Deuteronomy 31

• Moses’ Last Words (31:1-30)
  • What did Moses tell the people in verse 2?
  • Who was taking over for Moses?
  • Write out verse 6
  • Write out verse 8
  • In verse 9 what did Moses do?
  • What are they to do at the end of every 7 year period?
    • What will happen when they do this?
  • What was happening in verses 14-15?
  • What did God make Moses aware of in verse 16?
  • What are they going to do according to verse 19?
  • Write out verse 23
  • What is being told to the Israelites in verses 24-30

Deuteronomy 32

• Moses’ Song for the Israelites (verses 1- 52)
  • As you read the song, write down anything that speaks directly to you, things that the Lord wants you to remember about Him, His character, His love for you, even if He is showing you anything specific about His will for your life.
  • Write out verse 46 (this is the purpose of the song).
  • Describe what is happening in verses 48-52

Reflection: The following was written by an individual who, as an experiment, had committed himself to fast once a week for two years. Notice the progression from the superficial aspects of fasting to ward the deeper rewards.

• I felt it a great accomplishment to go a whole day without food. Congratulated myself on the fact that I found it so easy…
• Began to see that the above was hardly the goal of fasting. Was helped in this by beginning to feel hunger…
• Began to relate the food fast to other areas of my life where I was more compulsive…I did not have to have a seat on the bus to be contented, or to be coll in the summer and warm when it was cold.
• …Reflected more on Christ’s suffering and the suffering of those who are hungry and have hungry babies…
• Six months after beginning the fast discipline, I began to see why a two-year period has been suggested. The experience changes along the way. Hunger on fast days became acute and the temptation to eat stronger. For the first time I was using the day to find God’s will for my life. Began to think about what it meant to surrender one’s life.
• I now know that prayer and fasting must be intricately bound together. There is no other way, and yet that way is not yet combined in me.

***If you decide to go longer than the 24 hour period, after doing this for a while. There are things to know. And I would love to share them with you. But since this is just to give you a beginning for what fasting is, how to do it, and whether or not it is a command – I will not go into those things here. You can read Richard Foster’s book “Celebration of Discipline” or there are many other great books out there about how to do a biblical fast. Just remember a fast is God-focused and God-ordained. Don’t try and do it without Him.

Psalm 24: Today we pray a Psalm of praise to the King of Glory. Use this to praise Him for His wondrous works in your life.

Deuteronomy 29

• A Call to Obedience (verses 2-29)
  • What did the Israelites see with their own eyes?
  • What has the Lord not given them yet?
  • Write out verse 9
  • What detestable things did they see?
  • Write out verse 18
  • What leads to destruction according to verse 19?
    • And what will the Lord do to the person who thinks that way?
  • What will cause the Lord’s anger to burn against the land?

Deuteronomy 30

• A Demand for Commitment (verses 1-10)
  • Describe what is happening in verses 1-4.
    • What key words can you note there?
    • What is being alluded to in these verses?
  • Write out verse 6
  • Write out verse 8
• The Choice Before the House of Israel (verses 11-20)
  • Write out verse 11
  • Write out verse 14
  • Write out verse 16

Reflection: Today we are going to look at some practical IDEAS on how to fast from food.

The Practice of Fasting: We should always start with a partial fast of 24 hours duration: many have found lunch to be the best time. This means that in that 24 hour period you would not eat two meals. Fresh fruit juices are excellent to drink during the fast. Attempt this once a week for several weeks. In the beginning you may be fascinated with the physical aspects of your experience, but the most important thing to monitor is the inner attitude of the heart. Outwardly you will be performing the regular duties of your day, but inwardly you will be in prayer and adoration, song, and worship. Break your fast with a light meal of fresh fruits and vegetables and a good deal of inner rejoicing.

After 2-3 weeks you are prepared to attempt a normal fast of 24 hours. Drink only water but use healthy amounts of it. You will probably feel some hunger pangs or discomfort before the end of the 24 hours. This is not real hunger; your stomach has been trained through years of conditioning to give signals of hunger at certain hours. You must not give into the flesh’s grumblings. Ignore the signals, or even tell your “spoiled child” (your stomach) to calm down. In a brief time the pangs will die down. If they do not, drink another sip of water and it will calm the stomach. You are the master of your stomach, not its slave.

