Scriptural Highlights

• Moses gives instructions to the Israelites to help them remember their covenants.
• Moses counsels the Israelites to obey God's commandments and remember Him.
• Moses counsels the Israelites to be mindful of the Rock of their salvation (Jesus Christ).

A thoughtful study of this lesson should encourage us to remember the Lord and the covenants we have made with him and create an environment that will help us to do so.

The Book Of Deuteronomy

1. Contents: Three sermons or discourses given by Moses prior to his departure from Israel in which he summarized the Mosaic code. At this time Israel was camped in Moab across the Jordan from the promised land. Joshua would soon lead them in their battle against the Canaanites to possess the promised land.
• First Sermon (1:6-4:40):
• Recounted the most important events of their years of wandering.
• Reminder that they should not forget the laws given at Sinai.
• Second Sermon (chaps 5-26):
• Review of the law, including the 10 commandments.
• Third Sermon (chaps 27-30):
• A call for Israel to renew the covenant.
• A warning of the consequences for failure to renew covenant.
• Chapters 31-34 - A Supplement:
• Possibly not written by Moses recounting the selection and ordination of Joshua as Moses' successor and the death of Moses. We know from other sources that Moses didn't die, but was translated.
2. Imagine the setting for this event:
• A great congregation (or conference) of tens of thousands, possibly millions.
• A nomadic people that have lived in the desert for years.
• A prophet of 120 years about to deliver his final admonition to a people he has loved as a father.
• "Moses speaks like a dying father to his children. The words are earnest, inspired, impressive. He looks back over the whole of the forty years of their wandering in the desert, reminds the people of all the blessings they have received, of the ingratitude with which they have so often repaid them, and of the judgements of God, and the love that continually broke forth behind them; he explains the laws again and again, and adds what is necessary to complete them, and is never weary of urging obedience to them in the warmest and most emphatic words, because the very life of the nation was bound up with this; he surveys all the storms and conflicts which they have passed through, and, beholding the future in the past, takes a survey also of the future history of the nation, and sees, with mingled sorrow and joy, how the three great features of the past--viz. apostasy, punishment, and pardon--continue to repeat themselves in the future also." (Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary)
3. It is significant that the essence of Moses' message was not only applicable to the ancient Hebrew tribes, but to the people of God in all ages.
4. The book of Deuteronomy contains Moses' last words to the Israelites.
• IF YOU WERE TO GIVE ONE LAST MESSAGE TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
• Let's consider a few of Moses' last words to his beloved people.

