The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Deuteronomy 4:23-24,
"Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."
It appears to me the thrust of Moses' words here can be summed up in the thought that the Lord required total and full devotion from his people, a devotion marked by fervor and an acknowledgement that he is the only God: their God.
"You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other." Verse 35. "Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other." Verse 39.
His reminder to the Israelites that "God is a consuming fire, a jealous God" speaks of an ardency he required of his people. He is not merely asking for the Israelites allegiance or fidelity, but full devotion at the risk of inciting his overwhelming jealous fury.
The writer of Hebrews quotes this verse in Hebrews 12:28-29, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'" Here we are reminded the Lord requires our devotion to him. Going to church out of a sense of duty or to get our "spiritual lift" on Sunday mornings is not going to do it for those who belong to the Lord. An ardency is required, a devotion to him, a fervency for him.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."
It appears to me the thrust of Moses' words here can be summed up in the thought that the Lord required total and full devotion from his people, a devotion marked by fervor and an acknowledgement that he is the only God: their God.
"You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other." Verse 35. "Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other." Verse 39.
His reminder to the Israelites that "God is a consuming fire, a jealous God" speaks of an ardency he required of his people. He is not merely asking for the Israelites allegiance or fidelity, but full devotion at the risk of inciting his overwhelming jealous fury.
The writer of Hebrews quotes this verse in Hebrews 12:28-29, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'" Here we are reminded the Lord requires our devotion to him. Going to church out of a sense of duty or to get our "spiritual lift" on Sunday mornings is not going to do it for those who belong to the Lord. An ardency is required, a devotion to him, a fervency for him.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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