><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Deuteronomy) CHAPTER 1 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) The burden of this chapter is the people's sin in refusing to go forward to the promised land. How is the sin described (see verses 26,27,32) and what made the guilt of it greater(see Note on verses 9-18; also verses 31-33)? 2) What solemn lesson is taught in vs 40-45? Cf Is 59:1,2; Je 11:14; Heb 12:17. 3) What does this chapter teach us about the importance of knowing history, especially Bible history? Cf Ps 78:1-8;44:1-8;1 Cor 10:6-13; Rom 15:4. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Deuteronomy) Chapter 1 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- The Israelites "lost heart" because the enemy was reportedly "stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites (giants) there." Despite the Lord making His protection blatantly clear, providing fire by night and a cloud by day, "to show you the way you should go". When they failed to trust the Lord, His blessing was removed from them. They were chased out "like a swarm of bees" and beat down from Seir to Hormah. By knowing Bible history, we can apply it to our own lives. From that knowledge, we will grow in faith and learn to make good decisions. There is much insight and spiritual growth gained from daily reading of the Word in a concentrated manner. Even just a "snack" of the Word will help! We can learn from past saints' mistakes. This chapter is special to me. I see my own "Anakites" as my doubt, fears, worries. My shortcomings. The Lord says this to us, "DO NOT BE TERRIFIED; DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEM. THE LORD YOUR GOD, WHO IS GOING BEFORE YOU, WILL FIGHT FOR YOU…" The battle is not ours, it is His. Let's learn from history. -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Deuteronomy 1 The History after the Exodus Before the second generation went into the promised land. Moses told them how God led them out of Egypt and it mentioned the failures of their fathers in the wilderness from Horeb to Kadesh. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) The people's sin was one of doubt, of mistrusting the Lord's provision and capability to provide for them the victory and the Promised Land. The people were in essence questioning God's ability to keep His promise to them that the land would be theirs. It is presented in this chapter in 26, 27,32 as rebellion, grumbling, and not trusting. We see in v6,7 6 "The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, 'You have stayed long enough at this mountain. 7 'Turn and set your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites, and to all their God was telling the people they had spent enough time in Horeb(2 years). IT was time to move onward, to mature. Each of us as Christians needs to move past our worries, fears, doubts, and apprehensions. We need to realize that we have 'stayed too long at this mountain' and TURN, and SET our journey for the Promised Land. 2) In 40-45 we see the result of the people's own attempt to control their situation. Yes, we need to realize what action the Lord wants us to take, but when we finally do act in that manner, we must do so by His leading - not our own. Our pride cannot lead or it will cause us to fall. Is 59:1,2 1 ¶ Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. 3) We need to know the history of the Bible so that we can learn from lessons of our forefathers in the faith. How to build our relationship with God daily, and the mistakes that we can make by not seeking His will and following His leading. Rom 15:4 tells us -- 4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Deuteronomy) CHAPTER 2 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) What do we learn from this chapter of the sovreignty of God over the nations? Cf 32:8 Acts 17:26. 2) Why were Edom, Moab and Ammon spared on this occasion, whereas the Amorites were exterminated? Note vs 4,5,9,10 and cf Amos 1:11-2:3. 3) What do vs 24 and 31 teach about the relationship between divine grace and human faith? Cf Eph 2:8. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Deuteronomy) Chapter 2 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- By being careful to obey God's directions explicitly, the Israelites were successful in acquiring much land. They left no survivors from Sihon's army (Amorites) in the battle at Jahaz. (King Sihon was obstinate and and would not let them pass through the land.) Edom, Moab and Ammon were blood relatives to Israel, so the Lord commanded them to bypass their land.Faith is of primary importance in approaching the Lord. Heb. 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please God…" -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Deuteronomy Chapter 2 The Lord Has Been With You God guided Israelites from Kadesh, bypassing Seir and Moab, through the Wilderness and defeated Sihon and the Amorites. Moses summarized the story of their lives in the Wildness with 2:7: "For the Lord your God has blessed you in all that you have done; He has known your wanderings through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; You have not lacked a thing." Deuteronomy 1-4 is a condensed version of Exodus. In Exodus, we read the difficulties of their daily life. When we see their life through the Wilderness from a bird's-eye view, it would give us a total and clear picture of WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR ISRAEL. By reading through this scripture, I sing praise to my Lord for my life that I have lived through from a bird's-eye viewpoint: He leadeth me O blessed thought! O words with heavenly comfort fraught! Whatever I do, wherever I be, Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me. He leadeth me! He leadeth me, By His own hand He leadeth me; His faithful folloer I would be, For by His hand He leadeth me. I am not a spiritual giant. Yet I am a son of God, the same as any of them - redeemed by the blood of Jesus. Thank you Lord for Deut. 2:7. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) In this chapter we see God's hand again leading The children of Israel. Acts 17:26 tells us: 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 2) Edom, Moab and Ammon were spared. This was due to the fact that they were: Edom - children of Esau Moab and Ammon - Children of Lot We read in Amos of the Lord sparing judgement on the Ammonites and the Moabites too most likely for this same reason. 3) Verses 24 and 31 teach us that God is the provider of all. If He does not deem it so, it shall not pass. His grace is sufficient and all that we need to turn to. Eph 2:8,9 Tells us: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Deuteronomy) CHAPTER 3 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) How did the conquest of Sihon and Og disprove the faithless fears of forty years before? Cf 1: 18 with 2:36 and 3:4-6. What use did later generations make of the memory of these victories? Cf Jos 2:10;PS 136:10,11;136:18-20. 2) What do vs 21,22 teach us about the duty of mutual encouragement? Cf How Paul sought to share his assurance(2Tim 1:12) with others (phil 1:6). 3) Try to imagine the intensity of Moses' desire in vs 24,25. What insight are we given into prayer and its answer by this incident? Cf Nu 20:12;Ps 106:32,33. 4) Vs 26: Let it suffice you. Moses must be content with his own place in God's work. HE was the law-giver, and Joshua (Hebrew form of Jesus) was the conqueror. How does Jn 1:17 throw light on this? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Deuteronomy) Chapter 3 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- It is a "sad ending" for Moses. After many military victories and division of the land among the people, Moses pleads w/the Lord. He wants to enter the promised land, but the Lord tells him to go up on Mount Pisgah and look west and north and south and east to see all the land his descendants will inhabit. Joshua would lead the people into the promised land. I get a different feelingfrom this passage. It reminds me of when Peter asked Jesus what would happen to John, (John 21:22), "If Iwant him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? YOU MUST FOLLOW ME." We are each called for different purposes. Some will go out in glory, and some will serve the Lord and their people all their lives, and never enter that promised land during their life on earth. We must be content w/ our Lord's divine purposes for our individual lives. -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Deuteronomy Chapter 3 "Speak to Me No More of This Matter" Chapters 1-4 of Deuteronomy is Moses' first sermon about What God has Done for Israel. In this chapter, God won the battle against Og, king of Bashan. Og is a giant who needs a king size bed of 9'x3.5'. This is one way to describe how big and strong the enemies are. Yet, their cites are protected with high walls, gates and bars. God is faithful and Moses' mission is accomplished. Then, he made a request to go cross over and see the fair land that is beyond the Jordan. However, he was not allowed to step into the "wonderland" because "- -- the Lord was angry with me ON YOUR ACCOUNT, and would not listen to me; ---" 3:26a. As a leader, Moses felt that he had all the rights to be angery against the rebellious people. However, he was punished for his temper. There are things in my life I prayed for and the Lord did not give to me. The answer from the Lord is "--- Enough! Speak to Me no more of this matter." 3:26b. Too bad? Moses did not say that. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) The conquest of Sihon and Og went smoothly. It dispoved the peoples fear about the giants in the land. Og slept on a be 13.5 feet long x 6 ft wide. These victories were used as rallying points for future battles, and to remember the power of the Lord to deliver the land over to the Israelites. PS 136:18-20 18 And slew mighty kings, For His lovingkindness is everlasting: 19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, 20 And Og, king of Bashan, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, 2) vs21,22 show us that we are to spur each other on in the faith. In the NT Paul tells us in 2Tim 1:12 12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. and in Phil 1:6 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 3) Moses' desire was intense to see the promised land. He had spent his whole life in service to God just to be denied entry into the earthly promised land. This incident shows us how our attitude in serving is so important. We must serve God with a willing and content spirit. We must not let ourselves be 'angry' at God, or what His will for us is. 4) v 26 says 26 "But the LORD was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me; and the LORD said to me, 'Enough! Speak to Me no more of this matter. Each of us must be content with the place where God has put us. We must be willing workers within the framework He has laid out for our lives and service of Him. It is easy to say but hard to put into practice. May God grant us each one the ability to be content in our position within His will for each of our lives. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Deuteronomy) CHAPTER 4:1-40 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) What is said about God in this portion, and about His relation to Israel? 2) What is said about the word of God, spoken by Moses? WIth verse 2cf 12:32;Pr 30:6;Mt 5:17,18; Rev 22:18,19. 3) Against what sin in particular are the people warned, adn by what arguments is the warning reinforced? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Deuteronomy) Chapter 4:1-40 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- The Lord called Israel to hear the laws and obey them. Idolatry was a major issue for the children of Israel. They were called to be totally committed to the Lord, 4:29, "But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." The main message was that the Lord is God and besides Him there is no other. v39, "Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. KEEP HIS DECREES AND COMMANDS that it may go well with you and your children after you.." What are the idols in our lives? We must "watch ourselves carefully" as Israel was instructed that we don't make any idols for ourselves. -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Deuteronomy 4 Trust and Obey God makes it clear through Moses that He is a jealous God and a consuming fire. He will punish idolatry, 4:25. Due to their disobedience, the Israelites were scattered all over the earth, 4:25-31. Israel's history teaches us how to Trust and Obey God - When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still And with all who will trust and obey. Trust and obey, for there's on other way To be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) This chapter details God's power and majesty. His relationship with Israel. One theme is repeated, Remember God's power. Moses urges the Children of Israel to remember what God has done, and how He has provided for them. 2) Moses tells the people they must not add to or take away from the Lord's Word. This is repeated in 12:32, Prov 30:6, Mt 5:17,18;Rev 22:18,19. Rev 22:18,19 18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. 3) In particular, this chapter warns about idolatry. The people were entering a land where other gods were worshipped. We will see that throughout Israel's history this becomes their chief sin. The cannont shake the disease of idolatry. It continues to haunt them throughout the OT. verse 24 tells us: 24 "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. This concept is repeated in the New Testament to us in Hebrews 12:29. Heb 12:28,29 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Deuteronomy) CHAPTER 4:41-5:33 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) What is the significance of the pronouns 'you' and 'your' which occur throughout the ten commandments? Cf Lv 19:3; PS 62:12; Je 17:10('every man'). 2) The ways in which the people reacted to the hearing of the commandments (5:23-27) inidcate abiding principles concerning the ways in which all men should react to God's law. What kind of effect do the reactions here suggest that God's law should produce? Cf HEb 12:21; Rom 7:9 Gal 3:24. 3) What was it in the temper of the people that drew from God the Words of commendations in 5:28, and the expression of His desire that it might so continue always (v29)? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Deuteronomy) Chapter 4:41-5:33 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- The commandments are very individualized, using "you" and "your God". They also sound more powerful this way. The people's response was one of reverence and fear, v25b-27, "..we will die if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer. For what mortal man has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived?...tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. WE WILL LISTEN AND OBEY." Moses responded that in order to live long and prosper, they should walk in the way the Lord has commanded, not turning aside to the right or left. The Lord approved of the Israelite's reaction. It was a time of peace & harmony between the children and the Lord their God. -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Deuteronomy 5 Mount Sinai Versus Zion "-----, Behold, the Lord our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire; we have seen today that God speaks with man, yet he lives. 'Now then why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer, then we shall die.'" 5:24-25. "For you have not come to a mountain that may be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, +and the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word should be spoken to them. +For they could not bear the command, 'If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.' +And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I am full of fear and trembling,' +But you come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in beaven and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, +and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel." Hebrews 12:18-24 Mount Sinai - Law and fire of judgment, etc.; Mount Zion - An angelic gathering to celebrate the heirs of salvation, etc. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) The you and your used in the 10 commandments personalize them for each reader. Rather than saying Love God with all one's heart, the your God with Your heart is used. This gives us a personal sense of worship. 2) God's law should produce a sense of respect and reverence. In Heb 12:21 it tells that Moses' reaction was fear and trembling. 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling." It is to be our tutor and guide to Christ Gal 3:24 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 3) The people were humble and resolved to serve God. This drew the commendation of v28-30: 28 "The LORD heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and the LORD said to me, 'I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken. 29 'Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever! 30 'Go, say to them, "Return to your tents." Each one of us needs to strive to serve God in a way that He would commend us to 'return to our tents' because we have done well in serving Him and obeying His commands.