Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 6:20-24.
“20 “When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What do the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments mean which the LORD our God commanded you?’ 21 then you shall say to your son, ‘We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us from Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Moreover, the LORD showed great and distressing signs and wonders before our eyes against Egypt, Pharaoh and all his household; 23 He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He had sworn to our fathers.’ 24 So the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today. 25 It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this commandment before the LORD our God, just as He commanded us.” Deuteronomy 6:20-24.
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It makes a big difference if we view God as our Heavenly Father Who loves us and works all things together for our good compared to if we view God as a neutral almighty being.
It makes a big difference if we view God as our Rock, our Fortress, our Defender Who protects us from our enemies compared to if we view God as a neutral almighty being who loves everybody and bows down to man’s alleged free-will.
It makes a big difference if we believe in God’s favor toward us Who gives us the Promised Land versus if we view God as a neutral almighty being who only helps those who help themselves.
Today’s Scripture points to one way that it makes a big difference. It makes a difference on how we receive and view the Law a/k/a “the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments mean which the LORD our God commanded you”.
Today’s Scripture instructs us to how to answer the question: “What do the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments mean which the LORD our God commanded you?”.
First, in verse 21, we are to point out to God being our Deliverer: “you shall say to your son, ‘We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us from Egypt with a mighty hand.”
Second, in verse 22, we are to point out to God being our Defender: “the LORD showed great and distressing signs and wonders before our eyes against Egypt, Pharaoh and all his household”.
Third, in verse 23, we are to point out to God being our Provider: “He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He had sworn to our fathers.”
In summary, when we trust in the God’s favor and goodness to us and in His protection of us, we will trust that God’s law is “for our good always and for our survival”. Verse 24. It will even be for “righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this commandment before the LORD our God, just as He commanded us.” Verse 25.
If we trust the LORD, then we will be less likely to grumble against the LORD and test the LORD, “Is the LORD among us, or not?”, as we learned in yesterday’s devotion.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:28-32.
“11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!” Psalm 84:11-12.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 