Deuteronomy 34
LORD shows Moses the Promised Landverses 1-4
And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountains of Nebo
to the top of Pisgah – that is over against Jericho
And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead unto Dan
and all Naphtali – and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh
and all the land of Judah – to the utmost sea
and the south – and the plain of the valley of Jericho
the city of palm trees unto Zoar
And the LORD
said to him
This is the land which I swore to Abraham – Isaac – Jacob – saying
I will give it to your seed
I have caused you to see it with your eyes
but you shall not go over thither
Death of Moses the servant of the LORDverses 5-8
So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab
according to the word of the LORD
And HE buried him in a valley in the land of Moab
over against Beth-peor
but no man knows of his sepulcher to this day
And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died
his eyes was not dim – nor his natural force abated
And the children of Israel WEPT
for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days
so the days of WEEPING and MOURNING
for Moses were ended
Joshua full of Spirit of Wisdomverse 9
And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the SPIRIT of wisdom
for Moses had laid his hands on him
and the children of Israel hearkened to him
and did all the LORD commanded Moses
Moses served in the power of the LORDverses 10-12
And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like to Moses
whom the LORD knew face to face
in all the signs and the wonders
which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt
to Pharaoh – and to all his servants – and to all his land
and in all that mighty hand
and in all the great terror which Moses
showed in the sight of all Israel
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 4 And the LORD said to him, This is the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, I will give it to your seed: I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over thither. (7621 “swore” [shabuw’ah] means attesting of innocence, to promise solemnly, to make a statement, to give a pledge, or take an oath)
DEVOTION: Consequences of sin are never good. Here we have Moses given a tour of the Promised Land by the LORD. He was supposed to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land but he sinned by not giving God credit for water out of a rock. Part of the problem was that Moses was told to speak to the rock and not hit it. He hit a rock earlier and water came out but this second time he was to speak to the rock only. Instead, he hit the rock two times. The LORD was not pleased but still allowed water to come out of the rock.
Also, on this occasion he spoke to the people and said “Must we…” Meaning Aaron and himself! This was wrong because it didn’t give credit to the LORD. So, the LORD allowed Moses to see the Promised Land but not enter it. He was to die on the mountain where he saw the Promised Land.
The Bible warns us to make sure that we give God the credit for what blessing we have in our life. If we don’t give HIM credit, HE will chasten us to help us understand that we need to keep glorifying HIS name and not our own.
One of the thoughts regarding this striking the rock two times is also that it broke the symbol of Christ being the Rock of our Salvation. HE was struck on the cross the first time which was represented by the first rock Moses struck. The second time he was to speak to the rock and instead he hit it which broke the symbol of the fact that Christ only died once for our sins and after that those who believe just need to speak to HIM on a regular basis regarding their needs.
CHALLENGE: Are you speaking to the LORD regarding your trials and needs for HIS strength to fight for you in all of your battles and provide for you your daily needs?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 7 And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. (5127 “abated” [nuwc] means to become less in amount or intensity, conceived of as one’s strength fleeing, to drive on, to hasten, or be gone)
DEVOTION: Moses had a rough life. He spent the first forty years in the household of Pharaoh which was not too rough but he was away from his people the children of Israel. He witnessed his fellow Israelites being mistreated by the Egyptians and stepped in to help and killed an Egyptian.
The second forty years he spent in the wilderness tending sheep for his father-in-law. He witnessed a burning bush that didn’t get consumed. He went over and the LORD called him to serve HIM in the release of the children of Israel from Egypt. He took the responsibility with his brother Aaron.
The third forty years he spent in the wilderness leading the children of Israel where the LORD wanted them to travel. He had to deal with the sins of the children of Israel. He also had to face the fact that he was still not as obedient as he should have been to the LORD. His anger would take control on some occasions because the children of Israel were so rebellious against the standard the LORD had set for them.
Now he was about to die and we find that age didn’t make a difference regarding his physical ability to lead the people. He had sinned and the LORD judged him not available to lead the children of Israel across the Jordan River into the Promised Land.
He had to be satisfied with just seeing the Promised Land because of his sin. The Bible warns us that because of our sin after we become genuine followers of the LORD we can die pre-maturely for a sin in the past or present. We have to examine our life on a regular basis and confess our sin to keep a proper relationship with the LORD. If this is not practiced God will send weakness or sickness or even pre-mature death because of our actions.
