double-edged witness

Posted on June 15, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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double-edged witness

Deuteronomy 31:23-27 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 31:23 Yahveh commanded Joshua son of Nun, and this is what he said, “Be strong and tough, because you will bring the Israelites into the land I swore to them, and I will be with you.”
Deuteronomy 31:24 When Moses had finished writing down on a scroll every single word of this instruction,
Deuteronomy 31:25 he commanded the Levites who carried the ark of Yahveh’s covenant, and this is what he said:
Deuteronomy 31:26 “Take this book of the instruction and place it beside the ark of the covenant of Yahveh your God so that it may stay there as a witness against you.
Deuteronomy 31:27 You see, I know how rebellious and hard-necked you are. Notice, if you are rebelling against Yahveh now, while I am still alive, how much more will you rebel after I am dead!

double-edged witness

The scroll inside the Ark of the Covenant was a witness of that covenant. As such, if the Israelites obeyed, it would witness to that obedience in favor of the Israelites. But if they disobeyed, this same sword would manifest its other edge. Moses told the Levites to put the book in there as a witness against the people. Every act of rebellion and unfaithfulness was already recorded in the scroll.

The Bible is a faithful witness of God’s grace and love, demonstrated by Christ. But it is also a double-edged sword, attesting to every act of rebellion and transgression and omitted act of righteousness. By it we learn how high and holy God is, and how low and depraved we can be. We travel with that witness. It helps us stay true to the one who called us to himself, and commands repentance when we fail him.

Lord, thank you for your sacred word, a double-edged witness.

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the other verses

Posted on June 14, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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the other verses

Deuteronomy 31:19-22 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 31:19 Therefore write down this song for yourselves and teach it to the Israelites; place it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for me against the Israelites.
Deuteronomy 31:20 When I bring them into the land I swore to give their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey, they will eat their fill and prosper. They will turn to other gods and worship them, despising me and breaking my covenant.
Deuteronomy 31:21 And when many troubles and afflictions come to them, this song will testify against them, because their descendants will not have forgotten it. You see, I know what they are prone to do, even before I bring them into the land I swore to give them.”

the other verses

Moses wrote a song about what was going to happen. It predicted the conquest of the land, and the prosperity to follow. These verses ensured that the song would be remembered and repeated by the next generations. But then there were the other verses of the song. These would predict that Israel would turn to other gods and worship them, despising their God and breaking his covenant. Over time, these verses would drop off, as no one wanted to remember these predictions. But the prophets would keep reminding them. The whole song is important.

Lord, we confess that we don’t like to think about negative things, and we also are guilty of dropping off the other verses of your song. But help us to walk in integrity, paying attention to your whole word.

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noseburn and a hidden face

Posted on June 13, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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noseburn and a hidden face

Deuteronomy 31:17-18 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 31:17 My nose will burn at them on that day; I will abandon them and hide my face from them so that they will become easy prey. Many troubles and afflictions will come to them. On that day they will say, ‘Haven’t these troubles come to us because our God is no longer with us? ‘
Deuteronomy 31:18 I will certainly hide my face on that day because of all the evil they have done by turning to other gods.

noseburn and a hidden face

The Lord uses two anthropomorphic figures of speech to describe his attitude toward the Israelites after they rebel. To have a long nose is to be patient, but to have a burning nose is to be furious. To show your face is to make your presence known, but to hide your face is to ignore cries for help. Neither of these figures of speech can be taken literally, because God is normally invisible to us. But both of these figures of speech explain why for hundreds of years God only spoke to his rebellious people through prophets, and he seemed to have taken a holiday and left his people on their own.

But then Jesus came, and Israel saw the face of the God. In fact, all the nations can now know God, because his exact nature is now revealed in his Son. And Jesus does not have noseburn, and he has not hidden his face to us. He invites us to come to him, and he promises never to leave us.

Thank you Lord for your forgiveness, your grace and your presence.

