"There are eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea." One week and four days, that's all. With God's blessing assumed, of course, since over two million people are marching together!

But still, just eleven days! From the back door of Horeb to the front door of the Land of Milk and Honey!

Yet, historically verifiable too, it took Israel a lot longer than eleven days to make this trip. Roughly, it took her forty years!

Deuteronomy's next verse illustrates this fact. It dates the reception and the teaching of the Book of Deuteronomy to the people of God. "And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them ...." Deuteronomy 1:3

Forty years to travel an eleven day itinerary!

Why the delay?

Why the seemingly wasted time?

Why so long for God to fulfill His promises?

The fault was not on the Lord's side!

Israel sinned.

She doubted God's Word!

She grumbled and complained and rebelled too.

And a whole generation, twenty years old and upward, were "wasted" in the desert, in the wilderness.

Oh, what sin costs!

It robs us of life and vitality and blessings!

And I know of no better example of such in all the Bible than this situation right here.

Eleven days?

No, forty years!

Talk about the "wages" of sin!

The Prophet Joel talks about sin one day, using the word picture of iniquity as a "locust, a devouring worm!" He says that sin, like a parasite, eats up our years! But then the Preacher adds a note of grace! We serve a God great enough, powerful and willing enough ... to "restore" those lost years if He sees fit!

Yes, God says so in Joel 2:25. "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you."

Praise His Name!

King David was absolutely right in Psalm 31:15 when he told the Lord: "Our times are in Thy Hand."

Yes, indeed!

                        --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 3:

The Lord intended to bless His people, the citizens of Israel. One way of looking at the Book of Deuteronomy is that it's a "treaty" between God and the Jews, one that promises untold benefits if the Nation's behavior is in line with God's instructions. If obedience is the norm.

Early in Deuteronomy we see this principle illustrated. The eleventh verse of the first chapter. "The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!" And yes, the exclamation point is in the King James Text.

God longs to be good to His people.

He of course can't bless our sinful ways, our waywardness.

But He surely can honor our attempts, however feeble, to please Him!

"The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!"

And God's blessings often come in some form of "increase" to us.

Here, Deuteronomy 1:11 again, "a thousand times" increase!

The key verb, loosely translated "make" here, literally means "add." It's consonants are "ysph," actually the Old Testament name for "Joseph!"

"Bless" carries the idea of God coming down where we are, meeting us in our needs, and loving and caring and providing for us!

"A thousand times more!"

I thought yesterday about how many of God's "promises," here "dabar" the Hebrew noun meaning "words," involve some type of "upsizing."

Growth!

Advancement!

Progress!

For example, the now well known prayer of First Chronicles 4:9-10, which begins. "Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast ...." See the verb "enlarge?" It means "to make great, to make numerous!"

Here's another example. "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." Matthew 19:29, directly from the lips of Jesus, "an hundredfold!"

Wow!

This one too. "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom." Luke 6:38, running over with blessings!

God wants to be good to us!

And while this one can be abused, God's promise is still as thrilling as ever. The principle is the same, God's giving us the increase! "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:10, not enough room to receive the rewards!

Sin robbed Israel of much of God's intended goodness. Yet she still has a bright future! Based likely on Deuteronomy 1:11, the little verse that began our discussion today. "The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!"

Amen!

                    --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 4:

The "wilderness" is on my mind this morning. The desert through which God led and protected His people, from Egypt to Canaan.

Two verses from Deuteronomy chapter one will be emphasized. In verse 19 God called that vast expanse, that wasteland, "a great and terrible wilderness." The adjective "great" is spelled "gadol" in Hebrew and means "huge, large, massive in extent." And "terrible" is "yare," indicating something "fearful, dreadful."

Yet God took His children right through that difficult place!

Like He guides and directs us too. Always by our side, having promised never to leave us or forsake us!

Now let's notice Deuteronomy 1:31. Moses is teaching. "And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place."

Here we have a word picture, a lovely one!

"Wilderness" here translates "midbar," the land to the "south" of Israel, extremely desert and dry and arid.

And what did God do for the Jews in that hard place? "God 'bare' thee," reports Moses! "Nasa" means "to lift up, to carry, to support and sustain and endure!" God "toted" Israel through those badlands!

Moses, can you illustrate further? And he does. "God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son ...." Wow!

I love that!

Like a Daddy holding his little boy's or little girl's hand! Then if the child stumbles or even nearly trips ... the parent picks her up and safely transports her home!

This metaphor appears again later in the Old Testament. God carrying His child Israel. Hosea 11:3 tells us, quoting the Lord: "I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms." God coached and directed and helped the little Nation, teaching her to walk! Every Dad and ever Mom remembers this experience!

What a God we serve!

What a loving and careful Heavenly father!

