Tag: Deuteronomy

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Week 11: Day 5- Deuteronomy 18:21-22

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

(21) And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? (22) When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22

Explanation:

God raises the question that many of the children of Israel were probably thinking. How can we discern which prophets are from God and which ones are speaking on their own authority? How can we know which one to believe? “How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?”

God answers the question with this answer. The prophet that speaks on behalf of the Lord will have their foretelling come to pass. When God tells of something that will happen through His prophet it will happen.

This makes sense, because man being finite and bound by time and space would not have a capacity to truly foretell the future. Being an infinite, eternal, timeless, space-less, immaterial Being, God knows what will happen, and can substantiate His message through the prophet being affirmed by the supernatural foretelling of events that will come to pass.

Since the prophet that is false should be rejected, this would serve as a sufficient means for identifying people bold enough to try to fake speaking for God. It would also substantiate those who God wanted to speak as His representatives, saying what He wanted them to say.

Application

God is not speaking directly to mankind in the same authoritative way, giving new revelation to mankind in the way that He did with Moses, Isaiah, Paul or Peter. God has already spoken. He substantiated His Word in several ways.

In Old Testament Prophecies fulfilled in the Old Testament.

In the first coming of His Son. The Old Testament foretells of Jesus’ birth, death, burial and ressurection in a way that is undeniable in the New Testament.

By the external evidence of God working through the authors of scripture.

People like Paul, John, Peter, and the other authors of the New Testament were substantiated by having walked and been dicipled by Jesus, having performed supernatural signs and miracles in the name of Jesus, and giving their lives as martyrs by not denying Jesus as the Resurrected Lord and Savior.

By the internal evidence of God working through the pages of scripture.

The Bible testifies to itself of its authority. It is its own validation.

(12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

(3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

2 Peter 1:3

There are other evidences that could be mentioned, but it is enough to say this. Today we substantiate the messengers of God by the alignment of what they preach and teach with what the Bible says, and how they live this message out in their own lives.
When we speak, we must speak what God’s Word says. When we listen to someone teach us, the question on our hearts must be “is this consistent with what God’s Word says?”

Response:

  1. Do you treasure the miracle that is the written Word of God that you have in your posession? Do your actions and words substantiate this in your life?
  2. When you speak on behalf of God, are you diligently trying to say what God says in His Word?
  3. Are you listenting to people who are not speaking in accordance with His Word?
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Week 11: Day 4- Deuteronomy 18:20

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Deu 18:20
(20) But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

Deuteronomy 18:20

Explanation:
Most mornings when I sit down to write in my journal, it takes a little bit of time to study the context, a right interpretation, and an application that is faithful to the text and practical for today. Today’s text is rather straightforward.

There were those in the Old Testament that God called to be prophets. Moses states here that God’s standard for prophecy is that when someone speaks on behalf of God that there message is God’s message. When someone misrepresents their word as the Word of God, God would take that persons life. If the person spoke on behalf of other gods, making their false teaching equivalent with God’s teaching, God would take that persons life. The penalty for claiming to be a prophet was that clear cut.

Application:
This is something that all of us take into account. When we teach others about God, in Word and in example, we must make sure that our message is faithful to God’s message. This is spoken of in the ten commandments.

(7) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Exo 20:7

When we use God’s name to say something He didn’t say, we are using God’s name for something for which He is not responsible. God says that the person that does this shall not be guiltless. When we teach our kids, share the gospel, or converse about God in any way, we must make sure that what we say is consistent with what God has said.
Also we need to be careful about false teachers and teaching. The Bible says that one of the roles of the church and church leaders is to equip the saints to identify false teaching.

(14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
(15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Eph 4:14-15

We must be careful to identify false teachers, reject their message, and call them to repentance. If they will not conform to the clear teaching of the Word of God they must be rejected.

Response:

  1. What are you saying about God to those around you through your words? by your actions? Is what you are saying consistent with how God has revealed Himself in scripture?
  2. Are you being careful about the teaching you are taking, both religious and non-religious?
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Week 11: Day 3- Deuteronomy 8:18-19

On By Ben JenningsIn AnnouncementLeave a comment

This Weeks Passage: Deuteronomy 8:15-22

18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

Deuteronomy 18:18-19

Explanation:

Their are two facts that the children of Isreal would have understood from this text.
Fact #1- The prophet would speak God’s Words.
The original readers of this text would have understood that God was raising up a prophet, beyond Moses to act as a revealer and a mediator between them and God. God was telling them through Moses that this coming prophet would say what God wanted Him to say (“…and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.”
Fact #2- The people would be responsible to obey God’s Words spoken by the prophet.
There will be times where the Old Testament prophet would speak on his own, and there would be times He would speak God’s Words. The authority wasn’t his own authority, but Gods. When “…he shall speak in my (God’s) name, I will require it of him”. Of course, when the prophet is Jesus Christ, the prophet that would come, He would speak on His own Authority. Why? Because He was God in the flesh. He was the Word. He came to reveal God to us. If people do not believe in Jesus God will hold them responsible for their sin!

Application:

We have the sufficient Word of God written down for us. We are so privileged in that we know what these people don’t know. The prophet that was to come for them was unfulfilled prophecy. For us it is written down and preserved revelation. It is substantiated by History. We have the Holy Spirit that wrote it down indwelling us helping to illuminate what He wrote. We are privileged.
We have a responsibility to obey. We will be held accountable for this revelation that we’ve been given. We must study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

Response:

  1. How are you showing an understanding of the privilege you have in possessing the Word of God? What should a person with this privilege do?
  2. How is it going in the area of obedience in your life?
  3. What implications are there to knowing that God will hold those who do not “hearken unto His Words” responsible? What does that mean for you? For those around you?
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Week 11: Day 2- Deuteronomy 18:16-17

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

This Weeks Passage: Deuteronomy 18:15-22

16 According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.

Deuteronomy 18:16-17

Explanation

Moses continues to address the people, letting them know that God acknowledged to him the rightness of the request. The children of Israel had asked Moses for there to be some reprieve from the glory of God. They were so fearful of the Lord that they asked Moses for this because they were afraid of dying because of the glory of God.

This truth was echoed by the Lord himself to Moses.

18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

Exodus 33:18-20

Because of our unholiness and unworthiness, none of us are able to stand before God on our own. When Adam and Eve sinned, their eyes were opened and the knew they were naked. Then they went and hid themselves. Sin lead to shame, fear and death. Sin always brings death- separation from a holy God.

God heard their request and granted it, making Moses a mediator between Him and them. God provided Jesus Christ as a mediator of a better covenant.

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

2 Timothy 2:5-6

Application

God is holy. God is righteous. Jesus said…

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

Because Jesus becomes our mediator when we accept Him as Savior, we can go to God ourselves. We can fear the Lord in His Holiness, and yet approach Him boldly finding grace to help in time of need. This is God’s desire for us. Praise the Lord for this incredible gift!

Response

  1. If you don’t know Christ as your Savior, then know that you can’t get to God on your own. Trust in Christ!
  2. If you do know Christ as your Savior, know that those around you can’t get to God on their own. Be a witness.
  3. If you do know Christ as Savior, You have a privileged position. You can go to God every day, at any time. When was the last time you prayed?
  4. Pursue holiness. God commands us to be holy because He is holy. What sin do you need to confess and forsake today?