Perspective: Deuteronomy 1-Current
Notes on Deuteronomy by Donnie Young
Opening thought: Upon beginning my notes for this book I have noticed a shift in me. I am officially done playing nice when these perspective videos. While we are sharing these thoughts with you guys the fact is that this is not for you. This is for my children. I need them to hear what I have to say on these matters. I am not trying to offend anyone. But I will not hold my tongue for you. God let more than 600,000 of His people die out in the wilderness because they did not listen to Him. He takes this very seriously. I am not trying to be mean but I am done being nice about God's stuff. This is not my stuff. It is His.
Chapter 1: A retelling is Israel from the end of Exodus to about halfway through Numbers.
To set the stage. 40 years after Israel left Egypt they are sitting on the bank of the Jordan ready to cross. Aaron died a few months prior. Moses is essentially the last man alive from the prior generation.
Deuteronomy opens up as if it is one long sermon by Moses. For now, I'm going to go with that. A very brief retelling of some victories is mentioned before Moses begins to explain the book of the law to the people. While I highly doubt this is the first time these people have heard the law read it is important to remember none alive today, except Caleb and Joshua, were old enough to be adults when the laws were being given to the people back in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers.
Also of note. One of the last things talked about in Numbers was cities of refuge. One of the aspects talked about was how they had to stay in the city of refuge till the current High Priest died. This was so the land would not be defiled. I find this interesting now because Aaron just died as well. A lot took place after his death. When reading the account... we only get about 2 years of story for the prior generation. Everything after Numbers 21 is this new generation.
Moses retells how God kept them for a short time in the true wilderness but then told them to leave the wilderness to the land they were to inherit. Moses tells the people he couldn't bear the people alone. He needed help. There are too many people as they have now become more than the stars. This could be a reference to both God saying Abraham's descendants would outnumber the stars as well as Balaam's prophecy. Moses explains how the people appointed leaders and Moses set them up as chiefs. Moses reminds the people he set up judges to hear cases fairly between both the native and the aliens among them.
This is a common idea. God doesn't change His standards. He expects you to keep His word if you are going to live in His land.
If the case was too difficult for the chiefs and judges then they could bring the case to Moses. We are going to hear of some of the rulings Moses gave the people in Deuteronomy.
A recap of the 12 spies is then told. Moses tells a short version of the rebellion story.
Moses names Caleb as the only man who wholly followed God that day. If you remember, I mentioned this when we read the story in Numbers. Many claim Joshua also didn't give a bad report. I do not know about that. What I do know is that in both Numbers and Deuteronomy God says Celeb is the only one who is wholly following Him. Make of that what you will.
Moses then says it was on account of the people that he is also not allowed to enter. God appointed Joshua to be the one to lead the people after Moses. The people said their children would die in the wilderness but God is going to allow this generation to die and the children to inherit the land.
Moses tells this new generation that after this the people tried to make up for their sin by going up to fight like they were supposed to. However, it was too late. God was no longer with them.
Here is a stark reality. I am not convinced God is with many of the churches today. I see them as being in a type of rebellion against God. This doesn't nullify them as His people any more than Israel somehow lost the title. Yet, in the fight... God was not with them. In the fight for the world I do not believe God is with most who claim His name.
I find it interesting that Moses says God didn't listen to the people's cries after the defeat. Many times we think that God allows us to fall so He can swoop in and show us He is God. Sounds great... but in practice... rebellion is meet with justice. A just God allows people to fall... and be kicked when they fall because the reason they fell is because they did not listen.
Are you listening?
Chapter 2: Retelling of end of time in wilderness to begging to destroy and take over land not promised to others.
Chapter 2 open up retelling events from Numbers 21 onward from what I am gathering. This confirms the idea, for me, that once the rebellion happened God more of less took care of them but did not allow anything to happen except some minor camp movements. At some point God moves the people near the land of Esau.
I also find it interesting that events like Korah's rebellion or the golden calf are not part of this retelling. In both of those instances people died but God did not punish everyone as with the rebellion after the 12 spies.
Another point to make is that during each of these events, while many may have died, it is pretty clear that only guilty parties were punished.
Moses talks of both Esau and Moab and that these lands will not be Israel's. These lands are already given to people. Namely, the descendants of Esau and Lot. God does not even want them to take any food or water without paying for it.
