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Deuteronomy 6:1-9:29<\/strong><\/span> I love Deuteronomy chapter 6 verses 4 through 9 in our readings today!\u00a0 These verses are known as the Shema<\/strong> \u2013 which was named after the first word in this verse and means \u201cHear.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>The Shema became the Jewish confession of faith<\/span>, which was recited by pious Jews every morning and evening and it is still recited in synagogue services today. They are the last words a Jew says prior to death.\u00a0 More very interesting information about The Shema from a Jewish website is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.\u00a0 \u201c\u201dHear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again. Tie them to your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on Deuteronomy chapter 6 titled \u201cResponsibilities of Fatherhood\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Today in Deuteronomy chapter 7, the New Living Translation has the chapter titled \u201cThe Privilege of Holiness.\u201d\u00a0 Keep in mind that these chapter headings \u2013 or headings within sections of chapters \u2013 are not Biblical text.\u00a0 They are not from the original manuscripts, but are basically brief summaries from the viewpoint of modern-day translators.\u00a0 Generally speaking though, you can trust what they are telling you \u2013 but just remember, they\u2019re not Biblical text.\u00a0 All this to say, I was intrigued by this chapter\u2019s title in today\u2019s readings.\u00a0 Israel was indeed privileged and called to holiness.\u00a0 I think an important for us to keep in mind is that in the Old Testament, Israel was God\u2019s chosen people.\u00a0 So, yes, we do read in this chapter and future OT chapters God favoring Israel over all other nations.\u00a0 However, keep three things in mind.\u00a0 One, Israel is the people of God\u2019s covenant going to back to Abraham and God is just forming Israel as a nation.\u00a0 Two, the other nations at that time were immersed in sin and idolatry to other gods.\u00a0 Three, through Jesus\u2019 ministry, God indeed shows love toward all nations today and wants all nations to be in relationship with him.\u00a0 But, prior to Jesus, we see clearly in this chapter that Israel is, per verse 6: \u201ca holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Today in Deuteronomy chapter 8 verse 10 we read: \u201cWhen you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.\u201d<\/em> What a great verse! Many say that it is because of this verse that we traditionally say grace at meal time. Interesting that this verse indicates that the Israelites were to praise God after eating \u2013 which, actually, is sometimes how I say grace today now too \u2013 when I forget to say grace before eating! \ud83d\ude42 I think the other thing this verse above gets at is that we humans have a tendency to \u201cforget\u201d God in the good times. In the bad times, maybe we do a decent job of praying to God and trying to stay close to Him. But in the good times, I know that sometimes I can forget Who really blessed me with the good times. I think it is so important for us to remember each and every day this one thing \u2013 God has given us everything<\/em>. Every single good thing we have in our life comes from God. Our family. Our friends. Our physical abilities. Even the very air we breathe. It ALL comes from God. And, while I think it is pleasing to God for us to praise him for these good things \u2013 I also think it is ultimately healthy for us to praise God for the good things he has given us. Because, when we truly thank God each and every day for even very simple things \u2013 our eyesight, our 12 year old car that still runs fine, etc. etc. \u2013 we realize how very blessed we really are, and then I think we have less of a chance of feeling sorry for ourselves. We are blessed! How are you doing on praising God for the good things he has given you in your life? Will you make a conscious effort to really praise and thank God each and every day? Think this might be pleasing to God? Think this might be healthy for you?<\/span><\/p>\n Okay, I\u2019m really appreciating the New Living Translation little commentary headers before sections of our readings \u2013 as I discussed in yesterday\u2019s post, these are not from the original manuscripts so should not be considered Biblical text.\u00a0 Nonetheless, I personally do find them useful.\u00a0 \u00a0And I really do like the first header in Deuteronomy chapter 9 today in the NLT \u2013 \u201cVictory by God\u2019s Grace.\u201d\u00a0 You\u2019ll note that you won\u2019t actually find the word \u201cgrace\u201d in any of the verses that follow.\u00a0 However, I think we do get a good overview of how grace works in this section, and verse 6 gives an example of grace: \u201cI will say it again: The LORD your God is not giving you this good land because you are righteous, for you are not\u2013you are a stubborn people.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This verse made me chuckle a bit when I read it.\u00a0 Because it is true.\u00a0 The Israelites were a stubborn people, as we\u2019ve seen in our readings.\u00a0 \u00a0And yet, God was still showing grace by giving them the Promised Land.\u00a0 This verse primarily made me chuckle because I think that we, today, are still oftentimes a stubborn people.\u00a0 Not a lot has changed in 3,000+ years.\u00a0 We humans are still a stubborn people.\u00a0 \u00a0And God is still a God of grace.\u00a0 Then and now.\u00a0 God shows us humans his grace.\u00a0 Thank goodness!<\/span><\/p>\n Later in Deuteronomy chapter 9 we read about the golden calf, and we get a great reminder of how Moses truly was a mediator between God and the Israelites \u2013 in some ways foreshadowing the mediator role that Jesus is now between God and all humankind.\u00a0 Verses 18 & 19 demonstrate Moses\u2019 mediator role well \u2013 \u201cThen for forty days and nights I lay prostrate before the LORD, neither eating bread nor drinking water. I did this because you had sinned by doing what the LORD hated, thus making him very angry. How I feared for you, for the LORD was ready to destroy you. But again he listened to me.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 And check out this amazing image below of Moses laying prostrate before God on behalf the Israelites\u2026\u00a0 can you imagine doing this for 40 days and nights for someone?\u00a0 Particularly for someone who just sinned greatly against God?\u00a0 Moses is amazing\u2026\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings in Deuteronomy reminds me of the fantastic song by Shaun Groves called \u201cWelcome Home:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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