Showing posts with label merciful. Show all posts
Showing posts with label merciful. Show all posts

Deuteronomy 4-6 Big Ten Playlist

Psalm 27:1-6 Key to Confidence
27:1 “Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers came at me to eat up my flesh, even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident. 4 One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after, that I may dwell in the house of Yahweh all the days of my life, to see Yahweh's beauty, and to inquire in His temple. 5 For in the day of trouble He will keep me secretly in His pavilion. In the covert of His tabernacle He will hide me. He will lift me up on a rock. 6 Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me. I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tent. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh."

Observations: 27:1 You and God are a majority.
27:4 Ask and seek to avoid hard knocks. David doesn't dabble in his pursuit of God; he is driven to dwell daily in His presence. Inquire is to intentionally seek one's face (in this context).
27:5-6 Protection and joyful praise surround the life of the person who trusts God.
Deuteronomy 4:29 "But from there you shall seek Yahweh your God, and you shall find him, when you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul."
Application: If you're fearing men, you're not fearing God. Time to get serious about seeking Him.
Prayer: My God, I praise you for being beautiful and accessible, both my delight and deliverer; may my praise for Your protection induce others to seek You. Amen.

Proverbs 7:16-20 Getting Away With It
7:16 “I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let’s take our fill of loving until the morning. Let’s mutually delight each other with loving. 19 For my husband isn’t at home. He has gone on a long journey. 20 He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon."

Observations: 7:16-20 Temptation appeals to the senses; soft comfy couch/bed; high thread count satiny sheets (from Egypt, with stripes no less); fragrant potpourri filling the air. The invitation is equally appealing: being drunk/satiated with love (the root of this word means to boil) until the sun rises, mutually causing each other rejoicing/delight (Hiphael stresses reflexive action) with “loving” (a rare word for threshing). The husband is away and won't be back; there's no downside. The application for men isn't revealed for a few more verses (if you want to look ahead, you can find nine kinds of pain). There's also an application for wives who want to help protect their husbands (and it's not about business trips, but there are a couple of tricks to learn from the temptress).

Application: If no one would know that you indulged in temptation, would you? Doesn't God know? What's fear of the Lord got to do with it?

Prayer: Lord, don't let me be deceived into thinking that sin doesn't have consequences; don't let me be led into temptation, but deliver me from evil. Amen.


Deuteronomy 4-6 Big Ten Playlist

Deuteronomy 4 Seeing, Hearing and Heeding
4:1 Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and to the ordinances, which I teach you, to do them; that you may live, and go in and possess the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, gives you. 2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God which I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what Yahweh did because of Baal-peor; for all the men who followed Baal-peor, Yahweh your God has destroyed them from the midst of you. 4 But you who did cleave to Yahweh your God are alive everyone of you this day. 5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as Yahweh my God commanded me, that you should do so in the midst of the land where you go in to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 7 For what great nation is there, that has a god so near to them, as Yahweh our God is whenever we call on Him? 8 What great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
9 Only take heed to yourself, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your children`s children; 10 the day that you stood before Yahweh your God in Horeb, when Yahweh said to me, "Assemble Me the people, and I will make them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children." 11 You came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire to the heart of the sky, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. 12 Yahweh spoke to you out of the midst of the fire: you heard the voice of words, but you saw no form; only [you heard] a voice. 13 He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments; and He wrote them on two tables of stone. 14 Yahweh commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances, that you might do them in the land where you go over to possess it. 15 Take therefore good heed to yourselves; for you saw no manner of form on the day that Yahweh spoke to you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire. 16 Lest you corrupt yourselves, and make yourself an engraved image in the form of any figure...19 lest you lift up your eyes to the sky, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the host of the sky, you be drawn away and worship them, and serve them...20 But Yahweh has taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be to Him a people of inheritance 21 Furthermore Yahweh was angry with me for your sakes, and swore...that I should not go in to that good land, which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance: 22 but I must die in this land...23 Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget...24 For Yahweh your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God. 25 when you...do that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh your God, to provoke Him to anger; 26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you shall soon utterly perish...shall utterly be destroyed. 27 Yahweh will scatter you among the peoples, and you shall be left few in number. 29 But from there you shall seek Yahweh your God, and you shall find Him, when you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul 31 for Yahweh your God is a merciful God; He will not fail you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. 33 Did ever a people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live? 34...all that Yahweh your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 To you it was shown, that you might know that Yahweh He is God; there is none else besides Him. 37 Because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their seed after them, and brought you out with His presence, with His great power, out of Egypt; 38 to drive out nations from before you greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance 39 Know therefore this day, and lay it to your heart, that Yahweh He is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is none else. 40 You shall keep His statutes, and His commandments, which I command you this day, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land, which Yahweh your God gives you, forever...

