TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Amos 5
The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. - Isaiah 59:15b
TODAY IN THE WORD
When 26 lynchers were turned loose in Greenville, South Carolina in 1947, Peter Marshall, chaplain of the United States Senate, told a congregation packed with Souther-ners, “Yes, Justice wears a blindfold, but that does not hold her tears.” Marshall acknowledged the failure of the legal system in this case to restore justice. And in today’s passage we can see God’s tears as He surveys the lack of justice among His people.

At peace for the first time in generations, Israel was carrying on a love affair with luxury, when a simple farmer from the southern nation of Judah confronted them in the name of God. Israel and Judah split about 170 years before, and Amos was apalled at the pagan preoccupations of the northern nation. People eagerly pursued material possessions, built shrines, and worshiped idols. And still they looked forward to “the day of the Lord,” when God would bestow further blessing and power on their country (v. 18). Instead, God sent Amos to decry the rampant injustice in their nation.

Amos mourned over the nation’s fate. The Lord’s chosen nation had turned from her bridegroom and embraced idolatry and selfishness. But Amos spends little time condemning the nation for their idol worship, other than to mark God’s disregard for their sacrifices (vv. 18–22). Instead, he focuses on what he sees and hears in every marketplace: dishonest business practices and oppression of the poor (v. 11), privilege bought with money and bribery in the courts (v. 12). Corruption had become so pervasive that the realistic Israelite knew to keep his mouth shut in any legal dispute, for he would find no justice even in the courts (v. 13).

The book of Amos talks about injustice more than any other book of the Bible. The Israelites congratulated themselves on making God fit into their lives. But in fact, God did not “fit.” And through Amos, He proclaimed the truth that being in right relationship with Him results in justice for all.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Imagine that Amos came to the Unites States, to your city, your community today. What message would God send this modern-day Amos to deliver? Spend some time contemplating this scenario. What would he see in your marketplaces, on your streets, and in your courts? If he were to follow you around for a week and look at your checkbook and any personal files, what would he say? And how would you respond to him?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 4:14-30
I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. - Isaiah 42:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
In Lady Holland’s Memoir, Sydney Smith writes, “Truth is justice’s handmaid, freedom is its child, peace is its companion, safety walks in its steps, victory follows in its train: it is the brightest emanation from the gospel.” And indeed, the vertical and horizontal dimensions of justice are central to the New Testament wherein God made Himself man, in order to bring men into a right relationship with Himself.

The scene in today’s passage follows Christ’s temptation in the dessert. The reception He received at the synagogue in Nazareth was typical for a visiting rabbi or person of distinction, indicating that Jesus had already entered public life. And when He was given the opportunity to read from the prophetic books, He used the platform to support His claim to be the Messiah. Turning to the opening verses of Isaiah 61, He outlined His unique mission from God--to preach good news to the poor, to free prisoners, heal the blind, and release the oppressed (vv. 18–19).

By reading this passage, Jesus also proclaimed the prophecy fulfilled and reasserted the primacy of justice to His message. He singled out the poor, prisoners, the sick, and the oppressed as special targets for His ministry. But a close look at Luke’s theology reveals that these terms have spiritual implications as well. Christ’s words and deeds are good news to those whose bondage can be demonic and their blindness spiritual. Whereas the Old Testament gave special attention to the care of those in economic peril, the New Testament also shows how just relationships can benefit those in spiritual peril.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As Christians, we have a special relationship with God through Christ. We are redeemed by the blood of the Son of God to eternal life. But this doesn’t mean our soul is any more important or our sin any less horrendous than that of our unsaved neighbor. God desires to prosper and bless all of His creation, and it is painful when any part of that creation rejects Him. The Jews in today’s story lost sight of this. Take some time today to reflect on the truth that living a just life means that we remember Christ’s care for the sinner.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 5:1-6
The Lord is known by his justice. - Psalm 9:16a
TODAY IN THE WORD
It promised to be a night to remember. On Friday, October 18, 1991, the world-class Chicago Symphony presented the final concert in its year long celebration of the symphony’s one hundredth year. For the first time in the orchestra’s history, the present conductor, Daniel Barenboim, and two former conductors, Rafael Kubelik and Georg Solti, stood on the same stage.

