 12
Serveverse 13
Swear in name of the LORDverse 13
Diligently keep the commandmentsverse 17
Actions of right and goodverse 18
BE well with youverses 18, 24
Preserve verse 24
Righteousnessverse 25
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Israelverses 3, 4
Land flowing with milk and honeyverses 3, 23
Talk of the word of the LORD with childrenverses 7-9, 21
Sit
Walk
Lay down
Rise up
Bind on hand
Frontlets between your eyes
Write them on posts of your house
Write them on gates
Great and goodly citiesverse 10
Houses full of all good thingsverse 11
Possess the good land verse 18
Cast out enemiesverse 19
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
DONATIONS
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QUOTES regarding passage
20–25 An expansion of the teaching procedure follows—a procedure to inculcate the lessons of the covenant in the children. The answer to a son’s query, “What is the meaning of the stipulations?” is a historical resume of the Exodus (vv.21–22), the making of the covenant-treaty, and the giving of the legislation for the nation, together with the Lord’s commands to obey and reverence him (vv.23–24). The Lord who gave them the covenant-treaty with its stipulations was active on their behalf in freeing them from Egypt and from the control of Pharaoh by his mighty hand, by miracles that taught lessons, and by wonderful acts that were great and terrible—a fit description of the plagues. God had brought them out of Egypt in order to bring them into Canaan, the country that he had promised to their forefathers. Obedience was necessary for their prosperity and continuance as a people. Obedience to all the Lord’s legislation would constitute their righteousness (v.25; see 24:13).
These items must be impressed on each succeeding generation. This recital contains the main elements of the covenant-treaty relationship—its history and requirements. These elements are often reiterated in the Deuteronomic addresses. (Kalland, E. S. (1992). Deuteronomy. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, pp. 67–68). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
6:20–25. Once again Moses reminded his audience of the crucial need to pass on the covenant values to their children. The situation presented here concretely illustrates the command in verses 6–9. Moses envisioned a home where the Word of God is discussed openly as a part of everyday life. When a young son asked about the meaning of the Israelite Law his father was to use the following pattern in explaining it to him. First, the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt (v. 21a). Second, God miraculously delivered the Israelites (v. 21b; cf. 4:20) and judged the Egyptians (6:22). Third, this marvelous work was in accord with His ancient promise to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) to build a nation of their descendants in the land of Canaan (v. 23; cf. Gen. 15:18–21; 17:7–8; 26:3–5; 28:13–15). Fourth, God gave His Word in the form of decrees so that the Israelites might always prosper (cf. Deut. 5:33) by obeying it and fearing God (cf. 4:10; 6:13). Near the beginning of this chapter, Moses stressed the need of parents to love Him with their total being. Now as the chapter closes Moses indicated that one aspect of loving (and thus obeying) God is to pass that same love for Him on to their children. (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. 275). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books).
6:20–25 Teaching the children. Moses then expanded the command to teach children the facts of the faith (20–25; see v 7). The child’s question and parent’s response remind us of the pattern for the Passover celebration (Ex. 12:26–28). When the child asks about stipulations, decrees and laws (20) it is interesting that the parent answers by telling how God miraculously rescued the people from Egypt, in fulfilment of the ancient promise (21–23). The commands, then, come after the promise, and are part of God’s intention to bless his people (24b). Righteousness here has the sense of a true relationship between God and his people, and includes not only their keeping his standards, but also his commitment to save and keep them. (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. 208). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.)
6:25 righteousness for us. A true and personal relationship with God that would be manifest in the lives of the people of God. There was no place for legalism or concern about the external since the compelling motive for this righteousness was to be love for God (v. 5). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Dt 6:25). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
25. it shall be our righteousness] i.e. God will esteem us righteous and deal with us accordingly. Moses from the very beginning made the whole “righteousness of the Law” to depend entirely on a right state of the heart, in one word, on faith. (Barnes, A. (1879). Notes on the Old Testament: Exodus to Ruth. (F. C. Cook & J. M. Fuller, Eds.) (p. 284). London: John Murray.)
Ver. 25. And it shall be our righteousness, &c.] Or a mercy, benefit, and blessing to us; or this shall be reckoned our righteousness, and that by which we shall be justified: if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us; in order to have such a justifying righteousness, a man must keep all the commandments of God, not one excepted; and that perfectly, without the least breach of them in thought, word, or deed; and that before the Lord, in his sight, not as it may appear to a man himself, or to others, but as it appears to God, who sees the heart, and weighs all actions; and a man must keep them in the manner the Lord has commanded, even with all his heart, soul, and strength, as in ver. 5 and this is not possible for a sinful man to do; and therefore righteousness cannot be by the law. Only Christ could thus keep all the commandments of God, and his obedience is our righteousness; and he only is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes, and to him we must seek for it. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 30). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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!!)
The CHURCH in an age of CRISIS by James Emery White
Or as MTV’s founding chairman Bob Pittman stated in a 1982 interview, “If you can get their emotions going, make them forget their logic, you’ve got them. At MTV, we don’t shoot for the 14-year-olds, we own them.” (p. 133)
Since the media do little else but present perspective, the immersion is complete. By conveying to us that everything is a matter of personal perspective, the media torrent has itself become the dominant perspective, exercising the most complete will to power of all. (p. 137)
2 Timothy 3
As Christians, we must be on our guard to follow the truth continually.
INSIGHT
The Scriptures are designed to be the basis of truth for leading a Christian to maturity in Jesus Christ. They are accurate and trustworthy, afford adequate knowledge, and lead to a godly, biblical lifestyle. They also yield a biblical ministry: “that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (v. 17). A mature Christian is one who knows what he needs to know (knowledge), is what he needs to be (lifestyle), does what he needs to do (ministry), and is guided by the Scriptures in all of this.
(Quiet Walk)
The weeping Alaskan cedar tree whipped from side to side in the storm’s strong winds. Regie loved the tree that had not only provided shelter from the summer sun but also given her family privacy. Now the fierce storm was tearing the roots from the ground. Quickly, Regie, with her fifteen-year-old son in tow, ran to try to rescue the tree. With her hands and ninety-pound frame firmly planted against it, she and her son tried to keep it from falling over. But they weren’t strong enough.
God was King David’s strength when he called out to Him in another kind of storm (Psalm 28:8). Some commentators say he wrote this during a time when his world was falling apart. His own son rose in rebellion against him and tried to take the throne (2 Samuel 15). He felt so vulnerable and weak that he feared God might remain silent, and he would die (Psalm 28:1). “Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help,” he said to God (v. 2). God gave David strength to go on, even though his relationship with his son never mended.
How we long to prevent bad things from happening! If only we could. But in our weakness, God promises we can always call to Him to be our Rock (vv. 1-2). When we don’t have the strength, He’s our shepherd and will carry us forever (vv. 8-9).
By Anne Cetas (Our Daily Bread)
KNOWING GOD
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 1 John 4:13
We may know, and should know, that we are in a relationship to God and that we possess His life. That is the nature of the Christian life. “Hereby,” says John, “know we”—we know it, and we are certain of it. John’s whole business in writing this letter is that we may have this knowledge: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).
Now we all possess this knowledge, and we must never be satisfied with anything less than that. This knowledge is to me the very essence of the New Testament teaching. What the Bible offers us is nothing less than this knowledge that God is in us and we in Him, and we should not rest for a moment until we have it. We have no right to be uncertain—“that ye may know.” Christians who are uncertain of these things are doing dishonor to the gospel of Jesus Christ, to the work of Christ upon the cross, and to His glorious resurrection. We must not rest until we have full and certain assurance, confidence, and jubilation. The whole of the New Testament has been written in order that we may have it, and I argue that this is something that really must be inevitable. I cannot understand anyone who not only lacks this certainty, but who would even be prepared to argue against such a certainty.
As unbelievers we were dead; we had no spiritual life. A Christian must be born again, by faith, in order to have the life of God in his soul. So is it possible that we can have such life in us and not know it? I say that is impossible!
A Thought to Ponder
We must not rest until we have full and certain assurance, confidence, and jubilation.
(From The Love of God, pp. 95-96, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Business Structure: Masters
“Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.” (Colossians 4:1)
Kurios is the common Greek word for a person with authority. It is most often translated “lord” and is used frequently as part of the title and descriptions of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The most obvious focus of the term is the right to exercise that authority.
The short sections in Colossians and Ephesians about basic human relationships include the relationships between servants (employees) and masters (bosses). The employees are expected to work consistently and maintain loyalty as if they were working directly for the Lord Jesus Himself.
The bosses are expected to behave toward their employees with “just and equal” treatment (our text) and to forbear any “threatening” that might be the result of favoritism, since there is no “respect of persons” with the Lord Himself (Ephesians 6:9).
For those “masters” among the family of God, prompt payment of earned wages is required (Leviticus 19:13). Nor is the focus to be centered on becoming rich (Proverbs 23:4), particularly not if the focus is to get rich quick (Proverbs 28:20-22)! Rather, those to whom the Lord has granted wealth (through diligence—Proverbs 10:4) are to “do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate” (1 Timothy 6:18).
Finally, our Lord Jesus made it abuntantly clear that none of His leaders are to “exercise dominion” or seek to “exercise authority” over others. But in contrast, “it shall not be so among you: whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant” (Matthew 20:25-27).
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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