Today’s readings.. Deuteronomy 26, Song of Solomon 6, Acts 21&22
Moses is now starting to give his final message of encouragement to the nation before he dies. He is painting a picture in words of all the blessings to come when they go over the Jordan and settle in the promised land, a promise that was fulfilled to all that heard him. It was fulfilled under the leadership of Joshua after they crossed the Jordan.
Moses encouraged them, “it will be a land flowing with milk and honey … and you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given you.” [Deut. 26 v.9,11] Then “you shall say before the LORD,” Moses tells them, “I have not transgressed any of your commandments, nor have O forgotten them” [v.13]. With this vision of their future Moses counsels them to “be careful to (keep God’s law) … with all your heart and with all your soul … and the LORD has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession” [v.16,18]. Joshua and all his generation were faithful and were blessed as we will read later this month.
It is interesting to note that Joshua and Jesus are the same word (the difference being the Hebrew vv. the Greek) and Jesus promised, “blessed are the meek (gentle) for they shall inherit the earth … blessed are the pure (clean) in heart for they shall see God” [Matt. 5 v.5,8] A glorified earth has been promised to those who are faithful, an earth that has become a paradise, a world-wide garden of Eden (Rev. 2 v.7) Ultimately when all things are perfect after the 1,000 years reign of Christ, in that ultimate age, “the dwelling place of God is with man … God himself will be with them as their God … for the former things have passed away.” [Rev. 21 v.3] Jesus “himself will be subjected to him … that God may be all in all.” [1 Cor. 15 v.28] l
God has never promised heaven as man’s future abode, that idea and resultant way of thinking came from the influence of pagan Greek thinking centuries after Christ. Let us rejoice in what is true, in what has been promised. How wonderful the understanding perceived in the hearts of those that are careful to serve God and His Son! The daily reading of his word being the foundation of their lives with the anticipation of rejoicing in all the good that God has promised to come on this earth.