Journey Through the Bible Part 6

Deuteronomy: “Because God loves you”

Readings: Deuteronomy 11:8-21 (page 134)Luke 14:1-14 (page 739)

1

You are chosen

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name.” (John 15:16, NIV84)

2

Deuteronomy

First five books of the Bible “The Pentateuch.”

Jesus spoke of “the Law and the Prophets” - the Law is the first five books.

Jesus often quoted from Deuteronomy. Eg. Matthew 4 against the devil’s temptations.

3

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy = Second Law

Hebrew Name: “Words”

The book records Moses’ last words to the people.

Joshua may have added editorial comments and recorded the death of Moses (chapter 34)

4

DeuteronomyMoses recalls their journey over the last 40 years.

He reminds them of their failures and rebellions.

He reminds them of all that the Lord has done for them.

There are many extras details not found in the other books. (Eg. 9:20)

5

Moses reminds the people Who is the God Who has chosen them

“Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? Has any other people heard the Voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived? Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by miraculous signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides Him there is no other.” (Deuteronomy 4:32–35, NIV84)

6

The sovereignty of God

“See now that I Myself am He! There is no god besides Me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of My Hand.” (Deuteronomy 32:39, NIV84)

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The sovereignty of God

God alone is God.

God alone can save.

God alone chooses and rejects.

God alone gives victory.

8

The sovereignty of God

Why did God chose Israel?

God’s choice has nothing to do with their faithfulness or character.

9

The sovereignty of God“After the Lord your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, “The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is going to drive them out before you. It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.” (Deuteronomy 9:4–6, NIV84)

10

The sovereignty of God

Why did God choose Israel?

Why did God choose you?

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession. The Lord did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath He swore to your forefathers that He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:6–8, NIV84)

11

The sovereignty of God

“But God demonstrates His own Love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, NIV84)

12

Gifts of God

What does being chosen mean in practice?

When God chose Israel He gave them two precious gifts.

His Law

His Presence

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Gifts of God - Law

God’s protect us from the sin of others.

Holiness and righteousness (being right with God) are pure joy leading to unending joy and laughter and life.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” (Romans 14:17, NIV84)

14

Gifts of God - Law

Jesus gave us the Law of Love.

“Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37–39, NIV84)

15

Gifts of God - His Presence

“The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.” (Deuteronomy 5:4, NIV84)

“Because he loved your forefathers and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength,” (Deuteronomy 4:37, NIV84)

16

Gifts of God - His Presence

“If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you for ever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:15–18, NIV84)

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Our Response

God chose the people and they were encouraged to choose God.

“See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.” (Deuteronomy 30:15–16, NIV84)

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Our Response - Choosing God

Choosing God in practice means choosing to obey His Laws because He loves us and we love Him.

“If you love Me, you will obey what I command.” John 14:15

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Our Response - Choosing God

“And this is His command: to believe in the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us. Those who obey His commands live in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us.” (1 John 3:23–24, NIV84)

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The results

The choice to respond to God has far-reaching consequences and results.

Israel by their response to God became a blessing to all nations, the way He would save the whole world.

21

The results

When you choose to respond to Jesus it is not just you who will be blessed.

Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.” John 15:16

You become a way by which God will bless many others.

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