Explore the Bible Lesson Preview February 26, 2012 Be Positive Background: Deut. 31:1 34:12 Lesson: Deut. 33:1-5; 34:1-12 Motivation: What happens when a leader leaves? A survey of great historical leaders finds a singular inability to pass along the reigns of leadership. Alexander the Great s empire was broken up upon his death. The death of a long time leader is a tumultuous and transitory time for governments, nations and even families. Examination: I. New Leader Commissioned (31:1-23) A. The Problem You will not cross this Jordan (2) On Moses 120 th birthday, he called the people together to remind them that he would not lead them into the Promised Land because (1) he was physically unable and (2) God would not permit it. (Nu. 20:8-12) Moses spent 40 years in Egypt; 40 years in the wilderness, and 40 years leading the exodus. B. The Plan Moses then summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people (7) Joshua would be the human leader; God, of course, was their ultimate leader. (3, 4, 5, 6) The command to Be strong and of good courage was also given by David to Solomon (I Kings 2:2-3; I Chronicles 22:13; 28:20) and to the early church (Acts 4:29 grant to your servants boldness 1 / 9
). Courage is absolutely necessary for the beginning of a new work; it is also a reminder that Satan s first form of attack is usually discouragement. Our defense against Satan s discouragement is to trust in the Lord (Ps. 27:14; 31:24). Warlords like Sihon and Og were not a problem. (4) FDR made famous, There s nothing to fear but fear itself. In verses 6-8 we see He (God) will not leave you or forsake you, (Heb. 13:5) do not be afraid or discouraged. (8) Faith is an exercise in overcoming our natural tendency to be afraid and instead to put our in trust God for the outcome. Fear is the dark room where negatives are developed. (Josh. 1:5, 8-9; 3:5-11) C. The People Gather the people men, women, children, and foreigners living within your gates so that they may listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and be careful to follow all the words of this law (12). 1. The author: So Moses wrote the law (9) Detractors from Mosaic authorship have questioned everything from Moses ability to write to the internal cohesion of the Pentateuch. God s Word clearly identifies Moses as the author. (v. 24) (Ex. 17:14 write this in a book Ex. 24:4) 2. The audience men, women and children and foreigners (12) Our Life Bible studies are still tasked with the mission of reaching every family member as well as people who have no church home. 3. The actions a. Gather Reaching out to others is a mandate from God. Reaching and Bible Study go hand in hand. b. Listen Faith comes from hearing the message (Rom. 10:17). You cannot overemphasize the importance of faithful Life Bible Study teaching. c. Learn Knowledge doesn t always lead to understanding. Attending church is not a 2 / 9
guarantee of growing closer to God. However, not attending church almost always precludes a closer relationship to the Lord. d. Fear the Lord The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 1:7a) Hearing and learning God s Word are not enough without the proper heart attitude. In the children s meetings of Life Action Crusades, obedience is defined as doing what you re told, when you re told to do it, with the right heart attitude. D. The Prophecy these people will soon commit adultery with the foreign gods of the land (16) Israel s future rebellion (16) and judgment (17-18) are foretold. (Ezek. 8-10) E. The Poem write down this song for yourselves and teach it to the Israelites (19) HCSB, p. 321: 31:20 The need for a song of witness (v. 19) is apparent. The question is not whether Israel would sin but when and what should be done about their sinful behavior. Sadly, Israel s future behavior mirrored that of her past. The song of witness was forever a nagging reminder of her lack of gratitude to God. II. The People Warned (31:24 32:52) A. The Placement Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the Ark of the Covenant... (26) While the Ten Commandments were placed inside the Ark, this book of Moses was placed beside the Ark. Verses 26-29 may seem overly pessimistic until one reads the subsequent history of the Israelites. B. The Poem (32:1-43) 1. The Name of God (1-3): To proclaim God s name and nature. 3 / 9
2. The Nature of God (3b-4): Great, perfect, just, true, and upright. 3. The Nature of Israel (5-6): Contrasted with God s perfection, Israel is corrupt, blemished, perverse, foolish and unwise. 4. The Nations Dealings (7-14): Israel s history showed God s faithfulness. (Lam. 3:21-26, esp. v. 23) 5. The Name: Jeshurun (15-18): means upright but ironically refers to Israel and her sins. 6. The Natural Consequences (19-43): The Song of Moses was to warn of consequences for sin, especially turning to other gods. a. hide My face (26) If the people turn to other gods, Yahweh will turn from them. b. provoke their jealousy with an inferior people (21) HCSB, p. 333: 32:19-21 Once Israel had lapsed into the idolatry described in verses 15-18, the Lord would begin to exert judgment. He threatened to hide His face from His people, a response reminiscent of His reaction to the worship of the golden calf at Sinai (Ex. 32: 10, 34-35). Like that incident, the sin was rebellion epitomized by the violation of the first two commandments. The NT makes clear that these inferior people are the Gentiles whom God would call to Himself through the gospel. Paul quoted this text to say it was God s favor to the nations that would finally awaken Israel to their own disobedience, impelling them to see in Christ their promised Messiah (Rm. 10:19-21). c. I will pile disasters on them (23, cf. 24-27) Vengeance belongs to Me, I will repay (35). God will use foreign armies to judge Israel. 4 / 9
