Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Be Careful to Follow the Laws of God (Deuteronomy 1-4:14)



The Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of Moses’ Pentateuch. It records three sermons of Moses delivered to the new generation of Israel who were about to enter the land of Canaan. The first sermon is recorded in Deuteronomy Chapter 1 though Chapter 4 Verse 43. The theme of the sermon is obedience to the law of God. The Israelites could enter the land in forty days after they crossed the Red Sea. Given the opportunity, they rebelled to obey God who promised to destroy the Canaanites for the sake of his holy name with which he made the covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15). So, God did not allow a single person to enter the land but all perished in the wilderness except Caleb and Joshua because they did not believe in the Lord their God. The wilderness life wasn’t intended to experience by the Lord but they chose due to their unbelief and disobedience. Now Moses delivered the instructions to the people of Israel what to remember and how to live in the holy land of the Lord.
“In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the Lord had commanded him concerning them.” (Deuteronomy 1:3)
After defeating the two kings of east of the Jordan, in the fortieth year since the cross of the Red Sea Moses began to expound the instructions and laws, saying “You have stayed long enough at this mountain and go into the hill country of the Amorites, to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates.” God had given them this land so they would go in and take possession of the land. This land is holy because it belongs to the Lord. Possessing the land means they would become the partakers of the inheritance of the Lord. The land produces the fruits of all kinds of plants and vegetables. Life in the land, especially the land God swore to give to the forefathers of faith signifies the Spirit-filled life which produces the fruits of love, joy, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22).
Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.” (Deuteronomy 1:17)
Moses appointed officials and judges for each tribe in Israel to handle the disputes among people and commanded them not show partiality in judging and not take bribes. When they set out from Horeb and went through all that vast and dreadful wilderness and reached Kadesh Barnea. There God commanded them to go up and take possession of the land since the Lord had given it to them. The people suggested to Moses to spy out the land and bring back a report about the route to take. Moses sent out twelve spies who returned back and reported, “It is a good land that the Lord our God is giving us.” But the people rebelled against the command of God because the ten spies except Caleb and Joshua reported that they would be destroyed by the Amorites if they went up. Their hearts melted in fear because they were told that the people in the land were stronger and taller than they were and the cities were large with walls up to the sky. They were terrified when they didn’t trust in the Lord of Almighty who brought them out of Egypt with power. Then Moses said to them:
“Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” (Deuteronomy 1:29-31)
In spite of this, they did not trust in the Lord God who was in their midst all the days of the journey in fire by night and in a cloud by day. When the Lord heard what they said, he was angry and solemnly swore: “No one from this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your ancestors, except Caleb son of Jephunneh.” Moses was not allowed to enter it either because he did not obey the command of the Lord when he was told to speak to the rock he struck it instead. The Lord appointed Joshua to lead his people to enter the promised land to possess. When the people heard this, they replied that they sinned against the Lord and put on the weapons, thinking it easy to go up into the hill country. They stubbornly disobeyed the Lord who told them not to go up and fight because he would not be with them. But out of arrogance and pride they marched up into the hill country, rebelling against the Lord’s command. They were defeated by the enemies and wept before the Lord but he paid no attention to their weeping and turned a deaf ear to them.
The Lord commanded to pass through the territories of the descendants of Esau, the Moabites, the Ammonites without engaging in the fight against them because any land belonging to them would not be given to possess by the Israelites. The Lord had given them the land to possess.
“Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley. By then, that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. The Lord’s hand was against them until he had completely eliminated them from the camp.” (Deuteronomy 2:14-15)
Just as God swore to them all the fighting men had perished in the wilderness. Now when the last of these fighting men among the people had died, the Lord said, “Today you are to pass by the region of Moab at Ar.” Then Moses led his people to defeat Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon because they refused for the Israelites to pass through the land. As the Lord said to Moses, they conquered all the land of the Amorites and possessed it because the Lord delivered them over to his people. The Lord also delivered Og king of Bashan over to Moses and his people at Edrei. The people of Israel took all the towns on the plateau, and all Gilead, and all Bashan as far as Salekah and Edrei, towns of Og’s kingdom in Bashan. Moses divided the occupied territory of East of Jordan to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh with one crucial condition.  
