Joshua Bible Study Lesson 6
1.Read Deuteronomy 27:1-4. Blessing or Curse at Mt Elba & Mt Gerizim ? In a paragraph explain your understanding of these verses. Is obedience required?
On that day — About that time, for it was not done 'till some days after their passing over. This law — The law properly so called, that is, the sum and substance of the precepts or laws of Moses, especially such as were moral, particularly the decalogue.
Write it, that thou mayest go in — As the condition of thy entering into the land. For since Canaan is given only by promise, it must be held by obedience
Mount Ebal — The mount of cursing. Here the law is written, to signify that a curse was due to the violators of it, and that no man could expect justification from the works of the law, by the sentence whereof all men are justly accused, as being all guilty of the transgression of it in one kind and degree or other. Here the sacrifices are to be offered, to shew that there is no way to be delivered from this curse, but by the blood of Christ, which all these sacrifices did typify, and by Christ's being made a curse for us.
The six tribes appointed for blessing, were all children of the free women, for to such the promise belongs, Ga 4:31. Levi is here among the rest. Ministers should apply to themselves the blessing and curse they preach to others, and by faith set their own Amen to it. And they must not only allure people to their duty with the promises of a blessing, but awe them with the threatening of a curse, by declaring that a curse would be upon those who do such things.
To each of the curses the people were to say, Amen. It professed their faith, that these, and the like curses, were real declarations of the wrath of God against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, not one jot of which shall fall to the ground.
It was acknowledging the equity of these curses. Those who do such things deserve to fall, and lie under the curse. Lest those who were guilty of other sins, not here mentioned, should think themselves safe from the curse, the last reaches all. Not only those who do the evil which the law forbids, but those also who omit the good which the law requires. Without the atoning blood of Christ, sinners can neither have communion with a holy God, nor do any thing acceptable to him; his righteous law condemns every one who, at any time, or in any thing, transgresses it. Under its awful curse we remain as transgressors, until the redemption of Christ is applied to our hearts. Wherever the grace of God brings salvation, it teaches the believer to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, consenting to, and delighting in the words of God's law, after the inward man. In this holy walk, true peace and solid joy are to be found.
2.Read 29:1-12. In a paragraph explain your understanding of these verses? Is this conditional or unconditional?
Verse 1
[1] These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.
These are the terms or conditions upon which God hath made, that is renewed his covenant with you. The covenant was but one in substance, but various in the time and manner of its dispensation
[4] Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
Yet the Lord — That is, you have perceived and seen them with the eyes of your body, but not with your minds and hearts; you have not yet learned rightly to understand the word and works of God, so as to know them for your good, and to make a right use of them, and to comply with them: which he expresseth thus, the Lord hath not given you, etc. not to excuse their wickedness, but to direct them to whom they must have recourse for a good understanding of God's works; and to intimate that although the hearing ear, and the seeing eye, be the workmanship of God, yet their want of his grace was their own fault, and the just punishment of their former sins; their present case being like theirs in Isaiah's time, who first shut their own eyes and ears that they might not see and hear, and would not understand, and then by the righteous judgment of God, had their eyes and ears closed that they should not see and hear, and understand. God's readiness to do us good in other things, is a plain evidence, that if we have not grace, that best of gifts, 'tis our own fault and not his: he would have gathered us, and we would not.
Verse 6
[6] Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the LORD your God.
Ye have not eaten bread — Common bread purchased by your own money, or made by your own hands, but heavenly and angelical bread.
Neither drank wine — But only water out of the rock.
The Lord — Omnipotent and all-sufficient for your provision without the help of any creatures, and your God in covenant with you who hath a true affection to you, and fatherly care of you.
Verse 11
[11] Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water:
Thy stranger — Such strangers as had embraced their religion: all sorts of persons, yea, even the meanest of them.
Verse 12
[12] That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy God, and into his oath, which the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day:
Into covenant and into his oath — Into covenant, confirmed by a solemn oath.
3.Read Deuteronomy 29:18-21. In a paragraph explain your understanding of these verse
In the above passage, God presents the truth that He is against those who are at carnal ease. That is, those who assure themselves of their eternal safety while they are stubborn of heart and have idols in their lives. God promises to single this person out for calamity, for he is deceived and enslaved to idol worship, while professing to be a child of God.
The national covenant made with Israel, not only typified the covenant of grace made with true believers, but also represented the outward dispensation of the gospel. Those who have been enabled to consent to the Lord's new covenant of mercy and grace in Jesus Christ, and to give up themselves to be his people, should embrace every opportunity of renewing their open profession of relation to him, and their obligation to him, as the God of salvation, walking according thereto. The sinner is described as one whose heart turns away from his God; there the mischief begins, in the evil heart of unbelief, which inclines men to depart from the living God to dead idols. Even to this sin men are now tempted, when drawn aside by their own lusts and fancies. Such men are roots that bear gall and wormwood. They are weeds which, if let alone, overspread the whole field. Satan may for a time disguise this bitter morsel, so that thou shalt not have the natural taste of it, but at the last day, if not before, the true taste shall be discerned. Notice the sinner's security in sin. Though he hears the words of the curse, yet even then he thinks himself safe from the wrath of God. There is scarcely a threatening in all the book of God more dreadful than this. Oh that presumptuous sinners would read it, and tremble! for it is a real declaration of the wrath of God, against ungodliness and unrighteousness of man.
4.Read Deut 29:22-29. In a paragraph explain your understanding of these verses?
Idolatry would be the ruin of their nation. It is no new thing for God to bring desolating judgments on a people near to him in profession. He never does this without good reason. It concerns us to seek for the reason, that we may give glory to God, and take warning to ourselves. Thus the law of Moses leaves sinners under the curse, and rooted out of the Lord's land; but the grace of Christ toward penitent, believing sinners, plants them again in their land; and they shall no more be pulled up, being kept by the power of God.
Moses ends his prophecy of the Jews' rejection, just as St. Paul ends his discourse on the same subject, when it began to be fulfilled, Romans 11:33. We are forbidden curiously to inquire into the secret counsels of God, and to determine concerning them. But we are directed and encouraged, diligently to seek into that which God has made known. He has kept back nothing that is profitable for us, but only that of which it is good for us to be ignorant. The end of all Divine revelation is, not to furnish curious subjects of speculation and discourse, but that we may do all the words of this law, and be blessed in our deed. This, the Bible plainly reveals; further than this, man cannot profitably go. By this light he may live and die comfortably, and be happy for ever.
5.Read Deut 30:1-5 and 2 Chron 7:14. What are the steps of reconciliation? Who is responsible? What part is grace? What part is faith? To whom is the offer made? Who makes the choice? God or man?
Deut. 30:1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,
The full fulfillment of this chapter will occur when the Holy Remnant is delivered out of Jacob’s Trouble. The clue for this statement is, “Thou shalt call them [the blessings and the cursings] to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee.” The reference cannot be to the Babylonian captivity because the Jews were not scattered among all nations at that time.
How amazing that Moses prophesied the return yet future, way down the stream of time, before the Israelites ever entered the Promised Land!
Deut. 30:2 And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
At that time, the survivors, the Jews comprising the Holy Remnant, will obey God’s voice and return to Him with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength according to all that Moses commanded more than 3,000 years ago. Specifically, the reference is to the second regathering, which will take place after Jacob’s Trouble. They will return not only to the land but also to the God of Israel. The severity of the trouble will be needed for them to return with this fullness.
Deut. 30:3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.
The first regathering has mostly taken place already. After the Kingdom is set up, a second influx will occur, for the Gentiles will gladly help the holy, spared Jews back to Israel at that time. When the Gentile survivors of Gog and Magog return to their various homelands and tell what they witnessed during Jacob’s Trouble, their eyewitness testimony will cause the Gentiles who hear it to ask those they see, “Are you Jews? If so, you belong back in Israel.” Assistance, as well as gifts, will be provided for their return to Israel.
Jeremiah 16:14,15 reads, “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.”
There is a gathering before Jacob’s Trouble and a gathering after Jacob’s Trouble. The Jeremiah text hints of these two regatherings, one of Jews from “the north” and one of Jews from “all the lands” where God has driven them. There are at least five different types of projection maps with different perspectives. On some maps, “north” looks like Europe. On other maps, “north” is Russia and Turkey. Iran and Iraq can also appear to be north of Israel.
Deut. 30:4 If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:
The Jews will be brought back from the uttermost parts of the earth. We can see how extensive the regathering will ultimately be, for some Jews live in very remote places. When Jews in Gentile lands survive the great Time of Trouble, the Gentiles will note that God’s providence has preserved a Holy Remnant to go back to Israel. We believe many of the Holy Remnant are already in Israel and are being prepared for their survival, but the rest of the Holy Remnant will be encouraged to return from Gentile lands in the second regathering. In fact, they will be shamed if they are at all reluctant to return because of family or other social ties.
Nehemiah 1:9 reads, “But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.”
This same theme is repeated. Almost everything that God says in Scripture is confirmed at least twice.
Deut. 30:5 And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.
God promised to bring the Jews into the land and “multiply” them above their fathers. The multiplication will be greater than anything in the past, for Israel will eventually be packed to the gills with returnees. At the present time, some of Israel’s leaders have been asking for and encouraging more and more Jews to return because the multiplication of Arabs in the land is so prodigious. Obadiah 19,20 reads, “And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south.” Today Gilead is basically in the hands of Jordan, but that land will become part of Israel.
Zechariah 10:10 is also pertinent: “I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.”
Hosea 1:10 states, “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.”
From another standpoint too, Israel will be greatly multiplied. To get blessings when the Kingdom is established, the Gentiles will have to become proselytes to the Jewish religion and the God of Israel. In fact, the saved people of earth will eventually go to other planets, that is, in the ages of ages after the Little Season. At that time, Jesus and the Little Flock will be disbursed throughout the universe. The word “Israel” means “people of God,” and all people will have the same law and religion.
Isaiah 65:23 implies that children will be born in Israel during the Kingdom Age. “They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.”
2 Chron 7:14: Solomon had asked God to hear their prayers and forgive them, and
this was the answer. Notice the big "if". The blessings of God are conditional. The people must repent and turn from their wicked ways, and then the LORD will hear, and will answer their prayers. Our country needs to heed this very Scripture today.
6.Read Deut 30:10-20. What is the promise? Is it conditional? If conditional on what?
Deuteronomy 28:10 "And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee."
We have discussed this before. They are actually afraid of the LORD of Israel, which in turn, makes them afraid of Israel. The people of the earth would realize that the LORD is Israel's protection. To come against Israel, would be very foolish.
Deuteronomy 28:11 "And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee."
This is saying, again, that everything will be in abundance to them, when they occupy the land of promise. Of course, it depends on their faithfulness to God.
Deuteronomy 28:12 "The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow."
They will have such an abundance, they will have much to sell,and they will become rich. They will not need to borrow. They will have extra to loan other nations. Notice, it is God who controls the rain.
