Deuteronômio 30
John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
Deuteronômio 30
MacArthur - The gathering of Jews out of all the countries of the earth will follow Israel's final redemption. Restoration to the Land will be in fulfillment of the promise of the covenant given to Abraham (see Ge 12:7; 13:15; 15:18-21; 17:8) and so often reiterated by Moses and the prophets. (MacArthur Study Bible) Gather (06908). קָבַץ qāḇaṣ: A verb meaning to gather, to collect, to assemble. The passive form is used to signify the gathering or assembling of people, especially for battle (Josh. 9:2; Neh. 4:20[14]; Jer. 49:14); and for religious and national purposes (1 1 Chr. 11:1; Ezra 10:1, 7). The word in an active form often signifies the gathering of materials: food into storehouses (Gen. 41:35); sheaves (Mic. 4:12); money and wealth (2 Chr. 24:5; Prov. 28:8); lambs by a shepherd (Isa. 13:14; 40:11; Jer. 23:3). The word also refers to God’s gathering of nations for judgment in the end times (Isa. 43:9; 66:18; Joel 3:2); and especially to the gathering of His scattered people, Israel (Ps. 106:47; Jer. 29:14; 31:10; Hos. 1:11). Qabats is used 3x in Dt - Dt 13:16, Dt 30:3, Dt 30:4. Deuteronomy 30:5 "The LORD your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers Deuteronomy 30 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DIVINE MULTIPLICATION The LORD your God will bring you into the land - Once again we see the clear teaching of the Sovereignty of God in the events of man and His faithfulness to fulfill His covenant promises to give the Land of Israel to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descendants. Merrill - While the repossession of the land can be said to some extent to have been fulfilled by the return of the Jews following the Babylonian exile (cf. Jer 29:10–14; 30:3), the greater prosperity and population was not achieved in Old Testament times. In fact, it still awaits realization in any literal sense (cf. Hag 2:6–9; Zech 8:1–8; 10:8–12). As for the radical work of regeneration described here as circumcision of the heart, that clearly awaits a day yet to come as far as the covenant nation as a whole is concerned. (New American Commentary – Volume 4: Deuteronomy.) The land which your fathers possessed - partial fulfillment in the REBIRTH OF ISRAEL but ultimate fulfillment in the millennial, Messianic age: Note that births will occur in the Messianic Age. And (Dt 30:6) suggests possibly that the Jewish offspring would be BELIEVERS. [Rev 20:8+] says Satan will ''deceive the nations'' which implies GENTILE UNBELIEVERS, the children of the SHEEP in [Mt 25:31ff] who will be deceived. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers - While Israel is back in the Land (May 14, 1948), they are back not in belief but unbelief (for most of the nation) and they are not yet multiplied more than their fathers, so this speaks of a future fulfillment, one which corresponds with the end of this age when the Good Shepherd returns to gather His scattered sheep. One could argue that the presence of the Jews in the land of Israel is a partial fulfillment of these promises. The problem with that view is that (1) they are not gathered from all the nations where they were scattered. In other words Jews are still scattered over the entire world. (2) The nation as a whole does not have a circumcised heart. Most of the Jews in Israel and those scattered around the world still have "uncircumcised hearts." Keene - He will restore Israel’s fortunes, a theme frequent in the prophets (cf., e.g., Jer. 30:18; 32:44; 33:11, 26; Joel 3:1). The prophets made it clear that this great restoration to the land would not take place until the Second Advent of the Messiah just before the beginning of His millennial reign on the earth (e.g., Isa. 59:20–62:12; cf. Jesus’ teaching of the regathering in Matt. 24:31; Mark 13:27). This will be a time of spiritual and material prosperity greater than the nation has ever known (Deut. 30:5). Deuteronomy 30:6 "Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live KJV - And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. will circumcise your heart Dt 10:16; Jeremiah 4:4; 9:26; 32:39; Ezekiel 11:19,20; 36:26,27; John 3:3-7; Romans 2:28,29; 11:26; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 2:11 to love the Lord Dt 6:5; Exodus 20:6; Matthew 22:37; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 