Highlights In Today's Reading:
You'll find inspiring reading in these three chapters as we discover "gems" from our Heavenly Father: The purpose of God is given for all His laws for Israel (8:1); there's a Divine promise included (9:3); and more!
Moses reminded the new generation of the faithlessness of their parents (9:7-24). Forty years before, Israel had sworn allegiance to God and vowed to obey His commands (Ex. 24:3,7). Instead, they chose to worship a golden calf in Horeb (Deut. 9:8).
Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his Commandments. . . . Lest when thou hast eaten and art full . . . thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up (conceit, self-dependence) . . . And thou say in thine heart (not to others), My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth (accepting credit for achievements when God alone is responsible for all our abilities) (8:11-14,17). Jesus also said:Beware of covetousness (Luke 12:15) since it is extremely deceptive.
Now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thythy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul (not just on Saturday or Sunday), To keep the Commandments of the Lord . . . for thy good? (Deut. 10:12-13). Thou shalt fear the Lord thythy God; Him shalt thou serve, and to Him shalt thou cleave, and swear by His Name. He is thy praise, and He is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible (awe-inspiring) things, which thine eyes have seen (10:20-21). It is all summed up in fearing the Lord. The fear of God is reverential heartfelt submission to the greatness of God and His authority. Our Lord is the Creator of heaven and earth, so we owe Him our unconditional submission.
Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart (Deut. 10:16) means that all lusts must be subdued, of which selfishness is the center. When God becomes supreme in our hearts, all that interferes in any way with His purposes must be overcome, no matter how painful the process may be.
The Lord your God is . . . Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible (awesome, marvelous) (10:17).
Because of who God is, Christians are called to do no less today than Israel was commanded to do. Jesus said . . . Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind (Matt. 22:37; Deut. 6:5).
Thought for Today:
The person who has a fear of God will have a wisdom that far exceeds anything this world has to offer (Ps. 111:10).
Christ Revealed:
Through the shittim (acacia wood) used to make the Ark of the Covenant (Deut. 10:3). Acacia wood, a desert growth, is symbolic of Christ in His human form. When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law (Gal. 4:4).
Word Studies:
8:2 prove =test; 8:12 full =satisfied; 8:14 thine heart be lifted =you become proud; 8:18 establish His covenant =confirm His agreement with His qualifications; 9:1 fenced =walled; 9:5 perform the word =accomplish His promise; 9:6 stiffnecked =stubborn; 9:26 a mighty hand =strength; 10:6 stead =place; 10:8 separated =set apart; 10:15 seed =descendants.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Shortwave Broadcasts in honor of Rick Hash • Staff: Barbara Bivens • Government Officials: Gov. Rick Perry (TX) and Rep. Christopher Smith (NJ) • Country: Chad (7 million) in north-central Africa • Major languages: French and Arabic • Limited religious freedom • 35% Muslim; 31% animist; 11% Protestant; 5% Roman Catholic • Prayer Suggestion: Unite with others in prayer; God will bring your request to pass (Matt. 18:19-20).
Optional Reading: Luke 19
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 5:11