Category Archives: Doctrine

The Curse of a Dying Nation: Feminine Men and Rebellious Feminists (Deuteronomy 28)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 28

The sum of today’s Scripture reading is essentially two words: Blessings and Curses. Deuteronomy 27 concluded with the people affirming their understanding of God’s Covenant and agreeing to its blessings and penalties (27:15-26). Deuteronomy 28 continued the same proclamation, detailing the LORD’s promise of blessings if the people would obey His Laws and Commandments (28:1-14) and curses should they disobey (28:15-68).

The Rewards and Blessings of Faithfulness (Deuteronomy 28:1-14)

The promise of blessings was conditional and would be fulfilled, but only if the people diligently listened to the Lord’s voice “to observe and to do all His commandments.” If the people would “hearken…observe…and do all His commandments,” the LORD promised He would “set [Israel] on high above all nations of the earth” (28:1). All would be blessed, both city and field (28:3), and would be fruitful and increase. Children would be born, cattle would calve, and the flocks of sheep would increase. The fields would give forth a great harvest (28:4-6).

Israel’s enemies would fall before them and be scattered (28:7). Her storehouses and treasuries would overflow (28:8-14). The LORD promised He would open the treasury of heaven, send rain upon the land, and the world’s nations would become debtors to Israel (28:12). All this was promised if Israel obeyed the LORD’s Law, and His Commandments (28:13-14).

The Penalties of God’s Judgment for Disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15-68)

The balance of Deuteronomy 28 predicted the punishments that would befall Israel as a nation should the people turn from the LORD and disobey His Law and Commandments (28:15-68). In the same way, the LORD promised to bless the nation if the people obeyed Him; the opposite was true should they disobey Him. The curses are far too extensive for me to address individually; however, I invite you to observe their sum in today’s devotion.

Should Israel reject Him, the LORD warned He would abandon them to their enemies (28:45-47), and the people would become slaves to their enemies (this would come to pass during the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities and be repeated in the Roman era). Their enemies would eat the fruitfulness of their lands, trees, and storehouses. Their cattle and flocks would be destroyed (28:48-51).

Israel was warned that when their cities were besieged, the starving people would turn to cannibalism and eat “the flesh of [their] sons and of [their] daughters” (28:52-53).

Portrait of a Dying Nation: Effeminate Men and Embittered Women (28:54-57)

Their men became effeminate (“tender among you, and very delicate.” 28:54). Their women were no longer “tender and delicate” (28:56). The eyes of a wife would “be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter” (28:56). Leaving her natural affection, Moses warned a mother “shall eat [her children] for want of all things secretly in the siege” (28:57).

Because the people rejected the LORD and disobeyed His Law, He promised to bring upon the nation “great plagues…and sore sicknesses” (28:59). Israel would be overcome with plagues (28:58-60), and the births of the children would be few (28:62-63). Finally, the nation would be conquered, and the people scattered, oppressed, and enslaved (28:64-65).

Fear, dread, and depression would haunt the nation, and the people would dread the night and the dawn (28:66-67). Eventually, they would be taken from their land and “see it no more again…[and] be sold unto [their enemies]” as slaves (28:68). All that Moses warned is documented by the historian Josephus and came to pass in AD 70 when Titus, the Roman General, destroyed Jerusalem. Then, the Jews were scattered throughout the nations of the earth.

Closing thoughts:

Today’s Scripture reading reminded me that the pattern of decadence and decline foretold by Moses is seen in the nations of the world today. Such wickedness precludes the judgment of God upon those nations that reject Him. No nation can long reject God without experiencing moral decay and His judgment.

The trademark of God’s judgment is undeniable when I assess my country. I see the evidence of a nation that God has turned over to its enemies. The United States is an enslaved, debtor nation to our enemies. Our nation’s women have taken the lives of their unborn in grotesque abortions, as surely as if they cannibalize them from the womb (28:52-53). Effeminate men, “tender [and] delicate” (28:54), are celebrated, and rebellious women blight our society with an “evil eye” towards their husbands and children (28:56-57). We have experienced epidemics, a failing birthrate, a fear, and a dread of the future, as I have not witnessed in my lifetime.

The United States, like all nations, is doomed if we do not repent of our sins and turn to God.

Questions to consider:

1) What spiritual benefits would Israel gain if they obeyed the commandments of the LORD? (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)

2) What curses would befall Israel if the people refused to heed and obey the commandments of the LORD? (Deuteronomy 28:15-24)

3) Rather than men of strength, how were the rebellious men of Israel described? (Deuteronomy 28:54)

4) What afflictions did Moses prophesy would befall a rebellious nation? (Deuteronomy 28:59-61)

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Choices Always Have Consequences (Deuteronomy 26; Deuteronomy 27)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 26-27

Deuteronomy 26

A Confession of Indebtedness and a Prayer of Thanksgiving (Deuteronomy 26:1-11)

Moses continued his charge to Israel with laws and spiritual principles to guide the people as they became a nation in their land (26:1). Remembering that the blessing of the harvest comes from the LORD (26:1-11), the first-fruits offering was to be taken to the place of worship (Tabernacle). There it was given to the LORD, thus supporting the priests, the Levites, and their households.

Tithes and Offerings for the Poor (Deuteronomy 26:12-15)

A special tithe was given in the third year, coinciding with the tither’s confession that he had honored and obeyed the LORD’s commandments. Rather than taking the tithe of the third year to the Tabernacle, it was used locally to meet the immediate needs of one’s community and to support “the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled” (26:12-15).

