Deuteronomy

Choose

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Deuteronomy 27:8
“And you shall write very plainly all the words of this law.”

On the verge of entering the Land of Promise, Moses reminds the people they have a choice to make. Upon entering the land, they were to gather the entire nation in the valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerazim. On one mount, half of Israel‘s leaders were to read the blessings that would befall a people who obeyed the Word of God. The remainder of Israel’s leaders stood on the other mount to declare the curses that would befall them if they ignored, or rebelled against the Word. In addition to the spoken Word, they were to write the Word on large, whitewashed stones that were easy for all to read. Beyond question, the key to Israel’s success and happiness was their obedience to the Word.

The same is true for us today. God has gone to great effort to provide us with His Word. He has preserved it down through the ages. It remains our responsibility to get to know it, and to obey it. Our success and happiness depend upon our obedience to the Word.

Deuteronomy 27:9-10
“. . . This day you have become the people of the Lord your God. Therefore you shall obey the voice of the Lord your God, and observe His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.”

For each of us who has decided to follow Christ, the next step of the journey involves getting to know the Word of God, and living in obedience to it. The closer we adhere to the principles found in His Word, the more blessed our life will become.

What choice will you make? Will you decide to live life your own way and miss out on the blessed life? Or will you submit yourself to the Word and ways of God, and watch as He provides you with the living water He promises to all those who believe

Pastor Jim

 

A Great Nation

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Deuteronomy 26:5
“And you shall answer and say before the Lord your God: “My father was a Syrian, about to perish, and he went down to Egypt and dwelt there, few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous.’“

The story of Abraham is the story of God, that has been rewritten in the lives of countless thousands over the years. Abraham was an unknown shepherd living in ancient Babylon when he heard the call of God. He was to separate from the world he lived in, and commit himself to following the Lord. As he, daily, walked by faith, and took simple steps of obedience to God, his life, and our world, were forever changed. Fast forward to the time of Moses, and this simple shepherd has become the Father of many nations. Fast forward to the time of Joshua, and his people have been given a land flowing with milk and honey. Fast forward, once again, to the time of Christ, and he has become a blessing to the entire world, because the promised  Messiah has come. 

As you live in the obscurity of what your life might be, wondering how God could ever use you to accomplish anything for the Kingdom of Heaven, keep in mind, that the pattern of God is always the same. Whether it is Gideon, threshing wheat, David tending sheep, Peter, James and John, mending nets or you, going about the activities of your daily life, God will always use the simple obedience of men and women of obscurity to transform the world. No one would have ever heard of any of the heroes of Scripture had they not responded in faith and obedience, and done the tasks that were set before them.

Whatever God is calling you to do, no matter how insignificant it may seem, do it! Time alone will tell how greatly the world will be impacted.

Pastor Jim


  

Forty Lashes 

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Deuteronomy 25:3
“Forty blows he may give him and no more, lest he should exceed this and beat him with many blows above these, and your brother be humiliated in your sight.”

A man, condemned of certain crimes, was to be beaten as a form of punishment and humiliation. The beating was reserved for the wicked, while the righteous were exonerated. Years later, a “Kangaroo Court” met in Israel, gathered false witnesses, and condemned the Son of God to death, for the high crime of blaspheme. He was taken to the Roman authorities, where He was again tried, convicted and condemned. Part of the sentence meted out to Him was the Roman scourging. Unlike the Jewish law that carried with it a level of mercy, the Roman scourge was designed, not only to punish, but to kill.

After withstanding the agony of the garden, the hostility of the Jewish leaders, a sleepless night, and the mistreatment by the Roman guards, Jesus was bound and beaten. The beating was carried out by a Roman soldier, who used a leather whip with many “tails.” Woven into the leather were sharp, hard objects, like broken glass or metal. The whip would tighten the skin, while the glass would tear through it. Since the beating was only a step in the crucifixion process, no mercy was shown. Jesus would have been beaten to the very brink of death. We know what He endured was so great He was unable to carry the cross (Mark 15:21), and collapsed under its weight. Isaiah, with prophetic commentary, wrote, “His visage was marred more than any man.” In other words, He was beaten beyond recognition.

