Our Readings for the week:
Week 12 March 22 – March 28, 2020
Sunday, March 22  Deuteronomy 6-9; Luke 7
Monday, March 23  Deuteronomy 10-14; Psalm 5; Luke 8
Tuesday, March 24  Deuteronomy 15-18; Psalm 115; Luke 9
Wednesday, March 25  Deuteronomy 19-22; Psalm 6; Luke 10
Thursday, March 26   Deuteronomy 23-26; Luke 11

Sunday, March 22  Deuteronomy 6-9; Luke 7

Deuteronomy 6: How does Moses command the Israelites to love God?  What will make the Israelites righteous?

Deuteronomy 7: Why did God command the Israelites to totally destroy their enemies? What would be the result of following God’s commands and decrees?

Deuteronomy 8: What was the purpose of the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness? What were the people warned about with regard to prosperity? (v. 10-14)

Deuteronomy 9: What does Moses warn the Israelites not to boast about when they inherit the Promised Land?

Luke 7: What miracles did Jesus perform?  What message did John the Baptists send and what was Jesus doing when He received the message?  What was his response to John?

Journal Prompt: Our nation has been enjoying a time of unprecedented prosperity. Consider Deuteronomy 8:14.  As we are on the edge of severe economic decline, how do these words speak to you?

Deuteronomy 6:  Moses commanded the Israelites to love God with all their heart, with all their soul, and with all their strength.  Obedience will make the Israelites righteous. (v.25)

Deuteronomy 7:  God commanded them to destroy their enemies ‘totally’ because they would intermarry with them which would lead to them worshiping other gods. (v. 4 & 16)

The result of obedience was blessing upon blessings: fertility, provision, perfect health and protection. (v. 13-15)

Deuteronomy 8:  Verse 2 tells us that the purpose of the Israelites wandering for 40 years was to humble them and to test them.  God warned them that prosperity – having abundance could lead to them turning from the Lord.  Food for thought in light of the economic upheaval we are facing as a result of the coronavirus.

Deuteronomy 9: Moses warns them about having a prideful spirit – that when they conquer the land, they must remember it was not ‘because of their righteousness’ – this is repeated three times.

Luke 7: Jesus healed the servant of the centurion in Capernaum, he raised a widow’s son from death in Nain, and we read in verse 21 that he cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits and grave sight to many who were blind.  He was performing these miracles at the same time that John sent a message asking Jesus if he in fact was the Messiah.  Jesus responded :The blind see (Isaiah 61:1, 35:5). · The lame walk (Isaiah 35:6).  · The deaf hear (Isaiah 35:5). · The dead live (Isaiah 26:19). · The poor hear the good news (Isaiah 61:11).