The Benefits of Obeying the LORD and Keeping His Commandments (Deuteronomy 26:16-19)

Beginning with Deuteronomy 26:16 and continuing to Deuteronomy 31:13, Moses expounded on the benefits of obeying the LORD and keeping His commandments. He reminded the people that they were to do all that God had commanded with all their hearts and soul (26:16). Israel had been chosen by the LORD “to be His peculiar people,” and He promised “to make [Israel] high above all nations” (26:16-19).

Deuteronomy 27

Renewing the Covenant (Deuteronomy 27:1-10)

Continuing his challenge, Moses was joined by the “elders of Israel,” and he “commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day” (Deuteronomy 27:1).

Lest the people forget all the LORD had done for them, the elders of Israel were commanded to build a pillar of uncut stones on the west side of the Jordan River (Deuteronomy 27:2-8). The stones were to be plastered, and engraved upon them were the Commandments of the Lord, serving as a lasting memorial of the LORD’s promises and commandments. Also, an altar was to be built to sanctify the place (Deuteronomy 27:5-8).

A Rehearsal of the Blessings and Curses Sanctioned by the Law (Deuteronomy 27:11-26)

Continuing his speech to Israel and with the elders beside him, Moses reminded the nation that “Choices have Consequences.” He charged the people that by obeying the Law, they would invite the LORD’s blessings (27:11-12); however, disobedience would arouse His judgments (27:14-26). Should the nation disobey the LORD and reject His Law and Commandments, Moses warned that twelve curses would befall the nation (27:15-26). To each pronouncement, the people assented and answered, “Amen.”

The first through fifth curses (Deuteronomy 27:15-19)

The following violations of the Law and commandments invited God’s judgment and would be cursed: 1) Idolatry, a violation of the first and second commandments, was cursed (Deuteronomy 27:15). 2) Dishonoring one’s parents was cursed (27:16), for it is a violation of the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12). 3) Stealing the property and possessions of another by deceit, a violation of the sixth commandment, was cursed (Deuteronomy 27:17; Exodus 20:15). 4) Taking advantage of one infirmed or disabled was cursed (Deuteronomy 27:18). 5) The fifth curse was upon one who would treat “the stranger, fatherless, and widow” unjustly (Deuteronomy 27:19;Exodus 22:21-24).

Sexual impurity, a violation of the seventh commandment, was addressed by the sixth through ninth curses (Deuteronomy 27:20-23; Ex. 20:14). Specifically addressed and cursed were: 6) Incest with one’s stepmother (Deuteronomy 27:20; Leviticus 18:8-9, 17; Leviticus 20:11); 7) Bestiality (Deuteronomy 27:21; Leviticus 18:23); 8) Incest between siblings and parents (Deuteronomy 27:22); and 9) Incest with one’s mother (Deuteronomy 27:23).

The fifth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13), was the subject of the tenth and eleventh curses (Deuteronomy 27:24-25): 10) Intentional murder of one’s neighbor (Deuteronomy 27:24), and 11) hiring an assassin to kill another was cursed (Deuteronomy 27:25).

The twelfth and final curse (Deuteronomy 27:26), a sum of the twelve curses, was addressed to any child of Israel who failed to confirm God’s Law and Commandments.

And so the people affirmed all Moses commanded, and all the people gave their assent and said, “Amen” (Deuteronomy 27:26).

Questions to consider:

1) What was Israel to present to the LORD after they took possession of the land? (Deuteronomy 26:1-2)

2) What was Israel instructed to do with the tithes and offerings in the third year? (Deuteronomy 26:12)

3) What did the LORD promise Israel if they kept His law and commandments? (Deuteronomy 26:17-19)

4) What was the first thing Israel was to set up after they crossed the Jordan River? (Deuteronomy 27:2-3)

5) With what word did the people acknowledge and affirm the curses pronounced by the Levites? (Deuteronomy 27:15-26).

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The Law and Commandments of the LORD are Gracious (Deuteronomy 15)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 15

Some in our churches suggest the Laws and Commandments of the Old Testament were cold, oppressive, and lacking in grace. They are wrong! In their historical context and with an understanding of their application, you will find that the Law and Commandments of the LORD are fair and judicious. For example, consider the guidelines for the borrower and lender recorded in Deuteronomy 15.

Debtors, Lenders, and the Sabbatical Year (15:1-6)

The Sabbath Year occurred every seven years on the Hebrew calendar, and it was the year the LORD commanded the land to rest. Fields were not worked, seeds were not planted, and any vegetation that volunteered and gave fruit was committed to the poor and grazing animals.

Consider how a man would pay his debt if he could not plant crops during the Sabbath Year. If unable to plant seeds and harvest crops, what became of a man who acquired debt? Because there was no harvest in the seventh year, the law did not permit lenders to press the poor for payment. Instead, in the Sabbath Year, the lender suspended the debt payment for the year (although a non-Hebrew was not released of his obligation to pay his debt in the seventh year, 15:3). Furthermore, God promised that if lenders showed their debtors grace, He would bless the nation (15:4). Indeed, Israel would become a lender, not a borrower, to other countries (15:5-6).

Lending to the Poor (15:7-11)

Concerning the poor, we read, “The poor shall never cease out of the land” (15:11). Regardless of the wealth and prosperity of a nation, the poor are a perpetual presence in the world (15:11). Once again, as a testimony of God’s grace and mercy, the LORD required His people to be charitable, especially to those who were “one of the brethren” (meaning a Hebrew, 15:7). God’s people were commanded to open their hand and heart when they looked upon another in need (15:7). Not only was a lender commanded to not be miserly in charitable giving, he was to “lend him [the poor] sufficient for his need” (15:8).

Because some might seek to take advantage of the immediacy of a Sabbath Year (knowing the repayment of a debt was suspended that year), it was reasonable to suspect lenders might refuse to give to those in need. Such reasoning was a sin in the eyes of the LORD (15:9b). Therefore, lenders were exhorted to give and trust “the Lordthy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto” (15:10).

Slavery, and the Release of Slaves (15:12-18)

Slavery was a cultural reality in the ancient world, and poverty was often the catalyst for enslavement. For example, should a Hebrew (man or woman) be unable to pay their debt, he or she would become a slave to the lender (15:12). Now, the practice of the heathen was to afflict debtors with perpetual enslavement. The LORD, however, provided that His people would not become an endless enslaved people (15:12). Therefore, an indebted Hebrew might serve a master for six years; however, in the seventh year, they were released of their debt and set free (15:12b).

As another evidence of the grace and mercy expressed in God’s Law, a master was to ensure a freedman would not “go away empty” (15:13). Therefore, a master was required to honor the one set free and give “him liberally out of [his] flock, and out of [his] floor, and out of [his] winepress: of that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed [him] thou shalt give unto him [the freeman]” (15:14). Yet, there were masters who were so kind and gracious, that a slave might elect to continue as an enslaved person for life. Such a one would have a hole pierced through his ear, thus marking him as a servant forever (15:17).

Dedication and Consecration of the Firstborn (15:19-23)

The concluding verses of Deuteronomy 15 served as a reminder that the firstborn of Hebrew households was dedicated to the LORD. The precedence for this requirement was set when the tenth plague struck down the firstborn of Egyptian families (Exodus 13:2, 15). Because the Hebrews had applied the blood of a lamb to the doorposts of their households, the LORD had spared the firstborn of Israel. That deliverance was forever memorialized by the Hebrews dedicating every firstborn male to the LORD (Exodus 13:2, 15).

Thus, the firstborn of cattle and sheep were to be unblemished and offered as a sacrificial meal (15:19-20). Also, firstborn oxen were not to be worked in the fields, nor were firstborn sheep to be sheared, for they were the LORD’s. Should a firstborn be blemished, it was not a worthy sacrifice to the LORD and would therefore be eaten like ordinary meat (15:21-23; 12:15).

Closing thoughts:

In closing, I invite you to consider how the Law and Commandments of the LORD were gracious. We have seen that the LORD protected the poor from harsh lenders and slaves from cruel taskmasters, and He extended seasons and reasons for hope and relief.

Finally, remember that all offerings were a picture (i.e., type) of God’s final and perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Mary’s firstborn was the perfect, sinless, unblemished sacrificial Lamb of God (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19).

Is He your Savior?

Questions to consider:

1) How often were the Israelites required to cancel the debts of their brethren? (15:1-2)

2) What were the conditions for Israel to avoid being a debtor to other nations? (15:5-6)

3) What people are a perpetual presence in the world? (15:11)

4) What were the Israelites forbidden to eat? (15:23)

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“If Sinners Entice Thee, Consent Thou Not!” (Deuteronomy 13; Deuteronomy 14)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 13-14

Deuteronomy 13

Deuteronomy 12 concluded with Moses cautioning the people, “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it” (12:32). That admonition brings to mind a similar warning that is found in the closing words of the New Testament, where we read: “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: ¹⁹And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life” (Revelation 22:18–19).

The Punishment of Idolaters (Deuteronomy 13:1-5)

Concerning the laws of idolatry, if a man supposed himself a prophet and performed signs and wonders, he was to be rejected if his prophecy was a departure from the revelations of the LORD (13:1-3). Likewise, if a man said, “Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them” (13:2), he was to “be put to death” (13:4-5).

An Intolerance of Idolatry, Even Among One’s Kindred (Deuteronomy 13:6-11)

Not even the bonds of love and family were to obstruct the judgment of the LORD concerning the worship of idols (13:6-7). If a loved one enticed a man and said, “Let us go and serve other gods” (13:6), that man was guilty of a capital offense, and his sin was to be exposed (13:7-8). Because of the grievous sin of idolatry and its judgment, it was never to be concealed. A witness to idolatry was commanded to be the first to cast a stone (13:9). Then the congregation would “stone [the idolater] with stones, that he die” (13:10), thereby sharing in the idolater’s judgment and condemnation.

The Idolatry of a City Called for Complete Destruction (Deuteronomy 13:12-18)

Should a city turn to idolatry, its inhabitants were to be killed, its flocks and herds destroyed, and the spoils of the city burned with fire (13:12-16). Moses promised that if all were destroyed, the “Lord may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers” (13:17).

Deuteronomy 14 – The Children of Israel Were a Unique, Chosen People

Moses began Deuteronomy 14 with a grand declaration concerning Israel:

“¹Ye are the children of the Lord your God…an holy people [sanctified, set apart] unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people [His treasure] unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth” (14:1a, 2).

