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APRIL 7
Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27
One of the things that happens when you read your Bible year after
year, even if you have a brain like mine that only works intermittently, is
that you make connections. You read something here, and later in another OT
book or in the NT, you find the same, or similar, thing. It helps make all of
this reading a lot of fun, especially knowing the Spirit is showing you stuff.
You can always do a word search, but this is different. There is nothing like
making natural connections to spark your curiosity. Below, I'll mention some
things about the "sons of God." I didn't get that out of a seminary
class or someone's book. It just happened after reading the Bible through for a
few years. Suddenly all these puzzle pieces that I'd been viewing, year after
year, came together. After preaching and studying for years, I know the
difference between things that the Lord has led me to find naturally in my time
together with Him, and things I dig up for a sermon. The stuff I read or find
for a sermon is either forgotten or stored up with other information in my
head. What the Lord shows me becomes a part of my heart and conviction in
following Him in the harvest. I think this will be the same for you.
Deuteronomy 31
Notice the recurring words, strong
and courageous. We'll be seeing them again.
Vs. 1-6 This is the conclusion of Moses' sermon, but not the end of his
words in the book. This was probably one of the longest and greatest sermons
ever preached. Even though we'll see that Israel, as a nation, didn't obey what
God said through Moses, this particular generation did.
V. 2 I read a comment that Moses was saying here that he was too old to
lead Israel in the conquest of Canaan. That is not the point. In a couple of
chapters we'll hear that Moses was fit until the day he died. If Joshua and
Caleb were about the same age, they were scrappy 80 year-olds. Moses could have
done it but God said, "No."
V. 4 The victories against Sihon and Og were important motivational
events that God had designed.
V. 6 Leave you or forsake you
is quoted by the writer of Hebrews in 13:5. Take note of these words because
we'll see them again and something like this is echoed today in Luke.
Vs. 7-8 There has already been a ceremony giving Joshua the leadership.
As a good leader, Moses is charging Joshua again in front of the people. You
may recognize strong and courageous
from the famous verse in Joshua 1:9. Joshua 1:8 is also a famous verse but
we'll talk about that when we get there. Both here in Deuteronomy and there in
Joshua, these two words are said several times. Leave you or forsake you is repeated again also.
V. 8 is quoted again to Joshua, and later in the NT in Hebrews 13:5.
Vs. 9-13 Notice the importance of the Feast of Booths. Although all the
men had to be present at the tabernacle every year for this event, every
seventh year everyone had to come to the tabernacle. On that occasion, the
scroll of Deuteronomy would be read. God built the feasts to influence the men,
who would influence the nation. And then these special events would aid
families in teaching their children. And then we read in Nehemiah 8:17 that
Israel never kept the Feast of Booths after Joshua.
Vs. 14-15 This was God's commissioning of Joshua. I wonder if the
people were impressed that the pillar of cloud appeared over the tabernacle.
God would do more to elevate Joshua.
I know the minute Moses died and was standing with God, getting a big
hug, he thought, "Why didn't I do this sooner?" Yet as I read this it
makes me feel like moving out of a house, going room to room to make sure it's
in order and then finally you turn out the light and shut the door. It's kind
of funky and sad. But again, the minute he was in heaven, looking out over the
golf course and seeing the club house, I'll bet Moses said, "Yes!"
Vs. 16-18 This appears to have taken place as Moses and Joshua were
standing before the tabernacle. Maybe when Moses heard this he was happy to be
going. Notice that their sin will be idolatry. It will be a very personal
affront to God since He is the Only God and has saved them. Notice how the word
forsake is used of the people and of
God. It is cause and effect. We'll see this in the NT today.
V. 18 This defines a lot of God's judgment. As we do to God, He does to
us. But beyond that, we see over and over again that He acts in mercy and
grace, when we don't deserve these things and He is restlessly seeking to save
and guide mankind. It isn't that there isn't grace in the OT. There is plenty
of it. But His grace is seen in all of its clarity after all of the OT history,
and then as it is defined in the coming and sacrifice of our Lord.
Vs. 19-22 Moses preached a sermon, and now he was writing a song.
V. 23 I don't know if anyone else heard this, but Joshua had a heart of
faith and you couldn't want any more confirmation than this.
Vs. 24-30 The book of Deuteronomy was placed next to the ark of the
covenant. The Ten Commandments were inside. Now Moses must have written the
song and was getting everyone together to hear it. This was a lot of work for
Moses. Again, it reminds me of moving.
Deuteronomy 32:1-27
So actually, God wrote this song. I'll bet it had a catchy tune. Now,
after preaching and writing this song, Moses gets to sing.
Vs. 1-3 This song was to permeate the minds of the people like dew.
