Devotionary

Follow Devotionary
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Devotionary offers a unique Bible study aid that offers the inspiration of a daily devotional and the insights of a commentary – all in easy-to-understand language that makes the Scriptures come alive. We'll be working our way through the entire Bible, book by book and chapter by chapter, so come ba…

Ken Miller


    • Feb 12, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 8m AVG DURATION
    • 1,023 EPISODES
    • 6 SEASONS


    Search for episodes from Devotionary with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Devotionary

    Ep 1024 – John 1:1-5

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2021 10:05


    Today we begin a brand-new series on the Gospel of John. This remarkable book will take us on incredible journey of discovery that that begins with the very first day of Jesus’ earthly ministry when He was baptized by John in the wilderness, all the way to His death, burial, and resurrection more than 3 years later. And along the way, John will provide us with his first-person account of all that he witnessed along the way. As one of Jesus’ hand-picked disciples, John had a unique vantage point from which to observe and assess all that Jesus said and did. Like the other disciples, he would struggle to grasp exactly who Jesus was and what He had come to do. In his heart, he longed for Jesus to be the long-awaited Messiah of Israel. And that hope carried certain expectations. But his gospel account, written years later, will reveal how his understanding of and belief in Jesus changed over time. John learned that Jesus was far more than a man sent to sit on a throne in Israel. He was the Son of God and the Savior sent to redeem a lost and dying world.   

    Ep 1021 – Deuteronomy 33:18-22

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2020 10:58


    In today’s passage, Moses blesses four more of the tribes. This time, he calls out Zebulun, Issachar, Gad, and Dan. There were four of the smaller tribes of Israel and the each had a less-than-stellar record when it came to faithfulness to Yahweh. So, in Deuteronomy 33:128-22, Moses will keep his blessings short and sweet, and leave a great deal up to the imagination, in terms of the meaning of his words. While these tribes had been set apart by God and provided with an inheritance of land, they had each proved to be unfaithful. God every reason to judge them for their disobedience and, one day, he would. But He would also prove to be faithful, eventually choosing to use them – in spite of them. Their disobedience would result in the darkness of God’s judgment. But, ultimately, God would send the light of the world, His Son, to penetrate the darkness with the hope of salvation by grace along through faith alone. 

    Ep 1023 – Deuteronomy 34:1-12

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2020 10:37


    At the end of chapter 33, Moses made the compelling confession, “There is no one like the God of Israel.” He wanted the people to know that they served a great and incomparable God. But at the same time, the author of the book of Deuteronomy seems to want his readers to know that Moses was also unparalleled and without equal. “There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses,” he writes. Moses was flawed, yet faithful. He could be stubborn and hard-headed, and yet, he never stopped believing in and relying upon God. Now, his day of reckoning has arrived and he will go to be with God. There will be no promised land in Moses’ future, but there will be an eternity spent in fellowship with God. And while Moses would disappear from the scene, the people of Israel would find themselves guided by another one of God’s chosen servants. Because He was not yet done with them. But that’s another story.

    Ep 1022 – Deuteronomy 33:23-29

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2020 10:01


    Moses was fully convinced that Israel served an incomparable God, who had no equals and, therefore, deserved His peoples’ unwavering commitment. But in Deuteronomy 33:23-29, as Moses wraps up his blessings of the tribes with an address to Naphtali and Asher, he reminds them of God’s goodness and greatness. Like all the other tribes, these two would be blessed by God and given every opportunity to enjoy the benefits of living in the land He had given them. But they would prove unfaithful and unsuccessful in keeping their end of the bargain. Once they entered the land of promise, they would fail to eliminate the pagan inhabitants, choosing instead to take the path of compromise and complacency. God, always faithful to keep His covenant promises, would continue to bless the tribes of Israel. But would they return the favor?   

    Ep 1020 – Deuteronomy 33:12-17

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2020 9:23


    In Deuteronomy 33:12-17, Moses continues his blessing of the 12 tribes of Israel. And in these verses, he focuses his attention of the tribes of Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh. These were three of the smaller tribes in Israel, but their diminutive size did not mean they were unimportant. Speaking by the inspiration of the Spirit of God, Moses reveals that God’s sovereign hand had been upon these three relatively insignificant tribes from the very beginning. It would be within the territory allotted to the tiny tribe of Benjamin that the Savior of the world would be born – in the remote village of Bethlehem. But the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, both equally small and insignificant, would play a less-auspicious role in the history of Israel. And it would all be according to God’s sovereign will.          

    Ep 1019 – Deuteronomy 33:6-11

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2020 10:58


    In Deuteronomy 33:6-11, Moses begins to issue his blessings upon the 12 tribes of Israel. While he will not be entering the land of promise with them, he still feels like their spiritual father and wants to communicate his last words of encouragement to each of them. He will echo the words of Jacob, who hundreds of years earlier had issued his blessings to his 12 sons. During the centuries that had passed, God had been working behind the scenes, divinely fulfilling the words spoken by Jacob, and eventually, He would ensure that the blessings of Moses came about as well. These two men had actually been speaking on behalf of God, issuing His divine decrees regarding His chosen people. He would end up blessing the 12 tribes of Israel, in ways neither Jacob or Moses could ever have imagined.   

    Ep 1018 – Deuteronomy 33:1-5

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2020 8:11


    Moses is fully aware that his days on this earth are quickly drawing to a close. But with a shepherd’s heart, he wants to leave his flock with one last message. And it will come in the form of a blessing. The one who led them out of Egypt and guided them through the wilderness and all the way to the land of promise wanted to pronounce a blessing over them. But knowing that the people were despondent over the thought of his pending death, Moses reminded them that their true leader was God. In Deuteronomy 33:1-5, the shepherd of Israel focuses their attention back on the one who had always been their true deliverer and King: God Himself. While Moses was going away, God would be going before them. The one who had redeemed them would continue to guide and rule over them. They were not alone.

    Ep 1017 – Deuteronomy 32:48-52

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2020 8:56


    As the Book of Deuteronomy draws to a close, it also brings an end to the leadership of Moses. But God had more in store for Moses than simply turning over the reins of leadership to Joshua. He was going to give up far more than his role as deliverer of Israel. Moses wouldn’t have the option of retiring from office and fading into the background as one of the millions of Israelites who crossed the Jordan into Canaan. God was going to ban him from ever setting foot in the land and, instead, would ensure that the wilderness would be his final destination. In Deuteronomy 32:48-52, God once again reminds Moses of the painful consequences of his earlier indiscretion. Moses had treated God with disrespect and was now going to pay the ultimate penalty for his sin.

    Ep 1016 – Deuteronomy 32:39-47

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2020 7:50


    God doesn’t make idol threats. Whatever He says, He does. When He makes a promise, He keeps it. When He issues a threat, He follows through with it. And in Deuteronomy 32:39-47, God lets His people know that they can believe all that He has said to them. They were to take His words seriously and memorize them carefully, teaching them to their children and grandchildren. As Moses continues to prepare the people of God for their entrance into the land of Canaan, he reminds them that the words of the song God had given them are to be remembered and sung for generations. It is to stand in judgment of them, a constant reminder of God’s call to faithfulness and their failure to heed that call. More than just a song, it is to be an everlasting memorial set to music. A reminder of who God is and all that He has called them to do.     

    Ep 1015 – Deuteronomy 32:28-38

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2020 8:02


    God will not tolerate disobedience from His chosen people. He has warned them repeatedly that their failure to remain faithful to Him will have dire consequences, including their ultimate fall to foreign powers who will destroy and enslave them. But in Deuteronomy 32:28-38, God has a few choice words of warning for those very same nations. He knows human nature and is well aware that these powerful nations will see their successes over Israel and Judah as their own doing. Puffed up with pride, they will claim the God-ordained judgment of Israel and Judah as something accomplished in their own strength and power. And so, God warns them that the day will come when the tables will be turned, and they find themselves on the receiving end of God’s wrath and judgment. And God assures His people that, when that day comes, He will once again shower them with His undeserved grace and mercy.

    Ep 1014 – Deuteronomy 32:19-27

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2020 11:53


    Nobody likes to talk about the wrath of God. But, interestingly enough, God has no problem discussing His anger and wrath. And as we’ll see in Deuteronomy 32:19-27, He doesn’t hesitate to discuss His anger or the consequences it will bring about. But God’s anger is anything but capricious. He is not one to fly off the handle or allow Himself to be easily provoked by the slightest indiscretion. No, He is holy and just. And He has clearly communicated to His chosen people what He expects from them. Moses has spent an inordinate amount of time describing the expectations God placed upon His people. And now, through the words of a song that God has given him, Moses is letting them know exactly what will happen when they fail to live up to His holy standards. And God isn’t apologetic or hesitant when He lays out the consequences for their rebellion. They will get exactly what they deserve from the hands of a just and righteous God.               

    Ep 1013 – Deuteronomy 32:10-18

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2020 9:34


    This song that God has given to Moses is an unpleasant one. It will not be a joy to sing or hear. But it comes from the lips of God Himself, so its words are true, and its meaning is clear. The chosen people of God were going to experience the horror of captivity once again. They would enter the land God had promised as their inheritance, but their time there would prove to be short-lived. Despite God’s abundant blessings and His patient tolerance of their repeated acts of unfaithfulness, they would continue to live in stubborn rebellion to His will. And in these verses, we hear another stanza of the song Moses was to teach to the people of Israel. Deuteronomy 32:10-18 is intended to remind them of God’s gracious deliverance of them from their captivity in Egypt. But it also paints the very painful picture of their ungrateful response to all He had done for them.              

