Deuteronomy—the fifth book of
what is called the Pentateuch—five books written or compiled by Moses.
Deuteronomy means “second
law”—because the 10 commandments appear here in the Bible/Pentateuch for the
second time. We find them originally in
Exodus 20 and here in Deut. 5.
What is going on at this time in
the Bible? God brought His people out
of slavery in Egypt. They rebelled
against Him. When He told them to enter
the Promised Land, they saw the giants and would not go. So God told them, “This generation will not
enter the promised land.” After almost
40 years of wandering around in the wilderness, now that generation had died
out.
So it was time for the next
generation to take up the covenant promise—obey the Lord, and capture the land.
First Moses recites the history
of their parents, so they would understand what they were part of, including
reminding them of what God had done—miraculous things for His people.
Then He repeats for this
generation the 10 commandments, so they will hear them, accept them for
themselves, and obey them—live them out.
And then He challenges this
generation to capture the land under the new leadership of Joshua because Moses
would not be allowed to enter, due to His disobedience—but also having to do
with the people’s disobedience.
The Israelites forgot. And sometimes Christians forget. Other times they remember, but remember the
wrong things. There is great danger in
forgetting the right things.
Only be careful, and watch
yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have
seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your
children and to their children after them. ( NIV, www. biblegateway.com)
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 merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget
the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.
Be careful that you do not forget
the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of
the land of slavery.
An important word throughout
Deuteronomy is the word, “forget.” At
least 8 times in the first 8 chapters, the word is used, and all but one refers
to the Israelites forgetting the Lord and what He had done for them.
- We cannot forget what
God has done on our behalf in the past.
Notice—“what God has done.”
- Sometimes we remember what we have done or take credit for what God has done—dangerous—an idol
- Sometimes we remember
a way we did it—and think that is the only way to do it—the truth of the
gospel does not change—but the ways we may express it changes and adapts
according to the changing situations around us and people around us.
- To keep from
forgetting what God has done, you have to keep seeking God. Deut 4:29 says, “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.” (NIV)
- Forget what God has done—forget the LORD—and you fail to obey—and you miss the blessing.
2. The next generation had
to take up the same covenant—the 10 commandments—the promise of God.
- One generation passes
from the scene—death brings about changes—leaders die too.
- Sometimes disobedience
brings change—not listening to God—not cooperating with one
another—fighting/bickering—and change occurs.
- When change occurs—when
leaders are no longer present—the next generation must accept the
challenges of God—the opportunities to lead, teach, listen to God and
obey.
- My kids don’t live by
my faith—they have to accept it for themselves or deny it for
themselves. Each generation has
to make it “theirs” and often they do some with some changes—at times in
churches, that means style of music or different translations of
Scripture or other ways of expressing their faith.
3. When God says, “move” you move. Otherwise that is disobedience to God. There is a time to wait, and there is a time
to take up your place in the battle and serve.
Movie—“Failure to Launch”—son
still single and living with parents though is quite old. Parents are trying to decide how they are
going to get him to marry, move out, move on in life. Comedy—but so often, this is a church.
When God says “enter the land”
it is time to move—not time to stay or remember what it used to be like and how
good it used to be.
- That takes everyone seeking the Lord to determine the will and path of God—and His timing.
- That takes everyone willing to step out in faith when God says to move out.
- That takes everyone finding their task within the body of Christ—their gift—their way of serving God and the church.
- Are you ready to move?
- This church will not capture the land the Lord laid before
you,
- until we seek the Lord,
- accept the promises and tasks for ourselves,
- and then launch out.
Do not forget—what God has done
in the past—for the Israelites—or for His church.
Remember it was Him working—but
remember also—we have an important part to play in its success. Otherwise, we keep wandering in the desert
until all this generation has died out.
Time of silent prayer—what do
you need to say to God—what are you hearing from God—what are you willing to do
to make this church capture this land?
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