He Laid Down the Law

O. T. #379  "He Laid Down the Law"
October 6, 2014
Deuteronomy 4-Part 5
And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel.  Deuteronomy 4:44

LET IT GLOW

Have we ever laid down the law to our children after they broke our rules? I can think of one particular time when our daughter first started driving. She had some friends in the car with her, and they waved at teenager boy. While doing so, she didn't see the curve in the road and the car went down a small hill into a yard. All were fine, just shook up a bit from the experience. Well, that was when her father laid down the law to her, specific instructions for her driving. Moses was doing the same to Israel in the following chapters, only as a review.

The book of Deuteronomy takes place within one month's time and in only one place. Israel is camped in a valley east of the Jordan River. For the rest of this book, Moses laid down the law. This is the second address by Moses reviewing the stipulations of the Sinaitic Covenant God gave. Keep in mind, this is the second generation of the Israelites. They were just kids (younger than 20) when it was given to them back at Mt. Sinai, some 40 years earlier.  I think that Moses is soon departing and he wants them to keep the laws and Torah in the Promised Land, and to continue to obey God, love Him, follow His directions, and thus be blessed, not cursed. Moses is only explaining the Law which had already been given them not giving any additions to the law.

In verse 45, Moses speaks of the:

• testimonies, the basic covenant stipulations (5:6-21),
• statutes, words that were inscribed and, therefore, fixed,
• judgments, the decisions made by a judge on the merits of the situation. (MacArthur)

I have to remind myself of a new law prohibiting cell phone use while driving in a school zone within our state. To me, it is a good law, helping to protect children. Which brings me to consider it a good thing to review the laws of God every now and then.


LET IT GROW

Israel already had possession of some land. It included:

• the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon,
• the land of Og, king of Bashan, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan. 

They looked back east over Jordan where the sun arose. (verse 47)
I am reminded that Jesus is the light of world in John 12:46, I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness.

Also, God gave the boundaries of the territory He was giving to Israel (verse 46-47)
He mentions the land under the springs of Pisgah in verse 49.
In Hebrew, the word used here for springs refers to a ravine.(Strong's Concordance)

Webster's Dictionary defines a ravine as a small narrow steep-sided valley that is larger than a gully and smaller than a canyon and that is usually worn by running water.

 Moses stood on Mt. Pisgah when God told him that he would not enter the Promised Land, but he could see it from there (due to his disobedience of striking the rock twice for water).

Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:14, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Sometimes we get a glimpse of what has been promised to us. It is faith that God is looking for in our heart and life. Does He see faith in us whenever God looks at us? Are we living by faith and not by sight? Who doesn't need a glimpse of heaven every now and then? Do we need refreshment from our  Living Water, Jesus? His well never runs dry. Thank You Jesus!

LET IT GO

Remember that God has laid down the Law for me to follow, for His glory and my good.

Live in the light of Jesus so others can see Him through me.

Daily drink from the Spring of Living Water.

Let this Living Water flow through me to those who are thirsty spiritually.