Today’s reading: Deut 31:30–32:52, 2 Cor 8:8–15, Ps 45:1–17

Today’s theme: The Rock

God is the only true Rock seen most clearly in Jesus. We can put all our trust in God as our rock, the one and only Sovereign.

Deuteronomy 31:30–32:52

The Rock

“The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. Deuteronomy 32:4 (ESV)

God calls Himself The Rock. This name tells us so much about God’s character and who He is. Some of this is expounded in the same verse, God is just, faithful and holy. As the true Rock, God shows Himself to be dependable, without sin and the source / foundation of all integrity and justice.

This reality gives the charge against His people context. If God is the Rock, then how can they possibly forsake Him. We should take confidence today that our God is the Rock, our firm foundation that will not be moved. Matthew 6:24-25.

The Creator and Father

Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you? Deuteronomy 32:6 (ESV)

God is not only The Rock, He is their Creator and Father. Israel’s sin is not only that they fail to rely on and emulate His character as the dependable Rock. Rather that they also fail to recognise His relationship with them and all He has done for them.

Jesus always referred to God as His Father. We should speak the same way and think of God as this also. It will remind us of our relationship with Him as his children which will help us act accordingly in recognition of his due love and respect. Matthew 6:9.

Idols and demons

“But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked; you grew fat, stout, and sleek; then he forsook God who made him and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation. They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger. They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded. Deuteronomy 32:15–17 (ESV)

False gods are demons, the false gods of the religions of the world are all in fact demons. Our culture wants us to laugh at the Rock and forsake our Father to instead pay homage to the false god’s of human reasoning, chance/nothing (the big bang etc), comfort and convenience (the abortion rationale etc). These false gods are more subtle than the idols of the past but they are no less demonic.

The true rock

For their rock is not as our Rock; our enemies are by themselves. Deuteronomy 32:31 (ESV)

No false or substitute rock can ever replace or compare to the true Rock, our God. The very revealed truth that Jesus is The Christ, The Son of The Living God was said by Jesus to be the Rock on which the church would be built. It has been built on this core truth and stands until this day. Matthew 16:16.

The One Sovereign God

“ ‘See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. Deuteronomy 32:39 (ESV)

God Majestically declares His own glory and sovereign rule. He alone is God and there is no other. God affirms that life, health and victory are in His hands alone. At the same time God affirms that death, sickness and defeat are in His hands too.

This boldly declared truth would have helped the Israelites form their sound theology about there being only one God. That God is sovereign over everything that happens to His people both good and bad. This would help them understand that some of their actions were worthy of God’s judgement rather than seeing bad times as God losing control.

An important lesson is seen here. When God’s blessing appears to be withdrawn, we should not question God’s ability but need to examine our relationship with God.

God’s living word

For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.” Deuteronomy 32:47 (ESV)

God’s words to us are not just empty words they are our very life. John 6:68 and Matthew 4:4.

2 Corinthians 8:8–15

The Incarnation

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)

This is one of the key places in the Bible which speaks about the incarnation of the Son of God and His eternal pre-existence. “Being rich” in the Greek indicates Christ’s un-begun pre-existence. “Became poor” points to the historic act of the incarnation.

Jesus gave up His position and equality with God in heaven (richness) when he made the pre-incarnate choice to surrender His riches and glory to live, die and be resurrected as a man. He became poor so that we might be saved by becoming “rich” through His “poverty” (salvation).

Jesus’ example shows us that the ‘grace’ expressed in love is the willingness to give up our own rights for the sake of meeting the needs of others. The riches we now have in Christ are not economic but include forgiveness (2 Cor 5:19), reconciliation with God (2 Cor 5:18), and the gift of the Spirit (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5).

Psalm 45:1–17

The Trinity in the Psalms

you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; Psalm 45:7 (ESV)

This great king is Jesus. Notice God speaking to God because Jesus and the Father are both God. This is the doctrine of the Trinity in the Old Testament. One God in three distinct persons. This is referenced to Jesus in Hebrews 1:8-9.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on 2 Corinthians 8

Today’s reading: Deut 30:1–31:29, 2 Cor 8:1–7, Ps 44:1–26

Today’s theme: God’s achievable word

Today we learn that our God is one who restores His people. That we should love God with everything, guard our hearts from becoming cold and give generously. However the most important lesson is that God’s word is not unrealistic, unbearable, unachievable or unfair but something we can really live out if we internalise it first. We do this by reading and meditating on it and submitting to the person and work of God the Holy Spirit in our lives as He circumcises our hearts.

