Friday, April 12 – Deuteronomy 10, 11
Study Questions:
1. For what work did the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi? Deuteronomy 10:8
2. According to Deuteronomy 10:12, what does the Lord ask of Israel?
3. What blessings would those who keep God’s commandments receive? Deuteronomy 11:8, 9
4. What should the children of Israel guard against once they are in the promised land? Deuteronomy 11:16
Commentary and Reflection:
Moses broke the tablets of the law, not only out of anger but also as a powerful visual representation of Israel’s breaking of God’s law. Now God commanded them to restore the law by making two new stone tablets. God wanted His written Word to be the starting point for Israel’s right walk with Him. Therefore, He restored the tablets, also writing on the second tablets with His own hand.
Reconciliation with God after rebellion must always begin and focus on His Word. In the days of Josiah, king of Judah, repentance and revival came to the people of God when they refocused on the Word of God (2 Kings 22:8-23:25).
To deal with Israel’s sin problem, God established a lasting priesthood; thus, at the death of Aaron, the Lord transferred the priesthood to his son Eleazar and “separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister to Him and to bless in His name, to this day.” Deuteronomy 10:8.
Reconciliation with God after rebellion must always have a focus on Jesus’ priestly ministry on our behalf. This work of Jesus is shown in His atonement for our sin on the cross, in His intercession for us in heaven, and in the blessings He brings to us from heaven.
Israel needed to move forward to the Promised Land, so God commanded Moses to move forward. Reconciliation with God must always bring us back to forward movement. It is useless to return to the Word, come through God’s priesthood in Jesus, and then remain stuck in the same place.
God commanded Israel to love Him. Love is not entirely a matter of impulse or feelings. We choose to love the Lord or not.
Today, we, the spiritual Israel, have broken the law and are under a curse, with no remedy on our part. By mercy, the Gospel once again puts before us the blessing and the curse.
we listen to the call to repentance, to faith in Christ, and to the newness of heart and life through Him; dreadful curse, if we make light of such a great salvation. Let us receive with gratitude the good news of great joy; and let us not harden our hearts. Let us listen to the voice of God that says “today,” He invites us to approach the Throne of Grace with confidence. Let us even more make firm our calling and election.
May God help us make the right choice!
Pastor Hector de Armas