Observations: 4:1-4 Clearly God expects His people to obey His instructions. He destroys those who don't, as they clearly saw at Peor. They are alive because they obeyed. The disobedient are dead. Any questions?
4:6-8 God's plan to draw others to Himself is through the obedience of His people to His revelation. Great laws come from a great God, through specific revelation. For some reason the other nations weren't following the natural law. Hmmmm....
4:9 Note the five things you can do to ensure that you get blessed.
4:29-31 God disciplines, but is merciful and gracious to those who wholeheartedly repent.
4:34-35 God provides a factual, rational, cognitive basis for faith and obedience.

Application: Preventative maintenance prevents a lot of pain.

Prayer: Yahweh, You are the only God, Creator and Sustainer of life. Thank You for communicating what I need to do to experience You and Your blessings. Smack me on the side of the head when I stop paying full attention. Amen.

Deuteronomy 5 The Big Ten, All Over Again
5:1 Moses called to all Israel, and said to them, "Hear, Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your ears this day, that you may learn them, and observe to do them. 2 Yahweh our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 5 (I stood between Yahweh and you at that time, to show you the word of Yahweh: for you were afraid because of the fire, and didn`t go up onto the mountain;) saying,

  1. 6 "I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 7 You shall have no other gods before Me.
  2. 8 "You shall not make an engraved image for yourself, [nor] any likeness [of anything] that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 9 you shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them; for I, Yahweh, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate Me; 10 and showing hesed/loyal love to thousands of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
  3. 11 "You shall not bear the name of Yahweh your God in vain/to no effect: for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain/lightly.
  4. 12 "Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as Yahweh your God commanded you. 13 Six days shall you labor, and do all your work; 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God: [in it] you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your man-servant, nor your maid-servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates; that your man-servant and your maid-servant may rest as well as you. 15 You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm: therefore Yahweh your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
  5. 16 "Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God commanded you; that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you, in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
  6. 17 "You shall not murder.
  7. 18 "Neither shall you commit adultery
  8. 19 "Neither shall you steal.
  9. 20 "Neither shall you give false testimony against your neighbor. 21 "Neither shall you covet your neighbor`s wife; neither shall you desire your neighbor`s house, his field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor`s.""
    22 These words Yahweh spoke...He wrote them on two tables of stone, and gave them to me.
    24 you said, "Behold, Yahweh our God has showed us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God does speak with man, and he lives.
    27 “Go near, and hear all that Yahweh our God shall say: and speak to us all that Yahweh our God shall speak to you; and we will hear it, and do it.” 28 Yahweh heard the voice of your words...29 Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever! 32 You shall observe to do therefore as Yahweh your God has commanded you: you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in all the way which Yahweh your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess."
Observations: 5:1 Note the three steps to getting blessed. Observe means to keep, guard or watch like a hungry dog eying a nearby steak.
5:6-20 See comments on Exodus 20 and the Ten Commandments: Sanctify, Unify, Bless sermon on Truthbase.net for more elaboration.
5:29 God longs for us to have a heart that fears Him and obeys. Apparently He didn't program that into us like robots, but designed us with a will that is free to chose to obey or not. You can train your will. Remember a Sovereign Ruler makes the rules. D'ems the rules. Do 'em.
5:33 God gives us His commands to make our lives wonderful, not miserable.

Application: The Sabbath (5:12) was the sign of this covenant, not repeated in the NT. However, the principle of arranging your schedule around God, rather than the other way around is particularly applicable. We shouldn't fit God into our schedule, but submit all of our activities under the priority of seeking, knowing, and obeying Him. That will get us what we really want.

Prayer: O God Who Communicates, thank You for giving us the words that make life work as You intended. Help me develop the heart that fears, hears, and obeys You always. Amen.

Deuteronomy 6 The Great Shema: Hear, Love, Teach, Enjoy
6:1 Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Yahweh your God commanded to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you go over to possess it; 2 that you might fear Yahweh your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments, which I command you, you, and your son, and your son`s son, all the days of your life; and that your days may be prolonged. 3 Hear therefore, Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with you, and that you may increase mightily, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised to you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
4 Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one: 5 and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 These words, which I command you this day, shall be on your heart; 7 and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for symbols between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the door-posts of your house, and on your gates.

10 It shall be, when Yahweh your God shall bring you into the land which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you, great and good cities, which you didn`t build, 11 and houses full of all good things, which you didn`t fill, and cisterns dug out, which you didn`t dig, vineyards and olive-trees, which you didn`t plant, and you shall eat and be full; 12 then beware lest you forget Yahweh, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 13 You shall fear Yahweh your God; and Him shall you serve, and shall swear by His name. 14 You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are round about you; 15 for Yahweh your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; lest the anger of Yahweh your God be kindled against you, and He destroy you from off the face of the earth. 16 You shall not tempt Yahweh your God, as you tempted Him in Massah. 17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, and His testimonies, and His statutes, which He has commanded you. 18 You shall do that which is right and good in the sight of Yahweh; that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, 19 to thrust out all your enemies from before you, as Yahweh has spoken.
20 When your son asks you in time to come, saying, What mean...24 Yahweh commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear Yahweh our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as at this day. 25 It shall be righteousness to us, if we observe to do all this commandment before Yahweh our God, as He has commanded us.

Observations: 6:4-9 This it the Great Shema (Hebrew for “hear”), one of the four passages (Exodus 13:1-10; 11-16; Deuteronomy 11:18-21) of Scripture written in the phylacteries/tefillin. A relationship with God starts with hearing what He has revealed. The fact that He is a single entity means that there is no other to dispute what He says (cx dualism) nor to be heeded (cx poly/pan-theism), therefore complete allegiance is owed to Him.
6:7 Parents had the responsibility to model, teach and train their children as a part of daily life, not as a compartmentalized religious activity. Teaching also involves value change, selling on the benefits of obedience (6:20-25).

Application: God's word should be in our heart and part of our daily lives, (not our wardrobe) so we can pass it on to others, and they can enjoy His blessings.

Prayer: One and Only God, may I love You and be loyal to You with all my decisions, ambitions, and actions. Show me where I'm slipping. Amen.


Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God communicates His will so we can do it; He loyally fulfills His promises; He is the only God, therefore exclusive loyalty is owed to Him. He gets jealous if we worship lies and gets angry with those who disobey Him, disciplining them until they repent. He graciously accepts back those who seek Him with all their heart. He wants to reveal Himself to the world through the people who obey His revealed law, and pass it on to others.

Us in a nutshell: We are given a factual cognitive basis for our faith; God tells us to look and believe; and keep looking to keep obeying. We must hear, learn, and wholeheartedly do what God expects in order to be blessed, including passing it on to others, particularly our kids. Skipping any of those steps will be painful.


Where to Go for More:
Truthbase.net

Deuteronomy 4-6 complete text

Deuteronomy 4
4:1 Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and to the ordinances, which I teach you, to do them; that you may live, and go in and possess the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, gives you. 2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God which I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what Yahweh did because of Baal-peor; for all the men who followed Baal-peor, Yahweh your God has destroyed them from the midst of you. 4 But you who did cleave to Yahweh your God are alive everyone of you this day. 5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as Yahweh my God commanded me, that you should do so in the midst of the land where you go in to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 7 For what great nation is there, that has a god so near to them, as Yahweh our God is whenever we call on him? 8 What great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? 9 Only take heed to yourself, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your children`s children; 10 the day that you stood before Yahweh your God in Horeb, when Yahweh said to me, Assemble Me the people, and I will make them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children. 11 You came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire to the heart of the sky, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. 12 Yahweh spoke to you out of the midst of the fire: you heard the voice of words, but you saw no form; only [you heard] a voice. 13 He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments; and He wrote them on two tables of stone. 14 Yahweh commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances, that you might do them in the land where you go over to possess it. 15 Take therefore good heed to yourselves; for you saw no manner of form on the day that Yahweh spoke to you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire. 16 Lest you corrupt yourselves, and make yourself an engraved image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, 17 the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky, 18 the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth; 19 and lest you lift up your eyes to the sky, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the host of the sky, you be drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which Yahweh your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole sky. 20 But Yahweh has taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be to Him a people of inheritance, as at this day. 21 Furthermore Yahweh was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I should not go over the Jordan, and that I should not go in to that good land, which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance: 22 but I must die in this land, I must not go over the Jordan; but you shall go over, and possess that good land. 23 Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of Yahweh your God, which He made with you, and make you an engraved image in the form of anything which Yahweh your God has forbidden you. 24 For Yahweh your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God. 25 When you shall father children, and children`s children, and you shall have been long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make an engraved image in the form of anything, and shall do that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh your God, to provoke Him to anger; 26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto you go over the Jordan to possess it; you shall not prolong your days on it, but shall utterly be destroyed. 27 Yahweh will scatter you among the peoples, and you shall be left few in number among the nations, where Yahweh shall lead you away. 28 There you shall serve gods, the work of men`s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. 29 But from there you shall seek Yahweh your God, and you shall find Him, when you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in oppression, and all these things are come on you, in the latter days you shall return to Yahweh your God, and listen to His voice: 31 for Yahweh your God is a merciful God; He will not fail you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. 32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and from the one end of the sky to the other, whether there has been [any such thing] as this great thing is, or has been heard like it? 33 Did ever a people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live? 34 Or has God tried to go and take Him a nation from the midst of [another] nation, by trials, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that Yahweh your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 To you it was showed, that you might know that Yahweh He is God; there is none else besides Him. 36 Out of heaven He made you to hear His voice, that He might instruct you: and on earth He made you to see His great fire; and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire. 37 Because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their seed after them, and brought you out with His presence, with His great power, out of Egypt; 38 to drive out nations from before you greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as at this day. 39 Know therefore this day, and lay it to your heart, that Yahweh He is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is none else. 40 You shall keep His statutes, and His commandments, which I command you this day, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land, which Yahweh your God gives you, forever. 41 Then Moses set apart three cities beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise; 42 that the manslayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unawares, and didn`t hate him in time past; and that fleeing to one of these cities he might live: 43 [namely], Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, for the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, for the Manassites. 44 This is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel: 45 these are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which Moses spoke to the children of Israel, when they came forth out of Egypt, 46 beyond the Jordan, in the valley over against Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel struck, when they came forth out of Egypt. 47 They took his land in possession, and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise; 48 from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, even to Mount Sion (the same is Hermon), 49 and all the Arabah beyond the Jordan eastward, even to the sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.

Deuteronomy 5
5:1 Moses called to all Israel, and said to them, Hear, Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your ears this day, that you may learn them, and observe to do them. 2 Yahweh our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 Yahweh didn`t make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. 4 Yahweh spoke with you face to face on the mountain out of the midst of the fire, 5 (I stood between Yahweh and you at that time, to show you the word of Yahweh: for you were afraid because of the fire, and didn`t go up onto the mountain;) saying, 6 "I am Yahweh your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 7 You shall have no other gods before Me. 8 "You shall not make an engraved image for yourself, [nor] any likeness [of anything] that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 9 you shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them; for I, Yahweh, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate Me; 10 and showing lovingkindness to thousands of those who love Me and keep My commandments. 11 "You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain: for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. 12 "Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as Yahweh your God commanded you. 13 Six days shall you labor, and do all your work; 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God: [in it] you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your man-servant, nor your maid-servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates; that your man-servant and your maid-servant may rest as well as you. 15 You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm: therefore Yahweh your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. 16 "Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God commanded you; that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you, in the land which Yahweh your God gives you. 17 "You shall not murder. 18 "Neither shall you commit adultery. 19 "Neither shall you steal. 20 "Neither shall you give false testimony against your neighbor. 21 "Neither shall you covet your neighbor`s wife; neither shall you desire your neighbor`s house, his field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor`s." 22 These words Yahweh spoke to all your assembly on the mountain out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and He added no more. He wrote them on two tables of stone, and gave them to me. 23 It happened, when you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; 24 and you said, Behold, Yahweh our God has showed us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God does speak with man, and He lives. 25 Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of Yahweh our God any more, then we shall die. 26 For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27 Go you near, and hear all that Yahweh our God shall say: and speak you to us all that Yahweh our God shall speak to you; and we will hear it, and do it. 28 Yahweh heard the voice of your words, when you spoke to me; and Yahweh said to me, "I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken to you: they have well said all that they have spoken. 29 Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever! 30 Go tell them, "Return you to your tents. 31 But as for you, stand you here by Me, and I will speak to you all the commandment, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. 32 You shall observe to do therefore as Yahweh your God has commanded you: you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in all the way which Yahweh your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.""

Deuteronomy 6
6:1 Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Yahweh your God commanded to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you go over to possess it; 2 that you might fear Yahweh your God, to keep all His statutes and Hs commandments, which I command you, you, and your son, and your son`s son, all the days of your life; and that your days may be prolonged. 3 Hear therefore, Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with you, and that you may increase mightily, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised to you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. 4 Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one: 5 and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 These words, which I command you this day, shall be on your heart; 7 and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for symbols between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the door-posts of your house, and on your gates. 10 It shall be, when Yahweh your God shall bring you into the land which he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you, great and goodly cities, which you didn`t build, 11 and houses full of all good things, which you didn`t fill, and cisterns dug out, which you didn`t dig, vineyards and olive-trees, which you didn`t plant, and you shall eat and be full; 12 then beware lest you forget Yahweh, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 13 You shall fear Yahweh your God; and Him shall you serve, and shall swear by His name. 14 You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are round about you; 15 for Yahweh your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; lest the anger of Yahweh your God be kindled against you, and He destroy you from off the face of the earth. 16 You shall not tempt Yahweh your God, as you tempted Him in Massah. 17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, and His testimonies, and His statutes, which he has commanded you. 18 You shall do that which is right and good in the sight of Yahweh; that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, 19 to thrust out all your enemies from before you, as Yahweh has spoken. 20 When your son asks you in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which Yahweh our God has commanded you? 21 then you shall tell your son, We were Pharaoh`s bondservants in Egypt: and Yahweh brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand; 22 and Yahweh showed signs and wonders, great and sore, on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his house, before our eyes; 23 and He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land which He swore to our fathers. 24 Yahweh commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear Yahweh our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as at this day. 25 It shall be righteousness to us, if we observe to do all this commandment before Yahweh our God, as He has commanded us.

Genesis 16-19 Abraham Gets A Makeover

Psalm 4:1-8 God Gives Relief and Gladness
4:1 A Psalm by David “Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. 2 You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor? Will you love vanity, and seek after falsehood? Selah.
3 But know that Yahweh has set apart for himself him who is godly: Yahweh will hear when I call to Him. 4 Stand in awe, and don’t sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness. Put your trust in Yahweh.
6 Many say, "Who will show us any good?" Yahweh, let the light of Your face shine on us. 7 You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and their new wine are increased. 8 In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for You, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety."