This reminds me of some end times prophecy. There is a prophecy about not being able to buy or sell without a mark. Yet, by the end of the prophecy God reveals that He gives living water without payment. So long as you are in a land, given over to other people, you are at their mercy for basic needs. However, if you are in the promises of God then you will be taken care of and not even need to pay for it. The cost, has already been counted and paid.
Esau and Moab have been given over to the world. You, do not become indebted to the world. Take nothing without paying for it. You will die owing the world nothing.
V14 is also a good verse to confirm that 38 years have gone by. Now, this is not to puff myself up. I wrote my prior notes before I read this passage. This passage confirms that my mind is tracking the events. I really enjoy these confirming type passages because if there were not there I would second guess my own conclusions all the time. Just as when I talked about Caleb being the only one God said was wholly following him. Without confirmation here in Deuteronomy I would probably second guess my conclusions. However, now that I see multiple passages saying the same thing I have a better understanding of what is being said. I am simply trying to accept what scripture says on a matter and nothing more.
V14 continues to say it was the men of war who died out. Men of war is a term for those 20 years and older. This passage says the land was against them. Remember that in the laws of God it is the land that gets defiled and there is no sacrifice to redeem land. Sacrifices redeem people and other living creatures. While science says the land is alive, it does not have the breath of life according to scripture. Thus, I am of a mind that only time can cleanse land. A time of rest is the only way to redeem land.
After this the people are also told that they will also not get the land of Ammon. Another of Lot's descendants.
Now that we have set the stage of what they are not getting... God brings them to a place where they can settle and set up camps. V23 God allows then to take over the land of Sihon the Amorite. He tells them to destroy these people and settle there in order to put the fear of God into those in the land.
Moses tied to be diplomatic with Sihon and offer to pay for food and water. Sihon decided to attack instead.
History lesson. Sihon may have known that these people would turn away from land that did not allow them passage. This would have put a false sense of security in his mind. Thinking they were a weak people he attacked. Of course, this is just my opinion.
V34 says they destroyed the cities and all the people only keeping the livestock alive.
God said to destroy these people. Lev 27:29 makes it clear that something that has been devoted to destruction cannot be redeemed. This is very important because once something has been devoted to destruction God is done with it. It has no place with Him, His land or His people. We cannot redeem, baptize, Christianize or anything elseize something God has devoted to destruction and it be ok. It is not ok.
God meant this for women and children when He said “destroy”. Who do you think you are in saying you can redeem objects, forms of worship, pageantry, and all sorts of other mess when God himself says to destroy children once a decree of destruction goes out? You place a higher value on pagan forms of worship than that of children.
Yes, I am talking to you Easter, Christmas, Halloween and 100 other pagan forms of worship you do people.
Deuteronomy 12:29-32
'“When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the LORD hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.'
You send people to hell and then try to redeem their practices to worship God. Woe to you who call evil good and good evil. And you say God fights for you. I say those who are actively rebelling against God do not have his ear. I have scripture to back up my claim. Does not mean you are not His... Israel never stopped being His either.
Chapter 3: Retelling of Og, given of land to some tribes and Moses begging God to enter the land.
Not OG... Og...Sorry. Found that funny for some reason. Og, is also devoted to destruction like Sihon. Everything but the livestock.
Then... we learn a great deal about this iron bed that Og slept in. Look, it is details like this that give even more credence to stories. The “Iron Age” began around 1200 BC and that's about the time frame this is going on. Coincidence? I think not.
This land was given to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh. Moses reminds the people that the men of war are to help their brothers take the land so they may also find rest. It will be interesting to note when this happens, or when Gad, Reuben and Manasseh give up as if the battle is won.
This chapter ends with Moses begging God to enter and see the land. God allows him to see it from a mountain top but to not enter.
Now, listen very carefully. From a human standpoint Moses had more right to enter the promised land than anyone that has every existed except Yeshua. Yet, God does not allow him to do this. God does not break His word or His standard. Not for Moses, not for the Pope, not for a Rabbi, not for your pastor, not for you... He didn't even do it for Yeshua. Yeshua begged for the cup to pass from him 3 times. Ending each plea with “Not my will but yours be done”. If God is not going to change for His son, or for Moses then He will not change for you either. Let that sink in. You are not greater than His son. Stop acting like God changed His standard for you.
No, God changes you so you can meet the standard. Not the other way around. Wake up.
Chapter 4: History lesson over. Time for the law. Moses's plea for people to worship God as he has commanded.