He carries us along when we're no longer able to walk!

Hallelujah!

                      --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Let's all thank Him today for His Strength and Grace and Direction! He is the Saviour of our souls!

LESSON 5:

The Book of Deuteronomy contains more "grace" than one would first suspect. That's because God is Love, Old Testament or New. No matter what His present day enemies may declare.

Our verse this Saturday morning illustrates this point, the "mercy" of God. God is instructing Moses. As He leads Israel toward the Promised Land. "And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession." Deuteronomy 2:9

Many an enemy will be slain!

The Canaanites and their wicked neighbors!

But here's an exception, in our verse. The Moabites are to be left unharmed. Don't even "distress" them! This Hebrew verb is "tzsur," meaning "to bind or cramp or besiege or assault."

And the accompanying verb "contend" is "garah," don't even "meddle" with them at all! Do not "strive" with them, a synonym.

Moses, you and Israel cannot have their land, the Moabites!

Why?

They were related, in a strange sort of way too, to the Jews! "Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession."

The Moabites are the descendants of Lot! Lot, hardly an example of dedicated Christianity! Worldly Lot!

The Lot who, having escaped Sodom, had an incestuous relationship with each of his two daughters! One of the darkest accounts in the whole Old Testament!

Here it is, word for word. "Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day." Genesis 19:36-38

These Moabites ... the offspring of ungodliness ... God has just protected from Jewish attack! Again, they are descendants of Lot and one of his carnal daughters!

But then again, Lot was akin to Abraham!

And by virtue of that relationship his generations are safe from harm!

"And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession."

God keeps His Promises!

"Blood Lines" are vitally important to our Heavenly Father! I sure am glad I've been washed in the Blood of His Son Jesus.

Once God gives something, it's for sure! Secure, eternal apparently! And that little Moabite city, "Ar," means just that in Hebrew, "a town!"

Yes, God is good!

Yes, God is faithful!

Yes, God is eternal!

And yes, we can still know him today through His Darling Son the Lord Jesus Christ. The Saviour of the world.

Wonderful!

                                 --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 6:

Our daily study verses have lately been from the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy. Today's Text is especially exciting! It shows us just how thrilling word study can be, the inspired nouns and verbs and prepositions of Scripture.

"O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?" Deuteronomy 3:24

Moses is 120 years old when he writes these words, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit of course. He is praising the God of Israel.

"O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?" 

The Lord had done so much for Israel! And He has also done every bit as much, if not more, for you and me!

For them: the ten plagues, the slain lamb, the Passover, the Red Sea, the drowned enemy army, the manna, the water in the desert, the victories in Canaan!

For us, salvation through the Blood of Jesus! Not counting the many answers to prayer, innumerable anyway. And the completed Word of God, all 1189 chapters!

But still, with all God has done ... He, according to our Text, is just beginning!

"O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?"  

Reminds me of how Luke introduced the Book of Acts, his great sequel to the lovely Gospel of Luke. "The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen." From Acts 1:1-2. See that? All of Luke's 24 chapters record just what Jesus began to to and teach! Even through His glorious Resurrection and Ascension!

And ... the Lord is not through yet!

From Moses to Luke to us! He is still on the Throne! He is still Almighty! He is still the Creator and Redeemer of mankind!

Back to our Deuteronomy verse. "O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?"   

The verb "hast begun" is complicated, at least to me. It is a translation of the Hebrew word "chalal" and means "to begin." In fact 52 times in the King James Bible it is rendered that way. Once more it is translated "first." After these thousands of years, God is still in His "first" burst of Power! He is eternal, endless, everlasting, immune to time!

But here's the complication today. "Chalal" is primarily the word the Jews used for "defiling, profaning, polluting, desecrating" something! And it can still mean these things even when expressed in the hiphil stem, as here.

How is this to be understood?

Maybe this way. Or at least the Lord seemed to show me this yesterday morning as I pondered the Text.

Moses is saying something like this. "Lord, Thou hast just about 'ruined' me! Thou hast 'spoiled' me with thy Goodness! And You are just 'beginning' to do these great things at that! And Lord, truly, there is no one like Thee!"

We have been "colored, stained, imbued" with the power and grace and mercy of our great God!

Our Text uses a multiplicity of words for authority and might and strength! It furthermore implies that God plans to continue too! To keep on "beginning" to do great things on our behalf!

Perhaps few other verses in all of Scripture reveal the timelessness and omnipotence of our Heavenly Father any more than this one.

"O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?"  

Yes!

Thank You, Lord.

                           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7:

Deuteronomy 5:5 is today's verse, in our journey skipping through that great fifth Book of Moses. Thirty-four chapters teaching about our great God and His Ways, far more kind and gentle than one would have ever suspected in an Old Testament context!

