Review & Intro: In Chapter 28, we had a long chapter explaining in detail the things that would befall the Israelites to completely clear them from the land that the Lord was going to bless them with if they left Him and worshiped other gods of the other nations. It would be a temptation to go the "way of the world" because they had unique laws and commandments that set them apart from all others. In Chapter 29, we see that God had not yet given them eyes to see and ears to hear but still they were to obey Him in order to remain on the promised land. If not, their land would become a wasteland and they would be taken in captivity by other nations. History tells us the Northern Kingdom was taken captive to the Assyrians and the Southern Kingdom was taken captive to the Babylonians years after that. God's Word is true. Yet there is a future and a hope for Israel as Jeremiah told them in Jeremiah 29:11. Today we are under the New Covenant of Grace and we will take time to look at it.
Deuteronomy Chapter 29 - Observation Questions
1. Where did the Lord give these covenant words to Israel? vs. 1
2. Where did the Lord give the first covenant (ten commandments) at? vs. 1
3. Although they had seen all that the Lord did in the land of Egypt; the great signs and wonders; ... what had the Lord not yet given them? vs. 4 - Name 3 things
4. How long had the Lord led them in the wilderness? vs. 5
5. How had He kept them during that time? vs. 5
6. What did the lack of bread and wine help them to know at that time? vs. 6
7. When Israel reached that place, they defeated Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan. (vs.7) What did they do with their land on that side of the Jordan river? vs. 8
8. How could Israel know that they could be successful and prosper? vs. 9
9. Once the leadership is transferred to Joshua after the death of Moses, what is he told as well? Comment on the verses below:
10. Back to Deuteronomy 29. Israel stood before the Lord that day - their chiefs .. their tribes ... their elders ... and their officers, along with their little ones ... wives ... and the aliens within their camps; the ones who chopped the wood and drew their water ... to enter into the covenant the Lord was making with them that day. (vs.10-12) What was God's desire and intent for them? vs. 13
11. This covenant was not only with those who stood there on that day who had actually "seen" the abominations and idols of the nations they came through as they left Egypt and came to the Promised Land, but for those to come who were not standing there at the time. (vs.14,15) ... Because the ones there had seen the abominations along the way, God expected them to keep His covenant that would bring them success and prosperity if they obeyed it. (vs.16,17) ...What was the warning against any "individual" who chose to turn their heart "away" from the Lord to go and "serve other gods"? vs. 18 -
12. Where do we see something about a "root" bearing poisonus fruit and wormwood in the New Testament? Comment on the following verses:
13. If we know ahead of time what this "root" bearing poisonous fruit can do to us and those around us, we can weed the garden of our heart, and dig deeply to remove the roots that have these poisons in them. More than an issue of salvation under the New Covenant, it is the torment of an unproductive life meant to be so much more in God's plan for us. Comment on the following verses:
What has the Lord created us and chosen us to do? ... John 15:16 ....
What brings glory to the Lord through our lives? ... John 15:8 ...
What must we die to before we can bear fruit for the Lord and how do we do it? ... Romans 7:4 ...
What kind of "fruit" is borne when we try to live by the law? ... Romans 7:5 ....
As we keep the roots of defilement out of our hearts, keeping the soil rich in the grace of God, what will happen in our lives? ... Mark 4:20 ....
What qualities should be increasing in our lives to keep us productive and fruitful in the Lord's service? ... 2 Peter 1:2-8 ...
If we are lacking in these qualities, we are either "blind" or "short-sighted". What have we forgotten? ... 2 Peter 1:9 ...
How does this compare to the Lord not wanting them to forget the great deliverance He gave them from the land of Egypt?
What are we to be all the more diligent about in our calling? ... 2 Peter 1:10,11 ...
The passage of Hebrews 6:1-6 is not about falling from salvation, but falling back from living in grace and having a fruitful and productive life. What are we told in Hebrews 6:7-8 that happens to ground that is rained upon and tilled (taken care of)? ..... If our lives produce thorns and thistles and is worthless, what is it close to being and what happens to those works that are done? vs. 8 ....
What is the writer of Hebrews convinced of however? .... Hebrews 6:9-12 ...
Paul talks to the Corinthian church about the fact that although many of them should have matured and had the ability to teach others the things of the Lord, they were needing to be put back on milk again because they were not able to walk on solid food yet. They still had jealousy ... and strife ... and were walking in the flesh rather than the Spirit ... (1 Corinthians 3:1-15). What did Paul say would happen to the work in each man's life on the day they stand before the Lord and give account? .... vs. 10-15 .... Although the works would burn up, what would happen to the truly born again believer? ... vs. 15 .....
I do not want to watch the works in my life burn up. I want to invest my life into the things that will last - the treasures in heaven that fire cannot burn up. First, I must work on my heart making sure there is no root of bitterness or anything that would cause defilement. I don't want to be unproductive. I want to bear much fruit for my Heavenly Father. I know a root I am digging out and hope you will pray for me as I will be happy to pray for any of you that need some work on your heart as well.
What does the Lord tell us through the prophet Hosea? ... Hosea 10:12 ....
What causes remaining and increasing fruit in our life. What must we understand and live in? ... Colossians 1:3-6 ...
14. Back to Deuteronomy 29. When that individual heard the words of the curse given through from God through Moses, he did not humble himself, but dared to boast in his heart. He believed that he could be "stubborn of heart" and still experience the "peace" of God. Write out what he said from verse 19 .....
15. In his case under the law, there was not forgiveness from the Lord, but anger. The Lord would "single him out" for adversity from all the tribes, according to all the curses of the covenant written in the book of the law. (vs.20,21) ... In the generations to come, their sons and the foreigners would see what the plagues and diseases brought to the land, when the people were no longer there and the land had become a waste place. (vs.22) ...unsown and unproductive... What would the Promised Land become like? vs. 23 -
16. In our case under grace, because Jesus took the curse of the law, and we walk by faith under the blessings of Abraham - is forgiveness always availble to us? Comment on the following verse:
17. Just as the Lord "singled out" this person with a stubborn heart that was intent on not obeying the Lord, Who does He also "single out" to watch and bless? Comment on the following verse:
18. Back to Deuternonomy 29. ... The other nations would question saying "Why has the Lord done this to the land?" ... "Why this great anger?" (vs.24) ... What would the men answer them? vs. 25,26 -
19. The Lord knows the end from the beginning. He knew they would not keep His covenant and that they would turn and serve other gods. Yes, He would bring the curses upon them and uproot them from their land, casting them to another land (vs.27,28), as they would eventually be in captivity - the Northern Kingdom to Assyria - the Southern Kingdom to Babylon ... but would that be the end for the nation of Israel? ... No! ... There are so many beautiful promises through the prophets of the coming Messiah and the future of Israel. ... As this chapter comes to a close, what are we told concerning "the secret things of the Lord" and "who they are revealed to"? vs. 29 -
20. In ending this lesson, let's look upon some of those "secret things" that were later "revealed" to us. Comment on the following verses:
Application:
21. The prophets of old longed to know what persons would be a part of this "grace" that the Lord would send by the promise of His Spirit. We are the ones who have experienced it. The Lord actually lives inside of us and gives us the power to live for Him through His Spirit. Grace is "undeserved" and it cannot be "earned". We can never be worthy of it apart from what Jesus has done for us. He took the curse of the law and we have grace to walk in. By grace, we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to believe. What was the apostle Paul's prayer for us and one that we can pray for one another? Comment on the verse below:
22. Jesus told His disciples that they were "blessed" to have ears to hear and eyes to see. What have we yet to fully see as grace continues to open our ears and our eyes by faith; things the world cannot hear or see because they do not have His Spirit?
23. Summarize this lesson and post a prayer if you would like.
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