Moses' Song

We won't see the song itself until tomorrow, but in Deuteronomy 31:19-21, God tells Moses to write it. I'm no expert on Christian music or hymns, but I'm pretty sure this particular song didn't make it into any of our hymnals, because in this song, God wants the people of Israel to know that HE KNOWS they won't follow his commandments, and he wants them to know in advance that he knows.

All of us are imbued with 20/20 hindsight, the most useless function in the world. Telling you at noon that the sun is going to rise in the east at 6:00 am doesn't exactly set me up as an expert on astronomy, and God wouldn't show himself to be God if he just came back after Israel sinned and said "I knew this was going to happen." This is the power of prophecy, the 100% accurate foretelling of events. This is what should get the Israelites' attention, because they've had a front-row seat to the power and majesty of the Lord for the past 40 years. One would think that would count for something.

And yet, are we any different today? Imagine an Israelite magically transported into the 21st Century--he'd be absolutely dumbfounded by what we have. That Israelite would consider this heaven, while we bide our time demanding more and  unsatisfied with what we have. The circumstances may have changed, but the things that the Lord warned about, namely, worshiping false gods and rejecting him, are just as prevalent today. Even Moses knew it, because he stated in 31:27 "how much more will you rebel after I die?" The sad part is, we're still part of that rebellion today. Lucky for us, we have the intercession of Jesus, so instead of worrying about how we fall short of God, we should instead thank him for his forgiveness and strive to spread that message as far as we can in the manner the Spirit would lead us.

Scott

Moses Nears Death (March 23)

They are not just idle words for you-they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.
                                   Deuteronomy 32:47 NIV

Take time to read Psalm 90:1-17 and Deuteronomy 31:30-32:52.

There is much wisdom in these passages written by Moses at age 120 shortly before he died.  Creator God is the eternal teacher and we have such a short life traveling here on earth.

God will have compassion on his servants and will avenge the blood of his servants and make atonement for his land and people.

Above-A view at Masada

Below-A view from Masada near the western shore of the Dead Sea

Above-A village south and east of Jerusalem



What attributes of God have you discerned in our reading thus far?

Pray for the Spirit to encourage you as we are soon to move on to the History of Israel in the promised land.

In Christ,

David P

Obey (March 22)

The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your soul and live.

But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed.  You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

And the Lord said to Moses: "You are going to rest with your fathers, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering.  They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them...And I will certainly hide my face on that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods.
                              From Deuteronomy 30 &31 NIV

Webster tells us that the word circumcise has three meanings, one of them is to purify spiritually.

Man may perform a circumcision as an outward sign of the covenant made by God with Abraham (Genesis 17:10).  God however promises an inward circumcision, a circumcision of the heart, so that we may love him with all our heart and soul and live.  Notice that the heart, not the mind is the organ God discusses here.  With God's work, the Israelites would be able to obey God's decrees and commands and live.  Disobedience, a heart turning away, is sin and we are told here and in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.-NIV

God encourages us to be strong and of good courage, however he knows that his covenant will again be broken and broken soon by this "stiff necked" people.

Is it not encouraging that God kept his promise and knew that there would be a remnant to carry out his plan. Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above.  For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.-Isaiah 37:31-32 NIV

As we soon embark on the history of Israel, keep a watch out for what happens to the kingdom when an evil or a good king is on the throne. 

Can others tell that the Spirit has circumcised your heart? 

How do you feel strengthened by God today?


Pray for wisdom and discernment in leadership of: the Church, the world, the nation, the state, and the community.


In Christ,


David P

Obedience is Desired, Even Commanded (March 21)

If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.  All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:

     You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country
      The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land  and the young of your livestock-the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
      Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed
      You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

All these curses will come upon you.  They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the Lord your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you.

                 From Deuteronomy 28 NIV

God is clear here that he wants his commands and decrees to be remembered.  He instructs his blessings be proclaimed from Mount Gerizim and his curses be proclaimed from Mount Ebal as Israel is entering the promised land.  I have been told that the geography in this area is such that these mountians form a natural amphitheater, so that if something is proclaimed from one or the other mountain, that proclamation is clearly heard in the valley.  Think of the impression that this would make on an individual entering the promised land hearing curses on one side and blessings on the other.

God wants us to obey him and blessings will flow.  Disobey and curses will be seen.  Webster tells us that obey means: to comply with or follow the commands, restrictions, wishes or instructions of; to comply with or follow; to respond comfortably in action to (eg a car responds); to submit or conform in action to (a guiding priniciple); to be obedient or to be obeying or willing to obey, comply with or submissive to authority.

