Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. When the LORD your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!
(NIV)
Yesterday I had a really bad morning. In undergoing this horrible morning, I succumbed to a very bad attitude. And when I say, "very bad attitude," I am talking major sinful heart.
I was angry at the Lord. I know I have no right to be angry with the Lord, but there you have it. I was mad. And I told Him, "And now I have to read Deuteronomy, and I'll bet I will get nothing out of it. Nothing. Because it is Deuteronomy." Never mind that I often count Deuteronomy as my favorite Old Testament book. Never mind that I have been deeply blessed through many passages out of Deuteronomy. There was something wrong with me and wrong with my heart, my attitude, my mind, my perspective.
I read Deuteronomy 25, and all the way through I thought, "See, nothing to help me. See, no word from God for me here."
And then I read the verses above, the last verses in the chapter. They hung with me. "When the LORD your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven."
There is always a spiritual application from Deuteronomy. God spoke to the Israelites about their physical enemies who fought against them over the possession of the land, concrete real-estate. We have enemies, too. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
My struggle is against sin, the sin that gets me when I am down, that besets me when I am weak. When my body hurts and tragedies are happening all around me and I feel like the Lord does not hear my prayers, when I feel like a helpless pawn that Almighty God just messes with to accomplish His purposes without mercy or compassion for my experience, this is a time when Satan can do to me spiritually what the Amalekites did to Israel physically: "When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind..."
In heaven, God will remove us from the presence of sin, the devil and temptation. He will, after a manner of speaking, "...blot out the memory of Amelek from under heaven."
This is what it means to be free. This is cause for thanksgiving. This is the mercy of the Lord poured out on a sin-oppressed woman who is looking forward to His coming with hope.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Deuteronomy 16:19-20a
Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Follow justice and justice alone...
(NIV--1978)
I think this is harder to do than we assume.
In Deuteronomy, Moses is giving God's word regarding how the tribes and towns should govern themselves; they should appoint fair judges and officials. There is, of course, a national, governmental application of this truth. But there is also a personal, spiritual application.
We must live fairly, justly. Micah 6:8 says, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
This means that it is displeasing to God when we make decisions based on whether we like somebody or not rather than on the facts of the matter. We are not to show preference to the people who invite us to their homes and drop off Christmas cookies. We should love them and appreciate them. But if an issue arises, we should not assume their blamelessness over someone else simply because they have been nice to us.
If two people need help, we should not automatically decide to help the one we know better and like more. We should consider the facts: who needs help the most? Who may have a support system of help other than us... and (more importantly) who may not?
This is tremendously difficult.
It is difficult for anyone in leadership: school administrators, teachers, pastors, even parents. But difficult as it may be, the Bible is clear: God is not pleased by our biases. When God is not pleased with me, I am probably in sin. Based on the Bible passage of the day, it looks as though giving in to our biases is a sin.
And speaking of "just leaders"... within each of us, our "will" is the thing that controls--leads--our decisions and actions. Our wills must be the "just leaders" of our psyches. Although many of us find it easier to follow our hearts, our memories or even our imaginations, we must surrender our wills to the perfect will of God and behave in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. We must will our behavior to reflect God's justice and fairness rather than following our natural inclinations.
Justice is a big deal to the Lord, and I think we often don't even have a clue what justice is.
(NIV--1978)
I think this is harder to do than we assume.
In Deuteronomy, Moses is giving God's word regarding how the tribes and towns should govern themselves; they should appoint fair judges and officials. There is, of course, a national, governmental application of this truth. But there is also a personal, spiritual application.
We must live fairly, justly. Micah 6:8 says, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
This means that it is displeasing to God when we make decisions based on whether we like somebody or not rather than on the facts of the matter. We are not to show preference to the people who invite us to their homes and drop off Christmas cookies. We should love them and appreciate them. But if an issue arises, we should not assume their blamelessness over someone else simply because they have been nice to us.
If two people need help, we should not automatically decide to help the one we know better and like more. We should consider the facts: who needs help the most? Who may have a support system of help other than us... and (more importantly) who may not?
This is tremendously difficult.
It is difficult for anyone in leadership: school administrators, teachers, pastors, even parents. But difficult as it may be, the Bible is clear: God is not pleased by our biases. When God is not pleased with me, I am probably in sin. Based on the Bible passage of the day, it looks as though giving in to our biases is a sin.
And speaking of "just leaders"... within each of us, our "will" is the thing that controls--leads--our decisions and actions. Our wills must be the "just leaders" of our psyches. Although many of us find it easier to follow our hearts, our memories or even our imaginations, we must surrender our wills to the perfect will of God and behave in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. We must will our behavior to reflect God's justice and fairness rather than following our natural inclinations.
