So That You May Live The Law—and the worldview it introduces—does not oppress. “I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 18:4, 5 Leviticus 18:1-5 is a very important text for ...

Forfeiture of Blessing We may never know some of the rich blessings God has for us. The LORD said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD, none of the men who have seen ...

Deprivation When we ignore or disobey God’s Law, He can withdraw His blessings. “The LORD will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and perish quickly on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken me.” Deuteronomy 28:20 Sometimes ...

Oppression If we won’t help one another, God may employ outsiders. “The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them.” Deuteronomy 28:25 When God’s people fail to hold one another accountable for their covenant relationship with Him, ...

Judgments God’s people are responsible to exercise judgment with one another. “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.” Deuteronomy 16:18 The work of judges was only a more formal ...

Temptation Temptations will come. Will we be ready for them? “So you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him.” Deuteronomy 8:6 As would have been evident through Israel’s experience in the wilderness, temptations to forget the Lord and to turn from ...

Trials and Tests The discipline of the Lord is typically not pleasant. “And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his ...

The Discipline of the Lord God brings discipline to His people in a variety of ways. “Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you.” Deuteronomy 8:5 Besides the active spiritual disciplines which are revealed in God’s Law—seeking Him, assembling to Him, hearing Him, ...

Singing to the Lord Singing is a vitally important spiritual discipline. “Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel.” Deuteronomy 31:19 Moses was about to die, and the people ...

Self-Watch Each believer is responsible to keep watch over his own soul. “…if he has sinned and has realized his guilt and will restore what he took….” Leviticus 6:4 Sin is a powerful force in our lives today, just as it was in the days of ancient Israel. We can be so blinded ...