So much of the writings of the prophets consisted of appeals to faithfulness. And not just faithfulness in general, but in particular, faithfulness to the Israelites’ end of the covenant, which was reaffirmed just before they entered the land. This is what the book of Deuteronomy depicted: the reaffirmation of God’s covenant with Israel. The Lord was now, after the 40-year detour, about to fulfill (or begin to fulfill) more of His covenant promises, His end of the deal. Thus, Moses admonished them to fulfill their end, as well. Indeed, much of the writings of the prophets was basically the same: appeals for the people to uphold their side of the covenant.

Read Micah 6:1-8. What is the Lord telling the people there, and how does it relate to the book of Deuteronomy? (See also Amos 5:24 and Hosea 6:6)

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Bible scholars have seen in these verses in Micah what is known as a “covenant lawsuit” in which the Lord “sues” or brings a case against His people for violation of the covenant. In this case, Micah says that the Lord “has a complaint against His people” (Micah 6:2), in which the word “complaint” (riv) can mean a legal dispute. That is, the Lord was bringing a legal case against them, imagery that implies the legal (besides the relational) aspect of the covenant. This shouldn’t be surprising because, after all, central to the covenant was law.

Notice, too, how Micah borrows language directly from Deuteronomy: “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?” ( Deuteronomy 10.12-13, NKJV). Instead, though, of quoting it directly, Micah modifies it by exchanging the “letter of the law” of Deuteronomy for the “spirit of the law,” which is about being just and merciful.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

Amen!(1)

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“And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness,” Joel 2:28-31 NKJV

I love studying my Bible near the bay or gulf in the beautiful Tampa Bay area.

As I have been studying this week’s Sabbath School lesson on how the book of Deuteronomy is used throughout Scripture a few thoughts came to mind. 

1. In Jeremiah 7:1-7 and Micah 6:1-8 Jeremiah and Micah seem to be borrowing from Deuteronomy and yet they are not referencing Moses or giving him credit. Of course back then people knew Scripture so well that it went without saying when Moses was being quoted. This was not considered plagiarism. Of course we know great portions of the New Testament quote, reference and borrow from the Old Testament. This leads me to my second thought.
2.  In Acts 17:11 the people searched the Scriptures, obviously the Old Testament, to see if what Paul was preaching was true. Could it be that Paul and the other New Testament writers were the lesser lights in their day referencing or pointing to the greater light in the Old Testament? Were Jeremiah and Micah the lesser lights in their day pointing to the greater light in the books of Moses? If so, can one be a lesser light in his or her day but still be inspired by the same Holy Spirit who inspired Moses? This leads me to my third thought.
3. If God raised up prophets like Jeremiah and Micah to remind people what was written in the books of Moses, could God raise up prophets in the last days to remind people of forgotten truths in Scripture? And if so…
4. Then if the book of the law needed to be rediscovered in 2 Kings 22:1-20, what writings of inspiration may need to be rediscovered by the church of today? 

And now, your thoughts? 

Amen!(2)

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Key Thought: Many of the prophets referred back to the book of Deuteronomy. We will look at what parts they used and what points they made that have relevance to us today..
December 11, 2021

1. Have a volunteer read Deuteronomy 10:12-15.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What does Moses mean when he speaks of the heaven of heavens?
3. Personal Application: What things might be in our homes or even churches that we may need to get rid of in order to serve God with all our might? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Is it possible for anyone to serve God with all their heart and soul? How would that be done? Don’t we do things, say things, and go places God doesn’t want us to?” How would you respond to your friend?

2. Have a volunteer read Micah 6:1-8.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Why does God use the legal language here about “pleading their case” when referring to the controversy He has with them?
3. Personal Application: How is fearing and obeying God tied in to do justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly before God? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “How can we do justice and mercy at the same time? Justice calls for people to be held responsible for their words and actions. Mercy seems to indicate forgiveness and an excuse not to hold people responsible. How do we reconcile the two in our lives and interactions with others?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Daniel 9:14-19

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. How dod Daniel’s knowledge of Deuteronomy help him in faith as he lived in exile in a foreign nation as a slave with Jerusalem destroyed and the temple burned?
3. Personal Application: How well do you thin we have been in our responsibilities in presenting the truths we have to those around us that need to hear them.? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “Do you think that many of our problems in America, raised up as a Protestant Christian nation, is because we have not been obedient to God’s laws and have perverted truth and justice and have not been merciful or humble before God?” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read 2 Kings 22:8-13.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Does God still hold people accountable today for their actions in groups and nations, or only as individuals?
3. Personal Application: How often do we neglect to read our Bibles that may gather dust on the shelf? Are we held accountable for our actions against that book because we neglect to read it or obey it? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Amen!(0)

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