聖路易 AAA for Our Spiritual Journey (Deut. Chapter 6)
Introduction:
The experience of the Israelites when they were delivered from Egypt, wandered in the wilderness and entered into Canaan was an illustration of God’s saving grace through Christ for the NT believers. The Israelites escaped the slavery of Egypt and were ushered into the Promised Land. We were saved from the dark domain and admitted to the Kingdom of light (e.g., Col. 1:13). God’s command to the Israelites and to us is the same – to love Him wholeheartedly (c.f. Duet. 6:5 and Mt. 22:37, Mk. 12:30 and Lk. 10:27). How to put this vague concept into practice? Again, God’s instruction has never been changed throughout the ages – to follow His Word (e.g., Jn. 14:21 and 1 Jn. 5:3). We have to keep God’s Word in our daily walk with the Lord. God’s Word is not only for individual believers, for He sees us as a faith community, which consists of many families. Therefore, we also have to teach our children to know His Word. Our allegiance to the Word of God brings promised blessing, at the same time it also protect us from going astray.
FCF: We are prone to wander as we walk with the Lord.
Prop: Because Jehovah is our God we must take heed of His Word.
MP I – The Word to Obey 聽從
MP II – The Word to Teach 教導
MP III – The Word to Protect 保護
聖路易 AAA for Our Spiritual Journey (Deut. Chapter 6) 4/30/06
[Introduction]
The tide ebbs and flows. If you are a kung-fu novel fan you are familiar with this scene. The old kung-fu master is about to retire, and he will turn the responsibilities to his entrusted senior apprentice. This soon-to-be new master will shoulder the burden of the whole clan. He has to follow the heritage of the clan that has been established long time ago.
The situation is similar in the book of Deuteronomy. Moses is coming close to an end of his earthly life. Joshua will take the leadership role to lead the Israelites into Canaan, the land which God promised to their forefathers. Their previous generation sinned against God and thus wandered in the wilderness for forty years and passed away there. Before Moses vanishes from the picture he has one remaining important task. Here God commanded Moses to teach His law to the new generation of Israelites. They were required to follow God’s law as they entered into their hew homeland.
In the Bible God uses the experience of the Israelites as an illustration for His saving grace through Christ. The Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt and ushered into God’s Promised Land. Paul talks about our salvation experience when he says in Col. 1:13-14 that, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” After God saved us He desires us to follow Him in our every day life. [FCF] However, as we walk with our Lord we are prone to wander. God gave the Israelites His law so that they would follow Him closely. By the same token, today God gives us His Word in the Bible so that we may know His will for our lives. As we study Deuteronomy chapter 6 today let us focus on the fact that [Prop] because Jehovah is our God we must take heed of His Word.
Throughout the chapter Moses uses five different terms to describe God’s Word – commands (v. 1, 2, 17 and 25), decrees (v. 1, 2 [a derivative of the word], 17, 20 and 24), laws (v. 1 and 20), commandments (v. 6) and stipulations (v. 17 and 20). Each term points to a different aspect of God’s Word. For simplicity I will choose the term “God’s Word” in our current study.
MP I – The Word to Obey聽從
God gives us His Word so that we will obey it. What should we do in order to obey God’s Word? There are two verbs that keep repeating in the chapter. V. 2 tells us that we are to “keep” 謹守His Word. The word keep means that we are to preserve 保存 God’s Word and to retain 記住 it to our hearts. Not only that we are to keep His Word, v. 1 tells us that we are to “observe” 遵行 it. It means that we are to put God’s Word into practice. The author then goes on and explains why we have to obey God’s Word.
Sub-point 1 Expression of our devotion對神尊重
The first reason why we have to obey God’s Word is because it is an expression of our devotion to God. I notice that there are at least two words in the passage to describe our devotion to God. In verses 2, 13 and 24 Moses tells us that when we obey God’s Word we express our “fear” toward God. For example, v. 2 says “…so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you…” Here fear may seem to carry a negative meaning, for we tend to stay away from the source of fear. A broader meaning of the word, as the Chinese Bible translates it, should be “revere with awe”. Our fear toward God will cause us to obey His Word.
Another verb to express our devotion to God is “love”. V. 5-6 read “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” We all know that this verse should be interpreted in a metaphorically sense. It means that we have to love God wholeheartedly. The Jews called verses 6 to 9 their shema. The word shema is the Hebrew word for the verb “listen”. Jewish religious law requires every adult male to recite the shema and other important passages of the Old Testament every morning and evening.
