Day 75, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Deuteronomy 6–8
The Purpose of Rules
Why do we have rules?
Rules are restrictive. Our natural inclination is to kick against them, to have no demands placed upon us. But consider the folly of that. What would happen if we didn’t warn children about the dangers of wandering out onto the beach or into the water alone, with no lifeguards or adults present to watch them? Wouldn’t more children die?
What would happen if we removed the laws of society like “do not kill” and “do not steal”? Without enforcement of laws, wouldn't there be massive chaos and crime? Government officials make rules to regulate our behavior, to safeguard and preserve us, and to show wisdom and understanding. This is what Moses reminded the Israelites of as they camped on the east side of the Jordan River, waiting to cross into the Promise Land.
Moses said,
These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.
Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. (Deuteronomy 6:1-3, NIV)
Which rule is most important?
If they forgot everything else, what rules should the Israelites remember?
What about us? If nothing else, what should we Christians remember? Where is the “Easy button” we can push? We will later read about religious leaders in Jesus’ day who test him with a similar question.
“Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” [they asked]
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-30, NIV).
The keeping of rules, therefore, is not the most important thing to remember. God wants us to love the LORD and our neighbors. Our allegiance must first be to God (part of the Suzerain Treaty). However, we cannot love God if we do not know him. Do we know Jesus, God's Son? Have we received eternal life? (more...).
Christians, do we love God? Then, we should love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and our neighbors as ourselves. These are the most important rules to remember. If we keep them, we will keep all the others.
Why remove evil influences?
God also reminds the Israelites that to continue their success and prosperity, they are not to compromise with the surrounding culture—they are to remove their evil influence. “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession” (Deuteronomy 7:6, NIV).
The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament gives many reasons these nations, men, women, and children were to be destroyed.
- These nations were the most immoral, idolatrous, and vile of all the nations on the earth (Deuteronomy 9:4-5).
- They persisted in their hatred of God. Had they repented like the city of Nineveh (Jonah 3) God would have spared them. The LORD had already waited patiently for 400 years during Israel’s slavery in Egypt for at least one of these nations in Canaan to repent (Genesis 15:13-16), but there is no record that they ever did. They even offered some of their children as burnt sacrifices to their god. They were hard-hearted evil people.
- It would be merciful for the children who do not know right from wrong to be killed because God would take them to heaven; if their evil parents raised them, the children would become wicked murderers (for a discussion on the age of accountability see more...).
- There is no difference between the God of the Old Testament and the New Testament, for Jesus Christ himself will one day come in judgment to slaughter the unrepentant at the end of the seven-year tribulation period. See this in 2Thessalonians 2:5-10 and Revelation 19:11-21.
- The Canaanite nations would be a deadly moral cancer to the Israelites. God says.
Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods, and the LORD’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.
This is what you are to do to them: Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols in the fire. For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession (Deuteronomy 7:3-6, NIV).
Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods, and the LORD's anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.
We are not in a holy war like the Israelites. We are not to kill our enemies but should eliminate our evil habits and wrongdoing. Sin keeps us from having success and prosperity. God helps the righteous, but his hand is against the wicked.
How can we pass our faith on to our children? We want them to love the LORD, love their neighbors, and become good citizens. Moses gives us the answer when he tells the Israelites to teach their children about God and his Word at every opportunity. Then, they will know that the LORD delivered them from slavery by his mighty hand. This is why they obey him (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, 20-25).
We can and should do the same thing. If we do, we help our children to see that they need him. Then we can encourage them to pray to God for salvation and help. We can also teach them that God’s rules are wise and meant for our benefit and prosperity.
Endnotes: The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament, by Walvoord and Zuck, ©1985, p.276
Focus Verses
Deuteronomy 6:1-2 (NIV)
These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.
Discussion Questions
Why are laws and rules important?
Which are the most important of God’s laws to keep?
What can happen if we do not remove evil influences from our lives?
How can we pass on our faith in God to children?
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to me, Rod, the author
Looking Ahead: Now that we know the importance of following God's directions, what does it take to win? How are we preparing for victory? Find out in our next lesson.
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