    Ep 1012 – Deuteronomy 31:30-32:9

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2020 9:54


    It was Neil Diamond who recorded the 1972 hit, “Song Sung Blue.” It was a memorable tune that opened with the lines, “Song sung blue, everybody knows one, Song sung blue, every garden grows one.” But while this song hit number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the song we’re going to look at today never enjoyed the same degree of popularity. It was a “song sung blue,” but it didn’t have a happy ending. And I doubt anyone found this tune particularly catchy or easy to dance to. Found in Deuteronomy 31:30-32:9, this song was written by God Himself and given to Moses to teach to the people of Israel before they entered the land of promise. And it’s not a song of celebration. When sung, this song would not bring to mind happy memories or good feelings. It would remind them of their rebellion against God that was not just a potential possibility, but a foregone conclusion. They would sing this song, and every time they did they would recount their own unfaithfulness.

    Ep 1011 – Deuteronomy 31:23-29

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2020 8:46


    What should have been an exciting new day for Joshua was quickly turning into a day worth forgetting. He was about to take over for Moses and was going to have the distinct privilege of leading the nation of Israel in their conquest of the land of Canaan. But before he could take over the reins of leadership, Moses had a few last-minute words of warning for the people of Israel. He wasn’t going to lead them into the land of promise, but that wasn’t going to stop him from sharing some rather harsh news. And poor Joshua had to stand in the background, listening as Moses delivered a stinging indictment against the people he was about to lead. In Deuteronomy 31:23-29, we get a glimpse of Joshua’s less-than-ideal day of commissioning. It wasn’t pretty and it probably wasn’t very enjoyable for Israel’s new leader. But the truth isn’t always pleasant to hear.          

    Ep 1010 – Deuteronomy 31:14-22

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2020 9:51


    A new leader. A new land. A new opportunity to enjoy the blessings of God. This was to have been a great day in the history of the nation of Israel. But when Moses and his successor met with God in the tent of meeting, the joy of the moment was overshadowed by some unexpected news from the Almighty. Deuteronomy 31:14-22 contains one of the most depressing sections in the entire Old and New Testaments. God drops a bombshell pronouncement on Moses and his newly appointed replacement. And God puts His message in the form of a song that He expects Moses and Joshua to teach to the people of Israel. But this is not a happy song with an up-tempo beat. It’s a dirge, a literal funeral song that tells of the future destruction of Israel for their inevitable unfaithfulness. Before they ever entered the land, God announced that they would one day leave it as slaves – and all because of disobedience.     

    Ep 1008 – Deuteronomy 31:1-8

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2020 10:21


    Moses was a natural-born leader, but what made him so effective was his calling and anointing by God. He had spent nearly half a century leading some of the most difficult to lead people that had ever walked the planet. Now, just as they were getting ready to enter the land of promise, he was having to announce that he would not be going with them. This highly effective and seasoned leader had made what amounted to be a rookie mistake. He had lost his temper and allowed his anger to rob God of glory – a costly error in judgment that would keep him on the wrong side of the Jordan and outside the land of promise. But in Deuteronomy 31:1-8, rather than finding Moses throwing a pity party, we see him introducing the people to their newly appointed leader: Joshua. But the main point he wanted Joshua and the people to understand was that, when all was said and done, it was God who had been leading them all along. And it would be God who brought them safely into Canaan.                 

    Ep 1009 – Deuteronomy 31:9-13

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2020 9:22


    A large portion of the Book of Deuteronomy is dedicated to Moses’ recitation of the law to the people of Israel. It was vital to Moses that they understood the seriousness of the law and God’s expectation that they live in obedience to it. He was determined that they have the right kind of leadership in place to ensure their compliance with all of God’s commands. And in Deuteronomy 31:9-13, as Moses prepares to turn over the reins of leadership to Joshua, he calls on the priests and elders to assist Israel’s new leader in the faithful execution of his God-given responsibilities. The entire nation was expected to do all that God had called them to do, and Moses was letting the priests and elders know that they had a vital part to play. He supplied them with a copy of the law and commanded that one day every seventh year it be read to the entire nation.

    Ep 1007 – Deuteronomy 30:11-20

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2020 11:16


    In Deuteronomy 30:11-20, Moses continues to deliver his closing remarks to the people of Israel. They are poised to enter the promised land, but he is making one last attempt to prepare them for what lies ahead. He will not be going with them and so, he is making an extra-special effort to make sure they understand the conditions surrounding their acceptance of God’s inheritance. For Moses, everything he had told them could be boiled down to a simple matter of choosing to do the right thing. They were going to have to make a decision whether they would obey or disobey God. And that decision would have to be a daily and ongoing one. Every day of their lives, they would have to consider what God had commanded and decide whether they wanted to live according to His will or their own. And Moses makes it clear that their daily choices would have long-term consequences, resulting in either life or death. The choice would be theirs. But the outcome would be up to God.                 

