Opus 2018-228: Digging into Deuteronomy: Idle Worship and Idol Worship

(Deuteronomy 4:23 KJV)  Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.

Most people have heard of the Ten Commandments.  I doubt if there are many who could list all ten.  If you are curious you can find them at Exodus 20:3-17.  I don’t know if the last six are listed by priorities but it is clear that the first are most important.  Actually they are a package deal and in spite of what you have heard, they can be obeyed.  The problem is no one wants to obey.  If we look at modern entertainment we find that most of them are violated on a regular basis.

The second commandment is being referred to here.

(Exodus 20:4-6 KJV)  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Most of us today would not think of actually building an idol and putting it in a special room to worship.  We are to modern for such foolishness.  Who wants a golden calf or a statue of pan in their living room?  This points out that idolatry can take many forms.  An idol is anything that we give a place to in our lives that represents anything that God has commanded us to avoid. 

For example take the commandment that says,

(Exodus 20:8 KJV)  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

How many regular habits do we have that occupy our day of rest?  You might have a garage full of lawn equipment and feel that Sunday is the only day you have to mow the yard.  You may feel like you have a need for a game of golf or other sport activity.  Maybe you honor the sabbath by eating out and making others do the work you are avoiding.  Those appropriate activities become idols because they get in the way of putting God first.

I think the point of violation will be different for each of us.  It may be subtle.  It will have eternal results.  Keep in mind that God will not be mocked.

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Opus 2018-174: Digging into Deuteronomy: Memory Loss

(Deuteronomy 4:9 KJV)  Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

Why is it that we seem to need to keep repeating things to remember them?  When I was in high school and college I knew everyone’s birthday.  Now I have to write down the dates for my wife and kids.  I once had long passages of scripture memorized and now can’t even remember which ones they were.  I could quote the Gettysburg Address.  I used to know the proper mixture for mixing mortar.  I could look at a baby and tell you how many months.  The list goes on.  I would give you more examples but I can’t remember what I have forgotten.

This verse tries to alert us to the danger of forgetting.  The fade starts as our eyes stop looking at them.  Then they get vague in our minds and eventually they wither in our hearts.  You may not have any tools to study the Hebrew but “give heed” and “keep” (8104) are the same Hebrew word.  The antidote is given twice.  We remember by repetition.  Every year when I was teaching I had to work through how to figure percentages.  I knew there was a formula, I just didn’t remember what numbers went where.  After a few times reviewing it all came back and I didn’t need to think about it any more, until next year.  Every summer the knowledge would hide because I wasn’t using it.

One of the best ways to remember the important things is to teach them to your children.  That reinforces by repetition but it also puts you on the line.  You have declared something you believe to be important.  You have demanded that they learn it.  Now you better live up to it yourself. 

There may be a few people with perfect memory but that isn’t me and probably isn’t you.  We have to work at it.

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Opus 2017-323: Digging into Deuteronomy: Conditional Promises

(Deuteronomy 4:1 KJV)  Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.

How many times do we need to see it to accept it.  It again seems that obedience is necessary so “that” (4616) (in order that NASB) God’s blessings will be bestowed.

The promise has been made.  The land is being given to Israel.  You would think that would be a done deal, but not so fast.  There are two other steps involved in this gift.

Israel needs to “go” (935) and “possess” (3423) (take possession NASB).  This is the action stage, obedience.  It would seem that the gift is a work in progress.  There seems to be a time element to the promise.  It seemed so final at first listen but not if you are paying attention.

Before they can act they need to “harken” (listen NASB) (8085).  I don’t know about you but this is the hard part. I don’t like to listen, or so my wife tells me.  There are different types of listening.  Some involve the ears, others the heart.  When we read we need to not only engage our mind but bring our heart into the mix.  We need to take the knowledge and make it our own.

Are you one of those people who really want their lives to be lived for Almighty God?  Do you want to hear the words “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”?  It isn’t enough to know that there are promises.  You also need to follow the steps outlined above.  You need to listen and live.  At that point the promise is fulfilled in your life.

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Opus 2017-316: Digging into Deuteronomy: Roots of Anti-Semitism

(Deuteronomy 2:25 KJV)  This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.