d. He will purify His land and His people (43) While the wicked will be punished God will avenge the blood of His servants. C. The Pronouncement Take to heart all these words I am giving as a warning to you today, so that you may command your children to carefully follow all the words of this law. For they are not meaningless words to you but they are your life, and by them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess. (46-47) D. Punishment For both of you broke faith with Me. (51) HCSB, p. 334: 32:51 The reason Aaron and Moses were unable to enter the land of promise is that they broke faith with the Lord. The verb translated broke faith has at its core in this context the idea of covenant treachery or disloyalty. Moses should have served as a model of kingdom citizenship in a time of stress, but he failed to do so (Nm. 20:1-13). III. The Tribes Blessed (33:1-29) A. God s Blessings (1-5) 1. His might with ten thousand holy ones (angels) (2) 2. His love Indeed He loves His people. All you holy ones (God s people) are in Your hand. (3) 3. God s Word Moses gave us instruction, a possession for the assembly of Jacob (4) HCSB, p. 335: 5 / 9
33:4 The term instruction translates the Hebrew word torah. The point is that Israel out of all the nations had been entrusted with God s covenant blessings (14:2, 21; Ex. 19:4-6). B. Tribe s Blessings (6-25; cf. Gen. 49:1-27) C. Israel s Blessings (26-29) HCSB, p. 337: 33:29 In a grand finale, Moses called on Isra el to recognize how happy they were or ought to be. Of all the nations of the earth, the Lord had saved only them in the sense of having called them to be His special possession (7:6; Ex. 19:4-6). They enjoyed His protection as their shield and sword, metaphors descriptive of His power and glory (Gn. 15:1; Ps. 7:10; 18:2; 28:7). IV. The Servant Eulogized (34:1-12) A. The Transaction This is the land I promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (4) The panoramic view given to Moses in verses 1-3 is prophetic with all the later place names given. B. The Transfer So Moses the servant of the Lord died (5) God buried Moses (6); but, He would also raise him up to one day go into the Promised Land at the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:3). Why was the grave kept secret and why did Satan dispute with the archangel Michael over his body (Jude 9)? Probably to prevent the people from making the body of Moses a holy relic like a mummified Egyptian Pharaoh. 6 / 9
C. Transition Joshua, the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites obeyed him and did as the Lord commanded Moses. (9) While most earthly kingdoms don t survive the death of their leader, God s chosen people, Israel, dealt with the transition correctly. D. Testimony No prophet has arisen again in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. He was unparalleled for all the signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do against the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials, and to all his land, and for all the mighty acts of power and terrifying deeds that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel. (10-12) Here is a testimony to the life and ministry of Moses. Obviously, chapter 34 was added after Moses death; that God used another writer (probably Joshua) does not make the chapter less inspired. Application 1. Senior Adults have a place of service in God s plan, if Moses can serve at the age of 120, God can use older people today. 2. God s children should look to Him for leadership and not hang their hopes on any one person. 3. God wants everyone in the family to hear, learn and obey His Word. 4. Parents are responsible for passing along Christian values to their children. Explore the Bible Leader Pack: Item 18: Poster: A Spiritual Legacy; Item 14: Poster: The Shema Illustrator: p. 47: Mount Nebo 7 / 9
Notes: **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: www.hfbcbiblestudy.or g Dates: 2011: 1/24 3/6 Living Proof Bible Study; 2/19 Parent Commitment; 2/22 College Kardia; 2/24 Women s Ministry Girls Night Out; 2/26 HUB Milestone: Purity Ceremony; 3/2-3 Men s Conf. with Steve Farrar; 3/5-7 Senior Adult Revival; 3/9 Summit Celebrates; 3/11 Daylight Saving Time begins; 3/12-16 Spring Break for HISD, SB & FBA; 3/17 Widow & Widowers luncheon; 3/21 College Kardia; 3/24 SPF event, Eat at Clay s; 3/25 Spring Loaded; 3/28 Imago exhibit begins; 3/30 FBA Warrior Day 2012; 4/4 College Kardia; 4/5 Broken for you; 4/6 Good Friday, Church offices closed; 4/7 Aid Sudan Run; 4/8 Easter Sunday, no LBS; 4/13 8 / 9
Parents Night Out; 4/13-6 th grade Wax Museum; 4/14 Men Play at Warrior Field; 4/15 David Barton speaking 3 serv.; 4/15 AMP Wired on Sunday at 9:30 FSC; 4/18 College Kardia; 4/20-21 High School Girls event; 4/21 - SPF Houston Zoo Event; 4/22 LBS Leadership Lunch; 4/27 - Summit Celebrates. 9 / 9