Catchy tunes do this to us. Once you get it in your mind, it is hard to get it
out. This is calling all creation to testify to the truth. The greatness of God
will be seen in the contrast of His goodness and grace to them and their
rebellion toward Him. Israel will be seen as the example of what happens when man
is shown mercy by God, but the power of sin remains unbroken.
Vs. 4-7 This is the summary of the charge against Israel. Notice v. 6.
There are very few references in the OT where God is referred to as father. That makes this unique.
Vs. 8-9 These are very important verses. There is good evidence for
this reading sons of God. It refers
to angels to whom God gave the guardianship of the nations. You find sons of God also in Job 1:6 where they
are definitely angels with responsibility to watch over the earth. In Job,
Satan seems to be the head of these angels. Again, in Genesis 6:2 as a
contributing cause of the wickedness in mankind, these sons of God are very
likely angels. In Daniel 10 you see these sons
of God, among whom the nations were divided, as the prince of Persia and
the prince of Greece and you realize they are demons. Link this together with
what Satan tells Jesus in the temptation and what Paul says about the
principalities and powers, and you get a picture of God having given Satan a
kind of guiding responsibility over the mankind and the nations that would
arise. God never revoked that responsibility from Satan after the fall of Satan
or the fall of man. It seems that with the fall of mankind, Satan's guidance
over mankind and the nations went from a servant's role to that of a ruling
guardian's authority, because of our sin. Yet, within this system that God
Himself set up, He chose one man and one nation for Himself to be a witness to
the world, and through which His plan of redemption would go forward.
Satan thought that He had crippled God's plan in getting Israel to deny
God and follow idols, and then especially in getting Israel to crucify its
Messiah; but God's plan for Israel will be fulfilled during the time of
"Jacob's Trouble," (the Tribulation) and then in the Millennium.
Also, after Christ's resurrection, a new nation sprang into being, over which
Satan has no authority. This temporary nation has no geographical boundaries,
no common language, no unique ethnicity. This nation without earthly definition
has only one common link: The Blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Today it
is the Church that God is using to work in the harvest and to win the day and
hold back the night. Soon, Israel will take up the torch.
1 Corinthians 2:7-8 But we impart a
secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our
glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they
would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Vs. 10-14 This is God loving and establishing Israel. It is pure grace.
Vs. 15-18 This, unfortunately, will be Israel’s response after they get
into the land.
V. 17 This is reminiscent of what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:20, No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they
offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with
demons.
Vs. 19-22 We’ll see this throughout all of Israel’s history from Judges
to Malachi. What is interesting here is the prophetic reach of these verses. In
Romans 10 Paul and the Spirit will tell us that that foolish nation is the church.
V. 21 Paul quotes the second half of this verse in Romans 10:19,
referring to the church taking over Israel’s responsibility to be a witness to
the nations and thus making Israel jealous enough, eventually, to get saved.
Reading the first half of the verse explains a lot of things and helps to
understand the verse in Romans better.
Vs. 23-27 are interesting. This sounds like what Moses said to God,
that if He destroyed them in the wilderness, the nations would think ill of
God. In this case, the nations would think they were responsible for the demise
of Israel, maybe by cursing them like Balak tried to do. It adds something to
this verse when you think of vs. 8 and 9 and the spiritual dimension of what
God is doing. In spite of Israel’s sin and rebellion, and regardless of the
spiritual opposition they have and will face, God will bring Israel to a place
of honor, fulfilling their mission and destiny.
Luke 12:8-34
Vs. 8-12 Jesus continues (from yesterday) His talk to His disciples
concerning the leaven of the Pharisees and fearing to speak the truth. Paul
must have known this saying of Jesus when he shares this with Timothy in 2
Timothy 2:11-13, The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him,
we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we
deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he
cannot deny himself.
Since all of the Twelve, except for Judas, were believers who couldn't
lose their salvation, how do you account for all of what Jesus is saying here?
I think this is a general statement about the persecution they will face. Some
of it is a warning to them and some is an assurance of justice in the battle.
Vs. 8-9 These are for the disciples. They are being left on earth to
give testimony. They will be acknowledged before the angels in that they will
receive help. But if a person decides to hide and not testify of Christ and not
acknowledge Him, what help do they need since they are really trying to help
themselves. In this sense, although they really do need help but are helping
themselves, Jesus will "deny" His own help by not sending angelic
assistance. That is my take on this. It all goes back to "I will never
leave you or forsake you." But if we choose to leave and forsake our
testimony of Him, He withholds His help. I think that makes sense.
Vs. 10-12 This is justice to the unbelieving. In their current
situation, some were blasting Jesus, but some were calling Jesus
demon-possessed. God was keeping track of all of that. There would be justice.
The concern of the disciples was to be willing to speak in persecution and
allow the Spirit to speak through them.
V. 12 is not meant to be the verse of assurance for the unprepared
Sunday school teacher. It only works if you're being persecuted in the harvest.
