Deuteronomy 26:16-19-- Declared

Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:16-19

We just finished moving through Moses' delivery of the Law to Israel before they finally entered the promised land. His delivery spanned Deuteronomy chapter 11 to verse 26:15, and we worked through the speech in sections that roughly correspond to each of the Ten Commandments. 

Today we'll meditate on the closing thought Moses shared as he finished his explanation of the Law and transitioned to the end of his book (and life). Something more happened that day than just a second giving of the Law. Moses didn't simply read a series of rules while his countrymen tried not to doze off. As the aging leader reminded his people of the character and faithfulness of God, the entire nation entered into a solemn and binding agreement with their Creator and Lawgiver.

Deuteronomy 7-- Because the Lord loved you

Scripture: Deuteronomy 7 (especially verses 7-16)

We're moving through Deuteronomy, and doing so in a medium of short devotionals has its perils. For instance, it's hard to ignore that part of Israel's history in which God commands them to destroy all the peoples in the promised land. There is something deeply objectionable and disturbing about this when viewed through our current cultural lens. We'll look at this a little more when we get to chapter 9, so if you want to wrestle with this part of the account, we'll get there soon. 

Hebrews 7-- A Better Covenant

Scripture: Hebrews 7 (especially verses 22 to 28)

Friends, I really jumped the gun a few posts ago. The author of Hebrews had likened Jesus' priesthood to that of Melchizedek, and I couldn't help but write about it. You can read it here. I had forgotten how amazingly the author would return to this subject in chapter 7!!

Oh well. Just read the first half of Hebrews 7. The author explains it better than I could anyway. If your mind doesn't explode with joy upon reading it, then it's a stronger mind than mine.