Deuteronomy 9-10

I love the way God talks to us.  He shoots straight, pulling no punches.  "You're jumping into the ring with an opponent who is WAY bigger and stronger and smarter than you.  You don't stand a chance."  (Thanks, coach.)

But remember... I AM THE ONE WHO IS FIGHTING FOR YOU!

And what is Israel to do?  What is their part?

Fear the Lord your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul.  Keep the Lord's commands and statutes I am giving you today, for your own good. (10:12-13).

Read it here.

Deuteronomy 7-8

God doesn't pull any punches.  The nations that Israel will encounter are "more numerous and powerful" than they are.  But victory is not dependent on these odds.  The Lord their God is the One who will win victories.

Know that Yahweh your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His gracious covenant loyalty for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.  But He directly pays back and destroys those who hate Him.  He will not hesitate to directly pay back the one who hates Him.  

Stay close to God!

Also look carefully at ch. 8.  God humbles us by letting us get hungry so that we can look to Him and find His faithfulness and provision!  This is one we need to remember.

Read it here.

Deuteronomy 5-6

The Ten Commandments.  Do you know them?  Could you write them out from memory?  These are immensely important.  This is the foundation upon which our end of the covenant is established.

Two tablets:

• The first (commandments 1-4) reflect our covenant relationship with God
• The second (commandments 5-10) reflect our covenant relationship with one another. 

Deuteronomy 6 is epic.  Our church's entire ministry to families is based on this chapter.  "When your son asks you in the future..."  May we have loads of God-conversations with our children!

Read it here.

Deuteronomy 3-4

The Lord begins to show His people how powerful He is and how well things will go for them if they choose to TRUST Him and not fear their enemies.  God is stronger!

If they find themselves fearing the future, they are told to remember the past.  "Ask about the earlier days..." (4:32).

Good advice!

Read it here.

Deuteronomy 1-2

This is the 5th book of Moses - completing the Pentateuch.  Moses speaks to God's people and his sermons make up the content of this book.  Why does Moses repeat much that has been written in the first four books?

All those who came out of Egypt have since died out in the wilderness (ch. 1).  Now this "new nation" stands poised to take over the Land of Promise and they need to be taught the foundational truths of who God is is (holy, sovereign, loving/protecting) and who they are to be as His covenant people.

These themes will guide us as we journey through this magnificent sermon collection of Moses.

In these first two chapters imagine the honor of being Caleb or Joshua - the only two faithful men who are spared death on the other side of the Jordan so that they might lead God's people into Canaan.  May we seek to stand out from the crowd and follow Yahweh unconditionally!

Read it here.

Hosea 13-14

We finish off Hosea today.  And here is the line that should haunt us...

I knew you in the wilderness,in the land of draught.When they had pasture,they became satisfied;they were satisfied,and their hearts became proud.Therefore they forgot Me.

Hosea 13:5-6

You will see a big arrow pointing to the resurrection in 13:14 followed by a beautiful picture of restoration.

Let whoever is wise understand these things,and whoever is insightful recognize them.For the ways of the Lord are right,and the righteous walk in them,but the rebellious stumble in them.

Hosea 14:9

Read it here.

Hosea 11-12

One of the most poetic and beautiful pictures of God's love for His people is found in 11:1-4.  When an ox would lean over to feed, the yoke would slide down to his jaw, making it difficult-to-impossible for him to eat.  A caring farmer would lift the heavy yoke onto his own shoulders so that the beast could eat unhindered.

Did the ox ever turn and thank him for his kindness?  Did the toddler ever thank the loving father for holding him up as he tried precariously to walk?  Never.  The beast and the child remain blissfully ignorant of the kindness being shown to them.  They are unaware of how dependent they are on their caregiver.  They imagine that they eat and walk on their own strength.

So Israel remains stubbornly unaware of God's love and kindness.  How about you?

Read it here.