Justice is a big deal to the Lord, and I think we often don't even have a clue what justice is.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Two verses from Deuteronomy 8
(#1) Deuteronomy 8:5
Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.
(NIV)
Usually when I think about how God disciplines us, I think of Hebrews 12:5-11. Or even Proverbs 3:11-12. It makes me feel secure and comforted that this idea is even much older than either of those references. I love finding beautiful spiritual truths in the oldest books of the Bible.
I especially love finding the gospel in the most ancient texts...
(#2) Deuteronomy 8:16
He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you.
(NIV)
Again, we are looking at God's discipline. Why does he do it? To humble and to test us "so that in the end it might go well with you."
Nobody likes to be taught a lesson. Nobody likes to be corrected. And certainly nobody likes to be humbled or punished. But God does it for us for our good. We must learn who we are, and who He is, and this process can be unpleasant for those with strong wills and rebellious spirits (most of us). But it is only when we understand our place in His universe that we can bow before Him in humble thanksgiving and accept the gift He gives... not manna but Jesus, the bread of life.
Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.
(NIV)
Usually when I think about how God disciplines us, I think of Hebrews 12:5-11. Or even Proverbs 3:11-12. It makes me feel secure and comforted that this idea is even much older than either of those references. I love finding beautiful spiritual truths in the oldest books of the Bible.
I especially love finding the gospel in the most ancient texts...
(#2) Deuteronomy 8:16
He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you.
(NIV)
Again, we are looking at God's discipline. Why does he do it? To humble and to test us "so that in the end it might go well with you."
Nobody likes to be taught a lesson. Nobody likes to be corrected. And certainly nobody likes to be humbled or punished. But God does it for us for our good. We must learn who we are, and who He is, and this process can be unpleasant for those with strong wills and rebellious spirits (most of us). But it is only when we understand our place in His universe that we can bow before Him in humble thanksgiving and accept the gift He gives... not manna but Jesus, the bread of life.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Deuteronomy 7:6
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession.
(NIV)
I absolutely love this verse.
It reminds me of 1 Peter 2:9 --
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
(NIV)
(NIV)
I absolutely love this verse.
It reminds me of 1 Peter 2:9 --
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
(NIV)
Friday, November 18, 2011
Deuteronomy 5:29
This is the heart of God:
Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always,
so that it might go well with them and their children forever!
(NIV)
Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always,
so that it might go well with them and their children forever!
(NIV)
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
most of Deuteronomy 5:5
(At that time I stood between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) ~Moses
(ESV)
Moses was a prophet, and this is what a prophet does. He stands between the LORD and the people who need the LORD, and he tells the people the word of the LORD.
A prophet brings God's word to the people.
Jesus was the perfect prophet, and He was also the perfect Word of God (John 1). He brought Himself from God to us, the Word made flesh, because He was the only one who could do this job perfectly.
Jesus brought Himself to us; Jesus gave Himself for us.
(ESV)
Moses was a prophet, and this is what a prophet does. He stands between the LORD and the people who need the LORD, and he tells the people the word of the LORD.
A prophet brings God's word to the people.
Jesus was the perfect prophet, and He was also the perfect Word of God (John 1). He brought Himself from God to us, the Word made flesh, because He was the only one who could do this job perfectly.
Jesus brought Himself to us; Jesus gave Himself for us.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Deuteronomy 4:2
You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I have commanded you.
(ESV)
This is a gross generalization, but as I read this verse, it occurred to me that, with the Talmud, Jewish people tend to "add" to the Word of God while at the same time, with a faulty idea of what grace is, many Christians tend to "take away" from God's Word, particularly the Law.
Psalm 119 is a very long Psalm, but it gives us a good perspective on what our attitude toward the Law of God ought to be. Although it is very long, one only needs to read a portion of it to start to understand its message.
I wonder what would happen to Bible-believing people if we all spent a little more time reading Deuteronomy and Psalm 119?
(ESV)
This is a gross generalization, but as I read this verse, it occurred to me that, with the Talmud, Jewish people tend to "add" to the Word of God while at the same time, with a faulty idea of what grace is, many Christians tend to "take away" from God's Word, particularly the Law.
Psalm 119 is a very long Psalm, but it gives us a good perspective on what our attitude toward the Law of God ought to be. Although it is very long, one only needs to read a portion of it to start to understand its message.
I wonder what would happen to Bible-believing people if we all spent a little more time reading Deuteronomy and Psalm 119?
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