Treasures in Deuteronomy
"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law." Deuteronomy 29:29 (NAS)
Most people that I talk to cringe when they see the sermon text to be found in the book of Deuteronomy. Many 1-year bible plans have been thwarted by this "daunting" book. The thing that I notice about these comments is that they are based on a very cursory knowledge of this wonderful masterpiece. So, before we go on, if you are one of the "Deuto-haters" out there, let this be a summons back to the Bible. After all, Paul was right when he said "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4 (emphasis mine).
It sounds like there is something very important for us in the book of Deuteronomy! What could it be? What could be so foundational that our perseverance and encouragement (and our hope of being saved) rest on these words of Moses? Allow me to list only a few:
Most people that I talk to cringe when they see the sermon text to be found in the book of Deuteronomy. Many 1-year bible plans have been thwarted by this "daunting" book. The thing that I notice about these comments is that they are based on a very cursory knowledge of this wonderful masterpiece. So, before we go on, if you are one of the "Deuto-haters" out there, let this be a summons back to the Bible. After all, Paul was right when he said "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4 (emphasis mine).
It sounds like there is something very important for us in the book of Deuteronomy! What could it be? What could be so foundational that our perseverance and encouragement (and our hope of being saved) rest on these words of Moses? Allow me to list only a few:
- We see who this glorious and majestic God is... He is a God that can turn an eleven day journey into a 40 year fiasco! (Duet. 1:2,3) He is a God that gives life and takes it away (Deut. 1:10; 2:14,15); He is a God who appoints the victories of rulers and armies and their demise (Deut. 2:9,12,24 ); He is a God who passionately burns against the wicked (2:34; 3:6; 9:14 etc.) He is a God that wants people to to have the heart to obey (Deut. 5:29); He is also the God that gives people the heart to obey (Deut. 29:4); He is a God that chooses who will be saved, not based on their merit, but on His love and electing grace (Deut.7; 9:6,7)!
- We see how we should relate to this majestic God of the universe...
- Dads should teach their families the fear of Yahweh and all His ways so that they might love Him fully. (1:17, 6:2)
- We should worship this God! (7; 33:29)
- We should obey the LORD by faith! (8:6, 11)
- We should fear hell! (32:22)
- We should learn to feed on manna from heaven (8:3)
- We should not put our God to the test. (6:16)
- We should not have any gods before Yahweh. (wow, the whole book!)
- We should leave room for God's wrath (32:41,42)
- We should bring the Gospel to all the nations and rejoice in our great salvation! (32:43)
Finally, Dueteronomy 29:29 carves out our task. Namely to leave the secret things to the Lord, but to pour our lives out gulping down those things that have been revealed to us! We must read God's Word to know God! May we (my church, Baptists everywhere, and all Christians) be a people who delight in God's Word!
I hope you find as much pleasure as I did in reading Deuteronomy. Read it over and over and over and over! Enjoy!
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