Remember!: Deuteronomy 7-9  (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 8.1-11

Preparation
1. What did Moses expect the people to do with God’s Law?

2. Why should they do that?

Meditation
The word “remember” provides a linking force for Deuteronomy 7-9. It links by recurring use of key ideas and disciplines the people of God would need to attend to continuously. Chapter 7 begins with the reminder of God’s love, and chapter 9 ends with the reminder of how Moses appealed to God’s love on behalf of His people. As we have seen thus far, God through Moses called the people to remember His love for them and the promises He gave to their forebears. As the people “looked back” at their history, they would be renewed in these important aspects of God’s covenant, and more likely to remain devoted to Him.

In today’s text, the Law of God itself is in view. The idea of “remembering” God’s Law appears at the end of our text, in verse 11, where Israel is admonished not to “forget” the Lord by failing to keep (literally, “guard”) His commandments (NKJV: “be careful”, v. 1; “keep”, v. 6, “keeping”, v. 11).

That word “guard” provides an image for how we are to remember God’s Law. A good picture of how to think about this word is the way it is used in Genesis 2.15 and 3.24. In Genesis 2.15, God instructed Adam to “serve” and “guard” the garden. By serving it, he tended actively to whatever would cause the garden to increase in order, beauty, and fruitfulness. By guarding it, he would keep out whatever frustrated his service to the garden.

Adam’s failure to “guard” the garden led to sin, which affects even God’s beautiful creation. Adam and Eve were driven from the garden to live in the sinful world they had brought into being; and God set angels and a flaming sword to “guard” the garden against their return (Gen. 3.24).

“Guarding” carries the meaning of continuous vigilance, ongoing defense, and careful obedience. We “remember” God’s Law when we “guard” it like this. As we look back to how God has saved and blessed us, and how He has tested and cared for us (vv. 2-4), we will be moved to “remember” and “guard” His Law, so that we “walk in His ways” and “fear Him” (cf. 1 Jn. 2.1-6). Keeping in mind all that God promises us for faithful obedience (vv. 7-9) can also help us in remembering to guard His Law, for doing so is the key to living in the love and promises of God (v. 11).

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna…” (Deut. 8.2, 3). “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5.6, 7). God always looks to see what is in the heart of His people. “Keep your heart with all diligence, for from it spring the issues of life” (Prov. 4.23). Similarly, He leads us, humbles and tests us in various ways to know what is in our hearts. He does all this because He loves us and cares for us, too. We need to remember that.

Reflection
1. How would you explain to a new believer what it means to “guard” the commandments of God?

2. What can you do each day to “remember” how much God loves you? Why is it important to do this?

3. Knowing that God looks to see what is in your heart, what do you want Him to see as He looks there?

Therefore Moses not only commands the Israelites not to be ungrateful to God, but warns them to guard themselves (for he uses this word for to beware) from that impious ingratitude. He immediately after uses this same word for the keeping of the Law. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Deuteronomy 8.11

Lord, help me guard Your Law today as I…

Closing Prayer: Psalm 115.9-18
Consider the day ahead in prayer. What blessings of God do you seek? How will you remember to guard His Law throughout the day?

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).