I
have been out of Deuteronomy for
a while now. It is time to recall some of the amazing lessons
learned (and being learned) in this a huge book. Deuteronomy
happens to be one of my favorites. It might be strange to have
a favorite book in the Bible but I do so love Deuteronomy and
1st and 2nd Samuel
I
probably have other favorites that I have forgotten about but these
are my favs at the moment.
The
setting for this book is super fantastic. Israel has wondered
in the wilderness for forty years. There wanderings have been
full of rebellion, epic battles, the law, the blue prints for the
Tabernacle, the making of the Tabernacle and oh so much more. Moses
is not allowed to enter the promised land. He is to perish in
the wilderness with the rest of the rebellious generation. He
gathers all of the people together (women and little ones are
mentioned as being there for this very long sermon). They are
about to receive the promise that was given to Abraham. God is
going to give His people a land flowing with milk and honey. He
is going to give them a land that has fields full of produce, vines
heavy with grapes that they did not plant. They will inhabit
cities that they did not build. God is giving them what they do
not deserve. It is all grace. It His gift to His
children. This theme is continued from the garden and continues
on into the new garden, the new world that Jesus establishes by his
death and resurrection. It is all grace. Even in the
giving of the law and the temple rituals, we should grace. God
loves to bless us beyond what we deserve. This is what grace
is. This is such a beautiful theme found in God's word and it
is amazing how often we miss it! Back to Moses and his story.
He is declaring this very truth to God's people. He is
reminding them of the grace they have received. Reminding them
of the grace that they are to receive. But....he is also
reminding them of what happens when they disobey and forget their
God. As they forget God, God does not forget them. He
remembers the vow that they have taken to follow after God and to
obey all of His commands. When they are unfaithful to their
word, God stays faithful to His. He sends them enemies to
remind them of what they have forgotten. He reminds them that
false gods are just that....false liars, works of their own feeble
imaginations. This sermon is can be broken into two basic
categories: if you remember Me and obey all of my commands, you will
be blessed. If you forget me and follow other god's, all of the
curses and plagues of Egypt will swallow you up. The blessings
are great when we follow God and cleave to Him. The curses are
heavy and buckle anyone they fall on. But the curses also have
grace wrapped up in them. The purpose of the curses is to
administer Gods justice. But they are also for the purpose of
bringing the people back to the Lord. And if you look at the
whole book of the bible we see this again and again. God's
people disobey. They go into exile. They become slaves
and have bitter lives. This reminds them of when God's favor
was on them. They call out in repentance and ask God to deliver
them once again. God is the only deliverer that brings us peace
and blessings. If we think differently, we are already
compromised in out minds and can be sure that an idol is being
worshiped. Find the idol, cut it off and turn to the Lord. God
is your fullness, your deliver from all things, your surety and
praise. Cleave to Him. This is the message of Moses'
sermon.
Therefore
keep all the commandments....that you may be strong. Deut. 11:8
Hearken
to the voice of the Lord thy God to keep all of His commandments...to
do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord. Deut. 13:18
Ye
shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear Him and keep His
commandments and obey his voice and ye shall serve him and cleave
unto Him. Deut 13:4
Thou
shat fear the Lord thy God, him shalt thour serve and to him shalt
thou cleave and swear by His name. he is thy praise and he is
thy God. Deut. 10:22
Great post Erin!!!
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