How to Not Repeat History: Remind Yourself of God's Faithfulness |

August 8, 2019

How to Not Repeat History: Remind Yourself of God's Faithfulness

Deuteronomy 1:1

Jayson Fisher

Central Truth

Because we are sinners in need of a savior, we need the constant reminder that God has been faithful throughout history, and life is offered only in walking with Him and keeping His commands.

"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?"

The Command to Leave Horeb

1 These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" is a quotation from a Spanish philosopher named George Santayana. The Israelites who lived during the time of Moses were all too familiar with the truth of this quote. As Moses' life came to a close, he wanted the next generation of Israelites to be faithful to God in the Promised Land.

So what did the next generation need to know in order to be obedient to God and the Law? They needed to know their history and how they got to the Promised Land, they needed to know the Law, and they needed to know the cost of not following the Law. That is exactly what Moses told this next generation in the book of Deuteronomy.

The word Deuteronomy comes from Greek and literally means "second law." Moses is retelling the Law that was first told in Leviticus to this next generation so that they, unlike his generation, will be more faithful to God. Moses gave three sermons to the Israelites. The first was Israelite history (Deuteronomy 1-4), the second was Moses retelling the Law to this generation (Deuteronomy 5-26), and the final sermon was calling this next generation to obey God and the Law (Deuteronomy 27-33).

So, why should you read this book? The problem with our hearts (Jeremiah 17:9) is that we are prone to go our own way and to not trust that God offers us life to the fullest with Him. We need the reminders that this generation received from Moses in Deuteronomy—that God has been faithful throughout history (Exodus 34:6-7); and true life is only found in walking with Him (1 John 2:1-6).

We all need to devote daily to the Scriptures because we often forget that God is faithful and worthy of worship in the midst of all the brokenness in this world. We need to remind ourselves that we are sinners (Romans 3:23) who have been offered grace through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8-9) and that God offers us life with Him (John 10:10).

1. How are you doing with devoting daily to God's Word? How could you grow in knowing and loving God by reading His Word?

2. Where are you prone to believe that life can be found outside of walking with God and keeping His commands? Who in your life is pointing you back to Christ?

3. When you look at the sin patterns in your life, what lies about God are you most prone to believe that lead you to sin? How can others help remind you that God is trustworthy and that life to the fullest is offered only with Him?

4. How can you grow in reminding yourself that God is good, His Word is true, and walking with Him leads to life? What would it look like for you to grow in thankfulness for what God has done in your life?

5. Make a list of events in your life in which God has shown Himself to be faithful. Comment below with one brief story on how God has been faithful to you.