February 6, 2022 - Deuteronomy 7-9
I just get so encouraged when I read through all this history of God's dealings with Israel. Moses says to Israel: “He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. . . . You shall be blessed above all peoples” (7:13,14). Also: “And if they say, ‘These nations are greater than I. How can I dispossess them?’” (7:15), they should not be afraid; rather, they should remember all that the Lord has already done and know that he will continue to fight for them and bless them. Never must Israel say: “My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth” (7:17). Rather, Moses instructs, “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (7:18).
But God also said to Israel, “The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land” (8:1) and “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes” (8:11) and “Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth’” (8:17). All that Israel had, and we have, is by the good grace of God. But, also, always there is a certain way, then, that we must live as God’s people. Moses called the people to this life, and all the Bible calls us to the same.
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
there is no shadow of turning with thee.
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! -- Thomas O. Chisholm (1923)