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Delete Discussion Intro:
1. "How much practical application do Moses sermons have for us today? Just ask Jesus, who quoted from this book 3 times, to fend off Satan in the wilderness."
2. We need to remember that God is working, and part of the way He does that is through other people.
3. God's Guidance through Moses.
Deuteronomy 1:1-8 (NKJV)
1 These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain opposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.
2 It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea.
3 Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the LORD had given him as commandments to them,
4 after he had killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei.
5 On this side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying,
6 "The LORD our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: 'You have dwelt long enough at this mountain.
7 Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighboring places in the plain, in the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates.
8 See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to your fathers--to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob--to give to them and their descendants after them.'
I. First, the East side of the Jordan is their Location. 1
These are the words of Moses - "A God-given sermon! Moses spoke what the Lord had commanded him; in other words, Moses gave the people what God had given him, like Peter who said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." (Ac.3:6)
Though the words were Moses, the thing uttered was of God. Moses spoke to what God had given him. And because Moses spoke what God gave him, he could speak with courage, power, and was relieved of the responsibility of what he spoke." [Saurin]
spoke to all Israel - if we consider that the post exodus population of over
600,000 men, of 20 years and older (Num.26:51; 26:4), thus the Nation as a whole must have numbered several million.
on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain opposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab - The geographical location is the land of Moab. The location is significantly important. The Israelies are on the verge of entering the land of promise. They are encamped on the Plains of Moab on the eastern edge of the Jordan valley, northeast of the Dead Sea. This location is designated as "beyond the Jordan" which is better translated as "Transjordan" since such phrases are used 6 times in Deuteronomy (1:1,5; 4:41, 46-47,49).
Trans: The thing that is exciting to consider is that God knows exactly what they have been through; where they are; who they are; why they are there; and where they are going.
"The whole position is described with a minuteness which shows how thoroughly God entered into everything that concerned His people. He was interested in all their movements and in all their ways. He kept a faithful record of all their encampments.
There is not a single circumstance connected with them, however trifling, beneath His gracious notice. His eye was rested continually on that assembly as a whole, and on each member in particular.
Thus it was with Israel in the wilderness of old, and thus it is with the church now - a father's eye rests upon us continually, His everlasting arms are around and underneath us day and night.
Job 36:7 (NKJV)
7 He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But they are on the throne with kings, For He has seated them forever, And they are exalted.
Matthew 10:29-31 (NKJV)
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
The question is do we believe it? Are our hearts governed by faith in these promises? Do we really believer that the Almighty Creator and Upholder of all things, who has graciously undertaken to do for us all the journey through?"
II. Next, the Eleven days journey Lengthened. 2
Deuteronomy 1:2 (NKJV)
2 It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea.
An 11 day journey was about 140 miles. This clearly shows us the cost of sin. What should have taken 11 days ended up a 38 year journey!
Deere, "The pathetic contrast of the 11 days with the 40 years serves as an ominous reminder of the consequences of disobeying God. The warning was implicitly sounded: do not be slow to believe God again." [Num.13-14]
"We are slow travelers because we are slow learners. It may be we feel disposed to marvel how Israel could have taken forty years to accomplish a journey of eleven days; but we may, with much greater reason, marvel at ourselves! We like them, are kept back by our unbelief and slowness of heart; but there is far less excuse for us than for them, inasmuch as our privileges are so very much higher."
Hebrews 5:11-12 (NKJV)
11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Now while it is very humbling to admit that we are often like them, slow of learning; it is also an encouraging picture of God, to see His patience with us. He lead them those 40 years, and He has promised never to give up on Israel, or us His Church.
III. Thirdly, the Explanation of the Law. 3-5
Deuteronomy 1:3-5 (NKJV)
3 Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the LORD had given him as commandments to them,
4 after he had killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei.
5 On this side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying,
This 40th year is covered by Num. 20:14-36:13...
"These forty years represented a generation - specifically the one that disobeyed the command at Kadesh. The forty years included all the time from Israel's exodus from Egypt till they were to cross the Jordan and enter Canaan from the southeast.
The eleventh month - is Shebat, it runs from mid-January to mid-February.
