God’s Saving Word: Love
Introduction
Deuteronomy 7:12-26: Moses once again reminds the people of God’s constant love and the ways in which they will be blessed if they are obedient to God’s commands.
Scripture Reading
The Blessings of Obedience
12 “If you listen to these commands and obey them faithfully, then the Lord your God will continue to keep his covenant with you and will show you his constant love, as he promised your ancestors. 13 He will love you and bless you, so that you will increase in number and have many children; he will bless your fields, so that you will have grain, wine, and olive oil; and he will bless you by giving you many cattle and sheep. He will give you all these blessings in the land that he promised your ancestors he would give to you. 14 No people in the world will be as richly blessed as you. None of you nor any of your livestock will be sterile. 15 The Lord will protect you from all sickness, and he will not bring on you any of the dreadful diseases that you experienced in Egypt, but he will bring them on all your enemies. 16 Destroy every nation that the Lord your God places in your power, and do not show them any mercy. Do not worship their gods, for that would be fatal.
17 “Do not tell yourselves that these peoples outnumber you and that you cannot drive them out. 18 Do not be afraid of them; remember what the Lord your God did to the king of Egypt and to all his people. 19 Remember the terrible plagues that you saw with your own eyes, the miracles and wonders, and the great power and strength by which the Lord your God set you free. In the same way that he destroyed the Egyptians, he will destroy all these people that you now fear. 20 He will even cause panic among them and will destroy those who escape and go into hiding. 21 So do not be afraid of these people. The Lord your God is with you; he is a great God and one to be feared. 22 Little by little he will drive out these nations as you advance. You will not be able to destroy them all at once, for, if you did, the number of wild animals would increase and be a threat to you. 23 The Lord will put your enemies in your power and make them panic until they are destroyed. 24 He will put their kings in your power. You will kill them, and they will be forgotten. No one will be able to stop you; you will destroy everyone. 25 Burn their idols. Do not desire the silver or gold that is on them, and do not take it for yourselves. If you do, that will be fatal, because the Lord hates idolatry. 26 Do not bring any of these idols into your homes, or the same curse will be on you that is on them. You must hate and despise these idols, because they are under the Lord’s curse.
Today’s Key Verse: Deuteronomy 7:12
[Moses said:] “If you listen to these commands and obey them faithfully, then the LORD your God will continue to keep his covenant with you and will show you his constant love, as he promised your ancestors.”
Reflect
Reread verses 12-16. What blessings are promised? In verse 16, what instruction is given? Reread verses 17-24. What does Moses say to address the people’s fears? Of what does he remind them? Are there times in your life when you are fearful? What helps you in those times? Where do you turn for comfort?
Pray
Holy God, I trust in your promises, and I seek to obey your commands. Thank you for the blessings of your constant love and care. Keep me close to you, calm my fears, and shelter me in the safety of your daily presence. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Colossians 1:1-23: The apostle Paul thanks the believers in Colossae for their faith.