A DIFFERENT SORT OF SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE

A Study in Deuteronomy Week 3

Deuteronomy Chapters 1-4 Reconnecting with God's Purpose

Chapter 1

Verses 1-8 – A new generation grew up before Moses, but God's purpose remained the same. Through an elaborate rehearsal of events, good and bad, Moses reconnects that generation with God's unchanging purposes. He tells them the history of where they had come from.

Verses 9-18 – Moses tells them how he got things organized. He appointed leaders over each group. This is an indication that one man, such as a pastor, cannot do all of the work. He needs right hand men (deacons), left hand people to help with educating the people, musicians (the heart of worship) and feet (missionaries, etc.) to help him in his task.

Verses 19-25 – Key verse: 21 “See, the Lord you God has given you the land. Go get it.

Verses 26-46 – Moses reminds them of their grumbling (v-27). He reminds them that they did not trust the Lord (v-32). Then he reminds them that they made a new promise to God to commit to Him (v-41). The leader had done what God wanted, but the people would not follow. Followship is one of our obligations as people of God. Each generation has its opportunity to understand and join God in His greater purposes.

Chapter 2 The history lesson continues. Moses tells about their nomadic way of life.

Verses 1-3 – In these few words Moses comprised the whole of that wandering nomadic life through which they passed during thirty-eight years, shifting from place to place, and regulating their stations by the prospect of pasturage and water.

Verses 4-7 – Israel was fed manna, but they were not prohibited from eating regular food when it was available. But they were not to desire it above reason (or above their appreciation for what God had provided them).

Verses 24-37 – This is about the defeat of Sihon, King of Heshbon. The lesson here is that when God’s plan is followed, success is inevitable.

Chapter 3

Verses 1-31 – Here, Og is defeated, the land is divided and Moses learns that he is not going to be allowed to cross the Jordan. Chapter 4 We learn that God demands obedience, and we can choose to obe out of love for Him or we can let Him teach us the hard way. Idolotry is forbidden. We learn that God continues to be merciful toward his people

(Verse 31). Verses 32-40 – The Lord reasserts His authority.

Verses 41-43 Describes the cities of refuge.

Verses 44-49 Prepares us to take one more look at the Ten Commandments

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Agnus Dei-Michael W. Smith

A Study in Deuteronomy Week 2

Introduction Part 2

Satan hates the book of Deuteronomy. He tries to twist its meaning in the minds of Christians and Jews alike.

The probable reason for the satanic attack upon the Book of Deuteronomy is that the Lord Jesus Christ quoted exclusively from this book in beating back Satan’s temptation.

Little wonder Satan hates this book.

1st temptation — Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4 compare Deuteronomy 8:3
2nd temptation — Matthew 4:7; Luke 4:12 compare Deuteronomy 6:16
3rd temptation — Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8 compare Deuteronomy 6:13 and 10:20

The Old Testament prophets quoted from Deuteronomy frequently.

There are also over 80 references to it in the New Testament.

1. Greatest doctrinal statement in Old Testament: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD. (Deuteronomy 6:4)

2. First mention of the Great Tribulation: But if from there thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice (for the LORD thy God is a merciful God), he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he swore unto them. (Deuteronomy 4:29-31)

3. Promise of a coming Prophet: The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken, 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. And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 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. (Deuteronomy 18:15-18)

4. Test for determining true and false prophets: But the prophet, who shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? 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 18:20-22) (Every prophet had to speak into a local and immediate situation.)

5. Prewritten history of Israel in the land before they enter the land: Deuteronomy 28 — 30

6. Palestinian Covenant: Deuteronomy 29:1 — 30:10

7. The Song of Moses — Prophetic: Deuteronomy 32

a. Call to hear, vv. 1-4
b. The nation returns evil for the grace of God, vv. 5, 6
c. Jehovah’s goodness, vv. 7-14
d. Apostasy of the nation, vv. 15-18
e. Judgment of God upon them, vv. 19-25
f. Longing of God for His people, vv. 26-42
g. Nations of the world blessed with Israel, vv. 43, 44

8. Lonely and strange death of Moses: Deuteronomy 34:5-8 (One translation has it, “…died by the kiss of God” — God kissed Moses and put him to sleep. What a lovely thought!)

An Overview Study in Deuteronomy Week 1

Deuteronomy Introduction Part 1

Deuteronomy was written by Moses.

For most of church history “scholars” scoffed at the idea of Moses writing the book because they proclaimed that writing had not been invented by Moses’ time.

Now we have ample evidence that writing existed long before Moses.

The name Deuteronomy means “second law.”

This is neither another law nor a repitition of the Mosaic Law; rather it is an interpretation of the law based on 38 years of wilderness experience. It is a commentary on the Mosaic Law, much as Hebrews is a commentary for the Jews on Romans.

There are four Hebrew titles of Deuteronomy:

1. Debarim — “The Words” or “These be the Words”
2. The Kith, or the Fifth of the Law
3. The Book of Reproofs
4. The Iteration of the Law

The THEME of Deuteronomy is : “Obedience Out of Love”

Love of God — 4:37; 7:7, 8; 23:5
Love for God — 6:4, 5; 30:6, 16, 20
Obey God — 4:40; 11:26-28; 30:8-20

The book teaches that we are to obey God to demonstrated our love for Him.

“Love” occurs 22 times in Deuteronomy, “obey” 10 times.

This fits with Jesus’ statement: “The Lord Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). The true motive for obedience is stated in Deuteronomy 6:4, 5. God’s love for man is the motive for His government and the giving of laws. Man’s love of God is the motive for his obedience. This is not the gospel, but the principle of the gospel is here.

