Daily Reading Week 5
Sunday
Deuteronomy 12
DISCOVER
If Israel wasn’t going to worship the idols in the land they were entering to possess, why do you think it was so vital that they completely destroy those idols?
In verses 4-7 God gave some very specific instructions about worship? How do you think these instructions look in today’s worship?
Towards the end of the chapter, God was very clear on things prohibited and thighs permitted as it pertained to worship. Why would it have been important for Israel to distinguish between the two?
When it comes to modern day worship, what are some preferences that many people have? How does this compare/contrast to the instructions given in Deuteronomy 12?
RESPOND
Each of us have perhaps found ourself in the midst of a situation where a boss, parent, or coach wants something of us, but fails to communicate what that “something” is. In turn this individual becomes frustrated with us because we did not do what they wanted us to do.
It’s such a joy to know that God does not want His people to live the frustrating life of being ignorant of what pleases Him. Israel never had to ask “How can I make God happy.” They never had to be confused if something would make God smile, or make Him frown. God did not simply command His people to honor Him, He gave them very practical commands to obey so that they would know how to live God honoring lives.
This is how Deuteronomy 12 begins. Moses gives general principles of how God wants His people to live. Most of these commandments have to deal with our public worship of God. While many of us do not worship physical idols in our culture, we can easily find ourselves guilty of worshiping things other than the one true God.
Deuteronomy 12 challenges us to centralize our worship, eliminate all distractions, and prioritize God in all our endeavors. It serves as a timeless reminder that true worship is not just about a location or ritual, but about a heart fully committed to God’s ways.
Monday
Deuteronomy 25
DISCOVER
What is the significance of honest weights and measures in our daily lives? How can we ensure honesty in our transactions? How does this relate to integrity in business practices?
In what ways does our modern societies guarantee that memories of the past wrongs are remembered, and justice is sought?
In considering the story of the Amalekites, what steps can we take to make sure cycles of revenge and hatred don’t continue?
How can we reconcile some of the seemingly harsher instructions of this chapter with modern values and ethics?
RESPOND
Deuteronomy 25 serves as a treatment to God’s insistence on just behavior, ethical integrity, and the importance of remembering. Whether in duties to the family, historical recollections, or business transactions, God emphasizes honest living and remembrance. Just as the Israelites were taught to maintain their integrity and remember their past, we too should cherish our heritage in Christ and uphold values that lead to justice and righteousness in our lives daily.
This chapter provides a glimpse into the intricacies of ancient Israelite social, familial, and ethical obligations. Moses, preparing the Israelites for their entry into the Promised Land, lays out the Lord’s commands related to just punishment, the duty to our family, the importance of honest business deals, and the directive to remember the wrongdoing of their enemy.
God still requires a sense of justice in the lives of His children. The justice that God demands of us is not because of who we are, nor because of who others might be. As Timothy Keller said, “Biblical justice is not first of all a set of bullet points or a set of rules and guidelines. It is rooted in the very character of God and it is the outworking of that character, which is never less than just.”
Tuesday
Deuteronomy 26
DISCOVER
How does the idea of offering my firstfruit really express a heart of gratitude? According to verse 1, what’s the reasoning upon which Israel is to offer their firstfruits?
Based on verse 3, what am I acknowledging when I give my offering to the Lord?
What does it mean to be a “treasured possession” to God and how can this understanding shape our identity? How does this understanding impact my generosity and my giving to the Lord?
What practices in your life serve as reminders of your commitments and values?
RESPOND
Deuteronomy 26 is a testament to the deep bond between God and His children (Israel). This chapter teaches us the importance of gratitude, unwavering obedience, and remembering the past. When Israel entered into the Promised Land and reaped its harvest, they were commanded to take their firstfruits and give it to the Lord.
This chapter paints a vivid picture of the Israelites' responsibility once they have entered into the abundant life. Through their offerings and reminders of their history, this chapter accentuates the value of gratitude, obedience, and the importance of maintaining a special relationship with God.
