And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and rules that I am teaching you and do them, that you may live.
And go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it,
that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.
Your eyes have seen what the Lord did at Baal Peor.
For the Lord your God destroyed from among you all the men who followed the Baal Peor.
But you who held fast to the Lord your God are all alive today.
See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me,
that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples.
Who, when they hear all these statutes, will say,
Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
For what great nation is there that has a God so near to it as the Lord our God is to us?
Whenever we call upon him.
And what great nation is there that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?
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,
how on the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb,
the Lord said to me,
Gather the people to me,
that I may let them hear my words,
so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth,
that they may teach their children so.
And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain,
while the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven,
wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom.
Then the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire.
You heard the sound of words, but saw no form.
There was only a voice.
And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform.
It is the Ten Commandments.
And he wrote them on two tablets of stone.
And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and rules,
that you might do them in the land that you are going over to possess.
Amen.
Everybody, if you're welcome.
We're going to just pray and ask the Lord to help us.
It's been a long week.
It's been long weeks, long months.
We need his strength, his help.
So let's pray together.
Amen.
Our gracious God, we thank you for bringing us safely to this place.
We thank you for the word, which has blessed and helped so many over so many centuries.
we thank you for your Holy Spirit
able to illumine
encourage, convict
strengthen
and we pray that as we spend
these few minutes in this portion
of your word
that you would help us to see great things
and in your goodness
to live in the light of them
we ask it in Jesus name
Amen
I don't know if you've heard
the story before of Tiger Woods
and Stevie Wonder meeting in a pub
have you heard this story before?
just indicate if you've heard this before
so do you know who I'm talking about?
Stevie Wonder is the blind black musician
and Tiger Woods is the probably
nearly finished golfer
and they meet in a pub
and Stevie Wonder, the blind musician
says to Tiger Woods
you know when my drive, my golf drive is off
my whole game is off
and Tiger Woods said what are you talking about?
you're blind, you can't play golf
and Stevie Wonder said of course I can
and I get my caddy to wait down the fairway
and he calls to me
and I drive towards him
and when we get to the green
he stands behind the pin
and calls to me
and I putt towards him
and I'm doing well
he said I'm playing off scratch
which is fantastic
and Tiger Woods said that's amazing
we must have a game sometime
and Stevie Wonder said
well nobody takes me seriously
so I won't play for less than
a thousand dollars a hole
and Tiger Woods thinks for a minute
and he says let's do it
and Stevie Wonder says
and this is the punchline
you pick a night
I tell you that because
given that you and I
walked blindly down the road
we did not know what was coming in 2022
and a whole lot has unfolded
which is completely bewildering
would it not be great
since there are so many voices
in our heads
and around us
and in social media
and friends
powerful voices
would it not be great
if there was one voice
that just called to us
and we could walk towards it
and be safe
and that's what we have
in the scriptures
and that's why the plan
for the talks
is to look at this great book
of Deuteronomy
you've also been given
a outline
in this little booklet
and I wonder if you would turn
to see talk one
looking back
to look forward
and I'm resting my watch
on the lectern here
so that we won't be long
I'll try to be quick
I realise
you may be very weary
thank you for inviting me
it's a great thing
to look at this book
this is Moses
preaching on the edge
of the promised land
so it couldn't be more urgent
and it couldn't be more wonderful
and if you're not very familiar
with the Old Testament
we've said goodbye
to Adam and Eve
we've said goodbye
to Noah
we've said goodbye
to Abraham
to Isaac
to Jacob
the people have gone
into Egypt in slavery
Moses has been raised up
to lead them out
they've gone across
the Red Sea
they've come to Mount Sinai
been given the Ten Commandments
and hopelessly compromised
and God has led them
as a kind of a discipline
for 40 years
in the wilderness
so that they would learn
to listen to him
and now