8:3; James 1:12; 2:5; 1 John 4:7; 1 John 4:16-19; 5:3,4 Deuteronomy 30 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries See Excursus on Circumcision PROPHECY OF CIRCUMCISION OF ISRAEL'S HEART Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants: An uncircumcised ear cannot hear and respond to Lord (Jer 6:10). This passage on "cardiac circumcision" is the key verse in this section because it describes what God will accomplish in the hearts of the nation of Israel in the end times. This spiritual circumcision is synonymous with their entry into the New Covenant (see New Covenant in the Old Testament). In Acts 7:51+ Stephen describes an uncircumcised heart - “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always (present tense - continually) resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did." What does an uncircumcised heart do? It resists the Holy Spirit. The clear implication of Stephen's description is that a circumcised heart is sensitive to the Holy Spirit (indeed is circumcised by the Spirit - see Ro 2:29+). So even though the Holy Spirit did not indwell men and women in the OT those who had circumcised hearts (a work of God, by grace their hearts were circumcised through faith - cf Ge 15:6+), He was active in the lives of those who had circumcised hearts. One thinks of David's prayer in Ps 51:11 "Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me." Clearly David's heart was circumcised and sensitive to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, as were the hearts of Joshua and Caleb who followed the Lord fully! (Nu 32:12+, Nu 14:24+) How else could they possibly have followed the LORD fully? That's rhetorical of course, because without the Spirit's enabling power they as men with a sinful nature could never have fully followed Yahweh! Related Resources: See more detailed discussion of Circumcision of the heart in the Old Testament. What is circumcision of the heart? | GotQuestions.org Paul alludes to Israel receiving a circumcised heart from God in Romans 11 writing "And so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.” 27“THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” (Romans 11: 26-27+) Comment: The ALL is "all" of Israel that places their faith in the Messiah. Zechariah tells us that two-thirds will not and will be cut off but that there will be a remnant of one-third of the nation of Israel that cries out for deliverance and is saved by grace through faith in the Messiah, their Deliverer. (Zech 13:8-9+ "It will come about in all the land,” Declares the LORD, “That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; But the third will be left in it. “And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God. [This is "covenant language" indicating that they have entered into the New Covenant!]’”) Circumcision was always meant to be an external sign pointing to an internal change of heart resulting in a love for God (Cf to Jesus' rebuke of the spiritually blind Pharisee who focused on externals at the expense of internals [heart]: - Mt 23:26) NET Note - Heb “circumcise” Reference to the Abrahamic covenant prompts Moses to recall the sign of that covenant, namely, physical circumcision (Gen 17:9–14). Just as that act signified total covenant obedience, so spiritual circumcision (cleansing of the heart) signifies more internally a commitment to be pliable and obedient to the will of God (cf. Deut 10:16; Jer 4:4; Jer 9:26). Reformation Study Bible - he promised restoration and renewal will result from a sovereign work of God in the hearts of His elect. By circumcising (transforming) their hearts, He will replace their total inability and stubbornness (Dt 5:29; 10:16; 29:4) with the humility and repentance they need (cf. Dt 30:1, 2), purifying for Himself a people who will love and obey Him. (ED: NOTE THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO ISRAEL AS A NATION). Related Resources: Charles Baylis' paper on Repentance in Acts in Light of Deuteronomy 30 John Meade - Circumcision Of The Heart In Leviticus And Deuteronomy: Divine Means For Resolving Curse And Bringing Blessing There are several OT parallel passages on circumcision: Leviticus 26:40-45 (see commentary) (CONTEXT - follows the judgment described in Lev 20:14-39) ‘If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their forefathers, in their unfaithfulness which they committed