March 25, Reading Notes

Deuteronomy 4

I really don't need to say much in this section. These chapters in Deuteronomy are like sitting down at an amazing feast, where everything you'd want is there, but there's too much. Or it's like having a late-night conversation with a someone you haven't seen in years who you really respect and everything they're saying is good and confirms and strengthens your heart, but you know in the morning you won't remember it all. This book, these chapters, are like a well that any disciple will want to come back to repeatedly to drink from. So, mark up your Bible and highlight everything that speaks to you, that you think is important for you, for us, as disciples following Christ in the harvest. Next year when you read this, you’ll find more.

Vs. 6-8 This talks about the testimony that Israel would have to the nations around them, if they followed.

One common theme or repeated command will be to teach their children.

I never noticed before the many references to the people hearing God and how that related to not making an image.

Vs. 41-43 might seem out of place. Suddenly there is another subject. Moses has been talking about them polluting the land through idolatry, but there is another way for them to pollute the land, through murder, bloodshed. The next great curse on creation, after Adam and Eve, was that Cain killed Abel and "hid" his blood in the earth. God cursed the ground. When the people are finally exiled out of the land, which has just been spoken about, it is because of how King Manasseh filled the land with innocent blood.

2 Kings 21:16 Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; besides his sin with which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the LORD.

2 Kings 24:4 and also for the innocent blood that he had shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD would not pardon.

You don’t really have to wonder what God thinks about the killing of innocent children for the sake of our sexual freedom and convenience. The Canaanites sacrificed the children born through Baal worship to Moloch. For all of this, after hundreds of years of patience, God judged saying, “The land vomited them out.” If God is silent, God’s silence is scary. There is grace and there is patience, but His patience is His kindness trying to lead us to repentance.

Romans 2:4 Or do you presume upon the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

As a friend of mine said, “God doesn’t always pay on Friday.” The Bible, from one end to the other, says that “pay day” is coming.

The cities of refuge were a provision to make sure the innocent were protected, so that the land wouldn't be polluted.

Vs. 44-49 Everything so far has been Moses introducing the need to give them the Law a second time, therefore the Greeks named the book, "Second law." Actually this book is a series of sermons based on the law to motivate the people to be obedient and follow the Lord.

Luke 6:39-7:10

Luke 6:39-49

Jesus finishes up his "disciple orientation." Think of what you just read in Deuteronomy. Moses will keep telling them to heed God's words. Jesus is telling His disciples to heed His words. We can't be good disciples or makers of disciples if we are not allowing the Word to be cleansing our "eyes." The Lord may show us something, but we have to obey. The words in verse 46 are convicting and haunting, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" The proof is in the doing.

Luke 7:1-10

This centurion understood the lesson on authority that Jesus just mentioned. If you are a master, you say it and it is done. He knew Jesus was LORD. As in the parable above, not everyone who calls Jesus “Lord,” recognizes Him as Lord. The proof is in the doing.

Psalm 68:1-18

David must have been having a good day.

Proverbs 11:28

The thing is, society exalts the prominence of the rich, but you don't notice the leaves of trees.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.

If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.