most of those people
who wandered in the wilderness
as adults
have died
and it's the children
who've grown up
who are now in their 40s
50s
and maybe 60s
standing on the edge
of the promised land
and Moses is speaking to them
and he's saying
you must listen
to the word of God
look at what your forefathers did
but you're about to enter
in the promised land
this is the time to listen
because if you don't listen
everything will go wrong
now I hasten to say
that Deuteronomy
is a grace driven book
do you know what I mean by that
it's not teaching you
that if you obey the rules
you will get into God's salvation
Moses is saying to the people
you're a saved people
and I want you to obey
the God who saved you
not to get into his good books
but because you are in his good books
it's a grace driven book
and we're told in chapter 1
that God is the God who rescued them
and we're told in chapter 2, 3 and 4
that he like a father
has carried them like a child
through the wilderness
a father to a child
not a dictator
to a servant
a father to a child
you can get a handle on Deuteronomy
if you listen carefully
to these next few seconds
the first four chapters
that we're going to look at
tonight very quickly
are basically looking back
what's happened
the second chapters 5 to 11
are basically
this is what our relationship means
the third section
12 to 26
is these are some practical ways
to be obedient
and the last section
is make a decision
so imagine I was a dictator
and I had just conquered you
and I'm about to give you
a treaty
of how things will work
and I say to you
this is what happened
I won the battle
this is what our relationship
looks like
this is how I want you
to be
in your life
behaviour wise
and it's time for you
to make a decision
that's the book of Deuteronomy
in a nutshell
I once gave these talks
to adults
and I had to go down
and speak to the children's teachers
every afternoon
and they said to me
how are we possibly
going to teach Deuteronomy
to children
and so we came up
with the mnemonic
which was M-I-C-E
Moses preached Deuteronomy
Israel failed
Deuteronomy
Jesus practiced
Deuteronomy
everyone who belongs
to him
is safe
does that make sense
Moses preached it
Israel failed
Jesus practiced it
everybody who belongs
to him
is safe
it's a very weighty book
as I mentioned
one writer says
Deuteronomy provides
the theological basis
for virtually
the entire
Old and New Testament
and Christ is magnified
in the book
because it's the book
that he read
he practiced
and it's
the one where
because of his obedience
he's become our savior
here are some lines
that come in Deuteronomy
do not be afraid
the Lord will fight for you
what other people
has a God
so near to them
do not put your God
to the test
it was because
the Lord loved you
that he chose you
he defends the cause
of the fatherless
and the widow
teach your children
as you sit
walk
and lie down
don't think
I'll be safe
if I go my own way
when you return
to me
says the Lord
I will have compassion
and I will restore you
choose life
so you and your children
may live
these words
are not idle words
but your life
the eternal God
is your refuge
and underneath
are the everlasting arms
all of these
are lines
in the great book
of Deuteronomy
it's a great
great book
so let's look
at the outline
the road so far
chapter 1
which we didn't read
is where
Moses basically says
let's recap the journey
and if you would
just turn to chapter 1
I just want to read you
the first couple of verses
and you'll see
what he says
chapter 1
verse 1
of Deuteronomy
these are the words
which Moses spoke
to all Israel
on this side
of the Jordan
in the wilderness
in the plain
and he said
verse 3
it came to pass
in the 40th year
in the 11th month
on the first day
of the month
Moses spoke
to the children
of Israel
according to all
the Lord
had given him
his commandments
to them
and a little bit
further on
if you go down
it says
verse
is it
11
and I spoke
to you
at that time
saying
I alone
am not able
to bear you
the Lord
your God
has multiplied
you
and here
you are
today
as the stars
of heaven
in multitude
and he also
says to them
in the early
first few verses
he says
you know
we should have
arrived at this
promised land
after about
11 days
but it's
taken 40 years
it's taken
40 years
because
of disobedience
so Moses
is looking
back in
chapter 1
and
he reminds
them that
they've left
Mount Sinai
that they
chose some
leaders together
that they
sent spies
into the
promised land
that the
spies were
rebellious
in their
report
and the
Lord made
his decision
to send
them through
the wilderness
now God's
been very
gracious to
them in
the wilderness
we discover
in chapter 8
he's fed
them
he's taught
them
he's clothed
them
he's kept
their shoes
he's provided
water
there's one
passage in
Deuteronomy
that says
your sandals
did not
wear out
one million
Israelites
walking through
the desert
and the
God of the
universe
made sure
that the
sandals
of the
Israelites
did not
wear out
for 40
years
well
we need
to look
also back
if we're