against Me, and also in their acting with hostility against Me– 41 I also was acting with hostility against them, to bring them into the land of their enemies–or if their uncircumcised heart (UNREGENERATE, NOT SAVED) becomes humbled (cf Job 22:29) so that they then make amends for their iniquity, (cf "God will circumcise your heart" - Dt 30:6) 42 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham as well (cf Abrahamic Covenant, UNCONDITIONAL COVENANT - COVENANT ENTERED BY FAITH), and I will remember the land. 43 ‘For the land will be abandoned by them, and will make up for its sabbaths while it is made desolate without them (70 YEARS IN BABYLON - 1 YEAR FOR EACH MISSED SABBATH YEAR). They, meanwhile, will be making amends for their iniquity, because they rejected My ordinances and their soul abhorred My statutes. 44 ‘Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, nor will I so abhor them as to destroy them, breaking My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God. 45 ‘But I will remember for them the covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am the LORD.’” Moody Bible Commentary - Thus, even Israel's disobedience will not make God ever forget His covenant with Israel nor will He ever remove the land grant He gave to Israel. Deuteronomy 10:16+ “So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer. Comment: Notice that God tell's Israel to do this, but note that here in Deut 30:6 tells us Who accomplishes this supernatural spiritual surgery. Here as so often in Scripture, we see the juxtaposition of the tension of man's will versus God's sovereignty - God calls them to carry out the circumcision of their heart, but only he can actually complete the "surgery." Can we fully understand this principle? I think not and so we need to default to the great praise statement of Paul in Romans 11:33-36-note (see below) to help us accept what is not necessarily humanly comprehensible (Perhaps it will be when we all have glorified bodies and minds, but we will have to wait and see! Until then we walk by faith, not by sight!) Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? 36For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Jeremiah 4:4; “Circumcise (a command) yourselves to the LORD And remove the foreskins of your heart, Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Or else My wrath will go forth like fire And burn with none to quench it, Because of the evil of your deeds.” Comment: Outward ritual must be replaced by inward reality. The heart was involved because outward worship was valueless unless the inner life was given over to God. External actions are meaningless without internal change. Their hearts must be spiritually receptive. NOTE: God would never give a command without providing the grace to be able to carry out the command. So this is not a meritorious act because clearly no human could literally circumcise their own heart. The only way to obey this command would be by grace through faith. But they would have to recognize their need and seek God for this circumcision to become a reality. Jeremiah 9:26 Egypt and Judah, and Edom and the sons of Ammon, and Moab and all those inhabiting the desert who clip the hair on their temples; for all the nations are (physically) uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are (spiritually) uncircumcised of heart.” Paul removes any doubt that Moses is referring to spiritual circumcision, not physical circumcision: Colossians 2:11-12-note and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. Romans 2:28-29-note For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. Merrill - Just as circumcision of the flesh symbolized the outward identification with the Lord and the covenant community, so circumcision of the heart (a phrase found only here and in Dt. 10:16 and Jer. 4:4 in the OT) speaks of internal identification with Him in what might be called regeneration in Christian theology.....The classic example (of spiritual circumcision which Paul) cited is that of Abraham, whose faith and not his circumcision rendered him just and righteous before God (ED: Ge 15:6 preceded command to be circumcised in Ge 17). In effect, said the apostle, Abraham was circumcised in the heart before he ever was in the flesh, and it was that inner work that set him apart as a covenant son (Ro 4:1–12). (New American Commentary – Volume 4: Deuteronomy.)
Deuteronômio 30
MacArthur comments - Paul speaks of the righteousness based on faith as if it were a person and puts in its mouth a quotation from Dt 30:12, 13. His point is that the righteousness of faith does not require some impossible odyssey through the universe to find Christ. (Regarding confess with your mouth) Not a simple acknowledgment that He is God and the Lord of the universe, since even demons acknowledge that to be true (Jas 2:19). This is the deep personal conviction, without reservation, that Jesus is that person's own master or sovereign. This phrase includes repenting from sin, trusting in Jesus for salvation, and submitting to Him as Lord. This is the volitional element of faith (MacArthur Study Bible) Moody Bible Commentary - In Ro 10:6-8, Paul cited Dt 9:4 and Dt 30:11-14, where Moses commanded the people to obey the Lord. As in Moses' day when God graciously took the initiative to make the law readily available to the Jewish people so they could obey it, so also in Paul's day He made the gospel accessible as well. HCSB Study Bible - Paul cited this text with reference to the proximity of the gospel and the ease with which it could be understood and appropriated; like the words of the OT covenant, those of the NT message of salvation are ready at hand and made available to all who will believe (Ro 10:6-10). Deuteronomy 30:14 Do Angels Sleep? The word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. —Deuteronomy 30:14 A friend of mine has a 5-year-old daughter who is on her way to becoming a theologian. One day she asked her father, "Do angels sleep?" After pondering the theological dimensions of her question, he answered, "Yes, I think they might." His daughter moved in with a follow-up question, "Well, then, how do they get their pajamas on over their wings?" We may be more like that little girl than we think. We never seem to outgrow asking interesting questions that do not need to be answered. It's healthy to be inquisitive, but it isn't healthy to obsess over matters that don't really matter. Such questions may sidetrack us from our faith. What we need to know about God and His will for us is clearly spelled out in Scripture. The words He spoke through Moses to His people are true for us today. "For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off… But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it" (Deuteronomy 30:11,14). God's Word reveals what we should know To live for Him each day; His principles we must commit To study and obey. —Sper The Bible is as wise in what it leaves unsaid as in what it says. Deuteronomy 30:11-20 | Choose Life What is God’s will for my life? The question haunted me when I was growing up. What if I couldn’t find it? What if I didn’t recognize it? God’s will seemed like a needle in a haystack. Hidden. Obscured by lookalikes. Outnumbered by counterfeits. But my view of God’s will was wrong because my view of God was wrong. God takes no pleasure in seeing us lost, wandering, searching. He wants us to know His will. He makes it clear, and He makes it simple. He doesn’t even make it multiple-choice. He gives just two choices: “life and good” or “death and evil” (Deut. 30:15). In case the best choice isn’t obvious, He even says which one to choose: “Choose life” (v.19). To choose life is to choose God Himself and obey His Word. When Moses addressed the Israelites for the last time, he pleaded with them to make the right choice by observing “all the words of this law… Because it is your life” (32:46-47). God’s will for us is life. His Word is life. And Jesus is the Word. God may not give a prescription for every decision, but He gave us a perfect example to follow—Jesus. The right choice may not be easy, but when the Word is our guide and worship is our goal, God will grant us the wisdom to make life-affirming choices. Lord Jesus, we know that true wisdom comes from leaning on You. Help us to trust in You and to seek Your face and Your will that we find in Your life-giving Word. The evidence of God’s guidance can be seen more clearly by looking back than by looking forward. Deuteronomy 30:15-20 The Choice You’ve heard the infamous name of John Wilkes Booth. He assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. But have you heard about Edwin Booth, John’s eldest brother? Edwin, a well-known actor, was waiting at a Jersey City train station when he saw someone slip and fall off the platform. Edwin quickly grabbed the man’s collar and pulled him to safety—rescuing him from serious injury or death. Who was the man he saved? Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert, a soldier in the Civil War. How ironic that the man who saved Lincoln’s son had a brother who would soon kill the president. One saved a life; one took a life. One chose life; the other chose death. The Lord gave His people a choice between life and death: They could love Him and obey His commands (Deut. 30:16), or they could worship and serve other gods (Dt 30:17). He told them, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life” (Dt 30:19). The choice we make determines our Eternal destination; One leads to everlasting life; The other, condemnation. —Sper The choices you make today will determine your tomorrows Deuteronomy 30:15 "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity KJV - See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; NLT "Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. Dt 30:1,19; 11:26; 28:1-14; 32:47; Mark 16:16; John 3:16; Galatians 3:13,14; 5:6; 1 John 3:23; 5:11,12 Deuteronomy 30 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SEE THAT THERE ARE ONLY TWO PATHS! See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity- Jesus also described essentially these same two paths for all mankind Enter through the narrow gate; (WHY?) for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction ( apoleia), and there are many who enter through it. 14“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Mt 7:13-14-note) Comment: Note that the wide gate and the broad way lead to apoleia, which means utter and hopeless loss of all that gives worth to existence. Note that contrary to popular opinion apoleia does not refer to extinction or annihilation or an end of existence, but to total ruin so far as the purpose of existence is concerned. Serving God is the way of life; serving idols leads to certain death. This passage repeats what Moses had declared in chapter 11 "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 7 the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today; 28 and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known. (Deut 11:26-28+) In both Dt 11:26 and Dt 30:15 the Hebrew command to "See" is translated in the Septuagint with the Greek word idou (2400) which means "Behold!" Idou means to see, perceive, look at and draws attention to what follows. Idou in the middle voice means "you yourself look, see, perceive!" The aorist imperative is a command emphasizing "Do it now! Don't delay!"