Moses is now going to start telling the people the law. He has told them their history already. How they got here. Now, it is time to learn, or be reminded, of God's standards.
Deuteronomy 4:2
'You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you. '
Moses tells the people not to add to the words he is commanding or take away from them so that they may keep the laws God is commanding.
Please hear me. The command here is not God talking yet. Moses says not to add or take away. Why? So that we can keep what God is commanding.
Very important! Not everything Moses says is a direct commandment from God. We must pay attention. Moses is very clear when God is talking and when He is not. In this moment, Moses is talking.
Moses quickly reminds them what happens when they disobey God by pointing back to Baal. This is a reference to Numbers 25. This is that same generation. Remember how I pointed out that Moses did not mention the golden calf or Korah's rebellion? Well, Moses points back to this one because they were their. Or at least this is that generation.
Moses says it was those who held fast to the LORD who are alive today. Moses calls the commandments of God their wisdom and understanding. Moses believes that by keeping the commandments of God other people will say “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” Do you? Do you think those who keep the commandments of God are a wise an understanding people? Was Moses wrong? Or... have you actually seen people keep the commandments? What I am suggesting is that many who claim they do... do not. I do not look to the Jews of my day anymore than I look to my local church for people keeping the commandments. Many commandments will be kept by both groups. Yet, both groups also deny much of what God does say in order to hold to their traditions. Both groups are guilty. God will judge the righteous. I do not judge a person's salvation. I do however understand the standards set before us. I also fall short just like everyone else. So, should I stay silent? No, I repent for my own shortcomings and call out sin for what it is. Sin is transgression of God's laws.
Moses calls the people to keep them lest they forget what they have seen and that the law will depart from them for the rest of their life. He calls the people to teach them to their children as well.
Moses speaks as if it was this generation who was there in Exodus 20. Yet, we know this is not the case. Even though these people were not there it was with these people that God was talking to just as much as those who were there. This covenant is not just with the people there but with everyone who wishes to follow God and His ways.
I was once a stranger to the promises of God. But I have been brought near. I have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. I am not grafted into Israel... I am grafted into the house of Yeshua my Messiah.
Moses asks a question. What great nation is there that has statues and rules so righteous as all this law that is set before you today? Many might claim that the USA has rules and statues more righteous than Gods. If we look at actions then 99.99999% of the churches in the USA would believe that as only a handful keep more than 5-6 of the ten let alone the dozens of others.
Either Moses is wrong or you are in this case. I am going to side with Moses on this one. God's commandments, rules, and statutes far surpass the USA's. It is not a comparison.
V10 Notice how Moses says what God says. Again, we must pay attention when God is talking and when Moses is talking. Not that we toss out what Moses says... but Moses is not the Messiah nor is he God. Too often we say that because a person spoke in God's name sometimes... then everything they say is the word of God. This is not the case. Balaam spoke God's words did he not? Should we follow all of his teachings and example? How about David? How about Paul? Moses is not the example to follow. Yeshua is.
Getting back to v10 though... God's talking and he said to Moses “Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on earth and that they may teach their children so.”
The earth is still here. The reason I talk of this subject so many times is because God and the Messiah talk of this subject so many times. It is obvious why. Because we as people need to be told over and over. Matthew 5:17-18 says the laws of God and prophecy would not change till heaven and earth pass away AND all is accomplished. None of those 3 things have happened yet no matter what your leadership says. We are called by God to teach His ways to our children and the church has failed. No only do we not teach all the ways of God to our children we tell them to call evil good and good evil. This goes against Isiah 5:20 and so many other passages. Well, woe to those who call evil good and good evil. Not my flesh definition of good and evil but the words of God. Because His perspective does not change if He calls it good it is good and if he calls it evil it is evil and it does not change. I will align myself with the constant living God.
God spoke the words but the people do not see the form of God. The Ten Commandments as they are called were written on stone. God then commanded Moses to teach the people His statutes and rules so they could do them in the land they are going over to possess.
I love the 10 commandments because there is nothing in them that cannot be observed no matter where you are in the world. Many of the other commandments can only really be kept while in the land. None of the 10 are like that. Yes, this includes the Sabbath. No matter where you are in the world you can work 6 days and rest on the Sabbath. Not your sabbath... but God's Sabbath. The same one He set apart and made holy during the creation story. A testament of His completed work of creation. The day Yeshua says he is Lord of in 3 of the Gospels. The same Sabbath command I know hangs in most churches somewhere even though they don't keep it.
Why do I talk so much about Sabbath? Because it is a sin that the vast majority of churches are blind to. I did not stutter when I said it was a sin. Remember that sin is transgression of the law and no matter how you define the law the 10 is 100% part of that term.
V15 talks of making carved images to represent God. Today, people look to the Messiah as a flesh representation of the invisible God. So, they say Yeshua IS God. Then... they proceed to make images of Yeshua... who is God... breaking this commandment. But wait... I dont have a “carving” I have a picture. OK. If you want to play games with God then that is your choice.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 'Abstain from every form of evil. '
Having an image of Christ is no different than having an image of God. To say differently is to be a hypocrite. Unless you do not believe the Messiah is the image of the invisible God. Then, you have a different problem that needs addressed first.
Let us not forget that God also does not want us to look up to the sky and worship the heavenly bodies either. They are given to all of mankind but are not to be worshiped. Sun worship was particularly popular throughout history. We even named one of the days of the week after the sun. I know it is not what they mean but I get sad when I see a church sign that reads “sun worship 11 am.” or the like. The truth is they are not abstaining from every form of evil and are even continuing many of the practices of sun worship without even knowing it. If that is not blindness then I do not know what is.
Moses once again reminds them he is not crossing the Jordan. Not sure if it he salty about this... I would assume from a human perspective he is... or if he just really wants to hammer home the ways of God to this point that he is saying “Look! I am not trying to have a big head but I am about as good as it gets from a human standpoint and even I cannot go over because God said so.”
V24 tells us that God is a consuming fire. This points to eternal judgment.
V26 Moses calls heaven and earth to be a witness against God's people. This once again points to what the Messiah says in Matthew 5:17-18. The law will not change till heaven and earth pass away.
Moses then goes into how they will be scattered and will worship idols. Yet... there they will seek God will all their heart and soul and will find God in they exile! Such a wonderful promise. He continues by saying in the latter days they will return and obey God's voice. Because God is merciful He will not leave them. Not destroy them... And He will not forget the covenant He made.
32-40 I am just going to read this and let this sink in. Moses is not just talking to Israel here. He is talking to anyone who calls themselves God's people.
41-43 Moses sets aside 3 cities east of the Jordan to be cities of refuge. We get the names of these 3 cities. Because I covered cities of refuge is greater detail in recent videos I feel just pointing back to those is better than rehashing this.
This chapter ends with an explanation of where they are and what is going on. A brief recap of why they are there. I find it interesting that these are not just called the “laws” but they are called the testimonies, statutes, and rules in this section. This reminds me of what is said in Revelation 12:17 when it says that dragon went and made war with those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Christ! What a great contrast that Moses is calling them to remember their testimonies yet when the time comes we will not rely on our own testimony but the testimony of Christ! Our own witness is great and should not be ignored but it Christ I look to. Christ my Messiah. I will overcome through the blood of the lamb and the word of my testimony but my testimony is Christ has overcome... not I. Christ!
Even more of an interesting contrast in Revelation 12:17 that in some translations is split to 13:1 is that it ends with “And he stood on the sand of the sea”. This is talking of the dragon. Yet, in Deuteronomy 4 is it the people people who are on the shore of the Jordan ready to enter the land. Much of Revelation is an inversion story of what is correct. Now, it is the dragon who is on the shore trying to carve out his kingdom. Instead of no idols he makes idols and gives them power. He has a physical mark on the hand and forehead whereas God's is a spiritual mark on the hand and forehead like in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. You cannot buy unless you have the mark in satan's kingdom but in God's kingdom He provides all of your needs without payment. Satan's world is an inversion of God's in every way he can make it.
Chapter 5: Retelling of 10 commandments.
Moses retells the 10 commandments. I find the passage that says that God did not make this covenant with their fathers but with them. It was them that was at Mount Horeb. I personally think this means fathers as in Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the 12 tribes. Not the prior generation as that really wouldn't make much sense here.
This is not an exact word for word from Exodus 20. One major difference can be found in what we call the 4th commandment. Here is the “added” section.
Deuteronomy 5:14b-15
' that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. '
This added text adds emphasis on the idea that not only you rest but your servants and that one reason to keep the Sabbath is to remember that we were once slaves in Egypt. Now, I personally cannot say I or any recent generation was a slave in a nation but we can all admit we were slaves to sin. Some of us are still slaves to sin to be honest.
