Archives for April 2014

if only you will strictly obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today. Deuteronomy 15:5 (ESV)

Notice this great promise is conditionally based on obedience. We too are blessed when we obey the Lord.

For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’ Deuteronomy 15:11 (ESV)

God does not want us to ignore the poor but to open our hearts in generosity and love toward them. This call to justice and care in the community is seen throughout God’s word. We must recognise our call to serve the poor and needy as the body of Christ. See Galatians 2:10, Romans 15:26 and Mark 14:7

It shall not seem hard to you when you let him go free from you, for at half the cost of a hired worker he has served you six years. So the LORD your God will bless you in all that you do. Deuteronomy 15:18 (ESV)

When we read about slaves in the bible, often we mix it with the more contemporary slave trade of the 19th century where countless families from Africa were stolen and sold into shameful, brutal shackled slavery throughout Europe, America and the West Indies. This is wrong. The slaves referred to here were paid for their work (or were paying of a debt) and had the opportunity to go free. This was like a cheaper form of labour and was crucial to Ancient Near Eastern society.

This is why slavery is not simply overturned in the New Testament in a revolutionary style, instead the relationship between workers (slaves) and masters (employers) is reformed. This was particularly radical in the Roman world where masters and servants would never be seen as peers. See Matthew 20:27, Romans 6:18, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:28 and Ephesians 6:5

Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you. Deuteronomy 16:17 (ESV)

We should follow this principle in our giving to The Lord and pursue a lifestyle of generosity and gratitude. The 10% in the tithe is just a basic guide pointing to us giving all. Let’s not restrict ourselves to giving in a cold legalistic way, instead we should joyfully and willingly give generously in genuine gratitude for all God has blessed us with. Give what God has put on your heart to give in faith and joy.

And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. Deuteronomy 17:17 (ESV)

God gave direction for the kings of Israel long before the people asked for a king. None of the kings of Israel obeyed this command fully as many had riches, multiple wives and did not write the book of the law. They are all surpassed by the true king Jesus. See John 18:37, Revelation 1:5 and Revelation 22:16

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)

The treasure is the “the gospel of God’s glory revealed in Christ” spoken of in the last verse. We carry this glorious and greatest of all messages in quite unremarkable packaging, when we are saved we don’t become superior to other humans, we are still made from dust, frail, weak, lowly, expendable, still having to face trials and are vulnerable like the common clay vessels.

These vessels are used as instruments in the masters hands, we humbly submit ourselves as vessels in the Masters use. We are like envelopes delivering the vitally important message of the Good News. The gospel is so glorious and life changing that those who receive it will know it did not originate from us and all the glory comes from and so belongs to God.

always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. 2 Corinthians 4:10–12 (ESV)

The cycle of death and resurrection is vital in all our lives as believers, we must walk in self denial, humility and service while undergoing persecution, this is death. While all this is happening the life of God by the Holy Spirit is manifested in us because when we are weak God is strong.

Our dependance is on him, our very life depends on him, we are unified with Christ he is our life source so for more fruit to come the seasons must have their full cycle and we must abide in the vine in every season, this will bring more fruit and growth… the only way we can thrive in Christ is to die and rise in his power. As each one of us sacrifices we bless others in the body too.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV)

The great reward God has in store for us should encourage and strengthen us through all struggles and suffering, Paul said the glory so outweighs the suffering that they can’t even be compared

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (ESV)

We should find our pleasure in the Lord, we should enjoy God and find our greatest joy in God because he is our greatest treasure, when we take delight in the Lord our life will find true fulfilment and the desires of our hearts align with his and he will give to us according to those desire abundantly. See John 15:11

You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the LORD hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. Deuteronomy 12:31 (ESV)

This still happens today through the wicked sin ob abortion where children are sacrificed on the alter of convenience to the gods of comfort and choice.

you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 13:3 (ESV)

