Loving God's Word

“Loving God’s Word”

The Old Testament Challenge

FCC – March 5, 2006

Text: Deuteronomy

Introduction: This is our 9th week in the Old Testament Challenge!! After this morning we will be one-fourth of the way done with the OTC. I wanted to say one thing to many of you who are behind on your reading…relax. In about 8 weeks we are going to take a break from the OTC for the months of May through July. That will be a great time to catch-up or read ahead. Just set a pace that is right for you and keep on reading!

This morning we will be finishing up the Pentateuch this morning and say goodbye to Moses, by looking at the book of Deuteronomy. Our theme for this service is “Loving God’s Word.” As we read Deuteronomy, we find the children of Israel ending their 40 years in the wilderness and preparing to go into the Promised Land. Deuteronomy literally means the 2nd law or the review of the law. God prepares them by reminding them of their most treasured possession, God’s Law, and He renews His covenant with His people. Reading the book of Deuteronomy gets you to thinking, I love God’s Word!

Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold…Psalm 119:127

After the sermon we will share in the Lord’s Supper together. The Lord’s Supper is the New Covenant is Christ’s blood. If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are welcome at the Lord’s Table this morning. Before we move into the message, we are going to do something a little different…we are going to have an extended time of just reading God’s Word as found in the book of Deuteronomy. We are going to have person after person come and read…it may seem like a long time. You can follow along in your Bible, or you can close your eyes and let God’s Word minister to you. You might even want to breathe a prayer: Lord, I love Your Word!

READINGS FROM DEUTERONOMY

There is so much in the book of the Deuteronomy. I’m just amazed about several things I noticed as I read this week…

• The Law was meticulous. Deut. 5:32 (NIV) So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left.

• The Law was ruthless. Deut 13: 5 says that we must purge evil from among us. Deut 23: 14 says that your camp must be holy.

• The Law was broad. It deals with specific sin, how to treat animals, and how to prepare for battle. Deut 23: 7 says to not to hate an Egyptian. Amazing.

There is so much in this book of Moses, but I have lifted out 4 principles that spoke to my heart this week. In reading Deuteronomy, we find that Loving God’s Word helps us…

1. Leave an inheritance

Israel possessed families, herds, clothing, shelter, etc., their greatest possession was God’s Law…His Word. Jesus used Deut. 6: 4-5 (NIV) when asked what the greatest law was…which says: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. The Law was a concrete way for the Israel to love God with. The command to love God is found 10 times in Deuteronomy, and was the basic Jewish creed known as the Shema. What were the Israelites to do with His commandments? Look at…

Deut. 6:6-9 (NIV) These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. What do we do with God’s Word?

a. Take them in your heart. It is not enough to obey outwardly. We have to take God’s Word personally at the very center of who we are. Psalm 119:11 (KJV) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

b. Teach them to your children. Parents mean well…they want to leave an inheritance for their children…the most important thing you can give to your children is the Word of God. Deut. 5:9-10 (NIV) You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.