This added text to the Sabbath commandment is the only added text. Yet Moses appears to be directly citing God's words. There is even a section missing from the Exodus 20 account. So... why the difference? If I had the answer I would give it to you.
Now, I am going to confess something. I have been a proponent of this idea that there is a lot of stuff written on the 2 tablets beyond the 10 commandments. However, v22 seems to disagree with that. I remember during a Q&A with a pastor who taught that there was much more than the 10 were written on the tablets this question of 5:22 was brought up. I do not recall his exact answer but I remember that the answer he gave did not actually answer the question.
This is exactly the kind of person I do not want to be like in this regard. If I have an idea and someone brings scripture that seems to completely contradict my conclusions I want to admit I could be wrong and that further study is needed.
Well, at this moment I believe the only thing on the tablets are the 10 themselves based on what Moses says here. During the Exodus account I could absolutely see how people come away with the idea more is written. However, this account does not confirm that conclusion but contradict it. Therefore, I am adjusting myself to the continued study of scripture.
Moses tells how the people feared God and told Moses to go an hear the rest and they would obey. God is pleased and says “Oh that they would always fear me and keep my commandments!”
This chapter ends with Moses going to hear all the commandments and then God saying that they need to be careful to not turn to the left or the right but to keep the commandments so that it will go well with them in the land.
Chapter 6: Shema. The greatest commandment
Chapter 6 opens making the statement that these are the commandments, statues and rules God taught to Moses so he could go teach the people.
The first one is called the greatest by Yeshua. We all know the short form of this as “Love God” but it has so much more meaning to it than those simple 2 words. It tells how to love God.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
This passage is commonly called the Shema because of the opening Hebrew word. More of less it carries the idea of hearing to obey. The Shema is one of those passages that all Christians should know. Just the fact it is called the greatest commandment by the Messiah is enough for that to be a true statement but the fact that many treat love as some sort of self defining idea is proof we need to be told how to love.
10-11 tells us that God has prepared a whole host of good things for His people to just come in and take over. Eat and drink though they did not prepare these things.
12-19 is another reminder to follow God and His ways so that it will go well with the people. Moses drives the idea home again and again and they still missed it. I drive this home again and again and many still ignore me. I am not comparable to Moses. I have no delusions about that. Yet, I can at least see why he kept saying this. Because look at the history of them not doing it. He has been with them these 40 years and he sees how they are going to keep messing up. Well, I see our history for the past 2000 years and I see how we are still making the same mistakes Israel made. We have less of an excuse though! We have a copy of the bible in any language you could want. We have multiple translations. We have word for word, thought for thought and everything in between translations. We have the testimony of the Lord of the Sabbath and the holy spirit and we cant even keep the day God set aside for us to keep! It's been 2000 years since Christ yet we live like its 2000 years before Christ!
The chapter ends with Moses telling the people what to tell their children when they ask why we keep the commandments. Instead of reading it as it is written I am going to use my own testimony but keep the context the same.
“When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?’ then you shall say to your son, ‘We were slaves to sin and death. And the LORD brought us out of sin and death with a mighty hand that we know as Yeshua. And the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against our true enemy. Sin, death and that old serpent the devil. I have witnessed this with my own eyes. And he brought us out from there, that he might prepare us for the fullness of the promises given through the covenants. The LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us.’'
Chapter 7: Take over the land, devote the people and things to destruction, and don't forget to love God and keep His commandments.
Chapter 7 is a reminder that there are 7 nations in this land. Each are bigger and badder than Israel. Yet, Israel is to take over the land and devote those people to destruction.
I wish to remind you that God says anyone who is devoted to destruction is beyond redemption in Leviticus 27:29. Now, Moses is saying they will do this so the “devote to destruction” has not happened yet.
I do wish to make it very clear that from Moses's perspective the inhabitants of the land are beyond redemption. Keep in mind this is the same Moses who lived 40 years among similar nations. Moses who's wife is from these type of people. Moses who's children are half part of these nations. Of all the people of Israel Moses has more reason to understand these people and have sympathy yet He fears God more than these people. How often do we hold the standard of God up before people in the face of possibly offending them? Oh sure, it is easy online or in a group setting where you know most believe along similar lines. Yet how many call sin for what it is? Truly I say to you that most of you, when you witness, you witness to the doctrines and traditions of your denomination more than you do of God's actual commandments or what Christ actually says on the matter. You witness to what your church says. Not what God actually says.