to understand
the future
I hope
you know
this
I hope
you know
that as
you go
forward
and you
say to
yourself
I wonder
if the
future
will be
safe
I wonder
if I
will arrive
one day
with Christ
I wonder
if he'll
say to
me
welcome
the key
to that
looking forward
is to look
back and say
yes there on
the cross
he died
for me
and as I
look back
in my mind
to that hill
good Friday
3pm
first good
Friday
I say that's
where he called
out
it's paid
and therefore
I go forward
with confidence
confidence
because of
what he's
done
for me
a huge
part of
the Christian
life
is learning
to look
back to
what Christ
did
and what
God
has said
and a
great deal
of problem
living in the
Christian life
is not
remembering
what's
happened
but pressing
on fearfully
we read
in Psalm
77
I cried
to God
for help
in distress
and then
he says
I'll remember
the deeds
of the Lord
of the past
2 Corinthians 5
we must appear
before the
judgment seat
of Christ
but Christ
became sin
for us
or think
of Christmas
the people
come to
Christmas
the first
coming
has already
taken place
one day
they're going
to meet
Christ
at the
second
coming
how are
they going
to be
ready
for the
second
coming
by
understanding
the
first
coming
a huge
key
to the
Christian
life
is
looking
back
of course
there are
some times
we look
back
badly
guiltily
but there
is a good
looking back
to what
God has
said
and what
Jesus
has done
that's
chapter 1
chapter 2
is what I've
called pick
your fights
in chapter 2
he looks
back on the
journey
and he
reminds them
that there
were people
on the
journey
who they
are not
to fight
I won't
go in the
details of it
but just to
say that as
they travelled
and as they
get near to
the promised
land
they're not
to fight
certain tribes
they're not
to fight the
Edomites
the Moabites
and the
Ammonites
does anyone
know why
not
yeah that's
helpful
they're all
their relatives
yeah they've
come through the
tribe of
they go
back to
Abraham
and so
they're not
to fight
their relatives
even though
their relatives
are dodgy
they're not
to fight
them
but they
were to
fight two
kings
who had
the unusual
names of
Sihon and
Og
and the
reason they
fought them
is that
those two
kings were
like doorposts
into the
promised land
and God
said you will
fight those
two and you
will win a
victory over
those two
before you
enter the
promised land
and that
victory over
those two
kings will
be a
prediction and
an encouragement
to you that
you're going to
make it
and so he
gave them a
battle a
God-given
battle
I want to
hasten to
say and
we'll come
back to
this again
that when
this book
talks about
fighting
and people
say well
that's what
the Bible
is like
isn't it
the Old
Testament
it's all
just
bloodshed
vindictive
God
doesn't care
really
bloodshed
I want to
remind you
that all
that takes
place around
the entry
to the
promised land
is pretty
unique
warfare
it's the
taking of
the promised
land
the taking
of it
and the
thorough
taking of
the promised
land
and we
mustn't fall
into the
trap of
thinking that
the Old
Testament is
just full
of battles
there's a
very specific
and great
battle which
is taking
the promised
land and
as we'll
see later
in the
weekend
God had
given this
particular
promised
land
400
years
to turn
to him
as somebody
has said
if you
want to
wage a
war
wait 400
years to
see if
things
improve
and he'd
warned
them
and they
had not
turned
they had
not given
up their
idolatry
they'd
heard of
Yahweh
they'd
heard of
the escape
from Egypt
they've
heard of
the crossing
of the
Red Sea
they'd
heard of
him looking
after the
people in
the wilderness
they had
heard that
a million
Israelites
had come
safely through
the wilderness
but they
were not
going to
turn to
Yahweh
and so
because it's
his land
and he's
promised it
to his
people
and he
executes a
judgment
which of
course he
is the
judge
but it's
not a
common
thing
it's a
one-off
never to
be repeated
battle
and it's a
very God
centered battle
it's all
about what
God says
it's not
about
bloodthirsty
people
deciding that
they'll invade
their neighbours
read my
lips
okay
so there
are a
couple of
people who
they defeat
as an
encouragement
and Moses
reflects on
this fighting
and he says
this was
helped by
God
enabled by
God
and now
he says
with great
clarity
chapter 2
verse 37
this was in
accordance with
the command
of God
well
it's a
very great
thing when
the church
teaches
clearly
the task
of the
church
we are
under
tremendous
pressure
as local
churches
to change
the agenda
to suit
the applause
of the world
and I don't
know if you've
seen the book
by Kevin
de Young
called
What is the
Mission of
the Church
but he argues
in the book
that back in
the 1970s
where the
church started
to talk
about
mission
and serving
everything
got confused
because mission
means a thousand
things to people
and serving
means a thousand
things to people
and what we
needed was
somebody to
clarify that
the mission
of the church
is the
commission
of the church
make disciples
and the
serving
is serving
the Lord
by helping
people believe
and be safe
for eternity
and that's