One of the questions I have heard regards the widespread loathing that so many in the world have toward the Jews.  All are familiar with the Nazi holocaust.  If you saw the movie “Fiddler on the Roof” you are familiar with pogroms.  The concept of being anti-Semitic is well known.  The Jews are the focus of much hatred and hatred is often disguised fear or jealousy.

We see this around the world today and it is particularly virulent among the Arabs.  We see it among liberals.  It is at the root of so many Democrats that hate to hear that Israel is victorious.  It is why the news refuses to acknowledge that Israel is the only free country in the Middle East.  It is also, strangely enough, why so many non-religious Jews act like they do.  It is not a new phenomenon.  Here are the roots.

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Opus 2017-284: Digging into Deuteronomy: Don’t Assume

(Deuteronomy 2:15 KJV)  For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were consumed.

Here is a point that Christians and Jews need to mark down.  Although it is good to be the chosen people, that does not guarantee that all will be milk and honey.  God’s “hand” (3027) was against them even though they were the chosen ones. 

Some people think that America has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people.  I don’t see any Biblical evidence for that.  At the same time we have been blessed by God because until recently we at least paid lip service to His standards. 

Remember that God can, and will, turn His hand against us if we continue to live in perversion and rebellion.

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Opus 2017-253: Digging into Deuteronomy: Biblical Borders of Israel

(Deuteronomy 2:5 KJV)  Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.

Even today this area of the world is in turmoil.  One of the mantras of the Muslims is that the land is theirs and Israel has no right to exist.  The Bible obviously gives Israel to the Jewish people.  You may not like it but if you believe the Bible is the word of God, deal with it.  The real question is not the validity of Israel but the location of the borders.

This verse tell us that there are certain areas of the Middle East that Israel is not to have.  Mount Seir is a term used to designate Edom.  If you look at an atlas, possibly in the back of your Bible, you will find that Edom is on the southeast corner of the land given by God.  In modern terms it would be located in Modern Jordan below the Dead Sea.  It is not in any of the areas in dispute today.  Later on, in verse 9, we find that Moab, and in verse 19 Ammon, were also not to belong to Israel.  Moab was just above Edom.  Ammon was to the east.

Israel was granted a land by God.  It was denied other areas.  David and Solomon may have expanded into areas greater than the basic Israel but there is a heartland that was divinely granted.  We need to keep that in mind as we watch the news.

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Opus 2017-246: Digging into Deuteronomy: Fear Factor

(Deuteronomy 2:4 KJV)  And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore:

This verse presents an interesting bit of advice.  The Children of Israel  are told to “take heed” (be careful NASB) (8104) because the others will be “afraid” (3372a).  When you think about it there is some truth.  People are the most dangerous when they are afraid, not when they are secure. 

Have you ever been startled in such a way that you lashed out?  Someone sneaks up behind you and thinks it will be funny to make you jump.  As you jump, you swing.  If you had seen them coming it would not have ended that way.  Many tragedies involving people shooting family members happen in the dark when the person with the gun panics.  

Bullies tend to look for people that are insecure.  They generally don’t bother people who look confident and strong. 

So a word of wisdom for you.  Be careful when you are around people who are afraid.

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Opus 2017-228: Digging into Deuteronomy: Later May Not Come

(Deuteronomy 1:45 KJV)  And ye returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you.

Have you ever met someone who says that they plan to live life fast and loose and on their death bed they will repent.  They assume this will give them the best of both worlds.  They assume they will have time to take that step.  They assume God will always be there ready to respond to their prayer.

They assume wrong.  This verse makes it clear that you are not smarter than God.  This is not the only place I have found this but is another example of God not listening when people call on Him.

It sounds like the people referred to are sincere.  At least they are good at shedding tears.  But notice that it says God will not listen.  God is not your grandmother.  He is not your kindergarten teacher.  He is not your social worker and He does not play games. 

So don’t assume He is standing right behind that tree over there hoping to hear you say the right words.  He has a universe to run.  He may be saving the life of a future Mozart when you want to have your tizzy fit.

