Take Two: Deuteronomy 34, Proverbs 14

This is one of the more debated chapters of the book. Since it is generally understood that Moses wrote Deuteronomy (in fact, there are no serious scholarly challenges to that fact), some have asked how Moses could write about his own death, burial, or the period of mourning following his death.

The most plausible explanation I have encountered (though there are a couple of good speculative ones), is that the final verses of this chapter and book were added as an addendum by another writer. This does not jeopardize Mosaic authorship of the book (as some have critically argued), but simply explains the fate of Moses.

As I read this, I thought of the consequences of sin and the grace of God. God did not permit Moses to lead the people into the Land because Moses sinned in the striking of the rock. He disobeyed what God had told Him and in so doing, prevented himself from experiencing the conquest of the land.

This sin brought about a premature death from him…since he was 120 years old but strong and physically well. IOW: His death did not prevent his entrance into the Land…God did, as consequence to the sin committed.

But, let’s not miss grace. Moses was called out to from a burning bush. He overcame fear and anxiety in confronting Pharoah, facing down the Red Sea and numerous other challenges. He watched the people forsake God and he led them for 40 years as they made laps in the desert. He buried all of the adults that he delivered from Egypt except Caleb and Joshua. He had been faithful (for the most part) to the call fo God for His life. His public act of disobedience at the rock meant that He would never walk int he Land…but God still showed it to Him. From the perch on Nebo, God showed Moses the promise as foretold. God had already told Moses that Joshua would succeed him and that Joshua would fulfill the conquest. As such…God demonstrated His grace and faithfulness toward His people and His grace and faithfulness to Moses.

No great words can be said of a man than those spoken of Moses. the Lord knew Moses face to face. Other prophets existed, but none like Moses.

REFLECTION: When they close the chapter on your life…how will they pen the final two verses. What will God let you see and what will be the legacy you leave behind. The answer is written every day in your heart and with your hands as you choose to live out your choices.

Proverbs 14:2 is the takeaway today. “He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises Him.” [One cannot walk wickedly and have confidence that he is a child of God...living in fear of God. Only the man who walks upright can be confident in his relationship with God.]

Tomorrow…I am drawn to the book Song of Solomon. So…I am breaking our pattern and asking you to join me as we take 8 days to look at God’s design for marital love…together.

Take Two: Deuteronomy 33, Proverbs 13

In Deuteronomy 33, we find the final blessing that Moses gave to the people of God before his death. There are various components to the blessing…but none are more significant than the final verses.

God’s people were blessed…not because of their victories, or abundance, or produce…but because of the God of Jushurun (i.e. Israel) who blesses (v.26). It is God who provides, redeems, rescue, and restore. It is God who drives out their enemies. It is God who is their dwelling place and protection (v.27), and God who continually blesses and multiplies and endows with abundant grace. Yes…the blessing is God, but the benefit of God’s hand. God does bless and the people do benefit…but God Himself is the blessing…the hope…and the Salvation fo the saved (v.29).

REFLECTION: When we consider these verses, it is significant to ask, “Is God enough?” If we never had wealth…is God enough? If our children never gained greatly…is God enough? If we lived constantly under the pressures and tensions inherent in the life of an alien in a foreign land…is God enough? If we suffer persecution or distress while other around us live in luxury and with leaisure…is God enough? If we never got to control anything ever again…is God enough? If we were diagnosed with cancer…is God enough?

Yes there is blessing in knowledge of God and in relationship with Him…but the real blessing is in Him…not in the benefit of His hand.

Proverbs 13:18 is the takeaway today. “Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline, but he who regards reproof will be honored.”

Take Two: Deuteronomy 32, Proverbs 12

Yesterday, we discussed the fact that God saved His people and redeemed them…knowing that they would forsake Him and turn to other gods. He instructed Moses who told the people…when they found themselves living on the dark side…to reflect on the song of Moses and remember for what they were created and by whom they were redeemed.

This chapter is that song. It reminds the people that they were called out by the One, Holy God of the Universe. There is no other. He rescued them and gave them an inheritance of land which produced bountifully (vv.9-14).

