Year 1, Week 22, Day 4 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 22, Day 4

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Deuteronomy 25-26.

Today’s reading concludes the re-presentation of the Mosaic Law. The new generation of Israelites, who are about to enter the Promised Land, are given afresh the statues for living as the LORD’s covenant people. Deuteronomy 25 concerns the ninth commandment: “And you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Deuteronomy 5:20); but also the tenth commandment: “And you shall not covet your neighbor's wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Deuteronomy 5:21). Deuteronomy wraps up the exposition on the Ten Commandments with a clear reminder as to why Israel should purposely obey the LORD as they are about to enter the Promised Land.

What struck me in today’s reading is the LORD’s clear expectation that Israel would love and obey the LORD in response to the good blessings that He has for them in the Land: “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. I hope for your salvation, O LORD, and I do your commandments. My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly.” (Psalm 119:165-167). Deuteronomy 6-25 has been an exposition of the Ten Commandments, in which Moses has applied the moral law stated in the Ten Commandments to various scenarios and situations. Some of the applications were relevant to Israel as they lived in their context in covenant relationship with the LORD. As we strive to faithfully apply Deuteronomy 6-25 to our lives, there will be occasions in which it will be difficult to know what is a direct application to us today and what is not directly applicable for us today.

But when we read a section like the close of Deuteronomy 26, we can glean from the truths stated there that have a certain timeless quality to them in terms of understanding the nature of our relationship with the LORD as well as His relationship with us. Deuteronomy 26:16-19 states things that define the essence of a covenant relationship with the LORD whether that be the Old or the New Covenant. Moses, in describing the essence of our relationship with the LORD states: “This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and rules. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared today that the LORD is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice.” (Deuteronomy 26:16-17). A vital component of our relationship with the LORD is the acknowledgement that we belong to the LORD: “You have declared today that the LORD is your God.” In light of such an essential acknowledgement another vital component of our relationship with the LORD is the resolve to obey Him: “and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice.” To whatever extent the statues expressed in the Old Covenant are not binding on God’s people today, obedience is, nevertheless, still binding. Careful obedience “with all your heart and with all your soul” has not expired. In fact, in light of the blessings of the new heart and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, heart obedience is more doable than ever.

But Moses also describes the essence of the LORD’s relationship to us: “And the LORD has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, and that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised.” (Deuteronomy 26:18-19). A vital component of the LORD’s relationship with us is His acknowledgement that He has made us His, "And the LORD has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession.” The LORD is neither vague nor tentative about making us His. He has set us apart, “you shall be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised .” In light of such an essential acknowledgement another vital component of the LORD’s relationship with us is the resolve that He has to bless and highly honor His people: “he will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that he has made.” The LORD is fully committed to bless His people.

There are passages from the New Testament that are parallel to this passage in the way that it gets to the essence of covenant relationship with the LORD. One in particular, sounds very similar to what Moses has stated in today’s reading. First, it parallels the LORD’s relationship to His people: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10). Second, it parallels our relationship to the LORD: "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:11-12).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe