Read Deuteronomy 30:11–20
Questions from the Scripture text: What is not true of the Word that Moses preached (Deuteronomy 30:11)? Where wasn’t it (Deuteronomy 30:12)? What wouldn’t they have to do? Where else wasn’t it (Deuteronomy 30:13)? What wouldn’t they have to do? But where was it (Deuteronomy 30:14)? In what particular places? So that they might do what with it? What two pairs of things has Moses set before them on that day (Deuteronomy 30:15)? What primary thing has he commanded them to do with YHWH their God (Deuteronomy 30:16)? In what other four commandments does he describe what it means to love God? How would YHWH their God respond to their doing this? How does he describe the heart that fails to do this (Deuteronomy 30:17)? Whom are they worshiping and serving, if they do not keep his commandments, statues, and judgments? What will happen then (Deuteronomy 30:18)? What will they not prolong? Whom does Moses call as witness against them (Deuteronomy 30:19)? What two pairs of things does he now say that he has set before them? What does he urge them to choose? So that they may do what (Deuteronomy 30:20)? What does loving YHWH mean obeying? To what (Whom!) does loving YHWH mean clinging? As what two things for them? How does he describe the land in which they will dwell, if they do this?
How does the Christian choose life? Deuteronomy 30:11–20 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Christian chooses life by God’s grace, which gives him to love and cling to God, in Christ.
“Deuteronomy” means second law. It is a sermon on the ten commandments, given by Moses, as he is about to die, and Israel is about to cross over to enter the land. Just as with YHWH’s giving of the original ten commandments, this giving of the law is couched within the covenant of grace. It is just when He has finished telling them that He must be the One to circumcise their hearts that He comes and points out the great instrument that He uses to do this, and the great result that it produces in the redeemed.
The great instrument is the Word of God, which He has brought near. And the great result is that they cling to YHWH, and are not put to shame, but live righteously and blessedly with Him, enjoying the fulfillment of all of His promises. This is why this is the passage to which the apostle refers in Romans 10:4–17. He goes directly to the place where the legalist, or Judaizer, or Pharisee, would go to demonstrate law-keeping as the hope of the godly, to announce that the hope of the godly is God’s grace, through God’s means, to produce clinging to God. And God Himself puts His Son forward, as Christ, as the One in Whom we especially know His grace, have His means, and cling to Him.
So, in our passage, Moses begins with the nearness of the Word (Deuteronomy 30:11-14). It is not mysterious or far off (Deuteronomy 30:11). It does not require heroic effort (Deuteronomy 30:12-13). God circumcises the heart to bless us by means of a submission that His Spirit produces. His providence brings His Word to our eyes and ears. And, His grace brings that Word into our mouth, heart, and hands (Deuteronomy 30:14).
The choice of life and death (Deuteronomy 30:15, Deuteronomy 30:19) is a choice to love YHWH as our very own God (Deuteronomy 30:16, Deuteronomy 30:20), and to cling to Him (verse 20). Love walks in ways because they are His (Deuteronomy 30:16). Love keeps commandments, statutes, and judgments (verse 16), because it is in these that He has given us to hear the voice of YHWH Whom we love, and to cling to YHWH Whom we love (Deuteronomy 30:20). We cling to Him as our life. We cling to Him as the length of our days. And we cling to Him in the fulfillment of all His promises, which He has sworn.
This enriches our understanding, not only of the obedience of the believing life, but of the horror of disobedience. Disobedience is much worse than the violation of standards and terms, which incurs particular punishments. Disobedience is to turn our hearts away from YHWH (Deuteronomy 30:17a), and to reject Him from being our own covenant God. Disobedience is to turn our hearts unto another than YHWH (verse 17b). Whomever, or whatever, we obey—it is they that we worship and serve (cf. Romans 6:16–19).
So, dear reader, let us embrace God’s good law, through which He brings us into eternal life and blessedness, because it is His. He has given Himself to us in Christ. In Christ He gives us His grace—blessing, where we deserve only curse, and strength, where we have only weakness… especially the ministry of His Spirit to circumcise our hearts. His Spirit has given the Word, and preserved the Word, and brought us into contact with it. And it is His Spirit Who gives us tender hearts, so that the Word will penetrate our hearts, fill our mouths, and move our hands. And, it is this Word that speaks to us of Christ (cf. John 5:39). So, as we love Him and cling to Him, by His Spirit’s work, it is especially Christ Whom we love, and Christ to Whom we cling; for, YHWH God has given us to know Him especially in Christ.
What place has love had, in how you have responded to God’s commandments, statutes, and judgments? What place has clinging had, in how you have responded to them? What might it look like for you to grow in loving and clinging? What (Who!) is your hope for this growth? What means does He use to give this? How will this loving, clinging, speaking, and obeying be especially centered upon Jesus Christ?
Sample prayer: Lord, as we have learned that to love You and cling to You means to walk in Your own ways, and to obey Your own voice, and those to keep Your commandments, statutes, and judgments, we have realized something horrible about ourselves. When we have not kept Your commandments, statutes, and judgments, it is because we have worshiped and served another, instead of You. When we have disobeyed, it has been because we were not loving You or clinging to You. Truly, we deserve to perish. But You have given Christ to suffer in our place. And You have given Christ to be our goodness and strength. Help us, now, by Your Spirit. Apply Christ to us. For His sake, forgive us. And by His life, make us to live in love to You, and in clinging to You, in obedience to You, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”
No comments:
Post a Comment