45 When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” -Deuteronomy 32:45-47 Moses told the people of Israel to... Read more

“12 Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. 13 Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” -Deuteronomy 31:12-13 The public reading of Scripture has become a lost art in... Read more

“Choose life, that you and your offspring may live,loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days…” -Deuteronomy 30:19-20 This will make some people angry, but it’s true: Those license plates that say “choose life” to help support the pro-life position? They reference a verse that has nothing to do with saving the lives of the preborn. While I fully support the pro-life movement, Deuteronomy 30:19 is... Read more

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” -Deuteronomy 29:29 God knows all. That was the view of God among Israel. Building on this theme, Moses said in Deuteronomy 29:29 that the “secret things belong to the Lord our God.” What people cannot figure out, God knows. Where we are weak, he is strong. But... Read more

“Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.” -Deuteronomy 28:14 Have you ever considered that every failure to obey God is to serve other gods? This appears to be the underlying message of Deuteronomy 28:14, the climax of the “blessings” section of this chapter. God commanded his people to not “turn aside” from any of his commands, “to the right or to... Read more

“9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God. 10 Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.” -Deuteronomy 27:9-10 God chooses us before we ever choose him. This was true of Israel and remains true today. I remember once reading Charles Spurgeon’s thoughts on this issue who shared that when he first came to faith... Read more

“16 The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him.” -Deuteronomy 26:16-17 Trusting God means obeying God. The Jewish mindset has included an undivided allegiance between faith and practice. The... Read more

“13 Do not have two differing weights in your bag—one heavy, one light. 14 Do not have two differing measures in your house—one large, one small. 15 You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 16 For the Lord your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly.” -Deuteronomy 25:13-16 One thing God despises is a lack of honesty. This was true in the... Read more

“17 Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. 18 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this.” -Deuteronomy 24:17-18 Immigrants, fatherless, and widows are three key groups of people God specified his people were to care for in their culture. All three were often in need; God expected his people to meet... Read more

“If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.” -Deuteronomy 23:21 Keep your promises to God. To fail to do so is called sin in Deuteronomy 23. Even better, we are told in the following words that it is better not to make such promises unless we intend to keep them. Jesus later addressed... Read more