Oh, today’s readings are so rich! (Deuteronomy 3-8) Where to begin?

The commentary on today's reading says that the purpose of the law was to bring them into a proper relationship with God and to regulate their conduct. The law was the instrument for measuring.  It was through the law that the people could have a relationship with God and the law measured their conduct.  Today we have Jesus as our instrument for measuring.  It is through Jesus that we can have a close personal relationship.  Jesus is our role model on how to behave.  Jesus is now our righteousness.

Deuteronomy 6:25

And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.

Moses reminds the people that when God SPOKE the Ten Commandments to them, He added nothing more. If only they had listened to God then, and gone in to the land that He promised them, there would have been no need to add all the other regulations, commandments, stipulations, decrees, laws, etc. They would not have even had to build the tabernacle. They could have just gone into the land, straight to Jerusalem and built the temple. God even says to them that if they will keep his commandments, believe Him, trust Him, obey Him, follow Him, make no treaty with the inhabitants, destroy their idols, then they would be blessed that they would prosper, prolong their days, that things would go well with them and their children FOREVER! .....HELLO???

Their first big mistake was when God told them way back in Exodus 19 to listen to Him (God) speak to Moses so that they would put their trust in Moses. But did they listen? Of course not, they were afraid they would die if God Himself spoke to them. If they had heard God speak to Moses, maybe there wouldn't have been all those complaints against Moses.

Commandments concerning children were very specific. We are to talk about them when we sit, when we walk, when we lie down, and when we get up. In other words, we should take advantage of every opportunity to talk to our children about Him. If only we could live out His commands concerning the children. How different would our culture and our world look?

God was very clear about destroying the pagan altars, sacred stones, Asherah poles and idols of the nations. God warns that His people are not to serve other gods.  Do we do that today?  He said He would throw the people into confusion.  There is great confusion today concerning God's Holy Days. God set His people apart from the pagans and called them to be holy.

“Holy to the Lord” What a great phrase! The Lord chose us (believers in Jesus) to be His treasured possession.

We are warned to beware of pride. Pride – what a debilitating attribute! Often we forget to thank Him when things are going well but are quick to turn to Him in times of trouble.

Did we say today’s readings are rich???