The last few verses of chapter 16 and most of chapter 17 address the issue of justice. "Justice, only justice you must pursue; so that you will live and inherit the land Adonai your God is giving you." (16:20) Don't distort justice, don't show favoritism, don't take bribes... judge with "righteous judgement."
We like the sound of that. But, some might not like the instructions in chapter 17...
"If there is found among you... a man or woman who does what Adonai your God sees as wicked.. investigate the matter diligently. If it is true... stone the man or woman to death.... Thus you will put an end to this wickedness among you." ( v2-7)
"Anyone presumptuous enough not to pay attention to the [priest] appointed there to serve Adonai your God or to the judge - that person must die. Thus you will exterminate such wickedness from Israel - all the people will hear about it and be afraid to continue acting presumptuously." (v12-13)
Law and order are God's idea. He knows the hearts of men and women and He hates sin. He desires justice for all... even more than we do. He desires all of us to do justice - righteously - but according to His standards, which are holy and perfect. If God judged us all by His standards right now - there would be none of us who could stand. Thankfully " He has not dealt with us according to our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities." But instead, " As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." ( Psalm 103: 10,12)
Jesus provided the payment for our sins. Justice was done. God's mercy and love accomplished that for all who will call upon Him and fear Him. To those who refuse His gift of forgiveness.. well, they will stand before the judgement throne and take the penalty for every sin they have committed - themselves. There will be justice. And it will be final.. eternal... hell.
Our Father in heaven, our world is screaming for justice.. but they don't know what they are asking for. What we need to be asking for is mercy! Forgive us our sins. Help us to truly forgive one another. May we "go and sin no more"! May we honor You and seek Your Truth, walk in Your ways, and do everything for Your glory! We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Monday, June 8, 2020
Deuteronomy 16
Deuteronomy 16 This chapter reviews the three major feasts that the Israelites were to observe "in the place where Adonai your God will choose to have his name live". We know that He chose Jerusalem to be that place. The holy city is dear to our Lord's heart. It was the place where David settled down. It was the place where the temple was constructed. And it was the place where Jesus was condemned to die. One day... Jerusalem will be made new.. and it will be more glorious than we can imagine. It will be a place where we will remember and rejoice with our God and King!
These two words stand out in this chapter: remember and rejoice
".. remember the day you left the land of Egypt as long as you live..." ( v3) They were to remember it by sacrificing the passover lambs.. They were to remember it by removing yeast from their homes. They were to remember it by leaving work undone and by having "a festive assembly"
Yesterday we had communion at our church. We were reminded of the words of Paul from
I Corinthian's "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance.. This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this as often as you drink [the cup] in remembrance of Me..."
We remember, not an escape from slavery in Egypt, but the rescue that Jesus has provided from the slavery of sin, darkness, and death. Remembering is important and we need to be deliberate in our taking of communion, to really remember how Jesus died for us.. "remember the day.. " Remember, so that our love does not grow cold, that we do not lose our "first love". Remember the price that was paid for our deliverance.
And then we can truly REJOICE! Israel was commanded to rejoice in the first fruits of their harvests. "Adonai your God will bless you in all your crops and in all your work, so you are to be full of joy!" (v15) The whole family, as well as the slaves, the foreigners, the widows and orphans were to rejoice together during these festivals ( the feast of weeks and the feast of booths). But, there was an important responsibility as they gathered to rejoice together:
"They are not to show up before Adonai empty-handed, but every man is to give what he can, in accordance with the blessing Adonai your God has given you."
Father in heaven, we rejoice in this great salvation that You have provided through Jesus Christ the True Passover Lamb. We remember. Help us to keep our hearts and minds from forgetting or taking for granted what Jesus did for us. May our love grow deeper and our steadfastness in Christ be firmly established. We remember and we rejoice .. in the Name of our Lord Jesus, who is the radiance of Your glory, the heir of all things, the One who sits at the right hand of the Majesty on High. Amen.
These two words stand out in this chapter: remember and rejoice
".. remember the day you left the land of Egypt as long as you live..." ( v3) They were to remember it by sacrificing the passover lambs.. They were to remember it by removing yeast from their homes. They were to remember it by leaving work undone and by having "a festive assembly"
Yesterday we had communion at our church. We were reminded of the words of Paul from
I Corinthian's "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance.. This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this as often as you drink [the cup] in remembrance of Me..."