It should go without saying that you should follow Jesus’ counsel to refrain from calling attention to what you are doing. The only ones who need to know you are fasting are the ones who have to know: like the people you normally eat meals with (like your spouse, children, or others that it is a part of your routine). When you end a fast, do not end it with a heavy meal. It could possibly make you physically sick. Think about how you would begin eating after having a stomach bug or food poisoning. This will help with the overall experience.

Psalm 23. Meditate on it. Pray it over your life. Sit with it for a bit today, looking at it through the lenses of what you have been discovering about God throughout these books of the bible so far.

Deuteronomy 27

• Moses’ Third Speech: The Blessings and Curses (verses 1-26)
  • Write out verse 1
  • What is being asked of the Israelites in verses 1-8?
  • Write out verses 9-10
  • Verses 15-26 cover various laws that they were to keep.
    • What is the main theme of these verses?
    • What are all the people told to say after each law is read?

Deuteronomy 28

• A Listing of the Blessings and Curses (28:1-29:1)
  • Write out verse 1
  • What is it that will be blessed if they follow the law?
  • Write out verse 9
  • Write out verse 14
  • What will be cursed if they do not obey the commands the Lord gives?
  • Write out verse 45
  • Write out verse 47

What things stood out to you today? What did you learn about God? What did you learn about yourself? What can you walk away with as a lesson from today’s readings?

Before I get into our reflection I want to apologize for not explaining where I am getting my reflections from. I am going through Richard Foster’s Book “Celebration of Discipline”. It is a great book on teaching about various spiritual disciplines. You may not agree with everything that he has to say, but all the reflections are key text from either the book itself or the workbook I have. I thought I shared that early on – but I realize I only thought about it, and never actually did. I apologize for that. Now on to our reflection.

Reflection: The Purpose of Fasting. Fasting is to always center on God. It must be God-initiated AND God-ordained. If our fasting is not unto God, we have failed. Physical benefits, success in prayer, the enduing with power, spiritual insights-these must never replace God as the center of our fasting. John Wesley declares “First, let it be done unto the Lord with our eye singly fixed on Him. Let our intention herein be this, and this alone, to glorify our Father which is in heaven…” This is the primary purpose. There can also be secondary purposes in fasting.

Fasting reveals things that control us, more than any other discipline out there. This is a wonderful benefit to the true disciple who longs to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. We cover up what is inside us with food and other good things, but in fasting these things surface. Pride, anger, bitterness, jealousy, strife, fear – if they are within us, they will surface during fasting. We can rejoice in the knowledge of these things being in us because we know that the healing of these things is available through the power of Christ.

Today, pray Psalm 22 over your life situations. Find comfort that though we suffer we still get to praise God for who He is and for what He has done for us, in order to set our eternity’s with Him.

Deuteronomy 24

• Marriage and Divorce Laws (verses 1-5)
  • What rules are we reading here in verses 1-4?
  • Write out verse 5
• Safeguarding Life (verses 6-9)
  • There are three rules here, describe them
• Consideration for People in Need (verses 10-22)
  • Describe how to receive a loan based on verses 10-12
  • How do you treat a hired hand according to verses 13-15?
  • Write out verses 16
  • How do you treat orphans and widows according to verses 17-18?
  • In verses 19-22, what happens to harvest you leave behind?

Deuteronomy 25

• Fairness and Mercy (verses 1-4)
  • How do you handle disputes in court?
  • Write out verse 4
• Preserving the Family Line (verse 5-12)
  • What happens when a woman’s husband dies?
  • What is happening in verses 11-12?
• Honest Weights and Measures (verses 13-16)
  • What is the rules on how you measure things out that will be sold?
  • Write out verse 16
• Revenge on the Amalekites (verses 17-19)
  • What are they to do to the Amalekites?
  • Why are they to do this?

Deuteronomy 26

• Giving the Firstfruits (verses 1-11)
  • What are they commanded to do and when?
  • Write out verse 11
• The Tenth in the Third Year (verses 12-15)
  • What are they to do with the tenth?
• Covenant Summary (verses 16-19)
  • Write out verse 16
  • What did they affirm?
  • What did the Lord affirm?

What did you learn new today: about God, yourself or others? What lessons will you walk away with today? Is there something the Lord is calling you to do because of today’s lesson?

