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MARCH 29
In Deuteronomy 8:3 we read why God gave Israel the manna. This is also
the portion of Scripture Jesus used in His confrontation with Satan. I remember
a time last year when there was snow on the grass, but it wasn't a solid
blanket, but patchy little puffs all over everything. I wonder if that's what
the manna looked like. As I thought about it and what God was teaching Israel,
I was thinking how much I need all those lessons today in my life. Here's some
of what struck me.
God could still do today what He did for Israel then, and He could meet
all of my needs instantly if He chose to. So, I'm really very secure, whether I
feel secure or not. In the wilderness, the people weren't allowed to gather the
manna and store it up for security. They had to be secure in God, every day.
They couldn't work the fields or make gardens because they never knew when they
would be moving. Their lives were focused each day on the mercy of the Lord,
learning of Him, waiting each day for His provision. God intentionally fed them
like this, little by little, showing His power and showing that their security
was in Him. They were to learn that man doesn't live by bread alone, nor by
savings, nor by work, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Being secure in God's daily care and eternal power seems to be what God was
also teaching David as he was living in caves and running from Saul.
How does God teach that same thing to us without taking us through
similar experiences? It makes me appreciate my present situation and makes the
day seem like something God has designed rather than a random mess. Life might
not look "normal," but I am totally secure and taken care of by God's
daily provision. Our Lord is an amazing teacher, and His Word is strength and
health to the heart.
Deuteronomy 11-12
Deuteronomy 11
It seems to me that this chapter concludes the introduction of the
sermon. Moses restates 6:1-9 in vs. 18-21.
Vs. 1-7 Notice how often it talks about loving the Lord. The people
were not slaves; they were saved. Their salvation should have made them
grateful. They were to follow and obey out of that love for God. Moses tells
them to consider what they saw. This was God's teaching and discipline. They
were now to pass this on to their children who didn't see what God had done.
They had seen how God used His power to free them from Egypt and destroy
Pharaoh's army. God also disciplined a family of the Reubenites. Both events
showed God's great power. One instance was deliverance and the other
punishment. They needed to lay this to heart, as do we. They also needed to
pass these things on to the next generation. In a sense, they were to make disciples.
Vs. 8-12 These instructions are being given out of love so the people
will be strong, and not only win the land, but hold on to it. Notice again in
v. 9 that the promise to Abraham is mentioned. The fact that God's eyes were on
this land was a good thing, if they obeyed. If they obeyed, God would water the
land and they wouldn't have to irrigate it like they had to in Egypt. That
would be a good thing if they obeyed.
Vs. 13-17 This seems like it should have been an easy thing to have
loved the Lord. Loving the Lord was in contrast to worshiping other gods. That
would have been a "no-brainer" except that the worship in Canaan was
very sexually oriented. And too, even for us, worshiping other things is easier
than we think. I was reading Ephesians 5 this morning where Paul says that a
person who is covetous is really an idolater. Even the Corinthian church had
fallen into idolatry. We can all understand the cause/effect relationship here.
Why would God bless the people if they were worshiping something else? The real
question is, "How could they worship anything else when God was so big and
real?" But now they had visual help. They had the manna each morning and
the pillar of fire and pillar of cloud. Once they were in the land, they would have
the feasts and the worship at the tabernacle. They would have to follow God by
faith in the promise to Abraham and by obeying the law.
Vs. 18-25 There is a lot of restatement here, but it is very
passionate, both from Moses and from God. God really, really, really wanted to
bless them. Notice that when He tells them to lay up these words in their hearts, Moses also tells them how to do
this in vs. 18-20.
V. 22 Notice again the restatement of loving the Lord and the promises
that follow. It is obvious that we are nearing the end of a very important and
passionate argument.
Vs. 26-32 In the context of the Mosaic covenant, there would be these
blessings and curses. We'll read about this event later in Deuteronomy and
we'll see it done in Joshua. It will be a testimony to the people. Actually,
the people will testify to their need to obey and what will happen if they
don't obey. The words will come out of their own mouths. This generation will
obey, but apparently not in teaching their children.
V. 30 As Israel is receiving this command, Moses reminds them that in
order for them to get to these two peaks, God will already have brought them
into the land.
Though we are not under the blessing and curses, as disciples, there is
something for us to learn here too. Even the best of us fall, and sometimes we
have a hard time recovering. Sin and discouragement have an incredibly acidic
effect on our hearts and minds. Not only that, Satan is the accuser, standing
before God telling Him we deserve judgment. Satan shares this with us too. In
fact, Satan, like Balaam, lures us into sin so that God will have to punish us,
knowing that God would never punish us if we didn't bring the punishment on
ourselves.
So, how do you know if it is God humbling, teaching, or chastening you,
or if it is Satan and your own fallen nature tearing you apart? Satan and self
always tell you there is no more grace for you and that you are a failure. God
never does that. This is why reading your Bible through is so important. Did
Jacob deserve grace? Does Israel deserve grace? Wait until we get to Judges.
Will David, the murderer, deserve grace? Or will Solomon, the idolater, who
sacrificed his children, or Manasseh, who did worse than all of them and
brought irrevocable judgment on his people, deserve grace? But they all
received it. After repentance, even after falling into sin for the millionth
time, God looks on us as a Father, encouraging our next step in obedience with
His grace. And He will use us, just as God used all of those men after their
repentance. Satan and self will destroy you and make you unfit to be used by
the Lord. God will restore you. There may be consequences that you'll have to
deal with, but you couldn't be loved more, and you will never be shunned by
Christ. Look at Paul, the murderer, who remembered what he did right up to the
end of his work in the harvest. Paul was an example of how Jesus will lift the
fallen and bless them for His glory, just like us. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost,
Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were
to believe in him for eternal life (1 Tim. 1:16).
If you had a child who had done everything wrong and made every
mistake, as a parent, would you condemn them to failure and self hate, or
encourage them to health and obedience? And if they obeyed, would you rub their
noses in their past failures or lead them on to restoration and success? This
is what the Pharisees couldn't stand about Jesus, blessing a woman who had been
a terrible sinner, or asking a tax collector to be His disciple.
Deuteronomy 12
V. 1 This seems to be a key verse. So, after loving God, what did He
want them to do?
Vs. 2-7 This would be very hard for Israel. First, they had to destroy
all of the idols and places of worship. Some of the idols would be made out of
precious metals. Some of these places might look nice, like a place where you'd
want to come and meditate. But second, they themselves could only worship and
offer sacrifices at the tabernacle. This was one way God wanted them to love
Him. They were to come to only Him and then to come to Him only where it was
appointed. The people in Canaan worshiped their gods on every hill and under
trees. It is interesting that later when we read about the kings who followed
God, many of them still allowed the people to sacrifice and worship in the
hills and not in Jerusalem. No one had the guts to say "No."
Vs. 8-14 This is sort of like the tree in the garden. They could do all
sorts of other things, but worship and sacrifice needed to happen in God's
presence in the place He designated. Notice in vs. 7 and 12, there was to be
rejoicing in God's presence as they celebrated their sacrifices.
V. 8 This is the refrain at the end of the book of Judges.
V. 9 This is the "rest" talked about in the book of Hebrews.
V. 10 Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, quotes this.
Isn't it interesting that the phrases from Deuteronomy were used so
extensively in the rest of the Bible and people actually knew these verses? Now
you do too.
Vs. 15-19 Up until now, if any domestic animal was killed to be eaten,
it had to be brought to the tabernacle. That wasn't far away since they all
camped around the tabernacle. Once they were in the land, the tabernacle would
be too far away. Now they could kill the animal at the house, but there was one
act of paganism they were not to take part in, and that was the drinking of the
blood or eating the bloody, undrained meat. God had been getting the people
away from this during the wilderness wandering. Now they would just have to
obey.
The offerings, on the other hand, had to be made at the tabernacle.
Along with the offerings, they were to share with those who served at the
tabernacle. They could always have feasts at home, but their worship was to be
a celebration before the Lord at the tabernacle.
Vs. 20-28 Notice the repetition regarding the blood of life. This was a
big deal for God, mentioned as far back as Noah. The repetition was important
here. God was allowing them to slaughter their cattle for food, but with His
guidelines.
V. 20 This verse links Jabez (1 Chron. 4:10) to this time of the
conquest of the land.
Vs. 26-28 But here we are talking again about the sacrifices and
worship. Notice that v. 28 brings them back to being careful to do what God is
saying. They needed to obey for the sake of their children.
Vs. 29-32 This brings the chapter full circle. Again, these
instructions seem like a no-brainer. Why would you want to understand why a
pagan people offered their children in sacrifice? How could you be enticed to
do that? And yet Solomon will.
I think Deuteronomy is incredible. And what is really interesting is
that most of what God is saying to the people is exactly what we need to hear
and apply to our hearts. We are not better than these people, and even with the
Spirit, we are not above falling into the same traps. The Corinthians did.
Maybe there are some innocent looking things in our culture that we don't need
to become a part of. After all, we are here on mission, following Christ. As
disciples in the harvest, we need to be careful how we walk, making the most of
our time; because the days, as Paul said, are evil.
Luke 8:22-39
Vs. 22-25 Do you ever think about being totally awed by God to the
place of fear? Me neither. We need the Lord to restore this sense of awe to our
hearts, and I think the place we find it is in the harvest, not special
meetings at church or boat trips on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus shows His power
where His passion is, in reaching the lost and dying, and making disciples, who
make disciples.
Vs. 26-39 Matthew has two men here. It is the same event and both
Matthew and Luke are accurate, but Mark and Luke only quote the spokesman of
the demonic duo.
V. 29 Apparently Jesus had commanded a spirit to come out and it did.
Jesus saw then that the problem was deeper. A Roman legion would have been
6000, but that isn't to say there were 6000 demons in him. It is interesting
that we are told in Mark 5:13 that the herd of pigs was about 2000.
V. 35 Luke tells us that the man was sitting at Jesus' feet when the
crowds came.
Vs. 38-39 This is really all the Lord asks us to do on earth. So what
has the Lord done for you?
Psalm 70
Once again, those who seek the Lord like this are driven to their knees
by need, so that, after waiting for His deliverance and crying out in
desperation, they see and are awed by the salvation of the Lord. Then they
declare to all men, from their hearts, that God is great. This is how God
taught Israel, how He taught David, the disciples in the boat, and the
possessed man. Why should I expect anything different if the Lord loves me and
wants to use me as His disciple?
V. 1 This is the
cry for help. This morning I was reading in Luke 18:7-8, where Jesus said, “And will not God give justice to his elect,
who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will
give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he
find faith on earth?”
Faith cries out and keeps crying.
Vs. 2-3 This is the usual gang of those who were lying against David
and seeking to kill him.
Vs. 4-5 Verse 4 happens because of a heart like in v. 5. David was
humbled before God and didn't seek help anywhere else. He learned this through
suffering and God vindicated His servant. Amen.
Proverbs 12:4
Seriously, I never go a day without realizing how blessed I've been
since I gave my life to Christ. I have only known the first part of that
Proverb, and that is pure grace.
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are 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, that is, 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 and important discipleship manual we have and it is the 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, or whom we are to be following. 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, as disciples, 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, 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 (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular
One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
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. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm
doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that will
keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are reading. Remember,
the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a supplement, a disciple’s
commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we will keep following our
Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make
disciples. Being in the Word every day,
sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the essential essence of
being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the
harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
If you would like documents
containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full
presentation of discipleship read Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with
insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these
can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis
2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
The One Year Bible © by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.
All charts/graphics/outlines
from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C.
Cook.
© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Publisher permission
required to reproduce.
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