We remember, not an escape from slavery in Egypt, but the rescue that Jesus has provided from the slavery of sin, darkness, and death. Remembering is important and we need to be deliberate in our taking of communion, to really remember how Jesus died for us.. "remember the day.. " Remember, so that our love does not grow cold, that we do not lose our "first love". Remember the price that was paid for our deliverance.
And then we can truly REJOICE! Israel was commanded to rejoice in the first fruits of their harvests. "Adonai your God will bless you in all your crops and in all your work, so you are to be full of joy!" (v15) The whole family, as well as the slaves, the foreigners, the widows and orphans were to rejoice together during these festivals ( the feast of weeks and the feast of booths). But, there was an important responsibility as they gathered to rejoice together:
"They are not to show up before Adonai empty-handed, but every man is to give what he can, in accordance with the blessing Adonai your God has given you."
Father in heaven, we rejoice in this great salvation that You have provided through Jesus Christ the True Passover Lamb. We remember. Help us to keep our hearts and minds from forgetting or taking for granted what Jesus did for us. May our love grow deeper and our steadfastness in Christ be firmly established. We remember and we rejoice .. in the Name of our Lord Jesus, who is the radiance of Your glory, the heir of all things, the One who sits at the right hand of the Majesty on High. Amen.
Friday, June 5, 2020
Deuteronomy 14-15
Deuteronomy 14 reminds the people of Israel that they are a "holy people".. a "unique treasure out of all the peoples on the face of the earth." Because of their unique position as God's people, everything about them was meant to set them apart.. dedicated and consecrated to Him. This included what they could eat and not eat. These restrictions were given "so that [they would] learn to fear Adonai [their] God always." A choice to obey even these dietary laws would show that they honored God in everything!
Paul wrote this: " Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." ( I Corinthian's 10:31 He was dealing with a disagreement between those who thought it alright to eat certain foods and those who didn't. The bottom line for Israel in the Old Testament and the New Testament church is the same - our choices, even in the small things - should honor our God.
Chapter 15 is a reminder about the 7th year. the Sabbath year, but the focus is more on the fact that debts were removed and slaves were freed at that time. God would bless those that gave up what was owed to them. He would provide abundantly for those who did not harden their hearts against the needy brothers or the poor in the land. "Rather, you must give to him; and you are not to be grudging when you given to him. ( v10)
Again, we can see the principle reflected in the New Testament, in II Corinthians 9:6-11 Paul writes, " Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.... Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God."
Father in heaven, may our lives reflect Your love and grace in all that we do and say. Help us by Your Holy Spirit to bring glory and honor to Your Name in every one of our life choices, from what we eat and drink, to how we give and in every other way! Because of Your great mercy to us, we present ourselves, our whole beings, as living and holy sacrifices.. as acts of worship to God, our Father and to our Savior Jesus Christ. With praise and thanksgiving we pray in the Name of Jesus, who is our Redeemer. Amen.
Paul wrote this: " Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." ( I Corinthian's 10:31 He was dealing with a disagreement between those who thought it alright to eat certain foods and those who didn't. The bottom line for Israel in the Old Testament and the New Testament church is the same - our choices, even in the small things - should honor our God.
Chapter 15 is a reminder about the 7th year. the Sabbath year, but the focus is more on the fact that debts were removed and slaves were freed at that time. God would bless those that gave up what was owed to them. He would provide abundantly for those who did not harden their hearts against the needy brothers or the poor in the land. "Rather, you must give to him; and you are not to be grudging when you given to him. ( v10)
Again, we can see the principle reflected in the New Testament, in II Corinthians 9:6-11 Paul writes, " Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.... Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God."
Father in heaven, may our lives reflect Your love and grace in all that we do and say. Help us by Your Holy Spirit to bring glory and honor to Your Name in every one of our life choices, from what we eat and drink, to how we give and in every other way! Because of Your great mercy to us, we present ourselves, our whole beings, as living and holy sacrifices.. as acts of worship to God, our Father and to our Savior Jesus Christ. With praise and thanksgiving we pray in the Name of Jesus, who is our Redeemer. Amen.