Israel’s Mourning for Their Dead was Unique (Deuteronomy 14:1-2)

The first implication of Israel’s peculiar nature was how the nation mourned its dead. We read, “Ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead” (14:1b).

Let me explain. The heathen would cut their flesh and shave their heads as outward signs of mourning at funerals. Israel, however, was forbidden to do the same. The heathen mutilated their bodies as a sign of grief, but the people whom the God of heaven had chosen were not to mourn as those without hope! Paul exhorted believers concerning the same hope, writing, “¹³But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. ¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14).

Israel’s Unique Diet (Deuteronomy 14:3-21)

The subject of Deuteronomy 14:3-21 was clean and unclean meats (we have considered that law in earlier devotions, Leviticus 11). The differences between clean beasts and unclean beasts (14:3-8), clean and unclean fish (14:9-10), and clean and unclean birds (14:11-19) were all identified and addressed. The people were also reminded that they were not to eat diseased animals (14:21a), nor cook or boil a “kid” (a baby goat) in its mother’s milk (such would be cruel to the sensitivity of nature, 14:21b).

Israel’s Unique Worship and Memorials to the Lord (Deuteronomy 14:22-29)

The geographical locations of some tribes in Canaan would put them at great distances from the Tabernacle (14:22-24). Therefore, some couldn’t tithe the first fruits of the harvest and offer the firstborn (“firstlings of thy herds”). So, the matter was resolved by permitting the people to “turn it [the tithe and the firstlings] into money” (14:25). Then, by taking the money and going to the Tabernacle, a man could purchase whatever he desired in the meat, meal, and wine as his tithe to the LORD (14:26).

Distances would prevent the practice of tithing as observed in the wilderness. Yet, the people were warned to honor the LORD with their tithe and not forsake the care and maintenance of “the Levite that is within thy gates” and city (14:27). Every three years, one’s tithe was not taken to the Tabernacle (14:28-29). Instead, it was to be laid “up within thy gates” (14:28) and used in one’s town and village to feed the Levite, the alien, the orphan, and the widow among them (14:29). For their faithfulness with the tithes; the LORD promised to bless the labor of his people.

Closing thoughts:

Israel was called to be a unique, peculiar, and holy people to the LORD (Deuteronomy 14:1-2). That exhortation reminds me of two similar ones recorded in the New Testament. First, the apostle Paul wrote that Christ “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). Peter exhorted believers, “ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people” (1 Peter 2:9).

Paul challenged believers “be not conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2). Solomon wrote the same when he challenged his son, “If sinners entice thee, Consent thou not” (Proverbs 1:10).

Questions to consider:

1) How does a believer prove he loves the LORD? (Deuteronomy 13:3-4)

2) What was God’s judgment if a loved one tempted another to worship idols? (Deuteronomy 13:6-10)

3) What two things identified Israel as a unique people and nation? (Deuteronomy 14:1-3)

4) Who was Israel commanded not to neglect? (Deuteronomy 14:27)

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Blessings or Curses: It’s Your Choice (Deuteronomy 11; Deuteronomy 12)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 11-12

Moses’ second challenge to Israel began in Deuteronomy 5 and continued in today’s Scripture reading. Moses repeated the LORD’s covenant demand for Israel to “love the Lord thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway” (11:1). The detailed explanation of God’s covenant with Israel will continue to Deuteronomy 26:19.

Deuteronomy 11 – A Covenant that Promised Blessings and Cursing

The Great Works of the LORD (Deuteronomy 11:2-6)

Why should Israel love and obey the LORD? Because He had demonstrated “His greatness, His mighty hand, and His stretched out arm” (11:2) when He brought the plagues upon Egypt and Pharaoh (11:3). When He parted the Red Sea, He allowed Israel to pass through on dry ground. Then He sent the waters upon the Egyptians, drowning them, their horses, and chariots (11:4).

When “Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab,” rebelled (Numbers 16), the LORD judged them and their followers. “The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that was in their possession, in the midst of all Israel” (11:6).

The Conditions of God’s Blessing and Curses (Deuteronomy 11:7-15)

Moses reasoned that they were compelled to keep His commandments because the people had seen “all the great acts of the Lord which he did” (11:7). They were reminded that their strength, prosperity, and longevity as a nation was directly related to their obedience (11:8). Obey the LORD, keep His commandments, and Israel would inherit “a land that floweth with milk and honey” (11:9).

Nevertheless, the promise of God’s blessing was conditional (11:10-17). Should the people turn from the LORD and worship idols (11:16), His wrath would be kindled against them. He would then “shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit” (11:17).

A Solemn Charge (Deuteronomy 11:18-32)

The people were again reminded that their covenant responsibility was to obey the commandments and teach them to their children (11:18-19). The LORD’s covenant with Israel was a conditional promise of both “a blessing and a curse” (11:26). Obey the LORD’S commandments, and He promised to bless them (11:27). Disobey the LORD, and He would curse them (11:28).

Deuteronomy 12

It might be argued that Deuteronomy 5-11 was the preface to the “statutes and judgments” recorded in Deuteronomy 12. Having presented to the people the choices and consequences for obeying or disobeying the LORD, Moses revealed the prohibitions and required the Tabernacle would be the central place of worship.