Deuteronômio 30
MacArthur - Choosing life or death was also emphasized by Jesus. The one who believed in Him had the promise of eternal life; while the one who refused to believe faced eternal death (cf. Jn 3:1-36). Every person faces this same choice. (MacArthur Study Bible) Deuteronomy 30:19–20; Acts 16:6–7 On the Turn of a Mere Choice On Christmas Day, 1849, a party of twenty-seven wagons broke over a barren ridge and skidded downhill into the desolation southeast of Mt. Whitney. A scorched, tormented land burned before the pioneers. Their caravan decided to split up. One group of bachelors called Jayhawkers went north, and two families and a few single men moved south. In two or three days the Jayhawkers found their way out of the desolate valley. The other group found themselves trapped, trudging through misery day after day only to reach impassable mountains. Two of the men went for help in California. Three hundred miles later, at the nearest store, they acquired supplies and returned for the families. When the survivors finally left the valley, they looked back and muttered, “Good-bye, Death Valley”—an appropriate and lasting name. We need to make our choices carefully, especially those that affect our moral and spiritual lives. God has determined the limits of acceptable behavior, but he gives us the freedom to accept or defy those limits. He gives us the privilege of accepting him freely or rejecting him. And while wisdom would dictate that we exercise our privilege—not our right—the choice is ours. What will it be for us: escape by grace into life or entanglement by self-will in spiritual death? - Speaker’s sourcebook of new illustrations It Is Decision That Determines Destiny - Adrian Rogers (See also) “…I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days…” Deuteronomy 30:19b-20a. The passage above relates an episode in the history of Israel. What would happen to you if you were in the same valley of decision between these two mountains? Let me help by giving you seven principles of choice. Your choices — your decisions — will determine your destiny. 1. You Are Free to Choose Every day God gives us the freedom to make choices about what we think is going to be good, or even best for us. 2. You Are Not Free to Not to Choose To decide not to choose is a choice. Am I making any sense? Let me make it very clear — to decide not to choose good is always a choice to choose evil. Jesus said, “He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad” (Matthew 12:30). If you do not crown Jesus, you crucify Him. There is no middle ground. 3. You Are Not Free to Choose the Consequences of Your Choice Let me illustrate. Stand beside an open window on the tenth floor of a building. You’re free to jump. Now, that’s a foolish thing to do, but if nobody is there to restrain you, you can choose to do so. Stay in the room or jump out. Now, if you decide to jump, then you must be ready to face the consequences of that choice. 4. You Are Free to Choose, but Not Free to Achieve What does that mean? Well, suppose I chose to achieve as a professional basketball player. Well, you look at my frame and you say to yourself, “How can he even hope of achieving success?” And you’re probably right. You see, I can make all the choices I want. I can even have all the hopes and dreams I want. But I have to be realistic to see that I might not achieve success simply because I have chosen to do something. 5. One Big Choice Will Take Care of a Lot of Little Ones How does this work? We see it played out every day. Let’s say you are a man who has made up his mind that you’re going to be loyal to your wife. Then, you see, you don’t have to worry when you check into a hotel whether to watch pornography or not. You don’t have to be concerned whether you’re going to flirt with another woman. You don’t have to keep making that decision to be loyal to your wife. You already made that decision, and that one big decision takes care of a lot of the other little decisions. 