Sub-point 2 Expectation of God’s blessing 神會祝福
The second reason why we have to obey God’s Word is because we can expect God’s blessing as a result of our obedience. There are a number of “so that” in this passage to tell us what kind of blessing is in store. V. 2 says “so that you may enjoy long life”. V. 3 says “so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly”. Again in v. 18 says “so that it may go well with you”. Finally, v. 24 says, “so that we might always prosper and be kept alive”. These promises of longevity, prosperity and multiplicity are very Chinese thinking. Receiving God’s blessing is not the only motivation for but a natural consequence of our obedience toward God’s Word. It is like when you buy a product from a store you have to follow the instructions in order to obtain the benefit from it.
[Illustration]
I remember there is a brother who bought his first house about the same time when we bought ours. At one time we were having a casual chat on how to manage our lawn. He shared his experience about applying lawn fertilizer. The very first time he applied fertilizer he used his common sense and thought that since fertilizer would do good to the grass, then the more the better. Therefore, he put ten bags of the same fertilizer to his lawn all at the same time. The result? His lawn was the greenest and healthiest in the whole sub-division. Of course not! The whole lawn just wilted and died. He forgot another important principle called the natural law. He was so frustrated that he called the customer service department of the fertilizer company and launched a complaint. I pity the representative who answered he called. He and I both laughed about it. At the end I teased him, “You must be one of those people who never read the instruction.” The instruction says one bag of fertilizer is good enough to cover 5,000 square feet of ground. So if you have to receive the full benefit of it then simple follow the instruction.
[Application]
To us, God’s Word is the instructional manual for our new life in Christ. If we want God to bless our lives then we have to follow His instructions written in His Word. Once we received Christ as our personal Savior, we have established an eternal relationship with Him. Being obedient to God’s law is a natural obligation as a result of this relationship. God’s Word does not provide mere suggestion for us but it conveys God’s command for our lives. Some people may believe that those speed limit signs are only suggestion for their driving. It is not until they get a speeding ticket then they realize that those numbers on the signs represent a command. Sometimes we suffer from a disease called spiritual schizophrenia. We think that God’s Word only applies to our church life. When we leave the church on Sunday we can live a different life. Just like when people are done playing golf on Sunday they will not carry their golf clubs to where they go from Monday to Friday we try to hide our faith so that we can successfully mingle with our neighbors, friends, classmates or coworkers. The fact is, once we became a Christian we are still a Christian no matter where we are. We need to use God’s Word to examine our decisions in life to see if we are walking closely with the Lord.
MP II – The Word to Teach 教導
God’s Word is not only for us but also for our future generations. The Israelites that Moses talked to in Deuteronomy was the first generation to enter into the Promised Land. In order for them to continue to prosper in Canaan they had to teach their future generations about God’s Word.
Sub-point 1 Begin at home 家庭教育
Where should we teach our future generations about God’s Word? The passage tells us that we should begin at home. V. 7 says “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.” In other words, we have to teach our children God’s Word whenever they are with us. In Hebrew the verb “impress” in this verb carries the connotation of sharpening a tool. It means that one has to repeat it over and over again until the tool is sharp to penetrate. Therefore the Chinese translation “teaching them diligently” appropriately catch the meaning of the word. We have to keep repeating God’s Word to our children until it is embedded into their mind. At that time there was no Sunday school so the fathers had the responsibility to teach their children God’s Word. Even at this day and age no Sunday school curriculum can replace home teaching of God’s Word.
[Illustration]
We are to teach our children at home to know God’s Word, in particular in this day and age when all kinds of bad influence exist in the society. Let me share a story that may disturb you. One of our good old friends is living in another state. She called my wife one time sharing her worry about her daughter’s future education. Another sister from her church told her that she was troubled by the fact that at the public school her daughter is attending the teacher taught her one day that it is normal for some families to have two fathers or two mothers at home. And this is kindergarten that she was talking about! If we do not teach our children God’s Word at home and begin it when they are young, they will gradually absorb various information that contradicts with the teaching of the Bible from the world.
Sub-point 2 By all “means” 就地取材
How should we teach God’s Word to our children? The passage tells us that to do it by all “means”. The passage continues to exhort us in v. 8 to 9 that we have to “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.” Throughout the history some conservative Jews interpreted these verses literally and did exactly what Moses commanded here. But I believe a broader meaning of the message here is that we have to use whatever means to remind our children of the Word of God and help understand the meaning of it. Then in v. 20 Moses describes a hypothetical situation where in the future the children of Israel will ask their parents about God’s law. Perhaps they may ask: why do we have to learn all these laws and observe them in our lives? Moses’ suggested answer in v. 21-24 does not say: because I am your father, or because Rabbi so and so says so. But it revolves four facts: (1) the past of their ancestors in Egypt; (2) God’s deliverance; (3) God’s faithfulness and (4) God’s command. God would continue to bless them if they would obey His Word. They need to know from early on that God is not only the God of their parents but also their own God as well.
