30th September - 6th October 2024
This past couple of months I’ve been reading through what we know as The Pentateuch – the first 5 books of the Old Testament. I’ve been particularly helped by a series of animated teaching videos from an initiative called ‘The Bible Project’ that were interspersed within the reading plan that I’ve followed. I’m now nearing the end of the journey, in the final few chapters of Deuteronomy, and I’ve been struck by just how often Moses reinforced the same things over and over again as the Israelites journeyed.
I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised by that. We all know, in the words of Rick Warren, that ‘vision leaks’, and we can all too easily be distracted from what we are supposed to be doing and where we are called to go. And it’s very clear through much of what we read about Moses and the people of Israel that he needed to keep reminding them of what God had done and how they were supposed to respond. Indeed, he regularly would encourage them to ensure they found ways to remember God’s words: ‘Tie them as symbols. On your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.’ (Deuteronomy 6:8-9) Indeed, even today we can find devout Jews who do literally just that, tying phylacteries – small leather boxes with words of the law inside – around their hands and on their foreheads when they pray.
Of course, much of what we read in the Old Testament law is specifically to do with where the people of Israel found themselves in their day. There were laws concerning public health and laws about the sacrificial system that do not apply to us today. However, there is also much in the OT law that paints for us a picture of what God is like, what he values and how he wants his people to be and they are as relevant for us today as for his people in any age. And what strikes me is that God’s commands are not just a series of ‘You shall not…’ but they also contain a significant ‘call to action’ – they show us the kind of people we ought to be and the kind of life choices God calls us to make. And we’re shown in no uncertain terms that trusting the wisdom of God revealed in these commands, and choosing to obey them, is the way we demonstrate our love for God. ‘Trust and obey…’ In fact, that’s the age-old call of God to humanity, right from the Garden of Eden: ‘Will you trust me enough to obey what I tell you, or will you insist on choosing your own path?’
As we go through this week, we’re going to highlight and pray through some of what God revealed to his ancient people and ask for his help to understand, trust and obey his call to us today.
Guest Contributor - Stephen Cave
MONDAY
Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.
Deuteronomy 4:1-2
Father God, we thank you for the tremendous gift that your Word is to us. Thank you for revealing yourself to us in it and for the wisdom that comes from you as we read it and surrender ourselves to it. Thank you that your Word gives us light, that it points us to you and shows us how to live as you intended. We pray that, as we engage with it, your Holy Spirit would guide us and help us to understand it better. We confess that it can be easy for us to ‘explain away’ commands that we don’t like and also that we can be tempted to add our own rules. So please give us the courage to obey, even when it is difficult, and protect us from falling into a legalistic way of life. Help us to trust you and your wisdom, even when we would rather go our own way, and help us to love you by keeping your commands.
TUESDAY
Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?
Deuteronomy 4:6-8
Lord God, forgive us for when the world around has not seen enough of you in our lives and for when we have not shown the wisdom of living by your laws. Help us to understand and trust in the goodness of your Word, to embrace it joyfully and build our lives on it. May you guide our steps as we seek to apply it to our lives today and may the way that we live show much more of your goodness to the world around us. Help us not to fall into the trap of living by the norms of our age and show us what it means to live Christlike lives, following the one who perfectly embodied your law.
WEDNESDAY
Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you …
Deuteronomy 6:14-15
Father, day by day we are bombarded with temptations to buy into the values that drive our world and the ‘gods’ that are worshipped of fame, materialism, success and selfishness. Whether it’s adverts in the media or the pressure that comes from conversations amongst colleagues in school, work and even family. We confess that sometimes we feel so threatened that we just stay quiet and sometimes we give into the temptations and choose to follow those ‘gods’. Help us to keep our eyes on you and not to fall for the lure of lesser loyalties and enable us to live out worship of you in every part of our lives.
THURSDAY
When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow.
Deuteronomy 24:19-21
Lord, thank you that you are such a generous God, abounding in love, grace and mercy. Thank you that we have been blessed so much by you and that we live in a place where there are plenty of resources to share. Help us to reflect your generosity in our lives and in how we treat others. Show us ways where we can deliberately share more of what we have with those in need and help us not to want to squeeze the last drop for ourselves. Help us in particular to share your heart for foreigners and those in real need. Especially at a time when those from other countries living among us have been victimised and attacked, help us to reach out in real ways with your love. May our lives be a strong witness to your love and a fitting response to the love and kindness you have shown us.
FRIDAY
If you see your fellow Israelite’s ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to its owner. If they do not live near you or if you do not know who owns it, take it home with you and keep it until they come looking for it. Then give it back. Do the same if you find their donkey or cloak or anything else they have lost. Do not ignore it.
Deuteronomy 22:1-3
Father God, help us to have our eyes open to the needs of those around us. Forgive us for when we get so tied up in our own lives that we are blind to the needs of others in our community. Help us not to ignore the trouble that others face and enable us to help in practical ways when we find opportunity. As we go through today, open our eyes to what is going on around us and give us opportunities to reach out and serve others who may be in particular need of help.
SATURDAY
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God ... Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees ... Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God …
Deuteronomy 8:1-14
Father, again we thank you for the generosity you have shown us and for the many ways in which we have been blessed. Many of us are privileged to live in comfort and we have way more than we need. Help us not to be so comfortable that we forget you and may we never think that our blessing is because of our own goodness or strength. Lord, may you deliver us from the temptation of always wanting more and having our priorities fixed on stuff that has no real significance. Keep our hearts close to you and help us to walk closely with you.
SUNDAY
… when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back …
Deuteronomy 30:2-4
Father God, thank you that you are a God of grace and mercy. We confess that even this week your Word has shown us how far short we fall of living up to your calling and yet we are so thankful that the same Word constantly reminds us that you reach out with forgiveness to those who seek you. Thank you that even if we have wandered so far away your arm is not too short to reach us and you still welcome us back. Today, as we may join with others in worship, fill our hearts with joy at the knowledge of your forgiveness and help us as we embark on a new week to live for you and to share your love with all around us.