Read Deuteronomy 3 Highlights: Og, King of Bashan; division of the land; Moses’ prayer to enter Canaan; his view of the promised land; his plea for national obedience; warning against idolatry; cities of refuge chosen. Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you (Deut. 4:1). Moses reminded the new generation of Israelites that living according to God’s Word would bring lasting fulfillment. He began to explain the Law that God had given their parents 40 years earlier at Mount Sinai (Deuteronomy 1:3-5). To declare this Law meant more than merely “repeating” the Law; it meant explaining its meaning. Moses’ first message highlighted the importance of keeping all the Word of God: That ye may live, and go in and possess (inherit) the land. . . . keep (obey) the Commandments of the LORD your God. . . . and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding .... For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh (near) unto them? (4:1-7). That ye may live (4:1) meant that the Israelites would enjoy the best in life. The one essential requirement for remaining in the land of promise was obedience to God’s Word. Moses warned them: When thou shalt . . . do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God . . . ye shall soon utterly perish (4:25-26). God desires that you seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul (4:29) which is for thy good (10:13). Obedience to the One True God would have enabled Israel to be successful, as well as morally and spiritually unique among all other nations. Christians today also need a daily reminder to take heed to (be careful for) thyself, and keep thy soul (watch yourselves) diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart . . . teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons (4:9). God has promised: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). Children begin developing respect for God by first being taught to behave in a respectful way toward their parents. Unfortunately, unless children learn respect for their parents, they seldom learn to respect and obey God. The Bible provides our only true source for knowing the will and character of our Creator. We must turn to the Word of God for guidance every day. Keep therefore His Statutes, and His Commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee (Deuteronomy 4:40). Thought for Today: Good deeds can be done for recognition, or guilt, or duty but He says by love serve one another.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 04:18:15 +0000
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