Observations: 4:1-5 David is distressed by his evil enemies and calls to God for mercy and relief. His confidence in God was rooted in the fact that God watches over the righteous to deliver them. Therefore he admonishes his hearers to search their hearts for any ungodliness, and to put their trust in Yahweh.
4:6-8 When things are looking most bleak, David exercised the most faith in the character and promises of God. As a result he was able to praise Him for protection and prosperity, when God helped Him. God doesn't just barely save, but gives joy and gladness for which we should praise Him.

Application: Search your heart to see if there is anything that would prevent God from coming to your aid when you pray, and then praise Him for His help and blessing.

Prayer: God, thanks for hearing my prayer and helping me, and going beyond that to giving me joy and gladness. Amen.

Proverbs 2:4-5 Where Do You Find Hidden Treasure?
2:4 “If you seek understanding like silver, and search for it like hidden treasure, 5 Then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and you will discover the knowledge of God.”

Observation: The gems never lie on the surface; you have to dig for them. The digging impresses Truth more deeply on our minds (and working up a Bible Study sweat keeps us out of trouble).

Lexical Light: Genesis 2:5 The LXX (Greek translation of the OT done in ~250 BC) translates the Hebrew “fear” with phobeo, from which we get the English “phobia,” no laughing matter. “Fear” is used twice in Exodus 20:20, once to “fear not” and the other time to keep the fear of God in front of us so we don't sin. So you can see that it isn't just a matter of "respect," but something that alters our conduct.

Application: Roll up your sleeves, dig in the Scriptures, get dirty, and sweat a bit; then see what you find!

Prayer: God, help me not be content with pious platitudes, but rather be striving to know You.



Genesis 16-19 Abraham Gets A Makeover

Genesis 16 God Even Blesses Israel's Enemies
16:2 "Sarai said to Abram, “See now, Yahweh has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my handmaid (Hagar). It may be that I will obtain children by her.” Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 5 Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault...6...Sarai dealt harshly with Hagar, and she fled...9 The angel of Yahweh said to Hagar, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself.” 10 “I will greatly multiply your seed, that they will not be numbered for multitude.” 11 The angel of Yahweh said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction. 12 He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will live opposite all of his brothers.” 13 She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,”

Observations: Rather than calling out to God to satisfy her desire and solve her problem (as Hagar does) Sarai fails to wait for God to fulfill His promise, and causes problems for herself and Israel.
16:2 Like Eve, Sarai takes a short-cut to God's will, after waiting ten years. Not a good idea either time, nor today. Wait for it.
16:10 God even blesses Israel's enemies when they call out to Him, and submit to His plan.

Application: Lesson to the Exodus generation and us: God will eventually fulfill His promises at the perfect time. It takes faith to wait. We will regret short cuts. What are you waiting for?

Prayer: Oh God who sees, hears and blesses, thank you that you know what I need and want, and have perfect plan to bless me. Don't let me blow it. Amen.

Genesis 17 Abe Gets A Makeover
17:1 "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me/My face, and be blameless. 2 I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Abram fell on his face...
5 Neither will your name any more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you. 7 I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your seed after you. 8 I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God.”
10 "This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised...14 The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken My covenant.”
15 God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name will be Sarah. 16 I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.”
17 Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?”
20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But My covenant I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”
22 When he finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. 23 Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money; every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day, as God had said to him."

Observations: 17:1 Ishmael is now a teenager. No mention of God speaking to Abe for 13 years. Consequence of the Hagar incident?
"Walk before my face, and be blameless." This is an invitation to intimacy, to enjoy the same unhindered fellowship God had with Adam. The invite is extended to the nation in verse 9. Sheep enjoy intimacy with the Shepherd as He watches their backs. Did God actually expect Abe and Israel to do this?
17:5 Abe name change from “father of high places (barren places?)" to “father of multitudes".
Sarai goes from “princess” to “noblewoman” in Genesis 17:15.
17:10 Circumcision was a daily reminder of the seed promise.
17:14 Word play? Being cut off today means no inheritance. In Genesis 15, and reiterated here, God unconditionally gave the land to Israel forever. Dwelling in it, enjoying His blessings in it, were conditioned upon continued obedience.
17:21 Covenantal blessing is exclusively to Isaac and his seed, not Ishmael.
17:23 Abe was quick to obey, which is part of being blameless.

