Posts Tagged ‘Deuteronomy’

In Deuteronomy 6:6-7 we read, “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” (NASB) Basically, Moses is exhorting readers to continuously be remembering God in everyday things, in what we do, in how we live, and in all our conversations. I contend that the reminders are already embedded in our daily conversations; we just don’t recognize them as “God’s Word” references. Think about some of the following greetings.

 Good morning, Good Day, Good Afternoon, Good Evening, Good Night: Genesis proclaims the story of creation and indicates that when God speaks things into existence he calls them ‘good’. James tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God. There are over 50 entries in the Random House Dictionary for the word good; the first definition of ‘good’ is “morally excellent; virtuous; righteous…” Whenever we use any derivative of good in a greeting or farewell, we are stating publicly that we desire that time period to be morally excellent, that we wish to have God’s character of righteousness to be evident in our words, thoughts, and actions.  

Shalom: Some may use ‘Shalom’ as a greeting or a farewell. It comes from the Hebrew and just means ‘Peace’ or, you are wishing a person a life of “completeness, soundness, and welfare,” all of which only come from God.

Hello:  The word ‘Hello’ is an interjection used to express a greeting, answer a telephone, or attract attention. Its origin dates back to the 1800’s and is a variation of ‘Hallo’ which is also a variation of ‘Hallow’ which may be familiar to you from The Lord’s Prayer. Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary tells us that ‘hallow’ means to render sacred or to consecrate. So each time we begin a conversation with ‘Hello’ we are setting that conversation apart as sacred or consecrated.

Hi:  ‘Hi’ is an informal, simplified spelling of  “High” reminding us of The One who reigns from on high.

Adios: According to the Online Etymology Dictionary – “1837, American English, from Spanish ‘adios’ from the phrase “a dios vos acomiendo” which means “I commend you to God.”

Adieu: Middle English, from Old French a dieu, (I commend you to God).

Good-bye: A contraction of “God be with ye.”

 As you may notice, many of our greetings and farewells give us opportunity to put our thoughts on God and to follow the Command of Deuteronomy 6.

Even with our best intentions we fall short of God’s righteousness. Numerous places in Scripture^* indicate that man, without the LORD’s leading, will do what is right in his own eyes. That sounds good, makes sense, and is logical and understandable. What more could God expect than for us to do what we believe is right?

The problem is that even our best efforts only amount to filthy rags^** in God’s eyes. Our righteousness is no righteousness at all because anything we do that is not done in faith is sin. ^*** The only way we can put on a robe of righteousness is to do what is right in the eyes of the LORD. ⁺

 ^* Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 16:25, Proverbs 21:2, Judges 17:6, Judges 21:25, etc.; ^** Isaiah 64:6; ^*** Romans 14:23; ⁺ Exodus 15:26, Deuteronomy 6:18, Deuteronomy 12: 8,25,28, Deuteronomy 13:18, Proverbs 17:24, Isaiah 33:15, etc.

The LORD prepares ways and continues working His plans even when we don’t perceive Him at work. One small example in Scripture is the little side story about hornets.

 When Moses met with God on Mount Sinai, the LORD chose to share numerous commandments, statutes, precepts, laws, and basic principles with His people; He then shared some of what He would do for them beginning in verse 20 of Exodus chapter 23.

“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.”  Exodus 23:20 (NIV)

The LORD was leading and guarding His people as they headed to a place He had prepared; God continued to share some of how He would help the Israelites.

“I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way.”  Exodus 23:27-28 (NIV)

After the Israelite’s disobedience and subsequent wandering for forty years, Moses gave them Deuteronomy (the second law). The LORD’s hornet plan was restated in the giving of those recorded sermons.

“Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet among them until even the survivors who hide from you have perished.” Deuteronomy 7:20 (NIV)

I kept expecting to see a story in the book of Joshua proclaiming the victory of the hornets, or how the hornets led the people into battle, or maybe how some spies witnessed hornets chasing enemies throughout the land. That story never materialized. Instead, we get a report from Joshua as he is preparing to die and spurring the people on in their faith. In the midst of Joshua’s exhortation to serve the LORD he reminds the people that God’s plans go on even when unseen.

“‘I sent hornets ahead of you. They drove your enemies out to make room for you. That included the two Amorite kings. You did not do that with your own swords and bows. So I gave you a land you had never farmed. I gave you cities you had not built. You are now living in them. And you are eating the fruit of vineyards and olive trees you did not plant.’”  Joshua 24:12-13 (NIrV)

How is the LORD preparing a way for you? Psalm 33:11 says, “But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” (NIV)

When Jesus was asked (as recorded in Mark 12) “Which commandment is the most important of all?” He responded with a quote from Deuteronomy and then added a quote from Leviticus. We were all reminded to love and revere God above all else and to love our neighbor as ourselves. 

In the Deuteronomy quote Jesus is being obedient to Scripture even as he quotes the Scripture. Moses wrote in Dt. 6:6-7 (ESV) “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Jesus was doing just that; He was speaking from the overflow of His own heart and proclaiming the message of Truth to the generations.

In the Leviticus passage (chapter 19) the ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ exhortation comes in the midst of some practical words about how to demonstrate love for our neighbor. 

• Leave the corners of your fields for the poor and the sojourner to glean.
• Don’t steal, oppress, rob, lie to, withhold wages, do injustice, etc.
• Don’t be partial to the poor or defer to the great.

Basically, “do the right thing” with everyone around you and consider how your actions affect others.