6. God Has Already Chosen You, that You Might Choose Him That’s why we’re called His elect. “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Had God not first chosen us, we would never have the inclination to choose Him. Thank God for His sovereignty! And lastly, 7. The Day of Choice Is Passing Away Don’t think that you have forever to make up your mind whether you’re going to be a follower of Jesus Christ or not. Make your eternal salvation secure today. Choose Jesus because… You can know immediate joy. Why wait to have joy when you can have it right now? I’d be a Christian if there were no heaven or hell for the joy that I have today in Christ. You may die tonight. These may be the last words you ever read about salvation in Jesus Christ. After you die, there are no second chances to get saved. Choose life. Jesus Christ is coming back. Matthew 24:24 says, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” If you don’t think He’s coming, then that is a fulfillment of this verse because He’s coming when you least expect Him. Each time you decide against Him, you harden your heart. Hebrews 3:7-8 says, “Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts.” A person becomes proficient at anything he does for a long time. You can become a professional Christ-denier. Dear Friend, the day of choice is today. Your decisions will determine your destiny. Deuteronomy 30:20 by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." KJV - That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. YLT to love Jehovah thy God, to hearken to His voice, and to cleave to Him (for He is thy life, and the length of thy days), to dwell on the ground which Jehovah hath sworn to thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them.' loving Dt 30:6,16; 10:12; 11:22 holding fast Dt 4:4; 10:20; Joshua 23:8; Acts 11:23; Romans 12:9 life Ps 27:1; 30:5; 36:9; 66:9; John 11:25,26; 14:6; 17:3; Acts 17:25,28; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3,4; Revelation 21:6; 22:1,17 may Dt 4:40; 5:16; 11:9; 12:10 Deuteronomy 30 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries CHOOSING LIFE IS CHOOSING TO LOVE AND OBEY AND HOLD FAST TO GOD By loving (aheb/ahab;Lxx = agapao in the present tense = as one's lifestyle or habitual practice - only possible by the Spirit's enablement) the LORD your God, by obeying (shama) His voice, and by holding fast to Him - All three of these attitudes/actions are evidence of a changed (circumcised) heart. In Deut 6:5 it was stressed that this kind of “love” contains not only the elements of liking and affection, but also devotion and loyalty. And again note that if one says he loves God, he will be generally (not perfectly) disposed to obey God. Holding fast to Him - Clinging to the LORD as if your life depended on it (Him) because it does! NLT "committing yourself firmly to Him." The NET has "be loyal to Him." Holding fast give us a great word picture. Holding fast (cleave) (1692)(dabaq) means to stick to, adhere to, cling to, join with, stay with, stay in close proximity to and which yields the noun form for "glue". Dabaq describes something that sticks or clings to something else (Ezek 29:4 and Ezekiel’s tongue to roof of his mouth Ezek. 3:26). It is interesting that one of the most concentrated uses of "dabaq" in the OT is found in this short story of Ruth (Ru 1:14, 2:8, 2:21, 23-see notes Ru 1:14; 2:8; 21; 23) -- Ruth 2:8 "stay here with my maids"; Ruth 2:21 "‘You should stay close to my servants"; Ruth 2:23 "So she stayed close by the maids of Boaz"; Dabaq also conveys the ideas of loyalty and devotion as in the first use of dabaq where "a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh" (Ge 2:24) which also emphasizes the basic meaning of being intimately joined to another and of being identified with one another, even as Ruth was now committing to be "identified" no longer with the Moabites but primarily with Naomi, her people and her God. This idea of leaving former affections and loyalties and shifting them to Jehovah is found numerous times in Deuteronomy, as for example in (Dt 10:20) where Moses instructs Israel that they are to "fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him and cling (dabaq) to Him, and you shall swear by His name". In this verse we also see that reverential awe (fear) of God is in part manifest by one cleaving closely to Him. This truth gives us some insight into Ruth's cleaving to Naomi and ultimately to Naomi's God. (cf Dt 11:22 23, 13:4 Josh 23::8 contrast Josh 23:12 Dt 13:17) Dabaq is a key word in Deuteronomy for Israel is repeatedly called to cling to God - Deut. 30:20 and the three earlier uses... Deuteronomy 10:20+ “You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him and cling (kollao