Deuteronomy 30:1–31:29

The God who restores

then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you. Deuteronomy 30:3 (ESV)

The Lord shows his character here. He is merciful and gracious, He is willing to forgive. This whole chapter outlines man’s choice before a very merciful and patient God. If Israel truly repented then God would restore them to their land and He has done throughout their history.

Today’s restoration of Israel has not happened in the same way as the restorations of the Old Testament where there was also spiritual restoration through repentance. We should pray for the spiritual restoration of Israel to accompany it’s political restoration. Paul instructs us to desire and pray for their restoration through Jesus in Romans 9-11. See Romans 11:15, 23–24 regarding their full restoration.

Love God with everything

And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. Deuteronomy 30:6 (ESV)

In the Hebrew this verse represents the climax of God’s point being made in verses 1-10. The turning in repentance to obey the Lord and prosperity in the land all hinges upon the greatest commandment which is to love God with everything.

This ultimate demand of the law is only accomplished as the fruit of God’s grace in the hearts of His people as He is the one who circumcises their hearts. This is fulfilled and realised in truth in the new covenant through the Messiah Jesus Christ. See Romans 2:28-29.

God’s achievable word

But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. Deuteronomy 30:14 (ESV)

God’s law has received a bad reputation over the years as being unrealistic, unbearable, unachievable and unfair. This is often in an attempt to exalt Christianity over Judaism, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. God declares that the law is not too hard and it is not unreachable.

However, God never claims that anyone can be saved by it, He simply calls the people to live by it and be blessed. Salvation and relationship with God was and still is a matter of the heart and in Israel’s case salvation (from Egypt) had already been won. The law was a life lived in response to salvation.

Reading and meditating on the word of God in the Bible is so important. It is not too difficult and God wants us to internalise the word and then live it out.

Now in the new covenant we have the indwelling person of the Holy Spirit and the work of Christ has been done. This makes it possible for us to live as God intends (Romans 10:5-13). We must also pass God’s word on to our children.

Choose life or death

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, Deuteronomy 30:19 (ESV)

We face the same choice today, we should choose life and blessing. Why would anyone choose death and cursing… but so many do, this shows the slavery of man’s will to sin. Thanks be to God that when Jesus sets us free from slavery to sin we are truly free. See John 8:32, 34-36.

Reading the bible together

Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.” Deuteronomy 31:12–13 (ESV)

As a church community we have been reading through the entire bible year on year for the last five years. Just reading the Bible like this will help us grow in the Lord and help us instruct our children as we bring them up as a community.

Guard your heart

For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant. Deuteronomy 31:20 (ESV)

Getting what we want and having all our needs met can lead us into complacency and then indifference, rebellion and idolatry. We need to watch over our hearts especially living in the extremely prosperous western world where God can so easily be forgotten.

2 Corinthians 8:1–7

How to give

For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 2 Corinthians 8:3 (ESV)

This gives us a perfect example of how we should give. The saints in Macedonia were not rich yet they joyfully and voluntarily gave according to their means and even stretched themselves beyond their means. We are called to generosity beyond cold, set percentages and portions. We should enjoy the fellowship and service of giving generously from our hearts to the needs of our brothers and sisters etc.

The fact that Paul had to instruct the wealthy Corinthian church should stand as a warning to us that our prosperity can make us cold and without true faith filled generosity. As mentioned in verse 7 we should excel in giving alongside our other pursuits in Christ.

Psalm 44:1–26

We may suffer for our stand

Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. Psalm 44:22 (ESV)

The Psalmist is talking about the suffering the people are going through, not because of disobedience. In fact this is an example of a Psalm where it is declared that the whole law was kept which is in line with the point made earlier about God’s achievable and reachable law.

This is suffering for the name of the Lord, because they refuse to compromise. The Psalmist, under this sort of pressure for standing for God seeks reassurance of God’s love. Paul picks this point up in Romans 8:36-39.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 2 Corinthians 8

Today’s reading: Deut 29:1–29, 2 Cor 7:8–16, Ps 42:1–43:5

Today’s theme: Revealed for relationship

Today we see the theme of God’s self revelation. God is sovereign over the revealing of Himself for His glory that we might come into relationship with Him. God’s revelation is not for us to take pride in knowledge but to come into the right relationship with God who is our greatest joy and treasure.

Deuteronomy 29:1–29

God, sovereign over revelation

But to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. Deuteronomy 29:4 (ESV)

Often people can see God’s mighty works and hear His word. Yet they do not trust or obey Him, this is seen most strikingly with the people of Israel who saw the most amazing miracles and heard God’s actual voice, yet remained in unbelief. God is sovereign even over revelation and belief.

Jesus had to deal with this reality in His own ministry as mentioned in Matthew 13:14 which is itself a quote from Isaiah 6:9. Later Paul picks this point up and has this very passage in mind in Romans 11:8.

Knowing God and trusting God’s word are all in fact gifts of grace. At the same time they are a matter of our own choice, desire and response. Without the Holy Spirit no one can truly know the truth. This is core to our understanding of the new “better” covenant which is pointed at here but made very clear by God in Jeremiah 24:6, 31:33 and Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26-28. This covenant is fulfilled in Jesus.

A perpetual covenant

It is not with you alone that I am making this sworn covenant, but with whoever is standing here with us today before the LORD our God, and with whoever is not here with us today. Deuteronomy 29:14–15 (ESV)

God did not limit this covenant to physical descendants of Israel but with all who stood with them that day from other nations who had joined themselves to Israel. It also speaks of the fact that there is no caste system, all are welcome. Here is a great picture of unity and social equality before God.

Future generations are also prophetically called into this covenant. Jesus also does this in His prayer in John 17:20. The repeated use of the word today would mean when future generations recite or read this they would have a sense of urgency and ownership for their own generation. In much the same way, every generation of Christians have read the words soon, regarding the Lords return, and kept the urgency and expectancy alive in every age.

You can’t fool God

one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike. Deuteronomy 29:19 (ESV)

As Galatians 6:7 states, we should not think that God can be tricked or fooled. Just saying we believe doesn’t mean anything, we need to genuinely repent and live for God.

Revealed for relationship

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29 (ESV)

God’s self revelation in the Bible is not God’s total revelation of everything, it is not all that there is to know. God has revealed to man all that he needs to come into relationship with Him in the Bible. Our religion is not one where great knowledge must be sought to know God like we find in other religions such as Buddhism.

What God has revealed in His word is given that we might follow God’s commands. God has told us all we need to know, there are some mystery’s we will only know in heaven, 1 Corinthians 13:12.

2 Corinthians 7:8–16

Godly grief

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV)

Godly grief over sin is very healthy. We should not be so incubated by God’s grace that we never feel guilt, grief or sorrow. These negative emotions are necessary and awaken us to God’s love and grace when we drift off course. We need these emotions to act like an alert system for our hearts bringing to light the need to repent.

Outside of Christ these emotions are destructive and open wider the chasm of selfishness, self pity and ultimately self destruction. Opposite examples in God’s word are Judas and Esau on the negative side and the ‘prodigal son’ and Peter on the other side.

Psalm 42:1–43:5

Thirst for God

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:2 (ESV)

We should have a thirst for God, not the things of this world. We should desire the fountain of living water, the only place were we can find safety and true satisfaction. See Matthew 5:6, John 6:35 and Revelation 22:17.

Preach to yourself

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation Psalm 42:5 (ESV)

We need to talk to ourselves and remind ourselves of who God is if we fall into depression or discouragement. Doing this can build up your faith, don’t stay silent, speak up.

Our ultimate joy

Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. Psalm 43:4 (ESV)

God should be our ultimate and greatest joy.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on 2 Corinthians 7

Today’s reading: Deut 28:1–68, 2 Cor 7:2–7, Ps 41:1–13

Today’s theme: Joyful Obedience

Today’s theme is that we should serve the Lord with joyful obedience and enjoy the rewards God so graciously gives for this. Our joy does not ignore difficulties and trials but responds to them with faith.

Deuteronomy 28:1–68

Rewards for obedience

“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 28:1–2 (ESV)

All the blessings we read about in this chapter were made directly to Israel. These are not automatic blessings that are there to be claimed, they are blessings for obedience.

Each of these blessings are conditional, they are rewards for obeying God. We are also called to obey God’s word today. See 1 Peter 1:2, 14 and 22.

Punishments for disobedience

“But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. Deuteronomy 28:15 (ESV)

All the curses mentioned in this chapter are conditional too. They are punishments for disobedience. We must not walk in disobedience to God (2 Corinthians 10:6 and Romans 2:8) and can be confident that Jesus took the curse on Himself for our disobedience (Romans 5:19).

