Publish the name of the Lord

 Christ in all the scriptures

Ascribe ye greatness unto our God       Deuteronomy 32v3

"Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.  Our God He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment, a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He"-Deuteronomy 32v3/4.

It has been well said, that the community which loses the sense of the greatness of God, is a community on the slide.  Scripture abounds with the unparalleled, unrivalled, supremacy of the Lord.  The regular call is to magnify Him, not that we can make Him any greater, but we can magnify Him in our hearts and lives, and in the community where we are.  This is why Moses is so careful to communicate these sacred things in a positive way.  His mission is to "publish the name of the Lord", to accurately, and winsomely declare the name of God.  His name is His character and His reputation, and what follows is an exposition of that.  In present exaltation He has a name that is above every name, and in that name every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father; all this on earth, and in heaven, and under the earth-Philippians 2v9-11.  

Moses says, "I will publish the name of the Lord..."

Then he says "Ascribe ye the greatness unto our God".  His ministry was all about publishing the Lord's name, he says, you do the same!  The chapter is replete with Divine titles proclaiming the wonders of His name.  These titles are repeated throughout scripture, and have been enshrined in this song:

32v3 Lord=Jehovah (Heb. Yahweh, YHWH for short). Occurs 6519 times in scripture.  He is the eternal self-existing God who spans all time (translated in N/T "Who is, who was, and who is to come"-Revelation 1v4; 1v8; 4v8; 11v17; 16v5).  There is no time period when He is not Lord, and He is blessed for ever (Romans 1v25; 9v5), untarnished by the folly and failure of man.  This title is repeated in the song in 32v6, v9, v12, v19, v27v30, v36, as well as many thousands of times throughout scripture. 

32v3 God=Elohim (plural of Eloah) the supreme object of worship; later defined in N/T as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  God the three in one in absolute unity in essence, and harmony in action.  Occurs 2606 times.  First appears in Genesis 1v1, in which chapter the plurality is established, "Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness"-Genesis 1v26.  Confirmed in Genesis 11v7, "Let us go down..." and Isaiah 6v8, "...Who will go for us...?".  Diversity in unity is illustrated in the first verse of scripture, "In the beginning God (Elohim-plural) created (a singular act) the heaven and the earth".  We begin to understand the greatness of God, who made the heavens for the planets, the air for the birds, the seas for the fish, and the land for animals and a habitation for man and woman.  This He has sustained for thousands of years, and we are compelled to worship Him who has created, and who sustains such wonders.

32v4 The Rock=Tsur.  It is possible this gave rise to our word sure, which aptly describes the function of a rock...steady, stable, strong, dependable.  It is a title given to God over 30 times in the O/T and applied to Christ several times in the N/T (Matthew 16v18 and 21v42;  Acts 4v11; Romans 9v33; 1st Corinthians 10v4; 1st Peter 2v4, 6, and 7).  A modern expression is "He/she is my rock", and we all know what it means; in a treacherous world there are those on whom we can depend.  We can all depend on the Lord, in the words of Psalm 18v2, "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower".

32v8 The Most High=Elyon.  Occurs 53vtimes in O/T. and refers to God's superior rank over everyone and every thing, and that for ever.  The first occurrence in Genesis 14v19 and 22, refers to Him as "the Possessor of heaven and earth".   Even Satan acknowledges Him as the Most High; in his arrogance, when he exalted himself above everything, including the earth, the stars, the clouds, the mount of the congregation, yet when he came to God, he said, "I will be like the Most High"-Isaiah 14v13-4.  There is no one higher than God.

God=Eloah, singular form of Elohim.  Occurs 52 times and twice in the chapter (v15 and 17).  While Elohim represents the majestic intensity and diversity in the Godhead, Eloah speaks of the unity and individuality of each member.  The emphasis is on monotheism and views the Godhead acting as one.  It is found mostly in the wisdom books of scripture, namely Job, Psalms, and Proverbs, and personalises God in times of suffering.  Elohim is concerned more with majesty and power.

God=El The diminutive form of Elohim and Eloah.  Occurs 245 times, and refers to the concentrated might and power of God.  The modern translations, including the KJV miss the riches of the Hebrew original of the titles of God.  Notable hybrids are EL Shaddai (Almighty God) and Immanuel (God with us).  This occurs 32v4, v12, v18, and v21.  Best translated as "the Strong One", in each context it appears.  There are no half measures with God.