Case and point. God says to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy and 99% of Christianity will be judged for never keeping that commandment. God says to. Christ kept it as an example for us but the majority of Christians do not.
Moses continues by saying not to make agreements with them or even show them mercy. I am learning this lesson myself. I want to show mercy. I want to be understanding. Yet, the more I read these words the less mercy I feel I am allowed.
This is exactly what is to be done with something God has said is devoted to destruction. If it is beyond redemption then mercy is in vain.
Do not marry them! If you do this your hearts will follow their gods! And then God will be angry with you! How much more clear can God be!
Now, I do what to say that this section seems to be mixed with Moses giving his two cents and mixing in what God has to say on subjects as well. Moses does not appear to be just quoting from God is what I am getting at but sometimes he obviously is. Just pointing that is all. This kind of thing is why many get confused. Is this God or is this Moses? Many do not know, and even I get confused at times, when it is God and when it is Moses.
So, what should they do? Well, devote the things they use to worship their gods to destruction as well. Not just the people mind you... the things they use. Trees, alters... whatever. If it was used in pagan worship of another god then the living God does not what it. God does not want your tree decked out in silver and gold. God does not want your fat man in a red suit. God does not want your egg laying rabbit. God does not want your Easter sunrise service!
Why does God not want His people to do such things?
Because you are holy to Him! You are His treasured possession. Stop acting like second class citizens to naturally born people into Israel. You are grafted into the true vine. You are grafted into the source! Big brother Judah is part of the same family as you but you are still acting like the prodigal son living out in the world. Stop living like the world and come out of Babylon.
Start acting with a kingdom mindset. Start walking like Christ did physically before you try to walk like he did spiritually.
Moses then moves into talking about God's loving kindness to those who show him love by keeping His commandments and God's payment to those who hate him.
Question. In this context who hates God?
Answer. Those who do not keep His commandments.
Question. Do you keep the commandments of God?
Well, if you do not... then by this standard... you hate God. You hate God because you have separated Him from His ways. The reality is that choosing God is choosing the way He says to live. The idea that you are free to choose anything is a lie from the enemy. It is the same lie Eve was told in the garden by the way. People have not changed so why would the enemies tactics change?
Moses hammers home this idea of loving God and keeping His commandments so that it will do well with them. There are many blessings that are brought up at this time for those who keep God's commandments.
Moses returns to the idea of not having pity on these people and not falling pray to worship their gods in v16 though. This idea is how Moses wraps up this chapter. Moses tells them they will not take over the land too quickly because if they did then the wild beasts would become an issue. Yet, they are to hold fast to God and His ways.
Moses ends with the idea that they shall devote all these things to destruction and not covet this stuff. This stuff is an abomination to God.
Again. Please hear me.
Things not prescribed by God to worship Him that other nations used to worship their gods is an abomination to God.
God heavily regulates things like sacrifices, incenses, festival days and community days of worship!
Why? Because these things are also used by other nations to worship their gods. God wants to clearly define what is His. If it is not His then it is theirs. You do not do their stuff, you do His stuff.
This is simply a concept that is not taught in church today. Instead, these things that were used to worship other gods are celebrated in church today.
3 major ones that are not from God but from pagan worship are Sunday gatherings, Easter and Christmas.
I will keep this simple. I have already said as much in other videos.
God commands gatherings on Sabbath and not Sunday. It is not a sin to gather on Sunday it is a sin to not remember and keep the Sabbath holy.
God commands us to keep Passover, Unleavened Bread during the month of aviv. Easter is calculated by the equinox. The equinox is not mentioned, word or idea, in all of the bible. This calculation is an invention of the Roman Catholic Church by the way. The proper way to calculate Passover is the moon cycle and barley harvest AKA aviv. It is not a sin to celebrate God's redemption plan through the life, death and resurrection of Christ. All of witch are symbolically fulfilled in Passover, Unleavened Bread and Pentecost! The sin comes when a person do not observe these things. Instead, they have taken a pagan tradition that centers more on fertility rites and slapped Christ''s name on it. So yes, that is also sin because that transgresses the instructions of God.
No where in all of the bible are people commanded to worship God on an annual basis by celebrating the birth of the Messiah. There is more precedent in scripture to celebrate Hanukkah yearly than there is to celebrate the Messiah's birth. As a side note: We do not keep Hanukkah either as that command comes from man and not God by my studies. To put this as simple as I know how... I celebrate the birth of the Messiah as often as I read or remember the event. I do not set aside a day or a time of the year to try and remember it. Because I study the bible regularly throughout the year I am reminded of his birth several times throughout the year.
I honestly stay as far away from things as I can that God calls an abomination and I suggest you do the same.
Chapter 8: Keep everything God commands! Remember all he has blessed you with.
The whole commandment. Not part. Not some of it. Not the moral code only... the whole. Why? So that you may live. Remember that this law is spirit Rom 7:14. When you live by the law you are free from sin and death. When you live by the law you live. When you live by the flesh you die. Read Romans with this idea in your mind.
40 years God has humbled you and tested your heart to see if you would keep his commandments. Moses lists many blessings such as manna, clothing not wearing out and feet not swelling.
In the middle of these blessings Moses comments that “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD”. Yeshua quotes this during his 40 days of temptation by satan. Interesting parallel there wouldn't you say?
Matter of fact, I see many parallels with Yeshua's 40 days and Israel's 40 years when it comes to the types of temptations. However, I think I will reserve them for another time.
I want to express to anyone who is listening and not reading. Moses says over and over to follow God. He says it in so many ways over and over. He does this because they are not doing it. As a parent I loose my cool every now and again and sit my kids down and just rant saying the same thing over and over because I have already said it 100 times and I am going to say 100 more in 5 mins because they were not listening and I need them to listen! I need them to hear me because I am trying to help them better themselves and not grow up to be crummy people who dont know how to be good people who listen, love God, and love each other.
This what how I image Moses is right now. Just exhausted and tired of repeating himself but knowing that they are listening... but that most will not actually follow what he is saying. Because they have already proven they will not listen.
Moses reminds them that when they are sitting in the blessings to not forget God and His commands. Wow... that rings true to many Christians today. We sit in our first world blessings and completely forget to live in the commandments of God. This should hit us hard just how much we are living in a world we did not build. We had no part in any of this yet here we are eating food we did not grow and living in a house we did not build and forgetting the commands of God. Moses was not just talking to those of his day. He was talking to you. He was talking to me.
V17: Do not say in your heart “My power and might have gotten me this wealth” because if you do you will die just like the other nations. Again, Moses is not talking to just those of his day.
Chapter 9: You are not righteousness.
It wasn't your righteousness that caused God to do these things. It was the wickedness of the nations and because God will keep His word He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Why is it that many today teach that God is no longer keeping His word to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Do they not understand that if God is not still keeping His word to them... then there is nothing preventing Him from not keeping His promises to us? If God is not a God of His word one time, then He is forever a god of broken promises and cannot be trusted. If forever in Exodus can be changed then so can forever in Revelation. If forever can change in Deuteronomy then eternal can change in John 3:16. Do you understand?
Again, it is not because of your righteousness but the wickedness of the nations that has caused this. It was not the righteousness of Noah that caused the flood. It was not the righteousness of Lot that caused the brimstone. It will not the the righteousness of Christians that cause the 2nd coming of the Messiah... it will be the wickedness... it will be the lawlessness of the world.
What happens when the church is nearly as lawless as the rest of the world? Take an honest look at the church and normal people. Most normal people don't murder... to include abortion. Most know lies are wrong, stealing is wrong, adultery is wrong... the standards might be slightly off but what exactly does the church offer that the “normal” person does not have? Tithes and offerings you might say? Wait, many don't tithe and many normal people donate to charity. What else? Giving your life to Jesus? OK... but where is the fruit of that? I am, right here and now, taking a step back and looking at the trees as it were and looking at the fruit and I am trying to see the difference. Help me to understand what you have that normal people who do not profess Christ have. The one thing I do see is a weekly gathering on Sunday. Normal people who do not adhere to a religion wouldn't do that.
Now... hear me clearly. There is nothing special about the first day of the week from the perspective of God's commandments. We are to worship God daily. So in that regard 1st day is nothing special. Yet, there is a day of the week that is commanded to be set aside. That day is the 7th day. That day is the day the Messiah says he is Lord of. That day is the day God says is a sign that it is He who is sanctifying us. Without Sabbath keeping you are literally walking around unmarked by God.
I do not know how judgment will play out for those unmarked with His sign. I do not what to find out. As for my and my house we will not find out. We will be marked by the signs He has provided and be thankful He has clearly laid a path to follow for sanctification.
