Promises for the Journey Study SIX: PROMISES under Yahweh s Rule (Theocracy) I Day One: Introduction Read Dt. 30:5-14; 31:1-8; 34:9-12; Joshua 1:1-9; 5:13-15; Judg. 17:6; 21:25; 1 Sam. 2:22-36 The final sermons of Moses (Deuteronomy) and the history of Israel when the LORD ruled in Joshua, the Judges and 1 Samuel are known as the Theocracy. The LORD himself led the nation as Moses leadership transitioned to the warrior Joshua and later, the judges. In spite of Israel s persistent refusal to obey the LORD (Dt. 31:26-29), the Abrahamic Covenant promises continued to emerge. Three important figures: Moses, Joshua and Samuel carry the heart of the message to show us God s faithfulness with promise that Israel s disobedience would not be the last word. Because the Abrahamic Covenant is unconditional, God will oversee His nation as KING (Theocracy). He relate personally to His chosen leaders through whom He will work and keep His promises to His nation, bringing them into the land. In the land, instead of keeping the Mosaic Covenant (a conditional covenant) they will turn away repeatedly and let the culture of the nations around them, influence them. II Day TWO: A New Day of PROMISES: MOSES Final Words (Deut. 30, 31) Moses final speech in Dt. 30:1-10 and comments in Dt. 32:45-47 highlight a future time when the once disobedient nation of Israel will remember what Yahweh said to her. It is helpful to say that the LORD S unconditional commitment to Abraham and his seed of corporate blessing will be fully honored. Even Moses death will not stop God s promises. At the same time, it is essential to understand God interacts personally with individuals who obey (even with flaws as obvious as Moses ) because they know the LORD intimately and trust his ways. 1. What tangible promises would Israel enjoy if she will repent and return to the LORD? (v. 1-5) (It is interesting to note that 69 times in Deuteronomy, Israel is promised she will one day possess and inherit the land promised to her and repeated in Dt. 1:8; 6:10, 18; 7:8; 34:4!) The tangible promises Israel would get to enjoy if she would repent and return to the Lord are related to the Mosaic Covenant that marked Israel as the people of the LORD. The key is this: as HIS people, the people would need to reflect their KING: a. Dt. 30:1 5 if the people repent and return to the LORD and obey His voice, the LORD their God would restore their fortunes, have compassion on them and gather them together from out of the nations into which they have been scattered, bringing them into the LAND promised to their fathers, to possess it. He will make them more prosperous and more numerous than their fathers. b. Dt. 30:6 10 if the people repent and return, the LORD will circumcise their heart and their offspring s hearts so they will love the LORD their GOD fully; He will protect them from the curses brought on their enemies. If they obey His voice and keep His commandments, He will make them abundantly prosperous in their work, their children, their live stock and the fruit of the ground. The LORD will delight in blessing them when they obey what is written in the Book of the Law. (Deuteronomy) turning to the LORD with a whole heart. c. Dt. 32:45-47 Moses solemnly reminds them that they must TAKE to HEART the WORD from the LORD he had warned them so they would command them to their children and be careful to do all the words because what the LORD has said through Moses IS NO EMPTY WORD for them but THEIR VERY LIFE by the WORD they will live long in the land.
2. What must occur inside the hearts of Abraham s seed when Israel repents? (v. 6) and what will the LORD then do for Israel in the land of promise? (v. 7-10) The whole thing that has to occur to Abraham s seed is they will need a heart change by circumcision when the LORD would cut away their hard hearts so they will love the LORD. 3. How do Moses closing words in Dt. 31:5-8 and Dt. 32:45-47 emphasize the following promises: Moses closing words in Dt. 31:5-8 and 32:45-47 confirm the LORD S promise of turning over their enemies to them as they obey the LORD S commandments. a. The presence of the LORD with them - They were to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS, not to FEAR or be IN DREAD of their enemies: the LORD their GOD would GO WITH them and not LEAVE nor FORSAKE them. This is HIS PRESENCE with them. b. The protection of the LORD for them - Moses repeated this same promise to JOSHUA so he would know the LORD would go with him as well so he should NOT FEAR or be DISMAYED. Joshua would be PROTECTED because the LORD was present with him as well! c. The provision of the LORD for them - The WORD of the LORD was to be THEIR VERY LIFE; it was not an EMPTY word but POWERFUL. The WORD would PROVIDE their sustenance. BUMPS on the ROAD: Moses had his own BUMP as listed in Dt. 32:48-52. As the prophet God spoke to face to face, Moses did not enter the land of promise because of his sin as described in Num. 20:10-13. In what way did Moses not uphold the LORD as holy or break faith in front of the people as recorded in Dt. 32? a la MOSES! In Num. 20:10-13, Moses commits the fatal flaw of his magnificent leadership of these very rebellious people: He loves control and in desperation over their complaint about having being brought out of Egypt (v. 2-5). God told him to SPEAK to the rock for water to pour forth but instead, he struck the rock with his staff twice. Water