Lessons in Deuteromony
The Israelites were nearing the end of their 40 year wilderness experience. The Book of Deuteronomy recounts the journey and retells the law. Moses addressed the people to encourage and warn them. His words are still very relevant today.
One – A Little History – Deuteronomy 1-3
Moses provided some history to remind the people of where they had come from. There are a couple of purposes for this.
Remember your past so you don’t repeat your failures. While we should never dwell on past failures, it is also important to learn from them. He encouraged the people to remember what their sins and failures cost them so they would be very careful not to repeat those things.
Remember God’s faithfulness. God is always faithful no matter what we do. He will not always save us from the consequences of bad decisions but he is always there for us and will never fail. Coming back from our greatest failure, our most shameful sin, is possible because of God’s faithfulness, his wonderful grace.
Two – The Importance of Obedience – Deuteronomy 4:2, 8-9
You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.
And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?
Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. (all scriptures quoted from the English Standard Version)
God provides all we need to maintain a healthy relationship with him. These words are spoken to the people he had redeemed from bondage and slavery. They are also spoken to us today who have been redeemed from slavery to sin by the blood of Jesus. God wants a perfect and healthy relationship with us.
He provides all we need for the rich, abundant life he promised. We can and should enjoy a thriving relationship with God. He shows us the way through his word and his Spirit.
Three – A Promise for Faithfulness – Deuteronomy 5:33
You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.
I will never understand why we choose to be disobedient from time to time. God promises us nothing but good if we will follow his way. Will it be easy? Will it be without trial or trouble? No, but it will be a life with his presence and power. This reminder is all throughout scripture. We too easily forget!
Four – The Great Commandment – Deuteronomy 6:5
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
This simple verse gives us the basis of all we need to do in following Jesus! He quoted this verse and said it was the greatest commandment. Loving God with all we have and all we are helps us live lives of faith and obedience.
For all we do, we can ask the question: does this reflect love for God? While it is clearly difficult to do this, we can grow in love as demonstrated in our lives: our thoughts, our words and our deeds.
Five – Teach your Children – Deuteronomy 6:6-8
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
More simple words to help us learn the truth of God. When we talk about God’s word and truth and live by that truth we grow stronger. When we teach them to the next generation, we grow stronger and so do they! Continual sharing of the Word of God powerfully works in our lives and through our lives.
Six – God’s Grace and Faithfulness – Deuteronomy 7:6-8
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
God has always worked by the principle of Grace. Because he is perfect and we are not, we can only have fellowship with him because of his grace. Just as he chose the children of Israel by grace, he chooses us by grace. When we believe and follow, we experience his grace every single day!
This passage also reminds us that God is faithful to his promise. Sometimes we get impatient and want every promise right away. God is so good, he only makes his promises effective for us when the time is right. That is something to be thankful for.
Seven – Life Through the Word – Deuteronomy 8:3, 6
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
So you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him.
It is good to know that when we simply keep the word of the Lord, he provides for us. Living by the word of God allows us to experience peace in every aspect of our lives. We can live joyfully, purposefully, productively and powerfully. God’s Word is light and life.
When we continually dwell in the Word of God, we find answers to all of life’s questions. He is good!
Eight – God’s Requirement – Deuteronomy 10:12-13
And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but 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, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?
This is a bit of a repeat from a couple of the previous lessons but it is a wonderful summary of God’s simple requirement. We must keep in mind that God has rescued us from sin and darkness, from bondage and a hellish destiny. It is no heavy burden to do what he asks us because his presence, power and goodness make it all a joy! His love will always see us through.
Nine – A Great Blessing – Deuteronomy 28:7
The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.
I love this because it doesn’t promise us that we will have no opposition but that we can triumph over opposition.
I don’t know about you, but I forget this too often! I must remind myself that with God at my side there is no enemy that can defeat me! So this promise is a reminder of the blessing of God, his faithfulness and his power. He will not fail.
Your Turn
Have you found some lessons in Deuteronomy that have helped you? Share them in the comments or on our Facebook page!
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