TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20
Luke 11:37-12:7
Psalm 78:1-31
Proverbs 12:19-20
Deuteronomy 29:2 — Thousands of years after Jesus came to earth, we think it would be much easier to believe if Jesus were here with us. If instead of watching a performance during Passion Week, if we could see Jesus with our own eyes, we would believe. The Israelites saw all that God did: plagues in Egypt. parting of the Red Sea, manna from Heaven, and yet they murmured, complained, wished to go back to Egypt (Numbers 14:4), and wished they died back in Egypt (Exodus 16:3). Do you really think we would have responded differently?
Deuteronomy 29:6 — Ephesians 5:18 contrasts being drunk with wine to being filled with the Spirit. The Israelites drank neither wine nor strong drink but were provided with water from the Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4). By the way, today’s psalm talks about this as well!
Deuteronomy 29:15 — While the Mosaic Covenant extended to the unborn descendants of the children of Israel, we too are part of a covenant with God (Hebrews 8:6).
Deuteronomy 30:3 — Daniel realized that God would accomplish His promise (Daniel 9:2). Even though they had been exiled, the exile would not last forever (Jeremiah 25:11). Interestingly, since July 5th, 1950, the children of Israel have officially begun regathering into Israel. Verse 5 begins the “Land Covenant” according to Jimmy DeYoung.
Deuteronomy 30:6 — The Abrahamic Covenant, included in the Mosaic Covenant required circumcision of the flesh (Genesis 17:10). Moses prophesies what Paul writes about in Romans 2:29. Unfortunately, up to 67% of modern Israel’s Jewish population identifies as secular. Romans 11:26 has yet to be fulfilled.
Deuteronomy 30:11 — Following God isn’t complex; but even though it’s simple, that doesn’t mean it’s easy!
Deuteronomy 30:20 — This is the tenth time in Deuteronomy we are urged to love the LORD our God. Choose life and love God (vs. 19).
Luke 11:42 — Why did Jesus have such harsh words for the Pharisees? They knew the Law of Moses, but they didn’t follow the greatest commandment – to love the LORD their God!
Luke 11:46 — The lawyer felt left out, so he thought he should speak up (Luke 11:45). But the experts in Mosaic Law were decried because even though they loved the Law and built monuments to prophets, their fathers had killed the prophets.
Luke 12:5 — I’m thankful for those who defend our religious liberties, but we need to make sure we are using them! Today is not the day to bewail the loss of freedom and the fact we may suffer consequences for speaking God’s Word. Today is the day to speak the Word of God!
Psalm 78:6 — Deuteronomy 29:15 included the Israelite descendants in the covenant, and those who follow the Lord will not hide these truths (Psalm 78:4). They will make them known to their children (Psalm 78:5), so future generations will know them (Psalm 78:6) in order that they too may trust and obey the Lord (Psalm 78:7)!
Psalm 78:31 — God’s wrath is real.
Proverbs 12:19 — One of the themes of Proverbs seems to be the use of the tongue. Use yours carefully today!
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