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Opus 2017-221: Digging into Deuteronomy: Age of Accountability

(Deuteronomy 1:39 KJV)  Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

There are a number of questions that sincere believers have.  One involves people who die without hearing the gospel.  Another, which this verse deals with, is “At what age does a person become responsible for their moral choices”.  Or to put it another way, what is the “age of accountability?”

In the context we see that the nation of Israel, except for Caleb and Joshua, have refused to trust the Lord to lead them into the Promised Land.  As a result God has withdrawn the promise from that generation and said that none of them would live to see it.  In His mercy and grace God explained that you don’t held the children responsible for the actions of the parents.  He excludes the children from the curse.

The key is the ability to know the difference between good and evil.  What is that age?  It would be different for everyone.  Children mature at different speeds.  I think that a lot of children are aware before we want to admit but God knows when we question.  I think this also would apply to those who are mentally deficient.  Again, God will know.

If you are reading this I would assume you are old enough to know good from evil.  God waits for you to decide whether the promise or the curse applies to you.

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Opus 2017-217: Digging into Deuteronomy: Hard Choices

(Deuteronomy 1:35-6 KJV)  Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers, Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD.

How easy it is to throw away a promise.  In the first Chapter of Deuteronomy we see how the children of Israel who had been led out of captivity in Egypt, across the Red Sea and to the verge of the Promised Land have thrown away the promise God had given to them.  They refused to trust and move forward in obedience.  As a result all those alive at this point were told they would not enter Canaan.

There were two exceptions, Caleb and Joshua.  In this verse we see why Caleb would receive what God had promised.  He looked at things differently than the majority.  He stood out because he was different.  I think it is significant that God says Caleb “followed” (310) “wholly” (fully NASB) (4390).  He wasn’t just a lot of talk.  He was not an opportunist.  He was fully committed.

It is important that we give God everything we have.  Most people who come to believe in Jesus will have a moment of crisis.  There will come a time when they will be forced to decide whether they are hangers on or disciples.  Everything started out beautiful.  Emotions were high.  The sense of forgiveness made life different.  But eventually the everyday steps in and begins to mess up the glow.  Eventually the call to walking in righteousness makes itself harder to ignore.  Eventually you come to a point where you need to fish or cut bait.  We will need to decide if we are follow the Lord fully. 

Jesus ran into this during His teaching ministry.

(John 6:60 KJV)  Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

(John 6:66 KJV)  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Notice that these are called “disciples”.   These are people who had declared that they were going to follow Him.  He would be their guru.  At least until the teaching got too hard; then they were out of there.

Caleb had to make that decision.  If you are a follower of Jesus, you will need to make that decision.  Caleb and the nation of Israel traveled together for the next forty years.  Most of the way you could not tell that he was different, but when the crossing was made across the Jordan, Caleb was the only one left.

The decision is up to you.

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Opus 2017-168: Digging into Deuteronomy: Partiality

(Deuteronomy 1:17 NAS77)  'You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not fear man, for the judgment is God's. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.'

God has a real problem with “partiality” (5234/6440).  This is a compound word meaning “regard” (5234) the “face” (6440).  This is part of the issue of justice.  Biblical justice has two sides.  The side that is totally rejected by our pagan culture is that justice is based on the unchanging righteousness and truth of God.  Right and wrong do not change.  They are immutable. 

The second part is addressed here.  Biblical justice is impartial because it does not give one result for a rich person and another for a poor person.  The law is blind.  That is why the statue for justice has a blindfold on.  Different people distort this different ways.  The Progressives think they are God’s anointed and have the right to tell everyone else how to live.  They don’t think the rules apply to them.  They are like the absolute monarchs of old.  Social Justice Warriors think that poor people should get special privileges.  They believe that the wealth of others should be redistributed in the name of fairness.  They believe that the penalties of breaking the law should be lighter for the less fortunate.  In all cases they are above the law.

Neither is justice.  We are not to discriminate for the “small” (6996b) or the “great” (1419).  That is God’s word on the matter and we ignore it at our peril.

