Today's Bible Study Lesson
“Justice and Obedience to the Law”
Aim: Understand
the
importance of justice and explore God’s commandments;
Appreciate
the
blessings God promises as a benefit of obedience; and Pray
for
wisdom to know what is right and the
perseverance
to carry it through.
Background:
Deuteronomy 5; 10; 27; 28:1-2
Bible Lesson:
Deuteronomy 5:1-3; 10:12-13; 27:1-10
Memory
Verse:
“And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of
thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to
love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with
all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes,
which I command thee this day for thy good?” Deuteronomy 10:12-13
KJV
Some
Highlights:
-
The
passage in our study this week includes a
review
of the Ten Commandments from God through Moses to the Israelites in
the wilderness at
Mount Sinai after
they were delivered out of Egyptian bondage. Our study also includes
the second proclamation of the Ten Commandments after Moses broke
the original stone
tablets
because of his anger with the people of Israel. Finally, our study
includes a portion of
Moses’
farewell message to the Israelites before they entered the Promised
Land. Moses was only allowed to look over into the Promised Land,
but not to enter it.
-
Moses
declares to the Israelites that the Commandments were not just for
the original Israelites who escaped for Egyptian bondage, but also
for those assembled in front of him who were their children. Because
of disobedience those who were originally at the brink of entering
the Promise Land had died during their 40 years of wandering in the
wilderness. The only survivors were Joshua and Caleb, who were
encouraged their fellow Israelites to trust God and go into the
Promised Land. The requirement to continue to obey God’s
Commandments and statues applied to the ancestors and their
descendants. God made a Covenant with Abraham that was still in
place for it was made by One who is able to fulfill it eternally.
God’s Covenant did not only include Abraham, but his descendants
as well.
-
Moses
asks the question, “What does the Lord your God require?” and he
gave the answer, “fear the Lord your God, live in a way that
pleases Him, love Him, and serve Him with all your heart and soul.”
He further explained that obeying God’s Commands had the benefit
of allowing one to live a life worth living and providing one with
peace of mind and peace with God.
-
In
Moses farewell message to the Israelites, he reminded them to
continue to obey the Lord God’s commands after they crossed the
Jordan River into the Promised Land. He also reminded
them
that God was the Giver of the Promised Land. As a permanent reminder
of God’s Commands, Moses directed them to take some large stones,
white wash them, and write on the stones all of God’s Commands.
They were also directed to build an altar using natural, uncut
stones in the Promised Land where they could offer burned offerings
and peace offerings to celebrate feasts before the Lord their God.
One might notice the order of the directions, a reminder of God’s
Commands and then directions to build an altar. Perhaps, reinforcing
that obedience is better than sacrifice.
-
The
Levitical priests
joined Moses in emphasizing the importance of
listening
and adhering to what Moses said regarding God’s Commands as they
become the people of the Lord their God.
Take
Aways:
-
We
must always seek to please the Lord Our God with our words and
deeds.
-
We
have our Bibles to read daily to remind us of God’s expectations
and to provide us with guidance for our lives.
-
We,
like the Israelites, must develop and maintain a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Bible
Verses to Keep in Mind:
“He
hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD
require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8 KJV
“And
Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and
sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is]
better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.” 1
Samuel 15:22 KJV
“Greater
love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
John 15:13-14 KJV
“For
whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose
his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For
what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and
lose his own soul?” Mark 8:35-36 KJV
“If
ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 KJV
“Jesus
answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:
and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our
abode with him.” John 14:23 KJV
“And
Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments [is], Hear, O
Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment.
And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than
these.” Mark 12:29-31 KJV
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