The song bristles with the beautiful titles of God, and many more are revealed in scripture.  In song, in sermon, in worship, we publish the sacred name.  In His infinite greatness, He speaks of His people as being His portion, in a godless world.  In the desert, which is this world, He found them and He led them.  What the rocks are to the desert amid the shifting sands, He is to His people.  They are the apple of His eye, and He stirs them up as an eagle does her young (32v8-12).  Above everything else the greatness of our God should be our song for life, no matter the struggles of the way.  The study of the Bible is the study of God, and must be no less than that.  The apostle Paul said he "suffered the loss of all things for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord"-Philippians 3v8.  It is when we see this world as a spiritual desert that we learn His greatness and ascribe it to Him.

No doubt it was this chapter which inspired the hymn by the late John Nelson Darby, which aptly describes the thoughts of the song of Moses.  There are nine verses, (it begins with "Rise my soul thy God directs thee") we can quote one to illustrate:

"In the desert God will teach thee what the God that thou hast found.  Patient gracious, powerful, holy, all His grace shall there abound".

 

 

Moses the servant of the Lord

 Christ in all the scriptures

The rain and the dew  Deuteronomy 32v2

"My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as showers upon the grass".

The call to universal attention, makes this chapter of utmost importance in the revelation of God.  Constructed in the form of a song, there are four stanzas, each one proclaiming the character of God, the major topic of the Bible:

The greatness of God  32v3/4   The unrivalled majesty of His person

The goodness of God  32v5-14  His faithfulness to Israel, despite their unfaithfulness

The government of God  32v15-25  Judgment must begin at the house of God.  He chastises His people but mingles it with mercy

The glory of God  32v26-43  Ultimately He will suppress all enemies.

With such dignified subject matter in mind, Moses was concerned with the manner of his presentation.  Just as our lives should "adorn the doctrine", to use Paul's phrase, so thought should be given to the manner in which preachers and teachers present Divine truth.  This aspect is developed in scripture, as we are entrusted with sacred things that require reverential publication.  As always, our Lord Jesus was the supreme example.  Never had the people heard such ministry as came from His lips:

"They wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth"-Luke 4v22.

"They were astonished at His doctrine: for His word was with power"-Luke 4v32.

"Never man spake like this man"-John 7v46.

He spoke the truth of God with grace, as Psalm 45v2 says, "...grace is poured into thy lips". God is not in the business of alienating or repelling people, rather He is drawing all men to Himself (John 6v44 with John 12v32).

Those of us who are divine communicators today should follow His example:

"And moreover because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge: yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.  The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth"-Ecc. 12v9/10.  Paul wrote the following:

"The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth..."-2nd Timothy 2v24/25.

The manner of preaching is important if we are to enhance the understanding of the hearers.

Moses likens the doctrine to the raindrops on the plants and grass, and as the distillation of the dew to refresh the earth.  A close inspection of these reveal a very apt description of the action of the word of God.

Firstly we think of the dew distilling in the early morning light.  The process is of water vapour condensation as the warm air contacts the cold surfaces of earth.  The purpose is to heat up the cold surface and hydrate it for moisturisation.  This benign process of distillation falls silently upon the ground and aids the nourishment of plant life.  There is no sound, just gentle therapeutic provision.  How like the word of God!  It comes in silence, almost undetected until it begins to revive us from sleep.  I recall my late uncle William Neilly say, "The word of God does not burst upon us, it dawns upon us".  For those who have an ear for God's word it is a very real experience.  There is no need for loud mouth preaching, just gentle, powerful, transforming words.

Then he likens it to the raindrops.  God's word is similar to the rainfall upon earth.  Isaiah, in chapter 55v10/11, says, "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it".

The rains that fall are sent for production for the earth to deliver necessary food.  We, often have a negative attitude toward it, and, at times, it can be really uncomfortable and inconvenient.  However it produces necessary food, without which we would die.  Also, after a sustained period of rainfall, the earth is cleansed and the atmosphere is noticeably refreshed.  Like Moses, we are to see the word of God as vital to spiritual life, as the rain and the dew is to natural life.  That is how he viewed his doctrine, and so must we.

Yes, God's word can be challenging, but it is benign, and gentle, and productive, if we receive its wisdom, and adapt to its ways.  The doctrine is not for self glorification, but for the glory of God; it is not for self vindication but for the benefit of God's people

The song of Moses

 Christ in all the scriptures

A universal call to listen   Deuteronomy 32v1

"Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth the words of my mouth."

Moses has called the elders and officers of Israel to hear the words of God.  It would be their duty to pass the words to all the people including the children.  Beyond that, successive generations were to be instructed.  This is because the eternal God does not speak lightly, He never changes, He remains the same wonderful God throughout all ages.  His words have meaning.

The call was for Israel to hear, and to obey His words.  It is also  the call to the whole world, as He addresses heaven and earth as witnesses.  This is a perpetual theme in scripture, that God's chosen people were to be witnesses to all nations.

Deuteronomy 4v26  "I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day...".

Deuteronomy 30v19  "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live."

Deuteronomy 32v1  "Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth".

Psalm 50v6-7  "And the heavens shall declare His righteousness: for God is judge Himself. Selah (ponder that).  Hear, O my people, and I will speak, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God".

Isaiah 1v2  "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord hath spoken...".

Jeremiah 2v12  "Be astonished, O ye heavens at this...".

Jeremiah 6v19  "Hear, O earth: behold I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of my thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it."

Jeremiah 22v29  "O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord".

When God is speaking, it is not only to servants like Moses, or to His chosen people Israel only; He is speaking to the whole world and all heaven and earth are witnesses!

This is reminiscent of Jesus, who, on seven separate occasions, proclaimed, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (refer Matthew 11v15; 13v9; 13v43; Mark 4v23; 7v16; Luke 8v8; 14v35).  On one occasion in Luke 9v44 He said "Let these sayings sink down into your ears!".

Seven times also He said the same to the churches, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 2v7; 2v11; 2v17; 2v29; 3v6;3v13; 3v22). God is speaking, He is speaking to His servants, He is speaking to the churches, He is speaking to the world.  He speaks collectively, but we are responsible individually to hear Him and respond.  It is of paramount importance to hear Him in the sense of heeding Him, for what He says will come to fruition.  God never speaks idle words, what He says will come to pass, and He will call heaven and earth as witnesses.  Scripture records:

"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it"-Isaiah 55v10-11.

He spoke the universe into being, He speaks life into every believing soul.  He also speaks in judgment and reproof.  There will be things we don't want to hear. but because of who is speaking we must take heed for our good.  The One who created us knows us best. 

When Moses spoke his last words, they were the words of the Lord.  He was speaking to his people Israel, but he was also speaking to the whole world.  The call is to give ear to what He is saying.  Jesus said it to Israel, He said it to the apostles, He said it to the churches; He is saying it to the world.  His words are eternal life as well as earthly blessing.  The Lord is speaking to every one of us today.  Our response will decide our ultimate destiny.  Jesus said, "Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life"-John 5v24. 

The eternal God, who spans all time, who inhabits all space, who created all matter has, at His command, countless spirit beings who are greater in power and wisdom than man.  When He speaks they do His bidding, immediately, and without question.  He is apart and higher and greater than all creation, yet He deigns to woo us with love and mercy.  Such an one deserves our utmost attention.  He is seeking our wellbeing, He is speaking in the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, in the innermost recesses of our being.  Next we shall consider the manner of His speaking.

The swansong of Moses Deuteronomy 32

 Christ in all the scriptures

The power of song   Deuteronomy 32

Deuteronomy chapters 14-31 are a reiteration and practical application of the Mosaic covenant to Israel, as they settled in the promised land.  Believers, today are under the New covenant, and many of the ritualistic and ceremonial and cultural demands are not relevant to the Church.  Indeed, the New Testament is notable for its lack of specific ordinances and ceremonies, emphasising more the inward spiritual faith common to all believers.  However, there are abiding principles that apply; we are told not to conform to the world around us. Rather we are to exercise dignified pursuits and practices as the children of God.  

Chapter 32 brings us to the closing hours of Moses life on earth.  These are his final words after 40 years of faithful service.  His words are described as a song (31v30 and 32v44), that is they could be set to music.  God used songs to communicate His word, for often they are memorised more readily than sermons.  Songs can become powerful in spiritual life, as they readily come to mind at all times.  I recall walking alone, at a time of spiritual depression, that the Holy Spirit arrested me with the song written by Graham Kendrick...."the Servant King".  I didn't even know the words, but I hummed the tune, then, miraculously, sang the words.  I fell to my knees, and vowed before the Lord to serve Him with humility.  That was a turning point for me.  I hope these words do the same for you, I will never forget them:

"From heaven you came, helpless babe; entered our world, your glory veiled:                        Not to be served but to serve; and give your life that we might live!

This is our God, the servant King; He calls us now to follow Him                                          To bring our lives as a daily offering; of worship to the servant King." 

Scripture reveals that songs can be powerful sermons, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs..."; also great aids to worship. "...singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord"-Ephesians 5v19.

Moses is associated with three songs:  Exodus 15v1/2 and 15v21  A song of rejoicing.  The song extols the wonder of the Redeemer in v11, "Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods?  Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?"

In Deuteronomy 32v1-43, it is  A song of reproof  in which Moses is contrasting the faithfulness of God, in His utter dependability, with the fickleness of the people of Israel, in their forgetful and rebellious ways.  The message of the song is the publishing of the name of the Lord to ascribe greatness to Him-32v3.  Witness the powerful testimony of song today: the song "Amazing grace" is the third most known entity in the world, behind O.K. and Coca Cola.  At large sports events the hymn "Abide with me" is sung passionately.  The group, The Proclaimers, popularised the conversion song "Sunshine on Leith".  Who doesn't know "The Lord's my shepherd..."?  Through songs, the name of the Lord is known throughout the world.  The strains of their message continues every hour and in all places.

In Revelation 15v3-4, it is A song of retribution as the wrath of God is filled up against the godless nations of the earth; "And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.  Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?  for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest".

As servants of God, the songs should reflect all the attributes of God, whether for blessing or cursing, that He might be glorified.  Moses is associated with every aspect of God's truth.  He was called the servant of the Lord at the point of his death (Deut. 34v5).  Like Paul after him, he "declared the whole counsel of God".  The greatest accolade is given to him in scripture, when alongside Christ Jesus he was "faithful in all God's house".  Also, in Revelation chapter 15 the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb are sung together by the vast congregation of the redeemed in heaven.  The message of the song was powerful, the messenger was equally powerful.  No one was closer to God than Moses, no one so declared God like Moses.  The testimony of the Holy Spirit of the man Moses is, "...there arose not a prophet since in Israel, like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face".   That is until the "prophet like unto Moses" came in the person of Christ Himself.  The two are again linked together in John 1v17, "The law was given by Moses, grace and truth came by Jesus Christ".

We will attempt to scale the heights and depths of this song, as we continue.  

Behold the severity of God

 Christ in all the scriptures

Test of loyalty    Deuteronomy 13

"The Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul"-Deuteronomy 13v3 (refer also Deuteronomy 8v2).

The Lord puts to the test all who are of faith.  This is a major biblical truth.  The apostle James wrote, "...the trying of your faith worketh patience (endurance)"-James 1v3.  The apostle Peter said the same, "Salvation...wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations (trials): that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth..."-1st Peter 1v6/7.  Paul adds, "...we glory in tribulations also knowing that tribulation worketh patience (endurance).."-Romans 5v3.  One of the pictures used for this inevitable divine process with His people is of the testing of metals, the refining of gold and silver to remove impurities and enhance the value of the product.  The testing in this chapter is particularly severe, and the Lord brings three situations that will call for utmost loyalty from His redeemed people.

Deuteronomy 13v1-5  The emergence in their midst of false prophets and visionaries.

Deuteronomy 13v6-11  Ungodly influence from close family members.

Deuteronomy 13v12-18  Morally corrupt men, in the wider community, enticing many to separate in order to follow them.

In each case, the intention is to cause them to follow other gods.  Note the repetition of this in the chapter: v2 "let us go after other gods"; v6 "let us go and serve other gods"; v13 "let us go and serve other gods".  This was an enticement from three groups to compromise their devotion to God to follow other gods, in direct opposition to the first and second commandments.  The "harmless" suggestion to relax a little, risked bringing the wrath of God upon them.  God opposes all sin, but particularly the sin of idolatry.  Every form of idolatry is abomination in the sight of God.  As we have said before, idolatry is the practise of replacing God with things or people lesser than God.

In each case, the judgment is severe, so severe it would bring loud protests from our modern generations.  Yet the severity is to demonstrate how serious God considers idolatry.  The condemnation of God in this is stated as follows:

"That prophet, or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God"-13v5.

"Thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is like thine own soul, entice thee secretly saying let us go and serve other gods...thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him, neither shalt thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him; but thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people..."-13v6-10.

"Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof with the edge of the sword.  And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shall burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the Lord thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again"-13v15/16.

The people of God were to effect this severe judgment themselves, so that they understood the Divine attitude to it.  This has been preserved in God's word that we might know the feelings of God in the matter.  We learn in Romans 1v18 that "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold (suppress-hold down) the truth in unrighteousness".

The world is still full of idolatry, and the constant enticement is for believers to succumb to it.  However, there is no mandate to kill idolaters today.  That was given to the state of Israel so that men would know the severity of God's estimate of it, but there is no call for Christians today to do the same.  At worst the discipline is temporary excommunication from the church community as per 1st Corinthians 5.  What has happened, has God's attitude changed?  Not a bit of it, He still views idolatry as abomination.  What has changed is that Christ has come, and taken all the wrath of God against sin, and has satisfied the demands of God.  He has ushered in a "dispensation of grace" so that all who come to Him in Jesus are forgiven, and reconciled.  God is dealing with the world in grace, not by law, which has been fully met in Christ.

All of us, alive today, were born into the greatest age (the age of grace), when God is dealing with the world according to grace and not according to law.  This is because Christ fulfilled the law.  Were it otherwise, few of us would be still alive.  We should be thrilled that we were born in this privileged day, a day which has lasted almost 2000 years.  However this day will end soon, and the throne of grace (Hebrews 4v16), now operating in grace, will become the throne of wrath (Revelation 4v2-6), when God vents His anger on a rebellious world, and begins the process of exterminating all sin and idolatry.

We will never be called upon to display the loyalty demanded of Israel.  This is because Jesus gave His all for us to God.  Perhaps in light of that, we may decide to love Him more in practical reality.  There is no doubt, in the words of the song,..."Bye and bye, when I look on His face, beautiful face, thorn-shadowed face; bye and bye when I look on His face, I'll wish I had given Him more!.  More so much more....and so on.

Cleansing the land Deuteronomy 12

 Christ in all the scriptures

Cleansing the land   Deuteronomy 12v1-4 and 29-32

The land which Israel were about to occupy was steeped in idolatry, with its carved images, its depraved practices, and its brutal sacrifices.  The extent of their wickedness is stated in v31, "for every abomination to the Lord which He hateth. have they done unto their gods, for even their sons and their daughters they have burned in the fire to their gods"  (refer Deuteronomy 18v9-12).  Israel were to eradicate every vestige of idolatrous practice within the boundaries of the promised land.  The instructions are clear and extensive:

"And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of their place (see also Numbers 33v52-53).

The call was to destroy the memory of a false religion which God hated, in order to cleanse the land for the true worship of His people.  God's attitude to idolatry is severe, and it is the same in the New Testament:

1st Corinthians 5v11  A church member who is an idolator is to be excommunicated.

1st Corinthians 6v10-11 No idolator shall inherit the kingdom of God.

1st Corinthians 10v14  True believers are to flee from idolatry.

1st Corinthians 10v19-20  The idol is nothing, but reveals the state of the heart, it is the worship of devils.

Ephesians 5v6  The wrath of God is upon the idolater for their willing disobedience.

Colossians 3v5  Covetousness is idolatry.  It is one of the members of our past life to be mortified.  Craving more than what the Lord has given us is to demean Him.  Give thanks for what you have.

1st John 5v21 The apostle John warns the people of God to keep themselves from idols.

Revelation 22v15  All idolaters will be banished to eternal loss of wellbeing.

Idolatry is the state of the heart alienated from God, leading to unrestrained abominations.  All idolaters will be banished from the presence of God, and all good withdrawn forever.

Idolatry is a serious sin for which God reserves singular judgment.  Whenever we read of "abomination" in scripture it usually has idolatry at its heart.  This is how God views this particular evil.

We normally think of it as devotion to, or worship of, graven images set up in public.  However, God spoke of "idols in the heart" in Ezekiel 14v3.  This can take many subtle forms and the warnings in scripture to flee from any vestige of it should be heeded.  This is because we are surrounded by it in many guises.  We live in a world steeped in idolatry, just as confronted Israel as they entered the land.   

Paul was stirred in spirit as he saw the city of Athens "wholly given to idolatry"-Acts 17v16. How many cities today are just like Athens?  For them it was the worship of philosophy, novel imaginations, devotions to different religions, anything, really, apart from the true God.  

Idolatry is the worship of anyone or anything lesser than God.

God is greater than all, He is supreme in all heaven and earth, and He will not share His glory with another (Isaiah 42v8).  Paul says as much to the Corinthian church: in chapter 8v4-6 he writes, "...we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.  For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth (as there are gods many, and lords many), but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things and we by Him...".  The supreme majesty of heaven is greater, higher, and more powerful than all, and He seeks our devotion.  We are "complete in Him, who is the head of every principality and power" (Colossians 2v10).  In Him, we have everything, He knows our needs and He supplies them (Matthew 6v32/33).  From the throne He sends His angels to minister to us, the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1v14).  There is no need to seek anything or anyone else; if we are in Him we have everything!

So hear the word from the man who died for us, and is taking us to glory: don't give your devotion to lesser things than Himself.  Understand that we live in a world occupied with less noble heart devotions than God.  He says, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth.....covetousness which is idolatry"-Colossians 3v5.  "Henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind"-Ephesians 4v17.

Materialism, wealth, possessions, status, can all be forms of idolatry.  Why worship another human being, when you can worship the God who made all human beings?  The great artists of the world, the singers the sports people, the craftsmen, the artisans, all owe their talents to the God who gives them all. 

When John the apostle was filled with the visions of heaven, so awesome was the sight of the angel he wanted to pay homage to him.  What did the angel say?  "See thou do it not...worship God!"-Revelation 22v9.  The angel who lived in the presence of God knew there is none higher, in whose majestic presence he was as nothing.  Even Satan knows there is no one higher than God, when he uttered his ultimate impossible ambition..."I will be like the Most High"-Isaiah 14v14.  Instead he was brought down to hell as will all idolaters.

Paul the apostle, who suffered the loss of all things for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ his Lord, wrote, "I have coveted no man's silver or gold, or apparel"-Acts 20v33

  

Obedience

 Christ in all the scriptures

 Simple obedience   Deuteronomy 10-11

It was simple disobedience that brought down the human race in alienation to God.  It is simple obedience that brings restoration.  We are dependent on the obedience of Christ on our behalf for fellowship with God. as it says in Romans 5v19, "For as by one man's disobedience many were made (constituted) sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made (constituted) righteous".  For our well being we are required to follow Him in simple obedience, and this is the message of these two chapters.  Romans 8v1-4 emphasises that our deliverance in Christ was to change both our standing and our state before God.  We are saved that "the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit".   

Note the continuous repetition: 

"Serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord, and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good"-Deut 10v12-13

"Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep His charge, and His statutes, and His judgments, and His commandments, always"-Deut. 11v1

"Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go on and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it"-Deut. 11v8

"And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments, which I command you this day...that I will give you..."-Deut. 11v13

"For if ye will diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them..."-Deut. 11v22

"Behold I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: and a curse if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known"-Deut.  11v26-28

"And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day"-Deut. 11v32

Israel are commanded to obey the Lord in all things.  The Church of Christ is to obey the Lord in all things-this is the burden of these chapters.  The clarion call is to obey Him!

The great commission: "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you"-Matthew 28v20

Our personal lives  "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance"-1st Peter 1v14

In our thinking  "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ"-2nd Corinthians 10v5

In our church practices  "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord"-1st Corinthians 14v37

As proof of our devotion  "If ye love me keep my commandments"-John 14v15.

Our faith itself is obedience (Romans 1v5 and 16v26).  That is how we begin the Christian pathway, and that is how we should continue,  The prevalent notion, in some places, that we are no longer obligated to Divine law is totally false and God requires and expects our obedience. 

The supreme example, as always is Christ, of Him it is written: "Though He were a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which He suffered"-Hebrews 5v8.  The extent of this suffering is revealed in Philippians 2v8 "...became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross".

To obey Him, according to Deuteronomy 10v12 is to fear Him, to walk in all His ways, to love and serve Him with all our heart and soul, and to keep His statutes and judgments.

The chapters develop along this theme: 

Obey Him because of who He is   Deuteronomy 10v12-22

He is Creator of heavens and earth and all within them (10v14).  He is Supreme, God of gods, Lord of lords (10v17).  He is worthy of praise, who has done great things for us (10v21).

Obey Him because of what He has done   Deuteronomy 11v1-7

Five times over the verses record "what He did"-11v3 (brought the plagues upon Egypt, and negated the power of the Pharoah), v4 (caused the might of Egypt's army to perish), v5 (fed and clothed the nation in a wilderness for 40 years), v6 (crushed the rebellion of Dathan and Abiram, co-conspirators with Korah by opening the ground to swallow them and their households and possessions), v7 (All the people were witness to all these great acts).  

Obey Him for the bounty of His rewards  Deuteronomy 11v8-21

The section is all about the land God has provided for them.  He refers to "the land" multiple times-v8, v9, v10, v11, v12, v14, v17, v21, v25.  It is a good land; a land flowing with milk and honey; a land of hills and valleys and watered from heaven; a fruitful land; a land where you will be safe from enemies.  God's bountiful supply is greater than all the world can give.

As the prophet Samuel said, "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams"-1st Samuel 15v22.  This is what God wants, this is what we must learn.