In their sufficiency (v.15), they forsook God and embraced the demons (note: very strong language about idols) which had not and could not care for them. While eating at the Lord’s Table they used their strength to pursue other gods. They walked away from God and from the Counsel of His Word (v.28), and God would deliver them over…because He is Sovereign. God determines what is just. He alone controls our ultimate course (v.39). His motives are more pure than we could ever imagine. His ways are far above anything we could dream. And, He intentionally chooses to bless, and to wound, and to deliver again…when we come to agree with this truth (practically and not only intellectually). [By this, I mean that God expects us to practice what He instructs...not just say, "I know its true but I don't do it.]

The point of the Song was to remind the people of the way back home.

POINT: All of us are going to stray into the “far country” and walk away from God from time to time. It is a result of our nature which is bent toward self-determination and away from God-determination.

Knowing the way home…is the lifeblood of every person (vv.46-47). Our sins have consequences and we suffer because of the choice we make that demand God’s JUST response to us (v.51); however, for those who are His…our consequences are temporary and not ultimate. Our ultimate consequence was settled by Christ and it is secured by the Love and Justice of God who applied Christ’s finished work to our account…to those who have yielded control of our lives into His hands…trusting in His Salvation as our only right-standing with God.

Proverbs 12:11 is the takeaway today. “He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense.”

Take Two: Deuteronomy 31, Proverbs 11

In this chapter, we find the beginning of the final address of Moses to the people. He tells them that he will not lead them into the Land, but that God would give them the land through Joshua who would give it (vv.3, 7-8).

POINT: God gives blessing to His people…and leads them to the land of blessing where they live and produce and find blessing; but, He chooses to do this through the leadership of a man. Herein lies the disconnect for many…they want the benefit of God’s hand but they do not want to follow God’s man. None of us get to define what God does by His grace. We do not get to place our orders and wait for Him to fill them. We must, if we are to receive the grace of God in its fullest expression, yield to the leadership of God in the way He leads. God always leads through a man/men He chooses to use.

This chapter develops for us again the contrast between the faithfulness of God (vv. 6,8), and the unfaithfulness of mankind…even those who are under the Covenant with God (v.16). [cf. 1 John 1:8-9].

God knew all along that His people would forsake Him. They would leave Him and have nothing to do with Him…because they would experience the blessing of His provision and would forget about Him while embracing other gods from the land which they would come into. Still…He saved them. He saved them for Himself and by Himself…not for what they could do for Him or would do for Him. He saved them because He is God. He also promised to be faithful to them to punish them, chastise them, and even deliver them over to their enemies until they would repent and return.

POINT: Sometimes…we can look at our circumstances and realize the reason we are where we are. Sometimes we find ourselves in the midst of God’s judgment and we are forced to consider how we brought it about…by our choices, our devotions, our pursuits.

Proverbs 11:21 is the takeaway today. “Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, but the descendents of the righteous will be delivered.”

Take Two: Deuteronomy 30, Proverbs 10

To wrap up the covenant establishment at Moab, Moses gives I believe is one of the greatest hopes in the Scripture. He tells the people that when they experience the curse which is the consequence of their sin, they must only turn to God and they will be restored. Whenever the people return to the position of the Covenant, there is restoration. How can this be?

God is absolutely sovereign. The curse is not beyond Him as He causes it to come about to discipline His people for forsaking Him. The blessing is not an act of fate or chance…sicne God causes it as part of His grace toward His people. In either case, blessing and cursing, God is in control. That said…the determination of whether we experience blessing or cursing has more to do with our position with God than it does with anything else. If we are walking closely with God and pursuing the covenant responsibility given to us, then we will be blessed. If we choose to walk far from Him and apart from the covenant, then we will experience the curse. AND, whenever we realize this and return to the Covenant…then God will restore us to Himself…since He has not appointed us for destruction but for mercy according to His grace.

Pastor, some may say, “I cannot get back to God. To be restored to Him is too difficult for me to do or even to understand.” NOT TRUE! The word is not distant…but is close (vv.11-14). Our difficulty comes in the choice to abandon our control to His control. To do as He requires because He requires it…and that reason being sufficient in itself. There may be many difficult things about walking with God…but two of them are not: Knowing what God expects (since His Word is near); or, getting back to the place of the beginning of our commitment (since His forgiveness and restoration is not distant but near).