Don’t be miserable when serving

Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, Deuteronomy 28:47 (ESV)

Serving the Lord in misery and duty driven drudgery is in essence the same as being disobedient. God must be served with joy. Throughout the Old and New testament we see that joy in God is a major theme and one of God’s core purposes for His creation. He desires our joy to be full and for our joy to be in Him.

Here are just some examples from the New Testament calling believers to lives of joyful obedience. Romans 14:17, Galatians 5:22, 1 Thessalonians 1:6 and 1 Peter 1:8. Let’s enjoy God today!

2 Corinthians 7:2–7

Faith filled joy

I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. 2 Corinthians 7:4 (ESV)

Despite the difficulties being experienced in the church, which included the controversy over Paul’s Apostolic authority and the compromise in some church members, Paul was able to boldly say that he was overflowing with joy. This is a joy that looks beyond the circumstances and is confident in God.

We should live with this sort of firm faith and joy. This is not a ‘stick our head in the sand’ sort of joy, no, Paul mentions the affliction and boldly deals with it in the letter. We must boldly confront the reality of whatever it is we are going through and respond to those facts with faith and joy.

Encourage fellow believers

For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 2 Corinthians 7:5–6 (ESV)

Paul is honest about his difficulties and struggles. He had external opponents both in and outside the church and in his own mind he struggled with fear over the situation in the churches. We should allow God to use us to bring encouragement and comfort to fellow believers who are under pressure as they work for the Lord, especially our leaders.

Psalm 41:1–13

Reach out to the poor

Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him; Psalm 41:1 (ESV)

We should reach out to the poor. God blesses us for this with health and protection.

The Messianic Psalms

Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. Psalm 41:9 (ESV)

Much of this Psalm is messianic, here is a prophecy of the betrayal of Judas. See John 13:18.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 2 Corinthians 7

Today’s reading: Deut 26:1–27:26, 2 Cor 6:14–7:1, Ps 40:1–17

Today’s theme: Delight in God’s word

We should find great delight in God’s word and joyfully give to the Lord from our hearts. Our lives should be marked by our delight in God.

Deuteronomy 26:1–27:26

Give sacrificially and joyfully

“And you shall make response before the LORD your God, ‘A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. Deuteronomy 26:5 (ESV)

When we give to the Lord out of the harvest, which for many of us would be our wages from employment rather than food from our fields. We should do so in response and recognition of God’s goodness and faithfulness in blessing us to have something to give. We should give sacrificially (not out of what is left) and joyfully (not out of mere duty).

Give with joy

And you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you. Deuteronomy 26:11 (ESV)

When we give to the Lord it really should be springing up out of a heart of gratitude and joy. We should give to the Lord gladly and get joy from giving to Him. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says: Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Say amen

“ ‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ Deuteronomy 27:26 (ESV)

The people showed their agreement, recognition and understanding of the curses proclaimed for sin, rebellion and disobedience. Amen essentially means surely or truly so by saying Amen, the people said yes Lord we agree. We should say amen to the warnings and promises of God’s word today. Jesus is our great Amen, making all God’s promises sure. See 2 Corinthians 1:20 and Revelation 3:14.

2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1

Do not compromise

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14, ESV)

This is an important verse that we need to take heed to. It is not saying that we should have no association with unbelievers at all but it is saying binding relationships, for example in marriage and other areas of life like worship and business, will not work between believers and unbelievers. As a result of this, they should not be pursued. We should not compromise.

M J Harris (2008, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary) makes the following useful paraphrase: “Do not form any relationship, whether temporary or permanent, with unbelievers that would lead to a compromise of Christian standards or would jeopardize consistency of Christian witness. Why such separation? Because the unbeliever does not share the Christian’s standards, sympathies or goals.”

Pursue sanctification

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV)

Each of us has personal responsibility before God in light of all the promises of his word and the fact that our bodies have become God’s temple. We need to actively pursue our own sanctification, we should not drift into compromise.

God makes us holy in Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Thessalonians 2:13) but then we must complete and maintain that holiness as we walk with the Lord each day (1 Corinthians 7:34, 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8, Romans 6:19). One day God will bring holiness to full completion for us (1 Thessalonians 3:13).

Psalm 40:1–17

Delight in God’s word

I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8 (ESV)

This speaks of Messiah (in fact the whole Psalm does too), see John 4:34. This also applies to us as believers. We should also say this, that we delight to do God’s will, we should find joy in doing His will. We must even delight in doing His will, it should not be drudgery.

The practical way to do this is to have His law in our hearts. He is the one who writes it on our hearts but we grow, sustain and cultivate it by reading, studying and meditating upon His word.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 2 Corinthians 6