CHALLENGE: Are you keeping short accounts with God? Are you using your gift to help the local church mature in the LORD? Are we manifesting the fruit of the Spirit in our daily life in our world?
: 9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the SPIRIT of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him, and the children of Israel hearkened to him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses. (4390 “was full of” [male’] means to consecrate as a priest, devote, to be or become generously supplied with, complete, wholly, abundance, consecrate, or complete)
DEVOTION: Moses is giving the leadership of the children of Israel to Joshua as the LORD commanded him to do. It was an exchange of leadership. Joshua was going to be the one who gave the orders to the children of Israel. He was one of two men who gave a good report regarding the ability of the children of Israel to defeat the people in the Promised Land.
He and Caleb knew the LORD was able but the rest of the spied twelve spies doubted the LORD. Now he was the leader and the LORD gave him the ministry of the Holy Spirit to help him lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land.
God wants us to trust HIM when HE gives us a ministry, we are to serve HIM in. HE wants us to realize that HE can give us the strength to fight any enemy that HE allows in our path.
Trusting in the LORD is not easy but it is required of those who take positions of leadership. It is only when we do things in our own power that we fail. We need to make sure that we are filled with the Holy Spirit daily to do what the LORD gives us to do.
The LORD wants us all to serve HIM in one capacity or another. Not all are called to be pastors or missionizes but we are all called to serve. We are all called to witness to others regarding the message of salvation.
If the LORD gives us these responsibilities, we are expected to call on HIM for strength which HE promises to give us once we ask and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.
There are too many cowards in our churches. There are many who are not willing to serve the LORD and that is the reason the church is in such a state as it is presently in. Too many are willing to sit, soak and sour rather than move forward in their witness for the LORD.
The LORD doesn’t want us to be people who are just standing on the sidelines. HE wants us to get into the game of life and be the witness HE can give us the power to be if we will only trust HIM.
Joshua trusted the LORD for strength. We need to do the same each day as we move forward in reaching our world for the LORD. We can conquer anything the LORD allows in our life.
CHALLENGE: Are you willing to be a Joshua? Step out and be the witness the LORD wants you to be. Yes, you will fail at times but that is for you to go back and ask the LORD for more strength.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face (6440 “face to face” [paniym] means turn toward, favor, forefront, before, or presence)
DEVOTION: There is a unique relationship between the LORD and Moses. Moses didn’t want to have anything to do with the children of Israel and Egypt. He saw a bush on fire but not burning up. He moved closer to see what was going on. God spoke out of the bush to tell him to remove his shoes for he was on holy ground. From that point on the LORD communicated with Moses on a regular basis.
On one of those occasions Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments and the LORD spoke directly with him. Moses returned to the mountain a second time after breaking the first set of stones containing the Ten Commandments. He spent forty days and forty nights with the LORD alone.
Moses was in the presence of the LORD in the Tabernacle. The LORD divided Moses life into three parts: forty years in Pharaoh’s house; forty years as shepherd; forty years in the wilderness with Israel. The last part seemed to be the hardest. He was close to the LORD but still had moments of disobedience when he looked at people and/or circumstances.
We are to be in the presence of the LORD on a daily basis through our devotional and prayer life. When we are in proper relationship with HIM on a daily basis then our worship time in church will be unique and maturing. It is more than a feeling.
Our face is to move toward the LORD. We are to be heading in the direction of HIS will. We are to put HIS thoughts in the front of our thoughts. We have to ask ourselves if we are doing what HE wants us to do or what we want to do.
Moses had a problem with the children of Israel always murmuring and complaining. He took his eyes off the LORD. Peter when he left the boat to joint Jesus on the water – took his eyes off the LORD. Are our eyes fixed on the LORD?
Is the LORD speaking to us today in our times in worship? Or are we just sitting in a pew looking around? When God looks into our face at church what does HE see? Are our eyes looking back at HIM? When God hears our singing in church what does HE hear? Are our bodies in the service and our hearts in another place?
God knows the answers to these questions regarding us. Is HE pleased?
CHALLENGE: Practice the presence of the LORD in our devotional times. Speak to HIM in prayer as if HE was right there in the room with you. Ask HIM to teach you HIS truth for the day, not what we want to hear for our own personal benefit.
