1-9-2009: Remember, Remember, Remember, and Remember
Scripture
Deuteronomy 32: 44-52 (Amplified Bible)
44And Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he and Hoshea (Joshua) son of Nun.
45And when Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel,
46He said to them, Set your [minds and] hearts on all the words which I command you this day, that you may command them to your children, that they may be watchful to do all the words of this law.
47For it is not an empty and worthless trifle for you; it is your [very] life. By it you shall live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to possess.
48And the Lord said to Moses that same day,
49Get up into this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan which I give to the Israelites for a possession.
50And die on the mountain which you ascend and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people,
51Because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin and because you did not set Me apart as holy in the midst of the Israelites.
52For you shall see the land opposite you at a distance, but you shall not go there, into the land which I give the Israelites.
Observation
Moses again asks us to remember God. We have to set our mind and heart. We are also asked to remind them to our children. Often we get distracted by everything else. Our mind is scattered. Moses also mentions that, these words are supposed to be our life. We are not to think of anything else but we think of everything else. We have to keep our minds focused.
Application
I must remember God’s word. Nothing else matters.
I must treasure God’s word. God’s word is my life.
I must be focused and not distracted.
Response
Lord, I thank you for sparing me. Sorry for my loss of focus Lord. I pray that I’ll be more alert and not fall into sin. Your word is my life, Lord. Help me treasure your words and remember you always. Amen.
Journal 2-9-2009
Scripture
Deuteronomy 33 (New International Version)
Moses Blesses the Tribes
1 This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. 2 He said:
"The LORD came from Sinai
and dawned over them from Seir;
he shone forth from Mount Paran.
He came with myriads of holy ones
from the south, from his mountain slopes.
3 Surely it is you who love the people;
all the holy ones are in your hand.
At your feet they all bow down,
and from you receive instruction,
4 the law that Moses gave us,
the possession of the assembly of Jacob.
5 He was king over Jeshurun
when the leaders of the people assembled,
along with the tribes of Israel.
6 "Let Reuben live and not die,
nor his men be few."
7 And this he said about Judah:
"Hear, O LORD, the cry of Judah;
bring him to his people.
With his own hands he defends his cause.
Oh, be his help against his foes!"
8 About Levi he said:
"Your Thummim and Urim belong
to the man you favored.
You tested him at Massah;
you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.
9 He said of his father and mother,
'I have no regard for them.'
He did not recognize his brothers
or acknowledge his own children,
but he watched over your word
and guarded your covenant.
10 He teaches your precepts to Jacob
and your law to Israel.
He offers incense before you
and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
11 Bless all his skills, O LORD,
and be pleased with the work of his hands.
Smite the loins of those who rise up against him;
strike his foes till they rise no more."
12 About Benjamin he said:
"Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him,
for he shields him all day long,
and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders."
13 About Joseph he said:
"May the LORD bless his land
with the precious dew from heaven above
and with the deep waters that lie below;
14 with the best the sun brings forth
and the finest the moon can yield;
15 with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains
and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills;
16 with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness
and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush.
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,
on the brow of the prince among [e] his brothers.
17 In majesty he is like a firstborn bull;
his horns are the horns of a wild ox.
With them he will gore the nations,
even those at the ends of the earth.
Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim;
such are the thousands of Manasseh."
18 About Zebulun he said:
"Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out,
and you, Issachar, in your tents.
19 They will summon peoples to the mountain
and there offer sacrifices of righteousness;
they will feast on the abundance of the seas,
on the treasures hidden in the sand."
20 About Gad he said:
"Blessed is he who enlarges Gad's domain!
Gad lives there like a lion,
tearing at arm or head.
21 He chose the best land for himself;
the leader's portion was kept for him.
When the heads of the people assembled,
he carried out the LORD's righteous will,
and his judgments concerning Israel."
22 About Dan he said:
"Dan is a lion's cub,
springing out of Bashan."
23 About Naphtali he said:
"Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the LORD
and is full of his blessing;
he will inherit southward to the lake."
24 About Asher he said:
"Most blessed of sons is Asher;
let him be favored by his brothers,
and let him bathe his feet in oil.
25 The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze,
and your strength will equal your days.
26 "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,
who rides on the heavens to help you
and on the clouds in his majesty.
27 The eternal God is your refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.
He will drive out your enemy before you,
saying, 'Destroy him!'
28 So Israel will live in safety alone;
Jacob's spring is secure
in a land of grain and new wine,
where the heavens drop dew.
29 Blessed are you, O Israel!
Who is like you,
a people saved by the LORD ?
He is your shield and helper
and your glorious sword.
Your enemies will cower before you,
and you will trample down their high places. [f] "
Observation
Moses lived a complete life; escaping the Egyptians to being raised in the hands of the Pharaoh’s, then fleeing Egypt again after discovering his true identity. Forty years later, he returns to Egypt to deliver his people from bondage just to move in circles when it wasn’t his fault. Finally, just because he lost his temper, he couldn’t enter the Promised Land. As Moses spends his last days on the mountains overlooking the Promised Land, he blesses them. Bless? He didn’t enter Canaan because of the people he was about to bless. Would you bless those who gave you a hard time? 2/3 of his life was spent on them. Moses learnt his lesson. He was calm. He didn’t get upset but focused on raising Joshua. Moses made sure that the next generation was ready. He blessed them.
In v9, he blessed the Levites for giving no regard to His parents and concentrate on God’s word. Was Jesus referring to this chapter when His parents came to see Him? (Just a thought)
Application
I must bless everybody.
I must remain faithful to the cause which God has sent me to do.
I must be humble enough to raise and bless others to continue God’s plan.
Response
Lord, I thank you for the life of Moses. I’m sorry for letting you down. Teach me to always bless everybody, even those who persecute me. Lord, you have given me a plan. Help me follow through this plan lord. Teach me to be humble. Guide me to raise others to continue your good work. Amen.
3-9-2009: Deuteronomy Finale
Scripture
Deuteronomy 34 (21st Century King James Version)
1And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead as far as Dan,
2and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah unto the utmost sea,
3and the South, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar.
4And the LORD said unto him, "This is the land which I swore unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, `I will give it unto thy seed.' I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither."
5So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
6And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor; but no man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day.
7And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated.
8And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
9And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him. And the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.
10And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
11in all the signs and the wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land,
12and in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel.
Observation
Deuteronomy ends with the end of a great leader and the beginning of Joshua. We see in v7 that he was old only in numbers. He was healthy and had good eyesight. He died a peaceful death. God indeed keeps old people young. The same people who repeatedly grumbled against him now mourned his death. This is the first time I notice of the people actually giving respect to Moses without a miracle or sign. Many of us only pay tribute to a person after he/she is dead. When they are alive, we just do our own thing. It is indeed a weird phenomenon. Many of my family and close friends come to mind. When they passed away, it just hit me as a bullet. It’s very weird. I am lost for words for words. Of course we Christians know that we’ll meet them in heaven but on earth………… Let’s continue to cherish the people we love. I think of a time when my cousin called me and told me that my uncle (his dad) had a stroke and was admitted. My parents called and said that he was recovering okay in hospital. I thought of finishing my work and going towards the weekend. He passed away the next day. Years later, this event still saddens me… Every event in life is a lesson learnt,
Applications
I must live a full life.
I must cherish my loved ones when they’re alive.
Response
Lord, I thank you for being in my life. Thank you for all that you have done in me. Help me to continue to life a life worth to your glory. Teach me to humble myself in all circumstances. Thank you for my loved ones. Teach me to always be with them. Guide my ways lord. Sorry for my sins. Teach me to always be with you. Amen.
4-9-2009: Faith
Scripture
James 1:1-4 (King James Version)
1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Observation
As we fall into temptation, our faith is tried. When our faith is tried, it works patience. When we have patience, we are perfect, whole and desire nothing of the world. Patience is a very hard virtue for me. I get upset at everything. Though I don’t show it outwardly, I am angered inside. I must be really really patient.
Application
I must be patient
Response
Lord, I pray that you give me patience Lord. Teach me to be humble like you and not harbor my hate towards others. Amen
6-9-2009
Scripture
James 1:9-11(King James Version)
9Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
10But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
Observation
The King James Version has a unique way of putting things. It is very poetic and it also is my favourite version. Man’s ways are nothing. We think that we are so great that we have accomplished much. All that I am is by God’s mercy and grace. Without grace, we are nothing. We just don’t deserve any glory. All glory goes to God and Him alone, especially when I have everything. I only seem to find God when I lack something as if God is my ATM. I must be careful when I am lifted high to shine for Him.
Application
I must not forget God in good times.
I must always give God glory.
Response
Lord, thank you for showing me how to be humble in your presence. I am nothing without you Lord. Help me always remember that. Amen.
7-9-2009: Suffer
Scripture
James 1:12-15 (King James Version)
12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Observation
We are called to endure temptation, not sin and feel apologetic about it. The endurance to temptation is futile without prayer and knowing God’s word. Isn’t it nice when we say, “Ooh, God has tempted me beyond our bearing, that’s why I fell.” Our no.1 enemy is lust. Our desire for the things we don’t have will siphon us out of God’s presence. It is indeed strange that we blame God for the good things and the bad as if He never gave us freewill. Lust brings sin. Sins brings us death: that is eternal separation from God.
Application
I must be content of what God has provided me.
I must live righteousnesss and purge sin in my life.
Response
Lord, thank you for being merciful. Please forgive me of my sin. Let me not lust and fall into temptation father but help me to endure temptation. Please give me the strength to fight Lord. In your mane I pray. Amen.
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