Pride

O. T. #389  "Pride"
October 20, 2014
Deuteronomy 9
Hear, O Israel, Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven.  Deuteronomy 9:1

LET IT GLOW

As the end of construction nears for our new sanctuary, our church needs to be careful to give God the glory and praise for it, not our money and work. It has been His provisions, materials, money, and strength to stay at the task throughout  the conflicts and challenges, disagreements and discouragements. After all, it was His grace that saved us in the first place. Nothing we did or could have done accomplished that. We have no righteousness with that of Jesus. We need to be careful of pride. Israel would have the same challenges whenever they defeated their enemies and conquered successfully the land.

The time was at hand to possess the land; to pass over Jordan; to go in; to bring them down.
These phrases, used in this chapter, indicated it was time for action. The Lord God promised Israel victory to defeat their enemies who lived there. This was not because of their righteousness that God gave them the land. No, it was because of He had promised the Patriarchs, their forefathers.

The occupation of the Promised Land was due to the free grace of God, not to any merit on Israel's part. This is a picture of salvation which comes by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).  (Falwell)

The Jews did not deserve the land. It was given to them because God loved them. Furthermore, He would drive out the heathen nations because of those nations' sins, not because of Israel' goodness. The application is true for Christians today. We dare not forget the grace of God! We are saved by grace, and any work we do for Him is by grace (1 Cor. 15:10; Rom. 12:6). (Wiersbe)

Isaiah 64:6 says, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

In the Hebrew, the word filthy means to set a period; the menstrual flux (as periodical).

As women can understand this verse. Our righteousness is stinky, dirty and filthy, and bloody, to be cast away, plainly putting it. Therefore, we must be covered in the blood of Jesus, spiritually, before God accepts us. It is His righteousness alone that makes us acceptable to our holy Father. A dirty heart is made clean.

2 Corinthians 5:21 states, For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sins; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

(The Him in that verse is Christ, as mentioned in the previous verse 20.)

To possess any material and spiritual blessings is due to God's grace and none of our goodness deserving them. They should humble us and not make us proud. We should want to use them for His glory in winning of souls to Jesus.


LET IT GROW

You're goin' down, you Anakims. You strong and tall people ain't seen nothing. (Pardon my English.) God will go before Israel as a consuming fire to destroy the Anakims. He will bring them down before Israel's face. Israel was to drive them out of the land and destroy them quickly.

The Anakims were the giants which the original 12 spies spoke of in their report, noting their size, number, strength. From a human standpoint and militarily speaking, victory for Israel would be impossible. Ten of spies focused on the tall, strong people who lived in walled cities in Canaan. Now the second generation of Israel had to face these same challenges, which their fathers did not have enough faith to meet and conquer with God.

Three times in verses 4-6, Moses emphasized that the victory was not because of Israel's goodness, but was entirely the work of God. (MacArthur)

Previously, God warned Israel about their problems to come-enemies and idols, forgetting God and being proud of their attainments. Now He is warning them about conceit (their righteousness). It wasn't going to be due to any of Israel's righteousness, because they had none like us, but because of  the enemies' wickedness and God's promise to the Patriarchs. As we read above, the occupation of the land was due to God's grace.

We are alive, saved,  and blessed, not because we deserve it, but because of goodness and grace of our God! That is something to shout about, friends. May we never forget it, either.

Are we ready to pass over our Jordan by faith in God?
Are we thankful every day?
Do we give Him the credit for our blessings?

LET IT GO

Leave my pride behind and focus on God.

Trust Him for the victories in my life and to get me safely over my Jordan.

Give God the glory for the victories.

Thank Him for grace.