Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20 + Luke 11:37-12:7 + Psalm 78:1-31 + Proverbs 12:19-20
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Old Testament – Deuteronomy chapter 29 verse 29 is intriguing today – “There are secret things that belong to the LORD our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our descendants forever, so that we may obey these words of the law.” I think this is good for us to remember – there are secrets of God that we will not know this side of heaven. And I don’t think we need to worry or speculate on what these secret things might be, because “the revealed things belong to us.” God has revealed himself to us in the Bible! His very Word. He has revealed himself in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And he reveals himself in the life of the body of Christ today – the church. We have everything we need to know to love & follow God. And I think God’s secrets can remain secret to us this side of heaven – I don’t know about you, but I like a little mystery in God! đ
New Testament – Wow… Jesus goes after the Pharisees in Luke chapter 11 today… Verses 39 through 41 are powerful: “Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are still filthy–full of greed and wickedness! Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? So give to the needy what you greedily possess, and you will be clean all over.” I think these verses are important for us to meditate upon as well today. Are we clean inside? Or are we putting on a show and just cleaning up our external appearances for others? As we saw in Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew – God is very interested in the condition of our hearts. Our insides. Are our insides clean? Bob Deffinbaugh with Bible.org’s great commentary on our Luke chapter 11 readings today titled “Fundamentalists in Formaldehyde” is at this link.
Jesus’ teachings in Luke chapter 12 verses 2 through 3 are also important for us to reflect upon in our lives today – “The time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is secret will be made public. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!” I once heard a pastor say during a sermon – “nobody sins in a vacuum. Meaning, nobody’s sin does not affect others. When we sin – even when we are “alone” – it affects our community in ways we do not fully realize.” I think this is so true. When we sin – even what we have done or said in the “dark” – we hurt not only ourselves, but others. And God the Father, Son & Holy Spirit, who is pure Light, have heard and know what we do in the dark. We cannot hide it from them. Better to confess it to God, repent, and be cleansed by the Light. Then, go, and sin no more. Plus – it’s a darn scary thought to think that what we do in the dark might be shouted from the housetops for all to hear! đ Live your life such that no matter what you do or what you say, you wouldn’t be embarrassed to read about it in tomorrow’s papers…
Bible.org’s commentary on Luke chapter 12 readings today titled “The Hazard of Hypocrisy for Heralds of the Gospel” is at this link.
Psalms – Psalm 78 verse 4 is a wonderful reminder that we have an important opportunity to disciple and teach others in the generation coming up behind us – “We will not hide these truths from our children but will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD. We will tell of his power and the mighty miracles he did.” Are you discipling or teaching someone about God’s truth, deeds, and love? How are you helping the next generation learn about God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
Proverbs – Proverbs chapter 12 verse 19 is a great testament to the strength of the Bible – now some 3,400 years old since the writings of Moses! “Truth stands the test of time; lies are soon exposed.” Do you believe the Bible is Truth?
Worship Video: Today’s readings reminds me of Micah Tyler’s song (with a fun/silly video here đ “Praise the Lord!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DXGozXslIg
Is the devil trying to get you? Click here and Praise the Lord!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “”I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” Luke 12:4-5 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you will not be afraid of mere mortal men. Pray that you will only fear the Lord. Pray that you will learn that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom and righteousness.
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Ramona:
WARNING: These comments are based on the writerâs experience and do not come from theological or philosophical readings.
*******************************
Mike I hope you donât mind or become offended but I want to expand on your comments about Deut 29:29 and come back tonight and do the rest of the readings.
âRevelation is not revelation until it is revelation to you.â A.R. Bernard
Deut 29:29, âThere are secret things that belong to the LORD our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our descendants forever, so that we may obey these words of the lawâ is the last piece of bread that sandwiches everything spoken about after verses two through four, â2 Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them, âYou have seen with your own eyes everything the LORD did in Egypt to Pharaoh and all his servants and his whole countryâ3 all the great tests of strength, the miraculous signs, and the amazing wonders. 4 But to this day the LORD has not given you minds that understand, nor eyes that see, nor ears that hear!
