Renew Your Devotion to GOD Today - Deuteronomy 29:10-15; 30:1-3,6,11-14,19-20 - June 24, 2007

Sunday School Lesson – Renew Your Devotion To GOD Today – June 24, 2007

Our background scripture is Deuteronomy 27-34.

Our focus scripture is Deuteronomy 29:10-15; 30:1-3, 6, 11-14, 19-20.

This is our last lesson in this series. It gives all Christians hope even when, as Christian’s, we have been in our Spiritual Promised Land and an enemy, our flesh, took us captive from the Promised Land.

GOD is speaking through Moses to the new generation of Israelites. Moses is giving the Israelites prophesy of things to come. The Israelites will enter the Promised Land about 1406 BC but after enjoying a long time of plenty, they will be led astray and worship strange gods. GOD will allow them to be captured and carried off into a foreign land. The northern kingdom falls about 722 BC and the southern kingdom falls to Babylon about 586 BC. The Jews are carried off to Babylon, which we know today as Iraq. The first Jews did not leave Babylon until 538 BC. Nehemiah rebuilds the Jerusalem wall about 445 BC.

This is just like our human life. Once our defenses are weakened or our wall is breached, the enemy comes in and ravages our kingdom. We are led into a foreign land. Once we come to our senses, GOD makes it clear that we can always come back into fellowship with HIM. Our walls have to be rebuilt, so-to-speak. We rebuild those walls by reading GOD’S Word, prayer (talking to GOD), fellowshipping with HIM, praising HIM, being honest with HIM, being obedient to HIM, by serving HIM, just to list a few of the building blocks toward restoration. We are fully restored at the moment we make our decision to come back to HIM but it often takes time for us to forgive ourselves and to work through issues as a result of being lead astray.
GOD tells the Israelites that once they come to their senses then they can come back to the Promised Land. The key is that the generation hearing this will be dead. So they must tell their offspring and their offspring must tell their offspring, etc. about GOD’S provision so when these things happen to them, they will remember the hope that GOD offers. And that is they can re-enter the Promised Land.

The same is true with us as Christians. When we have known the joy of the benefits and privilege of dwelling in our Spiritual Promise Land and have been led astray by our flesh, we can always come back. We must acknowledge our sin (confess our sin), ask GOD to forgive us of our sin, repent (which means stop sinning) and return to fellowship and a renewed relationship with our LORD. GOD is The GOD of second, third, fourth, fifth, etc. chances. HIS desire is for all HIS children to come to HIM and to be obedient to HIM.

Let’s examine our scripture.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 29:10-15:

10 “All of you are standing today before the Lord your God—your leaders, tribes, elders, officials, all the men of Israel, 11 your children, your wives, and the foreigners in your camps who cut your wood and draw your water— 12 so that you may enter into the covenant of the Lord your God, which He is making with you today, so that you may enter into His oath 13 and so that He may establish you today as His people and He may be your God as He promised you and as He swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 14 I am making this covenant and this oath not only with you, 15 but also with those who are standing here with us today in the presence of the Lord our God and with those who are not here today.

All of the new generation of Israelites, their families, servants, etc. were gathered to renew the covenant their ancestors had made with GOD about forty (40) years earlier. GOD wanted the new generation to rededicate themselves to HIM before they entered the Promised Land. Notice everyone is included. This is prophesy regarding the coming of CHRIST to redeem all mankind, Jew and Gentile alike.

Also, notice in verse 15 that the renewal of the covenant applied to all standing there and those not standing. Did this mean that if some were sick and could not attend at that moment that the renewal extended to them? Yes, it did apply to all alive at that moment but it also applied to those not yet born. It applied to all the generations to follow. Those living and hearing the words of Moses had the responsibility to pass this information on to other generations, so they would know that GOD is a GOD WHO forgives and restores. The key is that the people must come to their senses and see that GOD is GOD and desire to return to HIM.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 30:1-3, 6:

1 “When all these things happen to you—the blessings and curses I have set before you—and you come to your senses [while you are]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. in all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, 2 and you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and all your soul by doing[1] Lit soul according to everything I am giving you today, 3 then He will restore your fortunes,[2] Or will end your captivity have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.[3] Lv 26:40–45; 1 Kg 8:46–50

6 The Lord your God will circumcise your heart[5] Dt 10:16; Jr 4:4 and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and all your soul, so that you will live.

