Tag Archives: Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 25, Acts 20

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Deuteronomy 25 details a number of miscellaneous laws, including Levite marriage and fair weights. Moses gives the Amalekites as an example of those “who act dishonestly”, and as such “are an abomination to the Lord your God”. The Amalekites would be punished, their memory forgotten once “the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess”.

Moses reminds Israel of their future, and the promise God had made to Israel. They were going to inherit a land, given to them by God, along with the rest they would afterwards experience. I like the way this verse is tucked away in the middle of a long detailed list of laws. It reminded Israel of the reason they were keeping these laws.

Sometimes in life it is easy to lose track of the big picture, of the reason we’re living a particular way, and looking forward to our inheritance helps remind us of the hope God has provided. When Paul met with the elders from Ephesus, he also reminds them of their inheritance. “therefore be alert… I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

Deuteronomy 20

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Deuteronomy 20 describes laws concerning warfare. Israel were about to face many battles while entering the promised land, fighting against nations known for their military prowess. Moses tells Israel, “when you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt… Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory”.

Israel had good reason to be afraid; from a natural standpoint they had no chance of defeating the Canaanites. With God fighting on their behalf though, their victory was assured. This language is very similar to language used to describe our battle against sin. Ephesians 6, “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might”. 2 Corinthians 10, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds”. 1 Corinthians 15, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The war is already won, we just need to fight our daily battles against sin, confident that God is on our side.

Deuteronomy 19, Acts 10

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Deuteronomy 19 describes the cities of refuge, places that Israelites could flee after accidentally killing someone. There were initially 3 cities designated on the west side of the Jordan (Bezer, Ramoth-Gilead and Golan). After Israel conquered the Canaanites on the east side of the Jordan, 3 more cities were assigned as cities of refuge (Hebron, Shechem and Kedesh). These are listed in Joshua 20v7-8.

The cities of refuge provided protection, but only under specific circumstances. The accidental murderer had to flee immediately, since relatives of the now dead person could pursue them and avenge the death at any time that the accidental murderer was outside the city of refuge. This process is a shadow of salvation offered through the sacrifice of Christ. There is a specific method (“no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”), and we are to remain in Christ for our whole lives. Through Christ, God offers grace and mercy that the Law did not – God is not waiting outside to murder us when we sin and temporarily leave the covering of Christ.

In Acts 10, Peter explains to Cornelius the incredible covering offered through Christ. “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power… to him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name”. Peter also explains that this incredible gift is available to all, “God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him”. What an amazing God we serve!

Deuteronomy 10-11, Acts 1

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In Deuteronomy 10-11, Moses continues to summarise the history of the Israelites. He describes the way he received the 10 commandments, and alludes to the idolatry the Israelites were committing while Moses was in the mountain. Yet Moses says, “The Lord was unwilling to destroy you. And the Lord said to me, Arise, go on your journey at the head of the people, so that they may go in and possess the land, which I swore to their fathers to give them”.

Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, God was going to keep His promises to the forefathers. God was looking for a response from the Israelites, “to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul… you shall therefore love the Lord your God and keep his charge.” Moses goes on to describe the promised land, the benefits of serving God, and the punishment for turning aside to other gods. This warning needed to make an impact, “therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and your soul”.

God’s love was demonstrated in a more perfect way through Christ, who, although currently in heaven, “will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven”.

Deuteronomy 8-9, John 20-21

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Moses reminds the Israelites that it was God that had cared for them throughout the 40 years in the wilderness. He provided them with food, ensured their clothing didn’t wear out and their feet didn’t swell. He was giving the Israelites the land of Canaan because of the wickedness of the current inhabitants, not the righteousness of the Israelites.

This is a good lesson for us to remember. God hasn’t offered us salvation because of anything we’ve done. It is a gift, offered to us just as Canaan was offered to the Israelites. We’re constantly cared for and provided for, offered an incredible hope. We are among those “who have not seen and yet have believed” in the work that Christ did in order for us to have this hope.  It is up to us to respond to Jesus’ invitation to “follow me”, confident in the grace of God, trusting in His care, reflecting His glory to those around us.

Deuteronomy 4, John 15-16

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Moses reminds Israel in Deuteronomy 4 that God was close by and ready to listen, “for what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?” God is unique and all powerful, “the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other”.

This special relationship with God is something that Jesus talks about in John 15-16, as he prepares his disciples for the time when he is no longer with them. These chapters are filled with the ideas of God’s love and Jesus’ love. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love… that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”  Later on, Jesus says to his disciples, “the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God… I am not alone, for the Father is with me.” Just like Jesus, we are never alone; God is with us, ready to hear when we call upon Him.

Deuteronomy 30, Isaiah 2

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Moses describes God’s mercy in Deuteronomy 30. If Israel return to God, obey His voice with all their heart and soul, then God would restore their fortunes and have mercy on them, gathering them from among the people they had been scattered.  Israel were offered a choice between life and good, death and evil.  The choice of life and good wasn’t beyond their reach, in heaven or across the sea, instead it was “very near” them, in their mouth and heart. “Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him“.

Isaiah 2 paints a future for those who choose life, a time when “the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains… and all the nations shall flow to it“.  This is a future where “the haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day“.

“Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord” is Isaiah’s plea to Israel, and to us.

 

Deuteronomy 26, Acts 21-22

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Moses reminded Israel of the commitment they’d made to serve God.  “You have declared today that the Lord is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statues and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice. And the Lord has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments… and that you shall be a people holy to the Lord your God.“

This is the hope that Paul also proclaimed to the Gentiles. He was so passionate about this message that he was prepared “not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus“. This level of passion and commitment to God is an example for us, to live as people holy to God, constantly preaching by word and example.

Deuteronomy 30, Isaiah 2

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Moses described God’s word as something that “is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”  Loving God, showing His character in our lives, is not something which is impossible.  “Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him.”  It is a choice that is ours alone to make – between “life and good, death and evil.”

Isaiah makes a similar plea, “O houses of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.” We have been called to be part of that house of Jacob, to walk in God’s light, to choose life and hold fast to “him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  So let us build ourselves up in faith, praying and “waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life”.  In a world of uncertainty and doubt, we can at least be certain and confident in God’s love.

Deuteronomy 26

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“You have declared today that the Lord is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice.”  Just like the Israelites, we’ve agreed to do the same at our baptism, to serve God, to walk in His ways, to listen to His voice and obey it.

Just like the Israelites, we are part of God’s “treasured possession.”  God has offered deliverance from the slavery of sin, and “made us alive together with Christ…so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus“.  The greatest gift one could ever receive, even while knowing exactly what sort of people we are, that we would often stumble and fall.

Yet we “are being built together into a dwelling place for God”. This is the hope we have to cling to, that despite any present pain or suffering, we will be part of God’s dwelling place.