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Opus 2017-158: Digging into Deuteronomy: Immigrants

(Deuteronomy 1:16 NAS77)  "Then I charged your judges at that time, saying, 'Hear the cases between your fellow countrymen, and judge righteously between a man and his fellow countryman, or the alien who is with him.

Immigration is a big issue today in the United States.  It has been an issue from the beginning of our history.  As should be expected the Bible has something to say about it.  The legal structure of Israel made allowance for dealing with the “alien” (1616).  This is the first reference to non-Jews in Deuteronomy.  There are more.  I have noticed three issues. 

First is the concept of justice even for foreigners.

(Deuteronomy 24:14 NAS77)  "You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your countrymen or one of your aliens who is in your land in your towns.

(Deuteronomy 24:17 NAS77)  "You shall not pervert the justice due an alien or an orphan, nor take a widow's garment in pledge.

(Deuteronomy 27:19 NAS77)  'Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

I remind you that the Biblical idea of justice has nothing to do with the modern mantra involving “social justice”.  That is just a way of pushing a left wing agenda.  Real justice is based on unchanging truth and values.  Real justice does not change based on who is in power.  Write that down and underline it if you need to. 

The Bible says that even the alien is to receive justice.

A second principle for aliens is that they were also expected to celebrate the Sabbath.

(Deuteronomy 5:14 NAS77)  but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.

The day of rest was a principle established by God for all of creation.  It did not just apply to an in crowd or ruling party

All of this being said, the third principle is that foreigners are not always held to the same standard of Jews.

(Deuteronomy 14:21 KJV)  Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.

God did not expect the non-Jew to follow the same dietary laws as His people.  Food that would be rejected for a Hebrew was okay for a gentile.  This is a focused verse but it shows you the principle.

These are principles that should be taken into consideration as we think about the aliens in our midst.

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Opus 2016-248: Digging into Deuteronomy: Promises, Promises

Today I continue looking at passages in Deuteronomy that stood out to me this summer.

God “swore” (7650) He would “give” (5414) all of this land to Israel. 

(Deuteronomy 1:8 KJV)  Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

Set aside whether that refers to modern Israel or not.  What I want to focus on is the nature of God’s “gifts”.  Keep in mind that God’s gifts often, if not usually, if not always, have strings and conditions attached.

The land was there.  The borders had been described.  The promise had been given generations before and repeated.  The conditions here were two fold.  First, they needed to “go in”.  God often lays out blessings for us but there is a requirement that we get moving.  The promise of salvation is out there.  I think it is pretty clear.  Why?  Because the general public is informed enough to mock it and turn away. 

Second, the children of Israel had to “possess” (3423) the land.  An interesting aspect of this word is that it can also mean “dispossess”.  In order to claim the land they had to take it away from the people that lived there.  That involved continued obedience.  It involved struggle and fighting.  It involved building and plowing.  The milk and honey did not just appear on store shelves.

One balance that is always hard to find is between grace and obedience.  Although God can do it all by Himself, witness creation, He has chosen to structure the world so that we need to get involved to make things complete.

What does God expect of you?  What does He expect of me?  I ask that second question a lot.

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Opus 2016-237:  Digging into Deuteronomy:  Historic Israel

Over the summer I read through the book of Deuteronomy and jotted down some ideas that came to me.  Here I begin to develop those as time permits.  I want to start with,

(Deuteronomy 1:7 KJV)  Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.

As you read through this passage you get a view for the vision God had for His people.  He planned on giving them a land.  This is quite a large chunk of territory.  It would include a much larger area than modern Israel. 

The exact lines are difficult to establish.  Every scholar seems to have a slightly different understanding so let’s look at the terms that we are more familiar with.  In verse 1 you have the KJV mentioning the Red Sea.  Everyone I read agreed that the word “sea” is not in the Hebrew and it seems to refer to something else.  The Amorites and Moab are mentioned as well as the Negev and Canaanites.  This would mean the area to the east of the Dead Sea and south to the Gulf of Aqabah.  In the North and East you have Lebanon and the Euphrates River mentioned.

This is obviously a larger area than modern Israel and covers areas that neither David or Solomon controlled. 

So what is historic Israel?  Larger than today.  Does that give a right to conquest?  History will be the judge of that.

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