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    March 20th Chronological Bible Readings

    Deuteronomy 29:2-31:29
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    Deuteronomy chapter 29 verse 29 is intriguing today – “There are secret things that belong to the LORD our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our descendants forever, so that we may obey these words of the law.”  I think this is good for us to remember – there are secrets of God that we will not know this side of heaven.  And I don’t think we need to worry or speculate on what these secret things might be, because “the revealed things belong to us.”  God has revealed himself to us in the Bible!  His very Word.  He has revealed himself in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  And he reveals himself in the life of the body of Christ today – the church.  We have everything we need to know to love & follow God.  And I think God’s secrets can remain secret to us this side of heaven – I don’t know about you, but I like a little mystery in God!  🙂


    Secrets

    “Be strong and courageous!” is the encouragement & exhortation we hear 3 times in chapter 31 today.  It was said by Moses to the Israelites in verse 6, then by Moses to Joshua in verse 7, and finally by God to Joshua in verse 23.  Why do you think this was said 3 times?  Why would the Israelites and Joshua need to be reminded to be strong and courageous?  And if these words were needed back then, do you think perhaps we might need to hear them still today?  Do we need to be reminded oftentimes to be strong and courageous?  Today, this side of the Cross, where does our strength and courage truly come from?  Below is Joshua being commissioned by Moses in a Fresco in the Sistine Chapel by Luigi Signorelli, circa 1481:



    Today in Deuteronomy chapter 31 verses 10-12 we read – “Then Moses commanded them: “At the end of every seven years, in the year for canceling debts, during the Feast of Tabernacles, when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing. Assemble the people – men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns-so they can listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and follow carefully all the words of this law.” Incredible verses! I like that Moses was setting up a way for God’s Word to continue to be taught & heard by God’s People every 7 years! I think this gets at a couple of things – 1. We humans are very forgetful. We may hear something once, but we need to hear it over and over again – particularly if it is God’s Word. 2. There is always a new generation of people coming up behind us. It is so important to educate this new generation about God’s Word. So – how do these verses above speak to you today? Are you hearing or reading God’s Word on a consistent basis? I know the answer is yes, for this year, as you’re in the Chronological Bible! And I know that many of you have been reading the Bible for many years now. However, I know not everyone will read the Bible every year. Here’s a suggestion – what about committing to reading the entire Bible – in the One Year Bible or Chronological or other format – once every 7 years? Thus, if you live to be 101, you’ll have read the Bible through atleast 10 times (not counting those early years :). Just a thought to keep in the back of your mind – please consider reading the entire Bible at least once every 7 years. Though, I would encourage you to at least read some portion of the Word each and every day, in each and every year. Next question – are you somehow involved in teaching others the Word? Are you encouraging your friends or family members to read God’s Word? Maybe consider inviting your family & friends to participate in reading the Bible next year? Are you somehow involved in teaching the younger generation coming up behind you to learn God’s Word? Maybe through your church you can get involved in Sunday school ministries or maybe there is a younger person in your community that you can mentor and disciple?



    An image for chapter 31 verses 14 & 15 is below: “Then the LORD said to Moses, “The time has come for you to die. Call Joshua and take him with you to the Tabernacle, and I will commission him there.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the Tabernacle. And the LORD appeared to them in a pillar of cloud at the entrance to the sacred tent.”


    Deut_3114_moses_and_joshua_presented_the

    Worship God: Today’s readings in Deuteronomy reminded me of The Museum’s song “My Help Comes from the Lord:”



    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ1CCaouSF0

    Where does your help come from? Click here for help that comes from the Lord!


    Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV


    Prayer Point: Pray for strength. Pray for courage. Pray that you will never be afraid or terrified, because you know that the LORD your God is with you.


    Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

    God bless,
    Mike

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    One response to “March 20th Chronological Bible Readings”

    1. Ramona Avatar
      Ramona

      “Revelation is not revelation until it is revelation to you.” A.R. Bernard
      Deut 29:29, “There are secret things that belong to the LORD our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our descendants forever, so that we may obey these words of the law” is the last piece of bread that sandwiches everything spoken about after verses two through four, “2 Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them, “You have seen with your own eyes everything the LORD did in Egypt to Pharaoh and all his servants and his whole country—3 all the great tests of strength, the miraculous signs, and the amazing wonders. 4 But to this day the LORD has not given you minds that understand, nor eyes that see, nor ears that hear!
      Scripture is progressive in the laying out of this text, this book we know as the Bible, as well as progressive in our personal understanding of this book. What was “revealed” to me in the heart of my understanding when I first began reading through this book in 1984/85 has increased in volume and intensity as I read through today (Note: I do a second bible-reading program as well as book studies). In my experience my own personal understanding, the understanding that happens as a passage that I have read one-hundred times before explodes in my spirit and becomes alive to me, takes on new meaning and becomes easier to follow then when I just understood it in my head.
      Ignorance of the Law is not excuse for not following the law, but when we know that Law, really really, know that Law, we are without excuse. I believe that 29th verse has a duality, there is a component as a community and there is a personal responsibility when one gains understanding of a Law, Precept, or Command that God has given us and it becomes part of our very being. Before that understanding explodes in our spirit, we follow the Law by faith, but when it becomes alive to us we begin following because we know. We may not even be able to explain why we know to others at first but following that law moves from being a burden to becoming a joy.
      Revelation brings understanding and that is why I belive the writer of Proverbs admonishes over and over again the importance of the reader’s pursuit of Widsom and Understanding.
      Proverbs 4:
      5 Get wisdom, get understanding;do not forget my words or swerve from them.
      6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
      7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
      Deut. 30: 1 “Suppose all these things happen to you–the blessings and the curses I have listed–and you meditate on them as you are living among the nations to which the LORD your God has exiled you. 2 If at that time you return to the LORD your God, and you and your children begin wholeheartedly to obey all the commands I have given you today, 3 then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes.
      This is a great Word for backsliders. Moses has just rehearsed within the people’s hearing the blessings for those who are obedient to God’s Law as well as the curses on those who are not (chapter 28). He tried to make the consequences “real” to them by referring back to their time of delivererence from Egypt and how God kept and protected them in the wilderness. Then in the last half of the thirtieth chapter God lays Israel’s destiny, lays our destiny squarely on us it is our choice how we live. One of the many Proverbs dealing with those choices states,
      21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. (Proverbs 18)
      We are the sum total of all the choices we have made in our life. Where we are today is the result of our choices. If we don’t like the life we are living now we have to make new choices. God gives us the choices, death or life, and then even tells us which one to choose to live.
      19″Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! 20 Choose to love the LORD your God and to obey him and commit yourself to him, for he is your life. Then you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

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