Thursday, June 4, 2020
Deuteronomy 12-13
Moses begins to expound on the commands that Israel needed to observe and obey as they prepared to enter their new homeland. Chapter 12 describes the need to worship and offer sacrifices and offerings to Adonai in only the one place that He would choose. The temptation would be to use the places that the nations had used to worship their idols. Adonai commanded that every place of idolatry had to be exterminated.
Chapter 13 focuses on the vital need to stand firm against idolatry - whether a false prophet, a loved one, or a whole city turned to a false god - Israel was commanded to take action and destroy completely anyone who would try to entice them into idolatry.
Think of the severity of this statement:
Verse 6-9 "If your brother the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or your wife whom you love, or your friend who means as much to you as yourself, secretly tries to entice you to go and serve other gods, ... you are not to consent, and you are not to listen to him; and you must not pity him or spare him; and you many not conceal him. Rather, you must kill him!"
Compare this to Luke 14:26, Jesus said, " If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life; he cannot be My disciple."
Deut. 13:3 says that the temptation, the enticement to turn to idolatry is a test - "For Adonai your God is testing you, in order to find out whether you really do love Adonai your God with all your heart and being. You are to follow Adonai your God, fear him, obey his [commandments], listen to what he says, serve Him and cling to Him." Jesus, in Luke 14 is saying the same thing - "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." Our God demands our full surrender.. "So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his possessions."
Count the cost, Jesus tells us. Choose life. But, know that it means complete surrender of everything else. Also know that He is worth it all. He can be trusted with all we give to Him.. all that we love.. including our families.
Father, You are holy and righteous and good. We bow before You and will have no other gods before us. We choose to follow Jesus, to lay down our lives and to take up our crosses and follow You. May we stand in Your strength, walk in Your Spirit and be faithful servants of our glorious Lord. Amen.
Chapter 13 focuses on the vital need to stand firm against idolatry - whether a false prophet, a loved one, or a whole city turned to a false god - Israel was commanded to take action and destroy completely anyone who would try to entice them into idolatry.
Think of the severity of this statement:
Verse 6-9 "If your brother the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or your wife whom you love, or your friend who means as much to you as yourself, secretly tries to entice you to go and serve other gods, ... you are not to consent, and you are not to listen to him; and you must not pity him or spare him; and you many not conceal him. Rather, you must kill him!"
Compare this to Luke 14:26, Jesus said, " If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life; he cannot be My disciple."
Deut. 13:3 says that the temptation, the enticement to turn to idolatry is a test - "For Adonai your God is testing you, in order to find out whether you really do love Adonai your God with all your heart and being. You are to follow Adonai your God, fear him, obey his [commandments], listen to what he says, serve Him and cling to Him." Jesus, in Luke 14 is saying the same thing - "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." Our God demands our full surrender.. "So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his possessions."
Count the cost, Jesus tells us. Choose life. But, know that it means complete surrender of everything else. Also know that He is worth it all. He can be trusted with all we give to Him.. all that we love.. including our families.
Father, You are holy and righteous and good. We bow before You and will have no other gods before us. We choose to follow Jesus, to lay down our lives and to take up our crosses and follow You. May we stand in Your strength, walk in Your Spirit and be faithful servants of our glorious Lord. Amen.
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Deuteronomy 11
The central point of this chapter is found in verses 26-28, "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse- the blessing, if you listen to the[ commandments] of Adonai your God that I am giving you today; and the curse , if you don't listen to the [commandments] of Adonai your God, but turn aside from the way I am ordering you today and follow other gods that you have not known."
The blessing of God - "rain in the right seasons". Every provision necessary so that they could feed their families. Fields and livestock, wheat, wine and olive oil.. daily bread. Life.
The curse - God's anger would "shut up the sky". No rain - no crops - no hope. Death.
They had a choice, as we do too. God calls us to make a choice.. and He wants us to "Choose Life".
We choose to obey His Word.
We choose to believe His promises.
We choose to live in faith, trusting in the One who is our Creator, Provider, and Master.
We are observing a world in turmoil these days. It is disheartening. It is filled with violence, anger, and hatred. But, we choose to "Trust and Obey".. for there is NO other way!
Father in heaven, we choose You. We choose to honor You and love You with all our beings.. to cling to You and follow Your ways. You are great and greatly to be praised. May Your Name be hallowed, Your Kingdom come, and Your will be done.. on earth as it is in heaven. We need You now, Lord God. Come and heal our land. Turn hearts back to You. May our nation choose You.
Thank You that all things are possible for You! We have no other salvation, but that which You have ordained through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is in His name that we pray. Amen.
The blessing of God - "rain in the right seasons". Every provision necessary so that they could feed their families. Fields and livestock, wheat, wine and olive oil.. daily bread. Life.
The curse - God's anger would "shut up the sky". No rain - no crops - no hope. Death.
They had a choice, as we do too. God calls us to make a choice.. and He wants us to "Choose Life".
We choose to obey His Word.
We choose to believe His promises.
We choose to live in faith, trusting in the One who is our Creator, Provider, and Master.
We are observing a world in turmoil these days. It is disheartening. It is filled with violence, anger, and hatred. But, we choose to "Trust and Obey".. for there is NO other way!
Father in heaven, we choose You. We choose to honor You and love You with all our beings.. to cling to You and follow Your ways. You are great and greatly to be praised. May Your Name be hallowed, Your Kingdom come, and Your will be done.. on earth as it is in heaven. We need You now, Lord God. Come and heal our land. Turn hearts back to You. May our nation choose You.
Thank You that all things are possible for You! We have no other salvation, but that which You have ordained through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is in His name that we pray. Amen.
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Deuteronomy 9 -10
In chapter 9 Moses reminds Israel that the Lord is the One giving them the new land.. NOT because they are righteous and have earned it.. but because the "nations have been so wicked that Adonai is driving them out ahead of you." Then, he reviews all the times Israel rebelled against the Lord and would have been destroyed themselves, except for the prayers of Moses who interceded for them, and God's great mercy.
Moses prayed for the people who had heard the voice of God from the mountain.. entered into a covenant agreement with Him.. and then turned around and demanded an idol of metal while Moses was still on the mountain! The anger of God would have wiped out the entire nation and started over with Moses.. but Moses, angry himself, spent 40 days pleading with God on their behalf.
In chapter 10 Moses addresses the people who would finally be entering the Promised Land -
"So now, Israel, all that Adonai your God asks from you is to fear Adonai your God, follow all his ways, love Him and serve Adonai your God with all your heart and all your being; to obey, for your own good, the [law] and regulations of Adonai which I give you today." v12-14
v20 "You are to fear Adonai your God, serve Him, cling to Him and swear by His name. He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things, which you have seen with your own eyes."
We are given these Words so that we might also have a covenant relationship with Adonai, our God, "God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty and awesome God, who has no favorites and accepts no bribes. He secures justice for the orphan and the widow; he love the foreigner, giving him food and clothing." (v17-18)
The instructions that Moses gave to Israel are valid for us today as followers of Christ Jesus.
Father in Heaven, God of gods and Lord of lords, great and mighty and awesome.. You are our praise. You have done great and awesome things for us.. delivering us from the dominion of darkness and bringing us into the Kingdom of Christ Jesus, Your Son and our Lord. We fear You, in reverence and awe. We cling to You and serve You alone. We will not bow to any false idol, for You alone are God. We love You and will follow Your ways, by the power of Your Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Father, we pray for those who are in rebellion against You, even now.. for those who make us angry, those who are filled with anger, and especially for those who are suffering. Let Your Kingdom come!
In humility and with much thanksgiving we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Moses prayed for the people who had heard the voice of God from the mountain.. entered into a covenant agreement with Him.. and then turned around and demanded an idol of metal while Moses was still on the mountain! The anger of God would have wiped out the entire nation and started over with Moses.. but Moses, angry himself, spent 40 days pleading with God on their behalf.
In chapter 10 Moses addresses the people who would finally be entering the Promised Land -
"So now, Israel, all that Adonai your God asks from you is to fear Adonai your God, follow all his ways, love Him and serve Adonai your God with all your heart and all your being; to obey, for your own good, the [law] and regulations of Adonai which I give you today." v12-14
v20 "You are to fear Adonai your God, serve Him, cling to Him and swear by His name. He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things, which you have seen with your own eyes."
