Wow, by the time we meet again it will be the New Year.  And we all want 2022 to be a lot more hopeful (and less stressful) than the past few years.  But who knows?  Well, God does.  And that’s a great reason for us to begin the New Year in the Book of Deuteronomy (the 5th book of the Bible).  There are several themes that run through Deuteronomy that seem particularly applicable to enjoying a successful 2022.

First of all, Deuteronomy places great emphasis on the Sovereignty of God.  I hope we’ve all learned over the time of the pandemic just how much we need to trust God.  And it was no different in Moses’ day as he led the people of Israel out of the wilderness.  Trusting God is one of those things that all believers, in all times, and all places, need to do … all the time.

Second, there’s the repeated use of the word, “Listen.”  And there’s a great emphasis on taking the Word of God seriously.  Deuteronomy is essentially a series of sermons given in the context of worship, and so both preaching and worship are ever-present in the book.  And being committed to listening to God through the preaching of His Word is a great way for us to start the New Year.

Third, there’s the repeated use of the word, “Love.”  And how we love God, love one another, and love our neighbors is the major application of the book.  The whole center section of the book is devoted to how to love our neighbors in very practical ways by obeying the Law.

Fourth, we’ll learn that Deuteronomy is one of the most quoted books in the New Testament and the book most quoted by Jesus.  Jesus found His identity as God’s Son in the Book of Deuteronomy and since Jesus found His identity in Deuteronomy, and we find our identity in Christ, then Deuteronomy is necessary for our spiritual growth. 

So Deuteronomy reminds us of who God is, what He has done, what He has promised, and how He wants us to live.  Hence, the title for this series is simply “Knowing God.”  And that should make a difference for us in 2022.  See you next year, Dr. Dave

— Speaking of knowing God, have you gotten your copy of “Gentle and Lowly” yet?  We have copies for every adult in the church here at the office and we’ll have copies at church on Sunday.