Tag: Christian Life

Reflections on Deuteronomy 31-34

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

In today’s passage, Moses commissions Joshua to take his place, speaks his final words to Israel, and dies.

  • Be strong and courageous – Moses tells Joshua and the people to be strong and courageous as they enter into the land. Where does this courage come from?  This courage comes from the knowledge that God goes with them.  In what situations in your life do you need courage?  Remember that God goes with you!
  • Reading the Law – Every seven years the Law was to be read that the people may learn not just the laws, but to fear the Lord and do them. If we are to obey God we must be in the Book to learn his commands.  If we are to obey God we must be in the Book to learn about God and fear him.
  • Great God – Moses proclaims the greatness of our God in his song that he teaches Israel. God is perfect, just, faithful, and upright.  He is a Rock.  He is the only true God and none can stand against him.  Take some time to praise your great God!

Current

On By BrianIn Current Collection

Here are some helpful posts about how Christians should relate to our ever-growing pagan culture:

Keeping the Faith in A Faithless Age: the Church as a Moral Minority – Albert Mohler

American Christians, You Might Need to Start Living Like Missionaries – Amy Medina

Count the Cost in the New America: Eight Ways to Engage with Hope– Steven Lee

Prayer Quote of the Week

On By BrianIn Prayer Quotes

praying-hands-smI commend to you the importance of watchfulness over your prayers.  Prayer is that point in religion at which you must be most of all on your guard.  Here it is that true religion begins; here it flourishes, and here it decays.  Tell me what a man’s prayers are, and I will soon tell you the state of his soul.  Prayer is the spiritual pulse.  By this the spiritual health may be tested.

– J.C. Ryle

Reflections on Deuteronomy 27-30

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Our passage today calls for a decision to serve the Lord.

  • Joyful service – Their service was not to be grim and glum. Rather they were to serve the Lord with joy and gladness (28:47).  What is your attitude toward serving the Lord?
  • Choices and Consequences – Moses lays out in very clear terms their choice and the consequences of that choice. They can serve the Lord and be blessed beyond their wildest imaginations, or they can turn away from God and be punished beyond their worst nightmares.  Their choice will have severe consequences.  Our choices too have consequences.  What choices are you making?  What might be the consequences of those choices?
  • Future Judgment/Restoration – Moses predicts Israel’s failure and the terrible results that will come. Tragically, history will prove these predictions true.  Yet God will bring them back to the land when they return to the Lord.  All of this is yet to come in our study of the Old Testament.  God in his perfect knowledge foreshadows the future.

Deuteronomy 27-34: Two Paths

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(27-32) Moses presents two paths to the people of Israel.  One path is the road of disobedience.  Describe the heart of the person who takes this path (29:4, 18-19; 30:17).

What would be the results according to 28:15-68?  Be specific.

 (27-32) The second path is the road of obedience.  Describe the heart of the person who takes this path (28:47, 30:6, 14, 32:46).

How does a person get this kind of heart?

What would be the results according to 28:1-14?  Be specific.  Compare with the results of disobedience.

(29-31) What part does the Word play in in choosing the path of obedience (29:29, 30:11-14, 31:10-13, see Hebrews 2:1)?

How might we apply these principles to our lives today?

(31-32) Moses wrote a song to encourage the people to follow the path of obedience.  What part have songs played in your life to encourage you to follow one of the two paths?

(31) The path of obedience places us on a path of conflict.  Israel was going to follow God into the Promised Land.  What instructions and assurances does God give the people (v1-8, 23)?

How do these instructions and assurances apply to our conflicts today (see also Matthew 28:19-20)?

(27) What happens when we fail to obey (v26)?  How does Jesus address this need in our lives (Galatians 3:10-14)?

(34) The book closes by stating that there has never been another prophet like Moses. But we know another prophet is coming (18:15-19) who will be greater (Hebrews 3:1-5).  In what ways?  How must we respond?

Reflections on Deuteronomy 23-26

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Our passage today concludes the laws that the people of Israel were to obey.

  • Clean Laws – Our passage begins with laws about who may assemble before the Lord and laws about keeping the camp pure. God is in the camp, so the camp must be holy.  God dwells within us, so we must keep ourselves clean within – we are to be holy as God is holy.  Are you striving for holiness?
  • Poor Laws – Many laws show God’s concern for the poor – the sojourner, the widow, the orphan. While the approach may change, God wants us to care for those in need.  How are you reflecting in your life God’s concern for the poor?
  • Universal Laws – Many laws flow straight out of the 10 Commandments and so are binding on us. These include laws prohibiting prostitution (7th), breaking vows to the Lord (9th), kidnapping (8th), and dishonesty in buying and selling (8th).
  • Giving Laws – Finally our passage ends with instructions for Israel to bring their first fruits and tithes to the Lord in gratitude for his provision and to care for the needy. This giving is to be a time of worship and rejoicing.  What is your attitude when you give to the Lord?