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THE ESSENCE OF DEUTERONOMY Understanding God – A reflection on verses from
Deuteronomy
31st Jan 2016
Reading: Deuteronomy 7
WHY READ THE LAW?
WHY STUDY THE LAW?
IS THE LAW OUTDATED?
UNDERSTANDING GOD FROM DEUTERONOMY Laying the foundation about God through the teachings of Moses
OUR FATHER Moses paints a picture
of the Great God of the the Universe as a Father
God wants to be a Father Unfortunately, For many Christians the
God in Deuteronomy is one of Anger and judgment only
God was with his children on the difficult journeys of their life as a Father
“Because the LORD hated us, he has brought us forth out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorite” Deu 1:27 [A mis-understood God]
A GOD THAT SEEKS A LOVING RELATIONSHIP
God seeks a loving relationship This is the CORE message of the Law
[ Imagine if a person walks up to you and demanded to Love him I.e. Not just to like him, What would your reaction be? This is to love our neighbors as ourselves
]
A LOVE DRIVEN LIFE = OVERCOME EVIL Love gives us the ability to: Remember his rules
Deu 6:6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
Follow his rules Deu 6:2
that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long.
The Law has victory in Love
THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD - A CORE TEACHING
DO YOU LOVE YHWH?
How?
A RELATIONSHIP THAT’S PASSED ON
WHAT DOES OUR FATHER REQUIRE OF US?
Only Love can conquer!
To follow Gods ways Fear Walk Serve Observe
Love is the Key ingredient
What one loves that he Does
WHAT ABOUT GOD’S LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE?It was God who first loved Israel and called them
out to be his people
A GOD THAT LOVES
A GOD WHO FIGHTS YOUR
BATTLE
OUR GOD IS A MERCIFUL GOD
In the end, Mercy triumphs over judgment
BUT, A GOD WHO WAITS FOR YOU – THERE IS HOPEGod uses judgment when all other methods are exhausted
But,He waits with outstretched arms for those who are wiling to return
FOR OUR GOOD ALWAYS
GOD WHO IS AMONG YOU
A GOD WHO LISTENS TO PRAYERS
Moses prayedGod listened, God changed his course of action for Moses’ sake
THE ORPHAN, WIDOW AND THE STRANGERYour God is mindful of the weak and LOVES the strangers
Therefore Deu 10:19 Ye shall love, therefore, the stranger, for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
YHWH – A GOD LOVEYET HE JUDGEDHow can a God of Love possibly Judge?
A GREAT GOD OF LOVE AND JUSTICE
God is Just so his children should also be JustDeu 1:16 And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren and judge righteously between every man and his brother and the stranger that is with him.
Judges were not meant to violate justice in the name of Love
BUT, WHEN YOU DO EVIL, WHEN YOUR LOVE GROWS COLD, DO NOT PROVOKE HIM TO ANGER
MERCY WILL FOLLOW JUDGMENT
Deu 21:21 Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear
When you cross the limit then God executes judgment
God does not show partiality
SO ALSO JESUS SPOKE OF LOVE AT THE LAST SUPPER
Joh 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Joh 15:12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.