Words to Remember

Read Deuteronomy 1
 
Deuteronomy 1:1 These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the desert east of the Jordan — that is, in the Arabah — opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab. 
 
MANY years ago, I urged Bible students to read through and be attentive to Deuteronomy, the “Second Law”. Here’s why I again do so.
    God designed Moses’ final words to Israel to be a purposeful review of God’s love, sovereignty and salvation for Israel and now for us. As “Deuteronomy” means “Second Law” or “These are the words.” this is Moses’ three farewell messages to teach Israel anew about their LORD. In essence, these teachings is about a) who God is b) what God has done and 3) what God is going to do. The generation that was kept from the Promised Land because they fearfully rejected God’s commands to conquer the Promised Land (Numbers 13) has now died. The new generation of Israelites needed an inspired review of God’s promises, his power, his law and his faithfulness to bless obedience and curse disobedience. Of course, these are reasons we must read, study and know “The Second Law”.
    Note how essential these words are for God’s people: Deuteronomy 31:10 “At the end of every seven years, in the year for canceling debts, during the Feast of Tabernacles, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people — men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns — so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. 13 Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”     
    Do you see that? It is to be read every seven years, primarily to teach the next generation. One main purpose, then, of Deuteronomy is to call God’s people to “Remember … and never forget.” Deuteronomy urges us even today to know, to hold onto and to obey the unchanging truth God has revealed to us. This is the “faith-plus-obedience” principle. We are to trust God completely and obey his commands without compromise.
    Deuteronomy is also a powerful source of strength, teaching and protection for the Living Word. When the devil tempted Jesus, our Lord responded with Deuteronomy passages. Later, when Jesus answered a question about the greatest commandment, he referred to Deuteronomy 6:5. The New Testament quotes or refers to Deuteronomy nearly 100 times. These include a clear prophecy of Jesus twice quoted in Acts.  Deuteronomy’s spiritual lessons are foundational to New Testament teachings.
    I hope you approach this part of Holy Scripture with a reverence for God’s love he has so continually demonstrated to us.
   
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.