Pastor Billington's Blog

Deuteronomy 32

Moses’ song is as life giving as the rain! It proclaims the greatness of God and reminds Israel that He is righteous and just. He is sovereign. He kills and makes alive. He wounds and heals. He is the Rock! He doesn’t change, and His work is perfect. Which makes it even more reprehensible and irresponsible when His own people, whom He created, guided, and protected, reject His will and His ways. As a result, judgment will come, but it won’t be permanent (32:43)! Which means this song is not just a reminder and a judgment against them, but it also provides hope.

Moses will get to see the promised land, but he won’t be able to enter it. That’s a result of his sin back at Meribah.

Numbers 20:10-12 (WEB) “Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, ‘Hear now, you rebels! Shall we bring water out of this rock for you?’ Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice, and water came out abundantly. The congregation and their livestock drank. The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you didn’t believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.’ “

Thought for the day: Music has always been an integral way of presenting and passing on God’s truth. Just look at the Psalms!

Colossians 3:16 (WEB) “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.”

Deuteronomy 31

Joshua is rewarded for his faithfulness and is chosen to lead the nation:

Numbers 14:6-9 (WEB) “Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes. They spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, ‘The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If Yahweh delights in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it to us: a land which flows with milk and honey. Only don’t rebel against Yahweh, neither fear the people of the land; for they are bread for us. Their defense is removed from over them, and Yahweh is with us. Don’t fear them.’ “

This is not the only time they should repeat the covenant. Every seven years they are to gather and remember how God wants them to live. Unfortunately, it won’t be enough. They will still rebel, and God will punish them. Moses, before his death, has one more task. He writes a song which will end up being a testimony against the nation when they rebel.

Thought for the day: One of the parallels that we can draw between our experiences and the experience of Israel is the redemptive power of suffering in our lives. We’re reminded again that God will bring calamity upon them when they don’t follow Him the way they should. The same is true in our lives as well. God uses the bad things in our lives to encourage us to turn back to Him and to make us more like Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:10-11 (WEB) “For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

Deuteronomy 30

God sets life and death right in front of them. All they have to do is choose life, but they’ll eventually choose death. God, in His graciousness, will give them life again.

Thought for the day: Just like He does to us!

Luke 15:11-32 (WEB) “He said, ‘A certain man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me my share of your property.” So he divided his livelihood between them. Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and travelled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living. When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. He wanted to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. But when he came to himself, he said, “How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.’ ” He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate; for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.” Then they began to celebrate. Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the servants to him and asked what was going on. He said to him, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.” But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and begged him. But he answered his father, “Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.” He said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.” ‘ “

Deuteronomy 29

Being a child of the covenant is a very serious thing. Taking the oath is both personal and national. You can’t expect to do evil and be blessed personally just because the nation itself is experiencing blessing. And when the nation is cursed and becomes like Sodom and Gomorrah, what will future generations and other nations think? They’ll know it’s because of Israel’s idolatry and their forsaking of the covenant.

Verse 29 shows that, while much of God’s work is hidden and the future is unknown, God reveals what He wants His people to do in the present, and the nation’s task is to do His will!

Thought for the day: Although we don’t know the day or time of Jesus’ return, we do know that He is coming back. Our job is to work while we wait!

Matthew 24:45-46 (WEB) “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes.”

Deuteronomy 28

If Israel obeys God, they’ll be blessed and will be a testimony to the nations (28:10). If they disobey then they’ll be a different kind of example. There are several facts presented here that are prophecies about the future. They will have a king. They will be defeated. They will be taken into captivity. They will be scattered. They will be decimated and humiliated. Although not mentioned here, there is hope for the future. There is a promise of return (30:1-5)!

Thought for the day: We have a promise and a hope as well, all because of Jesus Christ. As a result, we should endeavor to live for God!

Titus 2:11-14 (WEB) “or the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.”

Deuteronomy 27

The nation was called to participate in one last significant reminder of their covenant relationship with God. After they cross the Jordan, they are supposed to set up a monument and then engage in a ceremony. That ceremony was to remind them that obeying God brings blessing and that refusing to obey brings trouble!

Thought for the day: God promises us blessings too, but we won’t experience those blessings if we don’t follow.

Galatians 5:22-23 (WEB) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control.”

Ephesians 4:30 (WEB) “Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Deuteronomy 26

The law for Israel is pretty much the same for us here. Giving is a sign of obedience and gratitude. When we recognize everything that God has done for us, we respond by giving to His kingdom and His causes, which includes both the church and the poor.

Thought for the day: As God’s special people, we should realize that it is a joy and a privilege to obey Him.

John 15:10-11 (WEB) “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

Deuteronomy 25

Additional laws to remember:

• Corporal discipline of criminals has a limit.
• Make sure you reward work.
• Progeny and carrying on the family name are important.
• There are certain things you don’t do or touch!
• Ethical selling and trading practices are a must.
• Be wary of others who have treated you badly.

Thought for the day: Forgiveness entails both a heart inclined to forgive and the possible restoration of relationship. The first part is something we should always practice, while the second part requires something from the offending party (which is why wariness sometimes continues to be a thing).

Luke 17:3-4 (WEB) “Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

Deuteronomy 24

Granting a certificate of divorce was actually merciful. It allowed the woman to leave and granted her legal standing. In fact, many of these laws are merciful. You can stay away from war for a year if you are newly married (perhaps to have a child). You can’t take away something that someone uses to make a living. You shouldn’t oppress the poor legally or economically. You need to make sure that you leave something from your harvest for those who are less fortunate than you are. It’s even a mercy that you can’t be judged for someone else’s sin! And to receive mercy from God, you needed to make sure that you followed His commands.

Thought for the day: Showing mercy is an essential part of our walk and witness.

Matthew 5:7 (WEB) “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

Matthew 23:13 (WEB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.”

James 1:27 (WEB) “Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”