January 9 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Deuteronomy 5:22-33:

²²These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.
²³And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;
²⁴And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.
²⁵Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die.
²⁶For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
²⁷Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.
²⁸And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.
²⁹O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
³⁰Go say to them, Get you into your tents again.
³¹But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.
³²Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
³³Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.

Devotional

God spoke these words concerning the children of Israel. These words are an exclamation. They express a wish, a desire, a longing, a yearning. The heart of God yearns for the welfare of his people. Quite frequently He gives expression to such intense longings: "Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end." "Oh that my people had harkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways." "Oh that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments."

The same feeling is expressed by Christ himself: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem . . . how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings." Jesus wept over Jerusalem, that "killed the prophets, and stoned them that were sent unto it."

"Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me." But there was none. How sad! How hard-hearted people are! And yet, only if they fear God, and keep his commandments, shall it be well with them. God will bless them, subdue their enemies, give them "peace as a river and righteousness as the waves of the sea."

Christ is our peace, and He is also our righteousness. "Being justified (declared righteous) by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Thus it shall be well with us and with our children for ever.

Prayer

O Lord, we thank Thee that Thou are gracious and full of compassion, and that Thy compassions fail not. We are so prone to wander and to forget Thy goodness and mercy. But Thou dost love us with an everlasting love, and extendest unto us Thy lovingkindness. Help us to realize, that only if we give heed unto Thy Word, it shall be well with us. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Deut. 32:29; Ps. 81:13; Isa. 48:18; Matt. 23:37; Luke 19:44; Isa. 48:8; Eph. 2:4; Jer. 23:6; Rom. 5:1.

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