Joshua Bible Study Lesson 5
1.Who does God make a covenant with in Deut 5:3? Is it possible that the covenant is still in effect with us today? Why or why not?
LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. Furthermore, 5:3makes it clear that the covenant was being confirmed to the generation of Israel that would enter the Land. God knew that the generation who stood at Sinai would not enter the Land because of their disobedience, and thus the meaning is that they would not realize the blessings of the covenant summed primarily in the inheritance of
the Land. Others understand the statement to mean that God did not make the covenant of Torah explicit to the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) but to the generation that came out of Egypt. Regardless of how the phrase is interpreted, the primary thrust is that God remained faithful to His promise. The covenant is established with the next generation of Israel even as it was made with those who stood at Sinai. In spite of their disobedience, the covenant remained in force because it is established and maintained from generation to generation by God Himself. Whether any given generation enjoys the blessings of the covenant is dependent upon their obedience to it, but one generation cannot annul the covenant for future generations.
2.Read 5:31-33. What was the gift? What did the nation of Israel need to do to posses the gift?
Deut. 5:31 But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.
The Israelites were given affirmation that in spite of the previous and subsequent murmurings. God approved of and had chosen Moses as His mouthpiece before them. He told Moses, “I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.” God intended to discuss the details that were involved in keeping the Ten Commandments. With those commandments being only a brief description of His will concerning His people, other ordinances were needed to show how His will affects many avenues of experience in daily living. The people would benefit by having the proper teaching authority call attention to those ordinances: commandments, statutes, and judgments. The “commandments” were like verbal expressions in writing that the people were to obey. “Statutes” were rules or regulations on how they were to conduct themselves for the communal benefit. In other words, there was personal as well as communal responsibility. “Judgments” were the actions to be taken in the doing of God’s will. The conscience, which is God-given, can be instructed as to right and wrong. Knowledge is necessary for one to correctly judge what is right, good, and proper, as well as what is wrong and improper. The Holy Spirit operates on our conscience and helps us to see what is proper. Our God-given instinct of right and wrong is impaired because of Adamic weakness and thus needs instruction and knowledge. The Holy Spirit enlightens, informs, and helps us to discern, and then God searches and examines our will to obey, judging whether we are fit subjects to be given the authority of His high calling in Christ Jesus, namely, to be kings and priests
Deut 5:32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
“Ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.” In trying to do God’s will in cases where it is difficult to make a proper judgment, we usually look for two or three confirming evidences to assure us as to what God’s thought is on a particular matter. However, the devil operates through the old man and gives two or three witnesses as to why we should do the wrong thing. Thus the flesh has its arguments, but we should look to the Lord’s will and ignore the thinking of the flesh. In decision making, the old man gives alternative suggestions for going astray, but we are to see what is good and proper from God’s standpoint.
Not turning to the left or to the right is a reminder of Ezekiel 1:12. The four living beings, God’s attributes, “went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not [to the left or to the right] when they went.” As God is holy and His purposes are straightforward and all in alignment, so we want to be in our imperfect way.
While the Christian can get instruction from that Scripture, the primary setting is the Kingdom Age. At that time, the voice of instruction will be behind, whereas now, of our own volition or self-will, we have to respond to God, the Great Shepherd, who uses Jesus as the Good Shepherd to lead us. Since we are to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, the Gospel Age principle is different from that which will occur in the Kingdom Age. At that time, instruction will be given in a mandatory fashion—the voice will be behind instead of in front, or before. We are cautioned not to be blown about by every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14). The Heavenly Father is not ambiguous with the commands He gives. It is our natural reasoning assisted by the Adversary, who started way back in the Garden of Eden, that creates a lot of gray areas. And that is what happened with Israel. The Scriptures have few, if any, gray areas.
Deut. 5:33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.
“Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you.” If a person broke one of the commandments, he broke them all, so perfect obedience was required under the Law to get life.
Yes, it took the disobedience of only one commandment to be guilty of the whole Law.
It was not that the individual was disobeying the other nine commandments, but that he was disobeying the intent of the Ten Commandments. To infract one commandment was infracting the cohesive whole.
It is interesting about the prolonging of days. Of course the Israelites knew it was just a matter of time before a person died. To all appearances, everyone ends up in the tomb. Therefore, God was saying that generally speaking, endeavoring to keep His Law during the Jewish dispensation had the effect of prolonging one’s days beyond the normal life span. Even during the Gospel Age, feeding on God’s Word seems to give strength to the marrow of the bones.
3.Read 6:25. What declared those righteous? Read Heb 11:6. Is there a relationship?
Deut. 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
If followed, the moral law of God, and to some extent the ceremonial law, lead to Christ. As a “schoolmaster,” they lead and instruct toward Christ (Gal. 3:24). Those who seriously tried to keep the Law and honestly evaluated themselves, thus realizing they could not live up to its requirements, would have prayed for forgiveness and help. Today such prayers are even more effectual because Jesus’ righteousness is the covering.
Back there the Israelites did not have a choice. Their “righteousness” came from observing the Law. In contradistinction, our righteousness comes from the robe of Christ.
Yes, and we are to add to our faith virtue, to our virtue knowledge, etc. (2 Pet. 1:5-7).
Thus we are given commandments and instruction, but the arrangement for the Christian is one of mercy, grace, and forgiveness of shortcomings. The fact Christ came down here to die for us is stupendous information. It would be most interesting to know the circumstances under which Jesus made the commitment to his Heavenly Father to come to earth to die. John the Revelator “saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?” (Rev. 5:2). None in heaven could do that until the Lamb came forward. Jesus’ worthiness above all of the other angels was demonstrated even in the fact that he volunteered to come down here. His obedience as the Logos was outstanding. What wonderful training he had as the Logos, whereas Satan’s freedom led to his downfall.
Yes there is a relationship between Deut 6:25 and Heb 11:6. In Heb 11:6 says We cannot come to God, unless we believe that he is what he has revealed himself to be in the Scripture. Those who would find God, must seek him with all their heart. Noah's faith influenced his practice; it moved him to prepare an ark. His faith condemned the unbelief of others; and his obedience condemned their contempt and rebellion. Good examples either convert sinners or condemn them. This shows how believers, being warned of God to flee from the wrath to come, are moved with fear, take refuge in Christ, and become heirs of the righteousness of faith. But without faith - Even some divine faith in God, it is impossible to please him. For he that cometh to God - in prayer, or another act of worship, must believe that he is.
4.Read and meditate on Deut 7:9. How long is a thousand generations? What is the grace of God? What was required of Israel to receive the grace?
Deut. 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
The “faithful God” keeps the unconditional Abrahamic Covenant “with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.” As originally given, before Abraham entered the Promised Land, the covenant was conditional upon his obedience. Following Abraham’s obedience, the covenant became unconditional, unilateral. Thousand generations” means “indefinitely. verse 9 emphasizes God’s love (mercy) and faithfulness. Verse 10 talks about repaying those who hate Him. Thus love and hate are essential to the characters of all those in the Little Flock. Because Jesus loved righteousness and hated iniquity, God has anointed him “with the oil of gladness” above his fellows (Heb. 1:9). By birth, we tend to be lopsided in our development, being either too strict or too soft. God is looking for the balance of firmness of character with gentleness. These two characteristics blend into the type of individual the Lord is seeking to be the kings and priests of the future. There are conditions for everlasting life, and the education of our conscience becomes essential.
5.Read Deut 10:11-13. What does God require of them? Why was the covenant given? Do you see any relationship with this verse and Eccl 12:13-14?
In Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Moses said, "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, too serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?" The heading in the New King James Version calls this "The Essence of the Law." We recognize that these words were spoken to the nation of Israel, not to us, and that the law which contained them is NOT God's law for us today. Yet, the Old Testament Scriptures are preserved for our learning, and this passage states some general principles that are still true. In simple, easy to understand terms, these verses explain what God wants us to do.
"Fear the LORD your God"
Though derived from same basic root meaning of awe and terror, there are two senses of the word "fear." One is a feeling of being afraid or scared, and the other is a state of deep reverence and respect. When God tells His people to fear Him, the word is being used in the second sense. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge....The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom..." (Prov. 1.7, 9.10). Anyone can gain bits and pieces of knowledge, but the only way to have proper understanding concerning the knowledge of this world that brings true wisdom is to begin with reverence and respect for the God who created it and us.