Destroy all Idols and Places of Idol Worship (Deuteronomy 12:1-3)

Israel was commanded to destroy all idols and every place of idol worship and sacrifice (12:1-3). There were no exceptions! Whereas the heathen sacrificed and served “their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree” (12:2), Israel was warned not to follow their ways.

The Tabernacle: Israel’s Central Place of Worship (Deuteronomy 12:5-14)

The people were commanded that only in “the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation [the Tabernacle] shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come” (12:5). The Tabernacle was the place God chose.

There was one place of sacrifice, and that was the altar in the Tabernacle court (12:6). There was one place the tithes and offerings (above that which was the portion of the Levites) might be eaten, and that was before the Tabernacle (12:7-14).

The Slaughter of Beasts for Meat (Deuteronomy 12:15-25)

Offerings and sacrifices were to be given only at the Tabernacle. Yet, because of the geographical distance of the tribes from the Tabernacle (12:21), animals slaughtered for their meat would no longer be brought to the Tabernacle (12:10-15; Leviticus 17:3-6). Nevertheless, all sacrifices were to be offered at the Tabernacle, which was “the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen” (12:21).

There was also the prohibition on the matter of blood. Unlike the heathen and their sacrifices, Israel was commanded, “Ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water” (12:17, 23-25; Leviticus 17:10).

Closing thoughts:

Moses warned the people not to adopt the heathen’s ways of worship nor enquire, “How did these nations serve their gods?” (Deuteronomy 12:30b) The forms of worship followed by the wicked were an abomination to God, for in their depravity, they sacrificed “their sons and their daughters…to their gods” (Deuteronomy 12:31). Moses warned that the LORD would accept nothing less than obedience. The people were “not [to] add thereto, nor diminish from” His commandments (Deuteronomy 12:32).

Some today would suggest that the law and commandments of the LORD are unimportant. Yet, the God of the Old Testament is the God of the New, and He continues to command that His people should be holy.

1 Peter 1:15-16 – “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; ¹⁶Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

Questions to consider:

1) What did the LORD promise Israel if the people would love and obey Him? (Deuteronomy 11:13-15)

2) When and where were parents to teach their children the words of the LORD? (Deuteronomy 11:19)

3) What was Israel commanded to do to the idols and worship places of the heathen? (Deuteronomy 12:2-3)

4) What was the only place Israel could offer sacrifices to the LORD? (Deuteronomy 12:5-7, 11)

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The God of Creation and Heaven has Revealed Himself (Deuteronomy 10)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 10

Deuteronomy 10

Moses’ second oration to Israel continued in Deuteronomy 10 when he described how the LORD showed the people mercy following their idolatry at Sinai. Again, Moses reminded the people what they already knew; nevertheless, it was essential for them to recollect all that had befallen their forefathers and remember the LORD’s Covenant with them as a nation.

Israel’s Covenant: A Testimony of God’s Favor (Deuteronomy 10:1-5)

Moses recalled how, in anger because of their idolatry, he had broken the first tables of stone upon which were written the Ten Commandments. The LORD then commanded him to hew out two additional tables of stone (10:1), upon which the LORD engraved “the words [the Commandments] that were in the first tables” (10:2). The Commandments were then placed in the Ark, and served as a lasting memorial of God’s covenant with Israel (10:2b-5; Exodus 40:20).

Memorial to Aaron’s Death (Deuteronomy 10:6-7)

Continuing his remembrance of the events that had brought the nation to the edge of the Promised Land, Moses rehearsed how his brother Aaron, the first high priest, had died short of Canaan, and “Eleazar his son ministered in the priest’s office in his stead” (10:6).

The Tribe of Levi (Deuteronomy 10:8-9)

Lest any forget, the people were reminded that the LORD had chosen and “separated the tribe of Levi” to serve Him and “to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD” (10:8). Unlike the other tribes, the Levites would have no inheritance of land assigned to them. Instead, their inheritance was a portion of that which was due the LORD, in the people’s tithes, offerings, and sacrifices (10:8-9).

Five Imperatives (Deuteronomy 10:10-13)

With the urgency of a father who loves his sons and daughters, Moses challenged the people to obey the LORDwith five imperatives (10:12-13).

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 – “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear [revere]the LORD thy God, to walk [behave] in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, ¹³To keep [keep watch; guard] the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?”

Who Is God? (Deuteronomy 10:14-22)

Who is this God who revealed Himself as Creator, chose Israel, and covenanted with them by giving them His Law, Commandments, and Statutes?

He is the Creator and Sovereign of “the heaven of heavens…and the earth also, with all that therein is” (10:14). He is the “God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible [i.e., to be feared].” He is justand not a respecter of persons (10:17). He is merciful and the protector “of the fatherless and widow [the defenseless]” (10:18a). He is tender, and “loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment” (10:18b).

Closing thoughts: What effect should the revelation of God’s nature have had on Israel and you?

The answer to that question is found in the closing verses of Deuteronomy 10 (10:19-22). The children of Israel were to love strangers, for they could identify with the hardships of being a stranger in Egypt (10:19). They were to fear, serve, and cleave to the LORD (10:20). They were to be a people whose word, was their bond (“swear by His name,” 10:20). The hearts, thoughts, and affections of Israel were to be solely directed to the LORD (10:21). God had fulfilled His promises. Israel had increased from seventy souls (the number of Jacob’s family in Egypt, Genesis 46:27), and “the LORD [had] made [them] as the stars of heaven for multitude” (10:22).