As Barenboim sat down at the piano and Solti lifted his baton to begin Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto, the beauty of the music took over. A few minutes later, however, at 9:15 p.m., the music began to unravel. Out in the auditorium a little beep sounded. Then another, and another. Little beeps were sounding everywhere. Barenboim and the symphony plowed ahead, but everyone was distracted and the music suffered. Finally, after the first movement ended, there was an explanation. At a celebration dinner before the concert, patrons had received souvenir clocks as gifts. The manufacturer of the clocks, had set the alarms to go off at 9:15 p.m. The only way to get on with the concert was for everyone to check their clocks with an usher.

This story illustrates how trivial things have power to disrupt what is truly important. Today’s Scripture passage also reveals how trivial things--in this case, it’s the riches and the pursuit of wealth--can disrupt the pursuit of a just relationship with God and other people.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Our culture glorifies triviality: magazine spreads spend valuable adjectives describing the latest fashion trend, talk shows present panelists with their critique of the latest verbal gaffes of our political leaders, and entertainment television programs present weighty matters like the latest Hollywood gossip. It’s easy to lose sight of what really matters in this life--living in a right relationship with God. Make a list of everything in your life that obscures your view of what really matters. Prayerfully present this list to God and ask Him to help you see the essential.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 3:7-14; James 5:3-4
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. - Psalm 89:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Earlier this month we read about a simple farmer named Amos who delivered God’s condemnation against the unjust nation of Israel. And in today’s reading we see that little has changed. The nation of Israel is occupied by the Romans, but the propensity of mankind towards selfishness remains strong. And two New Testament writers echo Amos’ words to the nation of Israel of their day.

Luke recorded John the Baptist’s fiery message of repentance delivered to a crowd that included Jewish religious leaders, tax collectors, and soldiers. He told the Jews that being a child of Abraham was less important than having a contrite spirit. “For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Luke 3:9). To avoid such judgment, John told the crowd that it was their responsibility to share with the less fortunate. Tax collectors were not told to quit their jobs but to carry out their duties with scrupulous fairness and honesty. Bullying soldiers were commanded to refrain from the summary appropriation of other’s goods and then lying to cover their tracks.

James painted a vivid picture of the ultimate worthlessness of material possessions when he spoke against the rich Jews of Jerusalem. He echoed Jesus by prophesying the destruction of their fortune, teaching against storing up wealth here on earth where thieves steal and moths destroy.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
“To be perfectly just is an attribute of the divine nature; to be so to the utmost of our abilities is the glory of man,” said the British poet Joseph Addison. In today’s Scripture, God once again asserts His intention that we live just lives.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15
This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.” - Zechariah 7:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Earlier in the month, we mentioned the story of how author Bodie Thoene reaped the benefits of the generosity of John Wayne. We also read about the Israeli man named Boaz and how God used his generosity to provide for the needs of a Moabite woman named Ruth--in accordance with the Mosaic Law found in Leviticus 19:9–10. In both situations, the men recognized that goodness did not originate in them. They had been blessed and were in turn a blessing to others. Today’s passage puts this message into a New Testament context and testifies to the importance of generosity among Christians.

In this passage, Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church encouraged the believers “in the service of the saints” (8:4), which involved a collection of money intended to “supply the needs of God’s people” (9:12). This gift was probably the same one mentioned in 1 Corinthians 16:3 and intended for the Jeru-salem church. At the time of its writing, Paul was ministering in the Macedonian churches, and it is the generosity of these believers that he held up as an example to the Macedonians. But, as one commentary points out, the believers’ giving didn’t spring from human nature. It was the grace of God working through the people who gave their lives to the Lord.

