Daily Encouragement

February 21, 2010 - God's Word Must Be Fulfilled

Since the event of complain against God after the report of the twelve spies, the Israelites had been wondering in the wilderness of thirty eight years. All the adults twenty years old and up had passed away one way or another. (v. 15) Then God began to enable them to conquer the nations on the East side of the Jordan River. God had made the name of His people to be feared by all neighboring nations there. (v. 25)

In this chapter and the next, it was recorded that this new generation of God's people defeated and eliminated two great kings and their nations even before they entered the Promised Land. Their cities were great and strong. Some of them were giants. The iron coffin, one of their king, was more than 13 feet long. (Deuteronomy 3:11) God had proven to His people that He could fulfill His promise and that they were well able to conquer the Promised Land. Therefore they must trust in Him and His word and not circumstances. Everything must happen just as God had predicted and promised.

Just follow Him and He would bring all His plan in the Scriptures to pass. Praise God for His promises.

February 22, 2010 - The Greatest Commandment

Meditation on Deuteronomy 6

Verses four and five give us the most important Hebrew Scriptures that every devoted Israelite should memorize and decorate himself with these verses in a little box hung on his forehead. It says, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." (NKJV) Jesus pointed out to a lawyer that this was the greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38)

In the context of Deuteronomy 6, keeping God's commandments would be an assurance of prosperity, long life, blessings and even righteousness. (v. 3, 24, and 25) We thank God that the New Testament has revealed more details to us. The way to be able to keep this first and most important commandment is to believe in Jesus Christ, the son of God. (1 John 3:23) We know from Romans 5:1 that we can be declared righteous because we have faith in Jesus. When we have Jesus then we can fulfill the second greatest commandment too which is to love one another.

Let us praise and thank Jesus. For through Him we can fulfill God's commandment and enjoy all God's goodness. (Romans 8:32)

February 23, 2010 - The Purpose Of Trial

Meditation on Deuteronomy 8

Moses told God's people the reasons God tested them for forty years in the wilderness. First of all, God wanted to know what was in their heart whether they would keep God's commandments or not. (v. 2) Second, God gave them only Manna for food so they would know that man should not live by bread alone; but by every word that proceeded from the mouth of the LORD. (v. 3) Third, God wanted to discipline them as children. (v. 5) The fourth reason was that they needed to be humble so that they would not forget God and His mighty work on their behalf so that they would realize that it was God who gave them power to get rich and that God may do them good to the end. (v. 14-16)

These are still the good reasons why God tests us today. The final purpose is for our own good because He wanted to train us as His children so we would obey Him and obtain His richest blessings. Therefore count it all joy when we encounter diverse of trial in our lives. (James 1:2)

February 24, 2010 - How To Eat

Meditation on Deuteronomy 14

The regulations put forth in this chapter were mainly two points: First, the people of God were to eat clean food. God had determined for them what kind of food would be clean and healthy for them. Second, people were to eat their food before the LORD at least once a year with the Levites, the servants of God. Ten percent of the people's income was to be spent for this purpose. Every third year, this ten percent offering were to be stored for food and enjoyment for the poor, the needy also. That translated to mean that at least three percent of their incomes every year were for the poor and the Levites. The rest were for their enjoyment before God.

It seemed that God is interested for His people's enjoyment before Him. When believers get together to have fellowship meal before Him, it is well pleasing to God. The money used for this purpose is well spent. And don't forget, God wants us to include those who are low income and need helps around our meal table. We should invite and help others to enjoy the best meals too. Certainly, that would be a good time for evangelism.

February 25, 2010 - God Detests The Practice Of Divination

Meditation on Deuteronomy 18

God warned the Israelites concerning the false religions practiced by the people in the land which they were going to occupy. They were not to even imitate those practices. Moses said, "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead." (v. 10-11 NASB) God detested those things and that was why He judged those who did those things and drove those people out from the land.

Our God today is the same God who hates those practices. But we see these kinds of things are being encouraged in the newspaper daily or even on television once awhile. It should not be a matter of fun at all. God's word clearly is against it. May we see the serious consequences of these kinds of things, avoid them and pray for people to turn to Jesus instead. He is the one whom Moses had prophesied that "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him." (v. 15 cf. Acts 3:19-26)

February 26, 2010 - Social Welfare

Meditation on Deuteronomy 22

In order to develop a good and prosperous nation, Moses gave instructions in this chapter regarding assisting neighbors, preventing the confusion of male and female, prolonging the production of flying creatures, installing security measure for housing.

The Israelites at that time was forbidden to engage in the mixtures of seed planting, plowing with different kind of animals and wearing different sorts of materials. But they were to wear tassels on the four corners of their clothes. These kinds of regulations were for them to be distinguished from the practice of the neighboring nations. They were to follow God's law and reminded themselves by their clothing also. This way they would be protected from spiritual defilement.

Furthermore, they must protected their marriage and marital conduct. The parents had the responsibility to protect the reputation of their own daughter. Adultery, fornication, rape and incestuous relationship were forbidden and to be punished.

Good moral behavior would protect the welfare of our society.

February 27, 2010 - Blessing or Curses?

Meditation on Deuteronomy 28

In order to emphasize the vital importance of keeping the law of God, Moses designated that after they crossed the Jordan River, six tribes were to assemble on the Mount Gerizim to bless the people and the other six tribes were to assemble on Mount Ebal to recite the curses if they disobeyed the covenant with God. The priests attending the ark who stood in between them would shout the words, the people would say Amen. (Deuteronomy 27:11f)

Moses said, "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD, your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:" (v. 1 NKJV) Then Moses elaborated all those blessings to them such as good life, victory over enemies, abundant harvest, excelling in the things they would do. (v. 1-14)

But if they would not observe God's commandments and statues, they would be cursed with many curses in verses 15- 46. Everything they would do would be cursed in everywhere. Their home, their field, their health, their defeat, their captivity, their farm and their cattle.... all would be under curses by God. Furthermore, since they did not serve the LORD with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore they shall serve the enemies. From verses 47 to 68, the terrible sufferings in war and eventually in the hands of the enemies were prophesied by Moses as a severe warning to them. Their unusual tragedies would be allowed by the hands of God because they did not keep their covenant with God.

Though today believers are under grace and not the law, we still have a choice. Do we follow the Spirit or our old fleshly nature? "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans 8:6)