the great
mission
of the
church
we have
to be
very careful
that we're
not just
afraid of
the world
listening to
what they
tell us
to be
enthusiastic
about
when Christ
has said
make disciples
and then
he says
I'm with you
always
so we're
always
thankful
for those
people
who've
got an
eye
to
eternity
remember
John
Piper said
we don't
want anybody
to suffer
but we
especially
don't want
people to
suffer
eternally
and that's
the great
motivation
for our
task
and as
Moses
talks
about
the
mission
of
God's
people
the
mission
of
God's
people
is to
go in
and take
the
promised
land
and the
mission
of God's
people
today
it's not
climate
change
it's not
creation
care
it's not
a whole
range
of things
it's
helping
people
come to
Christ
and live
so in
chapter
four
sorry
chapter
three
we come
to what
I've
called
looking
ahead
and what
this chapter
is all
about
is that
some of
the land
on the
east side
of the
river
that's not
the promised
land
is to be
given to
some of
the tribes
some of
the tribes
the Reubenites
the Gadites
and the
half tribe
of Manasseh
are to be
given some
land on
the east
side of
the Jordan
the land
on the west
is going to
be taken
by everybody
and divided
up among
the other
nine and a
half tribes
in chapter
three
Joshua
is appointed
as the
one who
will lead
the trip
over the
river
into the
promised
land
Joshua
is to be
the one
who takes
them in
Moses
is told
you're not
going to
travel across
the river
into the
promised
land
you can
climb the
mountain
says God
and you can
look at the
promised
land
but you're
not going
to go
in
why didn't
Moses go
in
anybody
know
because he
struck the
rock
and that's
what we're
told in the
book of
Exodus
it was
obviously a
public
piece of
disobedience
which was
very serious
because he
was basically
saying I'm
your leader
I've been
telling you to
trust God
but we can't
really trust
him so I'm
going to have
to whack
the rock
but in
Deuteronomy
good old
Moses says
it's your
fault that I'm
not going
into the
promised
land
so he
becomes the
patron saint
of pastors
who blame
their
congregations
and I
think he's
probably right
in saying
that he's
not going
in because
they
aggravated
him
to sin
and so
there is a
sort of an
element of
truth in
both reports
he whacked
the rock
and the
people provoked
him
but Moses
is not going
to lose
his soul
we know
that he's
not
perished
how do
we know
he's not
perished
where did
he reappear
Mount of
Transfiguration
thank you
there he was
alive and
well on the
Mount of
Transfiguration
with Elijah
and there
Jesus met
with the
two great
leaders
to show
that he
was safe
and sound
just because
he didn't
get into
the promised
land
the dirt
of the
promised
land
doesn't
mean he
lost his
soul
or his
salvation
the promised
land
very wonderful
but something
infinitely more
wonderful
and if you
don't mind
me saying
one of the
great problems
with the
Middle East
today
is that
there's
not enough
gospel
which would
liberate a
lot of
people from
such a
fanatical
interest in
grabbing soil
the gospel
does that
the gospel
helps you to
be set free
from the
absolute
preoccupation
with having
land
and so the
gospel is
greatly needed
in the Middle
East as the
great secret
for bringing
a real peace
to the Middle
East
anybody here
ever been to
the promised
land
few people
yeah
and I
was after
my 30
years at
North
Sydney
11 couples
took Kathy
and myself
on a trip
to the
promised land
to Israel
I never
expected to
go but
they took
us and
we stood
on the
mountain
where Moses
stood and
we looked
over at
the land
and from
the top
of the hill
it doesn't
look that
great but
when you
get into
it you
realise how
lush and
beautiful
it is
but Moses
didn't miss
out really
on anything
he just
missed out
on walking
the dirt
now we
come to
chapter 4
are you
still with
me I
can see
one or
two are
still with
me which
is exciting
now we
come to
chapter 4
and that's
probably the
most important
chapter this
evening and
that's the
passage we
had read
for us and
this is what
we read in
chapter 4
verse 1
Moses says
I want you
to listen
very carefully
and I want
you to do
what I say
because your
forefathers
kind of
listened and
didn't do
and then
he says
in chapter
4
verse 2
don't add
to the
law
and don't
subtract
does anyone
know where
that comes
up again
in the
Bible
in the
book of
Revelation
yeah thank
you don't
add don't
subtract
the Pharisees
as you know
were great
adders
the Sadducees
were great
subtractors
adders are
always a
nuisance
Sadducees
often stir
the church
up to
rethink its
foundations
the most
dangerous
are the
Pharisees
because they
introduce
extras
creating the
A group
and you're
only in the
B group
and so the
place gets
divided
and adding
and subtractive
are both
dangerous
but I
suspect that
adding is
the most
dangerous
now when
Moses in
chapter 4
verse 6
says that
their role
in the
promised land
is to show
the nations
the greatness
of God
I want you
to notice
that they
were not
just moving
in to
get some
milk and
honey
they were
moving into
the promised
land to
show that
God was a
great God
