Tuesday March 6, 2012

Read Deuteronomy 7:6. Exodus 19:1-6

 

It would be very easy to write an entire book or sermon series on this particular verse in Deuteronomy 7.  Why? Because the verse is filled with depth, with

insight and wisdom about the Lord our God.  The verse is filled with words that are pregnant with meaning and depth.

 

The word ‘holy’ means to be set apart. Generally, Christians think of something holy as being set apart from evil or sin. But the word originally simply meant to be set apart for something or someone. The thing or person you were set apart for was a determining characteristic. It was what you were set apart for that made the difference. You could never be just set apart, you had to be set apart for something or someone.

 

This is clearly seen in the verse. Israel is set apart to the Lord.  As we’ve seen, this is the personal name of God, representing His covenant keeping faithfulness. That name in and of itself warrants at the very least a full chapter in a book. Israel was set apart to God. She was to be distinct and different in the world so that she could represent God in the world. Israel was set apart to God so that she could be God’s special agent in the field. Israel was on a mission and only those set apart could engage in that mission.

 

On the other side of the equation, Israel was chosen by God. This word ‘chosen’ again, has a wealth of information throughout it. If you are courageous enough, read the genealogies of the Bible, starting at Genesis 5. You quickly realise that certain people and certain lines were a chosen line. Abel, not Cain, was chosen. Isaac, not Ishmael, was chosen. Esau would serve his younger brother Jacob and so on. When we get to the New Testament we see that God has chosen believers in Him (Christ) and has graciously granted them repentance.

 

Both the nation of Israel and New Testament believers are God’s treasured people. We are close to God’s heart. God has chosen to love us, to lavish us and bless us, to be our heavenly Father. To God, we are valuable and precious.  How amazing is that? How awesome is our God? How humbling to be loved by the one true loving God.

 

Have a quick read of today’s verse again. It’s choc-a-block filled with exciting truth, isn’t it? Yet, it’s all too easy to skim over a verse and think nothing about it. As you read the Word of God, get into the habit of reading a verse and thinking about what God is really saying. Don’t be afraid to think deeply, or to meditate upon just one verse, so that you can see the beauty of our Lord, the depth of His Word and the love that He has for you. Don’t be afraid to rediscover the beauty of our God.

 

 

 

Prayer:

¥ Uphold our brothers and sisters in the Bible colleges in Myanmar. Pray that God would equip the college with all it needs to faithfully teach the brothers and sisters in Christ. Ask God to use the students powerfully in reaching out to the people of Myanmar. Pray for the teachers to be strong in the Lord and wise in their teaching.

¥ Pray for the Mustard Seed Orphanage in Myanmar. Pray that God would again provide it with all that is needed to raise the children and disabled people they support. Pray that God would be powerfully at work among those orphans and disabled people.

¥ Pray for the Compassion children we support in Minado. Ask the Lord to work among the children to bring hope, education and relief from poverty. Pray that many of these families and their wider families and contacts would come to Christ for salvation. Pray for a revival in that region and beyond.