[Illustration]
Josh McDowell, author of “Evidence That Demands a Verdict”, has been devoting the past twenty some years of his life after he became a Christian to lead the younger generation to Christ. He is also an excellent father of three children. I once heard a testimony on the Christian radio from Josh about how he teaches the Word of God to one of his children. He and his boy was roller skating along the California coastline. After a while they took a rest at a certain area. On the wall right facing them was full of graffiti of the foulest words. If you were Josh what would you do? If I were Josh I might have suggested that we went elsewhere to rest. But Josh did something different. He went to buy something to drink, sat down with his boy and explain what every single foul word on the wall meant. Then he said to his kid, “If you don’t have God in your future marriage and you don’t honor your wife according to God’s Word, then what is written on the wall would describe your relationship with your wife.” Wow! I wonder how many parents would take that opportunity to teach your children about God’s Word.
[Application]
Today’s passage tells us that we have to teach God’s Word to our children at home and we have to do it with all possible means. For the Christian dads among us this is your responsibility. I know that some non-Christian parents drop off their kids at our church because they want to try Christianity as a last resort to change their kids’ bad behavior. My estimate is that most likely it will not work. How can you expect these Christian values to influence your children if you do not hold onto the same value at home? They know that the Bible is true not only because you say so but because they see how God’s Word is actually working in your personal life. For example, when our family is facing some difficulties you can invite your children to pray and tell them that God listens to our prayer; when they receive punishment because they neglect your repeated warning you can remind them that God too will discipline those who sin against Him because He loves us; when a believing loved-one passes away you can comfort them that this person is with the Lord in heaven.
Another great idea I would like to share with you. I learned from the Christian radio about the concept of “family night”. Through games and participation of the whole family one can convey spiritual lessons to his children. Let me quote one example I came across. The lesson in this activity is to teach God’s saving grace. With the children standing at the bottom of the stairs and the parents at the top end, the children are required to climb up the stairs to win a reward of ice-cream. The rules are that the children cannot touch the steps or the rails. Of course, it is an impossible task! At this time, the parents will go down the stairs and carry the children. As the whole family is enjoying the free gift of ice-cream the father will explain the morale of the activity – it is impossible for a person to come to God on his own effort, therefore God sent His Son Jesus Christ to come down to earth to bring us to God. You say, that a great idea, but I do not have the wit to come up with those activities. The good news is, there are experts who write up books and materials for you to use. (Ref: family.org, familylife.com, and amazon.com)
Of course you have to spend time to seize these “teachable moments”. But I believe the bottom line is not a matter of time, but of priority. We choose to do certain things because we see them as important. I knew nothing about sacrifice before I became a father. Now I know because it is part of the requirement as a parent. I know you try very hard to provide the best you can for your children – the best food, best clothes, best school, even the best car. Those are all good things. Yes, we want our kids to live a happy life but God also desires them to live a holy life. Dr. Dobson once said no matter how successful he will be in life, nothing compares to the joy of the hope that he will see his children again in heaven. Praise the Lord! Both of his grown-up children are devoted Christian. What about you? What is the greatest expectation you have for your children? Good education? Good future career? To turn the question around: when your children grow up what kind of parent do you want your children to describe you?
MP III – The Word to Protect 保護
Not only are we commanded to obey God’s Word and to teach it to our children, God’s Word can also protect us from harm. In our passage today, the Israelites are about to enter into Canaan. The Bible tells us that it is a land flowing with milk and honey that God promised to their forefathers. Indeed it is a land of abundance. But it is also a land full of temptations. Moses commands the Israelites to use God’s Word to protect them from these temptations. They come from two sources.
Sub-point 1 Flattered ego 自我中心
First, these temptations come from a flattered ego. V. 10-11 contain repetitions of the phrase “you did not”. Moses continues with a warning in v. 12, “be careful that you do not forget the LORD…” A similar warning can be found later in 8:17-18 when Moses adds “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” When God’s people fail to recognize that everything they have is from God they can only see themselves in the picture.