: 12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel. (4172 “terror” [mowra] means fear, dread, terribleness, awe-inspiring deed, action that caused great fear, a stupendous or wonderful deed, or awe)
DEVOTION: The children of Israel were slaves in Egypt. The cried out to the LORD for help. HE sent Moses to confront Pharaoh with the ten plagues which challenged the false gods of Egypt.
God showed the children of Israel HIS great power through Moses and Aaron. They watched as the nation of Egypt was destroyed by the plagues the LORD sent to show Pharaoh that he was resisting a God that was more powerful than his false gods.
The plagues caused the people of Egypt to fear the God of the Hebrews. They were willing to give the children of Israel anything including some of the wealth to leave Egypt. God told them to borrow their wealth for future use in the making of the Tabernacle in the wilderness.
Our God has a mighty hand to defeat any enemy we face in our world. We don’t have to be afraid of what the world can do to us because the LORD is the one who is still stronger than any force on earth.
Our problem sometimes is that God doesn’t seem to be using HIS power in places we think HE needs to use HIS power to overcome the forces of evil in all of the countries of our world.
We have to remember that just as HE had a plan for the children of Israel and their time period, HE has a plan for our time period as well. HIS plan is recorded in both the Old and New Testament. It is a plan that includes the judgment of the nations that have rejected HIM.
CHALLENGE: We have to be patient regarding HIS working in our time period. HE is going to defeat the gods of our world just like HE did the false gods of Egypt.
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)
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)
Word of the LORDverse 5
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD (Jehovah)verses 1, 4, 5, 9-11
Promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacobverse 4
Word of the LORDverse 5
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spirit of Wisdomverse 9
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)
Moabverses 1, 5
Mount Neboverse 1
Abrahamverse 4
Isaacverse 4
Jacobverse 4
Land of Egyptverse 11
Pharaohverse 11
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Inheritanceverse 4
Servant of the LORDverse 5
Full of the Holy Spiritverse 9
Full of wisdomverse 9
Lay hands on leadersverse 9
Listen to human leaderverse 9
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Moses shown the Promised Landverses 1-4
Not go in
Moses servant of the LORDverse 5
Moses a hundred and twentyverse 7
Eye was not dim
Natural force not abated
Children of Israelverses 9, 12
Children of Israel wept for Moses
thirty daysverse 8
Moses had laid hands on Joshuaverse 9
Joshuaverse 9
Full of the spirit of wisdom
Children of Israel hearken to him
Moses a prophetverses 10-12
LORD knew face to face
Signs and wonders
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Moses buriedverse 6
Beth-peor
No one knows where
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QUOTES regarding passage
34:10–12 The words of praise and adulation of Moses that complete this section (vv. 10–12) have, with the previous reference to his death (vv. 5–8), convinced nearly all thoughtful students that Moses himself could not have written this last part of Deuteronomy. As noted in the Introduction, the Mosaic authorship of the book as a whole is not thereby jeopardized, for there is no reason to deny the rest of it to him and, indeed, Deut 34:5–12 could well be a post-Mosaic addendum to the book which, until the addition, was entirely of Mosaic authorship.
Whoever may have penned vv. 10–12 reflected back on Moses as a prophet without compare, one whom Yahweh knew “face to face” (v. 10). This intimacy is reminiscent of the challenge to Moses’ preeminence as a prophet by his sister and brother, who accused Moses of arrogating prophetic privilege only to himself (Num 12:2). Part of Yahweh’s response to this challenge was that there were, indeed, other prophets (Miriam and Aaron included); but only to Moses did Yahweh speak “face to face” (Num 12:8).