Proverbs 10:22 is the takeaway today. “It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and he adds no sorrow to it.”

Take Two: Deuteronomy 29, Proverbs 9

The people of God are challenged with the reality of blessings and cursing again in this final movement in this Book. In the Covenant meeting at Moab, Moses speaks to the people and calls them to the point of decision as they prepare to cross into the Land of Promise in only a few months from now.

Notice a couple of observations:

First, the Covenant is both corporate and individual. The Covenant is made with the community, but it involves every person within the community (vv.10-11), and they are each individually responsible for their choice and what they represent as they stand within the assembly (v.18). God holds each individual personally accountable for their HEART RESPONSE to the Covenant; but, there is also a corporate/communal responsibility to be borne as God exercises judgment in the community.

The choice to rebel or to not enter into Covenant with God with ones whole HEART and SOUL (v.30:6) is individual, but the consequences are felt throughout the community.

This brings me to a second observation…or perhaps a “musing.”

What if this is the same today? What if God works the same way today? What if we are living in sight of the “Promised Land” (however we would define that…but I would define it as revival…or success in carrying out the Mission), but we are not experiencing it…because individual(s) choose to represent themselves as committed but are not REALLY COMMITTED in their heart. What if there are individuals who are friendly with the community but are not committed to the community’s vision/purpose/and goal? What if there are individuals who live one way on Sunday (for show) but on Monday…they live otherwise?

Now this is certainly true in some respect in most congregations I know of. But, how do we turn it around? A couple of considerations:

First, we are not responsible for any other congregation…only our own. Second, we are not responsible for any other person’s response…only our own. (We must personally be committed with heart and soul.) If we are not committed, yet we represent ourselves as committed, then we hurt ourselves and others…and we know why…even if they do not. Third, the way to change this is also personal. We personally seek to examine and realign our own hearts toward the heart of God.

Someone I respect recently observed that the content of the preaching in the great revivals of our nation was not “how to grow the church” but the Gospel. As the Gospel was explained and applied…and people yielded to it, revival was realized. So, revival is not scheduled but experienced as each of us apply the gospel personally in our lives. Revival is not obvious on a larger scale until the community experiences many individual revivals in their midst…but as they do, something obvious and amazing occurs among God’s people.

FInally, why does God operate in such Black and White terms? Why be so hard as to “curse” evil among His people? Simply stated, because He is glorious, Holy, and Just. Even the world recognizes that the Judgment of God is glorious to Him as He judges sin (vv.24-28).

Proverbs 9:9 is the takeaway today. “Give instruction to the wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.”

Take Two: Deuteronomy 28, Proverb 8

If you take the two chapters we have just completed as a single unit (and you ought to…as they are really one), Then what stands out to me is the amount of effort dedicated to the curses rather than the blessings.

Now here is the setup:

If God knows us better than we know ourselves; and, He inspired the recording and preserved this Scripture for us; then, there is something to be said for the focus on this passage:

A couple of observations–

There would be nothing to lose had God not already given the benefit to His people. (God’s grace precedes our response and is independent of it…therefore, GRACE.)

Second, It would seem that fear of loss motivates better than hope of gain. God did speak positively of the blessings (vv.1-14), but the intensity of the focus was on the consequences of forsaking the covenant requirements of God.

In my mind, two possibilities exist that motivate this: First, God understands that we do not WANT to lose anything. We do not WISH to forfeit any blessing. In fact, we MIGHT NOT even be willing to take risks in life…even those promising great gain…if we fear losing what is placed at risk to begin with. Example: Years ago, I was given an opportunity to invest my savings into stock in a particular company. It would have been hard to lose and the upside was tremendous. At the same time…I had worked hard to put back a few thousand dollars and I did not wish to see it lost…so I did nothing. My friend made a ton and I kept what I had, until I spent it on something else. MY FEAR OF LOSS OVERRODE MY HOPE OF GAIN.

The second possibility is that God already knew which path the people would choose. They would say to Him, “God we will be faithful,” but He knew they would not. They would desire to be…but not as much as they desired the perceived benefit of unfaithfulness. So, God gave them this text so they could look back and conclude that the cause of their demise…their suffering…the unrighteousness in the world…was not HIM, but THEM.