Back to Deuteronomy. V6. Your not righteousness you are stubborn! Constantly provoking God to wrath! From the day you came out of Egypt till this day you have been rebellious again God! Even at Horeb God wanted to destroy you.
V10: Again, more confirmation that the only thing on the tablets were the “10 commandments”.
V11-21 is a retelling of the golden calf. We learn some details not mentioned in the Exodus 32 account. Such as Aaron was also in big trouble. Remember that in the Exodus 32 Aaron seems to be mostly ignored as if he really didnt do anything wrong. Well, here we learn that was not the case and he also was almost destroyed. We also learn that Moses laid face down for 40 days to interceded for Israel and that was not clear in Exodus.
So... remember the blessings but remember you are not worthy of what you are getting. Remember what you actually deserve. As Christian's... what do we deserve? Death! When we enter into the promise it will not be because we earned anything.
V22-29 is retelling of the first generation complaining about food, complaining against Moses and then not going into the land after the 12 spies. Again, Moses says he laid face down 40 days. This was not clear in Exodus and Numbers, nor was it even clear these events were near each other in time. Locations are mentioned but not food, Miriam, Arron, spies or Caleb so some people miss what Moses is talking about in this one. I know I had to look up this because I was like “What rebellion is he talking about of the 87 times they rebelled?”.
If Moses is trying to retell events chronologically then some events of Exodus and Numbers are out of order. I am of a mind at the moment that Deuteronomy is not trying to tell events chronologically but group similar events together to hammer home Moses's message. Such as Moses is telling of the times he laid face down for 40 days in intercede for Israel due to the times they rebelled against God and were almost destroyed.
By the way... the prayers of the righteous availed much. So... some people do have some righteousness. Let us not get a big head though. Even Moses was not allowed to enter into the promise.
Chapter 10: Retelling of New Tablets. Two greatest commandments
Moses retells the story of the new tablets. First thing I noticed is that he talks of the Ark to house the tablets and that the tablets have the same words spoken by God out of the fire on the first day the people heard God speak. Once again, more confirmation that only what we call the 10 in on the tablets. But anyways... no talk of a new covenant or renewed covenant or a change in the covenant. I say all this because people teach this all over the place. They say the Levites were added during this new covenant after the first as some sort of punishment. Or they say the real covenant is Exodus 20-31 and everything after Exodus 32 is something else. The book of the law or something... In this reading I am just not sure of all of that. I am pretty sure right now the only thing on the tablets are the 10 commandments. After that, I am not sure.
A quick note of Aaron's death. I have not read ahead but I am going to assume that by mentioning Aaron's death Moses is essentially saying... “Ok, done talking about the past generation. Let us talk of the current generation.” Let us see if I am tracking!
A quick mention of Levi and how he has no portion with the other tribes. Levi is set apart to minister to the LORD and to, more or less, carry his stuff around. Sound kinda funny when I say it like that but hey... that's pretty much Levi's job right now.
Moses talks how he stayed on the mountain again for 40 days like the firs time. I believe this is in reference to the 2 new tablets. This section is a bit of a mess in my head because it seems to jump around and cover 40 years of stuff as well in the first 11 verses.
Moses returns to his plea to keep God's commandments. It's been a whole 40 verses since he said that in a direct fashion and and considering that is kind of the point of Deuteronomy Moses was probably looking for a way to get the cow back in the barn. It may even explain why the previous 11 verses was a hot mess. Moses was like “How can I cover 40 years and get back to the point of keeping God's commands.... and... done” Just kidding.
Moses calls this circumcising the foreskin of our hearts.... what! Are you telling me that is not a new covenant idea? Someone buy me some peals so I can clutch them...
He calls this being stubborn.
As a side note... God loves the sojourner, the fatherless and the widows. We are to love the sojourners because we were once sojourners in Egypt. Many teach an odd idea as to what exactly a sojourner is. If we use this idea then a sojourner is any group of people currently outside their homeland. So, we are to be hospitable to people outside their homeland. Says something about many Christians don't it.
Moses ends chapter 10 by saying they started as 70 people going into Egypt and now they are as numerous as the stars of heaven. They have witnessed the great and terrifying things God has done. He is out God. He is who we hold fast to. It is He we swear by. It is He we fear. It is He we serve.
By the way... did you notice the two greatest commandments are in the section?