Blessing and Curse: Deuteronomy 10, 11 (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 10.14-22

Preparation
1. How did Moses describe the greatness of God?

2. In view of God’s greatness, what should Israel do?

Meditation
The great value in being the people of God is to know God. Moses emphasized this over and over to the people assembled on the plain of Moab. God was about to bless them with a beautiful and fruitful land. But that was not their greatest blessing. Their greatest blessing was to know the Lord.

In these verses, Moses exhorted the people to keep their focus on God, on His greatness (v. 14), love (v. 15), exclusivity and might (v.17), purity and justice (vv. 17, 18), and on His care for the least among them (vv. 18, 19). “He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen” (v. 21).

The proper response of God’s people is to fear this great God, and to serve Him, hold fast to Him, and take oaths in His Name (v. 20). God has abundantly saved and blessed His people (v. 22); He is the great blessing they should cherish; they must not give in to idols, and they must not lust for things.

In verse 16 Moses called on the people of God to “circumcise” their heart and cease rebelling against the Lord. That must have provoked some questions on the part of those who heard it. In fact, Moses would later explain, only God can circumcise the heart (Deut. 30.1-10); and He does so by His Spirit, Who takes away our heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh, that we might believe in Jesus and receive His Law in our heart, to know, love, and serve Him unto righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Gal. 4.6; Ezek. 36.26, 27; Rom. 14.17, 18).

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Your Word.” “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.” “Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.” “And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live” (Ps. 119.67, 71; Deut.  10.16; 30.6). The painful cutting away of our old nature brings obedience and life to us, if we acquiesce in the healing and renewing work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5.17).

Reflection
1. How would you be able to know your heart had been “circumcised”?

2. Why is this a necessary work in us? Why can only God perform this work?

3. What can prevent or distract us from keeping our focus on the Lord Jesus Christ at all times?

He again enforces upon them the grace, on account of which we have seen that the people were under obligation to God; because this was the most effectual observation for moving them to submit themselves to their deliverer, to whom they were reminded that they owed altogether themselves and all that they had. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Deuteronomy 10.14

Set my heart to know You, Lord, that I may increase in love for You and…

Closing Prayer: Psalm 115.9-18
Thank God for His many blessings, but especially for the blessing of knowing Him through Jesus Christ our Lord. Pray that you might increase in the knowledge of Jesus, and serve Him for His glory today.

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).