None of us can correctly charge God with being unrighteous or unjust. Yes…sin has happened and suffering occurs. We have no one to blame but ourselves…because we refused to keep the Covenant with the God who gave us grace to begin with.

Now the story doesn’t end here. The same God who points out consequences and responsibility is abundant in mercy and grace. He continues to offer a way back…for those who will turn back to Him and commit to the Covenant AGAIN.

Proverbs 8:19 is the takeaway today. Wisdom (personified) speaks, “My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, and my yield better than choicest silver.”

Take Two: Deuteronomy 27, Proverbs 7

“As you enter the Promised Land, erect these laws on two stones and affirm them. Affirm the law that by keeping it you shall be blessed and by breaking it you shall be cursed.” [This could be the summary statement of the next two chapters.]

A couple of brief observations. First, the basis of the Covenant was the redemption of God. God had already redeemed His people and brought them into the Promised land. At this point, the people were to affirm that they understood the requirements and benefits of the Law. There was no opportunity to abstain from the Law…because the requirement to keep the Law went hand-in-hand witht he benefit of Redemption.

Second, it was important in the eyes of God for the people to erect actual memorials…milestones…on which to look and remember the commitment they had made in response to the work of God in their lives.

Third, the people were called to AFFIRM (in this chapter) those things that would result in their cursing. [Which led me to thinking this AM.]

What if we, as people, stood corporately and affirmed the instructions of God that would result in our cursing. It might look like this:

• Cursed is the man who forsakes the Lord God and chooses to embrace other gods: Amen.
• Cursed is the man who withholds forgiveness from anyone, for he shall not be forgiven his sin: Amen.
• Cursed is the man who does not visit the Holy Place of God to worship Him with clean hands and a pure heart: Amen.
• Cursed is the man who refuses to serve the Lord God by serving others: Amen.
• Cursed is the man who whispers int he shadows and gossips about a brother: Amen.
• Cursed is the man who appears to worship God and does not bring the required offering, the tithe of the first fruits of all his labor: Amen.
• Cursed is the man who speak evil of another believer: Amen.
• Cursed is the man who….

When we say these things like this…it accentuates SOME of the things that we often justify in our minds…and puts them in proper perspective…a perspective that reminds us that obedience is not negotiable.

APPLIED: How would your worship differ on Sunday if you appeared and declared these statements aloud before studying the Word of God: Cursed is the man who_____ in contradiction to the Holy and Just Instruction of the Lord: AMEN. Would it remind us to clean our hearts and hands? Would it cause us to forgive? Would it focus us on Him and remove the stumbling block created in the pridefulness of our own hearts?

Proverbs 7:1 is the takeaway today. “My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.”

Take Two: Deuteronomy 26, Proverbs 6

This chapter in Deuteronomy deals with the law of the tithe. DON’T CHECK OUT. Here’s the deal…if the “tithe” is required from the Lord…then there is no escaping the requirement. So, we ought to understand what it is, why it is, and if it persists today.

The act of giving the tithe is set in the context of God’s blessing. V.1, when you enter the land God gives you…as an inheritance, and you possess it, and you live in it…then take of the first fruits and give to the Lord.

POINT: The ability to give anything to God comes from God’s act of giving us the ability. We do not “tithe” of our own abilities. We tithe of God’s provision. God provides and we give to Him as He commands of the first fruits.

The tithe was to be given at the place GOD CHOSE…not that man chose. It could not be given anywhere, but where God said to give it (v.2). How can He demand such a thing? Because He provided the ability to give and He demanded where to give it back to Him.

The tithe is not a subjective amount. It is a fixed amount…10% of the first fruits. it is never less and never more. One cannot increase their tithe percentage…because a tithe is always 10%. One cannot tithe less than 10 % because a tithe is 10%. When we give more than 10%, it is called an offering. It is a special “something” given to God for various reasons…but always in gratitude.

The tithe itself is already SET APART or SACRED to the Lord in His reckoning of matters (v.13). To do anything with the tithe other than to give it to God at the place He chooses, of the firstfruits, and when He commands…is misappropriation, theft, or breach of trust. The tithe is His. It is only His. He owns it because He gave the land (ability) and demands the tithe of the firstfruits (which is sacred/set apart to Him) be brought back to the place He chooses. After all…it is He who rescued us from Egypt and brought us into the Land of Promise.

