Moses is giving the greatest pep talk ever to the Israelites and one of his last. They are about to enter the promised land to begin to take possession without him. He is reviewing their history, reminding them to obey the law and telling them what the Lord requires of them. They have just spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness and have just had their first victories: defeating King Sihon and King Og. Moses spends a large portion of time reminding the Israelites to obey the Lord’s commandments. There had been previous consequences for their failure to obey the Lord and Moses wants to set them up for success as they prepare to enter the promised land.
We can take from Deuteronomy 1-10 that we are to love the Lord with all of heart, mind and might. We can do this through by obeying the commandments, and choosing to focus on loving through our service to Him.
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your hear and with all your soul, and to eep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?” Deuteronomy 10:12-13 ESV
Passage:
Deuteronomy 1-10
Discovered:
- Deuteronomy contains a speech from Moses near the end of his life before they enter the promised land.
- The Israelites had defeated King Sihon, King Og – the promised land is theirs for the taking
- Moses begins to recount their history:
- Appointed leaders overs you to help judge – impartial and unintimidated by others
- We sent scouts into Canaan and despite being told it was good land, you were afraid and rebelled against the Lord.
- As a result, we wandered the desert/wilderness for 40 years, and all the men who were with us when we fled Egypt have died.
- You don’t get Seir – promised to Esau or Ammon – promised to Lot
- We defeated King Sihon of Heshbon, destroyed everything, keeping only livestock and plunder
- We defeated King Og of Bashan, destroyed everything/everyone, keeping only livestock and plunder
- The land captured was inherited by Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe Manasseh.
- I (Moses) was forbidden from entering the promised land, but allowed to see it from the top of Pisgah.
- Moses commands obedience of the Law:
- If you keep the statutes and laws, others will see your wisdom and call you blessed.
- Do not make carved idols, worship the sun, moon or stars in my place.
- Warning: if you make idols, you will anger God – you will be removed from the land and scattered to the nations. God is a consuming fire, jealous God.
- The Lord alone is God: has anyone else ever heard the voice of God through a fire and lived or took a nation for himself from the middle of another nation?
- There are cities of refuge: Reubenites: Bezer, Gadites: Ramoth and Manasseh: Golan
- Moses reminds them of the 10 commandments.
- Greatest commandment: Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and might.
- Israel is a chosen people because the Lord loves you. If you obey He will keep His covenant and bless you.
- Keep the commandments of the Lord, by walking in His ways and fearing Him.
- You are not receiving this good land because of your righteousness: your ways have been wicked: golden calf, your stubbornness to obey.
- Lord requires of you: fear the Lord, walk in His ways, love the Lord, serve Him with all of heart and soul, keep His commands.
Help me to remember:
to obey the Lord and love and serve Him with all my heart.
Lord, I ask that . . .
you quickly point our my errors, to show me where I have strayed so that I can return back to you.
Heavenly Father, I am thankful for . . .
that your son died on a cross to see me in spite of my unrighteousness.