[Illustration]
Most of us came to U.S. from overseas. We might all have the experience of two suitcases. I once chatted with a brother who also came to U.S. single and with only two suitcases. Since he is a middle-age person I teased with that he must have come here by ship. He laughed and said, “Oh no, I came here by plane. But my older brother came by ship.” Just like the Israelites we might have very little when we began our journey. God has prepared great material blessings for us. But the key is that God wants us to acknowledge that He is the source of all these blessings.
Sub-point 2 False gods 偏向假神
Not only that the Israelites were warned against their flattered ego they were warned against false gods. V. 14-15 read, “Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land.” NIV chooses an appropriate word to translate the Hebrew word “jealous”. This word is only applied to God in the Bible. It reflects a demand for exclusive allegiance. It is a jealousy in good sense, because our God does not want us to serve other gods in our lives. It is natural for your boy-friend or girl-friend, or your spouse to become jealous person if you give a ride or write a card to an opposite sex. The first commandment makes it very clear: you shall have no other gods before me. If you know what kind of foreign gods the Israelites would encounter as they entered into Canaan you may understand why the Lord God Jehovah is so jealous. Moses gives further descriptions about the religious activities of the Canaanites in Deut. 18:9-11: “When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.” The Canaanites believed that their gods ruled over the nature, and thus controlled their harvest and fertility of men and animals. God made it very clear that He was the only one true God of the universe. Therefore, the restrictions in His Word are actually blessing of protection for the Israelites.
[Illustration]
We live in a society that upholds personal freedom and so sometimes we do not like rules. But the Bible reminds us that God’s Word good for our own protection. Let me illustrate. Our next door neighbor rent his house to other people. When we first moved into our house the family that lived there had three dogs, one of which is a “full-size” black Labrador. Whether or not this dog likes strangers I am not sure, but every time when we came home it would line up with the other two dogs to “greet” us with fierce barking. Don’t get me wrong, for I do love dog. I was just hesitant to get over there and pad this seemingly unfriendly creature. Thankfully, there is a fence that separates our house and our neighbor’s. Otherwise, I may need some protective gear just to walk close to our neighbor’s place.
[Application]
God’s Word is just like that fence. It protects us from the danger of temptations, lest we would forget God in our lives. Isn’t it interesting that difficulties will make us draw near to God. When we are lonely we ask God for a mate, when we are sick we ask God for his healing and when we are poor we ask God for material provision. But how easy it is for us to forget God when we have plenty! God is able and willing to bless us with many good things, but He does not want us to focus only on those blessings. He wants us to focus on Himself. In the whole Bible God reminds the Israelites over and over again that it was God who saved them from slavery in Egypt. It was God who saved them. The same is true for us. We did not choose God on our own, but it was Him who sought after us and saved us. It is because of such relationship that God requires His people to obey His Word. Also, it is God who provides for all we need. Don’t treat your God like the genie in the lamp – when you are in need you cry out to Him but when you are satisfied you throw Him aside. God wants to be the center of your life, not just a segment of it.
History tells us that Israel rebelled against God. They worshipped other gods. They thought they could control their own lives and get instant gratification from these false gods. Jehovah disciplined Israel with oppression from other nations (Assyria, Babylon and Rome) and finally exile. The message is solemn but clear: if you do not want me to be your God then I will let you go back to slavery and serve other gods. Do you let other false gods substitute the position of God in your life? What objects occupy your mind and heart? Do a reality check on how you spend your time and money. Of course, God’s faithfulness to the Israelites will never fail. But they have to reap the consequences of their rebellion. It is the same to us. If we deliberately choose to disobey God, then He may have no choice but to let go of us, until we humbly come back to Him and ask for forgiveness.
[Conclusion]
In today’s message we are reminded once again that we have an eternal relationship with our God. Because He is our covenant God we must take heed of His Word. God commands us to obey His Word. God’s Word is not only for us but also for our future generation. Therefore, we must also teach the Word of God to our children. God’s Word poses restrictions on our lives because God wants to protect us from the danger of temptations.
<English Title>
The American Automobile Association (AAA) just celebrated its 100 anniversary a few years back. Its goal is to provide safety, security and peace of mind to drivers on the road. We can apply the same principles to God’s Word for our spiritual journey.
The Chinese title for this message has a three-fold meaning. It is God who calls His people to follow Him in this journey of life. It is a sacred journey because God is holy. The only way to make this expedition easy for us is to obey God’s law.
Is it easy to follow God in our spiritual journey? Recently my wife and I talked with a sister. She was struggling whether to follow her own way or God’s way in a major decision. After the discussion I encouraged her by saying “if it is easy then we don’t need God.” Indeed, if we trust ourselves we will make things complicated but if we trust His Word He will make life much easier for us.