Reflection: Is Fasting a Commandment? When Jesus taught about fasting in the Sermon on the Mount, it was in direct correlation to giving and praying. He also states “when you fast”. It is making the assumption His people will be fasting. Here in Matthew 6 He is giving instruction how to fast, not constituting a command.

In Matthew 9 there is discussion about why the Pharisees fasted and not the disciples. Jesus’ response was that a day will come when the bridegroom would be taken from them and then they would fast. After Jesus’ ascension is when we find the disciples fasting. Jesus did model fasting for us, as in all the other things He wanted us to imitate Him in. But He never commands it.

Where are the people today who will respond to the call of Christ? Have we become so accustomed to “cheap grace” that we instinctively shy away from more demanding calls to obedience? “Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross.” Why has the giving of money, for example, been unquestionably recognized as an element in Christian devotion and fasting so disputed? Certainly we have as much, if not more, evidence from the Bible for fasting as we have for giving. Perhaps in our affluent society fasting involves a far larger sacrifice than the giving on money.

Psalm 21 – personalize this prayer and pray for victory over your life today. Pray this victory over the lives of others who need it as well. Spend time really thinking about the words you are saying. Don’t just say them just because.

Deuteronomy 20

• Rules for War (verses 1-20)
  • What does verse 1 encourage them to do?
  • Write out verse 3-4
  • In verse 5-9 what things would keep a man from battle?
  • What is the first step to battle?
  • What is to happen to the men? the women? the children?
  • What are the Israelites allowed to take if they win a battle?
    • Whom do these rules apply to?
  • What is different for the land they are inheriting?
    • write out verse 18

Deuteronomy 21

• Unsolved Murders (verses 1-9)
  • What rules are given when a person is found dead in the land they are possessing?
  • Write out verse 9
• Fair Treatment of Captured Women (verse 10-14)
  • What women are they talking about in this text?
  • What are the rules for the women?
  • What if you don’t like this woman in the end, what are the rules?
• The RIght of the Firstborn (verses 15-17)
  • What are the rules for the firstborn child, regardless of the mom?
• A Rebellious Son (verses 18-21)
  • What rules were given for the rebellious son?
  • Write out verse 21
• Display of Executed People (verses 22-23)
  • How long is a corpse allowed to be hung on a tree?

Deuteronomy 22

• Caring for Your Brother’s Property (verses 1-4)
  • How are the people to care for each others belongings?
  • What command are we given in this section?
• Preserving Natural Distinctions (verses 5-12)
  • What is verse 5 telling us?
  • What are the rules with birds and their young?
  • How are you to build your house?
  • What rules are given about the vineyard?
  • Who can not be plowed together?
  • What rule is given regarding our garments?
    • These rules are giving a bigger picture than what may seem obvious. Pray and ask the Lord to reveal to you what He is saying through these rules. Why would He tell the people these things specifically?
• Violations of Proper Sexual Conduct (verses 13-30)
  • In verses 13-21 what is taking place?
    • What rules are given to this man?
    • What are the rules of divorce vs staying, for him specifically?
  • In verses 22-30 what types of sexual misconduct are noted?
    • What are the consequences for the men and women in these scenarios?
      • Is there a time when one of the parties is not at fault?

Deuteronomy 23

• Exclusion and Inclusion (verses 1-8)
  • What things would keep a man out of the Assembly of God?
  • Write out verse 4
• Cleanliness of the Camp (verses 9-14)
  • Write out verse 9
  • What things were they to be doing outside the camp?
  • According to verse 14 why were they to do this?
• Fugitive Slaves (verses 15-16)
  • What are the rules for escaped slaves?
• The Forbidding of Cult Prostitution (verses 17-18)
  • What was not allowed to be brought into the house of God?
• Interest on Loans (verses 19-20)
  • Who was to not be charged interest?
  • Who could they charge interest to?
• Keeping Vows (verses 21-23)
  • What are the rules regarding vows?
  • Write out verses 23
• Neighbors Crops (verses 24-25)
  • What can you do in your neighbors vineyard?
  • What were you not allowed to do?
  • What were the rules for grain?

What new things did you learn today regarding the Lord, yourself or people in general? Is there a lesson you can walk away with today?

