Searching the Scriptures - Deuteronomy
A Circumcised Heart
April 25, 2024 • Arthur Bailey • Deuteronomy 10
Modern day followers of Jesus Christ boldly declare they are not under the Law but are under grace. They are quick to proclaim that their God no longer requires a circumcision in the flesh, only a circumcision of the heart. Although they are unable to clarify what that actually means, they are equally ignorant of the fact that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, also required a circumcision of the heart from those who were partakers of the Covenant with Abraham, the father of our faith.
A stiffnecked Rebellious People
April 18, 2024 • Arthur Bailey • Deuteronomy 9
As Moses recaps Israel’s journey, he constantly reminds them of their disobedience. Israel’s rebellion, and their acts of disobedience against the Instructions of YeHoVaH, became a hallmark of the Children of Israel and those who joined themselves to Israel. At the threshold of the Land of Promise, Moses makes it clear why YeHoVaH was fulfilling His part of the Covenant He had made with Israel’s fathers and it had nothing to do with them or their righteousness.
Man Does Not Live On Bread Alone
April 11, 2024 • Arthur Bailey • Deuteronomy 8
YeHoVaH’s promises and blessings are connected to the Covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel. After forty years of wilderness wandering, because of their lack of faith in YeHoVaH, the Children of Israel had to be reminded of the Covenant they made and how their blessings and promises were contingent upon them keeping their part of the Covenant Agreement.
A Chosen People
April 4, 2024 • Arthur Bailey • Deuteronomy 7
YeHoVaH, a Covenant keeping God, and His Everlasting Covenant with Abraham led to Israel being chosen by Him to enter into a Covenant agreement. As a Chosen People in covenant with and set apart by YeHoVaH, Israel was forbidden to enter into covenant with any other nation and to set themselves apart from all the other nations. YeHoVaH (through Moses) instructed Israel, His chosen people, why they were to remain a set apart people and why they were not to enter into Covenants with the surrounding nations.
Hear, O Israel… by Minister Scott Russell
March 28, 2024 • Scott Russell • Deuteronomy 6
The title of the Book of Deuteronomy comes from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Bible. It means “second law”, or “repetition of the law”. Deuteronomy consists of a series of Instructions given by YeHoVaH to Moses to teach the Children of Israel. As we enter the 6th Chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses is preparing the new generation to inherit The Land of Promise. From Chapters 5-26 Moses is reciting all the remaining Instructions he had been given by YeHoVaH including his farewell speech to the Israelites teaching them YeHoVaH’s Commandments, Statutes and Laws.
The Covenant Agreement
March 21, 2024 • Arthur Bailey • Deuteronomy 5
As Moses recaps Israel’s journey from Egypt to the threshold of the Promised Land, he recalls the Covenant YeHoVaH made with the descendants of Israel and the great multitude at Mt Sinai. YeHoVaH spoke to the Children of Israel and the multitude face to face until the people refused to have YeHoVaH talk to them any more lest they die. YeHoVaH spoke, the people spoke, and this Chapter recalls the conversation of the Covenant Agreement.
Shema Israel
March 14, 2024 • Arthur Bailey • Deuteronomy 4
Moses was denied entrance into the Promised Land because he heard YeHoVaH’s Instructions and added to them with his words and by his actions. When Moses added to YeHoVaH’s Instructions, he changed what he was told to do and did what was in his heart to do. At the moment of Moses disobedience to YeHoVaH, what Moses desired most was denied and that day Moses learned his most valuable lesson, to Shema YeHoVaH.
A Terror to the Nations
February 29, 2024 • Arthur Bailey • Deuteronomy 2
Moses recapped Israel’s journey from Egypt to the threshold of the Land of Promise. The recap not only reminded the Israelites, and those who joined themselves to Israel, of their unnecessary hardships, plagues, suffering, and death but also exposes some pre-Israel history leading up to Israel becoming a nation. Prior to leading Israel into the Promised Land, YeHoVaH strategized to put the fear of Israel in the hearts of the nations they will dispossess.
The Cost of Rebellion
February 22, 2024 • Arthur Bailey • Deuteronomy 1
Rebellion, an act of disobedience against the Instructions of YeHoVaH, became a hallmark of the Children of Israel and those who joined themselves to Israel. Unnecessary hardship, plagues, suffering, and death followed the Children of Israel from the land of Egypt to the threshold of the Land of Promise. Moses recaps Israel’s journey in this Chapter and the price they were paying for their disobedience.
Deuteronomy – The Introduction
February 15, 2024 • Arthur Bailey
Deuteronomy, the conclusion of the Torah, is the final set of Instructions YeHoVaH gave to Moses to give to the Children of Israel and the great multitude of people who joined themselves to Israel. In the Introduction, although it is common knowledge to most, we will answer the questions of: who wrote Deuteronomy, to whom it was written, when, and why?