Deuteronomy_4
Scripture
Deuteronomy 4:39-40 NIV
“Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time.”
Observation-What does it say?
Moses is urging the Israelites to keep the commandments of the Lord and told them the outcome of their obedience.
Understanding-What does it mean?
Without the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives and His commandments to protect us, life would be utter chaos.
On Sunday, Pastor gave us an introduction into the life of Ruth. The back story was that Judah did not have an anointed leader, but was ruled by judges. These judges were corrupt and as a result, people started doing what was wise in their own eyes.
Rewind to this chapter in Deuteronomy. Moses was urging the Israelites to keep the commandments of the Lord to prevent chaos and confusion that would happen in the future, which ended up happening anyway because Israel turned their back on the Lord. That’s a whole different story for another day though.
If Israel had kept the commands of the Lord and didn’t make idols for themselves, imagine the bad consequences that would have been prevented for that nation.
Life Application
Obey His commandments and be led by His Word and the Holy Spirit. Do not rely on the flesh.
It is important to note and remind us all that we do not live enslaved to the law, but rather to Jesus Christ. The law keeps us in bondage, but Jesus gives us freedom, through His Holy Spirit, to obey His commands. (Please read what Paul says in Philippians 3 which was part of our reading today as well.)
Knowing that we are free from bondage to the law, it is also important to remember that when we accepted His invitation for salvation, we live by the Spirit who helps us follow His commands. Please see these New Testament scripture references about obeying His commands in Matthew 5, John 14 and 1 John 5. Let's allow His Word to speak for itself.
John 14:15-18, 21, 23-24 NIV-
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you......Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”......Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”
Matthew 5:16-20 NIV-
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
1 John 5:1-5 NIV-
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
Dear Jesus, thank You for Your Holy Spirit who enables us to follow Your commandments. Thank You that Your Word says that Your commands are not burdensome. I believe this to be true because of Your promise to never leave us or forsake us through Your Holy Spirit. We grab hold of your promise that our good deeds will cause others to glorify You in Heaven. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi