Journeying through Deuteronomy:

Part of our Scripture Text today reads: “When thou shalt have eaten and be full; then BEWARE lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” Deuteronomy 6:11-12

It’s a warning!

DO NOT FORGET!

The ideas of remembering and carefully (attentively) hearing and certainly not forgetting … these occur in Deuteronomy dozens upon dozens of times!

But the Lord, knowing human nature as He does, realizes our sinful propensity to “prosper” … then promptly “forget” the source of that well-being.

God plans to bless Israel, here agriculturally, as well as in many other ways. Bumper crops, apparently. Lots of grain, plenteous food! But … “When thou shalt have eaten and are full …,” the danger comes.

It happened to the Laodicean Church many years later. See if you can “spot” the parallel, the similarity. “Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” Revelation 3:17, not even needing God!

When God blesses us … let’s be careful. We too need to: “Beware … lest thou forget the LORD.”

And how do I not forget Him?

According to today’s verse … by thinking of many past blessings He has already showered upon us. Back to our Text: “When thou shalt have eaten and be full; then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”

Blessing number one for Israel:  “Who brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” And thousands more (benefits) beside!

When you quit reading here … go and pray.

And remember some things God has done for you … even  if you’ve already had breakfast!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

The Lord, in the Text we’re using today, is very specific about something He wants done!

He not only wants us “talking” about His Word, and “teaching” it to everyone under our sphere of influence … He also wants us to prominently display its Instructions!

“And thou shalt bind them (His Words) for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” Yes, pretty much “to-the-point,” Deuteronomy 6:8-9.

The verb “bind” can mean “to tie.” As if God would have us “wear” the Scriptures! Some strict Jews literally adore themselves with little boxes on their hands, forearms, with Scripture Verses written on paper and enshrined in those little containers.

The noun “frontlets” also means something that “goes around” some object, here likely one’s head. “Tie” some of the Word on your forehead, “between thine eyes,” it seems.

Then the third admonition is less physical (personally) but still quite obvious. “Write” the Truths of the Bible on one’s house, its posts and gates! The verb does mean “to record” them, visibly.

Wow!

Now of course … these “laws” were directed specifically to the Israelites. And we who are “in Christ” are not mandated to live under the Mosaic legislation.

So I’m not going to belabor the details of the foregoing commands.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THERE IS A PRINCIPLE UNDERLYING GOD’S DIRECTIONS IN TODAY’S TEXT.

God’s Word, the New Testament included, should be a major part of our lives!

I might not today wear it on the outside … but surely I am to carry it with me everywhere I go … on the inside. In my heart, my mind!

In Psalm 10:4 Scripture rebukes the “wicked” man, because “God is not in all his thoughts.”

Wow!

I’m thinking that if God is in ALL MY THOUGHTS … I am already wearing His Word internally!

Proverbs 23:17 adds to our discussion. “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.” All the day long?

Then God’s Word must be with me, “hidden” in my heart, though not necessarily written on my front porch!

It’s called being Bible-centered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Joshua 1:8 encapsulates the whole idea: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein.”

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

However, although I am grown and older now, I still remember a Scripture plaque Mom had placed in my little bedroom, on the wall at the foot of the bed! I can tell you its color, some details of its frame, and certainly the Words it conveyed! “Thou (Lord) wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3, still an overwhelming promise to my heart!

I grew up with that verse virtually “on my doorpost!”

If this gives any of you an idea, do it!

 

I am enjoying these Lessons from the Book of Deuteronomy.

Early this morning as I was reading this 6th chapter, several references (verses) literally “jumped” off the pages! They were “begging” … “Write about me, please!”

“One at a time,” I thought.

But I must begin with verses 6 and 7, all time classics indeed!

“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7

I suspect the term “these words” means the whole Book of Deuteronomy, that at least. Maybe even the entire Pentateuch, Genesis through Deuteronomy, the “Books of Moses.” What would it hurt if it meant the entire Old Testament? Or all the Bible?

Put God’s Commands … “in thine heart!”

How?

By “memory” perhaps, or maybe he just meant to “love” them sincerely, in one’s heart that way. Holding the Text “dear to one’s heart,” something like that.

But notice that if one’s “heart” truly holds something “precious” … that heart will automatically “teach” those truths to others!

To one’s children (or grandchildren), especially!

The verb “teach” used here is “shanan” and is found only 9 times in the Bible! It technically is translated “shalt teach them diligently.” It means “to sharpen!” Honestly, it does. “To whet, to prick!”

The idea is “teaching incisively, helping “imprint” the words of God into those impressionable little minds and hearts and souls!

An adjunct to “teaching” is “talking!” As here: “Thou shalt teach them diligently … and shalt talk of them …” (as well). Both actions are critical, the second strengthening the first.

The word “talk” is “dabar,” to speak with special reference on the CONTENT of the conversation! The verb here is framed in the PIEL stem, Hebrew grammar. That means “teach” with all the heart and emotion and earnestness you have!

