Every once in a while we run across someone who is upset because they didn’t get the reward at the end of some type of contest. Then it’s pointed out to them that they didn’t follow the rules, or follow them correctly, and thus did not qualify for the reward. We see this when people play games. Someone wants to win, but they didn’t follow the rules so they are disqualified. This even holds with something like a recipe or putting a piece of furniture together. If we want to get the correct results we must follow the instructions properly. If we acknowledge this to be the case, then why do people get upset when they don’t receive some of the Biblical promises we read of in the Bible, or some of His blessings? In our Scripture today from the Book of Deuteronomy, we read of something the Lord wants us to do, and then the resultant blessings we will receive if we obey.
As the people of Israel were preparing to enter into the Promised Land after years of traveling through the wilderness, Moses gave them some final instructions, which are contained in the Book of Deuteronomy. As the passage opens, Moses told the people that the Lord had given them commandments, statutes, and judgments, many of which were restated in Deuteronomy, and that the people were to follow them when they entered into the land the Lord gave them (vs. 1). They were to fear the Lord (vs. 2), which means holding Him in respectful honor, love, and obedience, acknowledging that God is God, and we are His creation. Godly fear leads to careful obedience. We need to fear the Lord as long as we live. The most obvious way to do so is by obeying His Word. The fear of God is connected with worship of the one true God.
The Lord promised that if His people would keep His statutes and commandments, and teach them to their children and grandchildren, He would prolong their days in the land He was giving them, that He would multiply them, and give them a land flowing with milk and honey (vs. 2-3). Here we plainly see, that if we follow His commands correctly, doing exactly as He says, then we will receive what He has promised. However, if we don’t, then we cannot expect to receive what was promised. Too many people think otherwise, feeling they can live however they choose, doing whatever they want, and feel the Lord should bless them anyway. That’s not how things work.
Verse 4 of our Scripture is a very important one for observant and Orthodox Jewish people. It is known by the Jewish people as the Shema. This verse is one which is recited twice a day, in the morning and evening, and often as the last words they speak before death. This confession of their faith was a declaration of Yahweh as one Lord and God, against the polytheism of the neighboring nations.
Moses continues with some serious and important instructions for the people of Israel, and also for us today. He told the people to keep God’s Words in their hearts (vs. 6). Many Orthodox Jewish men today will wear tefillin or phylacteries upon their arms and foreheads when they pray as a way to follow verse 8. These are small leather boxes which are strapped on with leather straps, and contain small scrolls containing portions of the Torah. Christians today do not wear these, but it is very important for us to read the Bible each day, studying, meditating upon it, and memorizing it. This way we are able to keep God’s Word in our heart.
Our Scripture passage also tells us to instruct our children about God and His Word the Bible (vs. 7). Today’s philosophy says that people should not teach their children about God, and then when they are older they can decide on their own what they want to believe. That is the devil’s philosophy. We need to teach our children about the Lord Jesus, and salvation through His Blood. We need to talk about God’s Word with our families each and every day. If we don’t tell our children about Jesus, and instruct them in God’s Word, we can be sure that the world will instruct them in the ways of the devil.
In closing, we need to see that God’s commandments are so important to us, that we are supposed to put them at the center of our household, discussing and meditating on them each day. When we do that, we will receive all that the Lord has promised us in His Word.
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