The Law is not a Vain Thing

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? 1.                   Verse 40 states, “For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.” Who is speaking? What is the significance of the lifting up of the hand (see Genesis 14:22)? How can this speaker declare, “I live for ever?” How does this verse fit in with verse 39? 2.                   In verse 50, the Lord told Moses that he will “die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people.” Several times in the Old Testament, the Bible refers to someone who died and was gathered unto his people (Genesis 25:8, 17; 35:29; 49:33; Numbers 20:24; 27:13). Many people think this phrase simply refers to the burial of the body in the family graveside. However, this cannot be. Of Moses, the Bible says that the Lord “buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day” (Deuteronomy 34:6). Genesis 49:10 speaks of the coming of Shiloh (another name for the Messiah) and then states, “unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” In light of these verses, what does it mean to be gathered unto the people. To what is Genesis 49:10 referring? 3.                   Moses is reminded again why he and Aaron were not allowed to enter the Promised Land: “because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel” (v.51). To sanctify means to set apart as sacred or holy. This passage refers to the disobedience of Moses and Aaron in bringing water from the rock by smiting it when God told them to speak to it (Numbers 20:7-13). Their sins include unbelief (Numbers 20:12), rebellion against God’s word (Numbers 20:24), speaking unadvisedly (Psalm 106:32-33), and not sanctifying God (Deuteronomy 32:51). Compare this with Leviticus 10:3 where God said, “I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified.” Consider these passages and tell what you think it means to not sanctify the Lord in the midst of Israel. Can people commit this sin today? How?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME? 1.                   In verse 29, the Lord laments concerning Israel, “O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!” Evidently, one part of wisdom is to consider the latter end of something. What does this mean? How can people show wisdom by considering their latter end? Try to give a personal application. 2.                   The Lord declared, “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence” (v.35; see also v.43). This lines up with the teaching of Paul: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19). What is vengeance? How do people try to avenge themselves? What does God want us to do? Give an example of how we can apply this principle to our lives.

SUGGESTED MEMORY VERSES: Deuteronomy 32:29, 31, 39, 40, 46, 47     TEXT: Deuteronomy 32:28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.  29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!  30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?  31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.  32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:  33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.  34 Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?  35 To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.  36 For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.  37 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,  38 Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.  39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.  40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.  41 If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.  42 I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.  43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.  44 And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.  45 And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel:  46 And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.  47 For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.  48 And the LORD spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying,  49 Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession:  50 And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:  51 Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel.  52 Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel.

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