DEUT. 10.12-22 “GOD’S HEART? FOR HIMSELF OR OTHERS? 110109PM@TBC

Introduction:

A. Series Context

“Inside Out: From Loving God to Loving others”

Part 1: Is this Biblical?

Part 2:  What are the obstacles?

Part 3:  How do we live this way?

B.  Big Question—————————

The Biblical Basis for Loving Others

Q: Is God for others or for Himself?

C. Setting:

1) Setting of Deuteronomy

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

2) Outline of Deuteronomy

1. Historical Background (1-4)

2. General Principles (5-10)

Begins with 10 commands and ends talking about the second set of stone tablets

3. Specific Rules (11-26)

4. Blessings and Cursings (27-30)

5. Moses’ Last Acts (31-34)

Reading Deuteronomy 10.12-22

As we read this evening make note of the structure.  First five commands for the Israelites.  Two triplets with the Character of God, Acts of God, and a resulting command.  Then another triplet with a little different order.

¹² "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, ¹³ and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?

——————————————————

¹⁴ Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it.

¹⁵ The Lord delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day.

 ¹⁶ Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.

————————————————–—

¹⁷ For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. ¹⁸ He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. ¹⁹ Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

———————————————————-

 ²⁰ You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name. ²¹ He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen. ²² Your fathers went down to Egypt with seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as the stars of heaven in multitude.   

A. Five Commands for Their Good

  Deuteronomy 10.12-13

¹² "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to

• fear the Lord your God,
• to walk in all His ways
• and to love Him,
• to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
• ¹³ and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?

1. fear and love

Especially notice the command to love God.

Note: The fear of God is to be united with the love of God; for love without fear makes men remiss, and fear without love makes them servile and desperate (J. Gerhard). —K&D

2. keep the commands.

While some of these speak to our disposition and nature toward God, the keeping of the commands brings a concrete connection between being and doing.

3.  for your good

The words for your good remind us that not only does obedience bring blessing, but even more, love and devotion to God is good for us. 

“Obedience is good for you,” may not sparkle as an advertising slogan, but it captures the human perspective of OT ethics.” —Christopher Wright in Deuteronomy (New International Biblical Commentary)

“A life of love and praise to God is the highest joy and satisfaction a person can have.”

I. Owner of Heaven and Earth (10.14-16)

¹⁴ Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it.

¹⁵ The Lord delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day.

 ¹⁶ Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.

A. The Nature of God:

¹⁴ Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it.

belong

• There is not a specific Hebrew word that is translated “belong” in this verse.
• ylt—to Jehovah thy God are the heavens and heavens of heavens...

1.      Our Lord is the owner and object of all that there is!

2.      “The verse stresses the absolute sovereignty of God over all the created universe, both heaven and earth.” —Peter C. Craigie in The Book of Deuteronomy (The New International Commentary of the Old Testament)

B. The Work of God:

¹⁵ The Lord delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day.

delighted

2836 [chashaq /khaw·shak/] -  (Qal) to love, be attached to, long for

ylt, jkv, nkjv—delight(ed); nasb, niv—set His affection on;  esv—set His heart on; nlt—chose

NET Bible trans. note: Heb “take delight to love.” Here again the verb אָהַב (’ahav, “love”), juxtaposed with בָחַר (bakhar, “choose”), is a term in covenant contexts that describes the Lord’s initiative in calling the patriarchal ancestors to be the founders of a people special to him

chose  977 [bachar /baw·khar/]  - to choose or select

all versions—chose

·        This verse emphasizes the fact that God had all the peoples of the world that He could have chosen.

·        It was His design to glorify and magnify Himself
and not their merit that caused God to chose them.

·        “The wonder is that a God of such cosmic, universal ownership should have focused affection on the insignificant ancestors of insignificant Israel.”  —Christopher Wright in Deuteronomy (New International Biblical Commentary)

·        We see this reinforced in …

Deuteronomy 7

⁶ "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. ⁷ The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; ⁸ but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 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;

·        God did not act first out of interest for Israel, but out of interest for His name and reputation.

Isaiah 48

⁸ Surely you did not hear, Surely you did not know; Surely from long ago your ear was not opened. For I knew that you would deal very treacherously, And were called a transgressor from the womb. ⁹ "For My name's sake I will defer My anger, And for My praise I will restrain it from you, So that I do not cut you off.

TE: “Israel therefore had no claim on God and no right to be arrogant and proud. In fact Moses said they should…”  —Peter C. Craigie in The Book of Deuteronomy (The New International Commentary of the Old Testament)

C. The Commands of God:

 ¹⁶ Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.

 Heb “circumcise the foreskin of” (cf. KJV, ASV, NRSV). Reference to the Abrahamic covenant prompts Moses to recall the sign of that covenant, namely, physical circumcision (Gen. 17:9-14). Just as that act signified total covenant obedience, so spiritual circumcision (cleansing of the heart) signifies more internally a commitment to be pliable and obedient to the will of God (cf. Deut. 30.6; Jer. 4:4; 9:26).   —NET Bible trans. notes

·        Circumcision was the physical sign of the covenant—their obedience to, humility before, and loyalty to the Lord.

·        In Leviticus 26.41 one of the conditions of Israel being restored is if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled…

·        Be cause all the earth was created “to the Lord” and therefore belonged to Him and because He has specially chosen them they should be humble and submissive to Him.

TE: For Israel this was personal.  “The Lord your God…” Is He yours?

II. The Almighty God and Just Lord  (10.16-19)

Deuteronomy 10.16-19

¹⁷ For the Lord your God is

God of gods and Lord of lords,

the great God,

mighty and awesome,

who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.

¹⁸ He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.

¹⁹ Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

A. The Nature of God:

¹⁷ For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.

1. God of gods speaks of His power

great 1419 gadowl  - great, large (in magnitude and extent)

all versions—great

The root is used for physical growth of people and other living things as well as for the increase of things tangible and intangible whether objects, sounds, feelings or authority. —TWOT

mighty 1368 gibbowr  - strong, mighty

all versions—mighty

awesome  3372 yare’ - (Niphal)  1. to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared  2. to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe  3. to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe  

ylt—fearful; nasb—terrible; nkjv, esv, niv, nlt—awesome

The language employed here to describe God directly implies the God of the Exodus…  —Peter C. Craigie in The Book of Deuteronomy (The New International Commentary of the Old Testament)

2. Lord of lords speaks of His rule (with impartial justice).

no partiality

lit. “He does not lift up faces”

ylt—accepteth not; kjv—regardeth not;

nasb—not show partiality; nkjv—shows not partiality; esv—is not partial; niv, nlt—shows no partiality;

Nebuchadnezzar “learned the hard way” and testified to God’s rule.

Daniel 4

34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.

³⁵ All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;

He does according to His will in the army of heaven

And among the inhabitants of the earth.

No one can restrain His hand

Or say to Him, "What have You done?"

36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

B. The Work of God:

¹⁸ He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing

This was the result of his impartiality and justice. “...singling out of Yahweh’s love for the alien must have a bearing on the meaning of his impartiality in the previous verse.”  —Christopher Wright in Deuteronomy (New International Biblical Commentary)

C. The Commands of God:

¹⁹ Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

stranger  1616 [ger, or (fully), geyr /gare/] - a temporary inhabitant, a newcomer lacking inherited rights

Who is a stranger?  A new person, someone different from the group, the weak, those without any clout … a visitor at church, new kid at school or on the team, a temp worker on the job?

TE: Because of God’s sovereign position and reign, He was also …

III. Object of Your Praise (10.20-22)

Deuteronomy 10.20-22

 ²⁰ You shall fear the Lord your God;

you shall serve Him, and

to Him you shall hold fast,

and take oaths in His name.

²¹ He is your praise, and

He is your God,

who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.

²² Your fathers went down to Egypt with seventy persons,

and now the Lord your God has made you

as the stars of heaven in multitude.  

A. The Commands of God: fear God.

²⁰ You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and

to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name.

“...true reverence of God, in its threefold manifestation,

in deed (serving God),

in heart (cleaving to Him; cf. Deu_4:4), and

with the mouth (swearing by His name…”  —K&D

The same verb (dabaq) is employed to describe the relationship between and man and his wife.  See also Job 19.20, where the verb describes “clinging” of human bones to skin.  —Peter C. Craigie in The Book of Deuteronomy (The New International Commentary of the Old Testament)

B. The Nature of God:

²¹ He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.

1. God’s design was to become the object of their praise.

praise

8416  tâhillah /teh·hil·law/] - praise, song or hymn of praise

nlt—the only one who is worthy of your praise

your praise Jeremiah 17.14; “my song” Exodus 15.2; Isaiah 12.2

2. God’s design was to glorify His name through His covenant love for them.

your God

Jeremiah 13.11  

For as the sash clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me,' says the Lord, 'that they may become My people, for renown, for praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.'

C. The Work of God:

²² Your fathers went down to Egypt with seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as the stars of heaven in multitude.

·        The unlikely expansion of their numbers and power in the face of stiff opposition was evidence of God’s hand.

III. Conclusion

 So we turn back to our question…

The Biblical Basis for Loving Others

Q: Is God for others or for Himself?

Let’s review the testimony of our passage.

I. Owner of Heaven and Earth: All is “to the Lord.”

II. Almighty God and Just Lord: Awe inspiring and impartial Ruler.

III. The Object of Your Praise: Subject of all adoration and admiration.

The Biblical Basis for Loving Others

A: “For My own sake, for My own sake I do it, My glory I will not give to another.”   Isaiah. 48:11

Isaiah 48

⁸ Surely you did not hear, Surely you did not know; Surely from long ago your ear was not opened. For I knew that you would deal very treacherously, And were called a transgressor from the womb. ⁹ "For My name's sake I will defer My anger, And for My praise I will restrain it from you, So that I do not cut you off. ¹⁰ Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. ¹¹ For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another. 12 "Listen to Me, O Jacob, And Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last. ¹³ Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, They stand up together.

God's aim and effort to glorify Himself is wholly good and without fault of any kind and is very different from human self-exaltation because it is an expression of love. 
—John Piper in his 10.10.1980 sermon “Is God for Us or for Himself?”

>>...what could God give us to enjoy that would show him most loving? There is only one possible answer, isn't there? HIMSELF!  —John Piper in his 10.10.1980 sermon “Is God for Us or for Himself?”

His aim to bring praise to himself and
his aim to bring pleasure to his people
are one aim and stand or fall together.  
—John Piper in his 10.10.1980 sermon “Is God for Us or for Himself?”

>>God is for us by being for Himself.  We will be most for others when we are most for Him.

APPLICATION:

Where is

your focus?

Benediction

May you be pliable and obedient to the will of God.

May you love the stranger.

May you reverence your God in deed, heart and mouth.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel

From everlasting to everlasting!

And let all the people say,

"Amen!" Praise the Lord!

Psa. 106.48

Resources---------------------

>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

  David Guzik Enduring Word Commentaries

  Thomas Constable  in Notes on Deuteronomy 2010 ed.

  Kay Arthur  BSF Lesson Notes

>John Piper in his 10.10.1980 sermon “Is God for Us or for Himself?”

>Keil & Delitzch in their Commentary on the Old Testament

>NET Bible Translation Notes