May the mumbling commence!
When the going gets easy, the tough should remember and obey. In an old adage, “Remember who you are and whose you are.” Or, as my wife’s Grandpa Reschly used to tell his daughters and granddaughters, “Know who you are and what you stand for.” Deuteronomy chapters 6-8 give us the background for remembering rightly and obeying.
Have you ever heard of reading the Bible through the lens of Christ Jesus or prophetically? These chapters of Deuteronomy lend themselves quite well to such Christological interpretation. If you frequent a church that preaches through the lectionary, then you most likely recently heard a sermon on the temptations of Jesus (the typical text to kick off the season of Lent). Jesus refutes the devil by quoting Scripture, and each of those three Scriptures can be found in these three chapters of Deuteronomy.
[Did you think that you could do without Deuteronomy? Not so fast! It was obviously extremely important to Jesus, and these chapters also contain the SHEMA (Hebrew for listen or hear). If that doesn’t ring a bell, then think about how Jesus answered the question: “What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus answered, in part, by quoting from the SHEMA.]
Let’s look at the quotes briefly. How did Jesus answer when the devil asked him to turn the stones into bread? “It is written: ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” That’s a direct quote from Deuteronomy 8:3 – “He [God] humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
Then, the devil (What a wily one!) quoted some Scripture of his own – out of context. And the quote is from one of my favorite Psalms – Psalm 91. The devil was trying to get Jesus to leap from the pinnacle of the Temple, because the angels would protect him and not allow his foot to strike against a stone. What the devil neglected to recall from the Psalm was that this protection was true for those dwell in the shelter of the Most High. Jesus saw through the trap and quoted another Scripture, saying, “It is also written: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Jesus again quotes from Deuteronomy (6:16) – “Do not test the Lord your God as you did at Massah.”
It’s a good lesson for us. Scripture is misquoted and misused. Whenever someone quotes a verse or two from the Bible, go to that passage and check the context before you swallow the idea whole. People (inspired by the spirit of Satan?) can make the Bible say just about anything!
And, finally, the devil asks for Jesus to worship him in exchange for all the kingdoms of the world. How did Jesus answer? He said, “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” The quote is again from Deuteronomy (6:13) – “Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.”
Now, I would regret if I did not give time to the SHEMA. Here it is from Deuteronomy 6:4-9:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
The part that Jesus quotes as the Greatest Commandment is in bold; it takes up two of the verses. The way that we are to show love for God is underlined. Place the Lord’s commandments on our hearts – remember them and obey them. The last two verses in italics grant ways to remember. Talk to your children about these commands that are built upon the love of God in his miraculous rescue of Israel from Egypt and from the desert wanderings. Tie them as symbols on your forehead and hands. Write them on the doorframes of your home.
When the going was tough, it was easier to be led into right remembering that the Lord your God is with you still. But, when the going would get easy in the Promised Land, it would become easier to forget the Lord who made all the prosperity possible (Deuteronomy 6:10-11). And, most of us in the USA have it easy in comparison to the majority of the rest of the world. As the Scripture says, “Be careful.” But, please, don’t trust me. Read it for yourself and discover God’s commands and love for you. That will be the best thing you do in your entire life! Remember who you are and whose you are.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
No comments:
Post a Comment