The Promise of Life

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Deuteronomy 30:1-3
In 29:22 Moses’ address seems to be taking the direction and the view that he was not optimistic about all of Israel’s future. Now in 30:1 there appears a mixture of hesitant and conditional prediction relative to Israel’s return to the land in blessing after a period of dispersion and captivity throughout the world. In v 1 Moses looked beyond the period when Israel has had a time of blessing and after a subsequent time when Israel would be under the curse of the Lord while dispersed among the nations.

It is not clear whether the destruction by a nation whose language they would not understand ( 28:36, 49 ) is the same experience as the scattering among the nations in 28:64; 29:22; and 30:1.

This is not clear that there would be two basic dispersions, as later Scriptures and history have show, one after the destruction of the kingdom(s) culminating in 586 B.C. and another after 70 A.D., a dispersion that is still in effect even though an Israeli national state is in control of part of the Promised Land.

When the people who are dispersed among the nations return to the Lord in obedience to all the commands of the covenant with all their heart and soul (v 2), then the Lord, having compassion on them, will restore their fortunes after re-gathering them from the nations (v 3).

“ restore your fortunes ” a total change, a return to a former state, and indicates that Israel would return to the position of being under the blessing of the Lord in their own land.

Deuteronomy 30:4-8
“ even if ” (v 4) is often used to make a strong assertion, as in Numbers 22:18: “ Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. ”

So here from the most distance places, as the ancient Israelites conceived distances, dispersed to the known nations, even from there the Lord would re-gather his people.

This future return of God’s people to their land will be the resolve of their heart and soul to return to him, and it will also be characterized by their new, wholehearted love for him and by their obedience to all his commands ( vv 6, 8 ).

This new state of blessing, will be due to the renewal of Israel’s allegiance to the Lord and also to his compassion. The Lord’s compassion makes possible the return from banishment even in the most distant lands ( vv 3-4 ).

That compassion will not only return the people to their land; it also ( as “ restore your fortunes ” ( v 3 ) rehabilitates them. His compassion makes them more prosperous and more numerous than their fathers ( v 5 ). Three times in vv 5, 9 Israel is promised a new and greater prosperity than she ever has experienced before.

The Lord will circumcise the people’s hearts so that they will love him with heart and soul. This work of God in the innermost being of the individual ( you and your descendants ), is characteristic of the spiritual nature of Deuteronomic revelation.

Deuteronomy 30:9-10
The initial promises the Lord had been giving the Israelites as they were being prepared for entrance into Canaan would be renewed.

They would be prosperous in everything they did ( v 9 ).

Abundance would again mark their families, livestock, and crops ( 28:11 ).

The Lord would again delight in his people ( in 28:63, where “ pleased ” was used ); he would return to being pleased to make them prosper.

This prosperity will come only if the people return to the original demands of the covenant-treaty, obedience to the Book of the Law, total allegiance to the Lord their God ( v10 ).

Recap

This is Moses third speech.

Curses for disobedience and blessings for obedience and faithfulness.

Do we expect blessings on our terms?

Are God’s blessings different today from what Israel got?

Are you satisfied with spiritual blessings or do you expect material blessings?

Do you see God in two ways...
Serving Him for blessings or serve Him to prevent curses?

Matthew 22:36-38
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.

God left other nations to serve Him but dealt with them at a later date, God’s will be done. Are we on the right side? With circumcised hearts we can be.

Have you ever felt you were in exile?

Have you recognized when God brought out of it?

1 John 5:3-5
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 Corinthians 10:5-7
Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.”

To shun God is asking God to shun you.

Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven I pray we put away all idols we have no matter the type or style and hear and obey You and Your Word. As we read Your Word allow it to speak to us and I pray we hear and obey. Thank You Lord

In the name of Jesus. Amen

TGIF