    Ep 1006 – Deuteronomy 30:1-10

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2020 10:51


    Why is it that the people of God have a nagging tendency to make everything about themselves? We declare God to be the one we worship, then turn around and make ourselves the center of attention. Even when it comes to our salvation, we wrongly assume that It’s all up to us. It’s all contingent on what we do or don’t do. If we believe, we’re saved. If we don’t believe, we remain lost in our sins and condemned to an eternity apart from God. And while our belief plays a vital role in our salvation, it is shortsighted to view our acceptance by God as dependent upon something we do. In Deuteronomy 30:1-10, Moses seems to convey the idea that, should the Israelites prove unfaithful to God and suffer His divine judgment, they will be able to restore their relationship through self-effort. But God knew something Moses and the people didn’t know: Their future restoration would be His doing, not theirs. He would prove to faithful to the covenant, not them.            

    Ep 1005 – Deuteronomy 29:16-29

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2020 10:31


    Everyone loves a secret. That is, if they’re in on it. But no one likes to be the last to know or to be kept in the dark. So, it is only natural that the Israelites were anxious to know how things were going to turn out when they finally crossed over the Jordan River and entered the land of Canaan. They had all kinds of questions and concerns. They were plagued by all kinds of fears and doubts. But Moses reminded them that they didn’t need to worry about the future because that was in God’s hands. What they needed to focus their attention on were the things they DID know. Like the commandments handed down by God. Moses had just spent a protracted period of time reciting all the commands, in order to make sure they were fresh on the minds of the people of Israel. They knew everything they needed to know to accomplish what God had given them to do. If they would simply obey His instructions, they could leave the future in His fully capable hands.      

    Ep 1004 – Deuteronomy 29:1-15

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2020 9:57


    God Is Faithful. Are You?   With the close of chapter 28, Moses is officially done with his recitation of God’s law and his declaration of God’s blessings and curses. Now, it’s time for the people to recommit themselves to keeping God’s law. They had made a covenant with God some 40 years earlier. Actually, it had been their parents who had ratified the covenant that God had made with them. But they were long gone, having died off in the wilderness because of their refusal to trust God and enter the promised land. But despite their departure, God’s covenant was still valid because God had kept His part of the commitment. And He was expecting the next generation to their part. He had proven Himself to be faithful, but would they do the same? Here they were, some 40 years later, standing on the eastern bank of the Jordan, waiting to enter the land God had promised to give them. They knew God’s law and they were painfully aware of the curses and blessings that accompanied either disobedience or obedience. Now, what would they do?

    Ep 1003 – Deuteronomy 28:58-68

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2020 9:08


    Deuteronomy 28 is a long chapter and it contains its fair share of depressing news. A great portion of its 68 verses have to do with the curses God warns He will bring upon the nation of Israel should they prove to be unwilling to keep His law and to faithfully worship and serve Him alone. And in verses 58-68 Moses wraps up his lengthy list of curses with the grand finale. If the people remain obstinate in their rebellion against God, He will see to it that they end up right back where they started: As slaves in the land of Egypt. Not only will they experience some of the same plagues that God had brought upon their former taskmasters, but they will find themselves living in the same abysmal conditions their ancestors had experienced. It will be the exodus in reverse. And their return to Egypt will be marked by the absence of rest, a lack of abundance, and a loss of the peace that accompanies God’s presence.                

    Ep 1002 – Deuteronomy 28:52-57

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2020 9:45


    Deuteronomy 28:52-57 is one of the most difficult passages in all of Scripture. In it, Moses explains to the people what will happen if they choose to disobey God. He has already warned them that God will bring curses upon them, but these verses describe something that would have sent chills up their spines. The judgment of God was going to be so severe and the ramifications of it, so intense, that they would end up committing atrocities that were beyond their ability to comprehend. Moses tells them that, when the city of Jerusalem comes under siege by the Babylonians, the people will end up starving and then resorting to cannibalism in order to survive. The self-destructive nature of sin was going to run its full course, producing a kind of barbarism among the people of God that was unthinkable, yet unavoidable. Failure to remain faithful to God was going to prove deadly, in more ways than one.              

    Ep 1001 – Deuteronomy 28:36-51

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2020 10:15


    hen Israel finally made it into the promised land, they would end up living life in 3D. And those 3 Ds would be disobedience, discipline, and destruction. While God had promised them an abundance of blessings if they would simply obey His commands, they were going to choose disobedience, which would eventually bring the loving discipline of God. That discipline was designed to bring repentance. But when the people of Israel failed to repent, the end result would be their ultimate destruction, brought upon them by God. In Deuteronomy 28:36-51, Moses continues to warn the Israelites about the very real consequences that will accompany their refusal to remain faithful to God. Things will go from bad to worse. Their rebellion against God will force Him to fulfill His promise of judgment. And it will not be a pretty picture when it happens. In fact, their disobedience will result in their ultimate destruction.             

