Practical Commands

Timely announcements can help us keep up with foundational needs that may not thrill us or get us excited but they are crucial to our ability to move forward safely and effectively.

Today’s passage is a Timely Announcement. The recorder of Deuteronomy notes that Moses inserts this small piece of family (nation) upkeep before moving on with his message to the people. Today we are going to focus on why he does that, what the value is, and where is this reflected in our Christian walk.

Pray with me as we prepare to read God’s Word.

Let’s Read today’s passage together:

Deuteronomy 4:41–43 ESV

41 Then Moses set apart three cities in the east beyond the Jordan, 42 that the manslayer might flee there, anyone who kills his neighbor unintentionally, without being at enmity with him in time past; he may flee to one of these cities and save his life: 43 Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland for the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.

Review of Moses Message so far:

Even though your parents generation rebelled against God he sustained them and led them.

God defeated Sihon and Og

You stand at the edge of your inheritance.

Stop and listen so that you do not go astray.

4:1-14: Trust the Word of the Lord, Let your obedience to his commands be a testimony, and be diligent to keep your soul.

4:15-40: Don’t worship anything but the one true God for he is righteously jealous and will discipline his children in order to remind them that He is the one and only God.

Cities of Refuge

Although these verses focus on Cities of refuge, I don’t think God’s lesson for us is grounded in the details of those cities and what they were for. Moses will cover this topic again in Deuteronomy 19 and we will learn more about the cities of refuge then. Even though it won’t be our focus I want to give you a bit of clarity on what the cities were for.

Cities of refuge are places that people who have accidently killed someone could flee in order to be safe from reprisal. Now it was the duty of the close relative to ensure that a murderer was brought to justice and killed for their evil actions. This included the judgement of more than one witness, and a recognition by the people that this person deserved death. This had everything to do with the value that God places on life which blood is the symbol of. Remember what God said to Cain after he murdered Abel:

Genesis 4:8–11 ESV

8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

God knows all and he is aware of every innocent life that is slain. The blood of the innocent defiles the place and God will not dwell there. Justice demands that blood be paid with blood and that the blood of the guilty murderer is required to cancel the debt. This is the amazing miracle of Jesus. His blood is shed in our place. It is why the Holy spirit can live within us because our debt has been paid.

Today’s sermon is about why this note about establishing these cities is here. It gives very little in the way of detail, it just feels like house-keeping. It almost feels out of place. But i think it’s spot in the text is meant to jar us into asking the question, “Why this practical command”.

Practical Commands

Moses stops his sermon while the people are excited. They have just had great victory and have laid claim to the land east of the Jordan. God has shown his might and they stand on the edge of all that they have hoped for. They are excited! They are ready! They get interrupted. But they don’t just get interrupted by anything . . . they get interrupted by the commands of God.

Don’t forget our human tendency to make mistakes.

Don’t forget the human hearts ability to sin.

Don’t forget to obey all the commands of the Lord.

Don’t forget our human tendency to make mistakes.

1 Corinthians 14:1–5 ESV

1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

1 Corinthians 14:12 ESV

12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:23–25 ESV

23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

1 Corinthians 14:26–33 ESV

26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

1 Corinthians 14:36–40 ESV

36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order.

What are two mistakes that people make in regards to the manifestation of the Spirit in the speaking in tongues and in prophesying?

They do not desire them but forbid them.

They abuse them for their own gain and the detriment of the church.

What is the command? The command is to do them in an orderly fashion.

To some, this feels like putting a wet blanket over their experience. People can get into such a revere of their own that their experience becomes selfish instead of loving.

To some these feels foreign and unfamiliar because these are not manifestations of the Holy Spirit that they have experienced so the temptation is to forget about them.

Instead, Paul reminded us in chapter 12 that we are all one body and we are each given unique gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:27–31 ESV

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Chapter 13 is that better way. It is the way of love.

One problem the church faces today is that it divides. Those that enjoy the manifestations of the spirit go to this church. Those that enjoy order go to this church. We put all of the eyes in one church and all of the mouths in one church and we are weakened because of it.

As the people of Israel are ready to enter the land the excitement must be palpable. But there is need for order and a reminder of God’s law that all things would be done according to his commands.

So we make mistakes, but we also sin.

Listen to the warnings we are given about our enemy:

2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV

14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

John 8:44 ESV

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Listen to the answer

Ephesians 6:11–16 ESV

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

Don’t forget the human hearts ability to sin.

Acts 4:32–5:16 ESV

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. 12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Everything was going great but sin still entered in. We can never take our eyes off of our need to obey God, keep sins confessed, and to hold each other up. Sin corrupts and weighs down the people of God. Don’t carry it around. God takes sin seriously and so should we.

If you are in sin today, know that God has not missed it and that His work here amongst us will be affected by it. God loves his church enough to strike dead two of his own children. Confess your sin and walk according to the commands of God.

Don’t forget to obey ALL the commands of the Lord

1 John 3:19–24 ESV

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Obeying His Commands

Are you paying attention to all that God has commanded of you?

Are there any commands that you are side-stepping or ignoring?

Our lives are hard. We build walls around what makes us comfortable and anything that dares to challenge that we dismiss . . . even to the point of disobeying God. When someone disagrees with you . . . When someone does something that hurts your feelings . . . When a careless word is spoken . . . does your forgiveness truly look like God’s? Or do you hold a grudge? Do you hold back from building fellowship to protect yourself?

Do you speak careless words and think nothing of the hurt you have caused? Do you gossip instead of going to your brother and sister? Do you really guard your heart and your tongue?

Do you see yourself as part of a connected body and seek ways to connect or are you standing alone doing it all yourself content to not build fellowship because that's easier?

Do you withhold your generosity until someone “earns” it? Do you steward God’s resources for your kingdom instead of his?

Do you justify your pour behavior by comparing it to worse behavior? Do you think yourself better than others claiming to be mature in faith?

The simple commands of God guard us from falling back into sin even when things are exciting and we see the work of God happening. Moses words in Deuteronomy 4:9

Deuteronomy 4:9 ESV

9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—

Today’s message is here to remind us that God’s commands do not change regardless of our circumstance.

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