As painful, difficult, humiliating, and cruel as these beatings were, they were not without purpose. We are told it is through the sufferings of Christ, we are able to recognize, in our own difficulties, we have a God who can sympathize with us. You have not endured pain so great that He cannot understand it, or feel compassion for you. Also, we know, it is by His stripes that healing is made available to the child of God. Finally, it is the suffering of the cross which reveals the depths of His love. As we reflect upon what He endured to save us, our hearts should be stirred to a greater personal commitment to His service.

Pastor Jim

 

Happy Marriage 

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Deuteronomy 24:5
“When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken.”

Moses is reminding the people of the laws of God. These were the standards which would govern individuals and the nation. If they followed His precepts, they would be blessed by God, and would be attractive to the world around them. Like a light in the darkness, Israel would draw men to the Lord. Tucked away in this list of regulations is a principle, that if heeded, will lead to a blessed and happy marriage. Certainly, a happy and healthy family life will serve as a strong witness in a world. A world where so many marriages are falling apart, and children are the victims of a fallen and sin-filled world.

The principle here is very simple. For the first year of marriage, nothing was to matter more to the man than making his wife happy. Business trips, and even the protection of the nation against invasion, was to take a back seat to the happiness of his wife. God is not suggesting the husband have a calendar, marking off each day, as if it was a prison sentence to be completed. Instead, the early years of the relationship is where the foundation is laid. If a man can convince his wife that nothing matters more to him than she, he will be well on his way to having a happy, married life. Paul put it like this,

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, . . .” Ephesians 5:25

Psychologists tell us, the greatest need a woman has is to know that she is loved. A wife who knows the love of her husband can handle just about anything.

Whether you are a husband or a wife, perhaps it is time to make an effort to invest in the happiness of your spouse. Instead of thinking of all the ways you’ve been  disappointed,  why not spend time thinking of ways to pour love into your spouse, and see if the God who parts the seas, is able to put life into your relationship. Remember, there is more at stake than your personal happiness, the whole world is watching.

Pastor Jim

 

Sharing Is Caring

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Deuteronomy 23:24
“When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes at your pleasure, but you shall not put any in your container.” 

In John 12:8, Jesus said, “The poor you will have with you always…”;  history has certainly proven that to be a truthful statement. Even today, with all the advances in science, medicine and technology, there are still those who struggle to make ends meet, and have to have their basic needs met. Understanding that this would be a constant struggle, God established a system within Israel whereby the needs of the poor could be satisfied. It was based upon both the grace of God and the love of His people.

Without the natural resource of a river like the Nile or Euphrates, Israel requires an abundance of rain for their crops to develop. God promised to provide adequate rainfall for the nation. It was this gracious provision of God that made abundance possible. Each year as the rain fell the people were reminded of God’s gracious promises and provision.

When it came time to harvest the field, the owners were to leave a substantial amount of fruit in the fields for those who were unable to provide for themselves. Instead of violently shaking every tree to get the last olive, they were to leave that for the poor. The same was true of the vineyard and the grain fields. Leaving this behind would mean there was always provision for those who lacked.

We see this law being practiced in the New Testament by Jesus and the Twelve. We read that they passed by a  field and plucked the grain and ate. They were not stealing, but were having their needs met by God’s provision for the poor. We also see this law practiced in the book of Ruth. We find Naomi and her daughter-in-law struggling to survive after the death of their husbands. Ruth is sent to the fields of Boaz to work on the harvest, and we read the shearers purposely left extra behind for Ruth (Ruth 2:16).