who could do
the impossible
and they were
to live by
the word of
God which
would show
all the
nations around
them that
God was a
wise and
great God
and the
nations would
look on and
they would say
what is the
matter with
these people
they're so
fair and
they're so
generous and
they look after
the weak and
the poor we
despise them
and they would
say who's their
God and the
God is Yahweh
now I'm saying
this to you
because you've
got to know
that they didn't
go into the
promised land
just to have a
good time
they went in
to be God's
signposts and
Peter takes this
up as you know
in 1 Peter
when he says
you are also
God's chosen
people a
holy nation
to declare
the praises
of him who
brought you
not out of
the wilderness
into promised
land but out
of darkness
and into
light
now can I
say I don't
know how you
as a local
church affect
your suburb
I was 30
years in North
Sydney trying to
work out how
does the local
church affect
North Sydney
we had quite a
nice building
I don't know if
you've ever seen
St Thomas's North
Sydney but it's
like a sandstone
cathedral set in
beautiful green
grounds and I
imagine a lot of
people in North
Sydney and the
lower North Shore
said it's a nice
old property
must be very rich
at Anglican
Church but it
always I scratch
my head for 30
years thinking how
does the church
arrest the
attention of the
community are
people going to
drive past and
say wow listen to
that music we've
got to stop the
car and go in
or are they
going to say
gee that was an
attractive group
walking in the
building the other
day we must go
and meet them
how is the local
church going to
affect the
community and I
came to the
conclusion that it
isn't the hour on
Sunday which is
going to impact
the world it's the
group that meets
for the hour on
Sunday that goes
into the world
it's not the
gathered church
church which is
going to cause
your suburb to
sit up and take
notice it's the
scattered people of
God who are going
to cause people to
think again the
fact that you don't
swear where you
work that you don't
blaspheme that you
take an interest in
people that you talk
about slightly higher
things than gutter
things these are the
things that cause
people to say he
she is a nicer
person a sweeter
person a kinder
person and eventually
to discover that
you're a believer and
you're not a nuisance
and you're not a
pest and it's that
door it's that
living which digs up
the soil and brings
God willing an
opportunity for a
seed to be to be
landed you know that
lovely passage in
Colossians 4 where
Paul says live wisely
among the unbelievers
making the most of
the time especially
he says get ready to
answer and let your
speech be gracious
seasoned with salt
it's a very clever
text because every
single believer goes
to work and they
must concentrate on
asking the Lord that
they'll be useful
living wisely among
the unbelievers
getting ready possibly
to answer how was
your weekend what do
you do on the
weekend nothing
much at door
closes doesn't it
went away on the
weekend with my
church end of
sentence really you
go to church I
didn't think anybody
with an IQ over 10
went to church no
there's a few of us
and little door
opening because
you're starting to
live wisely you're
answering the
questions and you're
trying to do it with
grace and salt and
living among the
world which is where
most of you live we
pastors and clergy
we're hopeless you
see because we live
in our offices way
too long but you
live in the real
world and that's
where you're to live
wisely as the
scattered people of
God helping the
non-people of God
learn something about
God and that's what
Moses is talking
about well he says
in chapter 4 verse
9 I'm nearly
finished the
listeners at Mount
Sinai were
children that is
everybody he's
speaking to in the
present was a child
at Mount Sinai now
they've grown up and
he says I want you
now that you're
adults to help your
children who were not
there at Mount Sinai to
know what took place
because he says you
will remember that when
you got to Mount Sinai
God appeared in thunder
and lightning and he
spoke and you were
frightened and you
asked God not to
speak and you didn't
see anything just
thunder and lightning
you didn't see the
shape of God you
didn't see the look
of God you didn't see
the face of God you
heard the voice of
God and that voice
that word is what you
need to live faithfully
for him and that's why
in verse 12 the whole
problem of idols is so
great because if you
don't have the word of
God you fall into
idolatry so I've been
talking to somebody in
recent weeks and they
want to live immorally
and so what they're being
very careful to do is to
say I'm a believer but I
want to live immorally and
I'm not opening the Bible
in case it challenges me and
I'm not going to listen to
the talks you give me or
the books you give me or
the articles you give me
because they might
challenge me and that's
what idolatry does it
says I'm not listening I'm
just making something that
will suit me and as you
know the idols that sneak
into our lives are those
things that come before
Christ so just ask
yourself what is more
urgent for you than
Christ and you're pretty
close to your idol just
ask yourself what's the
thing that you turn to for
your comfort that's often
the thing which comes
before Christ and that
takes the place of the
idol I'm not saying that's
the meaning you've lost
your salvation but you
know that's where your
battleground is now why
did God not show himself in
some bodily form at Mount
Sinai part of the reason
was he's spirit part of the
reason was anybody got any
other thoughts he's too
holy to be seen and live
yeah Exodus very good he's
spirit you cannot see me and
live and the problem is once
you've had a vision or a
picture you can easily
abuse that picture or distort
that picture or change that
picture but the word of God is
completely clear and that's
why God has presented us with
the Lord Jesus we can't we
don't have photos of him we
don't have film of him but
we've got the word telling us
about his character his
promises his performance
because once you end up with a
vision or a picture it
becomes easy to distort and
this of course all prepares the
way for when God did come into
the world in flesh and show
himself to the first century
people who recorded his words
and his works so that we might
walk by faith and not by sight
well you can see as Moses speaks
and the birds are enthusiasts with
this you can see that as Moses
speaks that he looking ahead to
the future says to them in verse
25 if you do become idolatrous and you
will you'll be scattered you'll be
taken off into Babylon and you'll
spend a long time learning the
lessons again but I won't forget you
says the Lord I'll bring you back and
I'll restore you you may forget me I
will not forget you so the great
privilege of the people of God at the
end of chapter 4 verse 33 is that
they have heard the voice of God
nobody else none other religion has
heard the voice of God speaking to
them but God's people did and he
spoke to them from heaven and he
worked on the earth to preserve them
and he loved them and he chose them
and he drove out the enemies and he
brought them into the promised land and
there is no other God you know when the
Muslim lifts up his voice to Allah
there isn't an Allah sitting up there
that's the tragedy he's just an
invention remember how Paul talks in
1 Corinthians about how the how the
idol is in many ways it's a nothing it
could be a teapot but in another sense
it's an absolute tragedy because if it
captures your heart it will fail you
so God has been so wonderful to us and
he's interested in our welfare do you
want a God who communicates turn to the
Bible do you want a God who saves you
from your problems sins in the short
term every problem in the long term turn
to the God of the Bible do you want a
God who's demonstrated that he's really
loving and really faithful and really
kind and really strong turn to the God
of the Bible do you want a God who can
change you slowly but surely turn to the
God of the Bible and that's why Jesus
has come lived died risen so that we
might experience all this for ourselves
the final bit of chapter 4 talks about
the cities of refuge because the whole
section finishes with there's a safe
place to go if you fail and the cities
of refuge were those cities that you
could run to if you'd done something
and were afraid of being killed for it
and of course the city of refuge that we
run to is Christ where we find
forgiveness and welcome and safety and
the proof is the cross so Douglas Murray in
his book called the madness of crowds has
anybody seen the madness of crowds Douglas
Murray's book he says the Western world
has two problems it has no promises to
bring it together there is no agreed
truth and there is no mercy this is what
he says he's not a believer there is no
mercy when the when the fractures and the
cracks appear and I read that in the book
and I thought to myself what a prophetic
thing to say the Western world is in deep
trouble because there's nothing to bring it
together and if there are cracks or breakdowns
there is no mercy to get us back together and
that's why everybody is so angry and hostile and
on the bandwagon attacking
but in the gospel promises to bring us
together mercy when there are little
frictions and failures and that's why we are
the most blessed and privileged people because
we have such a great savior so there's an
introduction to the book of Deuteronomy quite
fast and tomorrow we'll look at even more even
faster so get a good sleep everybody I'll
finish in prayer for us let's pray
gracious God we thank you for giving to us
this book a reminder of your goodness and
your greatness a reminder of your safe keeping and
your plans a reminder of your word which we can
trust and our Savior who we do trust we pray that
you would fill us with gratitude for all that you've made possible
fixing the past fixing the present fixing the future help us to be your
joyful thankful people this weekend we ask it in Jesus name
amen