Scripture is progressive in the laying out of this text, this book we know as the Bible, as well as progressive in our personal understanding of this book. What was ârevealedâ to me in the heart of my understanding when I first began reading through this book in 1984/85 has increased in volume and intensity as I read through today (Note: I do a second bible-reading program as well as book studies). In my experience my own personal understanding, the understanding that happens as a passage that I have read one-hundred times before explodes in my spirit and becomes alive to me, takes on new meaning and becomes easier to follow then when I just understood it in my head.
Ignorance of the Law is not excuse for not following the law, but when we know that Law, really really, know that Law, we are without excuse. I believe that 29th verse has a duality, there is a component as a community and there is a personal responsibility when one gains understanding of a Law, Precept, or Command that God has given us and it becomes part of our very being. Before that understanding explodes in our spirit, we follow the Law by faith, but when it becomes alive to us we begin following because we know. We may not even be able to explain why we know to others at first but following that law moves from being a burden to becoming a joy.
Revelation brings understanding and that is why I belive the writer of Proverbs admonishes over and over again the importance of the readerâs pursuit of Widsom and Understanding.
Proverbs 4:
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;do not forget my words or swerve from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======== Mike:
Thanks Ramona! Great expansion on my comments!
Mike
======= Ramona:
Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20
Deut. 30: 1 âSuppose all these things happen to youâthe blessings and the curses I have listedâand you meditate on them as you are living among the nations to which the LORD your God has exiled you. 2 If at that time you return to the LORD your God, and you and your children begin wholeheartedly to obey all the commands I have given you today, 3 then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes.
This is a great Word for backsliders. Moses has just rehearsed within the peopleâs hearing the blessings for those who are obedient to Godâs Law as well as the curses on those who are not (chapter 28). He tried to make the consequences ârealâ to them by referring back to their time of delivererence from Egypt and how God kept and protected them in the wilderness. Then in the last half of the thirtieth chapter God lays Israelâs destiny, lays our destiny squarely on us it is our choice how we live. One of the many Proverbs dealing with those choices states,
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. (Proverbs 18)
We are the sum total of all the choices we have made in our life. Where we are today is the result of our choices. If we donât like the life we are living now we have to make new choices. God gives us the choices, death or life, and then even tells us which one to choose to live.
19âłToday I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! 20 Choose to love the LORD your God and to obey him and commit yourself to him, for he is your life. Then you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.â
Luke 11:37-12:7
I have to admit it I just love reading verses 37 through 54 and wish I was a little fly on the wall when Jesus was telling it like it tâis to his host and the other guests. His Words were harsh yet He spoke them in Love. He loved them so much He was willing to tell them the truth about themselves despite what they thought or how bad their feelings were hurt. All truth is confrontational. Even when one of the invited guests came to Him and told Him that He had just insulted them, He didnât apologize or use flowery words, He continued speaking the Truth is love. Love is the desire to benefit others at the expense of self. For God so loved the world that He gave âŚ(John 3:16)
Yesterdayâs Proverb (Proverbs 12:18) is brought back to my remembrance when I read Jesusâ rebuke of these religious leaders. Remembering that they thought they were righteous but they were in sin. Today too, we can be just as stubborn and just as blind as the religious leaders who shared a meal with Jesus.
Lord, open my eyes to see the self-righteousness within me that keeps me chained to my sin.
Psalm 78:1-31
1 O my people, listen to my teaching.
Open your ears to what I am saying,
2 for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our pastâ
Amazing how this Psalm fits right into todayâs reading in Deuteronomy. God is alive and well and sitting on the throne. All things word together for good no matter where in the scriptures we turn to. Awesome, just awesome!