came out but God was displeased: He should have believed God would have brought water out of the rock by his obedience to speak to the rock! In Dt. 32:48-52, Moses is commanded by God to go up to Mt. Nebo in Moab (modern day Jordan) and view the land Israel will possess before he dies. He will not be allowed to go in it. When Moses disobeyed the LORD, that is the same as not treating the LORD as holy (set apart; unique) and he did it in front of all the people. Leadership is responsible not to publicly fail the LORD. MAPQUEST: What lesson does Moses teach us in these closing writings of his life about God s faithfulness and about his sin? How is it possible to serve the LORD faithfully and yet still blow it? How does God deal with us when we sin? (Check 1 John 1:9, discuss Heb. 10:3-11 and then pray 1 Peter 1:13-16 for the rest of your life!!!) The lesson Moses teaches us that it is never too late to lose your temper or disobey the LORD. The faithfulness of God is seen in the fact that He brings WATER our of the rock in spite of MOSES choice to do it HIS way! The SIN ISSUE for believers is covered by this: 1 John 1;9: If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to FORGIVE us our sin and CLEANSE us from all unrighteousness!; Heb. 10:3-11: It is impossible to cleanse sin by animal blood: Our ongoing cleansing is due to the Obedience of Christ when He offered His body as a sacrifice once for all! 1 Peter 1:13-16 reminds us that we have put our hope fully on the grace of God to be revealed when Jesus comes and in between times, we are to LIVE HOLY LIVES in our conduct because the One who has called us is HOLY. III Day THREE: A PROMISE for War: JOSHUA (Joshua 1:1-9)
Following the transition of leadership to Joshua (who had been a faithful student of Moses for 40 years!), the people of Israel followed him over the Jordan, destroyed Jericho and settled in the land. The promises given from the Lord to Joshua were specifically for the battle he and the people would face as they encountered the enemies of Canaan. Joshua means, the LORD is salvation! It is still the THEOCRACY the time when GOD RULES as leader over the nation and instructs JOSHUA as Moses successor. JOSHUA is a WARRIOR leader and takes ISRAEL into the LAND. 1. What promises did the LORD make to Joshua? (Joshua 1:1-9) a. Related to Joshua personally - I am giving the people the LAND I promised; go over there! Every place you walk one will be given to you, as I promised Moses! b. Related to the land promises and battle - NATIONAL and related to VICTORY over the LAND This territory shall all be yours No one will be able to stand before you; just as I was with Moses, I will be with you, Joshua! PERSONAL I will not leave you or forsake you. You will cause the people to inherit the land. c. Related to the Book of the Law Do not depart from this Book and I will make your way prosperous and successful The LORD your God is with you WHEREVER you go! Following the crossing of the Jordan, Joshua carries out traditions that will cause Israel to remember the LORD S word and prepares them to overtake Jericho. Prior to the event, Joshua meets the grand leader for his battles in Canaan in Joshua 5:1-15. 2. Where is Joshua when he meets the man? What is Joshua s question? (v. 13a) The COMMANDER who PROMISES JOSHUA 5:1-15 a. Joshua meets the Commander of the Army by Jericho a man with a sword drawn: Joshua s question is Are you FOR US or for our ADVERSARIES? b. The response of the man is to tell JOSHUA WHO he is: THE COMMANDER of the army of the LORD! Joshua falls down and worships, asking Him to give the marching orders! c. Both Moses and Joshua, when they meet the LORD, are told to take off their sandals from their feet because where they are standing (IN THE PRESENCE of the LORD) is HOLY Ground. (Joshua obeys) He is known as the pre-incarnate Christ. 3. What about the man implies he is ready to go to battle with Joshua? (v. 13b, 14a) 4. We are about to witness a similar interaction to Moses (Ex. 3:1-6) as Joshua recognizes this person. Why must Joshua understand this Commander of armies is holy? From the description, who is he? MAPQUEST: The next section of Israel s history focuses on two things: a willful and sinful people and the 12 Judges who served 330 years. They oversaw 12 cycles of apostasy: disobedience, oppression, prayer,
deliverance and peace. Why did the Israelites rebel (Judg. 17:6 and 21:25) in spite of Joshua s faithful service of God s Word? Why does God s Word keep believers strong? How does God s Son fulfill the Commander of the armies role? (see: Rev. 9:11-16 to read similar language!!!) The book of JUDGES records 12 cycles of APOSTASY where ever set of decades, the nation of Israel sins, falls into servitude, cries for help, is saved by a Judge raised up by God and then settles into the land until the NEXT cycle of SIN! Judges 17:6 and 21;25 says that the Israelites rebel because they DO WHAT IS RIGHT in their own eyes! Sounds like the time in which we live! God s WORD keeps us strong because it has power to keep us from SIN and power to compel us to OBEY. BUMPS on the ROAD: It is hard to find any bumps recorded in the life of Joshua! Perhaps it is because the Book of the Law did not depart from his heart or his mouth! For 40 years Moses taught him. (Ex. 33:11) His deep understanding of the holiness and grandeur of God set him apart to do the will of God. Compare Joshua 1:8 with Ps. 1:2 worth memorizing! Joshua is STRONG in the LORD and HIS WORD. It did not depart out of his mouth. Joshua 1:8 is similar to Ps. 1:2 His DELIGHT is in the LAW of the LORD and he meditates on it day and night. Share what you are memorizing just now. IV Day FOUR: The PROMISE of a PRIEST: 1 Samuel 2:22-36 As the last of the judges, Samuel served after the years of national decline until he was an old man. As an answer to his mother s prayer, Samuel lives the Nazarite vow, teaches, prays for and leads the people. Serving as a Levite, Samuel is God s spokesman for hard tasks, moving Israel from Theocracy to Monarchy. Day FOUR looks at God s rejection of Eli s family as priests and views God s unconditional promise that someday He will send a faithful high priest. 