Read Deuteronomy
5-7 & Mark
12:1-27
To discover:
As you read note the different things God promises Israel.
To ponder:
4v44-49 introduces chapters 5-26 in which God’s laws are
proclaimed to the current generation on the edge of the land. We then hear how
Moses “summoned” Israel
to listen. The laws are the terms of God’s covenant made at Horeb (around
Sinai). Moses speaks of the covenant being made with this generation, even
though only some would have been there – and as children. This is because the
covenant was for future generations too, so each new generation needs to
embrace it. Indeed, the “you” and “your” in 6v5 is singular. God sees Israel
as one.
Moses lists the Ten Commandments,
affirming their centrality as the spring from which the following laws flow. He
recounts how Israel
heard God speak from the mountain, and in fear of death asked Moses to stand
between them and God, relating his word. God commended them, but spoke of his
longing that “their hearts would be inclined to fear” him. He desires the same in
our response to his word mediated through Christ.
The themes that follow are
similar to yesterday’s reading: First, Israel are to carefully obey, learning
the laws, being sure to follow them, not forget them, but acting to be
constantly reminded of them, impressing them on their children, and telling
those children the story of redemption when asked about them. There are lessons
here for how Christian parents should pass on the teaching and acts of Christ
to their children, recognizing that their children’s life depends on that too.
Second, Israel
are to do this out of a whole-person whole-life love for God. As with the new
covenant, obedience is to be no legalistic attempt to merit his favour. The
covenant obliges them to obey, but as a response to God’s grace in choosing to
make Israel his
treasured possession and set his love on them. This means that when the parent
says careful obedience “will be our righteousness,” they must simply mean God
regards this loving response (although inevitably imperfect) as the right
response to all he has done. Reflecting this, here their redemption is given as
the reason to keep the Sabbath, instead of the creation as in Exodus 20v11.
Third, they must obey so that
they would go in and take the land, and their children would live and prosper
in it. Here, the blessings this would entail are outlined. Israel
will enjoy the cities and vineyards already there, increasing in number, with
bountiful harvests, thriving livestock and good health (6v10-11, 7v13-15). These
things echo Eden, fulfil God’s
promise to Abraham, and look towards the new creation.
Fourth, Israel
must therefore keep away from idolatry. So they must utterly destroy the
nations and their means of false worship, and not intermarry with them so that
they are not led astray. Moreover, they are not to covet the wealth that adorns
the nations’ idols, but “abhor” and “detest” it as set apart for destruction.
No doubt this was because it was defiled by its use, but also so that they
would not tempted to use it in worship. These commands are extreme, but the
fulfilment of God’s promise depended on them. Indeed, Moses warns that whilst
God is faithful to his covenant, he will destroy those who hate him.
Finally, he again exhorts Israel
not to fear, because she saw God prove he is “a great and awesome God” by
bringing her out of Egypt.
The people can therefore be sure God will drive the nations out before them,
but in his time so the “wild animals” don’t multiply and cause them problems.
Praying it home:
Thank God for setting his love on you and making you his
treasured possession. Pray that you would be diligent in teaching his acts and
will to children, and in remembering and obeying them yourself.
Thinking further:
Christ quotes 6v16 when tempted by Satan. The sense is that
in those forty days in the desert he perfectly obeys the law in the way Israel
failed to during her forty years. This perfect righteousness can then be
credited to his people so that they can be declared righteous (justified) and
so treated as truly righteous by God.
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