According to all the LORD had given him as commandments to them - as we have said, Moses message came from God.
A. The word was Received from God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Peter 1:20-21 (NKJV)
20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
"The Word of God is the only authority; and if we are all governed by that, we shall "all speak the same thing" and "there will be no division among us";
but we will shall be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment."
The greatest need we have is to get alone with God, a Bible in our hand and a prayer on our lips. Get into it and God's Spirit will get into us.
Colossians 3:16 (NKJV)
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
after he had killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei - these victories allowed them to conquor the land from the east. They were a taste of the victory they were to experience under Joshua.
B. The Word was also Relayed to the people.
On this side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying - He not only received the Word he also shared it.
explain - means "to make clear, to make plain." Some think this verb originally meant "to dig or hew" and that it metaphorically came to denote engraving information on the minds of the people. When used in scripture
(Deut 1:5; 27:8/ Hab.2:2) it means "to make clear, distinct, or plain."
This should be the goal of everyone who shares the Word of God, to make it clear so people know what God is saying to them. Of course this is only possible by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Nehemiah 8:2-8 (NKJV)
2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month.
3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
4 So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place.
8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.
1 Corinthians 2:9-12 (NKJV)
9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
IV. Finally, they were about to Enter the Land. 6-8
Deuteronomy 1:6-8 (NKJV)
6 "The LORD our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: 'You have dwelt long enough at this mountain.
7 Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighboring places in the plain, in the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates.
8 See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to your fathers--to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob--to give to them and their descendants after them.'
"Moses begins with a review of the journey from Mt. Horeb to Transjordan. Now they were once more on the verge of entering Canaan, Moses solemnly confronts them with a review of the past. He begins wiht the explicit command by God to enter and possess the land of Canaan." [Schultz]
"Moses began by reciting God's order to leave Horeb and to go to Canaan. That he gave such a command is mentioned in Num.10:11-13, but its content is given only here. Palestine was, in fact, the Chosen Land for the Chosen People; not, it should be noticed, chosen by them, but for them...The promise "I have given you this land. God in and take possession" was irrevocable but the fulfillment in time was contingent on the people's obedienc to the Lord's directives to enter, conquer, and take possession of the land."
[Kalland]
Though David's and Solomon's empires extended to the Euphrates River
(2 Sam. 8:3/I Ki.4:21), many of the peoples in that territory were subjects only by paying tribute; they were not conquered by Israelites so the land was not fully possessed by them. Not to mention the fact that the land will be theirs permanently.
This promise of the land to Israel is one of the foundations of the Abrahamic Covenant promised to Abraham (Gen. 15:18-21), and confirmed to Isaac and Jacob (Gen. 26:3-5; 28:13-15; 35:12). Since the promise is unconditional and permanent, Israel must one day possess the land, a promise that will be fulfilled during the Millennial Kingdom (Ezk.47:15-20)
Con:
1. What we have seen is that God is interested in every facet of our lives - He knows Who we are; What has happened in our life; Why we are where we are; and Where we are going...
We are also confronted with the seriousness of sin - it can cause God to bring about painful, needless chastisment...
We should be overjoyed that we have received the Word of God...
We can be sure that God always keeps His promises...
We should also note that God still guides through men of God, who proclaim from His Word, "Thus says the Lord..."
We might also notice that Moses served God faithfully and tirelessly all the days of his life, and that's amazing when you realized he lived to be 120 years old...
"The last months of Moses life were filled with much work...When these tasks were finished, it was then time for Moses to die and be buried in a sepulcher in Moab. It is most commendable the way Moses finished his life. He finished it by being busy in the Lord's service. He worked full time right to the very end.
Not every one has the health to work full time right to the end. But too often retirement from a secular job means no more work of any kind for the retiree, not even in God's service. Hence many folks stop serving God long before they die. This is a great mistake; for as long as God leaves us in the world, we are serving Him...We must never cease serving God as much as we are able. Let us die in saddle. Let us not rust or rot away the last years of our lives." [Butler]
Johnny Palmer Jr.
www.strugglingthruscriptures.ning.com
www.blogtalkradio.com/strugglingthruscriptures