Deuteronomy 28:13 "And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not
the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do [them]:"
This is saying, with the help of God, they will be superior to other nations. They had known what it meant to be the tail, when they were slaves in Egypt. Now, they will be the master {head}.
Deuteronomy 28:14 "And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, [to] the right hand, or [to] the left, to go after other gods to serve them."
In the book of Hosea, we saw that God thought of them as His wife. He does not want His wife to be unfaithful to Him. They must stay in the path of light, that He has placed before them. They must keep their eyes on the LORD. They must not look from side to side. To go to other gods, is committing spiritual adultery. God will not tolerate that. They must remain faithful to God, to be blessed.
Deuteronomy 28:15 "But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:"
If they are disobedient to God, not only will they not receive the wonderful blessings we have read about above, but they will receive curses.
Deuteronomy 28:16 "Cursed [shalt] thou [be] in the city, and cursed [shalt] thou [be] in the field." It will not matter where they are, nothing will work for them.
Deuteronomy 28:17 "Cursed [shall be] thy basket and thy store."
Their basket for fruit will be empty.
Deuteronomy 28:18 "Cursed [shall be] the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep."
They will not have children, that are so blessed to them. Even
their animals will not produce offspring.
Deuteronomy 28:19 "Cursed [shalt] thou [be] when thou comest in,and cursed [shalt] thou [be] when thou goest out."
Every hour of every day will be the same. It will not matter where they are, nothing will work out for them.
Deuteronomy 28:20 "The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me."
"Vexation", here, is saying, they will have confused thoughts and nothing will work right. They will fail at everything they try to do.They will die young in their misery.
7.In a paragraph relate foreknowledge, foreordination, freedom, fellowship, and faithfulness to the situation in Deut 30:10-20.
There are conditions to receive these blessings, as there had been in the beginning. They cannot plead ignorance. The law God wants them to keep, is written down. The main thing God wants from them is spoken by Jesus in the following verse. Mark 12:30 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment." God had revealed His commandments to the people of Israel He gave them His law on the way to the promised land. The rest of the world did not have God's law. God had made His law, and Himself, real to them on the 40 year journey across the wilderness to the promised land. The law of God was available to them at all times. Not only were the ten commandments written in stone, but God had spoken them aloud at Mount Horeb {Sinai} to them. They did not have to travel anywhere to find them. The law travelled with them, and settled when they
settled. Their people were known as the people with the law. We read earlier, how God had written His law in their hearts. The mouth speaks what is in the heart. Their mouths should speak the law of God because it is in their hearts.
One of the Bible's greatest principles is "choose life." God sets before us two ways of life—His way and the wrong way—and gives us the freedom to choose which we will follow. He commands us to choose life so that we may live fully, both now and in His Kingdom, but we can opt for the other way of sin just as readily.
With the receipt of the Holy Spirit, we truly have free choice or free-moral agency. Before conversion, as the apostles wrote, we simply lived like everyone else, that is, according to the course of this world (Ephesians 2:1-3; I Peter 1:18; 4:3). Now, able to judge between the two ways of life more accurately, we have the power to decide to go God's way.
It is in our choices that we sin or live righteously. James is very clear that we do not sin when tempted but "when desire has conceived" or when we choose to act on it (James 1:14-15). The sin begins with the choice and continues with the act. Thus, all sin has a spiritual basis.
8.Deut 31:1-13 relates the choice of Joshua to replace Moses. What are the conditions of God?s promise not to forsake Israel?
It really is not important where this message was spoken. It is just important, that Moses spoke it to all the people. Moses was 40 years old, when he fled Egypt the first time. He was 80 years old, when the wilderness journey began, and now, after the wilderness wanderings, he is 120 years old. He has lived a very full life. It is time for him to go to heaven and receive his reward. In his own sight, Moses is too old to lead them anymore. The LORD had told him he would not go over into the promised land, because of his disobedience, when he struck the Rock the second time to get water. The people had angered Moses so much, that he struck the Rock, instead of speaking to it. The Rock symbolized the Lord Jesus. Moses would see the promised land from the top of the mountain, and then, be buried in the mountain.
Moses is reminding them, again, that God had anointed Joshua to lead them into the promised land. The LORD will be with them, and go before them. They have nothing to fear. God will destroy the strong nations that lie before them in the way. They shall go in, and possess the land of promise. This is God's battle. He will destroy the nations occupying the land, and give the land to Israel. He had already shown them an
example of what He would do, when He destroyed Og. In the earlier chapters, Moses went into great detail about what they were to do with the people before them. They must just carry out those commands now. The LORD will do the same thing with Joshua as
leader, that He would have done with Moses as leader. They should realize by now, that it is not their strong arm that has gotten them this far. The strength they have is in their God. He will continue to be with them, and they have nothing to fear. He will
not forsake them. Moses is reminding Joshua, that it will be his responsibility to
bring the people into the promised land. It takes a person of very strong character to lead these people. He must not shrink back, but must be brave enough to lead them in. He must never weaken, or doubt. Joshua was one of the two spies, who thought they should have taken the promised land before. He and Caleb were the only two, of the twelve spies who had searched the promised land, who thought they could take it. He will not fail, because he places his trust in God,and not his own strength. God will be with them, Joshua will not fail.
Moses wrote the law down, and sent it to the priests and elders for safe keeping. They are to read the law aloud to the people every seven years to remind them. This is to be done at the Feast of Tabernacles. The seventh year was when they freed their Hebrew brothers. This reading of the law was a reminder to them of the importance of keeping the law
of God. The priests and elders were to keep the law safe, until time to read it. They were, also, to see that the people kept the law between the seven years. This was not just the ten commandments, but the law that covered secular life, as well as religious life.
