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Day 59 – Thru the Bible
Today we continue through Deuteronomy and Psalms. We also continue the video series on the Shema.
Video – Lev:Heart
You can learn more about The Shema prayer here About – The Shema.
How does this video help you understand the Shema prayer better?
Deuteronomy 17 – Stated negatively, Israel’s king was not to acquire excessive horses, wives, or silver and gold, so that he would not turn away from trusting in the Lord by trusting in earthly resources. Stated positively, Israel’s king was to trust in the Lord, demonstrated by his reading the Scriptures and putting them into practice, so as to secure the blessings of the kingdom in the present and the future. Even Israel’s best kings, however, failed in this regard (2 Samuel 24:1–17; 1 Kings 11:3).
King Jesus had no earthly resources to speak of (Matthew 8:20) and relied completely on His Father (Matthew 26:39; Luke 23:46). He knew the Scriptures and lived them perfectly (Luke 2:52; Hebrews 4:15).
We, like Israel’s ancient kings, are continually tempted to trust in our own earthly resources. How can we find all we need in Jesus and be reminded to rely entirely on Him? Hint: Hebrews 12:1–3.
Jesus was the true and final King, who lived as every king before Him was supposed to, yet He was put on a cross and treated like a common criminal—so that we, by nature criminals, can freely receive the benefits of the true King.
What are some of the benefits we receive being in Christ? Hint: Mark 10:45; 2 Corinthians 5:21.
Deuteronomy 18 – Moses was unique among the prophets (Numbers 12:6–8) and was the first in a long line of prophets (Deuteronomy 18:15) who would be inspired by God to speak God’s word to the people. The Israelites could recognize a true prophet, because his word never failed to come to pass.
Moses promised that God would raise up “a prophet”. How can we know that Jesus is the Prophet Moses was pointing us toward? Hint: John 6:14; and 7:40.
How do we know that Moses is a foreshadow of Jesus? Hint: Hebrews 3:3.
Deuteronomy 19 – God’s grace can be seen in His provision of “six cities of refuge” (Numbers 35:6). These cities provided a safe haven for someone who accidentally took the life of another person and so did not deserve the death penalty. They did not, however, provide safe haven for those guilty of murder.
In the gospel, how do we see an amplification of this grace principle—God providing a safe haven for those who do deserve the death penalty? Hint: Romans 6:23.
How does life in this safe haven enable us to serve in a new way? Hint: Romans 7:6.
Deuteronomy 20 – God demonstrated a balanced perspective when He gave wartime legislation. He allowed use but prohibited abuse. He allowed the chopping down of non-fruit-bearing trees to be used as siege works. He also allowed the use of fruit for human sustenance, but prohibited the chopping down of fruit trees as abuse, since the long-term loss outweighed the short-term gain. These trees, which Israel had not planted, were part of Israel’s inheritance and were intended for Israel’s long-term enjoyment in the kingdom.
In the New Covenant, how does Jesus provide for our long-term enjoyment?
Psalm 59 – David’s grasp of God’s redemptive plan provides a counterintuitive perspective on a terrifying siege by Saul’s men (1 Samuel 19:11). By faith David understands that his situation must be desperate in order to prove that God is the only fortress. The utter evil of his enemies’ hearts were turned inside out so that God’s steadfast love could be clearly displayed.
David calls for God to display His grace by consuming His enemies with exhibitions of superior power, until all “know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth”.
Where do we see the ultimate exhibition of such gospel power in the New Testament? Hint: 1 Corinthians 15.
In union with Jesus, believers may still suffer unjustly as they participate in the expansion of the kingdom (Romans 8:17).
How does our apparent weakness in suffering only provide further evidence of God’s infinite power to use the weakest instruments? Hint: 1 Corinthians 1:27; Colossians 2:15.
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.