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not the best news

Posted on June 12, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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not the best news

Deuteronomy 31:14-16 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 31:14 Yahveh said to Moses, ” Notice the time of your death is now approaching. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the conference tent so that I may command him.” When Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the conference tent,
Deuteronomy 31:15 Yahveh appeared at the tent in a column of cloud, and the cloud stood at the entrance to the tent.
Deuteronomy 31:16 Yahveh said to Moses, “Notice you are about to lie down with your fathers, and these people will soon prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will abandon me and break the covenant I have established with them.

not the best news

Imagine being Moses, and learning that this great covenant which you have promoted among your people would be soon abandoned and discarded by them. What a thing to learn at your retirement! It was not the best news.

Imagine being Joshua, and learning that this people you are about to take over the leadership of will not be loyal to the God who rescued them, but will seek a relationship with foreign gods instead. What a thing to learn as you are about to don the mantle of leadership! It was not the best news.

Both of these men of God were learning that the situation would not be the best. But they both clung to the God who is able to rescue them from an unpleasant future,and get the glory for the rescue.

Lord, the news we are learning is not the best, but we choose to trust you, even if we have to walk where we did not want to walk.

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read this instruction aloud

Posted on June 11, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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read this instruction aloud

Deuteronomy 31:9-13 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 31:9 Moses wrote down this instruction and he gave it to the priests, sons of Levi, who carried the ark of Yahveh’s covenant, and to all the elders of Israel.
Deuteronomy 31:10 Moses commanded them, and this is what he said: “At the end of every seven years, at the same time in the year of debt revoking, during the Festival of Huts,
Deuteronomy 31:11 when all Israel assembles in the presence of Yahveh your God at the place he chooses, you are to read this instruction aloud before all Israel.
Deuteronomy 31:12 Collect the people – men, women, dependents, and the guests within your city gates — so that they may listen and learn to fear Yahveh your God and be careful to do all the words of this instruction.
Deuteronomy 31:13 Then their children who do not know the instruction will listen and learn to fear Yahveh your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of.”

read this instruction aloud

Moses made sure that every child growing up in the land would have an opportunity to listen and learn God’s instruction. It was essential not only that the traditions be handed down, but also the history behind them be known. No one was excluded from these assemblies. No man, no woman, no child, not even the foreign guests and workers.

The content of our new covenant with Christ needs to be read aloud regularly as well. Without the words of the holy scriptures, our traditions become empty. Empowered by God’s word, those traditions can become means of passing on the glorious gospel.

Lord, instill in us a healthy pattern of reading your words.

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accompany and enable

Posted on June 10, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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accompany and enable

Deuteronomy 31:7-8 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 31:7 Moses then summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and tough, because you will go with this people into the land Yahveh swore to give to their fathers. You will enable them to take possession of it.
Deuteronomy 31:8 Yahveh is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

accompany and enable

No doubt Moses had spent lots of time with Joshua, prepping him for the tremendous task of leading the nation. He has this opportunity to get a final summary in. Here is an outline:

  • Joshua’s TASKS were to go with the nation into the land, and enable them to take possession of it.
  • Joshua’s arsenal was strength and toughness.
  • Joshua needed to avoid fear and discouragement.

Leaders in today’s congregation have the same two tasks, and can benefit from the same arsenal, and need to avoid the same traps.

Lord, give us leaders who can focus on the mission.

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with us through it all

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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with us through it all

Deuteronomy 31:4-6 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 31:4 Yahveh will do to them just what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and their land when he exterminated them.
Deuteronomy 31:5 Yahveh will give them over to your face, and you must do to them exactly as I have commanded you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and tough; don’t be afraid or terrified of their faces. You see, Yahveh your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.”

with us through it all

The mission of the Israelites required that they occupy the lands that God had given them, and God was judging the present occupants of those lands for their sins. But that did not mean that taking over the lands would be a cake walk. Fulfilling their mission was going to be a daunting task, and the Israelites had to be strong and tough, and not give in to fear.

Our mission under the covenant with Christ is not to occupy a land, but to spread the gospel to every land. The opposition we face will often be just as determined as those pagan nations were. So, we also must be strong and tough, and not give in to fear. We also have the assurance that Jesus will be with us through it all, and not leave or abandon us.

Thank you, Lord, that you are with us through it all.

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the future without us

Posted on June 8, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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the future without us

Deuteronomy 31:1-3 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 31:1 Then Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel,
Deuteronomy 31:2 saying, “I am now 120 years old; I am no longer able to continue to go out and come in. Yahveh has told me, ‘You will not cross the Jordan.’
Deuteronomy 31:3 Yahveh your God is the one who will cross ahead of you. He will exterminate these nations before you, and you will drive them out. Joshua is the one who will cross ahead of you, as Yahveh has said.

the future without us

There comes a time in a leader’s life when he or she realizes that there are no more battles. The only battle left for Moses was an internal one. He would have to muster the courage to help Joshua transition to full leadership. He had one more task — climbing the mountain he would die on. He had spent the last third of his life doing something that he is no longer able to continue. He knew this day would come, but it is never easy to transition to nothing.

But Moses has confidence in the future of this nation, because he knows Joshua, and more importantly, he knows the source of his own ability and strength. There is hope for the future because the Lord is still there.

Lord, thank you for your permanent power and presence. That is our confidence for the future without us.

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staying faithful to him

Posted on June 7, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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staying faithful to him

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call sky and land as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, empowerment and affliction. Choose life so that you and your descendants may stay alive,
Deuteronomy 30:20 care about Yahveh your God, obeying him, and staying faithful to him. Because he is your life, and he will prolong your days as you stay in the land Yahveh swore to give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

staying faithful to him

God’s covenant with Abraham is linked to his covenant with his descendants via the law of Moses. He had promised Abraham a land, and now that promise is fulfilled for his descendants. He had promised a future posterity, and the Israelites are part of that posterity. He had promised Abraham a blessing, and that blessing is being poured out on his descendants. But all of these promises are conditional for the Israelites. Neither the land, nor the blessing, nor their own continued existence is a given. They have to choose every promise for themselves.

It is the same for the new covenant. There are numerous blessings for us in Christ. But we must take hold of every one of them by faith, and demonstrate that faith with faithfulness. The faithfulness of God is not at issue. The question of the hour is whether we who are called will be faithful.

Lord, we are prone to wander. Take our hearts and seal them. We plead for faithful hearts.

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his mission

Posted on June 6, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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his mission

Deuteronomy 30:15-18 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 30:15 See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity.
Deuteronomy 30:16 You see, I am commanding you today to care about Yahveh your God, to walk in his ways, and to watch his commands, prescriptions, and rules, so that you may stay alive and multiply, and Yahveh your God may empower you in the land you are entering to take possession of.
Deuteronomy 30:17 But if your heart turns away and you do not listen and you are led astray to bow in worship to other gods and serve them,
Deuteronomy 30:18 I tell you today that you will certainly be destroyed and will not prolong your days in the land you are entering to take possession of across the Jordan.

his mission

Why was obedience so important for the Israelites at this time? For hundreds of years, the Israelites had languished in a foreign land, and God had not spoke to them, or demanded much of them. Now, all of a sudden, he rescues them from slavery, and then slaps them with a mountain of laws and regulations. What gives?

The answer is his mission. The Israelites now have a mission — to draw the nations to God by demonstrating his holiness. Being faithful to the covenant was their way of carrying out the mission. Staying true to the mission would result in life and prosperity; failing the mission would bring death and adversity.

This is the same God who has rescued us from our sins by the death of Christ on the cross. What do we think would happen if people who claim to be saved by Jesus turn against his mission?

Lord, make us a people consistently dedicated to your mission.

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