
Day 52 – A Year in the Bible – Deuteronomy 4-6
______
DEUTERONOMY 4 – A PROMISE FOR EVERY COMMAND
If you look at what He asks of you next to what He promises, that should make obedience a joy.
If You Keep the Commandments of the Lord
Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I [Moses] teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the Word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. – Deuteronomy 4:1-2
Why did God say don’t add or take away from the Word? He said it so that the Word would not be diminished. If you obey a diminished command, you are not in obedience to the Lord’s actual command.
IF you follow His commands, IF you keep the statutes and judgments taught to you, you will live. Not only will you live, but you will go in and possess the land which the Lord has promised you. That was for Moses day, but it still applies today. There is a land, a place, and a call that He has promised you. It is your Promised Land.
Diminish – to make less or cause to appear less; to lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of; to become gradually less
Aught – anything
______
DEUTERONOMY 5 – THAT YE MAY PROLONG YOUR DAYS
The Lord Talked with You Face to Face
And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire, (I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying, – Deuteronomy 5:1-5
The Ten Commandments
I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt have none other gods before me. Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee. Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day. Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Neither shalt thou commit adultery. Neither shalt thou steal. Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour’s. – Deuteronomy 5:6-21
That it Might Be Well With Them and Their Children Forever
O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! – Deuteronomy 5:29
That Ye May Prolong Yours Days
Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess. – Deuteronomy 5:33
______
DEUTERONOMY 6 – THAT HE MIGHT PRESERVE US
Hear, O Israel
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. – Deuteronomy 6:4-9
The Hebrew word for hear is “Shema.” This word doesn’t stop at meaning “hear,” though. The meaning goes further to not only hear but to act because of the hearing.
Many of the Psalms begin with the word Shema. And the prayer in this passage is so important that it is not only called by the name Shema, but these verses are taught, recited often, and many even put them into a mezuzah and attach it to their front door.
If We Observe to Do All These Commandments
And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us. – Deuteronomy 6:24-25
Israel was not commanded to hear the Words of God only but to act on the Words as well. We are too!
______
He said IF…
What great promises are given to us today in these passages!!! IF you keep His commands – you will live and possess the land, you will find Him, He will not forsake you or destroy you or forget the covenant He made to you, things will go well with you, and He will prolong your days on earth, and your children’s days. You will be one with a good foundation, and you will flourish
If you look at what He asks of you next to what He promises, that should make obedience a joy.
He said IF…
Thank You, God. Thank You for Your precious promises. Please help me to be obedient to Your Word and Your Will today knowing that every promise and every condition for that promises is for my good and Your Glory. Thank You for Your salvation and thank You for Your many daily benefits. Amid this day that will surely be busy, please help me to remain aware of Your presence in my life. Help me to follow Your command that I may take hold of Your promises. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

You must be logged in to post a comment.