What does fearing God mean? In Eccl. 12.13-14 Solomon concluded his search for meaning to life by saying that we are to "fear God" But how do we show that we fear God? It is by keeping His commandments; Moses will talk more about that later, but this is an essential part of fearing God. Yes, we certainly should be afraid of what would happen if we disobey God (Heb. 10.26-30). However, God's people do not obey Him just because they are afraid or scared of being punished but because they have an abiding reverence and respect for God because of who He is and what He's done. Such reverential fear will guide and control everything that we do. "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear" (Heb. 12.28). Moses told Israel to fear God, and we need to fear God too.
"Walk in all His ways"
We all know that the literal meaning of the word "walk" is to locomote by means of the legs and feet. However, we often use it as a general figurative to refer to a person's way of living and doing things. Thus, throughout the Bible, the term identifies a person's conduct, behavior, or manner of life. Both Enoch and Noah "walked with God" (Gen. 5.24, 6.9). God told Abraham, "Walk before Me and be blameless" (Gen, 17.1). Therefore, using the idea of walking in this sense, everyone basically has two choices.
Some people choose to walk in the ways of this world, which is in actually walking the way that Satan the tempter wants us to do. Paul wrote about those who "walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (Eph. 2.1-2). Because all have sinned, each of us has chosen to walk this way at one time or another. Many continue to travel in the ways of the world, but a few decide to change and walk in all the ways of God. "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 Jn. 1.5-7). To walk in the light simply means to walk in all of God's ways, just as Moses told the Israelites to do.
6.Read Deut 10:16-17. Who is responsible for a circumcised heart? God or Man? Read Rom 2:28-29. Who is a true Jew?
Deut 10:16 Circumcise - Rest not in your bodily circumcision, but seriously set upon that substantial work which is signified thereby: cleanse your hearts from all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, fitly compared to the foreskin, which if not cut off, made persons profane, unclean and odious in the sight of God.
Deut 10:17 Regardeth not persons - Whether Jews or Gentiles, but deals justly and equally with all sorts of men; and as whosoever fears and obeys him shall be accepted, so all incorrigible transgressors shall be severely punished, and you no less than other people: therefore do not flatter yourselves as if God would bear with your sins because of his particular kindness to you or to your fathers.
Romans 2:28. he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, &c.-In other words, the name of "Jew" and the rite of "circumcision" were designed but as outward symbols of a separation from the irreligious and ungodly world unto holy devotedness in heart and life to the God of salvation. Where this is realized, the signs are full of significance; but where it is not, they are worse than useless. For he is no more a Christian now, than he was really a Jew of old, who is only one outwardly: neither is that baptism, which is outward in the flesh: but he is the real Christian, who is inwardly a true believer, with an obedient faith. And the true baptism is that of the heart, by the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Ghost; bringing a spiritual frame of mind, and a willing following of truth in its holy ways. Let us pray that we may be made real Christians, not outwardly, but inwardly; in the heart and spirit, not in the letter; baptized, not with water only, but with the Holy Ghost; and let our praise be, not of men, but of God.
7.Read Deut 11:25-28. Who receives the blessings of God and who received the curses?
Let our hearts be filled with the word of God. There will not be good practices in the life, unless there be good thoughts, good affections, and good principles in the heart. 2. Let our eyes be fixed upon the word of God, having constant regard to it as the guide of our way, as the rule of our work, Ps 119:30. 3. Let our tongues be employed about the word of God. Nor will any thing do more to cause prosperity, and keeping up religion in a nation, than the good education of children
a. To love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him: All the commandments are summarized in these three phrases. Each of these speaks of more than a bare, compelled obedience; they speak of a real relationship of love between God and His people, with obedience flowing naturally from that relationship.
b. The Lord will drive out . . . and you will dispossess greater and mightier nations: God promised to fight the battles for an obedient Israel. Many desire God to fight their battles, but have little interest in obeying Him - or cultivating the deep relationship of love which obedience grows from.
c. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads: God repeated this promise to Joshua, just when Israel was about to cross over the Jordan River into Canaan (Joshua 1:3).
d. No man shall be able to stand against you: When Israel walked in love with the Lord and was obedient to Him, they were unbeatable. No man could defeat them. Greater was God who was with them than he who was in the world! (1 John 4:4)
2 .Deut. (26-28) The choice: Blessing or cursing?
Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.
a. Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: The three great elements to the Old Covenant were the law, the sacrifice, and the choice. Israel had a choice - to obey and be blessed, or to disobey and be cursed. It was a cause and effect relationship with God.
i. It is important to recognize that we, in Jesus Christ, do not have an Old Covenant relationship with God. We expect to be blessed, not because of our obedience, but because of our position in Jesus. The curse we deserved was laid upon Him (Galatians 3:10-14). Though there may be an inherent curse of consequences in our disobedience or even in the correcting hand of God, under the New Covenant, He does not punish us or curse us - because all that we deserved, past, present, and future, was poured out upon Jesus.
b. I set before you today: It was up to Israel. If they wanted to be blessed, then they should walk in obedience (as they were in the days of David and Solomon), but if they disobeyed, they would be cursed (as they were in most of the days of the later kings)
i. A choice was required. There was no neutral ground. God wouldn’t just “leave them alone.” It would either be blessing or cursing.
c. To go after other gods which you have not known: Inherent in Israel’s disobedience was idolatry. Whenever we walk in disobedience, we exalt ourselves against God - and declaring that our rules, our standards, our desires, are all more important than His. This is idolatry in its most base - and common - form.
8.Read Deut 13:4. Meditate upon these verses and its context. Think about Adam & Eve's temptation in the garden. Do you see any similarities?
Moses had cautioned against the peril that might arise from the Canaanites. Here he cautions against the rise of idolatry among themselves. It is needful for us to be well acquainted with the truths and precepts of the Bible; for we may expect to be proved by temptations of evil under the appearance of good, of error in the guise of truth; nor can any thing rightly oppose such temptations, but the plain, express testimony of God's word to the contrary. And it would be a proof of sincere affection for God, that, notwithstanding specious pretences, they should not be wrought upon the forsake God, and follow other gods to serve them.
9.Read Deut 26:2. How might this verse relate to a Christian?
Deut 26:2:Thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth-The Israelites in Canaan, being God's tenants-at-will, were required to give Him tribute in the form of first-fruits and tithes. No Israelite was at liberty to use any productions of his field until he had presented the required offerings. The tribute began to be exigible after the settlement in the promised land, and it was yearly repeated at one of the great feasts (Le 2:14; 23:10; 23:15; Nu 28:26; De 16:9). Every master of a family carried it on his shoulders in a little basket of osier, peeled willow, or palm leaves, and brought it to the sanctuary.
When God has made good his promises to us, he expects we should own it to the honour of his faithfulness. And our creature comforts are doubly sweet, when we see them flowing from the fountain of the promise. The person who offered his first-fruits, must remember and own the mean origin of that nation, of which he was a member. A Syrian ready to perish was my father. Jacob is here called a Syrian. Their nation in its infancy sojourned in Egypt as strangers, they served there as slaves. They were a poor, despised, oppressed people in Egypt; and though become rich and great, had no reason to be proud, secure, or forgetful of God. He must thankfully acknowledge God's great goodness to Israel. The comfort we have in our own enjoyments, should lead us to be thankful for our share in public peace and plenty; and with present mercies we should bless the Lord for the former mercies we remember, and the further mercies we expect and hope for. He must offer his basket of first-fruits. Whatever good thing God gives us, it is his will that we make the most comfortable use we can of it, tracing the streams to the Fountain of all consolation.
10.Read Deut 26:17-19. What promise did the people of Israel make? What promise did God make? Are the promises conditional or unconditional? What part might be considered grace and what part faith?
Moses here enforces the precepts. They are God's laws, therefore thou shalt do them, to that end were they given thee; do them, and dispute them not; do them, and draw not back; do them, not carelessly and hypocritically, but with thy heart and soul, thy whole heart and thy whole soul. We forswear ourselves, and break the most sacred engagement, if, when we have taken the Lord to be our God, we do not make conscience of obeying his commands. We are elected to obedience, 1Pe 1:2; chosen that we should be holy, Eph 1:4; purified a peculiar people, that we might not only do good works, but be zealous in them, Tit 2:14. Holiness is true honour, and the only way to everlasting honour.