    Ep 1000 – Deuteronomy 28:25-35

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2020 8:45


    How would you like to have been in Moses’ sandals, forced to deliver a less-than-appealing message of doom and gloom to the people of Israel? He was having to deliver some significantly bad news to the nation, warning them of what was going to happen should they choose to disobey God’s commands. And it wasn’t a pretty picture. In Deuteronomy 28:25-35, Moses continues to describe just how bad things were going to get in Israel should they decide to ignore God’s law and live in rebellion to His clearly communicated code of conduct. Moses presents a prophetic description of the future, complete with the defeat of Israel before her enemies, a plethora of devastating plagues, financial loss, destroyed homes, and domestic ruin. Things are going to go from bad to worse. And all because the people of God will refuse to obey the word of God.         

    Ep 999 – Deuteronomy 28:15-24

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2020 9:47


    Moses has given the people of Israel the good news. If they obey, they will be blessed. But now, in Deuteronomy 28:15-23, he delivers the bad news. If they choose to disobey God, they will a experience a long list of curses that will come in a wide variety of forms, but all extremely negative and uncomfortable. The list is designed to stand diametrically opposed to all the blessings God promised if the people will only obey His commands. They have a clear choice to make. And to make their decision easier, God provides a black-and-white contrast between the two options facing them. They can obey and experience the blessings of God. Or they can disobey and feel the full weight of God’s wrath in the form of very tangible curses. You didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure this one out. But the people of Israel weren’t the brightest bulbs in the box. In virtually no time at all, they would make their choice known and experience an unfortunate, but unsurprising reversal of fortunes.         

    Ep 998 – Deuteronomy 28:1-14

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2020 9:47


    The warning about the curses came first. But Moses quickly follows it up with a list of blessings that will accompany obedience. If the Israelites will simply do what God has commanded, they will experience a life beyond their wildest imaginations. They will be blessed beyond belief. Even the pagan nations will become jealous when they see all that God does for His chosen people. But as Deuteronomy 28:1-14 makes painfully clear, they would have to obey God if they wanted to be blessed by God. Hearing was not enough. Familiarity with God’s laws was not going to cut it. He was expecting His people to hear and obey. Not only that, He was demanding that they love His laws as much as they say they love Him. As Jesus told His disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:14 ESV). Obedience is an expression of love. And God loves to reward those who prove their love for Him by obeying Him.    

    Ep 997 – Deuteronomy 27:11-26

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2020 10:20


    Moses has spent a great deal of time telling the people of Israel what God expected of them. He has given them a lengthy to-do list and now, he’s going to tell them what will happen if they choose not to follow God’s commands. In Deuteronomy 27:11-26, we have the first of the curses that God warns will come upon the people of Israel should they decide to disobey His laws. And, as we’ll see, the list is lengthy and highly specific. It seems that God is quite particular about the behavior of His people. He didn’t simply command them to “be holy.” He told them exactly what holiness was to look like in daily life. And to ensure that they took His commands seriously, He attached to them some extremely serious-sounding curses. Holiness was going to be non-optional. Oh, they could choose to live unholy lives, but they would soon discover that to do so would cost them dearly.      

    Ep 996 – Deuteronomy 27:1-10

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2020 10:19


    Israel’s status as God’s chosen people was not something they were to take for granted. They enjoyed a privileged position unlike any other people group on the planet. And as they prepared to enter the land promised to them by God, Moses commanded them to construct a stone monument that would serve as a memorial to God’s holiness, as reflected in His law. Their relationship with God had been His doing. They had done nothing to deserve His goodness and grace. But now, as they prepared to enter the inheritance He had provided for them, they were going to be expected to live up to their status as His precious possession. In Deuteronomy 27:1-10, Moses calls them to live up to their identity as the people of God by willfully obeying the commands of God.     

    Ep 995 – Deuteronomy 26:12-19

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2020 7:30


    Love for God. Love for others. Both of these things were to be considered non-negotiables for the people of God. And as Moses prepared the nation of Israel for their imminent entry into the land of Canaan, he wanted them to understand just how important it was that they care for the needy among them. To claim a love for God while ignoring those less fortunate in their community, whom God had made, was nothing less than hypocrisy. Deuteronomy 26:12-19 contains a powerful reminder regarding God’s law concerning the offering for the Levites, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. These individuals had been designated by God to be the recipients of a special offering that was to be collected every third year and distributed on an as-need basis. The neglect of these four groups would be viewed as a personal affront to God. They were near and dear to Him and He had provided for them by blessing the rest of the community with more than they needed.

    Ep 994 – Deuteronomy 26:1-11

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2020 7:39


    The recitation of rules and regulations is finally over. All of that had been intended as a preface, preparing the people of Israel for the moment when they would finally cross over the Jordan and enter the land of promise. And in Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Moses provides them with instructions concerning the offering of the first fruits. One of the very first things they were to do when they set foot in the land was to present an offering of praise and thanksgiving to God – made up of the first fruits of the very first harvest they gathered. This wasn’t a matter of if, but when. There was no doubt in Moses’ mind that God was going to get them into the land and bless them with a bountiful first harvest. And when He did, Moses expected the people of Israel to show God the gratitude He deserved for all that He had done for them. This offering would be an expression of thanksgiving for all God had done, and a declaration of faith in all that He was going to do.                    

