Remembering When and Why

The book of Deuteronomy is largely made up of a collection of sermons that Moses gave to the people of Israel to prepare them for their eventual entrance in the promised land.

Moses knows that Israel’s well-being in the new land rests squarely on whether they will remain faithfull to God and so in chapter 4 of Deuteronomy Moses gives them instructions to guard their hearts and also in teaching their children the same.

Deuteronomy 4:1–10 NKJV

“Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you. You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. Your eyes have seen what the Lord did at Baal Peor; for the Lord your God has destroyed from among you all the men who followed Baal of Peor. But you who held fast to the Lord your God are alive today, every one of you. “Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ “For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day? Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, especially concerning the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’

In this passage Moses describes to the Israelites how they will be different from the other nations and how if they walk in the ways of the Lord then even the surrounding nations will observe how they have a different way of living.

Question: In what ways does Moses say the Israelites will be different? (see Deut 4:6-8)

Question: How do think this might be relevant to us as Christians today?

There is a perception among some that God in the Old Testament was very hard and strict (some may believe that He is like that now).

But Deuteronomy 4:7 seems to paint a very different picture for us.

Question: What does Deuteronomy 4:7 say to you about the charecter to God?

Question: From this passage we see that Israel had a very unique relationship with God, was this reserved only for them? (see Gen 12:1-3)

God chose Israel for a special relationship but not to the exclusion of everyone else. God wanted to show all the world through Israel the relationship that all mankind could have with it’s creator.

After Pentecost in Acts 2 we see a massive move of God among the gentile nations. Through the what Jesus did on the cross, God became more accessable to all. But God was not ‘off-limits’ before the New Testament. We see in the Old Testament through people like Rahab, Ruth and Naaman (to name just a few), how God has always wanted relationship with Jews and gentiles alike.

Deuteronomy 4:9 NKJV

Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren,

In this verse Moses states how the people need to be very diligent in remembering all that the Lord has done for them.

Question: Are we being diligent in remembering all that God has done for us? How are we doing this and could we be doing more?

Moses warns that if they are not diligent in remembering all that God has done then they are in danger of forgetting and neglecting all that God has done among them.

Question: What are the dangers of forgetting what the Lord has done for us? (see Psalm 106:6-7)

Spend some time as a group thanking God for the special relationship He has with you and give thanks for all the ways in which you are blessed.