"Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book."
Revelation 22:7
- WHAT DOTH THE LORD REQUIRE OF THEE BUT TO . . .
Deuteronomy 10:12-21
The focus of this sermon will focus Deuteronomy 10, but similar scripture can be found throughout the Bible. Some examples of those places are Proverbs 6, Genesis 4:6-7, Matthew 22:36-40, and Micah 6:8. Indeed we can also learn what God requires of us as we read about the people in this book, their triumphs and failures in life and faith.
Here in Deuteronomy 10, Moses addresses the tribes of Israel. They have committed themselves to this faith, to God. They were born into the faith because of the everlasting covenant God made with Abraham, but now they had to live it. By God's will and hand, they were miraculously extracted from enslavement in Egypt. God, through Moses and Aaron, led them to a new land. An inheritance of land God promised to Abraham's posterity.
But before arrival, they needed to be prepared. Any place or person that represents God needs to endeavor to match His righteous character and standards. Because as children, followers, servants, fellow-workers with God, we influence people either toward or away from Him. We know that to have God is to have a comforter, counselor, friend, guide, protector and provider. We would never want, through bad behavior, to steer someone away from all that He is.
But there is also personal benefit to life in accordance with what God requires of us. In Deuteronomy 11:8, Moses explains that God provides these directives that we may be strong. Life requires strength, in all its forms: mental, emotional, physical, spiritual. We derive what we require by fulfilling what God requires.
The journey through the wilderness, the preparation the tribes of Israel undertake before their inheritance foreshadows our own arrival into our ultimate inheritance: the kingdom of God. The promised land. Moses provides a comprehensive list of what is required to obtain what is offered through grace:
- . . . Fear the Lord
The word used here is yārē' and it means to morally revere. We should hold ourselves to moral standards out of respect for God and in agreement with His definition of righteousness. Our moral reverence should cause us to be more obedient to God than to any temptation or inclination toward immoral, immature or base behavior (when they inevitably arise).
Proverbs 9:10 states that the beginning of wisdom is fear, that is: moral reverence, of the Lord. Through this verse, in combination with Deuteronomy 10:12, we can understand why God requires fear/yārē' of Him. Immoral, immature, base behavior is the behavior of the weak and foolish. It is unwise. God encourages our reverence of Him not out of pride, but out of selflessness. He wants us to be wise.
Through moral reverence, we overpower weak/foolish/immoral behavior and replace it with behavior that is productive to our life, heart, relationship, friendships, opportunities, etc. Our fear/yārē' of God contributes to our quality of life.
- . . . Walk In All His Ways
God and Jesus lead by example. Our commitment to their example cannot be half-hearted. This faith is a wholehearted lifestyle. We falter, we err; but we must always strive to follow all of His ways. Not just the ones that are convenient to us. Not just the ones we remember from a few, sporadic skimming of scripture. We need to be submerged, rooted, incorporated into it. Not just a member but a pillar. A well-rounded student and follower.
For to follow all His ways is to arrive at the proverbial doorstep of the kingdom of God. To follow half of His ways is to be halfway off. Less than halfway commitment is even worse... is even lost. There is no need to be lost, though so many are, when God's word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, Psalm 119:05.
God encourages us to follow Him because His example is a lifestyle that not only strengthens, supports and leads us, but does the same for the people who our lives touch.
- . . . Love Him
In order to truly, properly, love God, we must develop and maintain a relationship with God. We must both talk and listen to each other through unceasing prayer, 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Faith in God is in part a life spent in conversation with God. We learn who He is and while doing so, we learn that He already knows exactly, precisely who we are.
But to love God is even more than to have made a consistent commitment to conversation with Him. It is appreciation for His character, His creatures and creations which surround us. Earth has been His easel; God has painted a portrait of who He is in the venation of vibrant leaves, the color and shapes of blossomed flowers, in the peaks of mountains, in windblown snow and sand, in the strength of waves and in the variety of fruits and spices, animals and so much more. There is so much to appreciate about Him; His attention to detail, His delight in giving life . . . He is extraordinary.
Love of God is a requirement because it is one that cannot be manufactured or faked. Only those who genuinely appreciate the life He proffers can have it. And we must genuinely appreciate the life He proffers because those who do not would ruin it. The kingdom of Heaven is not a place that will be ruined.