    Ep 993 – Deuteronomy 25:11-19

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2020 12:17


    The various scenarios that Moses presents in Deuteronomy are almost comical in nature. His seemingly endless list of strange situations and the particular laws that apply to them is truly amazing. But it just goes to show how deeply God cares about the holiness of His people. He leaves nothing to chance. And in Deuteronomy 25:11-19, Moses deals with three seemingly dissimilar and disconnected scenarios that appear to have little in common. But, in reality, they all deal with personal holiness as exhibited in the day-to-day interactions between the people of God. Their status as God’s chosen people was intended to make a difference in the way they lived their lives. Interpersonal relationships are so important in God’s family. The proper care and concern for each other’s well-being was mandatory. And all those who treated Israelites poorly were to be dealt with severely.                       

    Ep 992 – Deuteronomy 25:1-10

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2020 9:14


    All of creation is the handiwork of God. And He chose to place mankind as stewards over all that He made. So, as Moses delivers to the Israelites God’s rules for regulating their behavior, he includes instructions regarding their care of domestic animals. But, oddly enough, he sandwiches it in-between rules about the proper punishment of criminals and the care of widows. All stewardship, whether of laws regarding the punishment of criminals or those regulating the proper care of widows, was important to God. He expected His people to watch over all the He held near and dear, including everything He had created and placed under their care. The actions of God’s people reflected back on Him as their Creator and Father. They could either honor or dishonor Him by the way they lived their lives. He had set them apart so that they might be holy as He is holy. And when they lived according to His will, everyone and everything stood to benefit.                        

    Ep 991 – Deuteronomy 24:14-22

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2020 9:36


    We hear a lot of talk about justice these days. And rightfully so. God cares about justice and so should we. But it is important that we define justice according to God’s terms and not those of the world. So, in Deuteronomy 24:14-22, Moses continues to outline God’s expectations for the people of Israel concerning their treatment of one another. These verses concentrate on the needs of the less fortunate and the under-represented who were part of the family of God. These individuals, whether they were widows or hired workers, had few rights and were dependent upon the goodness of others to survive. In God’s grand scheme, everyone deserved to be treated fairly and justly, regardless of their social status or ability to contribute to the well-being of the nation as a whole. Caring for the needy, the downtrodden, and the underdogs of life was critical to the nation’s spiritual health. No one was a second-class citizen. Everyone had value in the eyes of God.                  

    Ep 990 – Deuteronomy 24:5-13

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2020 8:09


    Individuality and community. Both are important to God. And nowhere is this made more clear than in Deuteronomy 24:5-13. In these verses, Moses outlines some very specific rules and regulations regarding life within the corporate community of Israel. This collection of individuals was made up of people all ages and from every walk of life, but they shared a common faith and the very same ancestry. They were to function as a unified whole, but never at the expense of the individual. Membership in the community of faith did not obliterate the rights of the individual. And in these verses, Moses reminds the people of Israel that a big part of life within the community is based on extending one another common courtesy. People matter to God. And He expects His children to love one another and to dwell together in unity. For God, protecting the rights of the individual while maintaining the health of the community was non-negotiable.                 

    Ep 988 – Deuteronomy 23:15-25

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2020 10:33


    It would be a rare occasion for an Israelite to encounter a situation where he had to ask the question: What would God have me do? That’s because God had provided His people with a very detailed and comprehensive list of rules and regulations for life. And Deuteronomy 23:15-25 contains yet one more compendium of commands that cover a wide-ranging set of circumstances. These were essentially regulations for real life that covered virtually every conceivable situation they might encounter along the way. From how to treat a runaway slave to the making of vows. Everything was important to God, including the lending of money, the moral integrity of children, and care of the less fortunate. So, He made sure that the people of Israel had a comprehensive list of clearly understood instructions that left no room for speculation or confusion. The topic of holiness was too important to leave to chance.           

    Ep 989 – Deuteronomy 24:1-4

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2020 11:04


    Moses spent a great deal of time elaborating on a host of “what-if” situations that might occur within the nation of Israel. It wasn’t that he doubted that these scenarios could or would take place, he was simply covering any and every imaginable circumstance that might result in the people of God committing sins and blaming their actions on ignorance. He wanted them to know that God had an interest in every area of their lives and had provided them with rules and regulations to govern all their behavior. And in Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Moses outlines God’s laws concerning divorce. But, in this case, he gets very specific, dealing with a very particular issue regarding divorce that, at first glance, seems unlikely to be a major problem. But God knew better. He knew the hearts of His people and so He provided detailed restrictions that covered even the most unlikely of circumstances. If a sin could be committed, the Israelites would figure out a way to do it.               

