Obedience: Good Word for the Good Life
You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess served their gods. (Deut. 12:2)
Deut. 6:4-5, 10:12-13, and 11:26-28; Matt. 22:36-40
What Is God Saying?
The Israelites finally reached the end of their incredible journey. The decades of wandering in the wilderness were over. They were on the threshold of a new life in the Promised Land, and wandering was replaced with wondering. What will life be like in the new land? How will we treat or be treated by these Canaanites? Is their religion all that vile? Moses knew these questions would be occupying their minds as they looked across the Jordan Valley from the heights of Mount Pisgah.
That is why He gave them the commandments a second time (Deuteronomy means second law or repetition of the law). The Law was unaltered, unsoftened, and abundantly clear. Blessing would come from obeying the Lord, but suffering, misery, and failure would be the fruits of disobedience (Deut. 11:26). As we read Deuteronomy, we should be aware that obedience is its principal theme. Note how many times the words, ‘You must’ or ‘You must not’ appear. This is not a popular theme today. It wasn't popular then but consider this: in a world where anything goes, sooner or later everything will.
Because God knew this could and would happen, He laid down rules, not to enslave His children, but to set them free; not because He was a peevish tyrant, but because He is a loving Savior. This is what lies behind our text. A strong charge for a good reason—destroy or be destroyed.
How Does This Apply To Us?
It’s easy to dismiss the Book of Deuteronomy as an exercise in monotony, with endless lists of irrelevant rituals and archaic sacrifices. But Jesus knew and loved this part of Scripture so well that it rose spontaneously from His lips in times of stress. He quoted word for word from Deuteronomy in His Temptati0n (cf. Matt. 4:4 with Deut 8:3; Matt. 4:7 with Deut 6:4; Matt. 4:10 with Deut. 6:13). He confirmed that ‘loving God with all your heart and soul and might’ (Deut. 6:5) is the first and great commandment, the basis of all moral law.
We, too, can find living truths in Deuteronomy that apply to contemporary situations we face. (Sometime soon, read all of this book and underline the thoughts that you can apply to your life here and now.) Have we tasted the blessings that flow from obedience, Deuteronomy's major theme? Or is it a dark, unpleasant word that we would just as soon drop from our vocabulary, an unwelcome guest, something against which we are inclined to dead-bolt the door of our hearts? See how quickly this attitude passes when we commit to memory Deut. 10:12.
Pray With Me
Your commandment is firm. Your Word is unbending. Your warning is clear. Yet they are all given because of Your desire for our eternal good.
• Let there be not one old passion which is not uprooted and cast away.
• Let there be not one weakness of the flesh which is excused and indulged.
• Let there be not one memory of past defeat which remains to paralyze my will and accuse my conscience.
By the strength of Him through whom alone I can do all things, help me to destroy all those places in my life which have been used for the worship of other gods.
As Your children of old entered the New Land, so I have entered the New Land. Here in the Land of the New Life, I want and I claim the destruction of all those places which might again permit me to desire that which is opposed to Christ. If all such places have not yet been destroyed, give me, Lord, both restlessness and patience. May I not be content until the enemy is subdued. May I be impatient if he is not all subdued.
Knowing that the word of final victory will be Yours, Oh Lord, I can keep moving forward. Knowing full well that sin is not dead unto me, I thank You that I may consider myself (in Christ) to be dead unto sin. Lord, You are the God of all justice, all mercy, and all love.
• I bow before Your justice, for I have sinned.
• I rise before Your mercy, for I am forgiven.
• I go on in freedom and joy, for I am loved.
Dead to sin, I am alive to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
In prayer we can see the places that must be destroyed: attitudes that must be changed, habits that must be broken, relationships that en-danger our walk with the Lord, compromises that rob us of the joy of fellowship with Jesus. But, in prayer we see more than the problem. We find the solution.
"More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee. Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee."
That is the doorway to blessing, the pathway to peace, the key to joy, and the secret of spiritual well-being.
