Introduction:
1. Segway
J.I. Packer in his book Knowing God, makes reference to unneeded “theological lumber.” This morning I would like to unload some of that “lumber” and use it to build our lives.
ILL. about missing part on stool
B. Setting:
p
Author/Recipients/Setting
“These are the words which
Moses spoke
to all Israel
on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness…”
Deut. 1.1
D. Preview:
BIG IDEA:
God’s attributes should affect our thoughts, words, and actions.
I. The Faithful and kind God (12-15)
II. The Great and Fearsome God (16-24)
III. The Jealous and Holy God (25-26)
I. The Faithful and kind God (12-15)
12 "Then it shall come to pass,
because you listen to these judgments,
and keep and do them,
that the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers.
13 And He will love you and
bless you and
multiply you;
He will also bless the fruit of your womb and
the fruit of your land,
your grain and
your new wine and
your oil,
the increase of your cattle and
the offspring of your flock,
in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you..
14 You shall be blessed above all peoples;
there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock.
15 And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but He will lay them on all those who hate you.
Observe: The promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would be fulfilled, but not necessarily with that generation. When Israel would keep God’s command, God would keep His covenant and mercy with them. The same is true with us.
12 "Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers.
A. The Covenant God
ברית bĕriyth covenant, alliance, pledge
1. What is a covenant? Background:
1. Covenant between God and Noah. - Genesis 9 - Token was the rainbow.
2. Covenant between God and Abraham.-.
Genesis 12 – Promises made / Gospel preached
Genesis 15 – smoking oven/burning torch passed between divided animals
Genesis 17 – circumcision given as a sign
3. Covenant between the Abimelech and Abraham. Genesis 21 –
4. Covenant between the Abemelech and Issac Genesis 26 –. Sealed with a meal
5. Covenant between Jacob and Laban -. Genesis 31 - a pillar, sacrifice, and meal
6. Exodus 2.24 God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
7. God and Israel – Exodus 19-20 The Lord your God who delievered .. thou shalt -. The appearance at Mt. Siani and stone tablets were tokens of…
2. Note the condition and response.
—> You…
listen שמע shama` -- to hear with attention or interest; to understand; to consent, agree; obey
ylt—hear; kjv—harken; nasb, nkjv, esv, nlt-- listen; niv—pay attention
keep שמר shamar -- to keep, guard, observe, give heed
do עשה `asah -- (qal) 1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed 2) to make
—> and the Lord your God will…
· love אהב 'ahab (ä·hav') (Qal)
1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual
2) human appetite or for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom
3) human love for or to God
4) act of being a friend
5) God's love toward man
· bless ברך barak (bä·rak') --(Piel) to bless
· multiply רבה rabah (rä·vä') -- (Hiphil) to make much, make many, have many
ylt—multiplied; jkv, nasb, nkjv, esv—multiply; niv—increase your numbers; ylt—give you many children
3. Deuteronomy is similar to the suzerain (ruler, superior country) – vassal treaties.
Compare this “blessing section” with Leviticus 26, and Deuteronomy 27-28
For an evangelical theological treatment of this subject based on the source materials see the volumes entitled Treaty of the Great King (Grand Rapids, 1963) and By Oath Consigned (Grand Rapids, 1967) by M. G. Kline. Here Kline shows
the suzerainty treaty found in the ancient near east is the key to understanding the form of God’s covenant with ancient Israel.
He maintains the Ten Commandments and the entire book of Deuteronomy and such sections as Joshua 24 are all based on a covenant pattern which has:
1. A preamble in which the suzerain is identified,
2. An historical prologue describing previous relations between the parties,
3. Stipulations and demands of the suzerain,
4. Swearing of allegiance with curses and blessings, that is Covenant Ratification,
5. Witnesses and directions for carrying out the treaty (see Treaty of the Great King, pp. 14, 28). In addition to the stipulations there may be a clause providing for the preservation and regular rereading of the covenant. –TWOT
B. The Mercy 0f God (241 times in OT) חסד checed (kheh'·sed) -- In a good sense zeal toward demonstrated here by God’s grace, favour, and mercy toward men. (Strong's H2617)
ylt—kindness; kjv, nkjv—mercy; nasb—lovingkindness; esv--steadfast love;
niv—covenant of love; ylt—covenant of unfailing love
1. Relates to God’s conduct in the covenant.
The terminology used here of love, loyalty and obedience are common to the international treaties of this time. Hittite, Akkadian, Ugaritic and Aramaic examples all show that the positive action of the suzerain toward the vassal is expressed as love, kindness and graciousness, and in return the vassal is expected to respond with obedience and loyalty. --TWOT
2. Relates to his zeal and favour He shows.
Exodus 34 Moses on Mt. Sinai after the golden calf, just after God wrote the 10 commandments of the second set of stone tablets.
5 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed ,
The LORD, The LORD God,
merciful and
gracious,
longsuffering, and abundant in
goodness and
truth,
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. 8 And Moses made haste , and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped . 9 And he said , If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance .
C. Observations:
1. Bessings
“The things so graphically described here, especially the fertility of wives, of land, and of domestic animals, were precisely the things that the gods of Canaan were supposed to deliver. Destroying those gods (v.16, again), the Israelites need not fear the loss of those things. For Yahweh is Lord of all these living realities.” – Christopher Wright in NIBC
These promises should be interpreted in the proper context of Moses addressing the physical and political nation of Israel as they were preparing to enter the promised land. It seems inconsistent to make a direct application of these promises and then ignore the adjacent commands to conquer Caanan.
The promises were to the nation as a whole and were not fulfilled because Israel did not drive out all the nations and did not follow the command, statutes, and judgments that God gave them.
1 Timothy 6.
1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
2. Sicknesses
· Expanded descriptions in Deuteronomy 28.27-29
Deuteronomy 28
27 The Lord will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors, with the scab, and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed. 28 The Lord will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart. 29 And you shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways; you shall be only oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save you.
“…examination of mummies has suggested the prevalence of smallpox, malaria and polio. Emphysema and tuberculosis are also evidenced. Egyptian medicine was well known for its treatment of eye diseases and diseases of the digestive and excretory/urinary systems. This might suggest that that was where persistent disease was encountered.” -- The IVP Bible Background Commentary : Old Testament
· Note the divine agency involved.
It is not just a matter of healthy living.
15 And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but He will lay them on all those who hate you.
Application:
We should respond to
God’s covenant faithfulness
and kindness (mercy) by
faithfully heeding his command
and serving (worshiping) Him.
...the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy… Therefore you shall keep the commandment...
Deuteronomy 7:9,11
9 Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; 10 and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. 11Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them.
II. The Great and
Fearsome God (16-24)
&
16 And you shall destroy all the peoples whom the Lord your God delivers over to you;
your eye shall have no pity on them;
nor shall you serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you
17."If you should say in your heart, 'These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?'—
18 you shall not be afraid of them,
but you shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: 19 the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders, the mighty hand and the out.
So shall the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid.
20 Moreover the Lord your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left, who hide themselves from you, are destroyed. 21 You shall not be terrified of them; for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is among you.
22 And the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.
23 But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, and will inflict defeat upon them until they are destroyed.
24 And He will deliver their kings into your hand, and you will destroy their name from under heaven; no one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them.
Compare with Exodus 23.23-32
A. The comand
Observe v.10
—> the human responsibility to
destroy אכל 'akal (ä·kal') to eat, devour, consume
ylt, kjv, nasb, esv--consume; nkjv, niv, nlt--destroy
No pity חוס chuwc (khüs) to pity, have compassion, spare, look upon with compassion
nlt—show mercy
-->the Divine enablement as God delivers them over
deliver נתן Nathan (nä·than') to give, deliver up …
Textual notes:
· Little by little: This indicates that it would be an extended struggle and that God’s timing is wise.
· “the sending of hornets before the Israelites” is hardly to be taken literally, not only because there is not a word in the book of Joshua about the Canaanites being overcome and exterminated in any such way, but chiefly on account of Jos_24:12, where Joshua says that God sent the hornet before them, and drove out the two kings of the Amorites, referring thereby to their defeat and destruction by the Israelites through the miraculous interposition of God, and thus placing the figurative use of the term hornet beyond the possibility of doubt.” --Keil and Delitzch
17."If you should say in your heart, 'These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?'—
18 you shall not be afraid of them,
but you shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: 19 the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders, the mighty hand and the out.
B. Frightened by the great nations
afraid ירא yare' (yä·rā') (Qal) to fear, revere, be afraid
remember זכר zakar (zä·kar') (Qal) to remember, recall
· There was reasoned assessment of the enemy and the logical response to the natural data—fear.
· The problem was not their fear, but who they feared.
· The remedy was to add in the supernatural component—the great and fearsome God who was in their midst—to remember.
20. ...You shall not be terrified of them; for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is among you.
C. Great and “Fearsome”
great גדול gadowl (gä·dōle' ) great in number, intensity, importance, etc (proud)
awesome yare' (yä·rā') (Qal) to fear, revere, be afraid
ylt—fearful; kjv—terrible; nasb, nkjv, esv, niv, nlt—awesome
· We often prefer a safe, tame, and controlled god, but the God of the Bible is just the opposite.
As Lewis tells his story, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, it is clear that he intends Aslan to be a Christ-like character within the regions of his fantasy-land Narnia. The children are about to meet him and Lucy asks…
"Is he a man?", asked Lucy.
"Aslan, a man?", said Mr.Beaver sternly. "Certainly not. I tell you, He is the King of the wood and the son of the Great Emperor Beyond the Sea. Don't you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion - The lion. The Great Lion."
"Ooh", said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he...quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion!"
"That you will deary and no mistake", said Mrs.Beaver. "If there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly."
"Then he isn't safe?", said Lucy.
"Safe?", said Mr.Beaver. "Don't you hear what Mrs.Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? Course he isn't safe.....but he's good. He's the King I tell you." –C. S. Lewis in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Application:
We fear man more when we fear God less.
The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.
Proverbs 29:25
————————————-————————————-————————————-————————————-
Matthew 10.28
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
III. The Jealous and Holy God (25-26)
25 You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire;
you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them,
nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the Lord your God.
26 Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it.
You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing.
A. Jealous of those who Covet
25 You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire;
you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them,
nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the Lord your God.
· They would be tempted by their greed to not destroy the images.
Colossians 3:5-6
… covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
· Whether they took the idol or coveted the gold, they did not fulfill the greatest command.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
4 "Hear, O Israel:
The Lord our God, the Lord is one!
5 You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, with all your soul,
and with all your strength.
· They were not to go after gods or gold.
· Moses warns repeatedly of God’s jealously.
jealous annq Qanna' (kan-naw') jealous (only of God) as not bearing any rival
Let’s look at a few examples
& Deut 4.23-24
23 Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the Lord your God has forbidden you. 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
& Deuteronomy 5.8-9 Ten Commandments
8 'You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 9 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
& Deut 6.14-15
14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you 15 (for the Lord your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the Lord your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth.
· Like the idols, riches were a snare.
· Greed is still a snare.
& 1 Timothy 6
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
We also see the close connection between greed and idols in
Job 31
24 "If I have made gold my hope,
Or said to fine gold, 'You are my confidence';
25 If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had gained much;
26 If I have observed the sun when it shines,
Or the moon moving in brightness,
27 So that my heart has been secretly enticed,
And my mouth has kissed my hand;
28 This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment,
For I would have denied God who is above.
B. Holy—detesting the sinful
26 Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it.
You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing.
There are two key words for us to look at.
1. abomination תועבה tow`ebah (tō·ā·vä') a disgusting thing, abomination, abominable St#H8441
ylt, kjv, nasb, nkjv—abomination; esv—abominable thing;
niv—detestable thing; nlt—detestable objects
· This word is used over 70 times and most often talking about something that God says is an abomination. It is a good word study.
· In this context if refers to idols which would be a snare.
· Many sins are specifically described as an abomination.
(& Time permiting)
Proverbs 6.16-19
16 These six things the LORD hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
· 17 A proud look,
· A lying tongue,
· Hands that shed innocent blood,
· 18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
· Feet that are swift in running to evil,
· 19 A false witness who speaks lies,
· And one who sows discord among brethren.
· Proverbs 11.1 Dishonest scales…
· Proverbs 15.8 The sacrifice of the wicked
· Proverbs 17.5 He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just…
· Proverbs 28.9 The prayer of one who won’t hear the law
2. doomed to destruction/ an accursed thing חרם cherem or hērem (khā'·rem) a thing devoted, thing dedicated, ban, devotion; (appointed to) utter destruction
ylt—been devoted; kjv—be a cursed thing; nasb—come under the ban; nkjv--doomed to destruction; esv—become devoted to destruction; niv—set apart for destruction; nlt—will be destroyed
Ylt—is devoted; kjv—is a cursed thing; nasb—is something banned; esv—is devoted to destruction; niv, nlt—set apart for destruction;
This noun derivative is used twenty-eight times in the OT to
>refer either to the object devoted or to the ban itself.
>The story of Jericho’s fall to Israel provides clear examples of the first use. The whole city is called a “devoted thing” (Josh 6:17), and all Israelites are warned to keep themselves from the “devoted thing,” which likely is a reference to items within the city all of which had to be burned if flammable and if not, given to God.
>When Achan disobeys and takes of these items, Israel’s army is defeated by the people of Ai, and
> God says that Israel has now become a “devoted thing” itself until the “devoted thing” (Achan in his sin) is destroyed from its midst (Josh 7:12-13).
Joshua 6
17 Now the city shall be doomed by the Lord to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord."
Joshua 7
12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you. 13 Get up, sanctify the people, and say, 'Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the Lord God of Israel: "There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you."
חרם cherem or hērem (khā'·rem) a thing devoted, thing dedicated, ban, devotion; (appointed to) utter destruction
The word is related to an Arabic root meaning “to prohibit, especially to ordinary use.” The word “harem,” meaning the special quarters for Muslim wives, comes from it. -- TWOT
ḥāram The idea first appears in Num 21:2–3, where the Israelites vowed that, if God would enable them to defeat a southern Canaanite king, they would “utterly destroy” (i.e. consider as devoted and accordingly utterly destroy) his cities. -- TWOT
Because the root qādaš “to be holy,” also carries the thought of setting apart from ordinary use in surrender to God (especially in the Piel), we must distinguish objects set apart because “devoted,” from those set apart because “holy.” In a text discussed above, Lev 27:28–29, the two were brought together in that the devoted object was considered most holy by God. This suggests that the two were closely related, and this was true in respect to objects devoted for ceremonial service. But in respect to the objects to be destroyed, they were considered to be offensive to God and injurious to his work. Objects to be set apart because holy were pleasing to him and useful. -- TWOT
This noun derivative is used twenty-eight times in the OT to refer either to the object devoted or to the ban itself. -- TWOT
ḥērem. Devoted thing, devotion, ban. This noun derivative is used twenty-eight times in the OT to refer either to the object devoted or to the ban itself. The story of Jericho’s fall to Israel provides clear examples of the first use. The whole city is called a “devoted thing” (Josh 6:17), and all Israelites are warned to keep themselves from the “devoted thing,” which likely is a reference to items within the city all of which had to be burned if flammable and if not, given to God. When Achan disobeys and takes of these items, Israel’s army is defeated by the people of Ai, and God says that Israel has now become a “devoted thing” itself until the “devoted thing” (Achan in his sin) is destroyed from its midst (Josh 7:12-13).
Application:
Don’t allow anything that divides your heart.
The things that disgust God should disgust us.
… those whose heart is loyal to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:29
8 Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars." 2 Chronicles 16:29
Is there khā'·rem) in your tents?
Colossians 3:5-6
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
—>Conclusion.
BIG IDEA: God’s attributes should affect our thoughts, words, and actions.
I. We should respond to God’s covenant and mercy by faithfully heeding his command and serving (worshiping) Him.
II. God’s greatness and fearsomeness should cause us to fear man less than we fear God.
III. God’s jealousy and holiness should cause us to love him only and reject what is disgusting to Him.
Benediction
Blessed be our faithful and kind God
He is great and fearsome,
jealous and holy.
May you think, speak, and live
to honor Him this week.
· The IVP Biblical Background Commentary
· Earl S. Kalland in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary Vol. 3
· Peter C. Craigie in The Book of Deuteronomy (The New International Commentary of the Old Testament)
· Christopher Wright in Deuteronomy (New International Biblical Commentary)
· J. A . Thompson in Deuteronomy: An Introduction and Commentary ( Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries)
· Eugene H. Merrill in Deuteronomy (The New American Commentary: An Exegetical the Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture)
· Patrick Miller in Deuteronomy (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching)
· Jack E. Deere in The Bible Knowledge Commentary
· D. A. Carson in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition
· Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged
· NET Bible Translation Notes
· Harris, R. Laird ; Harris, Robert Laird ; Archer, Gleason Leonard ; Waltke, Bruce K.: Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament.
· Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament
· David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary
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