Read Deuteronomy 1:6–18
Questions from the Scripture text: Who had spoken to Israel (Deuteronomy 1:6)? Whose God is He? Where did He speak? How had He assessed their situation? What did He tell them to do (Deuteronomy 1:7)? Where did He tell them to go? What features does He describe? What had He done with the land (Deuteronomy 1:8)? What does He tell them to do with it? How does verse 8b describe/define the land? Who else spoke to Israel (Deuteronomy 1:9)? What was he unable to do? Who had done what (Deuteronomy 1:10)? To what extent (cf. Genesis 15:5)? What does Moses wish/pray upon them (Deuteronomy 1:11)? According to what? What couldn’t he do alone (Deuteronomy 1:12)? Whom were they to choose, for what purpose (Deuteronomy 1:13)? How had the people responded (Deuteronomy 1:14)? What sorts of men did they choose (Deuteronomy 1:15)? What did Moses do with them? In what groupings? Whom did Moses tell them to judge (Deuteronomy 1:16)? In what manner did Moses tell them to judge? What were they not to show (Deuteronomy 1:17)? Whom were they to hear? Whom were they not to fear? What were they to do with the cases that were too hard? What had Moses done at that time (Deuteronomy 1:18)?
How is God’s covenant administered among His people? Deuteronomy 1:6–18 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God’s covenant is administered, among His people, through the service of God-given leaders.
As Moses is about to give the terms for Israel’s dwelling with God in the land, he reminds them of the authority structure that had been established (cf. Exodus 18, Numbers 11). Just as it was the Lord Who had multiplied them, so they were to pick men who had been blessed by the Lord with wisdom and understanding. Moses is about to die, but this structure is to continue, for it is from God and for God. These magistrates of the people were not to fear any man, but only the Lord. God administered His justice among the people through particular servants. Though the generation had changed, this God-given authority structure was to remain the same.
What authority structure has the Lord given your home? Your church? Whom, most of all, do these authorities serve? According to what standard? Whom do they serve, under Him?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for giving us Your own design for the operations of the church. Grant that, trusting You, we would follow Your design. and, grant that Your servants among us would govern wisely, in accordance with Your Word, and not showing any partiality or fear of man, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song to the Lord” or TPH280 “Wondrous King All Glorious”
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