Summary: God?s requirement of obedience is not something He does to us, but something He does for us. Though today?s world may see living without rules as a dream, it would only result in destruction.

Observations On Obedience

Text: Deut.6: 24

Intro: Obedience is not a topic dealt with too often these days. We hear a lot about options, but not much about obedience. The former term implies no set standard to follow, while the latter implies the existence of some absolutes.

The “no absolutes” philosophy has been around for a long time. It was essentially this thinking that became so popular among the hippies, during the sixties. It was often verbalized by the establishment dropouts of that rebellious era with the statement, “Do your own thing, man.” Those who advocated it often made that statement with a victorious and defiant tone. But the sad truth of the matter is that that philosophy was viciously destructive in its results upon the lives of those who practiced it. “Free love” (actually free sex), drugs, and defiance wreaked havoc in America during the latter half of the sixties. Much of the spiritual corruption and chaos present in our day are due to the fact that society still clings to the idea that it should be allowed to do whatever it pleases.

A few years ago some sincere and well-meaning people joined with actor, Tom Selleck, to start an organization to teach ethics in our public schools. Mr. Selleck believed that the problem among our youth was that they didn’t know the difference between right and wrong. In many respects he was quite right. And we have the philosophy of “No Absolutes” and over-tolerant parents largely to thank for it.

God knew what He was doing when He placed restrictions on man. As the words of our text said, God’s commands and statutes are “…for our good always” (Deut.6: 24). Sadly, it seems that mankind on the whole has never really believed that truth.

Disobedience to God isn’t merely a problem among the lost. Many Christians are just as guilty. It was for this reason that Moses reminded the nation of Israel of God’s commands. But included in Moses’ reminder are some valuable principles about obedience. I find both the reasons for, as well as the riches of obedience in the passage under consideration today. Notice them with me.

Theme: In making some observations on obedience, I have noticed the connection between:

I. OBEDIENCE AND GOD’S GRACIOUSNESS

Deut.6: 16 “Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

18a And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord…”

A. Obedience Produces Peace In A Person.

Deut.6: 18b “…that it may be well with thee…”

NOTE: [1] I certainly don’t want to imply that if one is right with God there will be no difficulties. That simply wouldn’t be true. Jesus assured us that there would always be problems and tribulations in this sin-cursed world. But the fact remains that the Christian who is right with God can experience a calm and contentment that transcends the tragedies and turmoil of life.

[2] The Bible tells us, “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked” (Isa.57: 21). I realize that this verse makes reference to unbelievers. But the principle is equally applicable to believers. The child of God who harbors known sin in their heart cannot truthfully say that all is well in their heart. The Holy Spirit, whose job it is to convince and convict of sin (John 16: 8a), will keep putting His finger on what’s wrong until the believer acknowledges it. Should they continue to rebel, their conscience becomes seared, so that it no longer bothers them. At that point, I believe that saint is in danger of being taken home early.

[3] King David is a prime example of how the sinful believer experiences a loss of peace. When David refused to get right with God, things did not go well with him. Listen to his own words as he says:

Ps.32: 3 “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.”

[4] Disobedience and sin will destroy the Christian’s peace of mind and heart. Let me illustrate as follows:

The Whelk

You may never have heard of a whelk, but this little ocean creature can ruin an oyster’s day. The whelk has an appendage that works like an augur, with which it can bore a small hole in the top of an oyster’s shell. Through this very small hole a whelk can devour an entire oyster, sucking it out little by little until the oyster is gone.

Today in the Word, February 3, 1997, p. 8

[5] On the other hand, obedience produces peace and harmony between the Lord and his child.

Roger Staubach, who led the Dallas Cowboys to the World Championship in ’71, admitted that his position as a quarterback who didn’t call his own signals was a source of trial for him. Coach Landry sent in every play. He told Roger when to pass, when to run, and only in emergency situations could he change the play (and he had better be right!). Even though Roger considered coach Landry to have a “genius mind” when it came to football strategy, pride said that he should be able to run his own team.

Roger later said, “I faced up to the issue of obedience. Once I learned to obey there was harmony, fulfillment, and victory.”

Source Unknown

B. Obedience Possesses What God Has Promised.

Deut.6: 18c “…that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers,”

NOTE: [1] It was disobedience due to unbelief that prevented Israel from entering the Promised Land forty years earlier. Obedience is the prerequisite to possession of God’s promises.