from kolla = glue means literally to glue, cement, join or fasten together and thus to unite) to Him, and you shall swear by His name. Deuteronomy 11:22+ “For if you are careful to keep all this commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and hold fast to Him, Deuteronomy 13:4+ “You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. There are also three negative uses of dabaq in Deuteronomy - Deut. 13:17+; Deut. 28:21+; Deut. 28:6+ For - term of explanation What is Moses explaining? This is your life and the length of your days - “this is how you will have a long and prosperous existence as a nation.” NIV Study Bible - "Life" in this context refers to all that makes life rich, full and productive—as God created it to be (cf. Lev 18:5+; Jn 10:10). This is your life - Literally "He (Yahweh) is your life"! True life is only to be found in the Lord, in an intimate relationship of union and communion with Him. This recalls Paul's words in two of his epistles that Christ is our life... Colossians 3:3+ For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4-note When Christ, [who is] our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Galatians 2:20+ “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." John writes 1 John 5:11-12+ And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. In Deuteronomy 32:46-47+ life is found in the Word of God, for Moses declared to Israel... Take to your heart (NOT JUST HEAD KNOWLEDGE!) all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe carefully, even all the words of this law. For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it (THE WORD) is your life. And by this word you will prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.” Comment: Compare the NT descriptions of God's Word as the Word of Life (Philippians 2:16+, 1 John 1:1+; see also Jn 1:1+, Rev 19:13+) Cornerstone Biblical Commentary on "He is your life" – The Lord not only grants life as something outside Himself, but He is life in Himself. Knowledge of Yahweh brings life, and those who are truly alive testify thereby to the presence of Yahweh in their lives. There could hardly be a clearer statement of the Gospel message: "The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone" (John 1:4+). Choosing to adopt and obey the terms of the covenant would procure blessings far beyond the moment of decision. It would offer hope for descendants yet unborn (Dt 30:19b) and the perpetuation of national existence in the land God had promised to the patriarchal ancestors (Dt 30:20). That you may live in the land - That they may continue to live in the promised land. The land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them - This is a reference not to the Mosaic or Old Covenant but the Abrahamic Covenant. See Abrahamic versus Mosaic At the very outset God had spoken of the Land of Israel ‘See, I have placed the land before you (the Hebrew verb means “to present,” “to offer,” “to deliver”) ; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to them and their descendants after them.’ (Dt 1:8+) Take One Step Love the Lord your God, . . . obey His voice, and . . . cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days. —Deuteronomy 30:20 Today's Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 At a shopping mall in Coventry, England, researchers posted colorful signs along the steps of a staircase that said: “Taking the stairs protects your heart.” Over a 6-week period, the number of people who chose to walk up the stairs instead of riding the adjacent escalator more than doubled. The researchers say that every step counts, and that long-term behavior will change only if the signs are seen regularly. The Bible is filled with “signs” urging us to obey the Lord and follow Him wholeheartedly. Just before the Lord’s people entered the Promised Land, He said to them: “I have set before you today life and good, death and evil . . . . Therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days” (Deut. 30:15,19-20). So often we hope our lives will change through a giant leap of faith, a profound decision, or a significant act of service. In reality, the only way we change is one step at a time, and every step counts. It matters not the path on earth My feet are made to trod; It only matters how I live: Obedient to God. —Clark One small step of obedience is a giant step to blessing.