Deuteronomy 11:18-2118Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. 19And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 20And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: 21That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. (Deuteronomy 11:18‑21)
GOD HAS put two things together in His Word — obedience and disobedience. They are the great theme that runs throughout the book of Deuteronomy, as indeed all Scripture. They are like the two mountains, Gerizim and Ebal, that faced each other in the land of Canaan. One stood for blessing, and the other for cursing. Obedience is the spring of blessing, while disobedience is the sure path to ruin.
From here on to the end of the chapter we have bright promises of blessing and earnest warnings as well. Israel were charged to lay up the Lord's words in their hearts and to faithfully teach them to their children.
"Therefore shall ye lay up these My words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes." We ought to have the words of the Lord in our hearts, as the inner spring of all our desires and actions.
"Bind them for a sign upon your hand," would remind us that whatever we put our hand to, whatever we do, should be according to that Word.
"That they may be as frontlets between your eyes." The Lord wants us always to have before us that we are a redeemed people. His Word teaches us what to look at and what to turn away from, and enables us to see the path in which He is leading.
"And ye shall teach them your children, speaking to them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou Rest down, and when thou risest up." v. 19.
How sweet the atmosphere of a Christian home where the Word of God is read daily and pressed upon the hearts of each member of the family. However, as we look around we see many Christian homes where the children have not walked in the ways of the Lord, but have wandered away into the world. Sometimes this is owing to a lack of faithfulness in the home? God wants our homes to be happy homes, as He promised Israel here that they might be "as the days of heaven upon the earth." There is no sweeter spot on earth than a Christian home where there is God's order, and a result of God's blessing.
"And thou shalt write them upon the doorposts of thine house, and upon thy gates." This would be a reminder to each member of the household, as we come and go, of those claims of love and holiness that are upon us, and of what ought to characterize us, those who own the Lord as Saviour. "And upon thy gates." The world and those without should see in our testimony that we belong to Christ.
"That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth."
The Lord doesn't promise us now, as His heavenly people, long years upon the earth, though many have lived to a ripe old age. Nevertheless some of His choicest saints have lived but comparatively short lives. Still, the Word remains that if we go on with the Lord in obedience and lowliness of heart, He will fill our days with the richest blessings, even as it says, "as the days of heaven upon the earth."
Memory Verse
Messages of the Love of God 3/2/1975