Page 16 - Florida Sentinel 12-3-21

Justice And Obedience Deuteronomy 5:1b-3; 10:12-13; 27:1-10 (KJV)
SCRIPTURES
HEAR, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.
2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.
3 The LORD made not this covenant with our fa- thers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. . . . . . 12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
13 To keep the com- mandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I
command thee this day for thy good?
27:1 AND MOSES with the elders of Israel com- manded the people, say- ing, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.
2Anditshallbeonthe day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister:
3 And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fa- thers hath promised thee.
4 Therefore it shall be
when ye be gone over Jor- dan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I com- mand you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaister them with plaister.
5 And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them.
6 Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God:
7 And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice be- fore the LORD thy God.
8 And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.
9 And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.
10 Thou shalt there- fore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I com- mand thee this day.
Introduction
The word “Deuteronomy” literally means “second law.” It was not actually a second law, but rather a repetition of the law God had already given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Be- cause of their disobedience and rebellion, by God’s com- mand, everyone 20 years old and older with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, would not survive the forty years of desert wandering and there- fore would not enter the Promised Land. So, Moses re- peated God’s commandments to this new generation of Is- raelites. Except for Moses, Caleb and Joshua, the first generation of Israelites who left Egypt were gone.
Our lesson this week finds a new generation of Israelites getting ready to enter the land that God had promised them so many years before. But be- fore they could enter God’s great blessing, Moses re- minded them that obedience to God’s commands was nec- essary in order to enjoy the blessings of the Promised Land.
Background
As a result of their refusal to enter the Promised Land earlier when they first arrived
on the border of Canaan at Kadesh-barnea in the wilder- ness of Paran (see Numbers 13:1-3, 17-33; 14:1-4), the Is- raelites spent 40 years (see Numbers 14:33-34) on a journey that should have lasted only 11 days (see Deuteronomy 1:1-2). It wasn’t distance that stood be- tween them and the Promised Land. It was the condition of their hearts.
God’s purpose went deeper than simply transporting a huge group of people to a new land. He was preparing them to live in obedience to Him once they finally arrived there.
God’s Covenant With Israel (Deuteronomy 5:1-3)
When we “hear” the word of God and “learn” it, we will have it available to refer to on any occasion (see I Peter 3:15).
The Holy Covenant (Deuteronomy 5:2-3)
God was saying that the parents of this new generation who left Egypt received “this covenant” at Mount Sinai, and agreed to it (see Exodus 19:5-8) for “us, even us who are all of us here alive this day.” This new generation would be the ones who would enter and inhabit the Prom- ised Land.
God’s Requirements For Israel (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
“To keep the command- ments of the LORD, and his statutes” means to be obedient to God’s Word, His will and His way.
God’s Extensive Instructions For Israel (Deuteronomy 27:1-10)
Now this new generation belonged to “God” by the same covenant that their par- ents agreed to (see Exodus 19:8), and they would enjoy the benefits of the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey (see verse 27:3).
Concluding Reflection
Our lesson today has also reminded us that God’s people have many reasons to rejoice, just as Israel rejoiced over being freed from oppression by the Egyptians. We rejoice that in Christ we have been freed from the dominion of Satan and included in the fam- ily of God. As we celebrate the Christmas season, we remem- ber that the Word of God calls upon us to live holy lives and practice justice and mercy.
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