Believer, my God is great and mighty. He is the LORD of the Scriptures, the Sovereign of Creation, and the King of heaven and earth!

Is He your God?

Questions to consider:

1) What did the LORD write on the stone tablets? (Deuteronomy 10:4)

2) Where did Moses place the stone tablets? (Deuteronomy 10:5)

3) What was the Levitical tribe’s ministry? (Deuteronomy 10:8)

4) What did the LORD require of Israel as the nation settled in the new land? (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)

5) How many souls were in Jacob’s family when they settled in Egypt? (Deuteronomy 10:22)

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God’s Promise: “Do Right, and I will bless you!” (Deuteronomy 8; Deuteronomy 9)

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Scripture Reading – Deuteronomy 8-9

Deuteronomy 8 – A Call to Obedience

Moses’ second challenge to Israel continued in Deuteronomy 8. Again, it was a call to obedience: “All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers” (8:1). In other words, “Do Right, and I will bless you!”

A Memorial to God’s Providences (Deuteronomy 8:2)

As though the promises of God’s grace and faithfulness were not enough, Moses began reciting all the LORD had done for the nation in the wilderness (8:2-5). Even the adversities of “forty years in the wilderness” had a righteous purpose, for the LORD had used the trials to “humble…to prove, [and] to know what was in [Israel’s] heart” (8:2). Knowing what was in the hearts of His people, the LORD had employed trials and testing to lay bare what manner of people they were.

What had the trials proved? (Deuteronomy 8:3-5)

The LORD’s loving care of His people! When they were hungry, He “fed them with manna” (8:3) and made Israel “know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live” (8:3; Matthew 4:4).

For forty years, the LORD preserved Israel. Even their clothes “waxed not old,” and their health did not fail them. Even their feet did not “swell, these forty years” (8:4). Yet, the LORD had chastened and corrected Israel, like “a man chasteneth his son” (8:5).

The Promise of a Good Land (Deuteronomy 8:6-9)

The LORD was bringing Israel into a fertile land with water and springs (8:7). The land was all He had promised. It gave forth an abundance of grains and fruit (8:8). There was also a wealth of iron ore and copper in the land (referred to as “brass,” 8:9).

Warning: The Lure and Temptation of Prosperity (Deuteronomy 8:10-20)

Moses then warned that prosperity could tempt the people’s hearts to be lifted in pride, and they might forget the LORD and His covenant (8:10-19). Furthermore, Moses admonished, should the nation forget the LORD and boast, “My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth” (8:17), Israel would go the way of other nations and “surely perish” (8:19-20).

Deuteronomy 9 – Israel’s Unworthiness in Light of God’s Promises

A Promise of Victory (Deuteronomy 9:1-3)

Lest the hearts of the people be lifted with pride, Moses reminded the people that the nations that occupied the land were “greater and mightier” than they were (9:1). He described the Canaanites as “a people great and tall…[for others said], Who can stand before the children of Anak!” (9:1-2).

An Assurance of God’s Unmerited Favor (Deuteronomy 9:4-6)

Therefore, Israel had no cause for pride or self-reliance. The LORD had determined to give them the land, not because they were righteous or merited God’s favor (because they were “a stiffnecked [hard, stubborn] people,” 9:6).

Warning: Lest they be proud, Moses Reminded Israel of the Nation’s Faults and Failures (Deuteronomy9:7-24)

They had rebelled and provoked God to anger when Moses went up onto the mount to receive the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 9:8-14; Exodus 31:18-32:6). When the LORD threatened to destroy the nation, Moses interceded for the people (9:15-19). Even Aaron, the brother of Moses, who became the first high priest, was mercifully spared, though “the Lord was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and [Moses] prayed for Aaron” (9:20).

After citing other examples of Israel’s past sins and rebellion (9:22-24; Exodus 17:1; Numbers 11:4), Moses returned to the uprising at Sinai. He recalled how he had appealed to the LORD to spare Israel for His testimony’s sake before the Egyptians and other nations (9:25-29).

Closing thoughts: What spiritual lesson might we take from Moses memorializing Israel’s sins and unworthiness?

There are many lessons and applications, but the most prominent is a lesson in God’s GRACE. Israel’s failures serve as a reminder of our unworthiness. None of us are worthy or merit God’s favor (Titus 3:5). Apart from Christ, sinners are lost and without hope of forgiveness and salvation. Israel was saved as a nation; in the same way, any sinner comes to be saved and forgiven of sin–GRACE.

Ephesians 2:8–9 – ⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Questions to consider:

1) To what end had the LORD allowed Israel to suffer trials, hunger, and thirst in the wilderness? (Deuteronomy 8:2-3)

2) What are the dangers of prosperity? (Deuteronomy 9:12-14)

3) How strong were the enemies Israel would face in the Promised Land? (Deuteronomy 9:1-2)

4) How did Moses respond when he saw the golden calf Aaron had made for the people? (Deuteronomy 9:17-21)

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Fear, and Obey the LORD, and He Will Prosper You (Deuteronomy 6; Deuteronomy 7)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 6-7

Our chronological Scripture reading brings us to Deuteronomy 6-7, where we find Moses continuing his second oration before the congregation of Israel (which he began in Deuteronomy 5). After stating the Ten Commandments to the people (5:7-21), Moses charged them to keep the covenant by “[walking] in all the ways which the Lord [their] God [had] commanded [them]” (5:33).