The Old Testament Law required specific actions on the part of God’s people to help the less fortunate, the new covenant of faith requires much more of believers--sacrificial giving, helping others not out of obligation, but out of the abundance of God’s grace and love He gives to those who are faithful to Him. God, the Giver of all good gifts, provides abundantly for those who give and help others. “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (9:.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Biblical justice is not always fair. Our salvation itself is not based on fairness, but on love and compassion--God has given us immeasurably more than we can ever return. In the same way, we cannot equate justice in human relations with fairness. Instead, God’s grace should motivate us to meet the needs of others. Some will give more than others. This is unfair, but it is just. Today, evaluate your own attitudes toward helping other people financially. Are you preoccupied with what is fair? Or is the grace of God in your life more important for you?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10
Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. - Amos 5:15a
TODAY IN THE WORD
For many, the concepts of mercy and justice seem to be opposite to one another. How can God be both just and merciful? Throughout history God has expressed His demand for justice and has intervened to impress it on the various spheres of life through the Patriarchs, direct revelation, the prophets, and the apostles. We have seen God’s demand for justice continue unabated from the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, to the Mosaic Law, the words of the prophets, the ministry of Christ, and the establishment of the Church.

In a similar fashion, God has unceasingly intervened to impress grace and mercy on the world. “But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved” (vv. 4–5). The future establishment of a Kingdom marked by justice is an integral part of the hope given believers in the Bible.

However, since we are fallen creatures, our chances of reaching this Kingdom would be eliminated were it not for God’s mercy. And while the concepts are different, they are not contradictory. In fact, they are complimentary. According to David Clark, professor of theology and Christian thought at Bethel Seminary, it is only in the context of justice that we can understand the principle of mercy. For if there is no sense of justice or, more broadly, of morality, it doesn’t make sense to talk about sin and wrongdoing, and the need for mercy is gone. It only makes sense to talk about having mercy toward someone if we have standards by which we can judge people’s interactions.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The Law reveals our sinfulness and the grace of God. With this in mind, write down the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:1–17 on one side of a large index card or piece of paper. Tape the commandments to your bathroom mirror. Each morning, as you prepare for your day, read through the commandments and note to yourself areas in which you have failed. Then say a prayer to God, thanking Him for this gift of His Son to pay for your transgressions and forgive your sins.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 4
I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth. - Jeremiah 9:24b
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the spring of 1992, fourth-grade students in Portland, Maine, carried out an experiment. Their teacher, Pamela Trieu, was teaching the kids about the ocean, specifically about the Gulf Stream that flows along the East Coast and then turns toward Europe. According to Reuters, she had the kids put messages with their addresses in empty wine bottles, and then a fisherman took the twenty-one bottles away from shore and threw them into the ocean. They hoped that some of the bottles might drift to England. Three months later, two bottles washed up in Canada. The class heard nothing else and assumed that the rest of the bottles were lost at sea. Two years later, one of the students received a surprise letter from a girl in Pornichet, France. She found one of their bottles while walking with her father on the beach.

Our efforts at evangelism are often like tossing a bottle with a message into the ocean. We share the gospel with others however we can--giving them a piece of literature, a personal testimony, a prayer with someone in need. We may see no response and think our message is forgotten, “lost at sea.” But years later we learn that the Spirit of God--like the mighty Gulf Stream--has carried our message to its destination.

Today’s scripture reading points out that just dealings with unbelievers can also be a means of evangelism. Paul wrote the letter to Colossians while he was in jail for preaching what he calls “the mystery of Christ.” This mystery was the inclusion of Gentiles in the kingdom of God and many Jews were not happy about this development. Paul requested prayer that he would clearly proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles (v. 4).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today, think about all the people in your life who are not believers in Christ. Is your conversation with them always “full of grace” and “seasoned with salt”? Do you always make the most of every opportunity to communicate the love of Christ to them? Do they see the light of Jesus in your life? Commit these questions to prayer and ask God to show you how you can be a better witness of the gospel with your actions. Discuss your ideas with your small group at church or a Sunday School class.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 2:1-13
Do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. - Leviticus 19:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
It’s often said that 11 o’clock on Sunday morning is the most segregated hour of the week, as black and white, rich and poor, all file into different church sanctuaries across the nation. Rich and poor is perhaps the more widely separated pair since the two groups have little daily contact in our society. Very often it’s a difficult task to communicate the same message to both the very rich and the very poor. Hence, churches and sermons seem to be geared to one end of the spectrum or the other.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Think about your friends. As their faces come to your mind, ask yourself if there are any general statements that could be made about the group. For example, do you all live in the same neighborhood? Do you go to the same church? If you’re like most people, there probably isn’t a lot of diversity in your social circle. And while this isn’t innately wrong, it can lead to wrong attitudes and false ideas about people across our social boundaries. Ask the Lord for opportunities to develop genuine friendships with people outside of your standard group of friends and acquaintances.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 3:20-26
I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. - Matthew 12:18b
TODAY IN THE WORD
“They love one another. They never fail to help widows; they save orphans from those who would hurt them. If they have something, they give freely to the man who has nothing; if they see a stranger, they take him home, and are happy as though he were a real brother. They don’t consider themselves brothers in the usual sense, but brothers instead through the Spirit, in God.” These words were used by Aristides to describe the community of Christians to the Roman Emperor Hadrian. And as we conclude our study of justice, these words illustrate the visible fruit of righteousness.

