The Meaning of God’s Law: Deuteronomy 6 (3)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 115.1-3
Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.
Why should the Gentiles say,
“So where is their God?”
But our God is in heaven;
He does whatever He pleases.

Psalm 115.1-3
(Plainfield: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus)
Not to us, O God, not us, but unto Your Name give glory!
For Your love and faithfulness, ever to Your Name be glory!
Why should the nations cry, “Where is their God on high?”
You rule us, Lord, on high: Ever to Your Name be glory!

Today’s Text: Deuteronomy 6.10-15

Preparation
1. What kinds of things can distract us from following the Lord?

2. How does God respond when His people trust anything other than Him?

Meditation
Things haven’t changed much since Moses’ day. God knew His people could become easily distracted from serving Him by all the good things He would lavish upon them. Moses took pains to remind the people of Israel that these good gifts – cities, homes, wells, abundance of food – would come to them from God (vv. 10, 11). They must not forget that He Who saved them from Egypt saves them every day (v. 12).

The key to remembering the Lord’s goodness is to fear and serve Him, and to make all our commitments in His Name only (v. 13). We should fear the Lord because, as we have seen, “the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” (Deut. 4.24). He hates ingratitude, and He becomes angry when His people put their trust in anything other than Him (Deut. 6.15). When God is angry enough to discipline His people, it is because we have strayed from His righteous path, and He is determined to bring us back to it (Heb. 12.3-11).

The more conscientious we are in serving the Lord and taking His Name upon us in all we do, the less likely we will be to fancy false gods or walk in wicked ways (v. 13). Remembering God is a moment-by-moment discipline. But if we consider how great and good He is, how He saved and daily saves us, and that every good and perfect gift in our lives comes from Him (Jms. 1.17), remembering the Lord and serving Him will not be a burden, but a delight.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Before Paul lists the many ways human beings exchange the truth of God for the lie, he says this: “…they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful…” (Rom. 1.20, 21). Preceding any of the outward manifestations of sin, for which people are quick to judge others, we are confronted with the glaring sin of being ungrateful and unthankful to God for all the mercy He has shown us. God is gracious to give us the same warning that He gave to the Israelites: “…beware, lest you forget the LORD” (Deut. 6.12). We did nothing to earn the gift of salvation – like the Israelites and the promised land: They didn’t build it, or fill it, or hew it, or plant it. They just showed up, and God gave it to them. They should have been thankful forever. And what about us? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3.16). Remember to fear God, serve Him, and give Him thanks. We have been given so much! “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9.15)

Reflection
1. What does it mean to “remember to fear” God? Why must we do this?

2. How should we practice the “moment-by-moment discipline” of remembering God?

3. How can believers help one another to remember the Lord?

Since wealth and prosperity for the most part blind men's minds, so that they do not sufficiently attend to modesty and moderation, but rather grow wanton in their lusts, and intoxicate themselves with pleasures, God prescribes against this error by anticipation. For not without cause does he admonish them to beware lest they forget God, when they shall have been liberally and luxuriously treated by Him, but because he knew this to be a common vice, for abundance to beget arrogance… John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Deuteronomy 6.10

Give me a grateful heart, O Lord, so that I fear and serve You as I…

Closing Prayer: Psalm 115.9-18
Commit your day to the Lord. Trust only in Him for all your needs. Ask Him to increase in you and through you, and to help you in being a good steward of all that He has entrusted to you.

Psalm 115.9-18
(Plainfield: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus)
All who trust in Jesus yield – ever to His Name be glory! –
find in Him their help and shield – ever to Your Name be glory!
O Israel, trust the Lord!  He helps us evermore!
Fear Him obey His Word: Ever to Your Name be glory!

Blessings from our gracious Lord – ever to Your Name be glory –
will attend us evermore – ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless all who fear You, Lord, all who obey Your Word,
all who Your Name adore: Ever to Your Name be glory!

Grant us, Savior, great increase – ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless us with eternal peace – ever to Your Name be glory!
Heaven and earth are Yours; let every soul adore
and bless You evermore: Ever to Your Name be glory!

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy: Ancient Christian Commentary Series III, Joseph T. Lienhard, S. J. ed. in collaboration with Ronnie J. Rombs, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001). All quotations from John Calvin from John Calvin, Commentaries on The Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Order of A Harmony, Rev. Charles William Bingham M. A., tr. and ed. (Edinburgh: The Calvin Translation Society, 1863. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).