Instructions To The Israelites To Help Them Remember Their Covenants

1. READ DEUTERONOMY 6:1-5. Moses instructs the people to keep the commandments.
• THESE VERSES CONTAIN THE CORE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. WHAT IS THAT MESSAGE?
• To love the Lord with "all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might" (6:5).
• To keep the commandments "all the days of thy life" (6:2).
• In the tenth chapter we read: "And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul" (10:12).
• DID MOSES GIVE THE PEOPLE A REASON FOR FOLLOWING THROUGH ON HIS INSTRUCTIONS? WHAT WAS IT?
• "that thy days may be prolonged" (6:2).
• "that it may be well with thee" (6:3).
• "that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee" (6:3).
• IS THE MESSAGE ANY DIFFERENT FOR US IN OUR DAY?
• Some of the specific laws and ordinances may be different, but the message remains the same. Our goal, as was that of ancient Israel, is to put God at the center of our life. As we do so, we strive to live His teachings and keep his commandments.
• Our study of the Old Testament reveals that ancient Israel struggled to follow these instructions.
• WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES WE FACE IN ATTEMPTING TO LIVE A GOD CENTERED LIFE?
• I think one of the great challenges in keeping a proper focus is the environment that surrounds us. We associate in our neighborhoods, and at work or school, with people who have differing standards. Often we hear course language. We are inundated with media offerings (books, magazines, television, radio, music, movies) that usually stand in contrast to the teachings of God.
• As a youngster, growing up in Utah Valley, we often sought relief from the hot summer days. Usually, we would hike over to the community swimming pool and spend part of the afternoon. Other times we would fill an inner tube and head up to the irrigation canal (this was before most of them were fenced off). The water seemed to flow slowly and gently. We would put our inner tubes in the water, sit in the middle, and spend the afternoon floating down the canal. As gentle as the current seemed, it was very strong. If we worked at it, we could only slow our rate of passage down the current. There was no way, floating along in our inner tubes, that we could paddle upstream. The only was to stop progress down stream was to get out of the canal. We found ourselves several miles down the canal when it was time to quit and go home. We usually had to call somebody to come pick us up.
• Living in the world is much like trying to resist the current in the canal. Though the flow in the canal looked gentle, it had great power. If we are not careful, the flow of current thought can sweep us far from our destination before we know what is happening.
2. READ DEUTERONOMY 6:6-7. Teach and talk of the commandments.
• The Lord recognizes that we are fighting an upstream battle with the world, but unlike inner tubes in the canal, their is a way to succeed in remaining upstream. Here he suggests that we teach our children and consider the things of the Lord when we:
• Sit in thine house.
• Walk by the way.
• When we lie down.
• When we get up.
• As the Lord said in verse 6, "these words...shall be in thine heart." We can only survive in the world of current thought if we strive on a daily basis to keep the words of the Lord fresh in our heart. HOW CAN WE DO THIS?
• Personal and family prayer.
• Family home evening.
• Daily scripture study.
• Regular attendance at church and all our classes.
• For the youth: seminary and institute.
• Daily devotionals.
• Daily discussions.
• Fully observe the Sabbath.
• Sometimes the things of God do not seem as exciting as what is going on around us in the world. This is an illusion. When we immerse ourselves in the things of God, we gain true perspective and life takes on meaning. As a young missionary, I struggled with my change of circumstances from the world, to a life full of missionary work. As time progressed, I became immersed in the work and found it to be intensely satisfying. We don't all have the luxury of spending our lives as missionaries, but we can strive to constantly keep "these words" in our hearts. But we must give this constant effort or we will get swept along with the flow.
3. READ DEUTERONOMY 6:8-9.
• The Old Testament Student Manual provides this interesting information: "Verse 4 (Deuteronomy 6) begins what is known among Jewish people as the Shema. 'The Shema is in Jewish thought the supreme affirmation of the unity of God and is frequently called "the acceptance of the yoke of heaven"'.... The entire Shema, which consists of Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Deuteronomy 11:13-21, and Numbers 15:37-41 (in that order), is recited twice daily by all devout Jews as an evening and a morning prayer.... And if these words were constantly in their hearts and they sought to teach them to their children in every way possible, in every aspect of their lives, through precept and example, at night and in the day, at home or elsewhere, all of society would be dramatically altered. The Shema, if it truly is an affirmation of faith and not just words, should be the supreme thought in one's heart, and it is even worthy of death, if living means a denial of that affirmation." (Old Testament Student Manual, p218).
• "Taking the command literally (verses 8-9), the Jews inscribed certain scriptural passages, including Deuteronomy 6:4-9, on tiny pieces of parchment, folded them up, and put them into tiny leather boxes about 1 1/2 inches square. These boxes were then tied to the head to be over the forehead, or on the left biceps, suggesting that the wearer would 'fulfill the law with the head and heart'....
  "The mezuzah (Hebrew for 'doorpost') was similar to the tefillin in that it was a parchment with a scriptural passage on it inserted into a tiny, cylindrical box. The mezuzah was attached to the door frame, and it became customary for Jews to touch or kiss the mezuzah each time they left or entered the home." (Old Testament Student Manual, p218)
• WHAT WAS THE INTENT OF THIS COMMANDMENT AS DELIVERED BY MOSES?
• As a constant reminder of the Lord and what it is we ought to be doing.
• SHOULD WE CONSIDER SUCH A PRACTICE TODAY? WHAT CAN WE DO IN OUR HOMES TO REMIND US OF THE LORD, HIS WORDS, AND OUR COVENANTS WITH HIM?
• Denis Waitley, in his book Seeds of Greatness, makes this observation: "Recent studies conducted by a Stanford University research team have revealed that 'what we watch' does have an effect on our imaginations, our learning patterns, and our behaviors. First, we are exposed to new behaviors and characters. Next, we learn or acquire these new behaviors. The last and most crucial step is that we adopt these behaviors as our own. One of the most critical aspects of human development that we need to understand is the influence of 'repeated viewing' and 'repeated verbalizing' in shaping our future. The information goes in, 'harmlessly, almost unnoticed,' on a daily basis, but we don't react to it until later, when we aren't able to realize the basis for our reactions. In other words, our value system is being formed without any conscious awareness on our part of what is happening!" (Seeds of Greatness, p55)
• Going back to my analogy of the canal, I think Mr. Waitley has described the power of the flow. Though not appearing to have much influence, all that we see and hear around us can have an effect on the way we live our lives.
• Mr. Waitley continues, "What if you and I could switch TV channels to one inside of our own head, in which our minds were cameras instead of receivers? What if we scripted, produced, casted, rehearsed, and broadcast our own programs...?" (Seeds of Greatness, p55)
• RETURNING TO THE ABOVE QUESTION: WHAT CAN WE DO IN OUR HOMES TO REMIND US OF THE LORD, HIS WORDS, AND OUR COVENANTS WITH HIM? WHAT CAN WE DO THAT WILL POSITIVELY AFFECT THE WAY WE LIVE OUR LIVES?
• We must find ways to counteract the negative influences we encounter.
• The ancient Jews used physical reminders. We can do things within our homes to remind us of that which is most important. (consider showing contrasting items and discussing their effect).
• Pictures on the walls: the Savior, temples, family
• We could place scriptural quotations on the mirror, the wall, or the refrigerator.
• The music or other recordings we play.
• The movies we watch.
• The magazines or books sitting around the house.
• In the past, I have talked about my preparations for my first marathon. To keep focused on that goal, I focused on things that motivated me to keep working towards succeeding in completing 26.2 miles. I read books and magazines that discussed running. I associated with runners. I thought frequently about running. I even watched movies that influenced my thinking such as Chariots of Fire and Breaking Away. Is not our eternal success significantly more important than success in temporal ways?
• President Ezra Taft Benson said that people who are "captained by Christ will be consumed in Christ.... Enter their homes, and the pictures on their walls, the books on their shelves, the music in the air, their words and acts reveal them as Christians." (Ensign, Nov. 1985, p6-7)

