Wednesday: For What Nation Is There So Great?
What follows in the next few verses after Deuteronomy 4:4 are some of the most profound and beautiful texts in all Scripture (the Hebrew is magnificent!). One could argue that, in essence, the message of Deuteronomy is found right here, and everything else is commentary. As you read these texts, think about various ways the principle here could be applied to us today, as well.
Read Deuteronomy 4:5-9. Why would the Lord through Moses have said what He did here to Israel?
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The Lord wants the people to realize that they have been called, chosen, for a special reason. They are a “great” nation, just as God had told Abram right from the first call out of the Chaldees that, “I will make you a great nation” (Genesis 12:2; see also Genesis 18:18).
But the purpose of making them great was that they could be a “blessing” ( Genesis 12.2-3). And though the ultimate blessing would be that Jesus, the Messiah, would come through their bloodline, until then they were to be the light of the world. “I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). Not that salvation was found in them, but that, through them, the true God, who alone can save, was to be revealed.
Israel was worshiping and serving the God who created the cosmos, the Lord of heaven and earth; the pagans were worshiping rocks, stones, wood, and demons (Deuteronomy 32:17, Psalm 106:37).
What a stark difference!
In these verses, Moses pointed to two things that made Israel special. First, the Lord was near to them, as He was in a unique way such as through the sanctuary, and second, because of the “statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law” (Deuteronomy 4:8).
Read Deuteronomy 4:32-35. What else was the Lord saying to them that should have made them realize what a special calling they had been given?
| No question, Israel had been given so much. Now, how would they respond? |
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It could be argued that there is not all that much difference between Yahweh worship and the other semitic gods in the eastern Mediterranean area 1500 years ago. In fact if you look at their temple designs you will find common elements in both. The really significant difference is that the other systems of worship had a strong sense of fertility built into them. Phallic symbolism was common and the goddess Diana was often depicted as a multi-breasted woman. Worship often involved self-harm, with worshippers cutting or whipping themselves. Most of the area was arid and the focus of religious activity was often on rain and improving the fertility of the land to produce crops. In human sacrifices, blood was mixed with soil to improve its fertility.
Against this background it makes sense when you read about Yahweh looking after their needs. The symbolism in the descriptions of the Promised Land "flowing with milk and honey" is rich with the idea that God will take care of their fertility needs.
Significantly, there was no need for human sacrifice. The story of Abraham does not just prefigure the sacrifice of Jesus, it is a clear statement that there is no need for human sacrifices and that they are not part of the worship of Yahweh. The fact that Ahaz and Manassah, kings of Judah, sacrificed their sons shows the depravity that they slipped into when they followed Baal worship.
God's plan was to raise up a nation based on the principle of love. He did not have to be appeased by meaningless loss of life. His statutes and laws not only pointed to him as the ultimate power in the universe, but it provides guidance on how we should treat one another. That was a significant difference between the semitic religions of the time, and the worship of Yahweh.
Wow amen alleluia this is potent thanks bro
The way our mind works, how we interpret/understand the details of something depends upon the 'big picture' we have of that thing. Today's lesson tells us that God chose Israel to be a great nation. How we understand this depends upon the 'big picture' of who we understand God to be and what we therefore understand God to be about.
So let's consider this 'big picture'. Why did God create humans in the first place? Did He need need someone to serve Him? Did God need someone to praise Him? I would propose that if these were God's motivations, then God would be self-seeking. However, we know that God is not self-seeking and instead is about benefiting others because that's all that true love can be about (1 John 4:7,8). True love cannot exist in isolation - it has to give and that giving has to result in benefit to others. So God created us because He couldn't not - He was 'self-compelled' to create us so that we might live a beneficial life. And seeing us live this way and the joy that His created beings get from living constructively is what gives Him joy. Thus, God's joy - along with the rest of His entire nature and character - is other-focussed, not self-focussed.
Added to what we have just said is the truth that constructive and beneficial life is only possible when we choose to (a) remain linked in 'submission' to (ie, willingness to receive from) God who alone is the Source of life AND (b) live/remain in harmony with the mechanisms (principles/'laws') that God uses in the 'governing' of life's many processes. These two processes are an unpacking of what it functionally means to 'trust' and 'obey'.
There is no other way that true life is possible/viable outside of what has been outlined above. And that is what God was trying to help Israel understand by both instruction and experience - and through Israel, the surrounding nations to also understand. God desires that all people understand this and choose life (ie, embrace salvation). When anyone lives in harmony with God and His Way that alone is capable of leading to true life, they live. When anyone exercises their freedom of choice to not do this and instead try something else, they fail to live (ie, perish).
This is why God was able to say that there is no other God - because none exists. And it is why God was able to say that there is no other way that life actually is possible - none exists. Again, this matches the core theme that Moses carries through all the details of Deuteronomy when he summarises in Deuteronomy 30:15-20 that there is only one way that is capable of leading to life - therefore choose and live in accordance with that way that you may live. For this is why God created you in the first place - to truely live - and why God is trying to save you - to truely live (John 10:10).
How can we best represent God without falling into exclusivism?
It's outlined clearly that we are to follow God's instructions for life in His statutes/judgments/commandments. It also says 'take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself' - which I believe means 'mind your own business'. So prayerfully let the Holy Spirit guide you in the choices/plans of your day.
Attending church school for twelve years , I was surrounded by Sdas and non-SDAs. Allen was a quiet, dutiful student. However, he was a Christian of another faith. Through the years of Weeks of Prayer and gentle nudges, he never responded. It was in Academy that I finally heard the reason. He said he saw no difference between his religion and ours. Of course, we went to church on Saturday (so did he when we had programs) while he went on Sunday, but other than that we went to the same places, listened to the same music, did the same things that he did with a few things that he did not do. No need to change.
It seems the nations around Israel may have felt the same way. God's people were, in some cases, even worse than they were, in practices. No need to change.
My attention was drawn to read the entire chapter of Isaiah 49. This chapter records the assurance of the LORD that Israel is His; no matter the circumstances it finds itself in, it should not give up hope because: v.26 ".. all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."
The LORD talked with Isaiah and Moses directly, their words are the LORD's. They declare the LORD's commitment to keep the 'House of Jacob'; they are to comfort through giving assurance!
All Glory belongs to God! We should not risk to become conceded in our own mind like the leaders of Israel in its last days. One might be tempted to judge the integrity of the Creator, the One who so powerfully establishes our Salvation, by the failures of the people who neglect to believe and trust Him.
I think our greatest focus should always be the Glory of the Lord, not only what He has done for us; unless we consider His Redemption of us to be the expression of His mighty Power, Glory, and Grace and praise and worship Him with a grateful and loving heart through/by our faithfulness!
I read Isaiah 49:6-7KJV differently when considering its full context. The LORD gave His Prophet Isaiah to Israel to declare His Word, and in extension for them to become a blessing to the Gentiles: v.6 -"And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth."
The work being done, the relationship God was to establish with the House of Jacob, was to become a blessing for all the world; the Word of God spoken by Isaiah to Israel was also to be heard by the Gentiles.
God clearly established His commitment to be faithful to His cause, regardless if Israel or the individual believer remains faithful to Him or not. He again reveals to be the 'Hand, the strong Arm' which made it possible for the House of Jacob to become the nation 'Israel'; that He chose them to be His People through which Salvation shall come to all mankind - Deut.4:32-35.