September 25, 2019
Central Truth
God wishes man to have peace as He reveals truth.
"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
1 1 29:1 Ch 28:69 in Hebrew These are the words of the covenant that the LORD commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant that he had made with them at Horeb.
2 2 29:2 Ch 29:1 in Hebrew And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 3 the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders. 4 But to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. 5 I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet. 6 You have not eaten bread, and you have not drunk wine or strong drink, that you may know that I am the LORD your God. 7 And when you came to this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out against us to battle, but we defeated them. 8 We took their land and gave it for an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites. 9 Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper 3 29:9 Or deal wisely in all that you do.
10 You are standing today, all of you, before the LORD your God: the heads of your tribes, 4 29:10 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew your heads, your tribes your elders, and your officers, all the men of Israel, 11 your little ones, your wives, and the sojourner who is in your camp, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water, 12 so that you may enter into the sworn covenant of the LORD your God, which the LORD your God is making with you today, 13 that he may establish you today as his people, and that he may be your God, as he promised you, and as he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 14 It is not with you alone that I am making this sworn covenant, 15 but with whoever is standing here with us today before the LORD our God, and with whoever is not here with us today.
16 You know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which you passed. 17 And you have seen their detestable things, their idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold, which were among them. 18 Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from the LORD our God to go and serve the gods of those nations. Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, 19 one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike. 20 The LORD will not be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and the curses written in this book will settle upon him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven. 21 And the LORD will single him out from all the tribes of Israel for calamity, in accordance with all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law. 22 And the next generation, your children who rise up after you, and the foreigner who comes from a far land, will say, when they see the afflictions of that land and the sicknesses with which the LORD has made it sick— 23 the whole land burned out with brimstone and salt, nothing sown and nothing growing, where no plant can sprout, an overthrow like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger and wrath— 24 all the nations will say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land? What caused the heat of this great anger?’ 25 Then people will say, ‘It is because they abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt, 26 and went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods whom they had not known and whom he had not allotted to them. 27 Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, bringing upon it all the curses written in this book, 28 and the LORD uprooted them from their land in anger and fury and great wrath, and cast them into another land, as they are this day.’
29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Moses declared to Israel that they had seen the wonders of God's love for them. Compare the message of Moses with how Jesus asks us to remember all He did and continues to do for us. Next, Moses reviewed the judgment for people who didn't remain in God's grace and mercy.
Jesus asks us to be His witnesses to the lost so they can accept His sacrifice and enjoy eternity with Him.
To understand a bit about the magnificence of our God, consider how Bible study can be fun. Yes, I said "fun." Read Deuteronomy 29:29 several times with meditation and let it wash over you. "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
As wonderful as God's Word is, we sometimes wrestle with our understanding of its message. An effective Bible study method suggests that we first pray before reading, asking for understanding through the Spirit (James 1:5-8). Also, reading in context is a must. Scripture is its own best interpreter. Find other Scripture references related to the same topic by the same author if possible. Taking time to meditate on Scripture brings further insight. Finally, consider each phrase of a passage and ask yourself questions to explore what the passage is saying.
Yet, after all these efforts, there can still be questions that are not clearly answered. Now, look again at Deuteronomy 29:29. "The secret things belong to the LORD our God . . . ." It is okay to say, "I don't know," to be still, and to wait on God. There is no need to rush to understanding. After all, Jesus came to reveal the Father (John 17:4, 24-26). I am blessed to have the promise of Jesus that He will continue to make the Father known. I have eternity to learn the infinite; and I claim the reassuring message of Deuteronomy 29:29 and praise God, for He is sovereign.
1. God expected something from Israel in this time as Moses outlined God's judgment for disobedience. What does God expect from us as Christ's disciples today?
2. What is your attitude about the wrath of God as a Christ-follower?
3. Would you like to know how you can accept the gift of freedom from the wrath of God through a trusting faith in Jesus' sacrifice? Visit or call Watermark (214.361.2275).
4. Meditate on your active response to Jesus' commands (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:18-20). Recognize that these are commands, not mere suggestions. What will you do to please God today (Ephesians 5:10)?
5. Consider how memorizing Scripture allows believers to be ready to talk to people when sharing the reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15).
6. Explain how you would feel if you met a stranger yesterday and told that person about your faith in Jesus (John 13:34-35). Now prayerfully consider the potential impact if you did not tell that stranger about Jesus.
7. Does the Father expect us as believers today to know all about Him?