Reflection: Throughout Scripture fasting refers to abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. Because of the secularization of modern society, fasting (if it is done at all) is usually motivated either by vanity or by the desire for power. Biblical fasting always centers on Spiritual purposes.

In most cases, Fasting is a private matter between the individual and God. There are, however, occasional times of corporate or public fasts. Regular or weekly fasting can have such a profound effect on our lives. Though not a command, it is a spiritual discipline we should not neglect.

Psalm 20 is a cry of deliverance in battle. Today let’s pray this as a cry over the battles we or our loved ones face. Stand in victory as you meditate on His word today.

Deuteronomy 16

• The Festival of Passover (verses 1-8)
  • What are the rules of Passover that they are reminded of here
  • According to verse 3, why can’t they eat leaven during this time?
  • Write out verse 8
• The Festival of Weeks (verses 9-12)
  • When is this festival to take place?
  • Who is to participate in the festival?
  • Why are they to remember this festival?
• The Festival of Booths (verses 13-17)
  • When is this festival to be observed?
  • Verse 14 tells them to do something. What is that?
  • Why are they to celebrate this festival?
  • What does verse 16-17 tell us they are to do/not do?
• Appointment of Judges (verses 18-20)
  • What are the rules they are to follow?
  • Write out verse 20

Deuteronomy 17

• Forbidden Worship (16:21-17:1)
  • What rules are given here as to things they are not allowed to do?
• The Judicial Procedure of Idolatry (verses 2-7)
  • When they hear of someone worshipping a false idol – what are they told to do first?
  • If the accusation is true what are they to do next?
  • Write out verse 6
  • Why are they to do this to the one worshipping a false idol?
• Difficult Cases (verses 8-13)
  • Who is to judge these cases (remember back in Exodus it was Moses who took these cases)?
  • How seriously were they to take the judges ruling?
  • Write out verses 12-13
• The Appointment of a King (verse 14-20)
  • Write out verse 14
    • Up to this point they were never to have a King. God was their King. They are being told that they will want a king because everyone around them has a king.
  • What are the rules for choosing a king then.
  • What is the king not allowed to have?
  • Write out verse 18
  • What is he to do with that scroll?

Deuteronomy 18

• Provisions for the Levites (verses 1-8)
  • What is the Levites inheritance?
  • What are the priests to get from the offerings?
  • Write out verse 5
• Occult Practices Verses Prophetic Revelation (verse 9-22)
  • Write out verse 9
  • What things are they not to do?
  • Write out verse 13
  • Who are the Israelites to listen to?
  • Write out verse 19
  • What happens to the prophet who speaks words the Lord did not give him?
  • Write out verse 22

Deuteronomy 19

• Cities of Refuge (verses 1-13)
  • Why do they have these cities of refuge?
  • What will happen if their territory enlarges?
  • What happens if a person who intentionally murders someone flees to one of these cities?
• Boundary Markers (verse 14)
  • What are they not allowed to do?
• Witnesses in Court (verses 15-21)
  • What condition does verse 15 establish?
  • What happens to a false witness?
  • Why do these rules happen like this (see verse 20)?

What new things stood out to you as you read this today? Did the Lord show you something new about Himself, yourself, or people in general? What application are you walking away with today.

Reflection:

• The second reason there has been an almost total disregard of the subject of fasting is the constant propaganda fed to us today that convinces us that if we do not have three large meals each day, with several snacks in between, we will be on the verse of starvation.
  • This, coupled with the popular belief that it is a positive virtue to satisfy every human appetite, has made fasting seem obsolete.
  • Anyone who seriously attempts to fast is bombarded with objections:
    • I understand that fasting is injurious to your health
    • It will sap your strength so you can’t work
    • Won’t it destroy healthy body tissue
  • All of this, of course, is utter nonsense based upon prejudice.
  • While the human body can survive only a short time without air or water, it can go many days before starvation begins.
  • Without needing to subscribe to the inflated claims of some groups, it is not an exaggeration to that:
    • when done correctly, fasting can have beneficial physcial effects as well as spiritual.
• Remember these biblical characters fasted:
  • Moses, the lawgiver
  • David, the king
  • Elijah, the prophet
  • Esther, the queen
  • Daniel, the seer
  • Anna, the prophetess
  • Paul, the apostle
  • Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son

Psalm 19. Today we will meditate on what God did, on His goodness in Creation, all He does for us. Pray this as a prayer of gratitude and refection of His glory and majesty.

