In Whose Eyes is it Right?

O. T. #295  "In Whose Eyes is it Right?"
October 28, 2014
Deuteronomy 13
...because you obey the LORD your God, keeping all His commands that I am giving you today and doing what is right in His eyes.  Deuteronomy 13:18

LET IT GLOW

As children, did we only obey our parents when they were around? Or did we do what they told us to do when they were not around, too? At times, we think we know what is the right thing for us to do, but is it contrary to God's Word? Israel was told to do what was right in the eyes of the LORD God.
Do we do what is right in our own eyes or God's eyes? In whose eyes is it the right thing-ours or God's?

None of the condemned things listed in this chapter was to be found in an Israelite's possession. This was given by God through Moses so that the LORD would:

• turn from His fierce anger,
• show mercy,
• have compassion on them,
• increase their numbers,
• keep His promises made to their forefathers because they obeyed God, kept His commands, and did what was right in His eyes.

Do we turn from anger? Are we showing mercy and compassion to others? Will we keep God's commands, obey Him, and do what is right in His eyes? How can we expect God to do so with us if we aren't? Things to think about.

LET IT GROW

The MacArthur Bible Commentary says:

After the general prohibition of involvement in Canaanite  worship (12:29-31), Moses discussed three ways in which the temptation to idolatry was likely to come to Israel through:

           1. a false prophet (verses 1-5),
           2. a family member (verses 6-11),
           3. apostates in some Canaanite city (verses 12-18).

Dream can come from God or from false prophets. Signs and wonders can never be the evidence of truth or God's hand.  2 Thessalonians 2:9 reminds us that the coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.
This is why Jesus said and these signs will follow those who believer (Mark 16:17). Sign are to follow believers, instead of believers following signs. (Guzik)

If any of those close relations led a person to worship other gods, they were not only to be rejected, but also executed. This shows how serious the matter was to God.  Jesus must always come first, as He said in Matthew 10:37, He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

Another instruction concerned the city of idolaters. Israel was to utterly destroy the people, burn everything, and not take anything, spoil or treasure for themselves. They were to leave it as a reminder when one saw the mounds. They are still visible in the desert today, covered with dust.

What would it take to lead you away from God? Signs and wonders? Spouse or friend? culture, ethnic groups? Hopefully these will not tempt us. I pray our faith in Jesus will be strong enough that we will remain faithful to Him all of our days.

By the time Judges 21:25 came along, In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

We need to be careful, always to stay in the Word of God so we do not become the same.

LET IT GO

Show God's mercy, compassion, and love to others.

Remain faithful to Him all of the rest of my life.

Beware of  false idol worshipers and idols around me.

Obey the voice of God, keep His Word, and do what is right in His eyes.