Bible Reading Reflection from Deuteronomy 26-34

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟚𝟞:𝟙𝟘

"Now behold, I have brought the first of the produce of the ground which You, O LORD have given me.' And you shall set it down before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God."

Gratefulness shown from the heart. Grateful not only to God but being gracious and generous to others as well!

Ritualism will pay all the tithes, and maybe even more than tithes, but it takes a real grateful heart to be generous to others especially to those who will never be able to give us or help us back.

Last time, @Pastor Ezekiel was saying that he used to cry when he listened to the song, "Who am I?" Indeed, who are we that God continues to shower his mercy and grace!!!?

Lord, cast away grumbling, complaining, and dissatisfaction from my heart, and set me to be grateful with everything going on, seeing I have you as my God both in heaven and on earth!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟚𝟟:𝟙𝟞

"’Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’"

I always thought we loved our parents more when we are younger. Well, I don't know how children love their parents when they grew older and older [I am still not that old].

In my case, I think I loved my parents when I was a child for my selfish wants and needs, for their love. Nowadays, I am increasingly realizing how I really need to honor them and make them really joyful, which I haven't done yet!

Indeed, how stupid and how wicked is a man who does not honor his parents! And, I am afraid, I myself am not far from that!

Let's encourage one another to honor our parents!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟚𝟠:𝟞𝟛

"It shall come about that as the LORD delighted over you to prosper you, and multiply you, so the LORD will delight over you to make you perish and destroy you; and you will be torn from the land where you are entering to possess it."

There's no neutral ground: blessings or curses. There's no as it is: blessings or curses. The preaching of the Gospel is consequential too: Salvation or Damnation.

We must share [proclaim] the Gospel to our friends, to anyone in that way, that the Gospel is not an improvement to their lifestyle, but the lifeline, because destruction is coming! Get saved or you shall perish in your sins!

If that's difficult to communicate, learn from Ray Comfort on YouTube. Search his videos.

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟚𝟡:𝟚𝟡

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law."

This is one of the most favorite scripture portions for Bible teachers! 😂

Indeed, there are sorts too difficult for us, nay, impossible for us to understand. And there are some sorts we shouldn't even try to know about it. Knowledge is not everything.

Whatever is revealed to us, that [may it] be our delight. We must use the revealed knowledge to discern our way: to confirm obedience, and to fear of going astray. We must use the revealed knowledge to comfort us in distresses and convict us [when] in sin!

The revealed knowledge is sufficient for our existence on earth to fulfill our purpose in the most meaningful, happy, and glorious way!

May we learn to find sufficiency in God's revelation!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟛𝟘:𝟙𝟙

"For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach."

It's not easy to follow God, but not too difficult as well. God's commandments are not burdensome, says Apostle John.

If we love God, His commandments are delightful. If we fear (afraid) God, His commandments are troublesome. Even a child can and is a follower of God. His commandments are lighter than the commandments of the law and sin. It's lighter than the law of any society, land, or organization, because, God bears along with us.

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟛𝟙:𝟚𝟙

"And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give."

Songs help us to remember certain aspects of life.

Let's learn song not because of tune or style, but because of its content! And let's sing such songs.

 

𝔻𝕖𝕦𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕠𝕟𝕠𝕞𝕪 𝟛𝟚:𝟟, 𝟞

v7 "Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you."

Moses was composing a song for the next generation to know the greatness of God (v3), how God did a mighty work to choose and preserve their forefathers (v9). And the Israelites tended to be rebellious at all times (v5-6).

This verse implies how children ought to learn from their parents. Also, how parents ought to teach and bring up their children in the fear of the Lord. However, this verse is interesting: even if the parents didn't teach, the children must ask.

v6. "Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?"

V6 furthermore implies children cannot forget or forsake their parents. It's a metaphor to express how Israelites forsook Yahweh!

This week, it impressed on my mind how my father and his siblings took great loving care of my aged grandpa in the last years of his life! Children don't forsake their parents, especially in their old age [obligation].

Well, God is not a weak old man, but the analogy of family relationships is on display here. That He is their father and His people are His children. Parents love their children, and children love their parents. That's it. And nowadays, there's not a high view of family. Everywhere, broken families.

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟛𝟛:𝟙𝟛-𝟙𝟜

"And of Joseph he said, ‘Blessed by the LORD be his land, with the𝕔𝕙𝕠𝕚𝕔𝕖𝕤𝕥 gifts of heaven above, and of the deep that crouches beneath, with the𝕔𝕙𝕠𝕚𝕔𝕖𝕤𝕥 fruits of the sun and the rich yield of the months.’"

The choicest man of Israel blessed the choicest son of Jacob with the choicest blessing! 🙂

No wonder, apart from the tribe of Judah, Ephraim (Joseph's son) is one of the most prominent tribes among the 13 tribes! The northern kingdom, Israel is sometimes referred to as the “Ephraim”.

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟛𝟜:𝟟

"Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated."

As someone who has poor eyesight, every time I read this, I feel like the Lord has withheld blessing/grace from me. 😬😅 And the worst feeling is that God ought to let it be this way because even with these eyes, I often fail to use them to the glory of God.

A ray of hope against this is that Apostle Paul had bad eyesight! Ridiculously Comforting! 😅😎👍