From the beginning, from the Garden of Eden, God sought to restore His beloved people to a right relationship with Him. Through Israel, God provided a path to righteousness, and the Law revealed what living in justice truly meant. Israel, however, was an unfaithful lover and turned her back on the Lord more than once. But God pursued her still, sending the prophets and working through godly kings, such as David, to call His people back to true worship of Him--back to just lives.

The centrality of justice to God’s message continues in the New Testament. And in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled. As today’s passage says, “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (vv. 21–22). As we saw in Abraham, faith is what brings man into a right relationship with God (Gen. 15). The Law is now on a “former footing,” but it continues on as a guide for the interpersonal implications of just living (Rom. 3:31).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
At the core of our study of justice is a right relationship to God. Apart from this fundamental relationship, all of our efforts are based on human strength and doomed to failure. But through faith in Jesus Christ, we have a right relationship with God and the understanding how to live justly with other people. God has been pursuing a relationship with you since the Garden of Eden, and if you’ve never put your trust in the redemptive work of the Cross, make the decision for Christ today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 1:1-4
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. - Psalm 19:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
The book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament is said to follow the form of an ancient Near Eastern treaty between nations--that is, between one superior nation and one subject nation. These treaties, or covenants, included a proclamation of the suzerain’s (king’s) power to make the treaty; a review of events leading to it; promises and obligations on both sides; and blessings for those who follow the covenant and curses for those who break it.

God used this ancient literary form to convey His truth to the ancient Israelites because it was a form they understood. As we spend this month examining this important Old Testament book, we, too, will become familiar with this treaty format.

As Deuteronomy opens, the Israelites had reached the end of forty years of wandering and were poised to enter the Promised Land. Before they did, though, Moses had some final exhortations. So while the literary form of Deuteronomy resembles a suzerain-vassal treaty, the book is also built around a series of sermons: “These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel” (v. 1). We’ll signal these addresses as we go along. Deuteronomy is the key to the theology of the Pentateuch and indeed to all of Scripture--the book is quoted or alluded to nearly one hundred times in the New Testament. Its main purpose was to renew the covenant between God and Israel and to highlight major themes of His Law. These exhortations would refresh the Israelites’ commitment to the Lord and prepare them spiritually for the conquest.

The book’s themes include God’s election, obedience, love, worship, and faith. The main content flows from Israel’s identity as the people of God. Because He had chosen them, there were certain standards for their behavior and worship. By obeying, they would remain in a right relationship with Him, receive His blessing, and bring glory to His name.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Commentaries and other study resources can be very helpful tools, especially when encountering people, places, and customs so distant from our own lives. As we launch into our study of Deuteronomy, consider purchasing a book such as the IVP Bible Background Commentary: Genesis–Deuteronomy, by John H. Walton and Victor H. Matthews (InterVarsity Press, 1997). It will prove to be a valuable asset in answering questions concerning the culture, chronology, and geography of the book of Deutoronomy.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 1:5-2:23
These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything. - Deuteronomy 2:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
James Armistead, an enslaved man, was a key spy during the Revolutionary War. The English had offered freedom to any slave who joined them, and on this basis Armistead pretended to feed information to British General Cornwallis. But he was actually a double agent, risking his life many times to bring valuable intelligence to French General Lafayette, fighting on the colonists’ side.

Lafayette commended Armistead as worthy of “every reward his situation could admit of,” and on his part Armistead admired Lafayette so much that he added the general’s name to his own. For his service during the war, he was emancipated by the state of Virginia and later given a veteran’s pension.