"I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid ...." Moses himself said this, reviewing his rich 120 years of God given life.

"Stood," the verb, translates "amad" in Hebrew. It means "to remain" in place, "to endure, to tarry, to continue!" This is faithful Moses in all his glory, yet Jesus is even more faithful! Greater than Moses! "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house." Hebrews 3:1-2

Moses also was in those long bygone days a "mediator" for the people of Israel. A go-between to link the Almighty with his sinful followers. And Jesus today is our Mediator! "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." First Timothy 2:5-6

But why was Moses so serving his people and their Lord? Back to our Text: "I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid ...." Moses' own words.

Moses exercised his ministry ... "to shew," old English spelling, the Israelites the "Word of the Lord."

Yes!

And that's the job of every Preacher since!

To stand before God's children, the "whosoever will" responders of John 3:16 and other glorious verses ... "to show" them God's Word, the Book, the Bible, Holy Writ as it once was called.

Here's our basis, Biblically anchored, for expository preaching.

And "to show" here is the infinitive form of the Hebrew action word "nagad." It means "to declare, to announce, to report," but in this sense, "to expound." Twice in fact in the King James Version, "to expound." Three times "to show forth," further hinting at the "explanation" element the term contains.

In English our verb "expound" means, being derived from Latin, "to place outside," for all to see, the "meaning" of a document!

Moses dedicated his life to expounding the Word of God!

In Nehemiah 8:8 it's called "giving the sense" of a passage of Scripture. "Exegeting" it, some say today. "Bringing out, leading out" it's meaning!

What a noble life!

How very blessed!

"Showing" the Word of God!

Amen.

                       --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 8:

Just a thought today, really a "decorating" thought, one that someone may want to incorporate into your home.

Moses in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 is teaching the Israelites to make God's Word a priority in their lives. And in the lives of their whole families.

The Scriptures are to be "taught" to each family member, being "discussed" throughout the day and night.

Then comes today's Lesson idea. The Word of God is to be "written" throughout one's house, one's home! Read it, Deuteronomy 6:9. "And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."

There it is.

Let the Bible be beautifully displayed, powerful verse after powerful verse, in the rooms of your dwelling!

That keeps the Scriptures in front of you, in front of those little eyes too. And the familiarity will be a catalyst to our learning the Bible, the lines of God-inspired narrative or history or prophecy or admonition.

Good idea, Moses!

And this concept works too!

I am remembering right now as a little boy Mom had a verse in our bedroom. My Brother Steve and I shared a room. The Verse was written on a little plaque made of stained glass and framed with a small golden link chain. It loudly proclaimed "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." Then it said, "Isaiah 26:3." God the Peace Giver!

At night if I became fearful ... there it was. So I would just think about Jesus! In my own little way loving the Lord Who died to save me!

When thunderstorms or tornados or hail came ... they did where we lived, I kept my little mind and heart focused on Jesus!

And guess what?

The fear retreated!

Jesus is indeed the Remover of fear!

If you're His, anyway.

Moses, of course it's the Holy Spirit really, was brilliant here. And this act of obedience will yet impact lives!

God's Word is far more powerful than we can ever imagine.

Someone today apply this verse. "And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates." Deuteronomy 6:9.

It pays rich dividends.

                       --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 9:

For the past week or so we have been delving through Deuteronomy, the fifth Book Moses wrote. Just choosing a little "snippet" every day, commenting on its richness and wisdom.

Today notice with us Deuteronomy 6:23. Moses is reminiscing, thinking of God's great works on Israel's behalf. "And He brought us out from thence, that He might bring us in, to give us the land which He sware unto our fathers."

Look at the beauty of this saying. "God brought us out ... that he might bring us in!" And this is true. It's one of God's Ways with His children.

He brought Israel "out" of Egypt. That he might bring them "in" to the promised land of Canaan, flowing with milk and honey!

Christian friends, He brought us out of sin that He might bring us in ... into a Holy Spirit filled life!

And God's "out and in" sequences are always for the best!

These also remind me of Paul's great "put off" and then "put on" passages in his epistles. "Put off" the works of iniquity. "Put on" holiness and righteousness and purity, by means of the Blood of Jesus and the salvation that's ours through faith in Christ.

Spiritual growth!

"Out" and "in" ... following our Heavenly Father as He leads us day after day! What a way to live.

What a Wise God we serve.

                        --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

God might bring you "out" of one job ... to bring you "in" to another employment situation, one that eventually will prove far superior!

"Out" of one Church, but "in" another!

"Out" of discouragement, but "in" to a spirit of revival!

LESSON 10:

The Lord bountifully cared for Israel forty long years, in the desert or wilderness even! And here are two graphic verses describing such provision:

"Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years." Deuteronomy 8:4

"And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot." Deuteronomy 29:5

The verb "waxen old" in both texts translates the Hebrew word "balah." It means "to wear out" or  "to waste away."

For forty years!

Coats and jackets. Maybe I had best say robes and pants. Whatever they wore back in those times.

The noun "shoe" is "naal," merely a "sandal" grammatically. The word means a leather base on which one's foot could rest, then it being "tied on" by a leather strap or two. "Locked on" or "bolted" in place, "inclosed, shut up," hence "shod."

Still, forty year sandals?

The shoes may have actually grown with the child! Now that sounds miraculous, an act of God.

What I'm saying is this. If God can take care of a two million plus Jews in the desert ... He can certainly take care of us!

Our clothing needs.

And shoes.

And daily meals.

He loves Israel no more ... not an ounce more ... than He loves us old formerly wicked Gentiles!

Yes, He cares for us too.

Thank You, Lord.

He might these days choose to provide us the funds to go buy a new pair of shoes. Or repair our old ones, but the principle is the same.

God, our Provider!

                         --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 11:

The Verse I've chosen for today will seem unusual. And I don't know how it could be preached in a Revival Meeting either. It's just that it "jumped" out at me while reading Deuteronomy a few weeks ago.

"But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day." Deuteronomy 8:18

Now first of all let me say that I've never been one of those preachers who talked about "health and wealth" a lot. I believe that God, if He so wills, can give a man or woman plenty of both.

But on the other hand, lots of God's children, genuinely saved people, have spent their earthly lives with neither. In other words, being both poor and at times quite unhealthy.

God is not tied into a "set-in-concrete" course of action in this regard. Furthermore, you can't judge how close a person is to God, how dedicated to the Lord Jesus, by how wealthy she is! Or how healthy he is!

If you know Jesus, you are wealthy!

If you are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, you are healthy, a possessor of eternal life!

But still our Verse says what it does, obviously promising a precious commodity. "But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth ...."

The noun "wealth" is "chayil" in Hebrew. It means "strength, might, power," then also "riches" as well.

"Power" translates "koach," derived from an ancient Semitic root word meaning "to be firm." Stability and ability and substance, stamina is the idea.

Then the verb "giveth" is "nathan," to bestow or grant or permit, "to put" in one's hands!

Wow!

God can bless His children with material benefits!

And He certainly did so for Israel.

He can still do that, I think.

But then let me say that He can also confer wealth in another way. A loving family, a good job, a stable Church, a desire to know Jesus better ... all these are enjoyments God sends too!

Any one of which may be worth much  more than just money!

Apply Deuteronomy 8:18 any way you feel led. "But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day."

Let's just thank God today for all He has done for us, topmost saving our souls from Hell!

                     --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 12:

The Text today is based on a theory I have. Having heard a Preacher or two discuss this idea through the years, I think it has validity. My thoughts as to one little glimmer of truth in this great two-verse pericope we're going to discuss.

"When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water. And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly." Deuteronomy 9:9-10, Moses' testimony concerning his receiving the Law from Almighty God.

Two things.

Notice how sensitive Moses was to the things of God. Of course he had been in God's Presence for nearly six whole weeks. This man was attuned to anything God said or did.

He was apparently close enough to the Lord that he actually viewed Him writing with His Finger on the tables of stone!

No wonder God eulogized Moses so much! "And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face ...." Deuteronomy 34:10, face to face!

Yet there's a second observation our Text makes. For those forty days and nights ... Moses did not eat! Of course the Text also says he did not drink anything, that fact being an absolute miracle. The human body cannot go that long without moisture. God intervened and allowed Moses to do so.

But back to the food issue.

Nothing to eat, all that time.

Maybe he was just too amazed at the Presence of God!

Maybe he spent the time praying and worshiping!

Maybe one is just not hungry in the Face of the Creator!

Maybe the seriousness of the whole episode detracted from appetite.

Or maybe we are being taught something.

I think this is at least part of it!

Generally speaking, the more we emphasize food and taste and our palate and lots of gourmet delicacies ... the more we are petting our sensual natures. And often the less we are grooming our spiritual natures!

And at times anyway the likelihood of eating less, or at least more plainly, might be a catalyst to keener spirituality. More aware of the leading of the Spirit of God.

Think of Elijah's diet.

And John the Baptist's too.

And almost for sure Jesus was not a heavy Man. Even though He was accused by a bunch of liars of being a "glutton," our Lord was spartan in His diet most of the time. No doubt about that.

Just maybe, the less I indulge my stomach ... the more I can build my spirit! Jesus talked once about having "meat" to eat others "knew not of." Our Saviour also once talked about not living by "bread" alone, but by every word that came from the "mouth" of God.