9.Read Deut 31:6-8. and John 14:15-16. Do you see and similarities on conditions to the promise of the Holy Spirit?
They should realize by now, that it is not their strong arm that has gotten them this far. The strength they have is in their God. He will continue to be with them, and they have nothing to fear. He will not forsake them.
Moses is reminding Joshua, that it will be his responsibility to bring the people into the promised land. It takes a person of very strong character to lead these people. He must not shrink back, but must be brave enough to lead them in. He must never weaken, or doubt.
Joshua was one of the two spies, who thought they should have taken the promised land before. He and Caleb were the only two, of the twelve spies who had searched the promised land, who thought they could take it. He will not fail, because he places his trust in God, and not his own strength. God will be with them, Joshua will not fail.
If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. (JOH 14:15-16).
We see Jesus comforting His disciples concerning His departure, which was soon to take place. Jesus said, I will send you another Comforter, the Holy Spirit. They would no longer know Christ in His bodily presence, but the Spirit of Christ would remain to dwell with them.
10.Read Deut 31:14-32:47. What is the warning? Is this foreknowledge or foreordination from God? Who is the one responsible, God or man?
After Moses had spoken to the people of the law, and then, gavethe law for safe keeping to the elders and priests, it was time to meet and turn his anointing over to Joshua. God told Moses to come to the tabernacle with Joshua. God will charge Joshua with the caring for the people. The burden of these people will be removed from Moses.
They went to the tabernacle, as God had commanded them.
This is the same pillar of cloud that had travelled across the wilderness with them. God did not show himself in the body of a man.He always was hidden by the smoke that surrounded Him. The act of death is many times spoken of as sleep. This just means that Moses' days upon the earth are at an end. These people have been rebellious from the beginning. They will soon forget God's warning, and will begin to worship false gods {go a whoring after the gods of the strangers}. The worship of false gods is spiritual
adultery.
Just as God had said, He will not stay with those who worship false gods. God leaves them, when they worship false gods, and their enemies devour them. God leaves them to this terrible fate, so they will repent, and turn back to Him.
God will not immediately turn to them, and answer their cries. They have committed a very serious sin, and God has hidden His face from them. They will have to repent, and have a complete change of heart, before God will listen to their prayer.
Moses and Joshua together write this song, that is in the next chapter. It is to remind them of their sins, and the only way to gethelp. Moses had tried to keep the people true to God for 40 years, now it will be the job of Joshua.
This falling away from the One True God happens, after they arein the promised land, and have been blessed of God to overflowing.Their prosperity is a downfall to them. When they have time on their hands that they do not need to make a living, then they go running after false gods. God does not break covenant with Israel. They break covenant with Him with the false gods. God had warned them what would happen, if they did this, and they did it anyway.
God is speaking all of this, as if it had already happened,because he knows their evil hearts. He knows they are rebellious. This song will testify to them, after they have sinned. God knows exactly what they will do, when they get into the land. He sees into the future.
It appears, that Moses composed the song, and Joshua wrote itdown. Israel was to memorize this song, as a reminder to them.
This charge is in the form of encouragement. God had sworn to give this land to Abraham's descendents.
It appears, that Moses gave these writings to the Levites who were in charge of the ark. They were not to put it inside the ark, but at the side of the ark. It would be moved, when the ark was moved. It was to be kept in safe keeping to remind them. There was no safer place for it, than near the ark.
This is Moses speaking, and he does know them well after leading them for 40 years. Moses had kept their rebellion at a minimum, while he was alive. After his death, they will rebel worse.It was the business of the officers to teach those under them the
song Moses has given them. Moses will speak the last minute instructions aloud to the leaders, and they will be without excuse. They cannot say, they did not know.
"The work of their hands" is speaking of idols. Moses knows they will rebel, because they have been rebelling all the way from Egypt.The latter days could be speaking of the time of Christ. You could pick out most any age, and find it has not gone well with the Hebrew people. The reason being, they have not remained faithful to God. The
song is to remind them of their failure toward God.
I believe that it is speaking of God's knowledge of who will humble themselves and receive His word when He reveals it to them. I base this on what the Bible says about who God shows mercy to: Romans chapter 9 indicates that God chooses to show mercy to whoever He wants to, and that He chooses us, not we ourselves; but it is also consistently taught in the Bible that God shows His mercy on the humble and rejects the proud. The meaning of the phrase that their idolatry had not come into God's heart does not indicate that God did not know of their rebellion (obviously, as He predicted it in Deuteronomy 31), but it is clear evidence that God was not the engineer of such licentiousness. As well as knowing wickedness, He also knows if we will heed Him.
God is exactly privy to all the gall in the hearts of men, and what principles they will have, before they have a being. He “knows their thoughts afar of”(Ps. 139:2) as far off as eternity, as some explain the words, and thoughts are as voluntary as anything; he knows the power and inclinations of men in the order of second causes; he understands the corruption of men, as well as “the poison of dragons, and the venom of asps;” this is “laid up in store with him, and sealed among his treasures” (Deut. 32:33, 34): among the treasures of his foreknowledge, say some.
So, God has given His Word and He has given His Word in understandable terms. And not only that, He has put it in your heart, and in your mouth. And any time a person says, "Well, I know I should not have done that," he is testifying to the fact that God has put His Word, His commandment in his heart. "How do I know that I shouldn't have done that? Well, I just know, inside". God has put His law within my heart; the commandment is there. I know when I do right. I know when I do wrong. I know when I fail to do right. Oh, I know I should've done that. I knew all the time that I should have done that. Of course you do, because the commandment is there in your heart. And with your mouth, you are only testifying to the fact that the commandment is there in your heart. You know in your heart what is right and what is wrong.
On that day — About that time, for it was not done 'till some days after their passing over. This law — The law properly so called, that is, the sum and substance of the precepts or laws of Moses, especially such as were moral, particularly the decalogue.
Write it, that thou mayest go in — As the condition of thy entering into the land. For since Canaan is given only by promise, it must be held by obedience
Mount Ebal — The mount of cursing. Here the law is written, to signify that a curse was due to the violators of it, and that no man could expect justification from the works of the law, by the sentence whereof all men are justly accused, as being all guilty of the transgression of it in one kind and degree or other. Here the sacrifices are to be offered, to shew that there is no way to be delivered from this curse, but by the blood of Christ, which all these sacrifices did typify, and by Christ's being made a curse for us.
The six tribes appointed for blessing, were all children of the free women, for to such the promise belongs, Ga 4:31. Levi is here among the rest. Ministers should apply to themselves the blessing and curse they preach to others, and by faith set their own Amen to it. And they must not only allure people to their duty with the promises of a blessing, but awe them with the threatening of a curse, by declaring that a curse would be upon those who do such things.
To each of the curses the people were to say, Amen. It professed their faith, that these, and the like curses, were real declarations of the wrath of God against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, not one jot of which shall fall to the ground.
It was acknowledging the equity of these curses. Those who do such things deserve to fall, and lie under the curse. Lest those who were guilty of other sins, not here mentioned, should think themselves safe from the curse, the last reaches all. Not only those who do the evil which the law forbids, but those also who omit the good which the law requires. Without the atoning blood of Christ, sinners can neither have communion with a holy God, nor do any thing acceptable to him; his righteous law condemns every one who, at any time, or in any thing, transgresses it. Under its awful curse we remain as transgressors, until the redemption of Christ is applied to our hearts. Wherever the grace of God brings salvation, it teaches the believer to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, consenting to, and delighting in the words of God's law, after the inward man. In this holy walk, true peace and solid joy are to be found.
2.Read 29:1-12. In a paragraph explain your understanding of these verses? Is this conditional or unconditional?
Verse 1
[1] These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.
These are the terms or conditions upon which God hath made, that is renewed his covenant with you. The covenant was but one in substance, but various in the time and manner of its dispensation
[4] Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
Yet the Lord — That is, you have perceived and seen them with the eyes of your body, but not with your minds and hearts; you have not yet learned rightly to understand the word and works of God, so as to know them for your good, and to make a right use of them, and to comply with them: which he expresseth thus, the Lord hath not given you, etc. not to excuse their wickedness, but to direct them to whom they must have recourse for a good understanding of God's works; and to intimate that although the hearing ear, and the seeing eye, be the workmanship of God, yet their want of his grace was their own fault, and the just punishment of their former sins; their present case being like theirs in Isaiah's time, who first shut their own eyes and ears that they might not see and hear, and would not understand, and then by the righteous judgment of God, had their eyes and ears closed that they should not see and hear, and understand. God's readiness to do us good in other things, is a plain evidence, that if we have not grace, that best of gifts, 'tis our own fault and not his: he would have gathered us, and we would not.
Verse 6
[6] Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the LORD your God.
Ye have not eaten bread — Common bread purchased by your own money, or made by your own hands, but heavenly and angelical bread.
Neither drank wine — But only water out of the rock.
The Lord — Omnipotent and all-sufficient for your provision without the help of any creatures, and your God in covenant with you who hath a true affection to you, and fatherly care of you.
Verse 11
[11] Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water:
Thy stranger — Such strangers as had embraced their religion: all sorts of persons, yea, even the meanest of them.
Verse 12
[12] That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy God, and into his oath, which the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day:
Into covenant and into his oath — Into covenant, confirmed by a solemn oath.
3.Read Deuteronomy 29:18-21. In a paragraph explain your understanding of these verse
In the above passage, God presents the truth that He is against those who are at carnal ease. That is, those who assure themselves of their eternal safety while they are stubborn of heart and have idols in their lives. God promises to single this person out for calamity, for he is deceived and enslaved to idol worship, while professing to be a child of God.
The national covenant made with Israel, not only typified the covenant of grace made with true believers, but also represented the outward dispensation of the gospel. Those who have been enabled to consent to the Lord's new covenant of mercy and grace in Jesus Christ, and to give up themselves to be his people, should embrace every opportunity of renewing their open profession of relation to him, and their obligation to him, as the God of salvation, walking according thereto. The sinner is described as one whose heart turns away from his God; there the mischief begins, in the evil heart of unbelief, which inclines men to depart from the living God to dead idols. Even to this sin men are now tempted, when drawn aside by their own lusts and fancies. Such men are roots that bear gall and wormwood. They are weeds which, if let alone, overspread the whole field. Satan may for a time disguise this bitter morsel, so that thou shalt not have the natural taste of it, but at the last day, if not before, the true taste shall be discerned. Notice the sinner's security in sin. Though he hears the words of the curse, yet even then he thinks himself safe from the wrath of God. There is scarcely a threatening in all the book of God more dreadful than this. Oh that presumptuous sinners would read it, and tremble! for it is a real declaration of the wrath of God, against ungodliness and unrighteousness of man.
4.Read Deut 29:22-29. In a paragraph explain your understanding of these verses?
Idolatry would be the ruin of their nation. It is no new thing for God to bring desolating judgments on a people near to him in profession. He never does this without good reason. It concerns us to seek for the reason, that we may give glory to God, and take warning to ourselves. Thus the law of Moses leaves sinners under the curse, and rooted out of the Lord's land; but the grace of Christ toward penitent, believing sinners, plants them again in their land; and they shall no more be pulled up, being kept by the power of God.
Moses ends his prophecy of the Jews' rejection, just as St. Paul ends his discourse on the same subject, when it began to be fulfilled, Romans 11:33. We are forbidden curiously to inquire into the secret counsels of God, and to determine concerning them. But we are directed and encouraged, diligently to seek into that which God has made known. He has kept back nothing that is profitable for us, but only that of which it is good for us to be ignorant. The end of all Divine revelation is, not to furnish curious subjects of speculation and discourse, but that we may do all the words of this law, and be blessed in our deed. This, the Bible plainly reveals; further than this, man cannot profitably go. By this light he may live and die comfortably, and be happy for ever.
5.Read Deut 30:1-5 and 2 Chron 7:14. What are the steps of reconciliation? Who is responsible? What part is grace? What part is faith? To whom is the offer made? Who makes the choice? God or man?
Deut. 30:1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,
The full fulfillment of this chapter will occur when the Holy Remnant is delivered out of Jacob’s Trouble. The clue for this statement is, “Thou shalt call them [the blessings and the cursings] to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee.” The reference cannot be to the Babylonian captivity because the Jews were not scattered among all nations at that time.
How amazing that Moses prophesied the return yet future, way down the stream of time, before the Israelites ever entered the Promised Land!
Deut. 30:2 And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
At that time, the survivors, the Jews comprising the Holy Remnant, will obey God’s voice and return to Him with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength according to all that Moses commanded more than 3,000 years ago. Specifically, the reference is to the second regathering, which will take place after Jacob’s Trouble. They will return not only to the land but also to the God of Israel. The severity of the trouble will be needed for them to return with this fullness.
Deut. 30:3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.
The first regathering has mostly taken place already. After the Kingdom is set up, a second influx will occur, for the Gentiles will gladly help the holy, spared Jews back to Israel at that time. When the Gentile survivors of Gog and Magog return to their various homelands and tell what they witnessed during Jacob’s Trouble, their eyewitness testimony will cause the Gentiles who hear it to ask those they see, “Are you Jews? If so, you belong back in Israel.” Assistance, as well as gifts, will be provided for their return to Israel.
Jeremiah 16:14,15 reads, “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.”
There is a gathering before Jacob’s Trouble and a gathering after Jacob’s Trouble. The Jeremiah text hints of these two regatherings, one of Jews from “the north” and one of Jews from “all the lands” where God has driven them. There are at least five different types of projection maps with different perspectives. On some maps, “north” looks like Europe. On other maps, “north” is Russia and Turkey. Iran and Iraq can also appear to be north of Israel.
Deut. 30:4 If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:
The Jews will be brought back from the uttermost parts of the earth. We can see how extensive the regathering will ultimately be, for some Jews live in very remote places. When Jews in Gentile lands survive the great Time of Trouble, the Gentiles will note that God’s providence has preserved a Holy Remnant to go back to Israel. We believe many of the Holy Remnant are already in Israel and are being prepared for their survival, but the rest of the Holy Remnant will be encouraged to return from Gentile lands in the second regathering. In fact, they will be shamed if they are at all reluctant to return because of family or other social ties.
Nehemiah 1:9 reads, “But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.”
This same theme is repeated. Almost everything that God says in Scripture is confirmed at least twice.
Deut. 30:5 And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.
God promised to bring the Jews into the land and “multiply” them above their fathers. The multiplication will be greater than anything in the past, for Israel will eventually be packed to the gills with returnees. At the present time, some of Israel’s leaders have been asking for and encouraging more and more Jews to return because the multiplication of Arabs in the land is so prodigious. Obadiah 19,20 reads, “And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south.” Today Gilead is basically in the hands of Jordan, but that land will become part of Israel.
Zechariah 10:10 is also pertinent: “I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.”
Hosea 1:10 states, “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.”
From another standpoint too, Israel will be greatly multiplied. To get blessings when the Kingdom is established, the Gentiles will have to become proselytes to the Jewish religion and the God of Israel. In fact, the saved people of earth will eventually go to other planets, that is, in the ages of ages after the Little Season. At that time, Jesus and the Little Flock will be disbursed throughout the universe. The word “Israel” means “people of God,” and all people will have the same law and religion.
Isaiah 65:23 implies that children will be born in Israel during the Kingdom Age. “They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.”
2 Chron 7:14: Solomon had asked God to hear their prayers and forgive them, and
this was the answer. Notice the big "if". The blessings of God are conditional. The people must repent and turn from their wicked ways, and then the LORD will hear, and will answer their prayers. Our country needs to heed this very Scripture today.
6.Read Deut 30:10-20. What is the promise? Is it conditional? If conditional on what?
Deuteronomy 28:10 "And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee."
We have discussed this before. They are actually afraid of the LORD of Israel, which in turn, makes them afraid of Israel. The people of the earth would realize that the LORD is Israel's protection. To come against Israel, would be very foolish.
Deuteronomy 28:11 "And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee."
This is saying, again, that everything will be in abundance to them, when they occupy the land of promise. Of course, it depends on their faithfulness to God.
Deuteronomy 28:12 "The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow."
They will have such an abundance, they will have much to sell,and they will become rich. They will not need to borrow. They will have extra to loan other nations. Notice, it is God who controls the rain.
Deuteronomy 28:13 "And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not
the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do [them]:"
This is saying, with the help of God, they will be superior to other nations. They had known what it meant to be the tail, when they were slaves in Egypt. Now, they will be the master {head}.
Deuteronomy 28:14 "And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, [to] the right hand, or [to] the left, to go after other gods to serve them."
In the book of Hosea, we saw that God thought of them as His wife. He does not want His wife to be unfaithful to Him. They must stay in the path of light, that He has placed before them. They must keep their eyes on the LORD. They must not look from side to side. To go to other gods, is committing spiritual adultery. God will not tolerate that. They must remain faithful to God, to be blessed.
Deuteronomy 28:15 "But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:"
If they are disobedient to God, not only will they not receive the wonderful blessings we have read about above, but they will receive curses.
Deuteronomy 28:16 "Cursed [shalt] thou [be] in the city, and cursed [shalt] thou [be] in the field." It will not matter where they are, nothing will work for them.
Deuteronomy 28:17 "Cursed [shall be] thy basket and thy store."
Their basket for fruit will be empty.
Deuteronomy 28:18 "Cursed [shall be] the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep."
They will not have children, that are so blessed to them. Even
their animals will not produce offspring.
Deuteronomy 28:19 "Cursed [shalt] thou [be] when thou comest in,and cursed [shalt] thou [be] when thou goest out."
Every hour of every day will be the same. It will not matter where they are, nothing will work out for them.
Deuteronomy 28:20 "The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me."
"Vexation", here, is saying, they will have confused thoughts and nothing will work right. They will fail at everything they try to do.They will die young in their misery.
7.In a paragraph relate foreknowledge, foreordination, freedom, fellowship, and faithfulness to the situation in Deut 30:10-20.
There are conditions to receive these blessings, as there had been in the beginning. They cannot plead ignorance. The law God wants them to keep, is written down. The main thing God wants from them is spoken by Jesus in the following verse. Mark 12:30 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment." God had revealed His commandments to the people of Israel He gave them His law on the way to the promised land. The rest of the world did not have God's law. God had made His law, and Himself, real to them on the 40 year journey across the wilderness to the promised land. The law of God was available to them at all times. Not only were the ten commandments written in stone, but God had spoken them aloud at Mount Horeb {Sinai} to them. They did not have to travel anywhere to find them. The law travelled with them, and settled when they
settled. Their people were known as the people with the law. We read earlier, how God had written His law in their hearts. The mouth speaks what is in the heart. Their mouths should speak the law of God because it is in their hearts.
One of the Bible's greatest principles is "choose life." God sets before us two ways of life—His way and the wrong way—and gives us the freedom to choose which we will follow. He commands us to choose life so that we may live fully, both now and in His Kingdom, but we can opt for the other way of sin just as readily.
With the receipt of the Holy Spirit, we truly have free choice or free-moral agency. Before conversion, as the apostles wrote, we simply lived like everyone else, that is, according to the course of this world (Ephesians 2:1-3; I Peter 1:18; 4:3). Now, able to judge between the two ways of life more accurately, we have the power to decide to go God's way.
It is in our choices that we sin or live righteously. James is very clear that we do not sin when tempted but "when desire has conceived" or when we choose to act on it (James 1:14-15). The sin begins with the choice and continues with the act. Thus, all sin has a spiritual basis.
8.Deut 31:1-13 relates the choice of Joshua to replace Moses. What are the conditions of God?s promise not to forsake Israel?
It really is not important where this message was spoken. It is just important, that Moses spoke it to all the people. Moses was 40 years old, when he fled Egypt the first time. He was 80 years old, when the wilderness journey began, and now, after the wilderness wanderings, he is 120 years old. He has lived a very full life. It is time for him to go to heaven and receive his reward. In his own sight, Moses is too old to lead them anymore. The LORD had told him he would not go over into the promised land, because of his disobedience, when he struck the Rock the second time to get water. The people had angered Moses so much, that he struck the Rock, instead of speaking to it. The Rock symbolized the Lord Jesus. Moses would see the promised land from the top of the mountain, and then, be buried in the mountain.
Moses is reminding them, again, that God had anointed Joshua to lead them into the promised land. The LORD will be with them, and go before them. They have nothing to fear. God will destroy the strong nations that lie before them in the way. They shall go in, and possess the land of promise. This is God's battle. He will destroy the nations occupying the land, and give the land to Israel. He had already shown them an
example of what He would do, when He destroyed Og. In the earlier chapters, Moses went into great detail about what they were to do with the people before them. They must just carry out those commands now. The LORD will do the same thing with Joshua as
leader, that He would have done with Moses as leader. They should realize by now, that it is not their strong arm that has gotten them this far. The strength they have is in their God. He will continue to be with them, and they have nothing to fear. He will
not forsake them. Moses is reminding Joshua, that it will be his responsibility to
bring the people into the promised land. It takes a person of very strong character to lead these people. He must not shrink back, but must be brave enough to lead them in. He must never weaken, or doubt. Joshua was one of the two spies, who thought they should have taken the promised land before. He and Caleb were the only two, of the twelve spies who had searched the promised land, who thought they could take it. He will not fail, because he places his trust in God,and not his own strength. God will be with them, Joshua will not fail.
Moses wrote the law down, and sent it to the priests and elders for safe keeping. They are to read the law aloud to the people every seven years to remind them. This is to be done at the Feast of Tabernacles. The seventh year was when they freed their Hebrew brothers. This reading of the law was a reminder to them of the importance of keeping the law
of God. The priests and elders were to keep the law safe, until time to read it. They were, also, to see that the people kept the law between the seven years. This was not just the ten commandments, but the law that covered secular life, as well as religious life.
9.Read Deut 31:6-8. and John 14:15-16. Do you see and similarities on conditions to the promise of the Holy Spirit?
They should realize by now, that it is not their strong arm that has gotten them this far. The strength they have is in their God. He will continue to be with them, and they have nothing to fear. He will not forsake them.
Moses is reminding Joshua, that it will be his responsibility to bring the people into the promised land. It takes a person of very strong character to lead these people. He must not shrink back, but must be brave enough to lead them in. He must never weaken, or doubt.
Joshua was one of the two spies, who thought they should have taken the promised land before. He and Caleb were the only two, of the twelve spies who had searched the promised land, who thought they could take it. He will not fail, because he places his trust in God, and not his own strength. God will be with them, Joshua will not fail.
If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. (JOH 14:15-16).
We see Jesus comforting His disciples concerning His departure, which was soon to take place. Jesus said, I will send you another Comforter, the Holy Spirit. They would no longer know Christ in His bodily presence, but the Spirit of Christ would remain to dwell with them.
10.Read Deut 31:14-32:47. What is the warning? Is this foreknowledge or foreordination from God? Who is the one responsible, God or man?
After Moses had spoken to the people of the law, and then, gavethe law for safe keeping to the elders and priests, it was time to meet and turn his anointing over to Joshua. God told Moses to come to the tabernacle with Joshua. God will charge Joshua with the caring for the people. The burden of these people will be removed from Moses.
They went to the tabernacle, as God had commanded them.
This is the same pillar of cloud that had travelled across the wilderness with them. God did not show himself in the body of a man.He always was hidden by the smoke that surrounded Him. The act of death is many times spoken of as sleep. This just means that Moses' days upon the earth are at an end. These people have been rebellious from the beginning. They will soon forget God's warning, and will begin to worship false gods {go a whoring after the gods of the strangers}. The worship of false gods is spiritual
adultery.
Just as God had said, He will not stay with those who worship false gods. God leaves them, when they worship false gods, and their enemies devour them. God leaves them to this terrible fate, so they will repent, and turn back to Him.
God will not immediately turn to them, and answer their cries. They have committed a very serious sin, and God has hidden His face from them. They will have to repent, and have a complete change of heart, before God will listen to their prayer.
Moses and Joshua together write this song, that is in the next chapter. It is to remind them of their sins, and the only way to gethelp. Moses had tried to keep the people true to God for 40 years, now it will be the job of Joshua.
This falling away from the One True God happens, after they arein the promised land, and have been blessed of God to overflowing.Their prosperity is a downfall to them. When they have time on their hands that they do not need to make a living, then they go running after false gods. God does not break covenant with Israel. They break covenant with Him with the false gods. God had warned them what would happen, if they did this, and they did it anyway.
God is speaking all of this, as if it had already happened,because he knows their evil hearts. He knows they are rebellious. This song will testify to them, after they have sinned. God knows exactly what they will do, when they get into the land. He sees into the future.
It appears, that Moses composed the song, and Joshua wrote itdown. Israel was to memorize this song, as a reminder to them.
This charge is in the form of encouragement. God had sworn to give this land to Abraham's descendents.
It appears, that Moses gave these writings to the Levites who were in charge of the ark. They were not to put it inside the ark, but at the side of the ark. It would be moved, when the ark was moved. It was to be kept in safe keeping to remind them. There was no safer place for it, than near the ark.
This is Moses speaking, and he does know them well after leading them for 40 years. Moses had kept their rebellion at a minimum, while he was alive. After his death, they will rebel worse.It was the business of the officers to teach those under them the
song Moses has given them. Moses will speak the last minute instructions aloud to the leaders, and they will be without excuse. They cannot say, they did not know.
"The work of their hands" is speaking of idols. Moses knows they will rebel, because they have been rebelling all the way from Egypt.The latter days could be speaking of the time of Christ. You could pick out most any age, and find it has not gone well with the Hebrew people. The reason being, they have not remained faithful to God. The
song is to remind them of their failure toward God.
I believe that it is speaking of God's knowledge of who will humble themselves and receive His word when He reveals it to them. I base this on what the Bible says about who God shows mercy to: Romans chapter 9 indicates that God chooses to show mercy to whoever He wants to, and that He chooses us, not we ourselves; but it is also consistently taught in the Bible that God shows His mercy on the humble and rejects the proud. The meaning of the phrase that their idolatry had not come into God's heart does not indicate that God did not know of their rebellion (obviously, as He predicted it in Deuteronomy 31), but it is clear evidence that God was not the engineer of such licentiousness. As well as knowing wickedness, He also knows if we will heed Him.
God is exactly privy to all the gall in the hearts of men, and what principles they will have, before they have a being. He “knows their thoughts afar of”(Ps. 139:2) as far off as eternity, as some explain the words, and thoughts are as voluntary as anything; he knows the power and inclinations of men in the order of second causes; he understands the corruption of men, as well as “the poison of dragons, and the venom of asps;” this is “laid up in store with him, and sealed among his treasures” (Deut. 32:33, 34): among the treasures of his foreknowledge, say some.
So, God has given His Word and He has given His Word in understandable terms. And not only that, He has put it in your heart, and in your mouth. And any time a person says, "Well, I know I should not have done that," he is testifying to the fact that God has put His Word, His commandment in his heart. "How do I know that I shouldn't have done that? Well, I just know, inside". God has put His law within my heart; the commandment is there. I know when I do right. I know when I do wrong. I know when I fail to do right. Oh, I know I should've done that. I knew all the time that I should have done that. Of course you do, because the commandment is there in your heart. And with your mouth, you are only testifying to the fact that the commandment is there in your heart. You know in your heart what is right and what is wrong.
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