Today’s reading has another good spy story, albeit one with an unhappy ending. This is the start of Moses’ first sermon, in which he expounded on Israel’s recent history to remind the people of the things God had done for them and to set the context for the renewed covenant. The Hebrew word translated “expound” means “to make clear, distinct, or plain” (1:5).

One thing Moses clarified for the Israelites was that this was their second chance. Forty years before, the nation had been on the verge of entering the Promised Land, until ten out of twelve spies brought a fearful report (see Num. 13–14). Israel rebelled against God’s instructions, and that generation failed to enter the land.

Another point that Moses stressed was the faithfulness of God. He built Israel into a great nation, just as He promised Abraham (1:10). He liberated them from Egypt. And despite their disobedience, He continued to guide them and to provide for all their needs (2:7). Taking care of them like a father, He disciplined them for their own good (1:29–31; cf. Heb. 12:7–11). More than just a formal treaty, this shows an intimate covenant relationship.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In our Scripture reading, Moses began to review God’s hand in Israel’s history, so today might be a good time for us to do the same. Begin to draw out a timeline of your life, noting good times and bad times. When were you, figuratively speaking, “wandering in the wilderness” or “conquering the land”?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 2:24-3:20
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord. - Proverbs 21:31
TODAY IN THE WORD
The miracle of the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation was made possible by the heroic defenders of Calais. Early in World War II, the German army swept through France. What remained of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) waited at Dunkirk, hoping for evacuation. Between them and the Germans lay only one city: Calais. Prime Minister Winston Churchill cabled the commander there: “Every hour you continue to exist is of the greatest help to the BEF. . . . Have greatest possible admiration for your splendid stand.” Outgunned and outmanned, the soldiers fought fiercely, holding out until they were exhausted and nearly out of ammunition. Their brave stand bought enough time for the evacuation to get organized and subsequently to succeed.

The Israelites had fought well enough east of the Jordan River, but in fact, it was God Himself who won the battles. As part of Moses’ historical review, he reminded the people that their victories were thanks to God alone (cf. Ps. 135:10–12; 136:16–22). They should trust in Him alone. They were His people--He would take care of them.

Before those battles had even begun, God saw them as done deals (see Num. 21:21–35). He arranged everything, inspiring the enemy with fear and making King Sihon’s heart stubborn to provoke a fight. Exodus similarly speaks both of God hardening Pharaoh’s heart and Pharaoh hardening his own heart. From a divine point of view, God is sovereign. From a human point of view, there’s a price to be paid for arrogance toward God’s people.

Why were Sihon, Og, and the Amorites utterly destroyed? Was Israel in the wrong? No, they carried out God’s justice. He used Israel to judge the Amorites for their sin, so the nation’s victory served the cause of righteousness. In fact, the term “completely destroyed” indicates that everything from the battle was given over to the Lord, or devoted to Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you started sketching out your personal timeline yesterday, go ahead and finish that today. Do you see any patterns in how God has led you? Can you find any links between the good times and the bad times? Would one or more of the victories have been impossible without lessons learned or character forged in the “deserts”? If you know the answers to these questions, give thanks and glory to God. If not, ask the Holy Spirit for insight into your experiences.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 3:21-4:14
Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord. - Leviticus 18:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
One blot marred Moses’ record of leadership during the Exodus: his sin at Meribah. Suffering from lack of water, Israel complained: “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place?” Moses and Aaron sought the Lord, and in reply He told them to speak to a rock. Out of it would come enough water for everyone.

In anger and frustration, however, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff, rather than obeying the Lord exactly. As a result of this disobedience, God judged him: “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them” (Num. 20:12; cf. Num. 27:12-14).

In today’s reading, Moses’ review of Israel’s history took a personal turn. Because of his sin, he would be allowed only to gaze upon but not to enter the Promised Land. How agonizing it must have been for him--all that waiting and wandering, the burdens of leadership, and then to be stopped just short of the goal. In God’s judgment, the people saw the necessity of obedience. Even a great leader like Moses was not above God’s law, and he suffered the consequences for his disobedience.

There was an additional warning here. When Moses said he’d sinned “because of you” (3:26), he wasn’t rationalizing, but recognizing that his sin had resulted in part from their sin of grumbling and complaining. They’d often been guilty of this, and he wanted them to see sin’s serious consequences. Actually, Israel’s entire history from Egypt to the present time had been pounding home this very lesson (4:9). In this context, Moses urgently exhorted them to fully obey God’s commands: “Follow them so that you may live” (4:1).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In light of the national scope of Deuteronomy, and given that today is Independence Day, we suggest that you spend some extra time in prayer for our country.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 4:15-43
Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. - Deuteronomy 4:39
TODAY IN THE WORD
n many jobs, it’s difficult to imagine life without a photocopier. So it might be hard for you to believe that this vital piece of office equipment has been around less than fifty years. In 1959, Xerox introduced its 914 copier machine, the first to make copies on plain paper. The 914 was a quick success, and soon “Xerox” became a virtual synonym for “copy.”

When it comes to worship, however, nothing but the “real thing” will do! The great “I Am” is the one true God, and all the idols of the nations are just cheap copies. As he concluded his first sermon (in today’s reading), this was the key lesson Moses wanted Israel to learn from his historical review.

God is not any created thing--He is the Creator. He is transcendent. At Sinai, the nation had seen that they could not fashion anything into an image for worship, so they should not be deceived and drawn into the Canaanite religions.

God is also personal, and He had put Himself on display, so to speak, in His actions toward Israel. He rescued them from slavery. He made a personal covenant and was personally present with them. He sovereignly chose them, provided for their needs, and gave them holy laws.

His uniqueness is the most important truth the people were to remember and obey. This truth is spelled out in the verses just before the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:3–6). The metaphor of a furnace conveys that the period of slavery in Egypt was a time of purification, or preparation, against the corruption of idolatry, to be the Lord’s special inheritance (v. 20; cf. Deut. 8:2–5). If they fail to do this--after all, that was the historical pattern--they’ll be punished, but when they wholeheartedly repent and return to God, He’ll show mercy.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Who is like unto our Lord? He and He alone is God! Respond to this truth from today’s devotional with heartfelt worship. Seek out hymns and choruses that exalt God’s greatness and lift up His name. We might suggest such songs as “O Worship the King,” “Glorify Thy Name,” “O Magnify the Lord,” and “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.” Singing these could be part of your personal worship time, or an experience you share with your family or small group.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 4:44-5:33
Be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. - Deuteronomy 5:32
TODAY IN THE WORD
Earlier this year, tens of thousands of people thronged the streets of Taipei, Taiwan, to get a glimpse of one of Buddhism’s most famous relics. The relic, which belongs to a temple in Xian, China, was kept in a jewelled casket under tight security. What was it? A finger, it is believed, of the Buddha himself, the religious leader who died more than two thousand years ago. During the festivities, this finger bone was taken to a stadium and placed on a platform strewn with orchids. Thousands of the faithful chanted, waved flags, and came to venerate the finger.

How sad. Thousands went to worship a long-dead finger bone, without any knowledge of the God whose finger wrote the Ten Commandments (5:22; cf. Ex. 31:18).

Today’s reading marks the beginning of Moses’ second sermon, which runs through Deuteronomy 26:19 and contains the bulk of the actual covenant. “Hear, O Israel,” he began, making a serious and solemn call to the nation to listen and respond (5:1). What were the historical facts of the covenant? God had taken the initiative to make it with the people. It wasn’t an ancient legend, but an event from their own lifetimes. At Sinai, the Lord had revealed Himself personally. Moses had been the mediator, at the people’s request, but they had seen and felt for themselves His awesome presence. What was the core of the covenant? The Ten Commandments (5:6–21; cf. Ex. 20:1–17). Many of these deal with the holiness of God and the necessity of worshiping Him alone. Others forbid doing wrong to people. Generally speaking, these commands outline or summarize what our behavior should be toward both God and other people. They defined what it meant for the Israelites to be the “people of God.” Two copies were made, which was customary with covenants or treaties at that time (5:22). Both copies were deposited in the Ark.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you’ve never done so before, why not memorize the Ten Commandments?