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Day 57 – Thru the Bible
Today we continue through Deuteronomy and Psalms. We’re also continuing the Shema video series.
Video – Ahavah:Love
You can learn more about The Shema prayer here About – The Shema.
How does this video help you understand the Shema prayer better?
Deuteronomy 13 – Starting in last chapter (verses 12:29–13:18), loyalty to God, because of His grace, is the theme of this section. Israel was not to “follow” other gods (12:30), “go after other gods” (13:2), or “serve other gods” (13:6, 13). Rather, they were to love God with complete loyalty (13:3). Why? Because in His great grace, God had brought them out of slavery (13:5, 10) and dispossessed the Canaanites (12:29) in fulfillment of His gracious promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (13:17). Israel was to demonstrate this loyalty based on grace by not being conformed to the ways of the Canaanites (12:30–32), but rather walking in the ways of the Lord (13:4, 18).
How is this same pattern articulated in the New Testament by the apostle Paul? Hint: Romans 12:1–15:13
As God’s redeemed and utterly secure children, it is our delight to yield ourselves fully to the Lord and His ways.
Deuteronomy 14 – Israel was to observe various ceremonial laws—for example, those pertaining to clean and unclean food. To be ceremonially clean was symbolic of being holy. This explains why this text on clean and unclean food is bracketed by references to Israel being “a people holy to the Lord.”
In the New Covenant, why has the requirement to observe these ceremonial laws been done away with? Hint: Colossians 2:16–23; Hebrews 10:1-25.
Psalm 57 – God’s glory is His mercy, and His mercy evokes a believer’s “glory” (see Exodus 34:6). Anyone else looking at David’s situation would have concluded that he was utterly vulnerable, cowering as he was in a cave, hiding from Saul (see 1 Samuel 22:1). But with his eyes of faith set on the Lord, David felt himself to be hidden in the “shadow” of God’s wings.
The secret to David’s confidence is getting God’s attributes in clear view. Recalling God’s sovereignty assures David that God will “fulfill His purpose” to bring the Savior from David’s line. A clear view of God’s grace in Christ inspires Christians to pursue with faithfulness God’s purpose for their lives (Acts 11:23). His omnipotence means God is more powerful than any enemies of His church. And His omnipresence shows that his “steadfast love and His faithfulness” are sent forth to every corner of the earth and heavens, to accomplish His purposes on behalf of His people.
God’s purpose for David’s life was fulfilled in Jesus. How is this true for us, as well? Hint: 1 Corinthians 15:58.
What other thoughts or questions does today’s video and reading bring up?
Some of these notes are from the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible study notes. We highly recommend this study Bible.
Videos produced by www.TheGospelProject.com.
All links you need to be a part of this are here – Thru the Bible in 2018.