September 17, 2013
HIS FAITHFULNESS, OUR GOOD
Deuteronomy 7:1-11
Tiffany Amerson
Central Truth
God doesn't love us based on our personal accolades. He loves us because He is our faithful God, full of lovingkindness.
Key Verse | Deuteronomy 7:7–8
"The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt." (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)
Deuteronomy 7:1-11
A Chosen People
1 When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and mightier than you, 2 and when the LORD your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. 1 7:2 That is, set apart (devote) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction) You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. 3 You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, 4 for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly. 5 But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire.
6 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, 10 and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face. 11 You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today.
Dive Deeper | Deuteronomy 7:1-11
As a child, I was a pretty good kid. I never had a note sent home with me from school, and I always called if I was going to be late. It made me feel lovable to be such a good girl. But the same rules that gave me such comfort at times have also caused me to feel guilty and unworthy of love since I know how badly I've messed up as well.
I have come to the realization that while the Lord has provided structure for us in His Word, as any good father would, the Law cannot make us right with Him, but instead serves the function of pointing out our sin (Romans 3:20). We see here that the Israelites had the same problem. They believed that they had God's love because they had the Law and because of their heritage. In this passage, we find that God is having Moses issue some pretty heavy guidelines, as well as the accompanying consequences if the people prove to be unfaithful. But I love how God has Moses stop in the middle of his review of the Law in verse 9 to remind them of His love and faithfulness to them. He doesn't want us to do the right thing in order to earn love or just because we fear being punished -- though He does love us enough to let us learn the hard way sometimes! Romans 2:4 says that He wants to draw us to Himself by showing us His kindness.
What a relief it is for me to rest in the fact that He truly loves me, and He is faithful despite my unfaithfulness. He has given us grace and life in a way we can never accomplish ourselves (Romans 5:8). The more I see His love and take in His amazing attributes, the less I feel the need to control, perform, and create my own goodness for goodness's sake. His love has transformed my heart, and out of that transformation my lifestyle responds.
Discussion Questions
1. In what ways do you think that your behavior, title, accomplishments, family name, etc. may give you a sense of entitlement with God (verse 7)?
2. How are you trying to earn God's love?
3. When was the last time you reflected on God's goodness and all the wonderful things He has done?