Chapter 4
Don't you think that verse 9 needs to be painted in huge letters on our homes?
"Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and grandsons." YES! This is an every day, every hour, every minute thing. This is no Sunday and Wednesday religion.
In these chapters, Moses reminds me of a parent that knows he doesn't have much time left to remind his children of everything they will need. I once heard of this mother who had terminal cancer. She made a series of videos for her young daughter, imparting wisdom on every subject she knew. It's the same with Moses. He truly loves these people.
How different would the world be if we kept verse 11 in our hearts?Look at verse 12-15. There is so much detail here. I need to be more serious about keeping a Sabbath day. It's hard, because for a pastor's family, it can't be Sunday.
In verses 22-33, We see the commitment of Moses again to God and His people. These verses really caught my attention here. The general public to not want to be in such close proximity to God's presence. I wonder if it was out of fear, or was this closeness a physically painful or stressful experience? We forget the power of God.
Chapter 6
Verse 5. Heart, soul, and might. What does that look like in your life?
I try to practice the principles in verse 7 with my own kids. Although I grew up in a godly household, rules were not given Biblical explanations. I am starting now so I don't get tripped up when they start to really understand.
And I forgot to mention verse 6--wow there's a lot to take in with this chapter! Scripture memorization is super-important for mothers. We can't always sit down for un-interrupted time with scripture when we need it the most. But we can read His Word from our hearts anywhere, anytime.
Verses 10-12 How much credit can we really take for what we have?
In verse 16 we learn a little about what the future holds for the Israelites. Like us, they will not be secluded from the secular world. There will be distraction and temptation, but they must remain focused on God.
I noticed a couple themes in this chapter. The first is our responsibility to pass on the Word of the Lord to our children. You can find examples in verse 2, verse 7, verse 20, and verse 21. This is not something that can wait until our kids are older. The Word of God is complex, and the earlier we are immersed in it, the easier it will be to understand and defend in their future.
The other is the intimate relationship that God desires to have with His people. And that includes us. Right now. Go back and read verses 4-6. One of the roles that God plays in our lives is the Lover of our souls. He is the Bridegroom, and we are His bride. The whole concept of modern marriage is to symbolize this relationship with our Creator. I know that Moses had this relationship with the Lord, and we wanted desperately to impart that to the people of Israel. He wants them to love God with everything that they have, every part of their lives. And then, live their lives in a way that makes everyone they know want the same thing. Amen!
Next time: Deuteronomy 7-8
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