Emphasizing the spirit over the flesh is always a good idea.

Just a suggestion today.

By the way, this could be the beginning of a good weight control program too! I close with Proverbs 25:16 and its application to today's discussion. "Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it."

Amen.

                   --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 13:

The Verse for today is found in Deuteronomy 10:9. "Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him."

The sons of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, were not given territorial land grants as the other families of the Jews were. They owned no real estate. Everyone else did.

Why were they denied this benefit?

No land to farm! No homestead to pass down the generations! No place to build a little house, however so humble!

Here's why. "The LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him."

The Levites were chosen of God to be "His workers." Not farmers or tanners or smiths or weavers.

They cared for holy things. Maintaining the tabernacle, carrying it from place to place as God led. They packed and unpacked the holy furniture each time the Cloud moved on toward Canaan. Among them, the sons of Aaron, the priests of Israel were born as well!

They had more important things to do than tend land and patch roofs and perform other menial tasks.

They literally served God!

In that wonderful sense they were actually more blessed than anyone!

God became their inheritance, not a plot of ground!

They were allowed to live off the tithes of the people, God's money paid their bills!

The people also provided them, at God's direction, cities in which to live. There they would dwell in sort of a community setting. Joshua 21:41 explains, or illustrates anyway. "All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs."

God took care of them, rather will too!

God was their "Inheritance!" And "nachlah" means "property!" Once in the King James Bible it's translated "possession!"

Wow!

And really we today can claim the same blessing. If we're saved, indwelt by the Holy Spirit!

"I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living." Psalm 142:5

"Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words." Psalm 119:57

"The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot." Psalm 16:5

What a blessing!

                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 14:

The verse, verses really, for today have one key truth, one absolutely amazing "quote." And I sincerely wish to share this with you all this morning.

Let's read the text together. "Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen." Deuteronomy 10:20-21, which initially sounds like basic Old Testament Law.

But now here it is again, with today's thought highlighted, capitalized I should say. "Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen."

See it?

"He is thy Praise!"

Talking about our great God, "He is thy Praise!"

I love that.

Paul in Ephesians 2:14 said of Jesus, "He is our Peace!"

But Moses said something similar, equally as good, and a long time earlier! God is our Praise.

Paul again, this time sounding more like Moses the Prophet. "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Galatians 6:14, where "glory" means "to brag, to boast, to praise," in Greek "kauchaomai."

Praise for God, His Cross, His Plan of Salvation!

He is our Praise!

Moses' noun here for "praise," HE IS THY PRAISE, is the Hebrew "tehillah," which means "song, hymn, adoration, thanksgiving," as well as "praise."

The Psalmist once said of the Lord, to the Lord more specifically: "All my springs are in Thee!" Psalm 87:7 ... God, Thou art my Everything!

Jesus prophetically said to his Father, Psalm 16:2, "My goodness extendeth not to thee." Our Saviour telling His Father "I have no goodness at all, no blessings, no benefits, nothing ... apart from Thee, My Father!"

Wow!

So I'm thinking here this morning in North Carolina where we are involved in Revival Services at a beautiful little mountain Church ... maybe we too should just admit it. The dear Lord is our praise as well!

He's the very heart of our lives.

He is our salvation.

Glory to His dear name.

                   --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 15:

Deuteronomy 11:25, one of God's great promises to Israel. Let's notice one of its beauties today. "There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you."

God's people back in Moses' day were ready to enter the promised land. The Lord has already guaranteed them victory. The previous verse to today's text proves so. "Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be." Deuteronomy 11:24

The point I'd like to emphasize today is this. God was able, no doubt still is, to control the emotions of those who countered Israel as she marched forward. Enemies beware!

Of course if you knew vast swarms of hornets would precede an advancing army, what would you do? Fear would certainly be among the numerous reactions! God to Israel: "And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee." Exodus 23:28

God promises "fear" will overtake all the Jews' enemies! Again our verse for today: "The LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you."

Wonderful!

Could there be a sliver of of truth in this for us?

Yet today?

If we live right, filled with the Holy Spirit, pure and holy ... might God "control" our enemies? I mean our enemies for his Sake. Place "fear" in their hearts? "Overwhelm" them with fright and confusion?

I think the answer is "Yes."

Folks who oppose God ... apprehensive of His people!

Be sure of this. People feared the godly Elijah! Paul too. Also the "fear" of God, the "terror" of the Lord will grip this whole would in days ahead.

Yes. "The LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you."

"Fear" in Hebrew as used here is "pachad," literally "awe," even stark "terror" in the King James Version. And "dread" translates "morah," a rare noun suggesting "terribleness."

God can "scare" our enemies away!

Those who oppose the preaching of the Word!

There might even be a slight hint of this principle at work in Proverbs 16:7. If so, it's amazing. "When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him."

Amen!

What a God we serve.

Let me close with one more passage. It "fits" I think. "The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion." Proverbs 28:1

Thank You, Lord.

                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 16:

The Text this morning, as we drift through Deuteronomy, is didactic. That means it "teaches" us a lesson. Of course all God's Word does that, but some portions more than others are written to instruct. Other texts are designed to rebuke and correct. Some again primarily to encourage us.

"Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth." Deuteronomy 12:19

When Israel comes into the Land, the Land of Milk and Honey, the Promised land, she is to enjoy God's good blessings. And God plans to provide plenty!

But in all that abundance, God cautions, "Do not forget the Levites!" Remember the Preachers.

Take care of God's men!

They, the Levites, were given no farmland by the Lord. Like all the other Tribes of Israel were, plenty of real estate to develop and enjoy.

The Levites were just assigned a "lot" in one of the forty-eight cities set aside for that purpose. Their "income" came from the people of God. No ox stalls or wheat fields for them.

The tithes of the Lord's people provided for these special men and their families, servants of the Lord by calling.

"Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth." Deuteronomy 12:19

Help provide for those who give all their time to serving the Lord.

In the New Testament this same principle is reiterated. Using a term, "double honor," that actually means "well paid," Paul admonished the early Churches: "Let the elders (preachers) that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine." First Timothy 5:17

Is your Preacher being loved?

Are his needs and those of his family being met?

Paul again, this time in Galatians 6:6. "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things." In other words, "If your Pastor teaches you God's Word ... 'communicate' back to him some 'good things,' like groceries and clothes or whatever." That verb "communicate" is "koinoneo," meaning "to distribute."

Plain enough!

One more time, for emphasis. "Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth." Deuteronomy 12:19

Thank You Lord, for the Book of Deuteronomy and its practical advice ... including principles of life for the twenty-first century.

           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 17:

The Verse God has laid on my heart for this Friday morning is found in Deuteronomy 16:16. It pertains to the Jews and their church-going habits. God actually instructed His people when to attend worship!

Bear in mind that they did not have local houses of worship where they could adore the Lord their God. Every Jewish father, actually God required them, all the adult males, to make the trek to Jerusalem for these annual worship festivals. And each man, if he had a family, was encouraged to bring them as well.

This could have involved walking dozens of miles, if not more! None of this is voluntary, God demanded it of those who loved Him.

Well, here's the Verse. "Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which He shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles." Deuteronomy 16:16

Three times a year, largely due to the distance required for travel. But when they went, several days' attendance was expected. Seven consecutive days or more!

I think what this God ordained "calendar" is telling us is rather simple. Here are three of God's most important seasons of the year. The Truths these holidays, or maybe better holy days, emphasize are critical in the Eyes of our Lord.

But first, a definition or two is necessary. The verb "shall appear" translates "raah" in Hebrew. It is a passive voice verb, thus meaning "to be seen!" Or "to be noticed, to be looked at, to be gazed upon" or even "exhibited!"

Wow!

Going to Church then may at least partly be for the purpose of testifying to those around us! Exhibiting to them the reality of faith in the Lord!

The "place" God chooses, "maqom," means "locality, spot, room." It's the Tabernacle early on and the Temple later in Jewish life. God told them where to go to Church!

But when?

And this is the heart of today's Lesson.

In the Feast of Unleavened Bread. These days led up to Passover! Preparation for the shedding of the blood of the innocent little lamb. This pictures Jesus' sacrificial Death on Calvary!

Next they must attend the Feast of Weeks. This involved Pentecost! The celebration of the Holy Spirit's arrival from Heaven, Acts 2 style. The Lord is telling us how vitally important, essential, the Spirit is to us yet today.

Then last of all the Feast of Tabernacles. This typified the end times. The Second Coming of our Saviour! The Rapture and the Revelation and the Kingdom Rule of Jesus on earth!

There they are!

Christians we must not forget, must not devalue, must not marginalize the Cross, the Holy Spirit and the Return of Christ in any way!

Thank God for Deuteronomy!

"Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which He shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles."

And what it teaches us even nowadays!

                 --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 18:

The Book of Deuteronomy mentions a particular historical incident in the life of Israel, one that is full of instruction for us yet today.

"Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt. How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary." Deuteronomy 25:17-18

Those wicked Amalekites, what they did to the "hindmost" of the marching Israelites, the "feeble and faint and weary." That's despicable!

Killing the weakest members of society!

Those who were lagging behind!

This is a parable, folks. The wolves who attack God's flock do the same thing. The preacher haters who try to destroy God's Men do too. They often lurk in the shadows and try to kill the older, sicker, less able followers of Jesus!