1. What is the LORD S argument against Eli? (v. 27-29) The LORD S argument against Eli is that he honors his sons (who are having sex with the women who come to the tent of meeting and taking the choice part of the meat offerings (tabernacle) by correcting them ever so lightly. In his weak confrontation, he is not strong for the honor and holiness of the LORD. To let sin continue is an abomination. 2. What will be the discipline in Eli s family because of this serious personal sin? (v. 30-34) The discipline on Eli s family will be that his family will be cut of from being priests based on the LORD S words: a. Those who honor me, I will honor; Eli was not honoring the LORD b. Those who despise me, will be lightly esteemed; Eli s strength and the strength of his father s house will be cut off no old men in your house! Your sons, Hophni and Phineas will both died on the same day. 3. What wonderful promise does God make to the nation in spite of this severe discipline? (v. 35) The LORD will solve the problem of Eli s cut off priestly family but raising up a priest who is a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in HIS heart and mind. This faithful priest will be clearly identified in Hebrews as the LORD Jesus. BUMPS on the ROAD: The prediction to cut off Eli s family from serving as priests was told first to Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:10-19 and fulfilled the day the Philistines captured the Ark of the covenant of God (1 Sam. 4:1-10), Israel and Eli s sons treated the Ark in war as though it were magic instead of reason for worship; both sons died (v. 11). The discipline was later completed by Saul, when in an impulsive burst of
jealous anger against David, he kills the 70 priests of Nob plus others = 85 of Eli s family, for showing favor to David. (1 Samuel 22:11-19). Only one escaped. The bloody cutting off of Eli s family is told in 1 Sam. 3:10-19. When Eli s sons treated the Ark as a magic rabbit s foot and took it into battle with them, it was captured. Both sons died at the hands of the Philistines. Saul, impulsively will kill 70 priests from NOB because he is angry that the Abiathar priest has shown David kindness! This slaughter at the hands of envious and jealous King Saul, ended Eli s family even though it was a bloody event by Saul s soldier. MAPQUEST: The writer of Hebrews pulls the promise of the faithful priest together in Heb. 4:14 to 5:6. What is the trouble with human priests? What amazing and marvelous fulfillment does the writer tell us about the Lord Jesus, our Great High Priest? How does this encourage us as believers? Our faithful high priest a great high priest after the order of Melchizedek (not Levi) has gone back to heaven He is the Son of God and because of the kind of High Priest He is, we can hold fast to our confession He sympathizes with ALL our weaknesses and has never sinned in any temptation. Because of this, all true believers are invited to come with confidence near to the throne of grace and find mercy for our time of need. WHAT A SAVIOR! ALL BELIEVERS can come with confidence. NONE are left out!!! Human priests or go between s are weak in themselves. They cannot properly represent us. The LORD JESUS CAN! He was without sin. This is one of the most encouraging passages of Scripture to me! I am invited to COME into the presence of the KING to the Father and tell him my needs. It is an amazing thing that NONONE is left out; ALL are welcome!! You have access to the throne room of heaven all day and all night! V Day FIVE: Consider and Meditate This might be one of the most important things we talk about this year: the provision of a faithful priest for all who believe in Jesus! There is no separate group of superior people in the church who have access to the Father. Nor is there a position of spirituality only a few enjoy! Those who know the Lord Jesus as Savior have the Spirit of God living within. And Peter calls us a kingdom of priests. We have a privilege no OT human priest had and no unbeliever has! You are free to come into the holy presence of the Father knowing you have an advocate representing you (1 John 2:1) and the Holy Spirit within you, alive in you, bearing witness within you and interceding for you (Romans 8:8-16; 26-30). Lessons from Moses: Guard your heart, your tongue, your actions!! Lessons from Joshua: Meditate on God s Word day and night. Lessons from Samuel: Trust in what the LORD provides. Rejoice in your Father s provisions: a safe and protected position in Christ; a certain and complete provision of the Holy Spirit! Hebrews 7:25 27 The former (OT) priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.