The Israelites Counseled to Obey God's Commandments & Remember Him

1. READ DEUTERONOMY 8:2-10. Israel humbled in the desert.
• WHAT LESSONS DID ISRAEL LEARN IN THE WILDERNESS?
• To be humble (8:2-3).
• To be obedient (8:2).
• Man lives not by bread alone, but by the word of God (8:3).
• Gratitude.
• HOW WOULD ISRAEL HAVE ACTED IF THEY HAD MARCHED STRAIGHT FROM SINAI INTO THE PROMISED LAND INSTEAD OF WANDERING FOR 40 YEARS? WOULD THEY HAVE LEARNED THESE IMPORTANT LESSONS?
2. READ DEUTERONOMY 8:11, 18-20. Israel commanded to remember the Lord.
• WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FORGET THE LORD?
• Verses 12 through 16 refer to the great blessings that the Lord had bestowed upon Israel and then verse 17 says, "And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth."
• ARE WE EVERY GUILTY OF THIS ATTITUDE?
• Might we say that we were the ones who struggled through college to achieve a degree.
• Might we say that we worked hard for years to achieve success.
• WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF FORGETTING THE LORD?
• V19: "...if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish."
• HOW WILL WE PERISH?
• WHAT CONDITIONS OR CHALLENGES DID MOSES NAME THAT MIGHT CAUSE PEOPLE TO FORGET GOD?
• Prosperity & freedom.
• Isn't it strange that blessings from the Lord create the conditions in which people forget the Lord. Do we need adversity to be grateful for our blessings?
• Brigham Young: "The worst fear that I have about this people is that they will get rich in this country, forget God and His people, wax fat, and kick themselves out of the Church and go to hell. This people will stand mobbing, robbing, poverty, and all manner of persecution, and be true. But my greater fear for them is that they cannot stand wealth; and yet they have to be tried with riches, for they will become the richest people on this earth." (in Preston Nibley, Brigham Young: The Man And His Work, p128)
• Arthur Henry King, a British scholar and a member of the Church wrote: "American Mormons, and Americans generally, are threatened at a more fundamental level by the material prosperity of this country. It is a curse in disguise. Prosperity per se is not an enemy to religion, but prosperity may often lead to idolatry. The danger of all progress is idolatry, because the temptation all of the time is to set up something in the place of God. And the more tempting the progress is--and material prosperity is tempting--the more dangerous it is. Think of the idols of prosperity: the car, the camper, the boat (bane of bishops), the color TV, the football game, two weeks of hunting. These become idols when more enthusiasm and time are given to them than to the worship of God." (quoted by Dallin H. Oaks, Pure in Heart, p.82 - p.83)
• HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THESE STATEMENTS?
• HOW CAN WE USE OUR PROSPERITY TO FURTHER THE LORD'S WORK?
• Spencer W. Kimball: "The Lord has blessed us as a people with a prosperity unequaled in times past. The resources that have been placed in our power are good, and necessary to our work here on the earth. But I am afraid that many of us have been surfeited with flocks and herds and acres and barns and wealth and have begun to worship them as false gods, and they have power over us. Do we have more of these good things than our faith can stand? Many people spend most of their time working in the service of a self-image that includes sufficient money, stocks, bonds, investment portfolios, property, credit cards, furnishings, automobiles, and the like to guarantee carnal security throughout, it is hoped, a long and happy life. Forgotten is the fact that our assignment is to use these many resources in our families and quorums to build up the kingdom of God—to further the missionary effort and the genealogical and temple work; to raise our children up as fruitful servants unto the Lord; to bless others in every way, that they may also be fruitful." (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p357)
• We have discussed the sweeping current of the world and how easy it is to get caught in that current. The people of the world have, by and large, forgotten the Lord. How easy it is to get swept along in temporal pursuits. We can strengthen ourselves against the current by committing our resources to the building of the kingdom. Most of us know the blessings of giving a tithe to the Lord. Our lives and our families are strengthened. How much more we will be strengthened against the flow if we give more than we are required. As President Benson stated, people who are "captained by Christ will be consumed in Christ."

The Israelites Are Counseled To Be Mindful Of The Rock Of Their Salvation

1. READ DEUTERONOMY 32:1-4.
• WHY IS JESUS CHRIST IS SOMETIMES CALLED THE ROCK?
• Helaman 5:12: "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
• Bruce R. McConkie: "Christ is the Rock (Deut. 32:3-4, 18, 30-31; 1 Cor. 10:1-4), or the Rock of Heaven. (Moses 7:53.) Such name-titles carry a connotation of strength and stability (1 Sam. 2:2), as for instance when David exulted: 'The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock, in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour.' (2 Sam. 22:1-4; 23:3; Psa. 18:1-3, 31.)" (Mormon Doctrine, p657)
2. Moses said, that "their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges."
• WHAT IS MOSES TALKING ABOUT?
• The rock of their enemies, their false gods.
• HOW IS THEIR "ROCK" DIFFERENT FROM OUR "ROCK"?
• See Deuteronomy 32:37-40.
• Our "Rock" is the Living God. Their's is false. One cannot have faith in a false god. In the movies, they often use, for special effects, rocks that are made of styrofoam. To the viewer of the screen the rocks appear real. But in reality, the rock is light and is deceptive. So are false gods. You would not use such a rock to build a foundation. You would desire the real thing, as the early Saints utilized in the building of the Salt Lake Temple, which Brigham Young declared should stand through the Millennium. A temple built on false rocks would not and could not stand. A life built upon "their rock" will fail.
3. HOW DO WE BUILD OUR LIVES UPON THIS ROCK, THE TRUE FOUNDATION?
• We exercise our faith in Christ by honoring our covenants and striving to keep all the commandments.

Summary

We face great challenges in this life. We are fighting the flow of current thought and action. As President Benson stated, we should have homes that reflect Christ by the pictures on the walls, by the music in the air, and by our words and deeds. Such a sanctuary reminds us of the importance of our covenants, the gospel plan, and the Rock of our salvation. It is only by building the foundation of our lives upon the Rock, Jesus Christ, that we can endure to the end and achieve our eternal reward. Their is no other way.

Next Week

Lesson 18: Joshua 1-6; 23-24.

Additional Reading: Joshua 7 & 14.