Proverbs 12:19-20
19 Truth stands the test of time; lies are soon exposed.
This statement I need to get down into the deepest part of my being. I can get so upset when Iâm lied to or when a lie that is damaging to others is accepting and others ârunâ with it as truth. The lie will come to the light. This verse also goes hand-in-hand with Jesusâ Words in Luke 12,
2 The time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is secret will be made public. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!
The best commentary on scripture is scripture.
Grace and Peace,
Ramona
======= Amy:
Deuteronomy is Relevant
Iâm a couple days behing, but had some thoughts in generalâŚ
I am continually struck about the Bibleâs relevance in my life. I keep noticing the word REMEMBER. Moses is paused with the Israelites on the edge of them entering the Promised land, and before I had thought- why do we have to have this big review, I already know what was said, and we are just repeating- making for less exciting reading.
However, now I am getting the idea that Moses is REMINDING the people how far they have come, what is in their past⌠a good thing to do is to review your past, when you are about to move on, to consider where things are going. How did you get where you are? How did God move in your past? Now? Could this give you some insight to the future?
Somehow, I have got into some major rehashing of my life, as I enter this transitional time, and I have been reminded to REMEMBER.
Amy
======= Nicole:
Deuteronomy 30:2-4 really stuck out to me. Even after people turn away from God, he still loves us and calls us back. What amazing love!
Nicole
======= Jan:
i think itâs amazing how although God was full of wrath that the Israelites tested Him, while sinning against Him, He still delivered them. This is demonstration of His magnitude of love.
Jan
======= Duane:
The Luke commentary at bible.org is really good! Built for the average person to get inside the texts.
A good ending to the chapter 11 commentary:
âOur Lord wants these Pharisees and experts in the law to look at their hearts, not in the light of their own teachings, but in the light of the Scriptures, and in the searchlight of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit of God, working through the Word of God, which exposes our inward sins. May each of us go to the Scriptures, asking God as David did in Psalm 119 to reveal His Word to us, and also to reveal our sin. May each of us seek God from the heart to have a pure heart, by His grace, and for His glory.â
AMEN!
Duane
======= Ramona:
Duane:
Thank you for that prayer and I receive it.
Ramona
======= Shane:
We must give God the credit here. Deutero 30:6 says that God circumcizes hearts, and THEN the people love with their heart and soul. The problem with the Jews is that they had physical circumcision and not spiritual. The remedy is only an act of God. Once the hard heart is circumcized, man may love his God
Shane
======= Anka:
âBut if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship themâ
I think maybe God wants our hearts 1stâŚthen obedience will follow.Maybe,just maybe,the Pharisees had started by studying,trying to understand the LawâŚbut missed loving God in the process.While growing up,my dad was my hero,I didnât obey him out of fear..I wanted his approval..God wants us to love his laws(âI will write my law in their hearts).Many times in the old testament I came acrossâthey hardened their heartsââŚweâve all heard about the romeo and juliet storyâŚpeople who do crazy things out of loveâŚso why donât we crazily obey God out of love:))
Anka
======= Shane:
I think Anka has a good point. God does want our hearts first. Thatâs why He gives us new ones. Obedience of course follows, because we become the children of God, for whom the Lord has prepared good works, beforehand, for us to do. (Eph. 2:10).
Once newly created, we love the Lord, and stay connected to the vine. (Jn 15).
The pharisees, as you rightly note, fell into the trap of studying for the sake of knowledge of the Law, and not of knowledge of God.
Shane
======= Ramona:
Yes, AnkaâIt stands to reason since Jesus said ââŚout of the abundance of the mouth the heart speaks.â (Luke 6:45) We speak in many ways, by our words, actions and by our spirits. If our heart is the âseatâ of determinate action then once our heart is changed and our minds are renewed by the Word and with the Word, our lifestyle will reflect Jesus, the Word of God. So is there really something called a âslip of the tongue?â Hmmm.
Ramona
======= Emily:
Sadly, the slips are real. Even in the REAL world marriages are, sadly, broken. We break faith with our dearest one with whom we commit to become ONE FLESH.
Because we let our fickle nature, sinfulful and selfish self prevail⌠we break our commitments.
Spiritually, it is possible to break our commitment with the Lord. Just look around to see how many lapsed Christians we have who, sadly, will never return to God and even cause many others to break lose.
Emily
======= Sandy:
I agree that there must be secrets God is reserving to reveal to us only when we meet Him face-to-face. Yet it also is an awesome, humbling, privileged truth that we are able to âread Godâs mind.â âWasnât the greatest mystery, or secret, of the ages the wisdom of God, which is Christ crucified? ( 1Cor.2:2). And we have entered into the âfoolishnessâ of this wisdom, that God chooses us, the foolish and weak of the world, to have faith and to have His Spirit indwell us. So with His Spirit, we are able to âsearch all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by GodâŚ
FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the MIND of Christ.â 1Cor.2:12-16. Wow! His grace is beyond understanding!
Sandy
======= Oriane:
Deuteronomy readings stood out to me today as it talked about obeying and following God and not turning away from the Lord. This might not have much to do with todayâs readings but I just wanted to ask if any of you have received the âBelievers water baptismâ. I have been a Christian for about 18 months. The Pastor at my church called for water baptism for the 1st April. I think there was a certain expectation that I would be coming forward to receive it. One of the guys at church talked about âobedience is better than sacrificeâ. They prayed for me in their prayer group meeting.I met with the Pastor and told him that I couldnât go through with it. It didnât feel like it was the right timing for me. Iâve been reading scriptures relating to baptism ever since and I know that I want to obey God but I seem to have a blockage. Like something is preventing me from going through with it. Just wanted to hear some of your stories. Please feel free to email me directly.
Oriane
======= Jenny:
Just got to the readings..some verses stood out for me. The other day my dad and I were discussing the dead sea, we swam in it wen we went to IsraelâŚor floated in it rather! the salt content is so high and the âwaterâ is so dense its impossible to sink. Also, its very dangerous to ingest it, and if you get it in your lungs its fatal. so we know there are toxic substances in itâŚI asked my dad about it and I didnt know this!!: the dead sea is believed to be where Sodom/Gomorrah once were! We know the Lord perished it with fire and brimstone and that Lotâs wife turned to salt. Then I came upon this verse in Deut 29, Vs.23 âThe whole land is brimstone, salt, and burning; it is not sown, nor does it bear, nor does any grass grow there, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His anger and His wrath.â
Very interesting!!
Deut 30:19-20 stood out: âI call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your lifeâŚâ
I love that, âthat you may cling to Him!â âHe is your lifeâ!!
Also, thats a song we sing at church sometimes, âthe choice is set before you now, living or dying, blessing or cursing. Choose life, that you might liveâŚthe life that He gives, He gives you forever..choose life, the way that is true, from the One who chose you, your Father in heaven, choose lifeâ.
I love Jesusâ perfection so much, He is gentle and compassionate, yet angry with sin and wont tolerate it! For the most part, the world is so tolerate of sin! If we arent, weâre just called narrow-minded and intolerant. My former pastor used to say that if Jesus were to say these things today, the ppl would try to hush HIm and say, âNow Jesus, that isnt very Christ-like!â haha. We have to know He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
I love Luke 12:5 âBut I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!â
AMEN!!!!
The BIble is for sure truthâŚpretty safe to say that it has withstood the passage of time! : )
Jenny
======= Tabitha:
Luke 11;39-41. What I would like to see in all churchs. People that are the same outside of the church building as they are inside. If most chuchers are acting in two different plays. How can people see the real Jesus inside of us? Arenât we to Be examples of the truth, the way and the life.