Deuteronomy 6

A Sacred Duty: The Perpetual Responsibility to Instruct Sons and Daughters

The Reward for Obedience (Deuteronomy 6:1-3)

Israel was not only to obey “the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments” which the LORD had given Moses to teach the people (6:1), but they were to “fear the LORD” and teach their “son, and [their] son’s son, all the days of [their] life; and that [their] days may be prolonged” (6:2).

Take a moment and ponder not only the command but also the promise. There was a direct correlation between the quality and length of one’s life and whether or not they have faithfully obeyed the LORD’S commands, feared Him, and instructed their children and grandchildren in His statutes and commandments. One wonders about the number of potentially premature deaths of those who have lived apart from the Lord’s commandments.

Moses continued his appeal to the people and said, “Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey” (6:3). Once again, prosperity was the reward for fearing and revering the LORD.

Principles for Obedience (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

Known as The Shema among Hebrew people, Deuteronomy 6:4-5 is prayed twice daily by many Jewish people for it summarizes the essence of Israel’s God and that nation’s unique relationship with Him.

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 – ⁴Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: ⁵And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

In the New Testament, when a lawyer asked Jesus, “³⁶Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” (Matthew 22:36). Jesus quoted “The Shema” and said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ³⁸This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).

The Means of Obedience (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

Without exception, each generation was to obey the commandments out of a heart of love and to communicate the commands, statutes, and laws of the LORD “diligently” to their children (6:7-9). The Word of God was to be persistently considered in every household. Its commands, statutes, and laws were the spiritual guide for every area of life and were to be taught when sitting down, walking, lying down at night, or rising at dawn. Even the entrance to one’s home was to be graced with the Law of God (6:9).

An Admonition (Deuteronomy 6:10-18)

Moses then warned the people not to forget the LORD amid their prosperity (6:10-11). They were reminded that “the LORD thy God is a jealous God” (6:15). Also, they were not to “tempt” or test the LORD by failing to obey Him (6:16). The LORD promised if the people would keep His commandments, He would prosper them (6:17). If they would do “right and good in the sight of the LORD,” it would be well with them (6:18).

A Directive for Parental Instructions (Deuteronomy 6:20-24)

Deuteronomy 6:20-23 returned to the privilege and responsibility the people had for instructing their children. Fathers and mothers were to remind their sons and daughters of all the LORD had done for them and to “do all these statutes, to fear the LORD” (6:24). Obey the LORD, and He promised to preserve them as a nation (6:24).

Deuteronomy 7 – Why did the LORD Choose Israel?

After challenging Israel to remember the providences and promises of the LORD, to obey His commandments, and teach them to their sons and daughters: Moses challenged Israel to utterly destroy the nations in the land He had promised them for an inheritance (Deuteronomy 7).

A Call for Separation (Deuteronomy 7:2-11)

The nation was to make no covenant of peace with the heathen, nor allow their sons and daughters to intermarry with them (7:2-4). Every idol and every place of idolatry was to be cut down (7:5).

Then Moses reminded the people that the LORD had chosen Israel to be a “holy people” (7:6). Israel was not chosen because the nation was significant in number nor a powerful people (7:7). God chose Israel because He “loved [them], and because He would keep the oath [covenant] which He had sworn unto [their] fathers [i.e., Abraham, Issac, and Jacob]” (7:8).

A Promise of Blessings for Obedience (Deuteronomy 7:12-26)

Deuteronomy 7 revealed much concerning the nature of God and His relationship with Israel. I look forward to considering those verses in a future devotion. But, for now, read the balance of chapter 7 and meditate on God’s grace, longsuffering, and holiness. After all, the LORD is “immutable,” and He has not changed!

Questions to consider:

1) What was Moses commanded to teach Israel? (Deuteronomy 6:1)

2) What did God promise if Israel kept His commandments and taught their children? (Deuteronomy 6:2-3)

3) How were parents to teach their children? (Deuteronomy 6:7)

4) Why were the sons and daughters of Israel forbidden to marry heathen spouses? (Deuteronomy 7:3-4)

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Corporate Identity and Conditional Blessings (Deuteronomy 5)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 5

Moses’ first oration to Israel concluded in Deuteronomy 4:43. After a brief introduction to the content of his second speech (4:44–49), we read, “Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them” (5:1).

The Principle of Corporate Identity (Deuteronomy 5:2-5)

Moses then reminded the people they were bound to the LORD by a Covenant (5:2), one the previous generation affirmed “in Horeb” (Horeb being the same as Mount Sinai). Now, lest anyone object and suppose the covenant did not bind them, Moses stated the principle of Corporate Solidarity:

“The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day” (5:3). How did the LORD establish His covenant with Israel as a nation? “[He] talked with [them] face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire” (5:4). Moses then related how he had served as Israel’s mediator and received the Law and Commandments from the LORD (5:5).

The Precepts of the Covenant (Deuteronomy 5:6-22)

Notice that God’s covenant with Israel began with a preamble:

“I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage” (5:6). After he stated the preamble, Moses rehearsed the Decalogue (ten words or statements) and thus restated the Ten Commandments (5:7-21) that were first recorded in Exodus 20. (* I will refer you to earlier studies of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. Take a few minutes and review the earlier devotion of the same. The spiritual and historical significance of the Law and Commandments cannot be exaggerated.)

Where and How the Ten Commandments were Delivered (Deuteronomy 5:22-33)

The LORD’s Spirit descended upon Horeb (also known as Mount Sinai), and He spoke “unto all [the] assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me” (5:22).

The people were terrified at the sight, “for the mountain (Horeb, i.e., Sinai) did burn with fire” (5:25). The voice of the LORD was like the rumble of thunder (5:26). Then, fearing the LORD, the people intreated Moses to serve as their mediator saying, “Go thou near, and hear all that the Lord our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it” (5:27).

The LORD agreed to the people’s request (5:28), commended them, and said, “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” (5:28) What a wonderful aspiration! The God of Israel, whose presence and voice terrified them, longed for His people to fear [revere] Him and keep His commandments (5:28a). The LORD desired that it would be “well with them, and with their children for ever” (5:28b). He promised if Israel would keep His commandments, “it [would] be well with [them]” (5:33).

Closing thoughts: Do you know the LORD wants to bless you and your loved ones?

Yet, His blessings are promised to those who, in the words of Moses, “observe to do…as the Lord your God hath commanded…[and neither turn] aside to the right hand or to the left” (5:32). Sadly, some choose to take detours from the way and path of righteousness and wonder why things go badly for them and their loved ones. In the words of Solomon, “The way of transgressors is hard” (Proverbs 13:15).

Are you taking the path that leads you closer to the LORD and His promise of blessings?

Questions to consider:

1) Can you identify the “corporate identity” principle in Deuteronomy 5:3-4?

2) What did the LORD promise to those who honor their parents? (Deuteronomy 5:16)

3) What does God promise to those who obey His commandments? (Deuteronomy 5:33)

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Sacrificial Offerings and Feast Days to the LORD (Numbers 28)

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Scripture Reading – Numbers 28

Today’s Scripture reading is the first of two chapters that reviewed the Law of Offerings. Given the context, a review of sacrifices seemed out of place; after all, the tribal census had numbered the men of war age (and would also serve as the basis for assigning tribal lands). One would think it was time to go to war! Instead, lest the people forget to honor the LORD with offerings, a review of the sacrifices began, and the people were reminded that the LORD is the Commander and Chief of Israel!

Numbers 28

Four Types of Sacrificial Offerings

Daily Offerings, known as the Burnt Offering (Numbers 28:1-8)

The daily offerings consisted of two lambs to be “of the first year without spot” (28:3). The first lamb was to be offered and sacrificed in the morning. The second was offered in the evening (28:4). The lamb offered in the evening was accompanied by a drink offering of the best wine (described as “strong wine”) and flour or grain (defined as a meat or meal offering, 28:4-6). The morning and evening offerings were sacrifices offered by the priests on behalf of the nation and were a daily reminder of Israel’s dependence on God’s grace.

Weekly Sabbath Day Offerings (Numbers 28:9-10)

In addition to the daily offerings, weekly Sabbath day offerings were described (28:9-10). Israel was to offer them on the Sabbath, and they were a time to reflect on the Creator Who rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2).

Monthly New Moon Offerings (Numbers 28:11-15)

As the name implies, the “New Moon Offerings” were to be observed “in the beginnings of your months” (28:11) and was a “burnt offering unto the Lord; [and consisted of] two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot” (28:11). The New Moon Offering sanctified the month that was ahead and served as a reminder that the LORD is both the Creator and Sustainer of His creation.

Annual Passover and Pentecost Offering (Numbers 28:16-31)

Israel was to observe several festivals, referred to as the Feasts of the LORD (28:16-29:40). The Passover was celebrated on “the fourteenth day of the first month” (28:16). The week following the Passover meal was identified as the Feast of Unleavened Bread (28:17-25). Lasting for seven days, in addition to the daily offerings, the days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread required an additional sabbath of rest (28:18) and the same sacrifices as the New Moon Offering on each of the seven days (28:19-22).

Pentecost, identified as the fiftieth day after the Passover, was known as the Feast of Weeks, or the Harvest Feast (28:26-31), and was the day the “firstfruits” were offered to the LORD (the first fruits were the first to ripen and be harvested). Burnt offerings also accompanied the “firstfruits” (28:27-31).

Closing thoughts:

The sacrifices required, and the number of sacrifices commanded by the LORD, may surprise believers unfamiliar with the Old Testament Scriptures. Nevertheless, all the sacrifices reminded Israel of that nation’s dependence on God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

Is Jesus Christ Your Sacrifice and Savior?

If you have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, you are not required to offer sacrifices for sin because the ultimate and final sacrifice – Jesus Christ, was offered for the sins of the world. The author of Hebrews observed that the high priests offered daily sacrifices for their sins and the nation’s sins; however, Christ “did once, when he offered up himself” (Hebrews 7:27). He “once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18, 20).

Knowing the “wages of sin is death,” we who trust Christ as Savior have the promise that “the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our LORD” (Romans 6:23). Instead of sacrificial offerings, we are to offer sacrifices of prayer and praise to the LORD, and our “bodies [i.e., lives] a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” (Romans 12:1).

Will you accept Christ as your substitutionary sacrifice and Savior?

Questions to consider:

1) What daily sacrifice did the LORD require of Israel? (Numbers 28:3-4)

2) What was the Sabbath Day offering? (Numbers 28:9)

3) What was forbidden on the first day of the Passover feast? (Numbers 28:18)

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