We need to be on our guard against any dream, vision, declaration, teaching or movement which goes against God’s word. Even if there are apparent supernatural results, these may simply be the Lord testing the covenant heart of his people to see if we love him or signs and wonders. This is picked up in the New Testament in Matthew 12:39, Galatians 1:8-9 and 1 John 4:1-6

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 14:2 (ESV)

There is no doubt that Israel are Gods special chosen people, elected by God unlike any other nation. This is also true of the church, where those elected and chosen by God are saved. Those chosen by God should find confidence, increased faith and security knowing that they have become God’s treasured possessions. See 1 Peter 2:9

But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV)

As Paul says we do not need any gimmicks, tricks or cunning to declare the truth of the gospel. Instead we must declare the truth boldly and then leave it to the God given conscience of the hearers and the work of the Holy Spirit to lead sinners to repentance

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)

Our fight is one for the minds of men, because Christianity is not a religion that asks for the mind to be empty or discarded but to be transformed, renewed, enlightened and fed. We fight the devils schemes which he uses to keep the unbelieving from seeing the light of the Gospel and the glory of Jesus. The devil will fill the minds of unbelievers with lying Philosophies, theories and beliefs, which stand as strongholds against the truth. The devil is not a real god but the ultimate example of a false god who was ultimately defeated at the cross and God will soon crush him under our feet. Romans 16:20

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. Psalm 36:9 (ESV)

Jesus is both the fountain of life, giving life and the true light that gives light as mentioned in John 1:9, 4:10-14 and 5:26. In the light given by Gods word we see the truth.

“You shall therefore love the LORD your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always. Deuteronomy 11:1 (ESV)

Loving God has always been connected to obeying the Lord and following his commands. Jesus makes this same point about those who love him will show the evidence of their love for him by keeping his commands in John 14:15, 21, 24

a land that the LORD your God cares for. The eyes of the LORD your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. Deuteronomy 11:12 (ESV)

God has specially chosen the very land of Israel, it is special to the Lord and he watches over it always. This new land was not like Egypt with its man made irrigation systems, this was a land that received its rain from the heavens and so the people would have to depend on God for prosperity in the land. We too depend on God for growth. See 1 Corinthians 3:7

You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 11:19 (ESV)

It is so important that we are genuinely people of the Bible, we should be talking about God and his word all the time, thinking about it all the time and naturally teaching it to our children. God and his word should have such a high place in our hearts that our minds are occupied with him all the time.

“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: Deuteronomy 11:26 (ESV)

Gods blessings are conditional and relational, we are called to obey Gods commands for our own good. God does not ask us to do good just for goodness sake but that he might bless and reward us. Gods commands are in place to increase human flourishing and for the prosperity of his entire creation.

For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. 2 Corinthians 3:11 (ESV)

The old covenant was certainly glorious, it was inaugurated by God in the glory and terror of mount Siani, however the glory typified in the Moses’ shining face would eventually fade as he moved away form the presence of God and we see the fading of the effectiveness of the old covenant in the people of Israel to the point that Jeremiah mentions that God will make a new covenant because the old has been broken (Jeremiah 31:32). So the old covenant was a temporary covenant until the true full covenant came.

We give God thanks that we are beneficiaries of the new covenant which unlike the old does not fade a way but is permanent and greater in Glory as it is Gods final revelation for salvation and the ultimate covenant established and maintained by Jesus himself (Revelation 14:6 and Hebrews 13:20)

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 2 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)

We should pray for the Jews that they turn to the Lord and so the veil is removed and they will see that the entire bible points to Jesus

Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the LORD your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Deuteronomy 9:5 (ESV)

God reminds the people that it is not by their own righteousness that they are given the land. It is God who goes before them and he seeks to confirm his own word. It is the same for us, we are saved by Gods Grace, not by our own righteousness. Ephesians 2:5, 8

Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. Deuteronomy 10:16 (ESV)

God points to the true meaning of circumcision, it was a sign pointing to cutting unclean and evil things from our lives. We need to have circumcised hearts too, see Romans 2:29

For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. Deuteronomy 10:17 (ESV)

God is the great and mighty sovereign, what is comforting is that in all his supreme power he is not partial and can not be bribed. As we can see in the next verse Gods love extends to all people.

Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:5–6 (ESV)

We thank God for the new covenant we have in Jesus, the new covenant is better than the old one because we have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside us to enable us in our walk with God. The letter kills but the Spirit gives life should not be seen as the written Bible vs the Holy Spirit, in the context this is looking at the old covenant vs the new better covenant. Gods perfect law can only be kept through the Holy Spirit.

Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! Psalm 35:1 (ESV)

As 1 John 2:1 states we have an advocate (Jesus) who can contend for us against the enemy.

Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away! Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them! Psalm 35:5–6 (ESV)

We can pray in the same way that Gods Angels will go into battle on our behalf

and when the LORD your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. Deuteronomy 7:2 (ESV)

God told the children to have no compromise or mercy when fighting the enemy, in fact God called for their complete destruction. We must apply this total destruction approach to our great spiritual enemy, sin. Romans 8:13 Reminds us to put to death the evil deeds of the flesh by the Spirit of God. We need to have no compromise when dealing with sin in our lives. We should not have pity or mercy on sin or sinfulness we need to exact Gods judgement on sin through the Holy Spirit.

but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Deuteronomy 7:8 (ESV)

We do not fully know God’s mind in his choices, and election but some light is shed on Gods motivation for choosing Israel specially from all nations and establishing his covenant with them. It is because he loves them. In the same way God has specially elected and chosen everyone who will be saved.

He doesn’t choose us because we are good or better than others but because he loves us. God does love everyone but has a particular, special, peculiar and electing love for his chosen people Israel and the Church. It is like the special love a man has for his wife as opposed to his love for others. see Romans 11:5 and Ephesians 1:4

you shall not be afraid of them but you shall remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt, Deuteronomy 7:18 (ESV)

In our case we should remember Gods victory on the cross over sin, the world and the devil. see John 12:31

And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house and become devoted to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is devoted to destruction. Deuteronomy 7:26 (ESV)

This is still a very valid point for us today, we must be careful when picking up artefacts while on holiday for example or when receiving certain gifts, if they are cursed items they can carry demonic curses which can have a real affect in our homes so we need to ask for Gods guidance in this sort of thing so we don’t find our selves hindered in our walk with the Lord. See Acts 19:19

This also has spiritual implications in terms of compromise too.

And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. Deuteronomy 8:2 (ESV)

When we think back to how God carried us through difficult times, it should cause us to be humble and dependant on him in our present circumstance. If these recollections bring pride or bitterness to mind then our hearts are not in the right place. We are called to walk in humility. See Philippians 4:11, James 1:3, 1 Peter 5:6 and Romans 8:28

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 2 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)

To help us understand Paul’s point here it is useful to understand what it meant to be led forth in triumph in the Roman world. This is a term meaning that conquered captives would be led forth with a victorious general as he marched in a victory procession. Paul sees himself as a prisoner of Jesus Christ and as one conquered by God being led forth in God’s victory procession before all.

The victory is not Paul’s but God’s, because God is shown as strong in our weakness and humble service. We should see our selves as willing and privileged captives, we are God’s trophies and although we were once enemies we have been led away to serve and bring Glory to our conquering king. Our service for the Lord demonstrates his victory in our lives.

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1 (ESV)

This can become like a cliche but it is so important to always praise The Lord no matter what we are or are not going through, this encouragement continues in the New Testament too in places like Thessalonians 5:18, Romans 8:28 (again) and verse 37.

My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Psalm 34:2 (ESV)

Our boast is in the Lord, we rejoice in his triumph (like we read in the New Testament today). If we walk in true humility, we rejoice in and boast for others, especially God. See 2 Corinthians 11:30-33

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Psalm 34:7 (ESV)

It is encouraging to remind ourselves that Gods Angels work on our behalf as mentioned in Hebrews 1:14

He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Psalm 34:20 (ESV)

This is a prophecy of the Messiah fulfilled by Jesus as mentioned in John 19:36