“I commanded you at that time: ‘The Lord your God has given you this land to take possession of it. But all your able-bodied men, armed for battle, must cross over ahead of the other Israelites.’” (Deuteronomy 3:18)
Though these two and half-tribes already occupied the land all the fighting men must have crossed over ahead of the other Israelites. It’s because they were brothers and the holy war hadn’t been begun yet. The Lord wanted every tribe to fight against the enemies of God.
“But because of you the Lord was angry with me and would not listen to me. ‘That is enough,’ the Lord said. ‘Do not speak to me anymore about this matter.’” (Deuteronomy 3:26)
Moses pleaded with the Lord that he would enter the land of Canaan. But the Lord would not listen to him, saying “That’s enough.” God forbid to speak to Moses anymore about this matter. Moses disobeyed the Lord in anger striking the rock when he was told to speak to it. Although the water was gushed out of the rock, God would not permit Moses and Aaron to enter the land. There are certain prayers which would not be answered and even permitted to ask. This is the case. The word of God is irrevocable. God himself cannot change his stance of being righteous and just all the time now and forevermore.
“But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.’” (Numbers 20:12)
Now Moses turned the people’s attention how to live in the land of God’s promise after crossing the Jordan River. The old generation of Israel refused to obey God who commanded to enter the land and all perished in the wilderness. This is the lesson the new generation shall never forget but always remind of the truth only through the obedience to the laws of God they can live a life worthy of the Lord.
“Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.” (Deuteronomy 4:1-2)
Why is obedience so significant to live and go in and take possession of the land of the Lord? It’s because it’s the only way and no other way. God has repeatedly been showing them the same judgment call over and over again in order to plant the truth that he is forever love. The Lord God swore an oath and made the covenant with Abraham when he had demonstrated his obedience, not withholding from the Lord his only son, Isaac.
“The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, ‘I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.’” (Genesis 22:15-18)
That’s exactly what the cross of our Lord Jesus speaks about now and forevermore. Jesus was God but emptied himself and became a man by taking the very nature of a servant. As a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on the cross of Calvary (Philippians 2:6-7). Why did he suffer and die with blood, being ashamed, punished, stricken, smitten, humiliated, and even forsaken by the Father in heaven? It’s because this is the only way to the Father who has destroyed the power of sin and death through the death of the Son and made alive those who believe in him. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him (John 14:6).
“You saw with your own eyes what the Lord did at Baal Peor. The Lord your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed the Baal of Peor, but all of you who held fast to the Lord your God are still alive today.” (Deuteronomy 4:3-4)
This incident is recorded in the Book of Numbers Chapter 25 which tells that the Israelites engaged in the activities of idol worship, having sexual immorality with Moabite women. So they yoked themselves to the Baal Peor and the Lord’s anger burned against them. The priest Phinehas son of Eleazar killed the man who brought a Midianite woman into the camp of Israel with a spear. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000 (Numbers 25:6-9). There is no other way to escape from the plague of death except through the death of our Lord Jesus Christ who died for the sin of the world in our place. There is no other way to stop the fierce anger of the Lord except through the blood of Christ.
“See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?” (Deuteronomy 4:5-8)
Careful observation of the laws and decrees which Moses taught them would show their wisdom and understanding to the nations. The nations would call this great nation a wise and understanding people only when they carefully followed and obeyed the laws the Lord commanded. They would be a wise and understanding people not because they were smart and clever but because they feared the Lord by keeping the laws and decrees carefully. This is exactly what Christians are called for. The New saints are no different than the Old saints. Here is what Apostle Paul says about what is to live a life of worthy of the calling we have received.
“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” (Ephesians 5:3-6)
What is the obedience that pleases the Lord? It is truly to love the Lord with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength. That’s what the commandments of God were summarized by our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
Loving God is our duty to obey. How can we love God? Jesus gave his disciples a new command which is exactly the same the old one with this phrase, “As I have loved you.”
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
We cannot love anyone by our own might and morality. So, our Lord Jesus has demonstrated for us how he loved us first. The Scripture says that while we were still sinners he died for us (Romans 5:6). God commands us to love him in perfection and flawlessness, but not without the cause. God demonstrated his powerful and unconditional love that he sent his begotten Son and whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). God has showed us first how much he loved us through the Son Jesus Christ. That’s what the Lord God had done in Egypt to his people Israel that he sent the angel of death and destroyed all the firstborns of Egypt but passed over the Israelites who had the blood of animals on the doorframes. Now our God demands us to love him only with all our heart and soul and mind and strength to live eternal life.
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)
We are called to follow God’s example. Instead of judging us he punished his Son in our place. Likewise, in order to love our God, we first die with Christ by denying ourselves because our old self cannot love anyone, let alone God. Then, we take up our crosses daily, which means we take our shame, guilt, humiliation with our Lord Jesus Christ by simply admitting our faults and trespasses. The last logical step is to follow our Lord Jesus Christ over and over again. Every Christian has the gift of the Spirit freely received by faith in Christ. Christ has come in to indwell within us. That’s the hope of glory for all authentic Christians, “Christ in you.” (Colossians 1:27) In truth, Christ in us is the one who loves the Father. That’s the mystery of Christ Jesus. Apostle Paul expounded that we no longer live but Christ lives in us.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
Prayer: Thank you once again Father for teaching the naked truth that we can live and possess the holy land of the Lord only if we obey all the laws and decrees carefully. Thank you Father for telling us honestly that there is no other way to have life than in our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ’s name. Amen.
April 26, 2016
© 2015-2016 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.



Tuesday, April 19, 2016

The Covenant Renewed (Joshua 8:30-35)



Our God is the God of covenant. He made a covenant with Abraham that he promised to give him and his descendants the land of Canaan, punishing the nations of rebellion and disobedience. God told Abraham to offer animal sacrifices to the Lord. When he fell into a deep sleep, God sent a smoking firepot with a blazing torch to consume the sacrifices in the alter (Genesis 15:17). In this way, Abraham and his descendants became God’s covenant people. As God promised to Abraham, the people of Israel escaped Egypt by the power of the Lord and crossed the Red Sea on foot as on dry land. God gave his people the Ten Commandments through Moses written on the stone tablets on the mount of Sanai. Giving the law upon his people, God sealed them as a law abiding nation, not a lawless one any longer. So, if they kept the law they would be blessed and prosperous in every way. Otherwise, they would be cursed and punished and cut off from the face of the earth.
The law was given twice, not chronologically but purposefully—first on the stone tablets and second on their hearts and minds. The purpose of giving the law to his people is revealed by Apostle Paul in the Epistle to the Romans Chapter 3. It is to reveal the truth that every one may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God under the law. This is the first purpose in giving the law. It says that what we do is wicked and evil in the sight of God.
“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.” (Romans 3:19)
And the second purpose is revealed in Romans Chapter 7. The law reveals not only what we do is wrong but also what we are is evil before the Holy One. In a mysterious way, when Adam sinned we did with him. All man is so lost and fallen that we don’t even know that we are without the light of the law of God. The law of God is like a gigantic search light, shining upon us to see who we are and what we are in the manner of total honesty and truth. When we see ourselves what we really are before the Lord we can come and ask for his pity and mercy on us. When we do that he is so compassionate and merciful that he helps us out no matter what.
“Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.” (Romans 7:13-14)
Israel crossed the Jordan River and defeated the city of Jericho but they were defeated by the enemies in the city of Ai. It’s because the people committed sin against the Lord. The whole congregation beginning from Joshua suffered a great deal because the Lord God stood against them right before the enemies. God revealed the sin of Israel and commanded to deal with it with all honesty and truth. Joshua obeyed the Lord and executed the removal process of the sins committed by the people of Israel and God turned from his fierce anger. After that, Joshua defeated the city of Ai completely, marching out with his whole army. Now it’s the time for Joshua to renew the hearts and minds of the people through the renewal of the covenant.
“Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings.” (Joshua 8:30-31)
Moses set before the people of Israel a blessing and a curse—the blessing if they obey the commands of the Lord and the curse if they disobey the commands of the Lord and turn from the way that he commanded them by following other gods (Deuteronomy 11:26-27). Then Moses commanded the people to proclaim on the mount of Gerizim the blessings and on the mount of Ebal the curses when they entered the land to possess (Deuteronomy 11:29). So, Joshua built an alter to the Lord on the mount of Ebal according to what was written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. Why must uncut stones be used? Altar is the place of worship for the living God. God sees and knows the heart of worshipers even before they come to the altar. Jesus says that God seeks those who worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24). God accepts those who come before him as they are without facades and pretense.