Moreover, no other prophet had till then performed such signs and wonders (ʾōtôt and môpĕtîm; cf. Exod 7:3; Deut 4:34; 6:22; 7:19; 26:8; 29:3; Neh 9:10; Ps 78:43; 105:27), awesome displays to Pharaoh and all Egypt that Yahweh alone is God (v. 11). Nor was their effect intended only for the pagan world. Israel also needed to be reminded over and over again of the power and protection of Yahweh manifested through his humble and faithful servant Moses (v. 12). It is no less true today that the unbelieving world as well as the church depends to a great extent upon faithful servants of the Lord to make him known in his saving and sovereign purposes. (Merrill, E. H. (1994). Deuteronomy (Vol. 4, p. 455). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
34:10–12. Moses was unique among all the prophets for his intimacy with the Lord (whom the Lord knew face to face as a friend; cf. Ex. 33:11; Num. 12:8) and for his miraculous signs and wonders and mighty power and awesome deeds (Deut. 34:11–12). He introduced a new era into the history of God’s people, the Age of the Law. The Israelites waited for God to raise up the Prophet like Moses (18:15). Thus the book ends on a prophetic note looking forward to the day when “another Moses” would be given to Israel. That day finally arrived when the Lord Jesus Christ came as a Servant but also as the very Son of God, surpassing even Moses (cf. Heb. 3:1–6). He offered to take Israel into a new era, the Age of His Grace. The Israelites culminated centuries of rebellion by rejecting that gracious offer. However, the Song of Moses still points forward to the day when that offer will be accepted and God will heal and avenge His people (Deut. 32:36, 43). (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. 323). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
3. An example for God’s servants (Deut. 34:9–12)
There were times when Moses complained to God because his work was difficult, and more than once he was ready to quit; but in spite of these very human weaknesses, Moses was a faithful servant. In fact, in the matter of faithfulness, Moses is even compared with Christ (Heb. 3:1–6).
Moses was faithful to walk with God, and he spoke to God as a man speaks to his friend (Ex. 33:11; Num. 12:7–8). The secret of his life wasn’t his own abilities—he claimed he had none—or even his education in Egypt (Acts 7:22), but his humble walk with the Lord. He spent time with God, he listened to God’s Word, and he followed God’s orders.
Another exemplary thing about Moses was his devotion to his people. On two occasions, God offered to wipe out the Jewish people and begin a new nation with Moses, and Moses rejected the offer (Ex. 32:9–14; Num. 14:10–25). Moses was a true shepherd who was willing to lay down his life for his sheep (Ex. 32:30–35). Too many so-called “Christian leaders” are really only hirelings who do their work for what they can get out of it (John 10:12–14). When there’s trouble or danger, the hireling flees to a safe place, but the true shepherd flees to the Lord for the strength needed to get the job done.
Moses was a faithful intercessor. Many times he fell on his face and pleaded with God not to judge the people, and on the mountain, he prayed until he was certain the Lord would go with them on their journey. Like the apostles, Moses was a man who focused on “prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). As Jesus with His apostles, he taught the people the Word and then he prayed for them to receive it and grow.
The Lord prepared Moses for his ministry and took eighty years to do it. He was raised as a prince in Egypt and taught all that the wise men in Egypt knew. Some scholars believe that Moses was in line to be the next Pharaoh. Yet Moses gave all this up to identify with the people of God in their suffering (Heb. 11:24–27). God gave Moses a forty-year “post-graduate course” as a shepherd in the land of Midian, a strange place for a man with all the learning of Egypt in his mind. But there were lessons to be learned in solitude and silence, and in taking care of ignorant sheep, that Moses could never have learned in the university in Egypt. God has different ways of training His servants, and each person’s training is tailormade by the Lord.
In many respects, Moses comes across as a very Christlike person. Like Jesus, he was born into a godly home at a difficult time in Jewish history, and like Jesus, his life was threatened. When Moses gave up the treasures of Egypt, it was like Jesus, who became poor that He might share spiritual riches with many (2 Cor. 8:9). Like Jesus, Moses was rejected by his people when he tried to help them the first time (Ex. 2:11–15), but he was accepted by them when he came to them the second time (4:29–31; Acts 7:23–36). Israel rejected Christ at His first coming, but they will receive Him when He comes again (Zech. 12:10–13:1).
Moses was a meek man, and Jesus said, “I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:28–30). Moses finished the work God gave him to do (Ex. 39:42–43; 40:33) and so did the Son of God (John 17:4). Before He returned to heaven, Jesus left trained disciples behind to continue the work of world evangelism, and Moses left Joshua and the elders behind to guide the people in the ways of the Lord. Our Lord’s face shone on the Mount of Transfiguration, and Moses’ face shone when he came down from meeting God on the mount (Matt. 17:2; Ex. 34:29–30). Moses was “mighty in words and deeds” (Acts 7:22), and so was Jesus when He was ministering on earth (Luke 24:19).
The only perfect example is Jesus Christ, but when we read about Moses, he reminds us of our Lord and encourages us to become more like our Savior in all things.
(Wiersbe, W. W. (1999). Be equipped (pp. 198–199). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub).
