Assembly Testimony Bible Class

by J. Riddle (Cheshunt)

DEUTERONOMY

12) "A Land Which the Lord Thy God Careth For"

Read Chapter 11.2-32

This chapter marks the end of the historical section of Deuteronomy. As we have seen more than once, Moses recalls the facts of Israel's history in chs.1-3, and emphasises lessons from their history in chs.4-11. Chs.4-7 beginning of the journey, chs.8-10 events during the journey, and ch.11 describes the land at the end of the journey. Ch.11, which mentions the possession of the land in v8, 29 and 31, can be divided as follows:

(1) Privilege and responsibility, v2-9;

(2) Possessing the land, v10-17;

(3) Practising the Scriptures, v18-25;

(4) Presenting the alternatives, 26-32.

1) PRIVILEGE AND RESPONSIBILITY, v2-9

The Lord Jesus taught that “unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required,” Lk.12.48, and this clearly underlines the oft-repeated lesson that privilege determines responsibility. It occurs here: “I speak not with your children which have not known, and which have not seen … But your eyes have seen all the great acts of the Lord which He did. Therefore ye shall keep all the commandments which I command you this day …”, v2, 7-8. Moses addresses the generation that had seen “the chastisement of the Lord your God (compare 8.5), His greatness, His mighty hand, and His stretched out arm, and His miracles, and His acts.” They had seen this in three ways, and the words, “what He did unto,” are used in each case:

i) In the deliverance from Egypt, v3-4. They had seen “what He did unto the army of Egypt.” Pharaoh had resisted God's Will. He had said “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go,” Ex.5.2. Unlike Pharaoh, we are to “receive with meekness the engrafted word (implanted or rooted word) which is able to save your souls,” Jms.1.21.

ii) In the discipline in the wilderness, v5. They had seen “what He did unto you in the wilderness.” Read Num.14.32-33. This brings the lesson nearer home. Not now, “what He did unto the army of Egypt,” but “what He did unto you.” They had refused to trust God, and He had to say, “how long will it be ere they believe Me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?” Num.14.11. In New Testament language, “they could not enter in because of unbelief,” Heb.3.19. Unlike Israel at Kadesh-Barnea, we must heed the exhortation “to trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding,” Prov.3.5.

iii) In the death of Dathan and Abiram, v6. They had seen “what He did unto Dathan and Abiram.” They had rebelled against God's leaders. Together with Korah and others, “they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy … wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?”, Num.16.1-3. Notice that Korah, a Levite, is not mentioned here. The passage emphasises that divine judgment fell on two ordinary members of the congregation. Unlike Dathan and Abiram, the Lord's people are to “know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake,” 1Thess.5.12-13.

In view of the fact that God intervenes against those who resist and rebel against His will, Moses instructed them to “keep all the commandments which I command you this day.” They would then “be strong” to possess the land,” and to “prolong your days in the land,” v8-9. The obedience of God's people would enable them to enjoy the “land that floweth with milk and honey,” and obedience enables us to enjoy our rich inheritance in Christ. Spiritual strength and spiritual satisfaction belong only to “obedient children,” 1Pet.1.14.

2) POSSESSING THE LAND, v10-17

Moses now tells them more about the “land that floweth with milk and honey,” and emphasises again that the enjoyment of its blessings depended on their obedience to God's Word. We must therefore notice:

a) The description of the land, v10-12

It was unlike Egypt, where agriculture was dependent on the construction of irrigation channels to carry water from the Nile. In Canaan, the autumn and spring rains would relieve God's people of the labour and anxiety which existed in Egypt. It was a land “which the Lord thy God careth for: for the eyes of the Lord are always upon it, from the beginning of the year unto the end of the year.” Compare Ps.65.9-13. God is the heavenly Husbandman! Bearing in mind that Canaan reminds us that we have been blessed “with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ,” Eph.1.3, we too enjoy a divinely-provided inheritance which will never wither through neglect or diminish over time. Israel's inheritance “flowed with milk and honey”: our inheritance flows with blessings too: “chosen … predestinated … accepted … redemption … forgiveness,” Eph. 1.4-7. God poured “the rain of heaven” on Canaan without any effort or imput on the part of His people, and God has blessed us according to the riches of his grace!”