While there is nothing wrong with storing up for our future, or having nice things, we cannot do so at the expense of neglecting to express the grace and love of God to those who are in need. Jesus said, 

“But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”  Matthew 6:3

It is His expectation that His people will do charitable deeds for one another as an expression of the love of God.
Pastor Jim 


Torn Apart

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Deuteronomy 22:9-11

“You shall not sow your vineyard with different kinds of seed, lest the yield of the seed which you have sown and the fruit of your vineyard be defiled.You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.You shall not wear a garment of different sorts, such as wool and linen mixed together.”

 To properly understand the Law of God, we must keep in mind that it served multiple purposes. Part of the Law was moral and set a standard for all mankind. It is that part of the law Paul referred to as a tutor designed to lead us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). Other portions of the law were civil, and designed to guide the behaviors of the people of Israel that they might have a healthy society. Finally, there were portions of the law that were religious by nature, and their purpose was to guide Israel in their worship of God. 

 

The text before us does not seem to be moral or civil, and therefore, must be seen as a part of the religious aspect of the law. The question is, why would God not allow different seeds, animals, or cloth to be linked together? I suggest that it has less to do with farming and fashion than it does with illustrating a key element in following Christ. Just as two animals would pull differently on the same plow, or two fabrics will shrink at different rates, so too, will believers and unbelievers head in different directions and pull against one another. This is the illustration behind the New Testament principle of not being unequally yoked together with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14). If your desire is to grow in Christ, become like Christ, and faithfully serve Christ, then you want to surround yourself with others who will pull you in that direction. If your primary influences in life are people who do not desire to serve the Lord, you will find it very difficult to be constantly fighting against those influences. That does not mean we should avoid people who are not followers of Christ, but we should have a group of men and women who will constantly encourage us in Christ. Keep in mind, it was Jesus who chose twelve men, pulled them out of the world, and spent three years with them. After His death, they continued to build one another up as they followed the Lord. 

 

Pastor Jim 

 

The Curse

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Deuteronomy 21:23
“…For he who is hanged is accursed of God.”

Galatians 3:13
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’).”

No man can stand under the Law of God. Each of the divine precepts reveals the sinfulness of man, and our sins separate us eternally from God. Paul refers to this separation as the curse. Left to ourselves this condition is hopeless, since no amount of good deeds can deliver us from the curse of the Law. Praise the Lord we have not been left to ourselves. Jesus went to the cross on our behalf, taking the penalty of sin on Himself and becoming accursed of God. Rather than allowing us to remain in a perpetual state of separation from God, Jesus took our sins upon Himself in order to make a way for us to be saved. It is no wonder that Paul wrote,

Galatians 6:14
“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

The word boast means glory, rejoice, or brag about. Paul is declaring that because of the effects of the cross he brags about it to others. While boasting about ourselves or our accomplishments can be a wearisome exercise, we ought to boast to others of the benefits of Christ. The more we understand about what Jesus has done for us, the more we will find ourselves celebrating it to others.

Let’s tell the world that the curse of sin can be removed through faith in Christ, who loved us, and gave himself for us.

Pastor Jim

 

Join The Fight

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Deuteronomy 20:3-4
“Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”

We are not fighting the same battles that Israel fought. Paul reminds us, we do not fight against flesh and blood, but we are engaged in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12). We are not fighting for king and country, but for Christ and the furtherance of His kingdom. That being said, the principle found in Deuteronomy is timeless, and will apply to each of us as we seek to be involved in winning others to Christ.

When we stand on the verge of battle with an opportunity to share Christ with a family member, co-worker, or friend, it is common for our hearts to begin to beat frantically within our chest. At the same time, our minds begin to run wild with all the possible negative responses we may encounter. Mixed with this, is a sudden flood of all the possible questions that may arise, for which we do not have an answer. Allow me to remind you, the Lord is going with you, and He will fight for you. Never once, do we read of God sending His people into battle, physical or spiritual, and then leaving them to their own resources. Time and time again, God fights on behalf of His people.

When you step out in faith to invite others to church, or you attempt to share the gospel with them, and convince them of their need for Christ, you do not do it alone. The Spirit of God has been working in those individuals for a lifetime, preparing them for the very things that you will share with them. The same Spirit of God also empowers the words you say, so they will penetrate the hardness of heart, and impact their lives.

