NL-Day092 Deuteronomy 1; Psalm 49; Acts 7:30-60

DEUTERONOMY 1:
Yesterday in the conclusion of Numbers, we learned that each clan's allotment of land must stay within that clan, even when parcels of land could be inherited by daughters.

Mears says, “Deuteronomy is a book of remembrance. The name ‘Deuteronomy’ means “second law,” which indicates that the law is repeated. Moses did this to remind the people what God had done for them and what they were to do to serve Him when they reached the Promised Land. This book omits the things that relate to the priests and Levites but includes the things that the people should know. And the happenings in this book would cover only about two months, including the 30 days of mourning for Moses.”

I love this book because it seems to be a transcription of Moses’ last sermons to the people. Imagine sitting at the feet of the aged and revered leader and hearing him tell what is most important! I love the way this book frequently records Moses speaking in the first person.

PSALM 49:
This powerfully thought-provoking psalm shares important wisdom which should help us be content with whatever our situation is in this life. Note the parallels with Jesus' teaching.

ACTS 7:
Yesterday we heard the first part of Stephen's speech. Shephen was accused of two things: “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses. We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” So far it is clear that Stephen was NOT teaching against the laws or customs Moses gave the people of Israel.

NLT Translation notes:
Ps. 49:14 Like sheep, they are led to the grave,
where death will be their shepherd.
In the morning the godly will rule over them.
[The bodies of those so-called wise people//Their bodies] will rot in the grave,
far from their grand estates.
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Acts 7:37 “Moses himself told the people of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people.
[That Prophet is Jesus!]
42b ‘Was it to me you were bringing sacrifices and offerings during those forty years in the wilderness, Israel?
43 No, you carried your pagan gods—
the shrine of Molech,
the star of your god Rephan,
and the images you made to worship them.
[This is not to be taken literally. This is hyperbole which highlights that the people were not faithful to the tabernacle.]
48 However, the Most High doesn’t live in temples made by human hands. As [God said through a prophet,//the prophet says,]
56 And he [said/told] to them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.