Luxuries or Necessities?

O. T. #384  "Luxuries or Necessities?"
October 13, 2014
Deuteronomy 6-Part 3
Then beware lest thou forget the LORD...   Deuteronomy 6:12a

LET IT GLOW

What if we suddenly did not have clean water from the tap, hot water for showering, a washer and dryer, dishwasher, electricity, appliances, air conditioning, car and truck for traveling, restaurants, money to purchase a variety of groceries, a frig and oven, a church around the corner with comforts? Do I dare say that more people in this world do not have these luxuries than have them? If you have ever traveled abroad, especially to poor, third-world countries, you would be grateful for such things in your home. Are these luxuries or necessities?

When The LORD God brought Israel into the Promised Land, He would give them:

• large, flourishing cities they did not build (verse 10)
• houses filled with all kinds of good things they did not provide (verse 11)
• wells, which they did not dig (verse 11)
• vineyards and olive groves that they did not plant (verse 11)
• they shall eat and be satisfied (verse 11).

What gifts! Large cities, full  houses, wells full of fresh water, huge, vineyards and groves that they did not build, dig, plant, nor provide. God was going to give it all to His beloved children. They only had to believe, obey, and love God. I'm sure such an announcement excited those who desired to live in a city, no longer moving around; live in houses, not tents; have plenty of free water; luscious grapes and olives to eat and cook oil to with. No more gathering that manna. A place for their family and animals to stay put. A place where they could raise their children. Each tribe would have their own nation. What a world to live in for the Israelites! Were they excited? Who wouldn't be after all they had endured so far. (Especially after all they would endure.) Their heavenly Father was going to shower them with gifts unimaginable.

What about us? Look around you. Has God provided us with a city and a house to live in? I have seen shanties that people live in, from a small concrete block house to a stick house, with a tin roof. Do we enjoy or take for granted fresh, clean water, as well as hot water? Sporadic electricity. Some places I have visited on mission trips lacked clean water, and hot water. When was the last time we sat down to a meal of only rice, or only fried noodles, three times a day?
I thank God for blessing me with clean water to drink and hot water for a shower, electricity, food in abundance and variety. What do I have to complain about?

Always be thankful in all things during our prosperity, lest we forget the LORD our God.


LET IT GROW

What were the Israelites to do whenever they reached their land of promise?

• Love God. (verse 5)
• Teach their children His commandments. (verse 7)
• Tie them as symbols on their hands. (verse 8)
• Bind them on their foreheads. (verse 8) In N.T. times, the Pharisees wore phylacteries-small boxes holding parchment with scriptures on them, held to the forehead or hand with leather straps.
• Write them on the doorframes of their house and gates. (verse 9) Jews put a mezuzah, a small container holding a passage of Scripture, and nailed it to the doorpost.

Liberty Bible Commentary explains:
They would enjoy houses, gardens, and wells for which they had not worked, so Moses suggests a formula for remembering God:

1. Fear the LORD thy God. (verse 13) (awe-filled respect)
2. Serve Him. (verse 13)
3. Swear by His name. (verse 13) Not as a solemn oath in court, but rather to an assertive fact whereby a person dedicates his life to live for God.

This reference was quoted by Jesus Christ when He was tempted in the wilderness by Satan. Satan knew that Christ was obedient to the Father and tried to make Him act selfishly.  (Falwell)
(Matthew 4)

LET IT GO

Love God.

Teach my children and grandchildren about Him.

Always be thankful.

Serve God with all I am and have.