Moses gives the Israelites reasons to obey God:

1. Israel belonged to God (14:1)
2. God loved them (4:37)
3. God wanted to preserve and prosper them (4:1)
4. Their show of gratitude (4:7, 8)

Israel had broken God’s law through sins of commission; They had failed to believe God through sins of omission.

In Romans 8:3 Paul explained that the Law was “Weak through the flesh.”

The new generation of Israelites had not learned the Law, nor had they been required to follow it. A generation of permissiveness had arisen, much like today’s generations.

This new generation was unfamiliar with the experiences of Mt. Sinai, and they needed to have the Law called to their attention and interpreted in the light of their experience and future dwelling in the Promised Land.

The Book of Deuteronomy has been the center of attack by the critic. The critic stated that the purpose of the book was to glorify the priesthood at Jerusalem, but neither the priesthood nor Jerusalem is mentioned in Deuteronomy.

(This Introduction to Deuteronomy will continue next week)

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Christ the Lord Is Risen Today-Steve Green

HAVE A WONDERFUL RESURRECTION SUNDAY EVERYBODY!

HOLY SATURDAY

Holy Saturday (today) is the first "full" day Jesus' body lay in the tomb.

Different churches have different "traditions" concerning Holy Saturday.

This much I know:

THE PHYSICAL JESUS IS DEAD...BUT SUNDAY'S ON THE WAY!

What’s So ‘Good’ About Good Friday?

Why do we call Good Friday “good,” when it is a such dark and bleak event commemorating a day of suffering and death for Jesus?

For Christians, Good Friday is a crucial day of the year because it celebrates what we believe to be the most momentous weekend in the history of the world. Ever since Jesus died and was raised, Christians have proclaimed the cross and resurrection of Jesus to be the decisive turning point for all creation. Paul considered it to be “of first importance” that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised to life on the third day, all in accordance with what God had promised all along in the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3-4).

On Good Friday we remember the day Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. It is followed by Easter, the glorious celebration of the day Jesus was raised from the dead, heralding his victory over sin and death and pointing ahead to a future resurrection for all who are united to him by faith (Rom. 6:5).

Still, why call the day of Jesus’ death “Good Friday” instead of “Bad Friday” or something similar? Some Christian traditions do take this approach: in German, for example, the day is called Karfreitag, or “Sorrowful Friday.” In English, in fact, the origin of the term “Good” is debated: some believe it developed from an older name, “God’s Friday.” Regardless of the origin, the name Good Friday is entirely appropriate because the suffering and death of Jesus, as terrible as it was, marked the dramatic culmination of God’s plan to save his people from their sins.

As Doug Wilson recently wrote on the Resurgence, in order for the good news of the gospel to have meaning for us, we first have to understand the bad news of our condition as sinful people under condemnation. The good news of deliverance only makes sense once we see how we are enslaved. This is simply another way of saying that it is important to understand and distinguish the Law and the Gospel as the “two words” of scripture. We need the law first to show us how hopeless our condition is; then the gospel of Jesus’ grace comes and brings us relief and salvation.

In the same way, Good Friday is “good” because as terrible as that day was, it had to happen for us to receive the joy of Easter. The wrath of God against sin had to be poured out on Jesus, the perfect sacrificial substitute, in order for forgiveness and salvation to be poured out on the nations. Without that awful day of suffering, sorrow, and shed blood at the cross, God could not be both “just and the justifier” of those who trust in Jesus (Rom. 3:26). Paradoxically, the day that seemed to be the greatest triumph of evil was actually the deathblow in God’s gloriously good plan to redeem the world from bondage.

The cross is where we see the convergence of great suffering and God’s forgiveness. Psalm 85:10 sings of a day when “righteousness and peace” will “kiss each other.” The cross of Jesus is where that occurred, where God’s demands, his righteousness, coincided with his mercy. We receive divine forgiveness, mercy, and peace because Jesus willingly took our divine punishment, the result of God’s righteousness against sin. “For the joy set before him” (Heb. 12:2) Jesus endured the cross on Good Friday, knowing it led to his resurrection, our salvation, and the beginning of God’s reign of righteousness and peace.

Good Friday marks the day when wrath and mercy met at the cross. That’s why Good Friday is so dark and so Good.

Article by Justin Holcomb, Executive Director of Resurgence and Leadership Development at Mars Hill Church, a large church made up of smaller congregations and that meet in multiple states, including Washington, Oregon, California and New Mexico.

WE ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE!

I've seen this with the letters out of order, but this is the first time I've seen it with numbers.

It is a good example of how wonderful the human brain is: If you can read this you have a strong mind:

7H15 M3554G3

53RV35 7O PR0V3

H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N

D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5!

1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5!

1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG

17 WA5 H4RD BU7

N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3

Y0UR M1ND 1S

R34D1NG 17

4U70M471C4LLY

W17H 0U7 3V3N

7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17,

B3 PROUD! 0NLY

C3R741N P30PL3 C4N

R3AD 7H15.

The more times you read it, the easier and more obvious it becomes!

What a mighty God we serve, that He could make us like that!

AN EFFECTIVE, FERVENT PRAYER

Hi, Lord, its me.

We are getting older and things are getting bad here. Gas prices are too high, no jobs, food and heating costs too high.

I know some have taken you out of our schools, government and even Christmas, but Lord I'm asking you to come back and re-bless America . We really need you!

There are more of us who want you than those who don't!

Thank You Lord, I Love you.

"Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Hallelujah, Praise the Lamb-The Talleys