34:10–12 a prophet like Moses: As important as Joshua was, he should not be confused with the One who would fulfill God’s promise of a prophet who would have an even greater status than Moses (18:15). Face to face describes the unusual intimacy between Moses and the Lord (Ex. 33:11; Num. 12). Like Moses, Jesus of Nazareth performed signs and wonders when He began His ministry on earth (Matt. 4:23–25; John 5:46). Moses performed: The miraculous works accomplished by Moses were God’s works through Moses’ hand. In these engaging words of testimony to the significance of Moses as the servant of God, Deuteronomy comes to its grand conclusion. (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 270). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers)
Ver. 10. And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, &c.] Not in the times of Joshua, who wrote this chapter, at least the last eight verses, as say the Jews; nor to the times of Samuel, whom others take to be the writer of them; nor to the times of Ezra, as others; nor even throughout the whole Old-Testament dispensation to the times of Christ, the great Prophet, like to Moses, that was to arise; and the Messiah is by the Jews owned, as by Maimonidesq, to be equal to him, and by others to be above him: it is a well-known saying of theirs, that “the Messiah shall be exalted above Abraham, and extolled above Moses, and made higher than the ministering angels;” but as to all other prophets he excels them, and therefore they call him the prince, master, and father of the prophets, and say, that all prophesied from the fountain of his prophecys: the difference between him and them is observed, by Maimonides to lie in many things; as that they prophesied by a dream or vision, but he awake and seeing; they prophesied by the means of an angel, and saw what they did in parables and dark sayings; but Moses not by means of an angel, but the Lord spake to him face to face; they trembled and astonished, but not so Moses; they could not prophesy when they would, but he at any time, nor did he need to dispose and prepare his mind for it; some of which will not hold good, especially the last; the instances in which he really exceeded them follow: whom the Lord knew face to face, owned, took notice of, and familiarity conversed with face to face, as a man with his friend; none were permitted to such familiarity with God as he; see Numb. 12:6, 7, 8. Exod. 33:11. the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase it, “whom the Word of the Lord knew.”
Ver. 11. In all the signs and the wonders which the Lord sent him to do, &c.] The same Targums also paraphrase here, “which the Word of the Lord sent him to do;” for he it was that appeared to him in the bush, and sent him to Egypt to work miracles, which he did by him: in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land; to whom they were visible, and who were all affected by them more or less: this respects chiefly the ten plagues inflicted on the Egyptians: the Jews observe that the super-excellency of Moses to the rest of the prophets lay chiefly in his superior degree of prophecy rather than in miracles, and not so much in the nature or the quality of the miracles; the stopping of the sun by Joshua, and the raising of the dead to life by Elijah and Elisha, being greater than his; but either in the duration of them, as the manna which continued near forty years; or especially in the quantity of them, he working more than all the rest put together: Manasseh Ben Israel has collected all that the prophets wrought or were wrought for their sakes, and they came to 74; but those that were wrought by Moses or on his account make 76; but whether this is a just account I will not say.
Ver. 12. And in all that mighty hand, &c.] In all done by his hand, which he stretched out over the sea and divided, to make a passage through it for the Israelites, and with his rod in it smote the rocks, and waters gushed out for them: and in all that great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel. meaning either the terror the Egyptians were struck with by him, in the sight of all Israel, when he publicly and before them wrought the wonders he did in the land of Ham, which often threw them into a panic, especially the thunders and lightning, the three-days’ darkness, and the slaying of their first-born; see Psal. 78:12, 49, 50, 51 and 105:38. or the terror the Israelites were in at the giving and receiving of the law, Exod. 19:16 and 20:18, 19, 20. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 176). 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!!)
Written in Ink by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
I said, “I will never break My covenant with you.” JUDGES 2:1
In the summer of 1997, I was sitting at my computer writing an article, praying and asking myself How can we rebuild the family in America? I wasn’t just pondering this because it was my job to do so or because I had spent my entire adult life focused on this calling and endeavor. More importantly and specifically, I was thinking about my oldest daughter’s wedding, which at the time was just a few days away. Was there something I could say or do that would help Ashley and Michael begin a marriage that would go the distance?
