Study the Bible in Two Years – 9/24/10

Friday, Sept. 24 – Deuteronomy 33-34

1.  Chapter 33 are Moses’ last words of blessing just before he climbed Mt. Nebo and died. He starts with the promise that the Lord will come down from His mountain, along with “myriads of holy ones.”  Who are they?   And yet the people are also called “holy ones” in 33:3?  Why can we be called holy ones? 

2.  Read the beautiful promise in 33:26-27.  From which directions does the Lord promise to help us? 

3.  I have been on Mt. Nebo. You can see much of the land, but not all of it. This had to be a miracle that God did for Moses.  Moses saw the promised land on earth and immediately after that, the promised land of heaven!   No more regrets!  There was no one quite like Moses!  How could Joshua ever fill Moses’ sandals?   See 34:9

Study the Bible in Two Years – 9/23/10

Thursday, Sept. 23 – Deuteronomy 32

1.  Moses’ song was to be taught and sung by the people (31:19).  We remember the songs so much better!!   What song can you think of that goes with verse 4?  Verse 10?  Verse 11?

2.  What does 32:35 remind you about when someone has done you wrong?

3.  What general important principle is taught in 32:39 that affects our attitude about abortion or euthanasia (mercy death)?

Study the Bible in Two Years – 9/22/10

Wednesday, Sept. 22 – Deuteronomy 30-31

1.  Paul quotes Deut. 30:11-14 in Romans 10:6-8.  Moses is making the point that God’s laws are not hard to find and not impossible to follow.  Paul applies those words to a little different point.  Which message of God’s Word is near to us?

2.  Moses sums up the covenant with some beautiful words:   30:15-20.  Can those words apply to us in any way, even though we no longer have or need the old covenant?  Hint:  Will God still bless our obedience, or bring hardship when we disobey?  See Luke 11:28 and Matthew 7:24-27.

3.  “Choose life!”  Some people have taken those words to mean that we need to make our choice to believe in Jesus.  Remember that these words are spoken to people who are already believers and have nothing to do with coming to faith.  Burn this little phrase into your memory as we apply it to Jesus:  THE LORD IS YOUR LIFE!!

Study the Bible in Two Years – 9/21/10

Tuesday, Sept. 21 – Deuteronomy 29

1.  Note that all of these blessings and curses are part of the covenant that the Lord was making with the nation of Israel,  29:9-14.  They no longer apply directly to us.  Why not?         See Hebrews 9:15. 

2.  What kind of stinking thinking is described in 29:19 that is still prevalent among some people who consider themselves believers? 

3.  See 29:29.  What secret things do people by nature yearn to know?

                        On what should we base our lives?

Study the Bible in Two Years – 9/20/10

Note:  We are combining some of the readings in the Daily Light Bible, because they were quite short, and we want to finish Deuteronomy this week! 

Monday, Sept. 20 – Deuteronomy 27-28

Note:  Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim are on either side of the future city of Shechem, right in the center of Israel.  Ebal is barren and unproductive, as if cursed.  Gerizim is green and fertile, as if blessed.  Perhaps the monument of the Law and the altar were placed on Mt. Ebal so they would not be hidden by trees, but could be seen from a great distance. 

1. What types of monuments do we use to remind us of the Law?  The Gospel?

2.  Note the colorful imagery for blessings in 28:12,13.  What does this say about where our country is now, in the category of blessing from God?

3.  Note the different categories of curses for disobedience: 

      28:21 -

      28:24 -

      28:25 -

      28:65-66 -

Study the Bible in Two Years – 9/18/10

Saturday,  Sept. 18 – Deuteronomy 25-26

1.  Paul quotes 25:4 as an encouragement for what?  See 1 Corinthians 9:9-12.

2.  What application of “firstfruit” offerings can we make today?

3.   Deut. 26:16-19 completes Moses’ second message in Deuteronomy and also is a good summary of the Old Covenant.  The people declared to do what? 26:17.   The Lord declared to do what?  26:18.   Our covenant of grace in Christ Jesus is not a two-way street – it is all from God.  So why do we strive to obey the commandments?   See what Jesus says in John 14:15.

Study the Bible in Two Years – 9/17/10

Friday, Sept. 17 – Deuteronomy 24

1.  Besides marriage, what else is the Lord protecting with the laws in this chapter?

2.  What responsibility do we have today to the poor?  What did Jesus teach?  See Matthew 5:42 and 6:2-4.

3.  Once again, why don’t we obey these specific laws as Christians today?  See Romans 10:4 and Galatians 5:1.

Study the Bible in Two Years – 9/16/10

Thursday, Sept. 16 – Deuteronomy 22-23

1. How does Moses’ law about a straying ox or sheep illustrate our duty of love to our fellowman? How does James 2:14-17 make a similar point?

 2. If someone failed to put a parapet or railing around his roof and someone fell and died, the owner would be guilty of sinning against the Fifth Commandment. What similar safety laws do we have today?  

3.  Apparently it was customary for the bride’s parents to keep a bedsheet from the wedding night as proof of the daughter’s virginity.  The Lord gave quite a few laws to protect the sanctity of marriage.  Why are such laws proposed and opposed in our country today?

Study the Bible in Two Years – 9/15/10

Wednesday, Sept. 15 – Deuteronomy 20-21

1.  The Lord wanted soldiers who trusted in him completely for the victory, no matter what the odds.  What were the fearful supposed to do?  See 20:4.    What will happen when others are surrounded by those who trust in the Lord rather than the fainthearted?   See Psalm 40:3,4.

2.  People today may be disappointed that Moses’ law permitted slavery (20:11) and polygamy (21:15).  Remember that these are civil laws for the country, and the Lord was dealing with the possibilities that would arise.  Also recall that slaves had to be freed at the Year of Jubilee (Lev 25:46), or they could buy their freedom earlier.  God seems to have allowed polygamy, but recall that this is not how he set up marriage at the beginning: “the two shall be one flesh.”

3.  The Israelites were to hang the body of an executed criminal on a tree as a warning for others, 21:23.   However, the Lord had a higher purpose with this example.  He wants us to see Jesus!   Read Galatians 3:13.

Study the Bible in Two Years – 9/14/10

Tuesday, Sept. 14 – Deuteronomy 18-19

1.  Note what God considers detestable practices in 18:10-11.  This has not changed.  Does this apply to reading Harry Potter books and watching the movies?   Why or why not?  Ask one of your pastors if you are not sure.

2.  Who is this future prophet who will be like Moses and who will speak the truth from God?  Peter quotes  Deut.18:17-19 in Acts 3:22-23.  Note how these thoughts are fulfilled in Hebrews 1:1,2.

3.  Read in 18:20 how the Lord feels about prophets who make up their own messages and say it’s from God.   How can you tell if a prophet is really from God or not?  See 18:21-22. 

4.  How did the Lord want them to handle false witnesses in court?  Read 19:18-19.  So what is the Lord saying in the famous verse, 19:21?  Remember that this is in a court of law, not for personal vengeance.