Tabitha
======= Jim:
âNobody sins in a vacuum.â
Or, thereâs no such thing as a victimless crime! The two most popular examples of âvictimlessâ crimes are suicide and prostitution. But, studies show that within days of a publicized suicide, 58 people of similar age and appearance take the clue and end their own lives (that wouldnât otherwise). Most, however, are not counted as suicides (although statistically evident) as most just crash their cars and planes (yes, even commercial ones). Again, I was six when I first saw a prostitute beaten by her pimp on the streets of Philly and knew there was nothing victimless about that profession (and, donât get me started on how many die bringing illegal drugs into the states). Clearly, no one sins in a vacuum. And, if youâre not part of Godâs solution, youâre part of Godâs problem.
Jim
======= George:
Luke 12:2-3âŚ
Live today in such a way, that when tomorrow comes, youâll be glad you lived the way you did today!
BlessingsâŚ
George
======= Luch:
Psalm 78:9 âThe warriors of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned their backs and fled on the day of battle.â This verse seems to teach that we can be well equipped with all kinds of resources and bible studies and other good âstuffâ but when âshowtimeâ comes or when âthe battle is onâ unless we put our âbowsâ to work, itâs all in vain. Verse 10 gives a clue as to why the âwarriors of Ephraimâ were useless when battle time cameââthey did not keep Godâs covenant and refused to live by his instructions, they forgot what he had done, the great wonders he had shown them.â
Oh LORD, please keep me from being useless in battle. Help me to live with a sense of wonder at all You have done, and may gratitude for who you are and what you have done, propel me to fight the good fight. Amen
Luch
======= Pauline:
sooo blessed as this morn i posted about the outside of the cup being clean while the inside remains filthy. also heard joseph prince say that Jesus words to the woman caught in adultery â who condemns u, go and sin no more but to each other we say go and sin no more and i will not condemn u
Pauline
======= Joyce:
Hello Mike and everyone,
I appreciate these verses:
Deuteronomy 30:11-14, 20 (NLT)
11 âThis command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach.
12 It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, âWho will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?â 13 It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask,âWho will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?â
14 No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.
20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.â
These verses tell me our God has a good sense of humor,
but also, His command here is solemn, and has implications for generations to come.
May we take them to heart!
Sincerely,
Joyce
======= Ginny:
âWhatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!â I think what Jesus means here also is that we should not be afraid to Witness to God. That what we proclaim privately, we should not be afraid to proclaim publicly to all. That just like in Psalm 78: 4-6, where we are instructed to teach our children, so they can teach their children. Some of us have gotten out of the practice of teaching children about God. We see the drastic results today.
Ginny
======= Robert:
TIME WARP
Deuteronomy 30:1-10
The reading in Deuteronomy reminded me of my trips to Israel and seeing a nation come unto its own once again. In verses 1-4 we see how God has dispersed the Jews to all part of the world. This has been a historical cycle from Egypt, Babylon, Rome and recently in 1948 brought them back to the land of their forefathers. Verse 5 is a good account of the wonderful things the Israelis have done to the land to produce âmilk and honeyâ, and add to world knowledge of science, literature, technology, etc. Verse 6 is interesting because in speaking with a number of people there, I found their relationship with God had quite a spectrum of beliefs; not just Orthodox Jew. Simply speaking the country has to adopt the principle of the Good Samaritan but that is extremely difficult with the Palestinian situation right now. (Circumcised hearts). Verse 8 speaks of enemies that at this point surround Israel and it seems they are all finding it very difficult standing up against Israel. Verse 9 just says again how they will prosper and as a tourist, I could see the wonderful interest from people all over the world coming there to see the holy land. Verse 10 is really the goal and as the mind set of the country slowly changes, I think history will repeat itself maybe for the last time.
Robert
======= Dee:
Deut: blessings vs curses! I love praying and speaking blessings! Head and not the tail. Never pulling up the rear!
Luke: if u arenât working for Jesus you are working against. I definitely donât want to work against! That would be not good! True statement: time flies! I used to say time flies and it is running straight across the face. Lol
Psalm: meditate on your works day and night! So important. I love the Lord! I love His atmosphere! Yes!! Want to keep it conducive unto the Lord daily!
Proverbs: I want to bring healing always. I donât want to cut or hurt others. Not my nature.
Dee
======== Ramona:
Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20
I am overwhelmed with joy upon reading todayâs Old Testament passage. The God we serve, the God who has adopted every believer into His family so we can cry out, Abba, FatherâDaddy, is a gracious, merciful and loving God. He loves us so much that He didnât give us a contract, which if violated by any of the parties becomes null and void, but He gave us a covenant.
A Covenant if violated, even by both parties, still stands ready to be put back in force when either party comes to its senses. Yet God never, never walks away from His Word so even when we are âfaithless,â He remains âfaithfulâ to His Word (2 Timothy 2:13).
Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may deal wisely and prosper in all that you do. All of you stand today before the Lord your Godâyour heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Israel, Your little ones, your wives, and the stranger and sojourner in your camp, from the hewer of your wood to the drawer of your waterâ That you may enter into the covenant of the Lord your God, and into His oath which He makes with you today, That He may establish you this day as a people for Himself, and that He may be to you a God as He said to you and as He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is not with you only that I make this sworn covenant But with future Israelites who do not stand here with us today before the Lord our God, as well as with those who are here with us this day. (Deuteronomy 29:9-15 AMP)
God is a God of generations. If I fail to keep my end up, the covenant is not voided out but the next generation, my off-spring, if they decide to accept what God has for them, are not restrained, prohibited nor hampered by may failures. God is soooooo Awesome and Loving!!
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= John:
Deut 29:22
âYour children who follow you in later generations and foreigners who come from distant lands will see the calamities that have fallen on the land and the diseases with which the LORD has afflicted it.â NIV
In the 1800âs several people wrote about this land. The most notable is Mark Twain:
Mark Twain in the Land of Israel in 1867
Mark Twain
âThe Innocents Abroad or the New Pilgrimâs Progressâ
Volume II, p.216-359 (harper and brothers 1922)
âWe traversed some miles of desolate country whose soil is rich enough but is given wholly to weedsâa silent, mournful expanse⌠A desolation is here that not even imagination can grace with the pomp of life and action. We reached Tabor safely⌠We never saw a human being on the whole route. We pressed on toward the goal of our crusade, renowned Jerusalem. The further we went the hotter the sun got and the more rocky and bare, repulsive and dreary the landscape became⌠There was hardly a tree or a shrub anywhere. Even the olive and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country. No landscape exists that is more tiresome to the eye than that which bounds the approaches to Jerusalem⌠Jerusalem is mournful, dreary, and lifeless. I would not desire to live here. It is a hopeless, dreary, heartbroken Land⌠Israel sits in sackcloth and ashes. Over it broods the spell of a curse that has withered its fields and fettered its energies⌠Israel is desolate and unlovely. And why should it be otherwise? Can the Curse of the Deity beautify a land? Israel is no more of this work-day world.â
Above was excerpted over many pages.
John
======= John:
Deut 30
Notice here the unconditional promise. There are no âifâŚthenâ only âwhenâŚthenâ. It will happen and then I willâŚ.
Seven Promises:
1) vs.1 there will be a dispersal.
2)vs. 2 a future repentance of Israel in the dispersion.
3) vs. 3 is odd for the original Hebrew Text indicates the Lord will âreturnâ. Indicating the Lord will return into their lives, and gather them from all the nations.
4)vs. 4-5 Israel is to be restored to the Land.
5)vs.6 There will be a national conversion. The Lord willl circumcise their heart(s), and cut off the Flesh (of the world) to leave a spiritual core.
6)vs.7 Israels enemies will be judged.
7)vs.9 Israel will then receive her full blessing.
Notice that they were to obey (and love) God and they would prosper. Israel did not and they were dispersed. So when do they come back according to these passages. When they obey (and love) God? NO.
