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Day 61 – Thru the Bible
Today we continue through Deuteronomy, Psalms, and the Shema prayer video series.
Video – Nephesh:Soul
You can learn more about The Shema prayer here About – The Shema.
How does this video help you understand the Shema prayer better?
Deuteronomy 24 – In this chapter Moses is recounting many of the laws for the people to remember as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.
Verse 16 is interesting in that normal criminal law in the Old Testament did not permit substitutionary death for capital offenses. Individuals were to pay for their own sins.
Yet, what do we know about Jesus’ death as it relates to us? Hint: Romans 3:21–26; 5:18-19; 6:3-4; Galatians 3:13-14; Ephesians 2:13-16; Colossians 1:19-20; 3:1-4.
This is our new identity. We are no longer in Adam but in Jesus (Romans 5:12–19; 1 Corinthians 15:20–22).
Deuteronomy 25 – In the Old Testament, as well as in other cultures, it was the responsibility of a brother to produce a child with a deceased brother’s wife, if the deceased brother was childless. One reason for this practice was so that family land would not be lost. But the reason given in our text is “that his name may not be blotted out of Israel” (v. 6). The desire to continue the name was a desire to continue the family line.
This desire to continue the family line was rooted in the promise made to Abraham that he would have many descendants (Genesis 17:6–8), and this promise was rooted in the promise that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). At the heart of both of these promises was the hope of a coming Redeemer. So the responsibility of a brother to produce a child with a deceased brother’s wife was an exercise of faith in the promise of God that a Redeemer would one day come, perhaps from this very family line.
How do we know that this was successful? Hint: Galatians 4:4-5.
Deuteronomy 26 – The first portion of the harvest was to be given to God in response to His past grace and as a sign of trust in His continuing and future provision. The firstfruits acknowledged God’s gracious promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and also were a recognition of God’s gracious redemption, culminating in Israel’s entrance into the land. This thanksgiving response was to be joyful.
In the new covenant, believers themselves are the firstfruits (2 Thessalonians 2:1; James 1:18, and we have received the “firstfruits of the Spirit” (Romans 8:23).
As the firstfruits in the old covenant were a foretaste of the full harvest, what are the firstfruits of the Holy Spirit a foretaste of for all who believe in Jesus? Hint: 1 Corinthians 15:20-23.
Jesus in His glorified, resurrected body is the first installment of the one great harvest in which all those who are in Him will participate.
Deuteronomy 27 – It is important NOT to read these curse portions of Deuteronomy (27:9–26 and 28:15–68) in isolation from the overall and culminating message of God’s desire for His people to “choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
While this list of curses makes it clear that the Lord’s reproach may fall upon individuals for their sin and upon the nation for a time, God remains faithful to His covenant people and purpose, maintaining His plan to fulfill His promises and fellowship again with all who repent of their sin.
God clearly warns of the consequences of sin by these words of cursing, but the purpose of the warning is to turn His people from paths of destruction for themselves, their families, and the larger community. Grace is never absent from God’s heart or purpose even as He gives His people these dire warnings.
If keeping of the law were our only hope, we would all be cursed along with the wayward Israelites. It is perhaps 27:26 that James has in mind when he says, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it” (James 2:10). Since no one can keep the law without failing, all have sinned and fallen short (Romans 3:23). The consequence of this failure is death (Romans 6:23), the ultimate curse.
But through his life, death, and resurrection, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us . . . so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come” to us (Galatians 3:13–14). Blessing, not curse! Another was cursed in our place. This is good news!
How does this truth draw you closer to Jesus in worship?
Psalm 61 – That one can bless many is a critically important principle in Scripture (Romans 5:15). David leads his people to pray for the king to be faithful to God. If their king’s heart finds its courage in God’s protection, their nation will be secure. They appeal not merely for longevity but for covenant succession. If this is true in their rulers, then generations of citizens will experience the steadfastness of God’s love and observe the faithfulness of their Great Shepherd.
Ultimately, as David prepared his people to anticipate a saving King, this Psalm exhorts us to pray for Jesus’ worldwide mission to succeed.
Who is this message of grace for? Hint: Revelation 7:9–11.
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.