Day 13 of 90 Devotion

Dearest e-votees-

Day thirteen of our cover to cover voyage through the Bible. We have now completed Numbers. 4 down, 62 to go.

We enter into Deuteronomy which is a Greek compound word: “deutero-” meaning “2nd” (as in deuterium, the 2nd isotope of hydrogen with an atomic mass of 2) + “-nomos” meaning “law” (as in autonomous, one’s own laws). It recounts the summarizing of the law for the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land at the end of 40 years of wandering.

If you care to follow along you can find links to the assigned Bible passages at:

www.christthegoodshep.org/biblein90days.html

Peace,
Karl

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Day 13 Readings: Numbers 32:20-Deuteronomy 7:26

The founding documents (archival, historical, inspirational, including laws, consequences, boundaries, census data, etc.) continue to be laid out for the people.

In Deuteronomy we get the recounting of the 10 Commandments (hence the “2nd Law” moniker).

Deuteronomy 6:4 is known as the Shema (check out http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Torah/The_Shema/the_shema.html)

It sets up what Jesus calls the greatest commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your strength. (Luke 10:27 adds mind, too). Jesus says that abiding with that commandment coupled with loving your neighbor as yourself fulfills all the law and the prophets. All that we have read and will read up through Day 68 (June 20th) is brought to completion in loving God and loving neighbor as self.

Part of the challenge of today’s texts are reconciling loving neighbor with destroying previous occupants of your new home. The texts are clear about the need to decimate those in the land. How do we abide the tensions of loving neighbor (and Jesus had a broad definition of who was neighbor) with these particular and harsh texts in Numbers and Deuteronomy?

In large part we rest in the truth that Jesus has done what we cannot and that we can take our cues from Jesus and his life. The only things Jesus really got violent with were the moneychangers in the Temple and that time he shriveled up a fig tree. Jesus’ love trumped violence. Jesus’ love trumped (or at least sated) God’s wrath. Jesus’ love is our hope and our sure and certain cornerstone.

God help us learn and know of our spiritual heritage. Help us live, breathe and emulate Jesus’ love. Amen.