Oops, I just notice that the foregoing verb “to teach,” is also a PIEL! “Energetic impartation of knowledge,” of God’s Word!

But then the Lord suggests 4 times when we ought to be teaching such Truth to the children.

“When thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Wow!

Early in the morning.

Late at night, bedtime.

Sitting around the house, presumably including mealtimes.

When traveling, with the family in tow!

May I summarize?

“ALL THE TIME,” practically!

Are God’s Words THAT important?

We really must let Jesus answer this one: “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63

Life!

OK Parents, Grandparents … let’s get busy!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

And if the children are all grown and gone from home … it still would not be a bad idea to study the Word of God these same 4 times of the day, of the night! Like David (or some Psalmist) in Psalm 119:164. “SEVEN TIMES a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.”

Thrilling!

 

 

Deuteronomy 5

In this truly great Chapter of Scripture we have a second “telling” of the Ten Commandments, God reminding His people how to properly live for Him. In fact, the word “Deuteronomy” literally means a “second” giving of the “Law!” (By the way, if God repeats Himself on matters of great importance, so can we! So can your Pastor! So must a good parent to his or her children!)

True, this repetition of the Law of God is forty years after its first proclamation. And here Moses is clearly reviewing these things with Israel prior to his death. But still the critical essence of God’s commands to the Jews is obvious.

Did you know this? Nine of these Ten Commandments are repeated in the New Testament, God expecting US to live righteously as well! The one about honoring the Sabbath is NOT specifically reiterated, because we are now expected to worship on the Day of Jesus’ Resurrection. Sunday, the Lord’s Day!

Anyway, let me show you today’s verse.

After Israel promises to “obey” God and live by His Precepts … God speaks:

“O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” Deuteronomy 5:29

I think our great God here is expressing a wish!

A longing of His Heart!

“O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always …”

God does not do this a lot!

One of His cravings!

Yes it seems … the passion of the Lord for His people is (not only God’s Pleasure) … but also their own welfare!

Read the rest of the verse … if Israel obeys:

“That it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!”

God will bless them … because acts of obedience to Him automatically carry within themselves certain benefits!

Not stealing … keeps one out of jail, at least for theft!

Not killing … keeps one from having to flee from some avenger of blood!

Not lying … allows one to have liberty in his speech. He does not have to “remember” what he said to a certain person … what “story” he concocted … he can just tell the truth!

Even eating by God’s standards … likely produces better health and maybe even longer life!

Wow!

Obey God’s Commandments!

For two reasons …

With number one being the Glory of God, fulfilling His Desires! “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always …”

And number two, blessing upon God’s children! “That it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!”

Amen.

Sounds like … if we please God, He will bless us.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

But keep in mind that in certain cases (the man Job comes to mind) one can obey God and still have trials … but in the end, God always keeps His Word!

We must follow the first half of today’s verse … and let God take care of the last half, in His Own Way, His Own Time!  “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always … that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” Deuteronomy 5:29

Wow!

 

It’s just an expression, but a memorable one.

A testimony of God’s Power to deliver!

Maybe I should say “God’s Power to rescue!”

Deuteronomy 4:20 is the Text for today. “But the Lord hath taken you, and brought you forth out of THE IRON FURNACE, even out of Egypt, to be unto Him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.”

I’m interested in God’s analogy here of Egypt.

He called that place “the iron furnace!”

An uncomfortable situation, no doubt!

In fact, the Jews were slaves there!

Forced labor!

For, in round figures, “four hundred years!”

An “iron furnace” indeed.

The intense “heat” may be a reference to the making of bricks for Pharaoh’s many building projects, too. Here’s a direct quote from Exodus 5:16, surely such brick had to be “baked.” The Egyptian “taskmasters” to the Jews: “Make brick.” Then we are told: “Behold, thy servants are beaten,” when not enough “straw” was found to complete their projects!

Wow!

And God knew what the Israelites were suffering!

Remember Isaiah 63:9. When God’s people hurt … God hurts! “In all their (the Jews) affliction,  He (the Lord) was afflicted.”

Generations, in an “iron furnace!”

Readers here this Saturday morning, GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU ARE ENDURING AS WELL!

Hallelujah!

But, as comforting as that though can be … there’s more.

An iron furnace, stringent as it is, can also have benefits!

Like purifying certain metals.

And solidifying certain types of clay.

In other words, making things more useful!

More, using Paul’s words from 2nd Timothy 2:21, “meet for the master’s use!”

Iron furnaces … horrible?

Yes, in many ways.

But … profitable?

Yes, in many (more important) ways.

Remember, the three Hebrew children of Daniel chapter three were NOT in that (iron) furnace alone! “Lo, I see FOUR MEN loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like THE SON OF GOD.” Daniel 3:25

Wow!

God … and “iron furnaces!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell