The LORD Is God (Deuteronomy 4:15-43)

In the first sermon of Moses, one phrase is repeated over and over again. This portion is the end of the first sermon of Moses. The Lord underscores again and again for his people to be careful and watch themselves so that they do follow the laws and decrees of God. It is the only way for them to live in the land the Lord gave them to possess. So, the Lord warned the people of Israel first and foremost of all that they shall not worship the idols of the Canaanites and Amorites. God did not show any form but spoke the sounds of words out of fire, only a voice. The Lord declared his covenant with his people, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded them to obey and follow, and wrote down on two stone tablets (Deuteronomy 4:12-13).

“You saw no form of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore, watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. But as for you, the Lord took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance, as you now are.” (Deuteronomy 4:15-20)

God did not show any form but only spoke to his people out of fire because no image can be replaced with the Lord who made all things. So, the Lord God forbid to make an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like man, animal, bird, any creature, and fish which God made. The Lord also forbid to bow down and worship the heavenly beings like the sun, the moon, and the stars which he apportioned to all the nations under heaven. These are all but the creatures and creation of the Lord. But the Lord took his people and brought them out of the iron-smelting furnace, Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance. God called his people to be his heir of all the vast inheritance in Christ Jesus. They were once the slaves of the world, Egypt where they were bounded and shackled by the power of darkness and evil. God broke the iron grip of slavery by the power of the blood of the Son Jesus Christ and set them free.

God set them free from the bondage of slavery in order to make them his treasured possession (Exodus 19:5). They were made for God’s inheritance and became the heir of the Lord God. Apostle Paul in the Epistle to the Romans reveals the truth that we’re God’s children and so we are his heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ and God’s heirs share in his glory as well as share in his sufferings (Romans 8:17). We were the slaves of the prince of the dark world but have been liberated by the blood of Jesus Christ to be the children of light. That’s the reason God strictly forbid worshiping the idols which is the same as going back to the slavery of the devil.

“The Lord was angry with me because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance. I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land. Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” (Deuteronomy 4:21-24)

Moses was chosen for the deliverance of the Israelites and demonstrated the wonders and signs before King Pharaoh and the people of Egypt. He was known as the humblest man on the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3). He faithfully obeyed the Lord God and delivered all the instructions and decrees for the people to follow. He bore the weaknesses and shortcomings of the people and interceded to the Lord God on behalf of the stiff-necked people throughout the wilderness journey. But when he disobeyed the Lord by striking the rock though he was told to speak to it, God would not allow him to enter the land. When he pleaded with God for permission to go over and see the good land, God would not listen to him. That’s how our God acts now and forevermore. There is no partiality for him. He is forever good and unbending in any circumstance. If anyone obeys him he shall be blessed and prosperous. If anyone does not obey him he shall be cursed and destroyed. Our God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Prophet Zephaniah prophesied in an awesome language regarding the jealous God.

“In the fire of his jealousy the whole earth will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth.” (Zephaniah 1:18b)

God’s jealousy and wrath is being revealed all but because he is love. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,” says the Scripture (Romans 1:18). Our loving and compassionate God cannot let his people go after the idols because it is a so dangerous practices for them to invite the sudden and imminent destruction and collapse. Our God punishes and disciplines those who do not obey him, so that they may turn back and repent from the disobedience of idol worship and run to the Lord, asking for mercy and pity.  

“After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time—if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God and arousing his anger, I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed. The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.” (Deuteronomy 4:25-31)

Why does God call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against his people? It’s because the heavens and the earth are faithfully obeying the Lord of glory from the beginning. Though the universe is complex and vast and hardly fathom what is in it, it works orderly without an iota of rebellion, according to the course marked out by the hand of the Almighty God. Not just the sun, the moon, and the earth but the billions of billions of galaxies and stars in the universe have been obeying so faithfully thousands upon thousands years.

Why will they quickly perish from the land? It’s because they follow the idols which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. Death has various forms in addition to the cessation of the breath of air. Jesus came and died in our place in order to give eternal life to those who believe in him. So, death is the absence of eternal life. For example, emptiness, barrenness, boredom, meaninglessness, nothingness, dullness in the midst are all the forms of death. Fear, anxiety, panic, depression, worry are also the elements of death. If we do not obey the Lord in Christ, we cannot avoid the consequence of disobedience, all kinds of death. There is no hesitation or delay for the wrath of God to be revealed so that we immediately experience all forms of forceful death. The wrath of God is quickly being revealed for those who are wickedly disobey him because he is forever love.

“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)

Why does our God not hesitate to reveal his anger and wrath against us? It’s because he wants us to seek and obey him with our heart and with our soul all the days of our lives, even in time of distress and agony. Our God is the God of hope and mercy. He waits for his children to return back to him anytime and welcomes them no matter what because the blood of Christ Jesus has cleansed and washed away all the transgressions and stains and because he made the covenant with the forefathers of faith. God will not abandon or destroy us in Christ the Son because he promised to our ancestors by oath if we come and ask for his pity and mercy even after falling into the idol worhsip.

“Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created human beings on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived? Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other. From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire. Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength, to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today. Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.” (Deuteronomy 4:32-40)

God has demonstrated his awesome power and strength by signs and wonders, by war, by testings, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, by great and awesome deeds which are not found from one end of the heavens to the other. What’s for? God has shown these things so that we might know that the Lord is God, besides him there is no other. He is the only security, protection, shelter, refuge, and the shield for all humanity, especially for those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Son. Since the Lord is God and there is no other who can show such a power and strength from one end of heavens to the other, we can confidently trust and take rest in him. Is it not faith what the ancients were commended for?

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Since we have such an awesome and compassionate and merciful God the Lord of covenant, we shall live by faith in the Son Jesus Christ who is the perfecter and author of our faith. There is no other way for the children of God to live than by faith in Christ. God chose and called us today and made us his inheritance, so acknowledge and take to heart every day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. Every moment, moment by moment, now and forevermore, keep his decrees and commands, so that we may go well and live long in the land the Lord our God gave us for all time.

That’s the new identity for all Christians. We’ve been delivered and made righteous and holy before God through the redeeming blood of Christ Jesus, so that we in confidence and boldness can stand before the throne of grace in heavenly places and may drink the living water in full. We’ve been provided everything we need for living a godly life even in the midst of trials and temptations for what God has done in Christ through the faith is irrevocable and irreversible. Apostle Peter assures us, saying “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:3-4)

The Lord commanded Moses to set aside three cities east of Jordan to protect those who unintentionally killed a neighbor without malice aforethought (Deuteronomy 4:41-43). After defeating the two kings in the east of the Jordan, the Lord commanded Moses to set the stipulations, decrees, and laws before the Israelites which had been given the second time. The first time the law of God was given in the mount of Saini which is recorded in the Book of Exodus Chapter 20 (Deuteronomy 4:44-48).

Prayer: Our compassionate and merciful Father, thank you for the truth that the Lord is God and there is no other. So, we shall obey him, following every decree, stipulation, and law given through Moses, and remembering how awesome and powerful God he is. There is no other who can demonstrate the signs and wonders from one end of the heavens to the other. Thank you Lord for making us your inheritance and you are our inheritance in Christ Jesus the Lord. In Christ’s name. Amen.

May 4, 2016 

© 2015-2016 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

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.