Moses outlines a number of curses and blessing that would fall upon them in Chapter 29. Notice in verse 1 “and you come to your senses”, then you and your children will be restored. But, also, notice HE wants them to be completely committed to HIM. It is not oh I am in a bad situation, therefore I will cry out to GOD and HE will deliver me. GOD wants to know that we have had a genuine change of heart. It is vital that we really recognize and acknowledge that HE is the only ONE WHO can restore us. Just know that GOD looks at the attitude of your heart. HE knows when we are sincere.

HIS promise is that HE will restore and reestablish all who have a sincere desire to be restored to HIM. Notice this also includes our families and descendants. We as the head of the family must set the example of genuine dedication to GOD. This is why we renew our devotion to GOD or rededicate our lives to GOD. The Israelites did this in public. Our family needs to know when we take a stand for our LORD and rededicate our lives to HIM.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 30:11-14:

11 “This command that I give you today is certainly not too difficult or beyond your reach. 12 It is not in heaven, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ 13 And it is not across the sea, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ 14 But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it.[7] Rm 10:6–8

GOD makes it clear to the Israelites that renewing the covenant with HIM is not difficult. There are no excuses for delaying to renew your devotion to HIM because HE is right there with them. HE is within their reach. They do not have to go some place else. In fact HE is so close to them that HE is in their being. This is again prophesy regarding CHRIST coming to earth as a human, living a sinless life upon earth and sanctifying the human body to be the dwelling place for the HOLY SPIRIT for all believers. We as Christians are blessed indeed because the HOLY SPIRIT dwells within each one of us. The HOLY SPIRIT’S function is to teach us, enlighten us, empower us, to be our security deposit, to be our anchor, to reveal and confirm that we are GOD’S child, to give us assurance of salvation and much, much more.

1. Let’s read Deuteronomy 30:19-20:

19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20 love the Lord your God, obey Him, and remain faithful[10] Lit and hold on to Him. For He is your life, and He will prolong your life in the land the Lord swore to give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

GOD had cautioned the Israelites about not making any image of HIM. I thought it interesting that GOD calls as HIS witness to them heaven and earth. These are GOD’S creations and man cannot make any claim about having anything to do with creating them. These are made by the unseen GOD WHOM you worship.

As you may recall from the June 10th lesson:

Let’s read Deuteronomy 4:15-20:

15 “Be extremely careful for your own good—because you did not see any form on the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire— 16 not to act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of any figure: a male or female form, 17 or the form of any beast on the earth, any winged creature that flies in the sky, 18 any creature that crawls on the ground, or any fish in the waters under the earth. 19 When you look to the heavens and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the array of heaven—do not be led astray to bow down and worship them. The Lord your God has provided them for all people everywhere under heaven. 20 But the Lord selected you and brought you out of Egypt’s iron furnace to be a people for His inheritance, as you are today.

As GOD’S people behold the world, know that I AM GOD and I have the power to create all that your eyes can see. When you choose ME you also choose life for yourself and your family. You are to be an example for your family. When you devote yourself to ME, it will not only give you an abundant life but it will also benefit your family.

We can renew our devotion to GOD in a church service or we can renew our devotion to GOD wherever we are. We should respond at the moment the HOLY SPIRIT prompts us to respond. The importance of renewing our commitment to GOD publicly, such as in during a worship service, is to reveal to others that we are serious about our decision. It also shows GOD that we are not ashamed of publicly taking a stand for HIM. It should alert fellow believers of our commitment and they will pray for us, be available to help us grow and mature in our renewal to our LORD and come to our aid when needed.

Rededicate your life to CHRIST today. Ask HIM to give you the strength to live your life as HE chooses. It may be that you have been performing and trying to live the Christian life in your own strength. I can tell you that is impossible. Remember all Christians are under grace. What GOD wants from us is an intimate loving relationship with HIM. Spend time with HIM to get to know HIM and let HIM direct your activity of service. HE will reveal to you the work that HE is doing and will ask you to join HIM in that work when HE has equipped you to do that work. Watch, wait and abide in HIM. May our LORD bless you and keep you in the palm of HIS hand.