Today, as God’s children who walk in a life of joy and abundance, there must be gratitude. The basis of our gratitude is in who God is and all that He has done for us. The gratitude is given and seen in spite of the hardships that we’ll still encounter. Our thankfulness and generosity is in contrast to the challenging circumstances that we face. Our indebtedness is rooted in who God is and all that He has done for us. Today, let’s commit to giving our offering based on who God is, not what life may bring.
Wednesday
Deuteronomy 27-28
DISCOVER
What was Israel to set up when they arrived in the Promised Land? What were the specific instructions given as to how to prepare its surface for writing and what was to be written on it? (Deuteronomy 27:1-10)
Besides the monuments, Israel was to set up an altar in order to offer up burnt offerings to the Lord. What were the special instructions for building such an altar? Why do you think that this was so important? (Deuteronomy 27:1-10)
These 12 offenses listed in the latter part of chapter 27 are sins that could be committed secretly and therefore escape the notice of the authorities. However, God is very clear that people cannot sin and get away with it. Is there any secret sin in your life? You may be able to fool those closest to you, but you cannot fool God. What steps do you need to take to rid these sins from your life before you suffer its consequences?
In Deuteronomy 28:1, what did God promise to do to Israel if they diligently obeyed His voice and carefully observed His commandments? What is the vivid language used to describe this in verse 13?
What was the attitude that Israel was to have in obeying God (Deut 28:47)? How can you do better in this area?
RESPOND
Deuteronomy 27 begins the final section of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first address, Moses explains how Israel must learn what to do in the future based upon past history (Deuteronomy 1:-4:40). Then Moses reiterates the Law of God in his second address to remind Israel of their responsibilities to God and their neighbors. Now Moses begins to give instructions on how they are to memorialize the Law of God. This last section spells out the contrasting consequences of obedience and disobedience. Whether or not Israel will live blessed lives, or lives under a curse is dependent upon their response to God’s Law.
Unfortunately, Israel would continue in their sin after hearing these terrible curses. By doing so, they revealed one thing about their heart; they didn’t believe God would keep His word. Your faith, or lack of faith, will manifest itself in your actions. Do you live a life that reveals that you believe God’s word? Look back over your actions from the past few weeks.
We all need God’s help to obey His commands. We also need His grace and mercy when we break His commands. As you close out your connect time today, spend a few minutes in prayer.
Thank God for the stop signs He places on your journey that keep you from disobeying Him.
Ask God to enable you to approach His commands with a heart of worship.
Pray that God will help you to recognize His promises and trust in Him to keep them.
Thursday
Deuteronomy 29-30
DISCOVER
Moses makes reference again to the deliverance of Israel from Egypt and of God’s providential care during the wilderness wanderings. He has already reminded them of these incidents two times before in this book (3:1-4; 8:2-4). Why do you think Moses is reminding them of this for the third time?
God providentially cared for Israel in the wilderness by keeping their clothes from wear and tear. It is surprising that Moses would have to remind them of such a miraculous work of God. However, the Israelites, like us, tended to take God’s good gifts for granted. We often soon forget the everyday blessings which come to us by God’s divine foresight and providential will. No sooner than we forget God’s provision, anxiety and doubt creep in. Read Matthew 6:25-34 and notice the things that we should do to keep from forgetting God’s faithfulness.
Every person faces a very important choice at some point in his life. Based on Deuteronomy 30:19, what is that choice?
In Deuteronomy 30:11-14 Moses begins to call Israel to a time of response. He has warned them of cursing if they disobey, blessings if they obey, and forgiveness if they repent. Now he is about to call upon them to make a decision on whether or not to totally commit to their covenant God. Moses is not asking them to commit to obeying a covenant that is incomprehensible and unachievable. What are the 4 things that Moses says are not true about God’s instruction?