There the people offered their God the burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings. God opened the way for his people to access to him in the specially prescribed way. Otherwise they would pay the price of life, let alone it wouldn’t be accepted. It was the privileged open door for his beloved children to access to the throne of grace. The Book of Leviticus describes the full instructions and regulations of sacrifices and offerings. God welcomes his people to come and dine with him anytime and whatever reasons all but with the strictly prescribed way given through Moses. All offering requires the blood sacrifice which signifies the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Without blood no one can access to the Holy and Living God. Animal’s blood is the picture and copy of the blood of Christ. Only the blood of the Son can satisfy the demand of the Holy God in heaven where Christ offered his body with blood once for all (Hebrews 9:11-12). Sacrifices and offerings are the teaching tools for his children to learn how to come unto him in the time of need. Christ who is the faithful and true witness and the ruler of God’s creation spoke to the church in Laodicea whose deeds neither cold or hot to listen and open their heart to have Christ Jesus within.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20)
Then Joshua renewed the covenant in the presence of the Israelites. Notice the time that they renewed the covenant of the Lord. They experienced both a blessing in Jericho and a curse in Ai. God is always providing the reasons why his people are required to renew the covenant again and again. It’s a reminder that God blesses if they carefully follow and obey the laws of God and curses if they do not. Throughout the Scriptures the message of blessings and curses are repeated over and over again. That much our God wanted to impress the covenant into the people’s heart and mind.
“There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses. All the Israelites, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Both the foreigners living among them and the native-born were there. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel.” (Joshua 8:32-33)
Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses. All the Israelites both the leaders and the people were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Why did the writings on stones renew the covenant? Writing on stones means that the law of God remains forever. Our Lord Jesus says that not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen will by any means disappear from the Law until heaven and earth disappear (Matthew 5:18). All the people were standing while Joshua was writing on stones, which indicates that the law of God was being written in their hearts and minds. There also were both the foreigners and native-born.  
Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal as Moses commanded. The covenant always has two consequences—blessings and curses. If the people carefully follow and obey the laws and decrees they will be blessed and prosperous in the land they possess. However, if they do not carefully follow and obey the laws and decrees they will be cursed and cut off from the face of God. This is the truth that the law of God produces only two results, either blessings or curses and nothing else. It is true in physical level as well as in spiritual level. For example, if anyone jumps into the ground, thinking that he can fly shall pay the price for the violation of the law of gravity. That’s called jump into conclusions. No one can disobey the law of the universe in physical level. Spiritually is true as well. There is no life in man who is telling a lie but the terror of guilt grips and haunts him. That’s called the wrath of God. There is no peace in man who commits murder. There is no joy in man who is jealous and resentful toward others. No one can escape from the coming of the wrath of God if they do not obey him.
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.” (Romans 1:18-19)
There is always the consequence, being revealed of the wrath of God if the law of God has been disobeyed by anyone. Some may laugh at that, thinking that even if they commit sins nothing has happened to them. Such people are fools like saying there is no sky by blocking it with hands because they do not see the truth and reality. There is no other way to be blessed than to obey the laws and decrees of God in perfection. That’s why the Scriptures keep on urging us to carefully follow and obey all the laws of God out of fear and awe. The Scripture says that there is no inheritance for those who disobey the law of God.
“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (Ephesians 5:3-5)
Then Joshua read all the words of the law to the people both the blessings and the curses. He not only wrote the laws of Moses on stones but also read in a loud voice for the people to hear and understand, so that they may obey all of them carefully and cautiously.  
“Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.” (Joshua 8:34-35)
How important it is to read the words of God day and night! (Psalm 1:2) All the assembly of Israel including the women and children, and the foreigners listened to the laws of God when Joshua read them. This is the way Joshua renewed the covenant of the Lord, planting the words of God in their hearts and minds. God cannot lie and he made the covenant with oath. So, the covenant of the Lord shall be kept in full forever and ever.
“Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.” (Hebrews 6:17-18)
Prayer: Thank again Father for telling us with all honesty and truth that there is no other way to blessed except through the full obedience to the laws and decrees of the Lord. Thank you Father for the covenant with oath that it never changes but remains forever. Thank you Father for your mercy and compassion that if we listen to the words of God and repent you accept us as your beloved children and pour out your love for you are faithful and just forever. In Christ’s name. Amen.
April 19, 2016
© 2015-2016 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.