We are given these Words so that we might also have a covenant relationship with Adonai, our God, "God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty and awesome God, who has no favorites and accepts no bribes. He secures justice for the orphan and the widow; he love the foreigner, giving him food and clothing." (v17-18)
The instructions that Moses gave to Israel are valid for us today as followers of Christ Jesus.
Father in Heaven, God of gods and Lord of lords, great and mighty and awesome.. You are our praise. You have done great and awesome things for us.. delivering us from the dominion of darkness and bringing us into the Kingdom of Christ Jesus, Your Son and our Lord. We fear You, in reverence and awe. We cling to You and serve You alone. We will not bow to any false idol, for You alone are God. We love You and will follow Your ways, by the power of Your Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Father, we pray for those who are in rebellion against You, even now.. for those who make us angry, those who are filled with anger, and especially for those who are suffering. Let Your Kingdom come!
In humility and with much thanksgiving we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, June 1, 2020
Deuteronomy 8
Moses explains to the people that everything they experienced in the wilderness was used by the Lord to discipline them "just as a man disciplines his child." And it was "to do you good in the end."(v16)
V3 "He humbled you, allowing you to become hungry, and then fed you with manna... to make you understand that a person does not live on food alone but on everything that comes from the mouth of Adonai."
Adonai their God - was bringing them into a land with abundant resources. He had brought them through a "vast and fearsome desert, with poisonous snakes, scorpions, and waterless, thirsty ground.." He provided water out of the rock and food out of the heavens. It was His power that had taken them out of Egypt and that would bring them into the new land.
They just had to remember! Remember and obey.
Again, I am reminded of the Lord's prayer - "Give us this day our daily bread." When we pray this way we ask for what we need, acknowledging that we are fed by His Hand. It is a humbling request. We, like Israel, want to take credit - "you will think to yourself, 'My own power and the strength of my own hand have gotten me the power to get wealth'." No, we have nothing that has not been given to us from the Hand of our God. He will allow us to become hungry or thirsty.. or in need... or ill.. or whatever He chooses - to discipline us.. so that we also might understand that we only live on what "comes from the mouth of Adonai."
Father, glorious in power, wisdom, and majesty, You are the Giver of Life.. You are God alone and there is no other. We come before You with humble hearts to recognize and acknowledge that You alone are our Provider, our Creator, our Protector, and our Master. We are totally dependent on You - for every piece of bread, for every breath, and for every heartbeat. We do ask for daily bread, for forgiveness, for deliverance.. for mercy and for grace. We do not want to forget. Help us to remember and obey.. Every day and in every way, so that You will be glorified and honored in our lives. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
V3 "He humbled you, allowing you to become hungry, and then fed you with manna... to make you understand that a person does not live on food alone but on everything that comes from the mouth of Adonai."
Adonai their God - was bringing them into a land with abundant resources. He had brought them through a "vast and fearsome desert, with poisonous snakes, scorpions, and waterless, thirsty ground.." He provided water out of the rock and food out of the heavens. It was His power that had taken them out of Egypt and that would bring them into the new land.
They just had to remember! Remember and obey.
Again, I am reminded of the Lord's prayer - "Give us this day our daily bread." When we pray this way we ask for what we need, acknowledging that we are fed by His Hand. It is a humbling request. We, like Israel, want to take credit - "you will think to yourself, 'My own power and the strength of my own hand have gotten me the power to get wealth'." No, we have nothing that has not been given to us from the Hand of our God. He will allow us to become hungry or thirsty.. or in need... or ill.. or whatever He chooses - to discipline us.. so that we also might understand that we only live on what "comes from the mouth of Adonai."
Father, glorious in power, wisdom, and majesty, You are the Giver of Life.. You are God alone and there is no other. We come before You with humble hearts to recognize and acknowledge that You alone are our Provider, our Creator, our Protector, and our Master. We are totally dependent on You - for every piece of bread, for every breath, and for every heartbeat. We do ask for daily bread, for forgiveness, for deliverance.. for mercy and for grace. We do not want to forget. Help us to remember and obey.. Every day and in every way, so that You will be glorified and honored in our lives. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
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