Next Stage in God’s Covenant: Deuteronomy 30, 31 (6)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 33.1-3
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Praise the LORD with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

Psalm 33.1-3
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
Sing with rejoicing in the Lord, for praise becomes His righteous ones!
With harps and songs raise grateful words, and let new songs of praise be sung!

Today’s Text: Deuteronomy 31.24-29

Preparation
1. What did Moses tell them to do with the book of the Law? Why?

2. What did Moses foresee about Israel’s future?

Meditation
Moses had just finished writing out the Book of the Law. Now he instructed the Levites to set the book he had written beside the ark of the covenant. Inside that ark were the two tablets holding the Ten Commandments. Moses had written the Law again in his Book, and had added many words of background, explication, promise, and warning. He said the Book would be a “witness” against them, because it would always be present to indict them of their sins and call them back to the Lord.

How did Moses know what would happen to Israel, especially in “the last days” (v. 29)? God had told him, and now Moses was telling the officers of the people so that, if it were possible, they might be on continuous guard against the falling away and discipline God threatened through Moses.

The people to whom Moses spoke did not have a heart for God. They were eager to gain the land of promise, and many of them would be faithful and obedient to the Lord. But on the whole, following the great successes of the book of Joshua, the book of Judges looms. Hard-hearted people have a hard time hearing the Word of God. May that never be so with us.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Witness” as a noun is an attestation of a fact or event: testimony. “Witness” as a verb means to testify: to attest. “Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there as a witness against you” (v. 26). This Book was an attestation to their utterly corrupt behavior because it would testify of the obvious contrast between what they were doing and what God wanted them to do. Without knowing the Law, we are unable to discern that we have broken the Law (Rom. 7.7). We have to be reminded of the Law and our complete inability to keep it perfectly, in order to appreciate the magnitude of God’s gift to us in Jesus Christ. Without seeing and reading the Word of God daily, we tend to forget what brings the blessing and the cursing. We are “like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was” (Jms. 1.23, 24). But when we are in the Word daily, we are better able to remember all God wants us to do and be and appreciate. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matt. 24.14). The Book of the Law, the goodness of God, salvation through Jesus, and our loving Him and living for Him: This is the continuing witness that brings life.

Reflection
1. In what sense is the Bible a witness against us?

2. What should we do when the Bible witnesses against us?

3. What can believers do to help one another be consistent in reading and following God’s Word?

This, indeed, we must remember, that the volume was placed near the Ark in token of its dignity, so that, when it was taken from thence by the Levites, it might be listened to with greater reverence. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Deuteronomy 31.24-29

Help me always to revere and cherish Your Word, O Lord, so that I…

Closing Prayer: Psalm 33.4-12
Thank God for His Word. Ask Him to show Jesus to you more consistently from every section of the Bible.

Psalm 33.4-12
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
Joyfully shout! His Word is true; He does His work in faithfulness.
His love prevails the whole world through; the Lord loves truth and righteousness.

God spoke and heaven came to be, and all its hosts His Spirit wrought.
He heaps the waters of the sea; the deeps their dwelling place are taught.

Let all below now fear the Lord; let all in awe of Him abide!
The worlds exist by Jesus’ Word; let all on earth in Him confide.

He nullifies the nations’ plans; forever stands His sov’reign Word.
All they are blessed who with Him stand – the chosen people of the Lord.

T. M. and Susie Moore

Listen to our summary of last week’s study in Deuteronomy by clicking here. You can download all the studies in the series by clicking here. And check out our current ReVision series on encouragement.

If you find Scriptorium helpful in your walk with the Lord, please seek the Lord, asking Him whether you should contribute to the support of this daily ministry with your financial gifts. As the Lord leads, you can use the Contribute button at the website to give with a credit card or through PayPal, or you can send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 360 Zephyr Road, Williston, VT 05495.

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).