Deuteronomy 9:1-6, Thoughts on Deut. 9-11

Deut. 5-26 (the second discourse) are about “statutes and judgments.”  We have noted that ch. 5-11 are foundational truths before the details begin in 12:1.  Here are a few devotional thoughts taken from Dt. 9-11.

·       There is no glossing over the power of the enemy (the Canaanites, 9:1-2).  There is no glossing over the power of the Almighty (9:3).  And there is no glossing over the undeservedness of the people of Israel in having such a God of grace and glory.

·       9:21: Quite likely, what Moses did here was a pattern for Asa (1 Ki. 15:13), Hezekiah (2 Chron. 31:1) and Josiah (2 Ki. 23:1-20).  The things that incline us to idolatry must be put to death: burned, ground to powder, and thrown into a river.  They must lose their influence!

·       10:1: Did you ever think about this?  Moses had to carry two stone tablets UP the mountain.

·       10:12,16: Again, note that the Law of Moses called people to have a “heart and soul” relationship.  It would require a circumcision of the foreskin of your heart to bow their stiff necks to the LORD.  Paul preached that the law was only capable of pointing out sin; it was not able to actually make a person holy.  Passages like this tell me that Paul’s theology was consistent with the OT.  So for us, the Christian life is not keeping a list of do’s and don’ts; it is a heart relationship.

·       10:17: YAHWEH is God of gods and Lord of lords.  Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16).  YAHWEH and Jesus are One.

·       10:18-19: God administers justice for the fatherless and widow.  I have known “orphans” who can bear testimony to God’s special love for them.  AND He loves the foreigners.  Israel had a hard time with this in Jesus’ day, essentially hating the Gentiles.  We need to be careful in our own day that the political issue of a strong border not become hatred for aliens.  The same is true of our “melting pot” nation: love the stranger, for you were strangers.

·       11:10-12: Let me note this again.  I love this passage and it’s description of Israel.

·       11:26-32: “Gilgal” refers to a camp.  In Josh. 4:19 “Gilgal” is east of Jericho.  In this passage it is further north, opposite Mts. Gerizim and Ebal. There is a site some claim to be that camp at a place called Argaman.  It is also near Ai.  It may be that Joshua moved north after the defeat of Jericho.