Deuteronomy 10

• Renewal of the Covenant (verses 1-11)
  • What does the Lord tell Moses to do in the first verse?
  • Who wrote the ten commandments on the tablets?
  • Who was to carry the Ark of the Covenant?
  • How long was Moses on the mountain?
• THE BASIC REQUIREMENT (verses 12-22)
  • Obedience is the requirement in one word
    • The Lord requires nothing less of believers today
      • Read John 14:21-23
  • Write out Deuteronomy 10:12-13
  • Write out verse 16
  • What else does Moses tell the Israelites that is important?

Deuteronomy 11

• Remember and Obey (verses 1-25)
  • What does verses 2-6 tells us that the Israelites saw God do?
  • Write out verse 7
  • Why were they to keep God’s commands according to verse 8-9?
  • What will God provide if they keep His commands?
  • Write out verse 18-21
• A Blessing and a Curse (verses 26-32)
  • When will there be a blessing?
  • When will there be a curse?

Deuteronomy 12

• The Chosen Place to Worship (verses 1-9)
  • Write out verses 2-3
  • What are they to do instead of worshipping God in the ways the other nations did?
  • Write out verse 8
• THE BASIC DIFFERENCES (verses 10-14)
  • The Old and the New Testaments differ basically.
    • A special place to worship God is emphasized in the Old Testament
    • Jesus changed the old emphasis from a place to a person
      • Read John 4:20-26
      • Read Acts 8:27-31, 35-37
        • The eunuch had been to the right place, for the right purpose, and read the right book.
        • Philip preached to him Jesus and he went away rejoicing.
        • From a place in the Old to a Person in the New.
• Slaughtering Animals to Eat (verses 15-32)
  • When can they slaughter animals to eat?
  • What are they not allowed to do?
  • Write out verses 18-19
  • What are they reminded of in regards to eating animals in verses 20-28?
  • Explain what they are being told in verses 29-32

What did you learn today in this reading? What do you feel the Lord is telling you specifically to do, not do or that needs to be worked on? What application of the word are you walking away with today?

Reflection: Fasting confirms our utter dependence upon God by finding in him a source of sustenance beyond food. Through it, we learn by experience the God’s Word is to us a life substance, that it is not food (“bread”) alone that gives life, but also the words that proceed from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). We learn that we too have meat to eat that the world does not know about (John 4:32-34). Fasting unto our Lord is therefore feasting – feasting on him and on doing his will.

Psalm 17 – today make this a prayer of your heart. Take this and meditate on each of the verses, asking God to search your heart and see if there be any wicked way in you. And then pray this prayer of protection over you and your family.

Deuteronomy 7

• Driving out the Nations (verse 1-26)
  • Which nations is the Lord driving out?
  • Write out verse 2
  • Why must they destroy them totally (see verse 4)?
  • What are they to do according to verse 5?
  • According to verse 8 why did the Lord choose them?
  • What is being told to the Israelites in verses 12-16?
  • What is the repeated theme of verses 17-26?

Deuteronomy 8

• Do Not Forget the Lord (verse 1-18)
  • Write out verse 1-2
  • What did the Lord do in verses 3-5?
  • Write out verse 6
  • What are the warnings in verses 10-19?

Deuteronomy 9

• Not Because of Israel’s Righteousness (verses 1-6)
  • Where are the Israelite’s about to go?
  • What does is say the Lord will do in verse 3?
  • Why is the Lord driving out the nations?
  • Write out verse 6
• The Golden Calf (verses 7-29)
  • Describe what is happening in verses 7-21
  • Where else did they make the Lord angry?
  • Write out verse 24
  • Why did Moses plead for the people?

What have you learned about God, yourself or people in general in this reading? What new things stood out to you today? Do you find yourself remembering the stories from the past books as you read this today? What lessons can you walk away with today?

Reflection: “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “if you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written: ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Matthew 4:1-4

What insights about fasting does this passage suggest to you?

Prayer through Psalm 16 with this text in mind. Meditate on it and see what the Lord would be speaking to you today.

