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

 

 

Our Text today records an earnest request Moses prayed to God, one of the last such in the man’s illustrious career. He here (Deuteronomy 3:23-28) asks God to allow him to enter the Land of Canaan!

Verse 25 specifies, quoting Moses: “I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.”

But God said (emphatically) “NO!”

The following verse tells us that God was “wroth” with Moses!

And God “would not hear” the man’s prayer!

And that the Lord commanded Moses: “Speak no more unto Me of this matter.”

Unanswered prayer!

More than that, forbidden prayer!

However, God in His Grace did let Moses’ view the land from afar!

But not enter it.

There are reasons for this denial.

Sin being behind them all.

But still … God refusing (delaying is a better word) a request of a dear Servant!

The same thing happened to Jeremiah, on a number of occasions.

Note Jeremiah 7:16 … “Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.”

The same thing happened to Paul the Apostle!

In 2nd Corinthians 12:8, speaking of a “thorn in the flesh,” the Apostle relates: “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.” Three times! Paul begged God!

But … the “thorn” stays! “And he (the Lord) said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Wow!

All I’m wondering today … are we any better than Moses or Jeremiah or Paul?

Might not there be a time that God would tell us (undoubtedly for our own good) … NO?

Something to think about this Friday morning.

When God says NO.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Part of growing up, maturing, just may be learning to accept refusal (“NO”) and staying cheerful, productive in our Christian lives!

Any comments today?

Text number … 770-844-7627

 

 

God WITH His people!

That’s exactly what Deuteronomy 2:25 describes, at least depicting one RESULT of God being WITH His people!

“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.”

Wow!

God can made someone fear (or not fear) His followers!

Yes, and He can bring us into fellowship/friendship with those He chooses too.

As in Daniel 1:9. “Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.” This deserves a second “Wow!”

And really (maybe the best illustration of all) Proverbs 16:7 promises: “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

Even the man’s enemies …. restrained from hurting him!

I’m writing the Lesson this morning as we drive up the road! Using everything wireless!

Realizing (maybe more than ever) that God can even care for us … control people’s reactions to us … under every circumstance of life!

If someone today loves you, appreciates you, has encouraged you … THANK THE LORD. I suspect strongly that He is behind those actions … not our radiant personalities!

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell