Thursday Night Bible Study

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Deuteronomy 31-Deuteronomy 34

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“120 Years In The Making” • 3.21.13 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Thursday Night Bible Study

Intro.

Text

• Deuteronomy 31:1-8 : "Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. And he said to them: 'I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.’ The Lord your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the Lord has said. And the Lord will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them. The Lord will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you. Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.' Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, 'Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.'" : It's Moses' 120th birthday and while he is physically able to continue, God has called Moses to transfer leadership to Joshua.

- Moses represents the law, strong and able as we will see, but not the vehicle by which God's people will enter into the rest of the Promised Land. Joshua, representing Jesus, will do that.

- He tells them to go forward in strength and courage, a reasonable command given that the Lord who has been on their side through major battles already. He will not leave or forsake them.

• Deuteronomy 31:9-13 : "So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. And Moses commanded them, saying: 'At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the Feast of Tabernacles, when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.'" : Every 7 years the law was to be read together in order to learn and observe. That's half of the equation.

- However, if that process does not bring us to fear the Lord, then the process is vain!

- God is teaching us to respect Him and to take on His mindset as our own. How much do we need that and how much do we need to transmit that to our kids as well.

• Deuteronomy 31:14-18 : "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Behold, the days approach when you must die; call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of meeting, that I may inaugurate him.' So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tabernacle of meeting. Now the Lord appeared at the tabernacle in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood above the door of the tabernacle.  And the Lord said to Moses: 'Behold, you will rest with your fathers; and this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them. Then My anger shall be aroused against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured. And many evils and troubles shall befall them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?’ And I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods." : God tells Moses and Joshua about the inevitable spiritual decline of Israel. Lesser men might ask, "Why then should we minister if they are only going to fall?"

- God requires your faithfulness regardless of the outcome of your efforts!

• Deuteronomy 31:19-23 : "Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel. When I have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves and grown fat, then they will turn to other gods and serve them; and they will provoke Me and break My covenant. Then it shall be, when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify against them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten in the mouths of their descendants, for I know the inclination of their behavior today, even before I have brought them to the land of which I swore to give them.' Therefore Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel. Then He inaugurated Joshua the son of Nun, and said, 'Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you.'" : God knows the inclination of their behavior in poverty and transition. How much more will that inclination turn into a pattern when they have settled?

- Be careful of being comfortable spiritually. Understand where your soul leans today.

- How do you spend your free time now? What happens with unexpected money? How do you deal with temptation? An inclination now is a full dive later!

- He inaugurates Joshua with the same command: Be strong and of good courage! As the leader, he would need that.

• Deuteronomy 31:24-29 : "So it was, when Moses had completed writing the words of this law in a book, when they were finished, that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying: 'Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there as a witness against you; for I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord, then how much more after my death? Gather to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them. For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.'" : Usually, a transition speech ends with very positive and hopeful themes! Moses did not get the memo!

- Even here, in his final moments, his primary concern is truth. We are to tell the people of God the truth in love, that they might walk with the Lord in righteousness.

- The people of God may have felt a sense of pride in having the law or in being the "covenant" people of God, but Moses tells them the truth about themselves. That is true love!

• Deuteronomy 31:30 : "Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song until they were ended:" : God inspires a song. Theology with a melody makes for a strong memory, for young and old.

- Chapter 32 contains the song, which is the whole book of Deuteronomy with meldoy! They have listened to the law, have a written copy, an altar of stones and a song! A lot of reinforcement!

- We'll summarize here. Moses begins with a look back at God's faithful hand in picking, protecting and providing for them in verses 1-14.

- His care for them, as an eagle cares for their young and as the apple of His eye, points to a tender concern that God alone provided for them!

- Verses 15-35 documents their present and future rebellion. "But Jeshurun (a poetic name for Israel meaning "straight and upright") has grown fat...thick...obese."

- This is the heart of rebellion: Finding satisfaction in anything other than God!

- From verse 36-43, God again promises to be compassionate toward them and to again bring them back into favor. The last part of the song is especially beautiful.

• Deuteronomy 31:43 : "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people." : God's promise would be fulfilled not in the blood of lambs and goats, but in His only Son Jesus, who would provide the final atonement.

• Deuteronomy 31:44-52 : "So Moses came with Joshua the son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people. Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel, and he said to them: 'Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law. For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess.' Then the Lord spoke to Moses that very same day, saying: 'Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession; and die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people; because you trespassed against Me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, because you did not hallow Me in the midst of the children of Israel. Yet you shall see the land before you, though you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving to the children of Israel.'" : How vital was God's Word in the law to them? It was to be their life! It was the key to their success in the land.

- Nothing has changed! Nine of the 10 commandments are repeated in the New Testament, so while we are not under the law, our adherance to the law is the expression of our love for God!

- It is our life as well! And to whom does it apply? It was for them and their children and extended to the very leader of the Exodus himself!

- Because he did not count God as holy in performing His Word, Moses would die a wanderer. But what grace in God to give Moses the preview of the land that he would one day stand in.

- In Matthew 17, Moses and Elijah stood on the Mount Of Transfiguration with the one that their ministries culminated in! God's grace might be delayed, but is never dismissed!

• Deuteronomy 33:1-6 : "Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. And he said: 'The Lord came from Sinai, and dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came with ten thousands of saints; From His right hand came a fiery law for them. Yes, He loves the people; all His saints are in Your hand; They sit down at Your feet; Everyone receives Your words. Moses commanded a law for us, a heritage of the congregation of Jacob. And He was King in Jeshurun, When the leaders of the people were gathered, All the tribes of Israel together. 'Let Reuben live, and not die, Nor let his men be few.'" : Moses leaves the people of God with a blessing that comes down from God to Israel, as a Father would bless his children.

- There is a similar blessing at the end of Jacob's life in Genesis 49. For all the truth that had to be disseminated, God loves His people, His saints are in His hand and they sit at His feet!

- Moses begins with Reuben's blessing in verse 6, with Judah and Levi, in verses 7 through 11.

- Judah, whose tribe absorbed Simeon's tribe, would bring about the Davidic line, which would ultimately produce the Messiah, Jesus.

- Levi was blessed to continue their ministry, even as they were scattered throughout Israel.

- Verses 12-17 deal with Benjamin and Joseph's blessing. Benjamin is called the "beloved of the Lord" and Ephraim is blessed with great multiplication.

- Verses 18-21 contains the blessing for Zebulun and Gad. Like Simeon, it appears that Isaachar shared land with Zebulun on the Galilee.

- Gad was located on the other side of the Jordan and would later be able to provide troops for Solomon during his reign.

- The last three tribes, Dan, Naphtali and Asher are covered in verses 22 through 25.

- Dan would be an infamous tribe for the idolatry that it would bring upon the land of Israel.

- The tribe of Naphtali would also be located near the Galilee and was promised satisfaction and Asher is called the most blessed of sons!

• Deuteronomy 33:25-29 : "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, and will say, ‘Destroy!’ Then Israel shall dwell in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine; His heavens shall also drop dew. Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, The shield of your help And the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, and you shall tread down their high places.'" : The end of this section contains a beautiful blessing for all of Israel.

- Regardless of where they would live, the real blessing was their right relationship to God

- Listen to these phrases: He rides the heavens to help you, speaking of swift help from on high. The eternal God is your refuge, your strong tower, your defense.

- Ever feel like you are free falling? Underneath you are the everlasting arms! Beyond His defense, His offense is even more efficient, thrusting out the enemy before us!

- These words echo in our ears as well! Oh how blessed are we to be His, we who have been adopted by God the Father and saved by the Lord Jesus Christ!

• Deuteronomy 34:1-8 : "Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is across from Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the South, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. Then the Lord said to him, 'This is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.' So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day. Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. So the days of weeping and mourning for Moses ended." : Moses being a representative of the law was a man whose eyes were not dim, nor was his strength abated! He could have lived another 40 years!

- God made a decision that it was his time to die. Notice that nobody knew where his body was located. God didn't want a "Moses Shrine" to be erected.

- Later in the book of Jude, the Apostle will reveal that the the location of his body will be the source of a fight between Michael the Archangel and Satan!

• Deuteronomy 34:9-12 : "Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his servants, and in all his land, and by all that mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel." : Joshua was full of the Spirit of wisdom, well equipped for this task and God was with Him.

- Joshua had great experience, a great model in Moses and great support from the people, who had already followed him into battle.

- If he did not have a full measure of the Spirit, he would not have done so great! Anything you do in life must be done with a reminder that God wants to fill you with His Holy Spirit daily!

- Ask Him to fill you so that you'll be the employee, boss, spouse, friend that you are to be!

- Moses had laid his hands on him, certainly in prayer, but the concept is a full visual transition of leadership, which the people took to heart. They had a leader, but not an icon!

- Moses was unlike any other. He had an intimate relationship with God, a face to face. God didn't need dreams or visions. He talked directly with Moses.

- Then there were the signs that covered the time from Pharaoh until the end! He was indeed a great man for those reasons.

Conclusion
- As we close this section, I'd like to point out few things regarding Moses at the end. At 120 years old, Moses is:

- Commanding and encouraging them to follow the Lord, to be strong and courageous, reminding them of their past victories.

- At the same time, he is challenging them and rebuking them in their inclination to rebel. Incidently, notice that in his final days, the message never got murky! Lord, let us be resolute!

- Writing down the law, making sure that they remember to read it every 7 years for their benefit and writing songs that will be sung long after he was gone!

- Transitioning, endorsing and encouraging his successor.

- Graciously accepting God's timing and direction.

- The very last thing Moses does is bless them! I mention all this to let you know that you have so many years of fruitful service. May it be that He calls us home with our dignity intact.

- However we age, let's look at this man and remind ourselves that we are to be strong for the Lord until the very end, to be useful to Him until we can no longer be.

- That's the lesson that Moses speaks to us here as we end Deuteronomy!