When they REPENT God will show compassion and gather them back to the land. When they are back in the land, and because they had repented â THEN the Lord will circumcise their hearts. Thus making it possible for the people to obey and love God. Not only possible, but want (desire) to love and obey.
It is the same for us: First we must repent and âturn back to Godâ and accept Jesus as our Savior. Then we are given a regenerated (circumcised) heart that enables us to want to obey (and love) God.
Bob at bible.org has a pretty good list of summary points for Deut. under the CONCLUSION section:
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1402
John
======= John:
I echo Dwayneâs endorsement of Bobâs commentary on Luke 11:
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1108
(same as Mikeâs link)
Sometimes we are all pressed for time to take on other readings. If nothing else, I would encourage people to scroll down and at least read the âConclusionsâ of these bible.org commentaries. Then if something pricks your interest, you can always scroll back up and read more of the commentary.
Just one exerpt from Bobâs conclusion section on Luke 11 that addresses some points discussed here on the blog:
âHow is it that people so committed to holiness can stray so far? If I understand this text correctly, we would have to say that it is by perverting the Scriptures. Just as Satan sought to use the Scriptures to tempt our Lord, so he employs the Scriptures to defeat the Christian. For those who hold the Scriptures in high esteem, Satan seeks to distort their grasp of the Scriptures. He accomplishes this is by working to make Godâs Word merely a duty, and not delight, to make it a burden, and not a blessing. If the grace of God can be overshadowed by manâs guilt, if manâs efforts can be the focus rather than Godâs, if the ministry of the Spirit can be set aside, then Satan has achieved his purpose. And if Satan can get our attention on but one portion of the Scriptures (as the Law was for the Pharisees) and not on the whole Bible, then we are sure to have a distorted grasp of Godâs revelation. Also, if he can cause us to focus on one area of truth, to the exclusion of others, the Scriptures can be (mis)used to produce sin and not righteousness. The heart attitude with which we come to the Scriptures, as well as the way we study them plays a vital role in our Christian walk.â
John
======= John:
Luke 12
âFearâ has been discussed in the past regarding reverence or awe of God.
Bob addresses the âfearâ in Luke 12:4-7 under:
The Lordâs Second
Argument Against Hypocrisy
(12:4-7)
ââŚJesus did not seek to minimize the fact that many of them might die, but did seek to put that death into perspective. He told His disciples that physical death was not to be feared, but rather spiritual deathâspending eternity in hellâŚ.â
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1109
By the way this is one of twelve times the word âgeena or Gehennaâ is used in the gospels. Seems pretty explicit to me. After the body is dead, (then) has the power to cast you into hell. Greek word for âpowerâ is âexousiaâ and is absolute authority.
Definition of geena:
Hell is the place of the future punishment called âGehennaâ or âGehenna of fireâ. This was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned; a fit symbol of the wicked and their future destruction.
[NOTE: Not to be confused with the fire of purification, but rather it is the fire of consumation.]
John
======= Ramona:
As I continued reading and meditating on todayâs Old Testament passages on my way to work, verses came to my mind from the New Testament, and some where the Words of Jesus. As Moses rehearsed to the people how God brought them through the wilderness in chapter 29: 2-9, I could hear Jesus speaking,
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:28-33 KJVR)
In the 30th chapter when Israel is told that when she finds herself in her exile and returns to God and then the Lord will restore her âfortunes,â I heard the voice of John speak,
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 KJVR)
The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. Before I began this yearâs readings, that statement was something I had heard and had just given it mental assent. However, this year mental assenting has given way to heartfelt understanding. I have also been impacted by verses 11-20, in chapter 30 had have a deeper understanding that the life I walk in is all about choicesâchoosing life or death, blessing or curses, and how I chose is not done by ballot but by my decision to obey or disobey Godâs commands. But, even at the crossroad of decision God doesnât leave me clueless, He gives me a great bit giant intimation that is BIGGER much greater clue than vowel given in the game, Wheel of Fortune, and I donât even have to buy it. God tells me which one to chose, He tells me to choose life.