Vs. 13-34 The fear of death and persecution isn't the only thing that
keeps us from following in the harvest. The other destructive force to following
Christ as disciples is the desire for stuff and the anxiousness for our basic
needs.
Some of these sayings are new, and some of them were said earlier in
His ministry to the disciples after He selected the Twelve and gave the Sermon
on the Mount (Matt. 5-7, Luke 6). Like a good teacher, Jesus didn't say
something just once. In this case, the needs of the disciples are different and
they have a much more mature idea of what it means to follow Jesus. Now, that
old message has new meaning. As Paul said to the Philippians in Philippians
3:1, Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to
you is no trouble to me, and is safe for you.
Jesus' method of training His disciples was to orient them (all the
time up to and including the Sermon on the Mount), involve them in ministry
with Him, and as they grew, as the occasions presented themselves, He taught
them as they lived together. Since this portion, occurring here in Jesus'
training of His disciples, is unique to Luke, as you read it, think of what it
might have meant to the disciples now. They had seen the crowds leave Jesus and
they've seen the Pharisees unite with the Herodians to destroy Jesus. They had
seen Jesus' power in ways that assured them that He was the Son of God and
crowds still followed Him, but Jesus was talking more and more about His death
and resurrection.
Vs. 13-21 The point here is that there was no need for anxiousness or
security. The ground brought forth from God every year. A disciple's security
is that his treasure and provider is in heaven.
Vs. 22-31 This was said in the Sermon on the Mount. Notice the impact
of vs. 25 and 26. This is a slight addition to the Sermon. I like the
translation of a "cubit." If you can't add 18 inches to the length of
your life, why worry about the rest? For all of our health consciousness, there
is nothing we can do to add 18 inches. Wow! And God has already determined,
like with Moses, when it is time to turn off the lights and shut the door.
Vs. 32-34 This first verse is unique to Luke and I'm very challenged
here. Since it is the Father's good pleasure, understanding the absolute desire
of our Father to bless us in the harvest, we should have this heart. It doesn't
mean God is asking all of us to give everything away (to some He did and does),
but we should have this joy of heart. We should know this so that if He said
it, we'd do it. If we can't do it, we don't really understand the impact and
joy of what Jesus just said and it may be that we, as disciples, have a case of
the "idols." We are not that far removed from what we are reading in
Deuteronomy. Notice in v. 15 that Jesus uses a very strong repeated caution.
This is extremely dangerous for us as followers. The desire for other things
than Christ on this earth is a "lamer" of disciples and a killer of
fruit.
So much of what we are reading points to the need to have the power of
sin broken and for mankind to be redeemed. Through Israel, God has shown
mankind that sin is the most powerful destructive force in reality. Through
Israel God has shown mankind and the angelic world that His grace and love have
no end. But now through Christ, we see God's infinite wisdom in all He has
done. Through a "defeat" on the cross has come victory, and now the
weak and foolish and low and despised have been gathered into a
"nation" of the redeemed, bonded together in the blood, life and love
of Christ to enter the harvest following Him. And when our work is done, Israel
will recall who their "rock" is, call His name and finish the work
God has given them to do.
Psalm 78:32-55
Isn’t it weird that we’re reading the end of Deuteronomy and the song
of Moses and then also reading this psalm that addresses the same things?
Vs. 32-35 These verses seem to be referring to Kadesh-barnea and the
death of that generation. Look at Deuteronomy 32:4, 15 and 18 and Psalm 78:35.
Pretty cool, huh? This is one of the reasons that reading The One Year Bible
"rocks."
Vs. 36-41 Now the psalmist is showing how they put God to the test in
the wilderness. The rebellion of Korah, the crying of the people for meat and
for water, and Baal-Peor would have been a part of this.
Vs. 42-55 This is the summary of their salvation. It was God's love for
Israel shown in freeing them from Egypt and giving them the land promised to
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Underline in your Bible what God did and what they did.
We don't want to imitate Israel. What "story" is our claim to
fame (redemption) and what should that mean for us as we follow Jesus in the harvest?
See Luke above.
Proverbs 12:21-23
Now, going backwards, I understand that a prudent person judges
situations and weighs and watches his words. I understand that God delights in
us when we act faithfully.
So, how do you understand that no
ill befalls the righteous? The meaning must be hinted at in the second part
of v. 21. A wicked person is full of trouble, anxiousness and inner conflict.
That must be the "ill" that befalls him; that is, being full of
stress, full of conflict and having a bad conscience.
All sorts of bad things happen to righteous people, but the permanent
"ill" of having a sick heart, mind, and conscience, and living in
inner conflict and stress, doesn't happen to someone whose heart is being
massaged daily by the Spirit in the Word. Knowing God and His love and
forgiveness in Christ defines us and determines our actions and thoughts. God
in us and with us continually protects and heals us, as we follow Him.
Didn't Jesus just say something like this in Luke?
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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