Instead of focusing on how weak you are, remember how strong God is, and in the day of battle you will not faint.

Mark 13:10-11
“And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”

Pastor Jim 

 

City Of Refuge

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Deuteronomy 19:2
“. . . you shall separate three cities for yourself in the midst of your land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.”

Deuteronomy is a compound word meaning “Second Law”, and is a recap of the instructions Moses gave to the first generation of believers who had been delivered from Egypt.  Forty years have passed and a new generation has arisen in Israel. Consequently, it became necessary to rehearse the Law before the people entered the land of promise. Much of what is found in Deuteronomy is a recap of what was first presented in Exodus, Leviticus or Numbers. This is true of the law regarding cities of refuge. Numbers 35 gives us much greater detail regarding these cities. In it we find:

Numbers 35:12
“They shall be cities of refuge for you from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment.”

God established a system in Israel to ensure the safety of a person who had accidentally caused the death of another. Instead of allowing vigilantes to run rampant, Moses was  instructed to have six cities built where a person could flee, find protection, and await his day in court.

Four things stand out to me about the cities of refuge. First, we are told the cities were to be distributed throughout the land for easy access. Second, in Deuteronomy 19:3, we read that good roads were to be built and maintained so that nothing would hinder a person from reaching the city. Third, these cities were for all people wether they were natural born children, foreigners, or travelers. Fourth, the person must remain in the city until the High Priest dies, then their crime is forgiven and their guilt forever removed.

It is not difficult to see the parallels between the cities of refuge and the work of Christ. The death of Christ provides a way for all men to have their sins pardoned. No matter what our background might be, nothing hinders us from coming to Christ and being forgiven. Those who hide in Christ will never face the avenger of death. A person who had fled to the city of refuge was a marked man. All others knew he was only safe because of the provision of God. If he ever left the city he was no longer safe from the avenger. The same is true of us. Our hope is found in Christ, where we are constantly reminded to abide. As long as we sit under the shelter of the cross, there is no sin that can harm us. We are marked men and the whole world should know  our hope is in Christ alone.

However, there is a contrast worth noting, the cities of refuge were only for the innocent, while the cross is designed for the guilty. There is no sin, no matter how great or how frequent, that cannot be forgiven at the cross.

Hebrews 6:18
“… we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.”

Pastor Jim

 

 

Avoiding A Shipwreck 

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Deuteronomy 18:9
“When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations.”

In the closing chapters of the book of Acts, we read of a ship that set sail late in the season, en route to Rome. The voyage proved extremely difficult and costly. Because of a severe storm that brought strong headwinds, driving rain, navigation was almost impossible; the sun, moon and stars were hidden by the clouds. It was not long before that ship was slammed into a shallow reef.

Following Christ is sometimes like that. Jesus explained, while we are not of the world, He has sent us into the world to carry on His mission of seeking and saving the lost. It seems we are constantly battling between how to reach others with the Good News, while not compromising in our relationship with Christ. This passage gives us a valuable principle on how to live for Jesus in a world that doesn’t.

“When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations.”

While there are many things we can learn by observing the world around us, it is important to keep in mind that both the goal of the unbelieving world, and the means of meeting those goals, are quite different than the goals and methods of the follower of Christ. When we lose sight of who Christ is, and who we are in Christ, it is easy to  look around and try to behave like the world we observe. This can happen to a young person who finds himself outside of the shelter of his Christian home, and surrounded by peers who are not following the Lord. It can happen to parents, who, after spending so much of their lives raising little ones, lose sight of the value of that calling, and want to find their identity in something else. It can happen to pastors who look around after years of faithful service and find their ministries are still quite small.

We must be careful that we do not look to the world to define the value of who we are or what we do, or we will become like that ship being tossed about by a vehement tempest and get completely off course.

Pastor Jim