Ch 27:
God uses remembrance & reinforcement through visual memory to help the Israelites see how He expects obedience. It is to be the norm.
The Priests were to be the ones who reinforce the law of God and pronounce judgment on sinners in God's name. The law would not bring life - when they obeyed these laws, they soon disobeyed others.
Ch 28:
As Christians, we have a similar blessing for obedience - we are called God's people and are called to obey.
The curses are similar in that God will bring about disappointment, disaster and failed dreams. There will be continuous disappointment as a result of what has happened.
When we seek the Lord, we must continue to seek Him and not turn away. He calls for faithfulness in the long haul, not part time commitment.
Ch 29:
The Israelites would have had to remembered all that God had done for them & as a result been loyal to God as a result. However, their sinful hearts showed their potential for leaving Him and going their own way.
God has revealed things so that we can follow His law and our children forever. He has kept things that are only to be known by Him.
Ch 30:
The law is made to be obeyed...and when we obey, we will receive life. God's law is perfect - it is for our good. We must never forget this.
Friday, 7 June 2013
Thursday, 6 June 2013
Deuteronomy 22-26 Rules for life!
Ch 22:1-21 Life and property are important- you are not to take them lightly, but rather, see God's ways as crucial to be obeyed.
v13-30 Chastity is important - we are created to be holy and pure, keeping ourselves for God and to be holy for Him.
Ch 23: Purging yourself is important - keep yourself holy before God. Don't take sin lightly.
Ch 24:
Equity & honesty:
Be honest in marriage
Don't take advantage of others with loans etc
Don't deprive the foreigner, fatherless or widow
Ch 25: Paul uses this passage to argue that Christian workers are worthy of wages. We must never forget to provide for them what they deserve.
Ch 26:1-11
The law required the Israelites to give the best of what they received to God - to recognise what He had done for them and to show their dependance on Him.
The Israelites were to remember all that God had done for them - He was declaring He was their God and they His people. But, they were to live according to Him & His ways as a result.
v13-30 Chastity is important - we are created to be holy and pure, keeping ourselves for God and to be holy for Him.
Ch 23: Purging yourself is important - keep yourself holy before God. Don't take sin lightly.
Ch 24:
Equity & honesty:
Be honest in marriage
Don't take advantage of others with loans etc
Don't deprive the foreigner, fatherless or widow
Ch 25: Paul uses this passage to argue that Christian workers are worthy of wages. We must never forget to provide for them what they deserve.
Ch 26:1-11
The law required the Israelites to give the best of what they received to God - to recognise what He had done for them and to show their dependance on Him.
The Israelites were to remember all that God had done for them - He was declaring He was their God and they His people. But, they were to live according to Him & His ways as a result.
Wednesday, 5 June 2013
Deuteronomy 16-21 Learn to revere the Lord
Ch 16:
2 requirements of the worshiper with regard the Feast of Weeks & Tabernacles:
Rejoice before the Lord
Be joyful!
By being joyful, you make your own joy complete.
Ch 17:
v2-7 There is a need for purity - but the discipline must not simply be on hearsay. It must be established by several witnesses.
Israel's king was to be an Israelite - He must not acquire many horses or take many wives or accumulate much gold. He must revere and read the law of the Lord and follow it carefully.
Ch 18:
Special ministries of priests & prophets: were to stand on behalf of the people, and to speak God's words to them.
The prophet was to replace the sorcerer or diviner. We can tell a true prophet by the outcome of their words - watch their outcome carefully.
Deut 18:18-19 was finally fulfilled in Jesus. He was the One raised up by God to speak God's Words to His people.
The cities of refuge rules showed sin was serious, but also showed God's grace was not neglected. He is God and must be obeyed, but is fully love and demonstrates this ably.
Ch 19:
Emphasies the spirit of "You shall not kill, steal or bear false witness" commands in v1-4, 14 & 15-21.
Ch 20:
Warfare is because of all God is and has done. He requires wholehearted commitment and nothing less will do.
God is a God of consequence and compassion. He requires us to live for Him and obedience to Him, but there are results when we don't obey Him.
Jesus took the curse on Himself when He died on the cross b/c 21:22-23 reminds us that "everyone who dies on a tree is cursed."
2 requirements of the worshiper with regard the Feast of Weeks & Tabernacles:
Rejoice before the Lord
Be joyful!
By being joyful, you make your own joy complete.
Ch 17:
v2-7 There is a need for purity - but the discipline must not simply be on hearsay. It must be established by several witnesses.
Israel's king was to be an Israelite - He must not acquire many horses or take many wives or accumulate much gold. He must revere and read the law of the Lord and follow it carefully.
Ch 18:
Special ministries of priests & prophets: were to stand on behalf of the people, and to speak God's words to them.
The prophet was to replace the sorcerer or diviner. We can tell a true prophet by the outcome of their words - watch their outcome carefully.
Deut 18:18-19 was finally fulfilled in Jesus. He was the One raised up by God to speak God's Words to His people.
The cities of refuge rules showed sin was serious, but also showed God's grace was not neglected. He is God and must be obeyed, but is fully love and demonstrates this ably.
Ch 19:
Emphasies the spirit of "You shall not kill, steal or bear false witness" commands in v1-4, 14 & 15-21.
Ch 20:
Warfare is because of all God is and has done. He requires wholehearted commitment and nothing less will do.
God is a God of consequence and compassion. He requires us to live for Him and obedience to Him, but there are results when we don't obey Him.
Jesus took the curse on Himself when He died on the cross b/c 21:22-23 reminds us that "everyone who dies on a tree is cursed."
Tuesday, 4 June 2013
Deuteronomy 10:12-15 What the Lord requires of you.
The attributes & ways of God (10:12-11:12):
The God who doesn't coerce, who owns all things, who set his affection on you and chose you, the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great God, mighty, awesome, showing no partiality and accepting no bribes. The one who defends the cause of the fatherless and widow, who loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing. The God who performed awesome wonders and cares for you, whose eyes are on you.
The rewards & punishments of God (11:13-32):
The promise of rain and provision or the anger of the Lord and the shutting of the heavens and failure of produce.
Ch 12 is all about having no other gods before God. We must remember He is the only God and there is no other.
Ch 13 is about ridding ourselves of idols. Only God is to be worshipped, noone else.
God's will is shown in the long-term, not the immediate. Don't be swayed by first appearances - God does things in ways that cannot be seen or easily measured.
Ch 14
We are to be different from the rest of the world. Remember you are children of the Lord. Those who have died are treated differently.
Food & indulgence are important - you cannot just eat whatever you want. It matters to God. Our money and possessions are not our own - they belong to God.
Ch 15
Jesus is the One who cancels debts and sets free - He shows unmerited grace and favour.
This chapter is a reminder of what God wants of us - to put others before ourselves. Everyone is equal before God - noone is more important.
Be open-handed.
The God who doesn't coerce, who owns all things, who set his affection on you and chose you, the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great God, mighty, awesome, showing no partiality and accepting no bribes. The one who defends the cause of the fatherless and widow, who loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing. The God who performed awesome wonders and cares for you, whose eyes are on you.
The rewards & punishments of God (11:13-32):
The promise of rain and provision or the anger of the Lord and the shutting of the heavens and failure of produce.
Ch 12 is all about having no other gods before God. We must remember He is the only God and there is no other.
Ch 13 is about ridding ourselves of idols. Only God is to be worshipped, noone else.
God's will is shown in the long-term, not the immediate. Don't be swayed by first appearances - God does things in ways that cannot be seen or easily measured.
Ch 14
We are to be different from the rest of the world. Remember you are children of the Lord. Those who have died are treated differently.
Food & indulgence are important - you cannot just eat whatever you want. It matters to God. Our money and possessions are not our own - they belong to God.
Ch 15
Jesus is the One who cancels debts and sets free - He shows unmerited grace and favour.
This chapter is a reminder of what God wants of us - to put others before ourselves. Everyone is equal before God - noone is more important.
Be open-handed.
Monday, 3 June 2013
Deuteronomy 7-10:11 A Holy & Treasured People
Ch 7:
Four ways the Israelites were to deal with the idolatrous Canaanites (v1-5):
Destroy them totally
Make no treaty with them
Don't intermarry with them
Break their altars, sacred stones, Asherah poles & idols
We are to completely separate ourselves from the idols of this world - destroying them in our lives, not making any treaty with them, intermarrying or doing anything that unites us with them.
v6-11 The reasons for this are:
They are a holy people to God. He has chosen them to be His treasured possession. He loved them and will keep His promises.
Likewise, we are to be a holy people to God.
v12-16 3 blessings God promises will come with the faithful pursuit of this policy:
God will keep His covenant of love
He will bless them and increase their numbers
He will keep them free from every disease
We are called to be separate as believers - we are to be different.
Remember who God is and all that He is capable of - we must remember He alone has the power to help us through things. We have no power in and of ourselves.
Ch 8:
God's threefold purpose in taking the Israelites through the wilderness:
To humble them
To test them
To teach them
Jesus reminded Satan that man does not live by bread alone - we need the Word of God.
We must remember never to forget - always remind yourselves and remember. Barnabas reminded them also - we must never forget.
Ch 9:
The Israelites were at risk of thinking it was because of their own self-righteousness that God had won victories. They had to realise and remember it was only because of God that they won anything.
Moses' example is a reminder of the value of intercessory prayer - it changed things for the Israelites as God worked in response to all that Moses prayed. The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Four ways the Israelites were to deal with the idolatrous Canaanites (v1-5):
Destroy them totally
Make no treaty with them
Don't intermarry with them
Break their altars, sacred stones, Asherah poles & idols
We are to completely separate ourselves from the idols of this world - destroying them in our lives, not making any treaty with them, intermarrying or doing anything that unites us with them.
v6-11 The reasons for this are:
They are a holy people to God. He has chosen them to be His treasured possession. He loved them and will keep His promises.
Likewise, we are to be a holy people to God.
v12-16 3 blessings God promises will come with the faithful pursuit of this policy:
God will keep His covenant of love
He will bless them and increase their numbers
He will keep them free from every disease
We are called to be separate as believers - we are to be different.
Remember who God is and all that He is capable of - we must remember He alone has the power to help us through things. We have no power in and of ourselves.
Ch 8:
God's threefold purpose in taking the Israelites through the wilderness:
To humble them
To test them
To teach them
Jesus reminded Satan that man does not live by bread alone - we need the Word of God.
We must remember never to forget - always remind yourselves and remember. Barnabas reminded them also - we must never forget.
Ch 9:
The Israelites were at risk of thinking it was because of their own self-righteousness that God had won victories. They had to realise and remember it was only because of God that they won anything.
Moses' example is a reminder of the value of intercessory prayer - it changed things for the Israelites as God worked in response to all that Moses prayed. The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Sunday, 2 June 2013
Deuteronomy 4-6 God's commands for how we should live
There is no God like our God. His Words are important - keep them & pass them on. Don't forget Him.
The Word of God is unique and special. No other God has chosen to speak like our God.
Obey Him - remember He alone is God, there are no others.
The ten commandments are personal - they are addressed to us as individuals. We should obey.
In response to the commandments, we are to have an appropriate sense of awe as to who God is and all He has done.
God is a gracious God - One whom listens and is good and gracious to His people.
God gave the law so it could be obeyed and that the people would enjoy long life.
We must never forget God, not even when things are going well for us. This is a real danger - do not forget God!!
Family is a vital part of all we do and believe. We live together in community with others and live out our faith in community.
The Word of God is unique and special. No other God has chosen to speak like our God.
Obey Him - remember He alone is God, there are no others.
The ten commandments are personal - they are addressed to us as individuals. We should obey.
In response to the commandments, we are to have an appropriate sense of awe as to who God is and all He has done.
God is a gracious God - One whom listens and is good and gracious to His people.
God gave the law so it could be obeyed and that the people would enjoy long life.
We must never forget God, not even when things are going well for us. This is a real danger - do not forget God!!
Family is a vital part of all we do and believe. We live together in community with others and live out our faith in community.
Saturday, 1 June 2013
Deuteronomy 1-3 Keep your eyes on God!
Sin described (ch 1):
Rebellion (v26)
Grumbling (v27)
Not trusting in the Lord (v32)
The implication is that the Israelites had been ready, but had turned their backs on God - we must never forget to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, no matter what the circumstances.
Sin is serious (1:40-45) but God is never too far from Salvation. He will save. He delights to do so.
We must remember our history & learn from it, rather than condemning ourselves by it.
God decides when and where people should live. He is intimately involved in the plans and purposes of all people everywhere.
God has proved Himself gracious in sparing Edom, Moab & Ammon - He has His purposes and plans.
God has His purposes, that we are called to obey - however, we must rest in His grace and not neglect these acts of faith.
The conquest of Sihon and Og (in ch 3) reminded that God would accomplish what He wanted, how He wanted. These were memories that the people of God were to take and to treasure.
3:21-22 is a reminder of the need for mutual encouragement - none of us goes alone. We all need God and others. By obeying God, we point others to Jesus!
Rebellion (v26)
Grumbling (v27)
Not trusting in the Lord (v32)
The implication is that the Israelites had been ready, but had turned their backs on God - we must never forget to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, no matter what the circumstances.
Sin is serious (1:40-45) but God is never too far from Salvation. He will save. He delights to do so.
We must remember our history & learn from it, rather than condemning ourselves by it.
God decides when and where people should live. He is intimately involved in the plans and purposes of all people everywhere.
God has proved Himself gracious in sparing Edom, Moab & Ammon - He has His purposes and plans.
God has His purposes, that we are called to obey - however, we must rest in His grace and not neglect these acts of faith.
The conquest of Sihon and Og (in ch 3) reminded that God would accomplish what He wanted, how He wanted. These were memories that the people of God were to take and to treasure.
3:21-22 is a reminder of the need for mutual encouragement - none of us goes alone. We all need God and others. By obeying God, we point others to Jesus!
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