Ramona
======= Vance:
Deuteronomy 29 (NKJV)
12
that you may enter into covenant with the LORD your God, and into His oath, which the LORD your God makes with you today,
13
that He may establish you today as a people for Himself, and that He may be God to you, just as He has spoken to you, and just as He has sworn to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
14
âI make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone,
15
but with him who stands here with us today before the LORD our God, as well as with him who is not here with us today
19
and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, âI shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates [ OR⌠stubbornness ] of my heartââas though the drunkard could be included with the sober.
Deuteronomy 30 (NKJV)
6
And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
~~~
See this note from the Amplified Bible on Deuteronomy 29:19:
âIt is on the strength of the Lordâs oath to be Israelâs God and so to protect them that this Israelite flatters himself into thinking he is secure, no matter how he may behave. In the history of religion such a delusion has been lamentably frequent, and persons depending upon the unlimited protection of election have presumed on this and recklessly indulged in evil (The Cambridge Bible). The Bible emphasizes the âsecurity of the saints,â but it is equally emphatic concerning the insecurity of those in conscious and continued indifference to God (Ezek. 3:20; 18:24, 26; Gal. 6:8; James 1:21; II Pet. 1:10, 11; Rev. 22:14).â
~~~
NOTE:
THE WRATH OF GOD AGAINST SIN.
Though it may be uncomfortable to ponder this, we need to remember this:
Jesus and the Father are Oneâ in essence and in unity. This is precisely why Jesus was crucifiedâ because He claimed to be the Son of God which, to the Jewish thinking given to them by God, also means He is God.
So whatever God the Father did in the OT Jesus is also doing and affirming. This is the essence of what the Lord Jesus meant when He said, âI only do what I see the Father doingâ (John 5:19, 30)
This fits with Luke 11 (NKJV):
39
Then the Lord said to him, âNow you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness.
40
Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?
41
But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.
Luke 12 (NKJV)
1
In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, âBeware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2
For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.
Whatever is hidden in the dark â whether good or bad â will be brought into the light, and our works will be judged.
Psalm 78
5
For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children;
6
That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born,
hat they may arise and declare them to their children,
7
That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments;
8
And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation,
A generation that did not set its heart aright,
And whose spirit was not faithful to God.
~~~
God has left a witness in the heavens and has given witness through His Word. His Spirit is drawing all men to Himself, and to His witness in the world.
GET THIS: We have a VITAL part to play in this, but how many of us really participate?
We are called to âshare in the fellowship of His sufferingsâ. Obviously, ONLY JESUS could bear all the sins of humanity. But, our part is to JOIN THE LORD JESUS IN INTERCESSION for those who need the Lord.
Romans 1 (NKJV)
18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19
because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
20
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21
because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22
Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23
and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible manâand birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25
who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
~~~
Romans 2 (NKJV)
16
in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
Acts 17 (NKJV)
30
Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
31
because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.â
Vance
======= Sandy:
Thanks, Vance, for your exhortation to âjoin the Lord Jesus,â in prayer, and may I add, in proclaiming that He only is the way of salvation. Someone once asked a friend of mine, âIf everyone else was doing what you are doing to spread the gospel, would this world be reached; would the Great Commission be fulfilled in our lifetime?â
I agree that there must be secrets God is reserving to reveal to us only when we meet Him face-to-face. Yet it also is an awesome, humbling, privileged truth that we are able to âread Godâs mind.â âWasnât the greatest mystery, or secret, of the ages the wisdom of God, which is Christ crucified? ( 1Cor.2:2). And we have entered into the âfoolishnessâ of this wisdom, that God chooses us, the foolish and weak of the world, to have faith and to have His Spirit indwell us. So with His Spirit, we are able to âsearch all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by GodâŚ
FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the MIND of Christ.â 1Cor.2:12-16. Wow! His grace is beyond understanding!
Sandy