- . . . Serve Him With Whole Heart and Whole Soul
God requires authentic, heart and soul-deep service. Each person is infinitely precious to God. Indeed there is joy in heaven when even just one sinner repents and changes his/her life, Luke 15:7. There is more joy for that one person than for ninety people combined who were already headed to heaven. It hurts God to lose one, even one individual.
Therefore our service as children of God, as fellow-workers with Him (1 Corinthians 3:9), is immensely important. Our actions impact that one person He roots for from heaven. We cannot be careless with what is precious to God. We must care too, like He does, with our whole heart and our whole soul otherwise we might break or neglect some precious person that is fragile, and so precious to Him.
More than that, we simply cannot get the righteous-work done that we need to do if we do not have the faith to do it. Our service to God requires generosity, trust, humility, kindness, wisdom, patience, mercy, perspective, objectivity in greater amounts and deeper quality that we could ever mine without Him. Each person and situation is unique and only He can provide what we need to do the work that needs to be done in or around them.
- . . . Keep the Commandments
The 10 commandments, with some clarification:
Exodus 20:1-17
- 1 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
There are many ideologies and philosophies in the world. There are many religions and spiritualities. The elements of all can become intermixed and convoluted. More than that, there are the figurative "gods" a person can have. Things they place their trust in instead of God.
- 2 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them...
Idol worship exists in modern day. Perhaps we (most of us) do not make little figurines and then worship them (though some still do), we do become infatuated with our things. We place our trust in things and people other than God and we place our values in things and people other than God.
We must be careful not to serve our vanity or greed.
- 3 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Even more than to resist using His name as a curse word, this commandment directs us to represent God well and honor Him. We should not be flippant about His name, His word or our faith.
- 4 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
God has determined that it is important for us to rest, to reflect on Him and scripture and faith. In Hebrews 4, we learn that Jesus became our sabbath. Our rest is in our relationship with Him and our faith in Him. It is imperative that we make the time to focus solely on God, to rest from the world.
- 5 Honor thy father and thy mother.
For many, this commandment is easy, or relatively easy, to do. Others have complicated or even disastrous relationships with their parents. At the very least, God wants us to appreciate them bearing us. For this life is an opportunity of inheritance of the kingdom of God.
- 6 Thou shalt not kill.
God prohibits premediated, malicious murder. In fact, the punishment for murder is death (Deuteronomy 19:11-12; 1 John 3:15). However we know that there is forgiveness when regret/shame/repentance is absolute (from David's example in 2 Samuel 12).
Moreover, we know that God supports capital punishment, self-defense, defense of the innocent, and battles against evil because much of the Old Testament revolves around just that.
- 7 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- 8 Thou shalt not steal.
In some ways, theft is the ultimate sin. In addition to stealing physical things, a corrupt person can "steal" another person's life by taking it. They can steal someone's faith by corrupting it. They can steal someone's peace of mind or safety. They can steal opportunities, joys and so much more.
- 9 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
- 10 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house... nor anything that is thy neighbor's.
- . . . Circumcise Your Heart
Romans 2:25-29
In the Old Testament, circumcision of males was a symbol of their inward faith. In the New Testament, Paul explains that circumcision of the heart, rather than literal, is a figurative phrase for our inward faith and outward actions. Those who keep the righteous law are circumcised of heart.
- . . . Love the Stranger
The tribes of Israel were once strangers. In Egypt. They were badly mistreated. In their new land, their own home, God wanted them to remember what it felt like to be a stranger. He wanted them to use that experience to treat strangers in their land better than they were treated in Egypt.
Often our own difficult experiences help us to empathize with others.
- . . . Cleave to Him
There is so much in the world that pulls at us, so much that distracts us. Cleave, cling, to God instead. Do not let the stress, the speed, the chaos, the temptations of the world pull you away.
- . . . Swear By His Name
Count on God. Lean on God. Trust in God. Boldly.
- A PURE RIVER OF WATER OF LIFE
Revelation 22:1-5;7
God has graciously extended an invitation to His kingdom. The glories of His habitation are an inheritance we can claim, while here on earth, to receive after life on earth. How do we claim it? We do what is required. And what do we inherit?
We are given a glimpse of the promised land in the very last chapter of the Bible.
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
The first element of the Promised Land is something earth as we know it cannot provide, something millions, billions fear the loss of: life. But more than the gift of life, from God we receive life abundant. Whole, consistent clarity, provision, healing. The presence of God, and Jesus, their Light and righteous reign everlasting.