Structure: Lots of repetition for emphasis (see text below)

Application: “Live before My face, and be blameless.” Does God actually expect us to do this?

Prayer: God Almighty, Yahweh, I accept Your invitation to intimacy. Let's talk. Amen.

Genesis 18:1-19 Sarah Gets A Promise
18:1 "Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood opposite him... 10...Behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.”...13 Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child, yet I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for Yahweh?"
16 The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way. 17 Yahweh said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do, 18 since Abraham has surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him? 19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Yahweh may bring on Abraham that which He has spoken of him.”

Observations: 18:14 God can do anything He determines to do. He wants an intimate relationship with His people, but they aren't determined to cooperate.
18:19 This is a key verse for understanding God's plan to bless. God wants to bless, but He is purposeful in blessing obedience. He is also purposeful with the fire and brimstone stuff (next sections).

Question: Exactly how big is your God? Be specific about His size and abilities.

Application: Exactly how determined are you to be blessable and experience knowing Him?

Prayer: Oh God for Whom nothing is too difficult, help me do the difficult things necessary to keep Your way. Amen.



Genesis 18:20-33 Abe Gets God Down To Ten
18:20 "Yahweh said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, 21 I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.” 22 The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Yahweh. 23 Abraham drew near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous within the city?...32 He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.” 33 Yahweh went his way, as soon as He had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place."

Observations: Humorous irony. God knows when Sarah will have a son, but needs “eye-witness news” to know Sodom's sin. How did He know about things in Noah's day?
18:21 Just because God doesn't immediately judge, it doesn't mean that He won't. His judgment is always based upon solid evidence.
18:32 God is gracious in letting His blessings upon the righteous minority splash over upon even the grievously wicked majority. This doesn't go on forever.

Genesis 19 Somebody's A-Salted in Sodom
Lot's Wife rock formation near Dead Sea
19:1 "The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them...3 He urged them greatly...4...the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter. 5 They called to Lot, and said to him, “Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may have sex with them.”
11 They (the angels) struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door. 12 The men said to Lot, “Do you have anybody else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whoever you have in the city, bring them out of the place: 13 for we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before Yahweh that Yahweh has sent us to destroy it.”
14 Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up! Get out of this place, for Yahweh will destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be joking. 15 When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, “Get up! Take your wife, and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” 16 But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and his two daughters’ hands, Yahweh being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city. 17 It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, “Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you...
24 Then Yahweh rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from Yahweh out of the sky...26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before Yahweh. 28 He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and looked, and saw that the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace."

30 "Lot...lived in a cave with his two daughters...36 Thus both of Lot’s daughters were with child by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son, and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 The younger also bore a son, and called his name Ben Ammi. He is the father of the children of Ammon to this day."

Observations: Although “righteous,” Lot valued happiness over holiness (separation), and consequently made his own life (and that of Israel) unhappy.
2 Peter 2:6 "...turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man dwelling among them, was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds): 9 the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment; 10 but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise authority. Daring, self-willed..."
19:30 Lot got his daughters out of Sodom, but didn't get Sodom out of his daughters.
Both the Moabites and Ammonites proved to be a snare to Israel. (Ezra 9:1)

Application: We need to remove ourselves from situations which can compromise our sanctification. Remember Lot’s wife.” See Luke 17:32.

Prayer: Merciful God, thanks for Your gracious love and protection. May I not linger in nor look back to the sin from which You have delivered me. Amen.



Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: Gracious, patient, merciful, and open to reason, yet can be as powerful in Judging as He is in Blessing. He responds to cries for justice, and demands justice and righteousness from those who would be intimate with Him.

Us in a nutshell: A little slow to believe and do what is in our best interests. God initiates a relationship with us so we can keep His way, demonstrating His righteousness and justice, so He can bless us.

Where to Go for More: