“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands that I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.”
Deuteronomy 28: 1-2 Deuteronomy 28-29 (Psalm 62) Observe
Interpret The truth in these chapters seems as obvious as 2+2=4; obey God and receive blessing, disobey and face the consequences. The people have seen so much in miraculous provision and activity from God that we are almost astounded at their inability to believe, trust and obey. Yet we read that their minds could not understand, eyes not see, nor ears hear (29: 2-6). This partially confirms the truth that seeing does not always result in believing. Why is that the case? Once again the answer is our hearts. Those renewing the covenant are warned against thinking, ‘I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,’ (29:19). Despite enormous amounts of proof that God is real and loves His people, wanting to bless abundantly, the people continually choose their own way and to believe in man-made gods. The results are anxious minds, weary eyes and hearts full of longing and despair (28: 65). God was theirs, and is our, Creator; He loves us and knows what is best for us. He desires to bless us abundantly and live in a meaningful relationship with us where we enjoy and glorify Him. God reveals what we need to know for this to occur; what He reveals belongs to us. He keeps back that which we do not need to know; this belongs to Him as God. This revelation is for us and future generations so that we may follow Him and receive what He promises (29: 29). Application In essence the lesson for us to apply in our lives is the need to simply believe, trust and obey. Not to think we know better and go our own way, not to, in effect, worship man-made gods (the things we put before Him), nor to be lured by what the world offers. Instead we are encouraged to enter the ‘new covenant,’ not with an oath, but with our baptismal vows and receive the abundant life God gives (John 10: 10). In this new life our minds find peace, our eyes have light and the longing of our hearts are satisfied with His hope and love. The Question of Application Last Sunday were encouraged to choose life (Deuteronomy 30: 19). Considering the lessons of today what do you choose? Prayer Holy God, we praise you for calling us to be a servant people and for gathering us into the body of Christ. We thank you for choosing to add to our number brothers and sisters in faith in the new covenant. Together may we live in your Spirit and so love one another that we may have the mind of Jesus Christ, our Lord, to whom we give honor and glory forever. Amen. Praise You Say (I believe) Lauren Daigle Trust and obey by Don Moen TEXT: Deuteronomy 24-27
OBSERVATION
INTERPRETATION
APPLICATION
QUESTION
PRAYER Oh Lord my God, listen to my cry. You have heard my confessions and my promises to follow you. Grant me the strength of heart to live up to my vows. Grant me your wonderful and marvelous grace. Marvelous grace of our loving lord Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured There where the blood of the lamb was spilt Sin and despair like the sea waves cold Threaten the soul with infinite loss Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold Points to the refuge the mighty cross Dark is the stain that we cannot hide What can avail to wash it away Look! there is flowing a crimson tide Whiter than snow you may be today. Marvelous, infinite matchless grace Freely bestowed on all who believe You that are longing to see His face Will you this moment his grace receive? Text: Deuteronomy 21-23
OBSERVE – At the end of chapter 21, we come across a law that immediately draws our thoughts towards crucifixion. We read “If someone has committed a crime worthy of death and is executed and hung on a tree, the body must not remain hanging from the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone who is hung is cursed in the sight of God (Deuteronomy 21: 22-23). Although the Israelites didn’t practice crucifixion as a means of capital punishment, they did have this similar custom for expressing a high degree of contempt for certain outlaws. INTERPRET – After a criminal had been put to death by some other means, the dead body would be strung up on a tree as a symbol of shame and dishonor. This public exposure gave the people an opportunity to express their venomous dislike for the criminal as they hurled insults and mocked them. Hanging the body in public showed that this person was under God’s curse. It was for this reason that Joshua would place the King of Ai on a pole (Joshua 8: 29) and the bodies of the five kings of the southern confederacy on five poles (Joshua 10: 26-27). Joshua was interested in more than their execution, he wanted to bring shame and dishonor to them. Most importantly, Joshua wanted to make known that these kings were against God. APPLICATION – It is because they wanted this shame and dishonor to fall on Christ that the Jewish leaders cried out to Pilate, “Crucify him!” Knowing that the Roman idea of crucifixion was paramount to their practice of hanging on a tree, they would be satisfied with nothing less than having Jesus crucified. In their eyes, this would put Jesus to shame and demonstrate that he was cursed by God. What they did not understand, however, was that it was their shame that Christ was bearing on the tree, their curse that he took upon himself: “When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing” (Galatians 3: 13). While thousands of people died on crosses throughout history, only one has ever received the full measure of the curse of God while on a cross. There, the One with whom the Father was well pleased received in himself the curse of God. Not for his own sin, but for the sin of those who are guilty. Because of this act of incredible love, the curse turns to life for those who turn to Jesus in faith and repentance. REFLECTION/QUESTION – At the cross, Jesus displayed the greatest love possible and made it available to all who desire it. Is there anything preventing you from fully accepting this gift of love? PRAYER – Lord Jesus; you received the humiliation I deserve. You took upon yourself the curse for my wrongdoing. I was against God but you have provided the way for me to be reconciled. I bow my knee to you and confess you as Lord. AMEN. SONG - At the Cross (Hillsong) |
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