Avouched thee - Hath owned thee for such before all the world by eminent and glorious manifestations of his power and favour, by a solemn entering into covenant with thee, and giving peculiar laws, promises, and privileges to thee above all mankind
LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. Furthermore, 5:3makes it clear that the covenant was being confirmed to the generation of Israel that would enter the Land. God knew that the generation who stood at Sinai would not enter the Land because of their disobedience, and thus the meaning is that they would not realize the blessings of the covenant summed primarily in the inheritance of
the Land. Others understand the statement to mean that God did not make the covenant of Torah explicit to the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) but to the generation that came out of Egypt. Regardless of how the phrase is interpreted, the primary thrust is that God remained faithful to His promise. The covenant is established with the next generation of Israel even as it was made with those who stood at Sinai. In spite of their disobedience, the covenant remained in force because it is established and maintained from generation to generation by God Himself. Whether any given generation enjoys the blessings of the covenant is dependent upon their obedience to it, but one generation cannot annul the covenant for future generations.
2.Read 5:31-33. What was the gift? What did the nation of Israel need to do to posses the gift?
Deut. 5:31 But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.
The Israelites were given affirmation that in spite of the previous and subsequent murmurings. God approved of and had chosen Moses as His mouthpiece before them. He told Moses, “I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.” God intended to discuss the details that were involved in keeping the Ten Commandments. With those commandments being only a brief description of His will concerning His people, other ordinances were needed to show how His will affects many avenues of experience in daily living. The people would benefit by having the proper teaching authority call attention to those ordinances: commandments, statutes, and judgments. The “commandments” were like verbal expressions in writing that the people were to obey. “Statutes” were rules or regulations on how they were to conduct themselves for the communal benefit. In other words, there was personal as well as communal responsibility. “Judgments” were the actions to be taken in the doing of God’s will. The conscience, which is God-given, can be instructed as to right and wrong. Knowledge is necessary for one to correctly judge what is right, good, and proper, as well as what is wrong and improper. The Holy Spirit operates on our conscience and helps us to see what is proper. Our God-given instinct of right and wrong is impaired because of Adamic weakness and thus needs instruction and knowledge. The Holy Spirit enlightens, informs, and helps us to discern, and then God searches and examines our will to obey, judging whether we are fit subjects to be given the authority of His high calling in Christ Jesus, namely, to be kings and priests
Deut 5:32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
“Ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.” In trying to do God’s will in cases where it is difficult to make a proper judgment, we usually look for two or three confirming evidences to assure us as to what God’s thought is on a particular matter. However, the devil operates through the old man and gives two or three witnesses as to why we should do the wrong thing. Thus the flesh has its arguments, but we should look to the Lord’s will and ignore the thinking of the flesh. In decision making, the old man gives alternative suggestions for going astray, but we are to see what is good and proper from God’s standpoint.
Not turning to the left or to the right is a reminder of Ezekiel 1:12. The four living beings, God’s attributes, “went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not [to the left or to the right] when they went.” As God is holy and His purposes are straightforward and all in alignment, so we want to be in our imperfect way.
While the Christian can get instruction from that Scripture, the primary setting is the Kingdom Age. At that time, the voice of instruction will be behind, whereas now, of our own volition or self-will, we have to respond to God, the Great Shepherd, who uses Jesus as the Good Shepherd to lead us. Since we are to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, the Gospel Age principle is different from that which will occur in the Kingdom Age. At that time, instruction will be given in a mandatory fashion—the voice will be behind instead of in front, or before. We are cautioned not to be blown about by every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14). The Heavenly Father is not ambiguous with the commands He gives. It is our natural reasoning assisted by the Adversary, who started way back in the Garden of Eden, that creates a lot of gray areas. And that is what happened with Israel. The Scriptures have few, if any, gray areas.
Deut. 5:33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.
“Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you.” If a person broke one of the commandments, he broke them all, so perfect obedience was required under the Law to get life.
Yes, it took the disobedience of only one commandment to be guilty of the whole Law.
It was not that the individual was disobeying the other nine commandments, but that he was disobeying the intent of the Ten Commandments. To infract one commandment was infracting the cohesive whole.
It is interesting about the prolonging of days. Of course the Israelites knew it was just a matter of time before a person died. To all appearances, everyone ends up in the tomb. Therefore, God was saying that generally speaking, endeavoring to keep His Law during the Jewish dispensation had the effect of prolonging one’s days beyond the normal life span. Even during the Gospel Age, feeding on God’s Word seems to give strength to the marrow of the bones.
3.Read 6:25. What declared those righteous? Read Heb 11:6. Is there a relationship?
Deut. 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
If followed, the moral law of God, and to some extent the ceremonial law, lead to Christ. As a “schoolmaster,” they lead and instruct toward Christ (Gal. 3:24). Those who seriously tried to keep the Law and honestly evaluated themselves, thus realizing they could not live up to its requirements, would have prayed for forgiveness and help. Today such prayers are even more effectual because Jesus’ righteousness is the covering.
Back there the Israelites did not have a choice. Their “righteousness” came from observing the Law. In contradistinction, our righteousness comes from the robe of Christ.
Yes, and we are to add to our faith virtue, to our virtue knowledge, etc. (2 Pet. 1:5-7).
Thus we are given commandments and instruction, but the arrangement for the Christian is one of mercy, grace, and forgiveness of shortcomings. The fact Christ came down here to die for us is stupendous information. It would be most interesting to know the circumstances under which Jesus made the commitment to his Heavenly Father to come to earth to die. John the Revelator “saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?” (Rev. 5:2). None in heaven could do that until the Lamb came forward. Jesus’ worthiness above all of the other angels was demonstrated even in the fact that he volunteered to come down here. His obedience as the Logos was outstanding. What wonderful training he had as the Logos, whereas Satan’s freedom led to his downfall.
Yes there is a relationship between Deut 6:25 and Heb 11:6. In Heb 11:6 says We cannot come to God, unless we believe that he is what he has revealed himself to be in the Scripture. Those who would find God, must seek him with all their heart. Noah's faith influenced his practice; it moved him to prepare an ark. His faith condemned the unbelief of others; and his obedience condemned their contempt and rebellion. Good examples either convert sinners or condemn them. This shows how believers, being warned of God to flee from the wrath to come, are moved with fear, take refuge in Christ, and become heirs of the righteousness of faith. But without faith - Even some divine faith in God, it is impossible to please him. For he that cometh to God - in prayer, or another act of worship, must believe that he is.
4.Read and meditate on Deut 7:9. How long is a thousand generations? What is the grace of God? What was required of Israel to receive the grace?
Deut. 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
The “faithful God” keeps the unconditional Abrahamic Covenant “with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.” As originally given, before Abraham entered the Promised Land, the covenant was conditional upon his obedience. Following Abraham’s obedience, the covenant became unconditional, unilateral. Thousand generations” means “indefinitely. verse 9 emphasizes God’s love (mercy) and faithfulness. Verse 10 talks about repaying those who hate Him. Thus love and hate are essential to the characters of all those in the Little Flock. Because Jesus loved righteousness and hated iniquity, God has anointed him “with the oil of gladness” above his fellows (Heb. 1:9). By birth, we tend to be lopsided in our development, being either too strict or too soft. God is looking for the balance of firmness of character with gentleness. These two characteristics blend into the type of individual the Lord is seeking to be the kings and priests of the future. There are conditions for everlasting life, and the education of our conscience becomes essential.
5.Read Deut 10:11-13. What does God require of them? Why was the covenant given? Do you see any relationship with this verse and Eccl 12:13-14?
In Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Moses said, "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, too serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?" The heading in the New King James Version calls this "The Essence of the Law." We recognize that these words were spoken to the nation of Israel, not to us, and that the law which contained them is NOT God's law for us today. Yet, the Old Testament Scriptures are preserved for our learning, and this passage states some general principles that are still true. In simple, easy to understand terms, these verses explain what God wants us to do.
"Fear the LORD your God"
Though derived from same basic root meaning of awe and terror, there are two senses of the word "fear." One is a feeling of being afraid or scared, and the other is a state of deep reverence and respect. When God tells His people to fear Him, the word is being used in the second sense. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge....The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom..." (Prov. 1.7, 9.10). Anyone can gain bits and pieces of knowledge, but the only way to have proper understanding concerning the knowledge of this world that brings true wisdom is to begin with reverence and respect for the God who created it and us.
What does fearing God mean? In Eccl. 12.13-14 Solomon concluded his search for meaning to life by saying that we are to "fear God" But how do we show that we fear God? It is by keeping His commandments; Moses will talk more about that later, but this is an essential part of fearing God. Yes, we certainly should be afraid of what would happen if we disobey God (Heb. 10.26-30). However, God's people do not obey Him just because they are afraid or scared of being punished but because they have an abiding reverence and respect for God because of who He is and what He's done. Such reverential fear will guide and control everything that we do. "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear" (Heb. 12.28). Moses told Israel to fear God, and we need to fear God too.
"Walk in all His ways"
We all know that the literal meaning of the word "walk" is to locomote by means of the legs and feet. However, we often use it as a general figurative to refer to a person's way of living and doing things. Thus, throughout the Bible, the term identifies a person's conduct, behavior, or manner of life. Both Enoch and Noah "walked with God" (Gen. 5.24, 6.9). God told Abraham, "Walk before Me and be blameless" (Gen, 17.1). Therefore, using the idea of walking in this sense, everyone basically has two choices.
Some people choose to walk in the ways of this world, which is in actually walking the way that Satan the tempter wants us to do. Paul wrote about those who "walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (Eph. 2.1-2). Because all have sinned, each of us has chosen to walk this way at one time or another. Many continue to travel in the ways of the world, but a few decide to change and walk in all the ways of God. "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 Jn. 1.5-7). To walk in the light simply means to walk in all of God's ways, just as Moses told the Israelites to do.
6.Read Deut 10:16-17. Who is responsible for a circumcised heart? God or Man? Read Rom 2:28-29. Who is a true Jew?
Deut 10:16 Circumcise - Rest not in your bodily circumcision, but seriously set upon that substantial work which is signified thereby: cleanse your hearts from all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, fitly compared to the foreskin, which if not cut off, made persons profane, unclean and odious in the sight of God.
Deut 10:17 Regardeth not persons - Whether Jews or Gentiles, but deals justly and equally with all sorts of men; and as whosoever fears and obeys him shall be accepted, so all incorrigible transgressors shall be severely punished, and you no less than other people: therefore do not flatter yourselves as if God would bear with your sins because of his particular kindness to you or to your fathers.
Romans 2:28. he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, &c.-In other words, the name of "Jew" and the rite of "circumcision" were designed but as outward symbols of a separation from the irreligious and ungodly world unto holy devotedness in heart and life to the God of salvation. Where this is realized, the signs are full of significance; but where it is not, they are worse than useless. For he is no more a Christian now, than he was really a Jew of old, who is only one outwardly: neither is that baptism, which is outward in the flesh: but he is the real Christian, who is inwardly a true believer, with an obedient faith. And the true baptism is that of the heart, by the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Ghost; bringing a spiritual frame of mind, and a willing following of truth in its holy ways. Let us pray that we may be made real Christians, not outwardly, but inwardly; in the heart and spirit, not in the letter; baptized, not with water only, but with the Holy Ghost; and let our praise be, not of men, but of God.
7.Read Deut 11:25-28. Who receives the blessings of God and who received the curses?
Let our hearts be filled with the word of God. There will not be good practices in the life, unless there be good thoughts, good affections, and good principles in the heart. 2. Let our eyes be fixed upon the word of God, having constant regard to it as the guide of our way, as the rule of our work, Ps 119:30. 3. Let our tongues be employed about the word of God. Nor will any thing do more to cause prosperity, and keeping up religion in a nation, than the good education of children
a. To love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him: All the commandments are summarized in these three phrases. Each of these speaks of more than a bare, compelled obedience; they speak of a real relationship of love between God and His people, with obedience flowing naturally from that relationship.
b. The Lord will drive out . . . and you will dispossess greater and mightier nations: God promised to fight the battles for an obedient Israel. Many desire God to fight their battles, but have little interest in obeying Him - or cultivating the deep relationship of love which obedience grows from.
c. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads: God repeated this promise to Joshua, just when Israel was about to cross over the Jordan River into Canaan (Joshua 1:3).
d. No man shall be able to stand against you: When Israel walked in love with the Lord and was obedient to Him, they were unbeatable. No man could defeat them. Greater was God who was with them than he who was in the world! (1 John 4:4)
2 .Deut. (26-28) The choice: Blessing or cursing?
Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.
a. Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: The three great elements to the Old Covenant were the law, the sacrifice, and the choice. Israel had a choice - to obey and be blessed, or to disobey and be cursed. It was a cause and effect relationship with God.
i. It is important to recognize that we, in Jesus Christ, do not have an Old Covenant relationship with God. We expect to be blessed, not because of our obedience, but because of our position in Jesus. The curse we deserved was laid upon Him (Galatians 3:10-14). Though there may be an inherent curse of consequences in our disobedience or even in the correcting hand of God, under the New Covenant, He does not punish us or curse us - because all that we deserved, past, present, and future, was poured out upon Jesus.
b. I set before you today: It was up to Israel. If they wanted to be blessed, then they should walk in obedience (as they were in the days of David and Solomon), but if they disobeyed, they would be cursed (as they were in most of the days of the later kings)
i. A choice was required. There was no neutral ground. God wouldn’t just “leave them alone.” It would either be blessing or cursing.
c. To go after other gods which you have not known: Inherent in Israel’s disobedience was idolatry. Whenever we walk in disobedience, we exalt ourselves against God - and declaring that our rules, our standards, our desires, are all more important than His. This is idolatry in its most base - and common - form.
8.Read Deut 13:4. Meditate upon these verses and its context. Think about Adam & Eve's temptation in the garden. Do you see any similarities?
Moses had cautioned against the peril that might arise from the Canaanites. Here he cautions against the rise of idolatry among themselves. It is needful for us to be well acquainted with the truths and precepts of the Bible; for we may expect to be proved by temptations of evil under the appearance of good, of error in the guise of truth; nor can any thing rightly oppose such temptations, but the plain, express testimony of God's word to the contrary. And it would be a proof of sincere affection for God, that, notwithstanding specious pretences, they should not be wrought upon the forsake God, and follow other gods to serve them.
9.Read Deut 26:2. How might this verse relate to a Christian?
Deut 26:2:Thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth-The Israelites in Canaan, being God's tenants-at-will, were required to give Him tribute in the form of first-fruits and tithes. No Israelite was at liberty to use any productions of his field until he had presented the required offerings. The tribute began to be exigible after the settlement in the promised land, and it was yearly repeated at one of the great feasts (Le 2:14; 23:10; 23:15; Nu 28:26; De 16:9). Every master of a family carried it on his shoulders in a little basket of osier, peeled willow, or palm leaves, and brought it to the sanctuary.
When God has made good his promises to us, he expects we should own it to the honour of his faithfulness. And our creature comforts are doubly sweet, when we see them flowing from the fountain of the promise. The person who offered his first-fruits, must remember and own the mean origin of that nation, of which he was a member. A Syrian ready to perish was my father. Jacob is here called a Syrian. Their nation in its infancy sojourned in Egypt as strangers, they served there as slaves. They were a poor, despised, oppressed people in Egypt; and though become rich and great, had no reason to be proud, secure, or forgetful of God. He must thankfully acknowledge God's great goodness to Israel. The comfort we have in our own enjoyments, should lead us to be thankful for our share in public peace and plenty; and with present mercies we should bless the Lord for the former mercies we remember, and the further mercies we expect and hope for. He must offer his basket of first-fruits. Whatever good thing God gives us, it is his will that we make the most comfortable use we can of it, tracing the streams to the Fountain of all consolation.
10.Read Deut 26:17-19. What promise did the people of Israel make? What promise did God make? Are the promises conditional or unconditional? What part might be considered grace and what part faith?
Moses here enforces the precepts. They are God's laws, therefore thou shalt do them, to that end were they given thee; do them, and dispute them not; do them, and draw not back; do them, not carelessly and hypocritically, but with thy heart and soul, thy whole heart and thy whole soul. We forswear ourselves, and break the most sacred engagement, if, when we have taken the Lord to be our God, we do not make conscience of obeying his commands. We are elected to obedience, 1Pe 1:2; chosen that we should be holy, Eph 1:4; purified a peculiar people, that we might not only do good works, but be zealous in them, Tit 2:14. Holiness is true honour, and the only way to everlasting honour.
Avouched thee - Hath owned thee for such before all the world by eminent and glorious manifestations of his power and favour, by a solemn entering into covenant with thee, and giving peculiar laws, promises, and privileges to thee above all mankind
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