Deuteronomy 4:

• Obedience commanded (verses 1-14)
  • Write out verse 1-2
  • What is happening from verse 3-8
  • Write out verse 9
  • What does Moses tell everyone in verses 10-14
• Idolatry Forbidden (verses 15-31)
  • Write out verse 16
  • What were they reminded of in verse 20-26?
• THE BASIC PLEDGE (verses 21-31)
  • This is the basic, unconditional pledge of God is the one He made to Abraham
  • Write out verse 29
  • What is the rest of the promise in verse 30-31?
  • Read Deuteronomy 29:12-13
• The Lord is God (verses 32-39)
  • In verses 32-34 what things were they reminded of that they saw and no one else did?
  • Write out verse 35
  • Why did they see these things?
• Cities of Refuge (verses 40-43)
  • Describe what a city of refuge was for
• Introduction to the Law (verses 44-49)
  • Who gave the law to the people?
  • Where did they receive the law?

Deuteronomy 5

• The Ten Commandments (verses 1-33)
  • Write out verse 4
  • List the 10 commandments (verses 6-21)
  • According to verse 22 where did the Lord write the 10 commandments?
  • What is happening in the rest of the chapter?
  • Write out verse 33

Deuteronomy 6

• Love the Lord your God (verses 1-25)
  • Why was the law written (see verse 2)?
  • Write out verse 5-10
  • In verses 12-14 what command type words are spoken?
  • Why are they commanded to do these things?
  • In verses 16-19 what commands are they given?
• THE BASIC BLESSING (verse 16)
  • Deuteronomy was a basic book for our Lord. He quoted from it frequently
    • Read Matthew 4:4, 7, 10
    • Compare those verses with Deuteronomy 8:3
    • Read Deuteronomy 10:20
• THE BASIC TRUTH (verse 23)
  • “He brought us out” – We see the power of God
  • “That He might bring us in” – We see the grace of God
  • “Which He swore unto our father..” – The faithfulness of God
    • This basic truth takes on a new meaning when applied to Christian believers today.
    • He has brought us out from a condemnation of sin for “there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus”
      • Read Romans 8:1
    • He has delivered us from the bondage of sin.
      • Read Romans 8:2
    • He has brought us into a spiritual Canaan which is ours in Christ.
      • Read Galatians 2:20
      • Read Ephesians 1:3-4
      • Read Ephesians 2:19
    • He is faithful to keep His promise
      • Read 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
  • Write out Deuteronomy 6:24

What things did you learn about God today? What did God reveal to you about yourself? What lesson can you walk away with today?

Reflection: From what you know today, how would you describe the purpose of fasting? Is this something you have zero idea about or is this a very familiar topic to you?

In our time of prayer and meditation, today we will read through Psalm 15. Allow the Lord to soften your hearts even more to Him. Allow Him to begin a “new” work in you today. What is it He is wanting to refine in you? Spend time praying this verse over your life, how you can be this blameless person, when it comes to the things spoken from your mouth.

• Deuteronomy 1
  • The Command to Leave Horeb (verses 1-8)
    • When did this take place?
      • Write out verse 6
  • The Appointment of Leaders (verses 9-18)
    • What is happening in this section?
    • Who is talking?
    • Do you remember where this story was from?
      • Read Exodus 18:13-27
  • Spies Sent Out (verses 19-25)
    • What do you recall about the spies being sent out?
    • Write out verse 21
  • Rebellion against the Lord (verses 26-45)
    • Write out verse 26-27
    • Write out verses 29-30
    • What did we learn about the Israelites here?
    • What did we learn about God?
• Deuteronomy 2
  • Wanderings in the Wilderness (verses 1-23)
    • What was happening in verses 1-5?
    • Write out verse 7
    • Describe what was happening in the rest of this section
  • Defeat of Sihon King of Heshbon
    • Describe this section of text
    • Write out verse 34
• Deuteronomy 3
  • Defeat of Og King of Bashan (verses 1-11)
    • What is repeated everytime the Israelites are to go into battle?
    • What is happening in this text?
  • Division of the Land (verses 12-20)
    • Who received land already?
    • Write out verses 18
  • Moses Forbidden to Cross the Jordan (verses 21-29)
    • What is Joshua told?
    • Write out verse 24
    • What happened in verses 26-29?

What are we reminded of about God in these chapters? What have you learned new today? How can you apply what you learned?

Reflection: What response do you feel when you hear that Fasting is and important element of Christian Devotion? Meditate on Psalm 14 today. Pray this as a prayer of hope and salvation for yourself. Repent of any of these things you have done and be blessed by the Lord in what He is doing in you.

• Deuteronomy is the final book of Moses:
  • This is the last book of the Pentateuch (the five books of Moses)
    • In Genesis we have the “beginnings”
      • the ruin of man and the fall.
    • In Exodus we have the law and a way out
      • redemption by blood and the power of God
    • In Leviticus we learned about the worship of the people
      • communion on the ground of the atonement
    • In Numbers we read about their wanderings
      • direction by the will of God
    • In Deuteronomy we will find the final preparation to go into Canaan
      • destination through the faithfulness of God
• The Name: Deuteronomy:
  • Deuteronomy gets its name from the Greek deuteros, meaning “second”, and nomos, meaning “law”.
    • So in the book we have a second giving of the law – or better, a new expounding of it to the new generation of Israel who had grown up in the wilderness
    • It is not the giving of a new law, but an explication, a giving in detail, that which was already given.
• It is a book of transition:
  • FIRST: A transition to a new generation
    • getting ready for the new land
  • SECOND: A transition to a new possession
    • from tents to houses
  • THIRD: a transition to a new experience
    • milk and honey of Canaan
  • FOURTH: a transition to a new revelation of God
    • the revelation of His love
• From Genesis to Numbers the love of God is never spoken of; but here in Deuteronomy we have the wonderful words of His love:
  • Write out Deuteronomy 4:37
  • Write out Deuteronomy 7:7-8
  • Write out Deuteronomy 10:15
  • Write out Deuteronomy 23:5
• The Structure of Deuteronomy:
  • Looking Backward:
    • Chapters 1-11
  • Looking Forward:
    • Chapter 12-34
• The Central Message:
  • Obey, Obey – Obedience to God
    • Deuteronomy 4:1, 2, 5, 9, 15, 23, 49
    • Deuteronomy 5:1
    • Deuteronomy 6:1-3
    • Deuteronomy 11:26-27
• The Basic Things of Deuteronomy (to be discussed in detail later)
  • The Basic Fact: Deuteronomy 6:4-5
  • The Basic Truth: Deuteronomy 6:23
  • The Basic Requirement: Deuteronomy 10:12-13
  • The Basic Pledge: Deuteronomy 4:27-31 & Deuteronomy 29:12-13
  • The Basic Differences: Deuteronomy 12:10-14
  • The Basic Blessing: Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:16, 10:20
• Moses, the Man
  • Write out Deuteronomy 34:10
    • Three periods of Moses life: each 40 years long
      • First forty years: Exodus 2:11 (Egypt)
        • Compare with Acts 7:22-23
      • Second forty years: Exodus 2:15 (Midian)
        • compare with Acts 7:29-30
      • Third forty years: Exodus 7:7 & Deuteronomy 31:2
        • Leader of the children of Israel till his death
    • Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died
      • Deuteronomy 34:7 tells us this
      • He was the only man God buried (34:6)
      • He was raised and glorified and he appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration
        • Luke 9:30-31
      • Read Hebrews 11:23-29 about Moses
    • Christ is in this book:
      • Deuteronomy 18:15-18

While going through the book of Deuteronomy our new spiritual discipline we will learn about is fasting. Fasting can bring breakthroughs in the spiritual realm that will never happen any other way. Fasting is abstaining from something for spiritual purposes. We can fast to lose weight too, but that isn’t what we are talking about. We are talking about fasting from something (not everyone can give up food because of health reasons) and replacing the time you would spend in that thing (whether it is eating, social media, tv, movies, reading outside of the bible, etc) in prayer and communion with the Lord. It is about self-denial, and growth in your relationship with the Lord.

So today I simply ask you this: what is your experience with fasting? If you have never fasted why is that? What do you think you know and understand about fasting right now. I am not asking you to fast anything, just to learn about it, and check your heart. The Lord may prompt you to fast, but I am not asking that (at least right now – the Lord may prompt me to challenge you later).

For our Psalm, today we will pray and meditate through Psalm 13. Make this a cry of your heart. Really personalize it to where you are at right now. Remember, you can’t stay fake before the Lord. We can make other people see us in a different light than who we really are, but we can not fool the Lord. He knows the deepest, darkest secrets and He still loves you. Be really real before Him.