To Obey or Disobey

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An Overview of the Book of Deuteronomy

It is hard to remember something when we just hear it once or even twice.  We all need reminded over and over about what is important. I believe that is what the book of Deuteronomy is all about. It is a retelling of Israel’s history, the Law, and God’s keeping of his covenant promise to them. They needed reminded of what was important.

The Book of Deuteronomy - YouTube


Lesson:

Deuteronomy is a 2nd telling of Israel’s history, a 2nd telling of the law, and another reminder of God’s faithfulness. He is a God who keeps His Word.


Read Deuteronomy 6:4-8.  What are the Israelites asked to do in 6:4? 

They were asked to hear in a manner that required more then just an auditory intake of sound into the ear. This hearing was something that required action. 

Listen and Do.

What actions are required that you find in verses 5-8?   How were they to do this? 

They were to keep the commandments on their hearts, impress them on their children, talk about them wherever they were, write them down around their houses and tie them as symbols on their hands and bind them on their foreheads.

These instructions were important...so important that they are repeated in 11:18-21.

Listen and Love is central to the book of of Deuteronomy.

God wanted them to Listen and Do. It was an active hearing.

God wanted them to Love and Obey. It was a love shown through obedience.

A large part of the book of Deuteronomy then is a recounting of the laws God wants them to obey. The 10 commandments are reviewed...some of them in much more detail then found in Exodus 20.

By the time we get to chapters 27-29, the Israelite people are faced with a choice.

To Obey or to Disobey???

God tells them if they obey they will be blessed. If they disobey, they will be cursed.

So the questions became…

Do they want blessings or curses?

Do they want life or death?

Read chapter 28:1-14.  Find 10 blessings that the Lord will give if they obey him.

Read chapter 28:15-68.   Name at least 10 curses God will put on them if they disobey.

Read Deut 30: 19. The Israelite people had to make choices.

Blessings or curses?

Life or death?


Application:

Today we still face this same choices. However, we have hope. We have the hope that though we are much like Israel...a disobedient people, God has made a better way for us.


Read Deut. 30:6.   Moses tells them that after they have rebelled and are scattered, if they repent he will gather them back together and still keep his promise to them.


We still have to choose to obey or disobey. Read John 14:15.

He still says in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commands.”


However, here is the difference between the Old and the New Testament.  Read John 14:16-17.  God hasn’t left us alone. He has sent us an advocate (an intercessor), to live in us and to help us. This advocate is the Holy Spirit.


The Holy Spirit also reminds us of something important. Read Hebrews 10:15-18. God has made a new covenant with us. His laws are no longer on stone tablets, but they are written in our hearts. Then this important reminder is added, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” Why? Because Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for sin, so no more sacrifice for sin is needed. We have been forgiven of our sins.


We still have to choose life or death. Read Romans 8:13

The gift of the Holy Spirit is so important. The Israelites failed time and time again. They could only strive in the flesh to obey. The flesh lets us down. As Christians who receive the Spirit, we get the choice of living by the Spirit. By it we can put to death the misdeeds of the body. We can choose life.


We still have to choose blessings over curses?

Read Revelation 1:3.

How do we choose blessings over curses?

What is the ultimate blessing we receive if we choose blessings?

Read Hebrews 3:16-4:1-2, 4:9-11.

To obey or disobey? To choose life or death? To choose blessings or curses? The choice is ours just as it was for the Israelites.

The Bible Explained: Deuteronomy - YouTube




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