March 6, 2021
The Lord is Faithful
Moses’s first speech serves as a historical prologue that was common in ancient covenant treaties. Deuteronomy 1-3 reminds Israel of their recent history to show them how the Lord their God has come through on their behalf. Deuteronomy 4 is an exhortation to trust the Lord again as Moses transitions from their history to the law.
When the Lord gave Og the king of Bashan into the hand of Israel, He defeated the same giants that the spies feared in their initial report in Numbers 13:28-33. Og was the last remnant of the giant “Rephaim”, and his bed was over 13 feet long and 6 feet wide! Moses reminds the people that no giant could stand against the purposes that the Lord had for His people.
Moses concludes his initial speech with an exhortation to Israel to enter the Promised Land with faith instead of fear. He reflects on how amazing it is that the God who “created man on the earth” (Deuteronomy 4:32) would reveal himself to Israel and fight on their behalf. He warns Israel to remain faithful to their covenant as He has remained faithful to them.
“But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.” - Deuteronomy 4:29
As Jesus journeys to Jerusalem, he takes the twelve aside to foretell his impending death for the third time. Like before, his disciples show their failure to grasp Jesus’ mission when James and John ask for special places of honor in His kingdom.
Jesus assures them that they will suffer for the sake of His name, but their idea of greatness must be turned upside-down. Jesus shows that his eternal messianic rule will be marked by humility and self-sacrificial love.
As they draw closer to Jerusalem, Jesus is approached by a blind man begging to be healed. Ironically, this blind man sees what some do not. He calls Jesus the “Son of David,” a title that portrays Jesus as the promised king to rule Israel and the nations.
Make It Personal
- Think back to a time when the Lord acted on your behalf. Now, think of a situation where you need His help today. How can remembering the Lord’s past faithfulness help you trust Him again today?
- Jesus said that whoever wants to be great must be a servant. What does it look like for you to serve those around you?
Learn More
Want to learn more about how the laws given to Israel in Deuteronomy were so important? Check out this message from the Bible Project about God’s wisdom on display in Deuteronomy.