NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Black Church Ministries and Leadership and Adult Publishing teams, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the YOU curriculum.
Bible Passage: Deuteronomy 7:6-16
Discussion Questions:
— How can our lives reflect that we are holy and chosen?
— How have you observed that God is faithful to His covenant?
— What are some things that can hinder believers from walking in obedience?
Food for Thought:
Semper Fi. Since 1883, it’s been the official motto of the United States Marine Corps. It means “always faithful.” As far as the Marines are concerned, there is no such thing as a former Marine. The ethos of Semper Fi is expected to be demonstrated in every aspect of their personal and professional lives.
“Always faithful” is a noble aspiration. But it is impossible for any human being to always be faithful in every single area of his or her life. We’ve all failed to keep a vow, pledge or commitment. There is only One in the entire universe and through all recorded history who has never broken a promise. Never violated a covenant. Never left a commitment unfulfilled. His name is Yahweh, and He alone is always faithful.
Read Deuteronomy 7:6-16. Chapter 7 opens with God’s stern warning that Israel must have nothing to do with the nations He was driving out before them. God acknowledged that these seven nations were “more numerous and powerful” than the Israelites (Deuteronomy 7:1). If this were a playground kickball game, the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites would already be warming up, while Israel was still sitting on the bench.
How sweet verse 6 must have sounded! “The Lord your God has chosen you to be His own possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth.” There must have been a new strut in their step as the children of Israel realized they hadn’t merely been picked by God, but they were picked first!
Moses gave the Israelites two great assurances in these verses. First, he told them, “God has chosen you” (v. 6, emphasis added). This verb is in present perfect tense. God chose them in the past, but they were still chosen in the present. He continued to choose them! And it wasn’t a random, disinterested choice, either. God “had His heart set on” them (v. 7)!
Second, God chose them because He loved them and “kept the oath He swore to [their] ancestors” (v. 8). Hundreds of years before, God had promised Abram to make of him a great nation. He renewed the promise to Abraham’s son Isaac. He renewed it to Isaac’s son Jacob. Throughout all generations, even the ones who had been in captivity in Egypt for 400 years, God was faithful to His people.
When Moses described God in verse 9, notice how he started. After stating that “the Lord your God is God,” there are any number of attributes or identifiers he could have mentioned. We’ve already covered four of them in this study. The holy God. The just God. The omnipotent God. We love God’s faithfulness in blessing people. But we can’t forget that God faithfully keeps all His promises, not just the good ones.
Verse 10 is a somber reminder that God will also be faithful to destroy those who hate Him. And unlike God’s promise of love to a thousand generations, God will fulfill His promise of judgment “to the face” of those who hate Him (NKJV). God’s faithfulness cuts both ways. “So,” said Moses in verse 11, “keep the commandment, the statutes and the judgments” God commanded.
In verses 12-16, Moses reminded the Israelites that a covenant is a two-way agreement. If they obeyed God’s commandments, they would experience God’s blessings. These verses aren’t meant to be everything Israel was to follow, but they encapsulate what Israel had to do as their part of the covenant:
• Keep God’s ordinances (v. 12).
• Conquer God’s enemies (v. 16).
• Don’t worship their gods (v. 16). If Israel did their part, then God would do His part:
• “He will love you, bless you, and multiply you” (v. 13).
• “He will bless your offspring” and your produce, wine, herds and flocks (v. 13).
• He will bless you above all peoples (v. 14).
• None of your people, herds or flocks will miscarry or be infertile (v. 14).
• He will protect you from sickness, but afflict your enemies (v. 15).
When you compare the terms of the covenant, who does more? God does. Who gets more? The Israelites. What God does on our behalf has always been and will always be infinitely more than we could ever do for Him. Obedience keeps us on the path to a full, rich and satisfying life. Our obedience isn’t about restrictions; it’s about choosing the path to abundant life.
YOU
YOU is committed to providing a complete Bible study experience for small groups and classes. Every session is written through an urban and multiethnic lens that provides relevant, engaging and applicable studies that not only encourage and equip people, but also motivate them to mission. This flexible, non-dated, all-in-one quarterly resource offers weekly Bible study for leaders and learners, devotionals and teaching plans, as well as articles on hot topics and missions. For additional downloadable online teaching resources, visit Lifeway.com/YOU.
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by Lifeway can be found at Lifeway.com/SundaySchool.
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