From the Mosaic law, we discern much practical wisdom for peaceful living. Hence, the strong Judeo-Christian flavor in the laws of our land. This is yet another reason why the periodic study/reading of the Old Testament is healthy. Many Judaic laws were updated/revised through Christ (“I came to fulfill the law … not do away with it”), but God’s prevailing sense of justice and instruction for living finds its roots in the precepts dictated to Moses on the top of the mountain.

“More to be desired are they (God’s precepts) than gold … sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”  [Ps. 19:10]

PRAYER: Lord, blessed are they that love Thy law, and nothing shall shake/offend them. We want to build our lives on Your teachings and precepts.

READING: Deut. 21-23

Through Moses, God clarified to His people the practices that He detested. They were lifestyle characteristics of the people groups who inhabited the land of Canaan. He warned them about being exposed to the sins He knew would corrode their lifestyle.

Hollywood has done a significant job of exposing us to the things God detests. It seems nearly every TV show and movie has an obvious agenda to promote moral and cultural impurity.

Live clean.

PRAYER:  Father, cleanse us from the filth of what we see. Give us a supreme desire to be pure before You. Your Kingdom come.

READING: Deut. 18-20

There are good Christian leaders and there are those who get off. One of God’s instructions to the Israelites was to select a king who “Did not turn to the right or to the left.” [Deut. 17:20]

He was not to be one who amassed wealth to himself (materialistic), nor took many wives (lustful), and was not prideful. But, he should be one who was daily in God’s commandments.

Paul put it this way … “Be followers of me AS I follow Christ.” [1 Cor. 11:1]

PRAYER: Lord, we lift up Christian leaders to You. Keep them close to Yourself, and let Your mighty power flow through their ministry to build up the Church.

READING: Deut. 14-17

Paul states that the Law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. [Gal. 3:23,24]  Hopefully, students will graduate and not need school any longer.  Nevertheless, it serves its purpose to instruct and mature it pupils.

God promised blessings if His people obeyed His laws (good grades, favor) and curses (bad grades, punitive measures) if they didn’t. Through the Law, we know what sin is. [Rom. 7:7] Through the faith and grace Christ brings to us through salvation,  we can live a blessed life, avoiding the consequences of sin.

PRAYER: Lord, You are our hope and salvation. We are grateful for the law that brings us to Christ. We want to please You in everything we do.

READING: Deut. 11-13

Because we give our lives to the Lord, He assumes a father’s responsibility to keep us on the healthiest and most profitable path available. He brings correction to our lives when we are led away from this path. It’s for our ultimate good. He sees the end from the beginning.  We don’t.

“The Lord disciplines everyone he loves; he punishes everyone he accepts as a child.” [Heb. 12:6 ESV]

PRAYER: Father, we know You love us. We trust Your dealings in our lives to bring us to the completeness You desire of us. Keep Your hands upon us.

READING: Deut. 8-10

These were the words God told Moses to use to describe to the Israelites the benefits and rewards of Living God’s way to be experienced both here in this life AND in Heaven.

There is no pleasure nor possession here in this life to compare with what God has ready for His People.

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  [1 Cor. 2:9]

The people groups already living in the land God intended to give to His people were generally marked for destruction. … not because He enjoyed seeing them die, but because He didn’t want His people adopting their ways or their gods.

We are tempted to allow our little idols and sins of pleasure to continue living despite God’s instructions to put them to death.

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”  [Rom. 8:13]

PRAYER: Father, help us to see and understand how deadly and destructive are the sins we want to hold onto. We want to live forever with You in heaven.

READING: Deut. 2-4

When the Israelites would accept conquest targets of the Lord’s choosing, He would go before them and fight for them.  However, when they resisted God’s ways and allowed their fears to rule them, God was displeased.

Spiritual warfare occurs when we call upon the Lord to rescue us from the enemies He identifies rather than striving to appease our lust.

PRAYER: Father, through You we shall do valiantly. It is You Who will tread down our enemy.

READING:  Num. 35,36  Deut. 1

God still uses these elements to purify His people. The refiners fire and the washing of water by the Word. In the way we select charcoals to flavor our grilled steak, God selects the trial we go through to achieve the aroma He desires.

Let Him be the great GRILLMASTER.

PRAYER: Father, here I am. Make me what You want me to be.

READING: Num. 31-33

Great detail was given to prepare offerings with the resultant aroma that pleased the Lord.

In the New Testament, the aroma God desires is not from elements roasting over a fire, but from the conduct of a life which has been devoted to Him.

Christ cleansed us by His blood sacrifice and made us acceptable to God. Our daily lives and praises/prayers then become the pleasing aroma He desires. [Ps. 69:30,31  2 Cor. 2:14-16]

When our ways please God, even our enemies will be at peace with us. [Pr. 16:7]

PRAYER: Father, You have given us all we need to be overcomers in this life. Let Your pleasure be seen in the way we conduct our lives and bring sinners to repentance because of our obedience.

READING: Num. 28-30