That’s when God brought to mind the concept of covenant, which means literally “to cut.” Many scholars believe that in Old Testament days, a covenant between two people was often made by splitting an animal in half, laying the two sides apart from each other on the ground, walking between these bloody pieces and pledging, “May God do the same thing to me if I break my covenant with you” (Genesis 15). Well, I thought that would make a real mess on the church carpet, but I still wanted to incorporate “covenant” into their wedding ceremony in some visible way.
So I took their wedding vows to a calligrapher, who inscribed them on a sheet of pure cotton paper. And immediately after Ashley and Michael exchanged their vows verbally during the ceremony, they signed this marriage covenant. The pastor then asked if anyone in the audience wanted to come forward and sign it as well, as witnesses to the covenant this couple had entered into. A line formed quickly of friends and family members, promising to help hold them accountable to their wedding vows.
Today, their marriage covenant hangs above the fireplace in their home as a constant reminder of the pledge they once made at a wedding altar, just as you once did. May you always be true to your covenant.
DISCUSS: Think of something special you could do–even now–to remind yourselves of the seriousness of your marriage covenant.
CLOTHES AND DURATION OF LIFE
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature
Matthew 6:27
There is this matter of clothing. “What shall we put on? How shall we appear before people?” The way to be happy is to impress people with your beauty or your greatness or this or that; your elegance! And immediately everybody looks at you with admiration; so you are perfectly happy, and you put your head on your pillow at night with great contentment; you have achieved your objective.
Money, food, drink, clothing–these are the things, says our Lord, for which people live. In other words, you see, He says that the tragedy of life is due to the fact that men and women are living and are thinking as if they were only bodies. The thought, the attention, the planning, the scheming, the thinking are all in the realm of the body. People conceive of themselves as if they were but animals. That is what animals do–they eat and drink and so on, and so do men and women.
These are the things they talk about; as you see a peacock preening himself, so does a man and so does a woman. What they put on, the impression they make–“they live for these things,” says our Lord, and hence all the troubles.
And, of course, there is this other priority that He mentions, and that is the extension of your life in this world. He puts it in these words: “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” (Matthew 6:27). What that really means is, “Which of you by taking thought can add one inch, as it were, to the duration of your life?” But that is what people are interested in–to prolong life, and all the care and the thought and the attention that they put into that! I am not saying this is wrong. Certainly, thank God for medicine, for the extension of life; but, says our Lord, do you make that your priority?
A Thought to Ponder
The tragedy of life is that men and women are living and are thinking as if they were only bodies. From The Kingdom of God, pp. 34-35 by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.
Last week, I shared the story of a man and his wife who decided not to pursue in vitro fertilization, despite being told by their doctor that it could be successful in their case. “A little boy or girl created with our own genetic material,” he wrote, “is not morally worth the many inevitable deaths of his or her embryonic brothers and sisters.”
The moral clarity and moral courage of this couple is impressive and, as I said in the commentary, too rare. More than a few people wrote to ask us if the problems raised by IVF, particularly the issue of so-called “excess embryos,” could be solved by what’s called “snowflake adoption.”
Snowflake adoptions involve adopting and implanting frozen embryos “left over” after IVF. Like pregnancy care centers that offer redemptive ways for people to confront the issue of abortion, embryo adoption is an amazing and redemptive response to a pre-existing brokenness. It’s not accurate, however, to call it a “solution.” Here’s why.
While the numbers are hard to pin down, it’s estimated that only one in four viable embryos created by IVF will be implanted. And, only about 40 percent of implantations result in a successful pregnancy. Once a successful pregnancy is achieved, any excess embryos created by the process are either discarded, donated for scientific research, or frozen. By most estimates there are more than one million frozen embryos in storage, just in the United States.
In other words, to “solve” just the current crisis would require one million couples willing and able to undergo the expense of embryo transplantation. And, it’s important to know that at least 60 percent of the “adoptions” would not result in a successful pregnancy.
But, of course, the number of frozen embryos continues to grow. The cultural factors that currently drive IVF are still in play. There is still an utter lack of ethical consideration surrounding artificial reproductive technologies. We still operate, as a culture, from a utilitarian “ends-justifies-the-means” mindset, where people often use technology to postpone childbirth and where same-sex couples, who have intentionally chosen a sterile union nonetheless demand children.
That’s why “snowflake adoption” is better seen as a wonderful, redemptive response, but not a solution to the problem. Another response would be organizations who perform IVF without creating excess embryos. However, they are the exception, not the rule. For the most part, we have accepted the destruction of countless lives so that some infertile couples can have a child of their own genetic making. For the most part, many Christians have also accepted this.
Back in March, I spoke with Hannah Strege, America’s first “snowflake” baby and her family on the BreakPoint Podcast. Her parents adopted her from a freezer, and they courageously gave her a chance at life. During the interview, Hannah told me that she wished to devote her life, in part, to opposing in vitro fertilization.
“Snowflake adoption” is an amazing response to the brokenness, but we have to stop adding to the brokenness. Christians must stop participating in any technology that creates excess embryos. Pastors need to know enough about IVF and be brave enough to counsel couples to make the right decision.
And Christians must live counter-culturally when it comes to those factors that drive the use of IVF, such as delayed parenting and same-sex marriage.
God bless any couple willing to adopt and bring a snowflake baby to term. And God give us the kind of moral courage we need to live in this cultural moment, the kind of courage displayed by the young couple who wrote me.
Before I leave you today, I want to remind you that BreakPoint is a listener-supported ministry of the Colson Center. The Colson Center is equipping you and countless others, not only through our BreakPoint podcast, but also through our short courses, our What Would You Say? videos and a host of other programs. You can show your support for BreakPoint and these other ministries by making a year-end gift at Breakpoint.org.
1 John 4
Anyone is not of God who denies that Jesus is the Son of God who came in the flesh.
INSIGHT
Whenever you are uncertain about someone’s teaching, find out what they teach about Jesus. If the truth about God’s Son has been twisted, their belief system will be flawed. To test the truthfulness of a particular teaching, ask them these questions:
Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the second member of the Trinity?
Do you believe that He came in the flesh, incarnate as Jesus of Nazareth?
Do you agree that He died for our sins and was resurrected from the dead?
Do you believe that His death provided atonement for our sins and that the only way of salvation is by grace through faith in Him?
If the answer to any of these questions is “No,” be cautious. Do not believe everything someone says. (Quiet Walk)
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MY VIEW OF THE WORLD
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
What is my view of the world when I know for certain that I have eternal life? What is my attitude to the world in which we are all living, the world as we see it in the newspapers? Is that what interests me? What am I anxious to obtain? Or am I more interested in other things—spiritual things? According to John, Christians are men and women who have come to view the world in an entirely new manner. They see that it is governed by sin. They have come to regard it as a place in which evil forces are at work and whose whole mind is but the working of the spirit of the world. They know that it is something they have to fight, something to withstand, and they realize that unless they do so, they will be defeated by it.
Do I hate the world? A good way of answering is this: The apostle Paul, looking at his surroundings, said, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory…for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). In looking at “the things which are seen,” how much time do I spend in thinking about the Lord God? How much do I think about the glory that is with Him? Which do I meditate upon most—the eternal or the worldly?
A Thought to Ponder
How much do I think about the glory that is with God? Which do I meditate upon most—the eternal or the worldly? (From Life in God, pp. 97-98, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Cursed or Blessed
“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:5)
Jeremiah provides for us a striking contrast between the self-assured humanist and the one who has placed his trust in God. The man who looks to his own abilities or those of others to save him in time of trouble is “cursed.” His existence will be one of futility, just as is that of a parched desert plant (v. 6). Why? Because his “heart departeth from the LORD” (v. 5), the source of strength and salvation.
Jeremiah uses a play on words here. The words for “man” in our text are different: the first means “warrior” or “strong man,” and the second a “normal man.” The warrior who should be strong is cursed because he is trusting in one who is weak; in this case, any other man’s wisdom or might, or even his own strength, when overestimated. What sense is there in that?
In contrast, “blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD” (v. 7). “He shall be as a tree planted by the waters ..and shall not be careful [i.e., anxious] in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit” (v. 8). Why? Because his “hope the LORD is” (v. 7). We see the warrior—one who might be considered strong—trusting solely in the true “strong man,” the Lord.
It is a tragic fact that even many Christians fall into the mindset of the autonomous humanist and attempt to live their lives (even “the Christian life”) under their own power. Do we trust in our own feeble power or in the Lord? Every heart, whether humanist or Christian, “is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (v. 9). Make no mistake! “I the LORD search the heart” (v. 10); He knows our inner motives. Let us recommit ourselves to trust in the Lord and make Him our hope.
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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