One last thing…God demands (as God and therefore Sovereign Lord of all Creation) that the tithe be given to Him with a full and unfettered heart commitment (v.16). In so doing, we declare Him to be OUR God (v.17) and promise our allegiance to Him. We trust in and rest upon His promises (v.18).

So, to not tithe is to DECLARE the opposite of this: It is to declare that He IS NOT our God and that we DO NOT trust in His promises.

Now I know that some of us want to mitigate against that last statement. We want to say that we can love God in our heart and not tithe. God says, however, that the tithe is His…that it was entrusted to us, and that He trusts we will keep it until we give it back to Him…with our whole hearts in thankful acknowledgment of His provision and trusting in His promises.

Our obedience or disobedience are both strong and active statements. We declare something by whatever we choose to do.

What is your declaration today?

Oh, I said we would examine if this still applies today: Short answer, YES. The act of tithing is never repealed. It was not part of the Covenant, but it was an act in light of the Covenant. So, if we have been delivered from captivity into Freedom (in Christ) then this still applies. Also, Jesus affirms the practice in the NT. The practice of the NT indicates that generosity was a key characteristic of God’s people…which can only be giving BEYOND the tithe…because we cannot be considered generous by simply giving back to God what is already His. Grace magnifies our response to God…not diminishes it. No one can argue from the Bible that God no longer demands, expects or DESERVES the tithe. (Honestly that argument is made because we value our money and our stuff which money buys…more than we value the God who provided. it.)

What if you cannot tithe. Get where you can. Repent of the sin, agree with God and get obedient. I know that sounds pretty blunt…but if you had cancer and I was a doctor…and you asked me how to fix it…what if I knew that the only way to cure it was to remove it, but I told you to take aspirin if you believed that would be good for you? You’d demand that I stop it…and tell you the truth. Today, I have.

Thank you dear God for the truth of your Word and for your provision toward us. We did not deserve it, did not earn it, cannot repay it…only be faithful with what you have entrusted to us. Be merciful toward us as we honor you by demonstrating trust, obedience, and faith. In Christ’s Name, AMEN, AMEN.

Proverbs 6:32 is the takeaway today. “The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; He who would destroy himself does it.”

Take Two: Deuteronomy 25, Proverbs 5

CONFESSION: As I read through this chapter on other “Sundry” laws, I am having to really work at it…

Three principles do emerge in the reading. First is the continuation of the covenant. The law of the kinsmen redeemer is see in vv.5-10. Now the instruction sort of takes us back a bit…but that is a cultural issue, not a biblical one. This would not have shocked the hearer in the day. As for the covenant, it was SIGNIFICANT and IMPORTANT that each family would persist in receiving the promise of the covenant. This is why the provision for the Kinsmen Redeemer.

Secondly, we see the issue of HOLINESS repeated. If a man did wrong, he was to be punished immediately… in the presence of the judge (vv.1-3). The principle is revealed again in vv.11-13. (Remove the hand that has done what is forbidden).

Third…is the instruction regarding Amalek (vv.17-19). God intends for His people to be His ministers of justice. The Amelekites did not fear God and God instructed His people…to utterly destroy them after they were given possession fo the land. Two thoughts: First…the nature of the life of obedience requires us to continually wage war against that which opposes God…both with us and in the world. Second…that work must persist even when we feel comfortable and have rest in OUR INHERITANCE.

Follow me now: It is easy to lose focus when we are at rest. In the fight…we are laser sharp and prepared to wage war with our enemies; but, when we are at rest, we tend to focus on our comforts and our accumulation of things that will not persist. These will, if left unchecked, cause us to become distracted and complacent…preventing us for waging war against ungodliness in us and others.

Proverbs 5:22-23 is the takeaway today. “For [A man's] own iniquities will capture the wicked, and he will be held in the cords of his sin. He will die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.” [A man is often caught in the snare of his own sin. Not seeing a way out, he withdraws from the assembly and thus dies for lack of instruction. This is the greatness of his foolishness.]