[2] Parents characteristically want to give good things to their children. Neither is there any reluctance on God’s part to bless His children. But God does not release His blessings indiscriminately. He will not relinquish spiritual riches to rebellious children.

2a. God has promised grace for every trial. But a disobedient Christian is not likely to experience what God has provided for them (I Cor.10: 13; II Cor.9: 8).

2b. God has promised to supply our every need. But the saint who won’t obey God is likely to suffer want (Phil.4: 19).

2c. God has promised us His presence. But the rebellious saint certainly will not experience the sense and enjoyment of God’s presence (Heb.13: 5c).

2d. Though God has “…given unto us exceeding great and precious promises…” (II Pet.1: 4a), the disobedient believer is not often the recipient of them.

C. Obedience Prevails Over The Enemy’s Power.

Deut.6: 19 “To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the Lord hath spoken.”

NOTE: [1] Victory over the enemy was a standing promise to the children of Israel as long as they obeyed God’s commandments. God said, “But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries” (Ex.23: 22).

[2] By the same token, an obedient Christian is an overcoming Christian. The Apostle Paul says, “…we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom.8: 37). However, the disobedient child of God can expect to live in defeat.

II. OBEDIENCE AND OUR GRATITUDE

A. Gratitude For Deliverance From Bondage.

Deut.6: 20 “And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord God hath commanded you?

21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:

22 And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes:”

NOTE: [1] Though obedience out of gratitude alone is insufficient; it is at least a start. However, the ideal motive for obedience to the Lord is love for Him. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14: 15).

[2] Moses foresaw the day when the Israelites’ children would ask, “Why do we obey the commandments and statutes of the Lord?” So he suggested their answer should essentially be, “Because we remember what God did for us, by delivering us from Egyptian bondage. Therefore we gratefully obey His commandments.”

[3] The same idea applies to the Christian. Once we were in bondage to Satan. We were under his rule, and did his bidding. But then God, through the Lord Jesus, “…delivered us from the power of darkness, and …translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Col.1: 13). In Christ we have been set free (John 8: 36; Rom.6: 17, 18, 22). Why shouldn’t we obey Him gratefully and lovingly?

B. Gratitude For His Divine Blessings.

Deut.6: 23 “And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.”

NOTE: [1] The Promised Land was a land of blessing, for God said it was, “a land that floweth with milk and honey” (Lev.24: 20a). Moses suggested in Deut.6: 23 that Israel obey God’s commandments out of gratitude for His great blessings.

[2] The correlation between what Moses told the children of Israel, and what should be true of God’s children today is obvious. Paul has said that God has “…blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph.1: 3b). If for no other reason, God is worthy of our allegiance and obedience.

[3] God has given all of us more than we could ever deserve. Consider the following:

Wonderful Burden

One morning R. C. Chapman, a devout Christian, was asked how he was feeling. “I’m burdened this morning!” was his reply. But his happy countenance contradicted his words. So the questioner exclaimed in surprise, “Are you really burdened, Mr. Chapman?”

“Yes, but it’s a wonderful burden—it’s an overabundance of blessings for which I cannot find enough time or words to express my gratitude!”

Seeing the puzzled look on the face of his friend, Chapman added with a smile, “I am referring to Psalm 68:19, which fully describes my condition. In that verse the Father in heaven reminds us that He ‘daily loads us with benefits.’”

F.E. Marsh has enumerated some of these blessings:

· An acceptance that can never be questioned (Eph. 1:6).

· An inheritance that can never be lost (I Peter 1:3-5).

· A deliverance that can never be excelled (2 Cor. 1: 10).

· A grace that can never be limited (2 Cor.12: 9).

· A hope that can never be disappointed (Heb.6: 18, 19).

· A bounty that can never be withdrawn (I Cor.3: 21-23).

· A joy that need never be diminished (John 15:11).

· A nearness to God that can never be reversed (Eph. 2:13).

· A peace that can never be disturbed (John 14:27).

· A righteousness that can never be tarnished (2 Cor. 5:21).

· A salvation that can never be canceled (Heb. 5:9).

Source Unknown

III. OBEDIENCE AND OUR GOOD

A. Obedience Preserves God’s Redeemed.

Deut.6: 24 “And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.”

B. Obedience Precedes Godly Righteousness.

Deut.6: 25 “And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.”

Theme: In making some observations on obedience, I have noticed the connection between:

I. OBEDIENCE AND GOD’S GRACIOUSNESS

II. OBEDIENCE AND OUR GRATITUDE

III. OBEDIENCE AND OUR GOOD