Think of the skillls or traits needed to obey; humility, courage, trust, belief and others come to mind.  We have read that the Israelites are a stiff necked people, a grumbling people, and a wandering people who do arise God's anger. 

We in praying the Lord's prayer petition him by stating, "thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."  We in a sense are asking, by the spirit, for the ability to obey.

What in your life is inhibiting you from fully obeying the Lord?

Will you pray for the Spirit to open up your eyes to these potential blind spots?

In Christ,

David P

Firstfruits

As I wrote on today's handout, I now proudly claim 6 dedicated readers of the blog, and you faithful may have noticed I haven't written as much in the past week. As I mentioned this morning, Deuteronomy is a book of repetition, and I had nothing new to add. However, a verse in today's reading caught my eye, and I realized I hadn't commented on this before, and it is a favorite story of mine.

In Deuteronomy 26:1-11, we're reminded of how the Israelites are to give firstfruits, which was first described in Exodus and Leviticus. It's a simple and powerful image that reminds us to give to the Lord not when we have leftovers or have taken care of ourselves, but instead as soon as we receive something of value. We're to give to the Lord FIRST, not last, and that's something we should all remind ourselves daily.

In a conversation with John Bremer some time back, he told me that in his previous call, a school in rural central Illinois, farmers would harvest their crop, take it to the co-ops and proceed directly to the school and church to give their firstfruit offerings. He described a line of combines heading down the county roads to deliver their crops and then donate from the top of their earnings. Like I said, it's simple and easy to understand, but the message is still vitally important today. 

Nobody likes to talk about giving in the modern church. The common refrain is that "The church just wants my money." Well, that IS true--I (speaking for the church) absolutely DO want your money, and more of it as opposed to less. What we in the church could improve upon is stating where that money goes--in our case, 80-85% of it goes to pay our pastors, teachers and staff, or in other words, goes directly into spreading the gospel. We give 10% off the top, our own firstfruits, to Iowa District East, the Synod and other entities, so I can safely state that 90-95% of all money received in Trinity goes directly into ministry efforts, and all other Lutheran churches are similar. Everybody wants our money, and there is no shortage of worthy causes and dire needs. When we give generously and FIRST to the Lord, those needs will be met--including ours.

Scott

Let us All Get Along (March 20)

Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself.  As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement.  For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you.  Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.
                                           Deuteronomy 23:12-14 NIV

Today we read of many social rules; who to associate with, who not to associate with, cautions to follow the priests instructions with leprosy, guidance about marriage, guidance about disputes, and giving God our firstfruits.

He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.
                                           Deuteronomy 26:19 NIV

Here we again read about God and can see that God is a God of order.  He is concerned about us as; individuals and as communities, effected on by public health matters, we go about resolving disputes, we choose a mate, and in so many other matters.  God has promised us a place of fame, honor and praise.  For His plan to work, we need to obey.  Ask the Spirit for help.

Out of His loving kindness, he directs us in all things, here we see a direction about relieving ourselves. 

Thoughts

How might you be "relieving" yourself in a way that is not God pleasing?  Gossip?  Foul language? 

In what ways do you see God's guidance and providence in your life?

Pray for the Spirit to open our eyes to see God's work in our life on a daily basis.

In Christ,


David P

Anyone Hung on A Tree (March 19)

You must  not leave his body on the tree overnight.  Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse.  You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.
                    Deuteronomy 21:22 NIV

Anyone hung on a tree is under God's curse.  Jesus was hung on a tree, the cross on Good Friday.  Paul does a nice job of explaining how this curse applies to Jesus' crucifixion in Galatians 3:13 NIV...

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

Consider Jesus' feelings on the cross that led Him to say:

"Dear woman here is your son"
"Here is your mother"
"I am thirsty"
"It is finished"
"Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing."
"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani"..."My God, My God why have you forsaken me?"

One can see feelings of; concern for identification by his mother; concern for a parent with a desire for continued care for a mother; bodily discomfort; want to complete God's plan; Concern for all of humanity, with knowledge of God's anger being taken out on him on the cross; a deep sense of separation from His Father, God.

Consider the flow of precious blood, water, sorrow and love given by Jesus then and His continued care and concern for us.  Think of God's abundant grace we currently live under.

It is quite a juxtaposition of contrast: Jesus on the cross and Easter.  It is by God's grace through faith that we see and have forgiveness of sin with eternal salvation.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those he predestined, he also called, he also justified; those he justified he also glorified.
                                Romans 8: 28-30 NIV

Who should you be telling about God's salvation for us through Jesus Christ?  Why are you not telling them about heaven, eternal life, forgiveness of sin, blessing of the spirit, and joy?

Pray for those who are ill, recovering or those undergoing or recovering from surgery.

In Christ,

David P