Today's lesson comes from Deuteronomy 30: 4-10; 19, 20. After the list of blessings and curses contained in chapter 28, Moses calls the people to enter into covenant relationship with the Lord. This has been called the "Palestine Covenant," and comprises chapters 29 and 30. Our lesson deals with the promises made by God to a people who fail Him, and with Moses' closing words in 30: 19, 20. The opening verses of chapter 30 look to a time when Israel would fail God and be carried off into captivity. While in captivity, they will consider their evil ways and turn back to the LORD. Moses declares that when this happens, God will extend grace and return them to their homeland. There will come a time when Israel is in full possession of their land and this will be a fulfillment of the eternal covenant which God made with Abraham. (Genesis 15: 18)
The first section is "God Will Keep His Promises." vv. 4-10 In these verses, six times the word "will" is used in reference to something God will do for His people. Below are many of the blessings contained in these verses:
1. His people shall return which includes conversion (v 2,6,8);
2. Wholehearted obedience to God's voice (v 2,8);
3. Deliverance from captivity (v 3)
4. Mercy from God again;
5. Complete regathering of Israel (v 3,5);
6. Possession of promised land (v 5);
7. Goodness of God manifest to them;
8. Increase of the nation above days of the past (v 5,9);
9. Circumcision of the heart to love God with all your heart and soul (v 6);
10. New life from God;
11. Victory over enemies (v 7);
12. Freedom from former curses;
13. Freedom from persecution;
14. Obedience to God's Word (v 8);
15. Blessings upon every undertaking (v 9);
16. Blessing upon livestock and crops; and
17. Full fellowship with God.
All of these promises were conditioned upon the Israelites hearing and obeying the LORD thy God, keeping His commandments and statutes, and turning completely to the LORD. God's promise to fix the heart problem of the Israelites is found in verse six. God would circumcise the heart. This verse looks toward the New Testament when Jesus prayed that the believers would be sanctified (John 17:17), when Paul prayed for the entire sanctification of the believers (1 Thessalonians 5:23) and when Peter said that we were to be holy as He was holy (1 Peter 1:15). Just like the Israelites, when we meet God's conditions, He will do the work in us and for us.
The second section is "Therefore Choose Life." vv. 19, 20 In this portion of the lesson we see that man has been given free moral agency. God does not take from men this power of choice, sending some to heaven and some to hell. Each individual chooses whom he will serve and obey. God has made the way for all men to be reconciled unto Himself, and He turns no one away. Verse 19 states that a choice was to be made between life and blessings or death and cursing. Moses exhorted the Israelites to choose life. The result of the correct choice is seen in verse 20. Choosing life would result in dwelling in the land promised by God to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. It is difficult to see why people to this day still choose death and cursing over the abundant life promised by God to those who will hear and obey His Word.
The Golden Text is: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Matthew 22: 37) This is the greatest command. For us to love God with our entire heart, our heart must be purified by God through faith. Otherwise our heart would be divided. A sanctified heart is a heart that has had the old man of carnality removed. This is a divine act and not of works. For more instruction on bing sanctified wholly, just search our blog with the following: "How to be entirely sanctified."
Next week: "The Song of Moses." (Deuteronomy 31: 30; 32: 1-12)
Please read the Sunday School Beacon for inspiration and encouragement.
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