Moses told the children of Israel to love God with all that they had. That was a command. However, a few verses earlier Moses gave them another command: “That you may fear the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 6:2).

Read Deuteronomy 10:12. What does it say in this text about love and fear, and how do we understand it?

Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com

In one verse they are told to fear God, in another to love Him, and in this verse they are told to both fear and love Him at the same time. In the common understanding of the word “fear” this might seem like a contradiction, but it’s not. Instead, the fear of God — in the sense of awe and respect for who He is, His authority and power and justice and righteousness, especially in contrast to our sinfulness, weakness, and complete dependence on Him — should be a natural reaction. We are fallen beings, beings who have violated God’s law and who, but for His grace, deserve condemnation and eternal death.

Read Ephesians 2:1-10. How should these verses help us understand how we can both fear and love God at the same time?

Despite the fact that we were “children of wrath” (which is why we should fear Him), Christ died for us and thus gave us a new life in Him, which includes freedom from the sin and condemnation of the past (which is why we should love Him).

And just as this is true for us today, this same principle applied to ancient Israel: they were captives in Egypt, condemned to slavery and oppression, and it was only God’s love for them and graciousness toward them that led to their great redemption. “Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there” (Deuteronomy 5:15). No wonder, then, that they both love and fear God at the same time. And if they were to do that, how much more should we, having the great truth of Jesus’ dying on the cross for us?

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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Flipping through the new quarterly, there are a number of titles that have the word ‘love’ in them – Love, to Be Loved; To Love God; He First Loved Us; To Love the Lord Your God; to name just a few. Hence, I believe a wonderful hymn to devote to as a theme will be 
Hymn 349 – God Is Love. Our first Memory Text says “for God is Love”, 1 John 4:8. As the book of Deuteronomy is the book of the covenant, it would also be good to add 
Hymn 347 – Built On the Rock as verse four tells us of God ‘Making with us His covenant”.

Oh the joy of being able to have the Everlasting Covenant which we find in 
Hymn 469 – Leaning On The Everlasting Arms of our Lord Jesus.

We are blessed to have a section in our Hymnal named “Our Love for God”. These hymns are positive reinforcement of the lesson studies for this week:
Hymn 459 – As the Bridegroom to His Chosen,
Hymn 460 – As Water to the Thirsty,
Hymn 457 – I Love to Tell the Story,
Hymn 455 – Immortal Love Forever Full,
Hymn 458 – More Love to Thee,
Hymn 456 – My Lord and I, and
Hymn 638 – The Wise May Bring Their Learning.

On searching through the hymnal, there are so many hymns that are written which give honour, respect and awe (fear), and love of our awesome God, and our love in return:
Hymn 78 – For God So Loved Us,
Hymn 349 – God Is Love,
Hymn 183 – I Will Sing of Jesus’ Love,
Hymn 190 – Jesus Loves Me,
Hymn 191 – Love Divine,
Hymn 321 – My Jesus, I Love Thee
Hymn 188 – My Song Is Love Unknown,
Hymn 148 – O Love How Deep How Broad,
Hymn 79 – O Love of God, How Strong and True!,
Hymn 77 – O Love of God Most Full,
Hymn 76 – O Love That Wilt Not let Me Go,
Hymn 179 – The Wonders of Redeeming Love,
Hymn 162 – Wondrous Love, and this list goes on. What a blessing!

The cares of this world are subdued by the peace of “Thy commandments” in 
Hymn 394 – Far From All Care as we find in studying on Wednesday and Thursday. The Ten Commandments are also sung about in 
Hymn 447 – Long Upon the Mountains. May the Lord’s scattered flock over this world be blessed by the Ten Commandments today, and until Jesus comes.

We are bound for The Promised Land! Hallelujah!! Come, Lord Jesus come – very soon.

Blessings for a wonderful week ahead.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing, but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Key Thought: In the heart of the Hebrew Schema is the statement, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.
October 23, 2021

1. Have a volunteer read Deuteronomy 10:12. Ephesians 2:1-10..

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. How are we supposed to love and fear God at the same time? How does this make sense?
3. Personal Application: For what reason should we be telling people to “fear God” today in preparation for His coming? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “If God is love, no one should fear Him. There is no reason to be afraid of God anymore than if we believed that He doesn’t exist.” How would you respond to your friend?

2. Have a volunteer read Deuteronomy 4:37; 7:7,8,13; 10:15..

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2.  ?
3. Personal Application: What reasons do we have for wanting to love God in our hearts and minds? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Many religions teach about a god orgods that have human characteristics of love, hate, jealousy, and indifference. How is God any different than those perpetuated by other religions?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Deuteronomy 5:10, 7:9, 10:12,13..

1. a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. ?
3. Personal Application: Should we obey God to avoid punishment? What if we don’t want to obey God? What are your motives for obedience? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “Oh, I love God, and I love my family. I tell them that all the time. But I don’t want the church or my family infringing on my time or trying to tell me what to do. I want to live my life to please me, and not to serve or wait on others.“ How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Mark 12:28-30..

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Why is obedience and love so intricately tied together? Does obedience bring love, or does love bring obedience?
3. Personal Application: How can you love God when you have never seen Him personally? How can you love the invisible, the untouchable, the intangible? 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).

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