Journal 29-8-2009

Journal 29-8-2009

Scripture

Deuteronomy 31:1-13 (Young's Literal Translation)

¹And Moses goeth and speaketh these words unto all Israel,

²and he saith unto them, `A son of a hundred and twenty years [am] I to-day; I am not able any more to go out and to come in, and Jehovah hath said unto me, Thou dost not pass over this Jordan,

³`Jehovah thy God He is passing over before thee, He doth destroy these nations from before thee, and thou hast possessed them; Joshua -- he is passing over before thee as Jehovah hath spoken,

⁴and Jehovah hath done to them as he hath done to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorite, and to their land, whom He destroyed.

⁵And Jehovah hath given them before your face, and ye have done to them according to all the command which I have commanded you;

⁶be strong and courageous, fear not, nor be terrified because of them, for Jehovah thy God [is] He who is going with thee; He doth not fail thee nor forsake thee.'

⁷And Moses calleth for Joshua, and saith unto him before the eyes of all Israel, `Be strong and courageous, for thou -- thou dost go in with this people unto the land which Jehovah hath sworn to their fathers to give to them, and thou -- thou dost cause them to inherit it;

⁸and Jehovah [is] He who is going before thee, He himself is with thee; He doth not fail thee nor forsake thee; fear not, nor be affrighted.'

⁹And Moses writeth this law, and giveth it unto the priests (sons of Levi, those bearing the ark of the covenant of Jehovah), and unto all the elders of Israel,

¹⁰and Moses commandeth them, saying, `At the end of seven years, in the appointed time, the year of release, in the feast of booths,

¹¹in the coming in of all Israel to see the face of Jehovah in the place which He chooseth, thou dost proclaim this law before all Israel, in their ears.

¹²`Assemble the people, the men, and the women, and the infants, and thy sojourner who [is] within thy gates, so that they hear, and so that they learn, and have feared Jehovah your God, and observed to do all the words of this law;

¹³and their sons, who have not known, do hear, and have learned to fear Jehovah your God all the days which ye are living on the ground whither ye are passing over the Jordan to possess it.'

Observation

Moses appoints Joshua since he is not able to enter Canaan. God teaches us to have no fear. He asks us to be courageous. God is going before us. He will not fail and forsake us. To embed this thought in our heads, God instructs a feast every seven years where every word of the commandments and statutes to be repeated again. This does not include the many times in between where fathers must speak of the commandments to the family during the Passover. Repetition is important. It is the only way that we remember God’s words. When we watch the television, we see how advertisers repeat their message again and again so that the brand sticks in our heads. We must always repeat the word of god. When we stop repeating, we begin to forget. When we forget, we become ignorant. When we are ignorant we behave as if God doesn’t exist. When that happens we just sin. I have learnt that even if we are faithful for years, we will forget when we stop seeking him for one week. Within 7 days (or less), we will just learn to be complacent and have the nerve to use God’s grace as an excuse.

Application

I must remember God’s commands

I must repeat and repeat God’s word.

I must read the bible, pray and always remember his word.

I must strife to never use God’s grace as an excuse.

Response

Thank you for giving me your commandments and statutes. Help me to always repeat them. You always are graceful towards me. Sorry lord that I have sinned against you. Teach me always to carry your word. You alone are my savior. Please forgive me. I don’t want to leave you lord. Let your presence always be with me. I love you Lord. Thank you for restoring me.

Thank you for loving me. Thank you fir dying for me and giving me hope. Help me shine for you lord. Amen.