The children of Amalek, ungodly as they were, indeed acted like their spiritual father the devil!

We Christians should all keep an eye on our weaker brethren. This may be part of what Paul had in mind when he wrote Galatians 6:2. "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." If we will do this perhaps some day when we are older or weaker ... a stronger brother or sister might help us as well!

One more thought too. About straggling behind! Everyone "back there" is not necessarily old or sickly or famished. A few are simply not following closely on the Shepherd's heels!

Not snuggling up to the dear Lord, Who by the way is our true Shepherd!

I read once that the grapes that grow nearest the mother vine, on the branches closest to the main root ... those are the sweetest!

And I think Scripture like Psalm 23 makes it abundantly clear that the nearer we stay to the Pastor, the Protector, the Provider, the Saviour ... the less further back in the pack we'll be walking.

In reality, the closer we live to Jesus ... the less subject we will be to the cowardly attacks of the Devil!

Love Jesus!

Stay close by His Side!

Thusly, avoiding Amalek and his crowd! "Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt. How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary."

Let us learn today.

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 19:

There's a verse in Deuteronomy that perfectly fits the day after Easter! Chapter 26, verse 11 says this: "And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house ...."

Has God been good to anyone reading here today?

If so, we are commanded to "rejoice" in that goodness!

"Samach" is the Hebrew verb here, meaning "to be glad, to be merry," to "light up" with sheer delight!

Why don't we take some time today and thank the Living Saviour for some of His manifold blessings in our lives?

Yet the verb "shall rejoice" is surprisingly not an imperative in this verse, not grammatically so. But it does constitute some very good advice! It reveals to us God's Heart, God's Will, God's Pleasure when He is so bountiful to us.

And note too that God has not only showered on each of us His benefits ... but also on our households!

Indeed it is true.

And the greatest "good thing" of all, is of course our very salvation.

"Lord, we rejoice in Thee today. We thank Thee for Thy great Goodness. We love Thee for being the great resurrected Saviour of sinners."

Amen.

                 --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 20:

Today we will learn a new word. One that is used in English only twice in Scripture. It's "avouched." Let me show you its two appearances in the King James Bible, and just two verses apart really.

"Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice. And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments. And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken." Deuteronomy 26:17-19

The expressions "hast avouched" in verse 17 and "hath avouched" in verse 18 are both translated from the Hebrew word "amar." It usually means "to say or speak," over five thousand times in fact in the Old Testament!

But, and this is how it's used here in our text today, it is also defined and rendered as "to promise" six times in the Bible!

Now let's go back and look at our paragraph.

It begins with something Israel promises God. "Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice."

Then it continues with God promising something to His people! "And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments. And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken."

By the way, that second verb on God's side, "hath promised" is obviously a parallel term to "avouched." And "hath promised" here is "dabar" in Hebrew. It also means "to speak or say," a few less than a thousand times or so in the Scriptures.

We promise God once.

He promises us back twice!

We promise to obey Him.

He promises to bless us a dozen-fold!

What an agreement!

What a situation!

What a blessing!

Read the verses again.

Commit yourself to God afresh and anew.

And just watch what He does for you!

God always out-gives us!

He is the God of all Grace!

Praise his Name.

                   --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 21:

Deuteronomy 29:29 is a verse we all may need at some point in our Christian lives. I've heard it quoted dozens of times, mostly in a good sense too. Add it to your Bible knowledge repertoire.

It actually helps us to understand that there are some things we will never understand! God's Ways are so far beyond our ways, His Wisdom so much deeper than anything we've known, His omniscience so humanly unreachable ... that Deuteronomy 29:29 must often be remembered.

"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."

Here we are essentially told that some things God has kept "secret," while other things He has chosen to "reveal."

And it's implied here that we had best leave the "secret" things alone. Not pursuing information God has reserved just for Himself.

Yet again the things that have been divinely "revealed" are to be pursued and studied and obeyed and taught to our families!

"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."

The word "secret" here is a participle, a verb acting like an adjective. It means things that are "concealed." The Hebrew Text just says, "The secrets to the Lord." No doubt these topics are best left in His Hands!

The verb "revealed" translates "galah" and means "to uncover, to show, to disclose, to appear." Made "naked," literally.

Then comes the big question. How does God reveal these things to us?

And here is the answer: "The words of this Law!"

God's Word is the source of Revelation! What He has revealed He has also incorporated into His Book, the Holy Bible, "God-breathed" Paul says!

Now folks, take these few Deuteronomy 29:29 facts and blend them and internalize them and apply them. Then the next time a puzzling situation arises, or a doctrinal question beyond our ability to unravel is asked ... rely on the Truth of our verse today.

It's the Truth!

                 --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

If you can't memorize the Verse, at least learn the reference. "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." 

Amen!

LESSON 22:

The Text today, our daily devotional, is a little three-verse paragraph. But the whole thing fits together so well it must be viewed as a unit.

"And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, when all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law. And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it." Deuteronomy 31:10-13

Did you really take time to read this little portion of Scripture? To get its essence, anyway? It is expressed as a command from Moses, hence from the Lord.

Every seventh year God had built into the Hebrew calendar a set of laws teaching the release of all servants, fellow Jews of course. Those who had been sold into forced labor due to financial collapse. Deuteronomy 15:12 tells it best. "And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee."

The land was to "rest" that year too, no farming whatsoever! Like a year-long Sabbath really! Leviticus 25:4 explains it. "But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard."

Well, in the Fall of every seventh year, at the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem ... where every male among the Israelites was required to gather for a week of sincere worship ... one of God's Men, a Priest or Levite no doubt, was "to read" the Word of Truth to the people, publicly!

By the way, Dad was required to come, but Mom and the kids were encouraged to make the journey as well.

Wow!

Read them the Bible!

Or at least the Book of Deuteronomy, more likely the whole Law, Genesis through Deuteronomy!

In other words, get the Scripture into their hearts!

Notice it again. "Read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear ...." Here the "stranger" is the foreigner who may be living in Israel at that time. They are not exempted.

The power of hearing God's Word read ... aloud!

That's something we're missing today! In our homes, in our Sunday School classes, in our Church Services, in our private devotions!

Paul to Timothy: "Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." First Timothy 4:13 where "reading" is the word "anagnosis," meaning "knowing again!" Look too how this reading is equated with exhortation and doctrine, two essentialities today!

Read the Bible, clearly and audibly, to your family!

Why?

Again we go to Moses: "That they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law."

Results of loving and reading and internalizing the Bible!

This system worked well in fourteen centuries before Christ ... and it will still do so today, if practiced consistently.

Amen!

                      --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 23:

The verse is simple, yet profound. God is talking about His people, the Jews. In principle the same truth would apply to us today, Christians who have been washed in the Blood of Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son.

Read it carefully now. "For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance." Deuteronomy 32:9

Time and time again we are reminded in the Bible that God is our "portion!" God is our Reward! God is our Inheritance!

For example, in Psalm 73:26. "God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever." King James Version, word for word.

Or Psalm 119:57. "Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words."

But our Text is radically different from these!

It's not saying that God is our "meat." Our "food." Our "heritage."

It declares that we are God's reward!

Read it even more carefully now. "For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance." Deuteronomy 32:9

Wow!

God loves us so much He considers us one of His assets! One of His greatest blessings!

The noun used here for "portion" is astounding. "Cheleq" in Hebrew really means "share, part, territory, prized possession," and even a couple of times, "that which flatters!"

God is flattered that we are His!

Wow yet once more!

Oh, how He must love us!

Think about this fact today. How very special you, though unworthy, are to Almighty God!

How much He thinks of us.

What a God we serve.

                     --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 24, CONCLUSION:

This is our last Lesson from Deuteronomy, at least in this series. Two dozen meditations from one of Jesus' favorite Books of Scripture!

Lord willing, we will immediately begin a new series of Bible Studies from a different portion of God's Word. Tomorrow, I mean.

But for now, let's focus on Deuteronomy 33:27, a classic! "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee."

God is "eternal!" The Hebrew word here is "qedem," meaning "from the east." In other words, "early." In the King James Bible it's translated "old, ancient, aforetime," and such. He is God from the beginning! From before that, too!

"Refuge" is "meonah," suggesting a "dwelling, habitation, den, place" where One lives! God is our "Home" then!

What security that metaphor presents!

"Underneath" is the preposition "tahath," meaning "below, the bottom part." We rest in Him, He being our Foundation!

His "Arms" are our support. "Zeroa" does mean "arms," but also "shoulder" twice! He can either be carrying us in His Arms, or allowing us to safely ride on His mighty "Shoulder" as well! Reminds me of Luke 15, the Shepherd who found the little lost lamb. "And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing." Luke 15:5, maybe Jesus had Deuteronomy and Moses in mind.

What kind of "arms?" Why, they are "everlasting" ones! And "olam" means "as far as you can see," to the "vanishing point!" It's "evermore" fifteen times in the Bible and "always" four or five times too.

"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee."

Yes, there's that other promise too, that other fact.

He can "thrust out" the enemies! "Garash" means "to expel, to divorce, to toss away," all of which are powerful pictures.

What a way to end a Book of the Bible!

Anyone today insecure?

Worried?

Fearful?

Well, read it again.

"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee."

Now think upon it often.

Surely therein you'll find peace and courage and love.

                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

We pray these meditations have been a blessing to you!