Deuteronomy 4:8–9 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today? 9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children...
The Lord gave Moses the task of preparing the people of Israel to take possession of the land promised to them through their forefathers. The land is beautiful and fruitful. The land is also populated with fortified cities and strong nations. The sight of these fortified cities and strong nations caused ten of twelve spies to dissuade the nation of Israel from entering the land due to fear. Following a forty-year punishment of wandering in the wilderness, Israel will take possession of the land.
While they were in the wilderness, God gave them His law and taught them His righteous statutes and rules, and Deuteronomy is the account of Moses restating God’s law to the nation. The righteous will and ways of the Lord, when obeyed by the people of Israel, will set them apart from the godless pagan nations now inhabiting the land. They are warned not to be distracted from the Lord's directions as they move in to take possession of the land. They are told that they will stay on task by knowing and teaching the truths of God to the coming generations. They are to set and follow Scriptural examples.
These instructions apply to us in several ways. We are called out of darkness and defiance to come into gospel light, trusting the work of Jesus alone for our forgiveness and salvation. By the grace of God in the New Covenant, we “are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that we may proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9) We are to keep our focus fixed on Jesus as we seek to advance the rule and reign of Christ in the church, in the community, in our nation, and around the world.
Both within and without, our enemies are formidable. We are to go to war with the pride, sin, and selfishness of our personal lives, encouraging our brothers and sisters in the church to do the same. Our conflict doesn’t end there. We are to advance the rule and reign of Christ as we battle sin and evil on earth. Ephesians 5:11 instructs us, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Exposing them is so they are driven to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord when their sin is revealed.
As we engage in this protracted warfare, we are tempted by various distractions within and without. The Holy Spirit empowers us to battle these distractions by helping us learn the truth, obey the truth, follow examples of faithfulness, and be examples of faithfulness. We are to nurture a passion for personal faithfulness and encourage the faithfulness of future generations.
All wars are costly, and every battleground is demanding and brutal. As we press on in the fight to advance the reign of Christ, our hope needs to be renewed and refreshed by the promises of our Lord. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
Be faithful, fellow warriors!
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