b) The enjoyment of the land, v13-15

The willingness of God to bless His people is never in question, but their suitability to receive His blessing is another matter. Our possession of salvation is assured by the Lord Jesus, “I give unto them (My sheep) eternal life; and they shall never perish,” Jn.10.28, but the enjoyment of salvation is assured only by our loving obedience to God's Word. This is the principle here: “and it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently (note this) unto My commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve Him with all your heart, and with all your soul, that I will give you the rain of your land in his due season …” The Lord Jesus referred to the same principle in Jn.15.10-11: “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love … These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” The reference to “corn … wine … oil” recalls Ps.104.15.

c) The loss of the land v16-17

If the enjoyment of the land depended on ‘hearkening diligently,’ v13, then the enjoyment could be lost through a ‘heart deceived,’ v16. “Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them.” No wonder Solomon said, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life,” Prov.4.23. Our feet are sure to follow our heart. It has been rightly said that ‘happiness and fruitfulness were to be the sure accompaniments of obedience’ and ‘barrenness, desolation, famine, and misery were the melancholy accompaniments of disobedience’ (C. H. Mackintosh). The solemn promise in these verses was fulfilled in 1Kgs.17.1, to cite one instance.

3) PRACTISING THE SCRIPTURES, v18-25

These verses explain how Israel was to treat God's Word, and what God would do if they obeyed His instructions. We learn, yet again, that “to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams,” 1Sam.15.22.

a) Israel's part

This involved three things, and the fact that the passage includes a substantial restatement of Deut.6.6-9 serves to emphasise its great importance.

i) Knowing the Word of God, v18. “Therefore shall ye lay up these My words in your heart and in your soul” (that's inward); “and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes” (that's outward). The Word of God was to govern the inward and outward lives of His people. We must remember, however, that outward conformity was not enough. It is sadly possible to ‘go through the motions’ of orthodox behaviour without inward reality and true conviction. The Lord Jesus made this clear: “Ye hypocrites! Well did Esaias prophecy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips: but their heart is far from Me,” Matt.15.8. The injunction, “lay up these my words in your heart,” recalls Paul's exhortation to Timothy: “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine … Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting (‘progress’, JND) may appear to all,” 1Tim.4.13-15.

ii) Teaching the Word of God, v19. “And ye shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Whilst we deal with the details here when studying ch.6, we must emphasise the importance of ongoing Bible teaching. Do read Ps. 78.3-7 in this connection, together with 2Tim.2.2. Whilst we are often refreshed by ‘a nice thought here and a nice thought there,” there is no substitute for the systematic exposition of Scripture. May we be saved from becoming ‘people of the little word!’

iii) Applying the Word of God, v22. “For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them; to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave unto Him; Then will the Lord drive out …” This is the final stage in the threefold process of Bible study: observation, interpretation and application. We are to “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things,” Tit.1.10.

b) God's part

God is only too delighted to bless His people when they apply His Word and fulfil His Will. In this case, their obedience to His Word would ensure two things:

i) Continuing occupancy of the land, v21. “That your days may be multiplied and the days of your children, in the land.” It is always very encouraging to see young believers growing “in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” 2Pet.3.18, but it is even more encouraging to meet older believers who remain firm in faith, and undimmed in spiritual enthusiasm. Paul's great desire was to “finish my course with joy,” Acts 20.24. God wants us to enjoy, without interruption, our spiritual inheritance until the time comes to enter our “inheritance … reserved in heaven,” 1Pet.1.4. But even now, we can enjoy “days of heaven upon the earth!”

ii) Complete occupancy of the land, v23-25. “Then will the Lord drive out all these nations before you.” This would enable them to enjoy every part of their inheritance. “Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be your's …”, v24. We will have no difficulty in identifying the “greater nations and mightier” than ourselves which will endeavour to obstruct our possession of “the good land,” v17, given to us by God. We face an internal enemy (the flesh), an external enemy (the world), and an infernal enemy (the devil). Do remember that we are not to ‘put our feet up,’ but to put our feet on God's rich provision for us. Paul puts it like this: “that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe,” Eph.1.18-19.

4) PRESENTING THE ALTERNATIVES, v26-32
This section of Deut.chs.1-11, concludes with a solemn challenge to God's people. “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: a blessing if you will obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day; and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God,” v26-28. Compare Deut.30.9. Once they had crossed into the land, God's people were to assemble between mount Gerizim and mount Ebal where they were to face the same two alternatives. See v29. These instructions are expanded in Deut.27 and fulfilled in Josh.8.31-35. The alternatives lie before us today. Readiness to obey God's Word will make us resemble the believers at Philippi of whom Paul said “ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,” Phil.2.12. Disobedience will make us resemble Saul the son of Kish, to whom Samuel said, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry,” 1Sam.15.23.

—to be continued (D.V.)