    Ep 987 – Deuteronomy 23:9-14

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2020 7:35


    Purity was to be a high-priority for the people of God – in every area of their lives. There was no place or potential circumstance where the pursuit of holiness was either unnecessary or failed to apply. And as we’ll see in Deuteronomy 23:9-14, even the front lines of battle were to be considered holy unto the Lord. These verses provide the men of Israel with God’s clear instructions regarding times of war. When they were called to assemble for battle, they were to remember their status as God’s chosen people – set apart for His glory and tasked with honoring His holy name. And, as always, God gets very specific, providing them with detailed instructions regarding their personal holiness and hygiene during wartime. The battlefield was not to be used an excuse for spiritual apathy or moral laxness. The priority of personal and corporate holiness took precedence over everything, including war.          

    Ep 986 – Deuteronomy 23:1-8

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2020 8:08


    The worship of God is serious business. And not everyone is worthy to enter into His presence. When God set apart the nation of Israel as His chosen possession, he also provided them with His law. Those decrees and commandments were intended to regulate their behavior, so that they could remain unstained by sin and capable of worshiping alongside the rest of the assembly. And the sacrificial system was the God-ordained means by which those who committed sins could receive atonement and cleansing – once again, making it possible for them to worship God in the manner He deserved. But in Deuteronomy 23:1-8, Moses provides the people of Israel with additional rules designed to restrict the access of some from the God-ordained times of corporate worship. This has less to do with the unworthiness of those who were restricted and more to do with the holiness and worthiness of God.     

    Ep 985 – Deuteronomy 22:22-30

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2020 9:48


    Moses isn’t done dealing with the topic of marriage. In Deuteronomy 22:22-30, he provides further rules and regulations governing the institution of marriage among the people of Israel. Their view on marriage was to be radically different than that of the pagan nations around them. For them, marriage was to be a living illustration of their covenant relationship to God. If they couldn’t remain faithful to their marriage partner, how in the world could they hope to remain faithful to God. So, Moses provides them with a series of scenarios designed to illustrate just how serious God was about the sanctity of the marriage covenant. What was considered acceptable behavior among the pagan nations occupying the land of Canaan was to be off-limits for the Israelites. There was no point at which adultery should be justified or rape be treated as normal behavior. Acts of wickedness had no place within the covenant community of God’s people.   

    Ep 984 – Deuteronomy 22:13-21

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2020 10:45


    In Deuteronomy 22:13-21, we have yet another strange scenario presented by Moses to the people of Israel. This one involves the institution of marriage, something near and dear to the heart of God because it was His idea. As we look at this particular regulation, it is essential that we keep God’s view of the sanctity of marriage in mind. He knew full well that the Israelites, due to their sinful dispositions, would be prone to treat the marriage covenant flippantly, and to view any commitments they made as essentially non-binding. Lust would tend to overshadow love. Infidelity would become commonplace, with the all-male leadership of Israel developing all kinds of work-arounds and loopholes that would allow them to violate God’s ban on divorce with impunity. But God wasn’t going to make it easy on them. For Him, the holiness of His people was non-negotiable and the sanctity of the marriage covenant would be key to them living set-apart lives.

    Ep 983 – Deuteronomy 22:1-12

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2020 11:46


    As Moses continues to inform the people of Israel about God’s laws regulating every aspect of life within their corporate community, the rules seem to get stranger and ever-more specific. In Deuteronomy 22:1-12, Moses deals with everything from the care of livestock and regulations concerning horticulture to, believe it or not, a ban on cross-dressing. All in the context of 12 verses. But we have to remember that God was interested in every area of Israelite life. There was to be no secular-sacred split when it came to the people of God. This lengthy list of rules and regulations was intended to provide direction for all of life, from the home to the workplace. God’s interest in Israel’s holiness was all-encompassing and non-negotiable. He refused to leave anything up to their imaginations or sinful inclinations. God’s people were expected to live according to God’s will.      

    Ep 982 – Deuteronomy 21:22-23

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2020 10:38


    In Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Moses follows up his teaching concerning the inheritance of the firstborn son and the death of the rebellious son with a rather short instruction regarding the body of an executed criminal. This is another example of God giving very detailed laws concerning what seems to be a point of minutiae. But as always, God was concerned with every detail of the Israelites’ lives. Nothing escaped His notice and there was no activity surrounding daily life in which He did not take an interest. Including the death of executed criminals and the proper disposal of their bodies. And, as always, we’ll see that there was much more behind God’s law than met the eye. He was concerned with the holiness of His people and provided them with very detailed laws to govern every aspect of daily life. For their good and His glory.    

    Ep 981 – Deuteronomy 21:15-21

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2020 11:14


    Today’s passage is a doozy. It deals with two potential scenarios involving the relationship between a father and his son. And these two sample situations could not be any more different or disparate in their outcome. One involves how to handle an inheritance when a man has more than one son because he has more than one wife. There was to be no place for favoritism. God had rules concerning the inheritance of the firstborn and He expected those rules to be followed. The second scenario also involves a son receiving what he justly deserves. Except in this case, rather than an inheritance, he is to receive a death sentence for his stubborn and unrepentant behavior. In one case, God is preserving the rights of the firstborn. In the other, God is preserving the spiritual integrity of the community. But in both cases, He is expecting His people to live according to His laws – for their own good.   

    Ep 980 – Deuteronomy 21:10-14

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2020 8:28


    Reading the book of Deuteronomy can be like watching a game of Rubgy. It looks vaguely familiar but then, all of the sudden, you find yourself asking, “What in the world just happened? “This isn’t football!” you shout. “There’s no rules! It all makes no sense!” And in Deuteronomy 21:10-14, you’re going to find yourself questioning what Moses has to say to the people of Israel. He gives them some counsel that appears to contradict the expressed will of God as found in His law. Moses seems to be giving them permission to take wives from among the pagan nations they conquer. Something God has clearly forbidden them to do. So, what’s going on? Is Moses outlining the rules for a different kind of game than the one we’ve been watching? No, as we’ll see, God is consistent but He is also considerate, always taking into account the propensity of His people to give in to temptation.

    Ep 979 – Deuteronomy 21:1-9

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2020 9:41


    In Deuteronomy 21:1-9, Moses presents a strange, yet very specific scenario involving what to do in the case of a murder where the guilty party remains unknown. Like the law of God, Moses was leaving few, if any, loopholes that would allow the Israelites to permit sin to remain in the camp. In this particular circumstance, while the name of the guilty party was not known, the guilt of their crime remained. And because God viewed the Israelites communally, He held the entire nation responsible for the crime committed. Atonement must be made. Justice must be served. And, just because the identity of the murderer remained a mystery, it did not relieve the condemnation the crime had brought upon the people of God. One man’s sin had contaminated the entire body. And it was up to them to rectify the situation by doing what was right in God’s eyes by purging the sin from their midst.  

    The Risen Lord

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2020 48:47


    The cross is barren. The tomb is empty. The Lord is risen. The price has been paid and God has been fully satisfied. Sin and death have been conquered. Salvation has been provided, and all our sins have been taken care of once and for all. Forgiveness has been made available. Mercy has been meted out. Underserved grace has been extended. Eternal life has been granted. And the unfailing love of God has been expressed to all men through the unwavering faithfulness and unquestionable sinlessness of Jesus Christ.

    Ep 978 – Deuteronomy 20:10-20

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2020 9:02


    Reading the Old Testament can be a bit disconcerting at times. After all, within its pages are found countless stories of men perpetrating all kinds of evil against one another. And oftentimes, their seemingly godless actions are in keeping with God’s commands. They are simply doing what He has told them to do. Which can make reading the Old Testament a challenge for those of us who understand God to be a gracious and loving God. And in Deuteronomy 20:10-20, Moses gives the people of Israel some rather disturbing instructions concerning the occupants of the land of Canaan. In those areas that God had deemed as their inheritance, the people of Judah were to completely wipe out the inhabitants. No one was to be left alive. But as harsh as it all sounds, God had a method to His seeming madness.

    Ep 977 – Deuteronomy 20:1-9

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2020 10:53


    Once the people of Israel crossed over the Jordan and entered the land of Canaan, the real work would begin. They would be expected to do battle with the current occupants of the land, defeating them and dispossessing them from their homes, villages, towns, and cities. It was going to require a great deal of effort and, as with any war, there would be casualties. So, God had Moses inform the people of Israel about a series of exemptions from battle designed to protect the family unit. While everyone would be expected to do their part in the conquering of the land, God graciously provided His people with legal exemptions from military service. At the end of the day, any victory they enjoyed would be because God was fighting for them. So, He could afford to give some of His people time off from doing battle.   

    Ep 976 – Deuteronomy 19:14-21

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2020 10:48


    God had set apart the people of Israel, deeming them to be His treasured possession. As such, they were expected to live differently than the other nations around them. And to make sure they understood just how distinctive their lives were to be, God had given them His law as a code of conduct. He had left nothing to chance. They were not free to establish their own rules or to live according to their own standards. God had given them an extremely detailed list of rules intended to regulate every area of their lives – from the minuscule to the major and the common to the holy. And in Deuteronomy 19:14-21, Moses provides the people of Israel with some last-minute reminders about God’s law and His expectation that they hear and fear them. In other words, obey them.

    Ep 975 – Deuteronomy 19:1-13

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2020 9:18


    Nothing surprises God. There is never a moment when He is caught off guard or finds Himself asking, “How did that happen?” And we’re going to see that truth lived out in Deuteronomy 19:1-13, as God reveals His plan for the cities of sanctuary that were to be established by the Israelites once they entered the land of Canaan. God was preparing for future events, long before they ever happened. He was lovingly protecting His people from unknowingly committing a sin. The Israelites were only human and God knew they would be prone to act according to their emotions. He knew the land of promise was going to be filled with people who could and would hurt one another – even kill one another. So, He had Moses provide them with His plan for the inevitable so that they would not do the unthinkable.

    Claim Devotionary

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel