Deuteronomy 9
-God’s righteousness verses man’s depravity is the theme of
this chapter’s historical narrative for the purpose of remembrance, devotion,
and salvation. The LORD wants Israel to “hear” all that He has to say through
His prophet Moses in this time before they go in to possess the land He has
graciously given to them because of His oath with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
(Deuteronomy 9:1, 5). He plainly tells them that they have no chance of victory
without Him as they face the “great and tall” people of the sons of the Anakim.
Their reputation precedes them, but God promises to subdue them and destroy
them before the children of Israel, just as He had spoken. He would cross over
in advance as a consuming fire so that they could drive them out quickly
(Deuteronomy 9:2-3).
-Then God gives warning. When the LORD has driven them out
of the land before them, the children of Israel were NOT to say in their heart,
“Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land.”
God emphatically tells them that it is only because of these nations wickedness
that He, and only He, is dispossessing them, for Israel is “a stubborn people.”
God is just simply fulfilling His promise, nothing more really. The Hebrews did
not deserve His blessing, and He will go on to speak why that is (Deuteronomy
9:4-6).
-They were to remember, and not forget, how they had
provoked the LORD to anger (righteous indignation) and wrath in the wilderness
from the day they left Egypt up until the present time because of their
rebellion. God was at the point of destroying them and raising up another
nation through Moses at Horeb (Mount Sinai), but the great prophet interceded for
them (Deuteronomy 9:7-8, 14, 18-20, 24-29). He had gone up to get the tablets
of stone spoken and written by the finger of God for their covenant
commandments. Through fire, 40 days and nights of not eating nor even drinking
water (a supernatural occurrence to say the least), and cloud cover, Moses ventured
with the Almighty in a dazzling array (Exodus 24:15-18, Deuteronomy 9:9-11). Moses
had seen their debauchery when he came down the mountain with the two stone
tablets. The people had quickly turned away from their God and acted corruptly
disobeying everything He had commanded them to do. They made a molten image of
worship in their stubbornness causing Moses to throw the tablets from his hands
smashing them before the people’s eyes (Deuteronomy 9:12-13, 15-17). The mediator
and servant of the Most High God then took their sinful thing, the molten calf which
they had made with their own hands, and “burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding
it very small until it was as fine as dust.” Then Moses threw the dust
fragments into the brook of water that came down from the mountain (Deuteronomy
9:21). Moses related other instances where the children of Israel by their sin,
doubt, and rebellion provoked the LORD to wrath at Taberah (Numbers 11:1-3), at
Massah (Exodus 17:1-7), at Kibroth-hattaavah (Numbers 11:31-34), and at
Kadesh-barnea (Numbers 13-14; 32:8-10, Deuteronomy 9:22-23). They had been recalcitrant
against the LORD from the day He knew them (Deuteronomy 9:24). Moses’
intercession and rational conversation with the LORD at the end of the chapter
puts everything back into perspective. Yes, they had been bad, but the LORD had
chosen them, and they were His instruments. To destroy them would break the covenant,
and God would never do that. They were His inheritance, He had redeemed them
(purchased them) through His greatness, He had delivered them, and He would
surely have to remember them now. Moses fought for his people because he knew
his God. He simply appealed to His reputation, glory, and nature to overlook
even abominable sin. His final summation says so much, “Yet they are Your
people…(Deuteronomy 9:25-29).”
-*Application* For us, we know that it is only the righteousness
of Christ Jesus that makes us holy and purchased in the sight of Almighty God (Romans
3:21-26, Revelation 5:9). Faith is the only thing that this salvation requires
(Romans 10:4, Philippians 3:9, 2 Peter 1:1). We cannot work, or merit,
redemption before a perfect Creator. It is only by His grace and mercy
(Ephesians 2:8-9). We have no room to boast in our own goodness (Romans 3:26-28).
We like sheep have gone astray and He has laid the iniquity of us all on His
Messiah (Isaiah 53:6). Just like the Israelites were nothing without their God,
we are nothing without our Christ. We don’t deserved His blessings, but the
beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair (see https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=be%20my%20escape%20lyric%20video&qs=n&form=QBVR&pq=be%20my%20escape%20lyric%20video&sc=0-20&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&mid=138AEA86DC1CF72B6B43138AEA86DC1CF72B6B43
for one of my personal favorites by Relient K)
Verses to Memorize:
Deuteronomy 9:4, 7, 29
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