RESPOND
The final verses of Deuteronomy 29 leave us with a bleak picture. God promised the nation of Israel that if they walked in disobedience to His Word, then He would judge them. He would judge them by “uprooting them from their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and casting them into another land” (29:28). We know from reading the rest of the Old Testament that Israel did fail to keep her side of the covenant and so God was bound by His own word to punish her in the manner He promised.
But, just as God is a righteous God who must punish sin, He is also a merciful God who forgives those who repent. His unconditional promise to Abraham to give Israel the land and to bless all nations through her will come to pass. Israel will one day repent of her sins and God will forgive her, restore her and redeem her.
In these chapters, God, through Moses, instructs the people on the mercy of God and the effectiveness of His word. There are several valuable lessons in this passage for us today. As a child of God, He loves you, no matter how sinful you’ve been. You can always be pardoned, cleansed, and restored through repentance. God’s Word is capable of bringing this entire process of change about (1 John 1:9).
Friday
Deuteronomy 31-32
DISCOVER
Beginning in chapter 31, Moses instructs Joshua to “be strong and courageous.” Explain what it means to be strong and courageous.
Moses’ command to “be strong and courageous” was not simply a pre-game pep talk. This command is based upon two great realities. Upon what truths was this strength and courage based? (Deuteronomy 31:8)
In God’s address to Moses (31:14-22), He references His goodness to Israel and their disobedience to Him. God reminds Moses of all that He has done for them, but they lived in ways that dishonored Him. In what ways do you see this in contemporary culture?
In Deuteronomy 32:4, Moses uses a metaphor that would have been very striking and familiar to the children of Israel. This is a common theme throughout this song (see vv. 15, 18, 30, 31). From these verses, what aspects of God’s character does this imagery portray?
According to Deuteronomy 32:28-29, sin impacted Israel’s way of thinking. How does sin “cloud” or “distort” our way of seeing things clearly?
RESPOND
Moses is now nearing the last days of his life. He is about to conclude this sermon given to the next generation of Israelites. Before he closes, he offers them a song. This song will help Israel memorize important truths about their past, present, and future.
In his song, Moses describes God’s providential election and care for the nation of Israel. He also shows Israel’s neglect for God’s goodness and lack of faithfulness toward Him. Moses sings that God will judge His people, and eventually, they will have no where to turn but to Him. Finally, God will spiritually heal both Israel and the Gentile nations who trust in Him.
The song of Moses is of great importance to us today as well. It shows us that God is to be feared and that His people will not get away with sin. It also shows us our total inability to free ourselves from the trouble that we cause for ourselves. Finally, it portrays God as the gracious initiator of salvation. He alone is worthy of praise.
Saturday
Deuteronomy 33-34
DISCOVER
Deuteronomy 33:3 describes how the people of God are loved by his grace, secured by his hand, and led by his footprints. How could these truths impact someone’s life today in a real and practical way? Which one of these three truths do you need to embrace more fully?
How does Moses’ closing prayer in Deuteronomy 33:26-29 provide confidence and hope in our faith?
In what ways does Moses’ life inspire you to stay the course, even if you might not want to witness the end goal?
Given the challenges Moses faced throughout his life, how can we maintain our faith and perseverance during times of uncertainty in our own lives?
RESPOND
The Book of Deuteronomy shows us that Moses was a great man because he knew and obeyed God. He was God’s chosen man to receive guidance and pass it along to the children of Israel. He was the channel that God used to bless His people.
Moses must have been a strong man, both physically and spiritually. He must have been a very wise and able leader. His education in Egypt must have equipped Him intellectually and socially. However, we are told nothing about his human abilities. All we see is a man who drew His strength from God. He was a faithful man of God who served Him in order that Israel might come to know God and to do His will.
Moses is such a great example to us of humility, leadership, and service. But more than that, he is a display of God’s grace. From Moses’ call, God was not only working through Moses, but working on Moses. In this last part of Deuteronomy we see that Moses was a man that God graciously encouraged, equipped, reprimanded, and replaced.