June 15, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Why We Should Not Sin

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Great God, King of heaven and earth, You are longsuffering with the rebellion and sin of a creation that resists and rejects You.

Read Deuteronomy 31:14-29

[14] The LORD said to Moses, “Now the day of your death is near. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the tent of meeting, where I will commission him.” So Moses and Joshua came and presented themselves at the tent of meeting. [15] Then the LORD appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over the entrance to the tent. [16] And the LORD said to Moses: “You are going to rest with your ancestors, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them. [17] And in that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them, and they will be destroyed. Many disasters and calamities will come on them, and in that day they will ask, ‘Have not these disasters come on us because our God is not with us?’ [18] And I will certainly hide my face in that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods. [19] “Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them. [20] When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their ancestors, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant. [21] And when many disasters and calamities come on them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do, even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.” [22] So Moses wrote down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites. [23] The LORD gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.” [24] After Moses finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end, [25] he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD: [26] “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God. There it will remain as a witness against you. [27] For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the LORD while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die! [28] Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to testify against them. [29] For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall on you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD and arouse his anger by what your hands have made.”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“Since, Lord, thou dost defend us with thy Spirit,. . . I’ll fear not what men say, I’ll labour night and day to be a pilgrim” (John Bunyan).

Before Moses died, God told him to write down a song (19). It was a disturbing song, a witness against the Israelites. God knew that after Moses died they would fall into idolatry, embracing the gods of Canaan (16). It must have grieved God profoundly to know his people’s unbelieving and disobedient hearts. Writing the song down must have broken Moses’ heart. It is a sad day when a leader approaches death knowing that the work he has done will crumble. But was it all in vain? Moses’ song repeats the idea that God is the Rock whose works are perfect and whose ways are just; the Rock is the Father and Savior of Israel and has the power to sell them to enemies if they break the covenant (Deut. 32:4,16,18,30). For Moses, who was prevented from entering the Promised Land, the lesson that God is our Rock was deeply imprinted on his heart.

 

After Moses’ death, the people would become “utterly corrupt” (29). They sank to their lowest after Moses died (compare 2 Chron. 34:33). Sadly, they probably feared Moses more than they feared God. Moses was the cat whose disappearance made the mice play. Little did they realize, though, that the lion was watching. When terrible “disasters and calamities” came (17,21), the people could not claim ignorance because the song testified against them, along with the Law and heaven and earth–three witnesses in all (19,26,28).

 

What keeps us from sinning? Is it social and cultural expectations or human authorities, whether secular or religious? Shouldn’t we avoid sinning because we fear God more than anybody else? (Exod. 20:20). If so, whether or not there are human observers, we will seek not to sin (Col. 3:22), for we are always conscious of God (Prov. 15:3).

Apply

Set aside some time to consider if there are thoughts, attitudes or practices in your life that are damaging your relationship with Jesus. Journal about these things, then talk to the Lord about them.

Closing prayer

Lord, You have asked me to walk blamelessly before You. May I do away with sin not because of those around me but because of You.

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