2 Timothy 1

"when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also." v.5

Read chapter 1
Two great women of the faith: Lois and Eunice. They were mother and daughter. Their grandson and son was Timothy. Three generations in that family had genuine faith after the Lord Jesus Christ. It's interesting that Paul doesn't mention Timothy's father. We see from Acts 16 that Timothy's father was a Greek, so didn't have the same belief not being a Jew or hearing and following the Way of Jesus. Timothy we know wasn't circumcised (Acts 16:3) which is one sign that his father didn't follow the law of Moses as most Jewish fathers would do to their son. Yet Lois and Eunice leave their stamp of faith on Timothy that he follows in. Most boys seem to follow in their father's footsteps, but this was more than just wanting to be like dad, this was genuine faith and truth that Timothy saw and learned from these two very influential women in his life- and that in his own family. We don't learn about these women other than here in scripture, it's not like they're in the faith hall of fame chapter of Hebrew 11, but the one sentence of scripture they're named in is a most honoring one. Motherhood is such an important job as it reflects on how your children choose to live and what to believe in. Don't just let your child hear about Jesus in church, live the life of faith in your home raising a child up in what the truth is and reflecting the faith you have or desire them to have. It's hard when both parents don't believe in the same god. How have you seen that hinder raising up children?
If you have children, how can you bring faith and truth into raising them up? How have you seen generations of the faith in your family pass down to generations? If you are the first in your family, how do you desire to continue it?

1 Timothy 6

"Now godliness with contentment is great gain." v.6 

Read chapter 6
This world teaches us to never be content.  To always want more.  To never be fully satisfied. To have great gain you need money and power.  Yet Christ says differently, the exact opposite really.  "Godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we cannot bring anything out" (vv.6-7).  We were born bringing nothing and when we die we can't take anything, even if one tries to be buried with certain possessions.  Godliness is the only thing that will matter in the next life as God will remember and bring to account in the Kingdom.  
Paul and Timothy most likely had many nights without a roof over their head and probably only one set of clothes, yet they were content knowing what they were gaining.  Now this isn't to say you have to be poor for eternal gain, but rather to be content with what you have.  If you have riches in this life don't feel guilty that you should have less, if you are middle class or poor don't strive all your days after being rich.  Contentment in all matters of life whether money, clothing, singlehood, married/family life, house, car, friends, etc.  What is something in your life that you are not content in and why?  How can you see great gain in being content with what God has given you?

1 Timothy 5

"Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine." v.17

Read chapter 5
How little respect and honor is given today for those that labor in the word and doctrine.  Not just by unbelievers but by believers too.  It seems to be one receives higher value by getting involved in service projects or church programs.  Yet Paul says here that those who labor in the word are worthy of double honor.  Studying scripture is not an easy thing, it requires work, just like weight lifting it's hard work but so good to the body (and mind).  Those that study well the scriptures are then to teach others of what they find and lead others according to the way.  The elders who rule were not just those in the religious circle for there wasn't separation of church and state then.  The ruling elders made decisions on matter for both the religious, secular and the community.  How can you show honor do those who labor in word and doctrine?  How can you enjoy and desire the hard work of studying the scriptures?

1 Timothy 4

"For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come." v.8

Read chapter 4
Today in age people are obsessed with working out.  The weight loss industry is a $20 billion dollar industry from foods, to books, to workout videos and machines, etc.  It consumes us, yet do we let Christ consume us more?
Exercise isn't a bad thing, it does profit us for health and vocations (i.e. landscaper, carpenter, mom, soldier).  But physical exercise won't help us at all in the life to come when we have new bodies from God.  In contrast godliness is profitable both for this life and the next.   So what is godliness?  The Greek word is eusebeia and could mean "devoutness" or the "true worship" of God.  "True worship has to do with the opinion you really have of God, the value you truly judge Him at, the worth He truly has to you, and the value you truly place upon Him. When we through reading and coming to a greater understanding of the Scriptures grow in appreciation for Who God is and what He has done and our hearts are lifted up in appreciation towards Him for these things, this is real and true worship before God"(Bible Teacher Nathan Johnson).  What part of life couldn't benefit from godliness?
How much time do you spend working out your body verses how much time do you spending working out your faith?  Now I don't want to get confused with works based mindset that the more good things you do the better person you are, it's how fit your soul is becoming.

1 Timothy 3

"This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work." v.1

Read chapter 3
"Faithful saying" is repeated various times throughout the letter of 1st Timothy and here is the second occurrence (the first occurrence was in 1:15, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.").  The faithful saying here in verse one has to do with desiring the position of a bishop.  Well lets stop right there and figure out what even is a bishop.  Right away most of our minds go to the catholic church and the people with the big white cone hats.

The Church of England was largely a church run by bishops, who were the officers in charge of multiple churches. These bishops had control of the local vicars and their parishes. This institution of bishops was therefore extremely important in the Church of England, and yet it should be clear to any real student of the Bible that there is nothing like the office of a bishop in the Word of God. Therefore the English translators of the Bible, translating to English long before even the King James Version, had picked out the Greek word episkopos and its related words, and had translated these words, whenever it seemed beneficial to them to do so, by using the word “bishop.” This gave a Biblical justification for their organization and use of bishops within their church structure. However, it did absolutely nothing to set forth the real truth of God.

The Greek word for bishop is episkopos and means "over-watcher."  In the following six verses we see the criteria for being an "over-watcher."  Just because one desires the position doesn't always mean God will give them the position automatically.  As you read the list of what the job entails, how does it change your view when you hear the word bishop?  Which criteria do you appreciate and which ones do you have a hard time with? Is a bishop a position you desire?  Why or why not?

1 Timothy 2

"who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." v.4 

Read chapter 2
What are your thoughts on predestination?  This verse can be kind of a stumper if you do.  We are all created by God whether we choose to believe it or not.  God gives us free will to choose Him which is our salvation.  He desires all of us, not just the "good" people.  He desires all to enter into eternal life.  He desires all to come to the knowledge of the truth that we may no longer believe the lies of Satan that has been implanted for thousands of years in the minds of people.  This will one day happen when all will come to the knowledge of the truth as Psalm 22:27 says, 
"All the ends of the world
Shall remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations
Shall worship before You."

As God's desires should be our desires, do you desire all men to be saved and come to the  knowledge of the truth?  How is this hard for you?  How is it a comfort for you?

1 Timothy 1

"having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme." vv.19-20

Read chapter 1
What?!?!  Paul has power to deliver people to Satan?  During the period of the Acts a lot of things happened that we don't see happening today and I wonder if this is one of those things during that dispensation than the one we currently live in.  It's hard to say exactly what delivering someone to Satan means or looks like, but we can note a few things.  It doesn't say "destroyed" but delivered and seems to have been for a fixed period of time, not a continual thing.  I do wonder how being delivered to Satan can teach these men not to blaspheme though???
Bible teacher Nathan Johnson notes,  "We only have one other reference to such a thing in the Bible, where in I Corinthians 5:5, Paul instructs the ekklesia in Corinth, “deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” It seems clear from this verse that delivering someone to Satan was a judicial decree. In I Corinthians, it was meant to bring about this man’s death, for nothing else could be meant by “the destruction of the flesh.” He tells them that if Satan destroys this man now, it will result in his spirit (meaning his very self) being saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."
Either way we learn that these two men had utter shipwreck of their faith.  How have you seen a believers faith shipwrecked?

Nahum 3

"Are you better than No Amon
That was situated by the River,
That had the waters around her,
Whose rampart was the sea,
Whose wall was the sea?" v.8

Read chapter 3

God's calling out the city of Nineveh in their pride and ultimate end.  He compares them to Thebes who was a a strong and mighty city as well yet were brought down.  Thebes was  noted by Home as being far-fame city with it's accruing wealth, its military power, and cities vast dimensions. 

• Thebes was the capitol of Egypt and was taken in to captivity by Assyria, Nineveh was the capitol of Assyria about to be destroyed by God
• Thebes' allies were Ethiopia and Egypt, both great and powerful cities, Nineveh's allies were Put and Lubim
• No Amon was the Egyptian god, Nineveh's was Ishtar (fertility goddess)

Yet despite the strength of Thebes they were taken in to captivity.  So God is telling Nineveh that despite their strength and power they aren't any better and will be destroyed as well.  Just as what Nineveh did to Assyria, so it will be done to them.  We aren't to think or rely on our government (which is farther and farther away from a Christian, godly nation) for even if it is strong in the world, nothing can stand against God's judgments.  Are we in denial of our governmental power today?   

Nahum 2

"Where is the dwelling of the lions,
And the feeding place of the young lions,
Where the lion walked, the lioness and lion’s cub,
And no one made them afraid?" v.11

Read chapter 2

Nineveh was destroyed around 612 B.C by an allied army composed of the Caledans and Babylonians.

The Lord seemed to have been speaking to the Rabshekah in chapter one who was the chief of the captains of Assryia who tried to turn the Jews from king Hezekiah.  The Companion Bible's commentary by E.W. Bullinger makes an interesting connection here in 2:11 with 2 Kings 18:34 of Sennacherib's taunt, "Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim and Hena and Ivah? Indeed, have they delivered Samaria from my hand?"  Lions here in Nahum 2 signify fierce people.   They [Assyrians] thought of themselves as a people able to tear and destroy all the people of the earth.  So Jehovah is using the same taunt as the Rabshekah did saying, Where's going to be your city and the dwelling of the lions when Nineveh is destroyed. 

Many plead the excuse that their fraud or unjust means for money is to provide for their family, but in the end it will never do them good for what they earned.  How have you seen unjust earnings that have led to downfall?

Nahum 1

"What do you conspire against the Lord?
He will make an utter end of it.
Affliction will not rise up a second time." v.9

Read chapter 1
Nahum is another minor prophet in our Bible and only appears in this book of the Bible, no where else.  Then name Nahum means comforter and signifies the comfort and despite the ten tribes going in to captivity the future vision was to comfort them.  Nineveh is the capitol of Assyria who had taken Israel into captivity.  The comfort was the to the people of of the northerner ten tribes because of the destruction of Nineveh that Jonah so wanted about 90 years prior.  So we see in this verse that they will not get second chance to repent like they did the first time with Jonah after his proclamation, "Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it" (Jonah 3:10).  Soon after this repentance they became worse than ever and their day of being in God's grace would soon come to an end; and this end is Nahum's words of this book.  So too in our time of absolute grace for the believers and the unbelievers we can be comforted to know that God's grace to the wicked will soon end and judgement will be given.  Don't think you can outwit the Lord.

Obadiah

The pride of your heart has deceived you,
You who dwell in the clefts of the rock,
Whose habitation is high;
You who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’
4 Though you ascend as high as the eagle,
And though you set your nest among the stars,
From there I will bring you down,” says the Lord. vv.3-4

Read chapter 1
Obadiah means servant of Jehovah.  This one chapter book is written about the Edomites.  The tribe of Edom that came from Esau who was Jacob's twin brother.  Through Jacob came the twelve tribes of Israel, God's chosen people.  Esau's descendants would become a numerous people as well, but they did not have Jehovah on their side.  Hundreds of years later we come to this book of Obadiah that was written around the same time Judah when into captivity under Jeohiachin's reign.  The pride of the Edomites seems to be their downfall.  Not only the pride of the hearts but the pride of their physical location and ability.  They dwelt in Mt. Seir where they thought they could never be defeated because of their location.  They are compared to ascending as high as an eagle who is the bird that can fly the highest of all birds.  Well no matter how high they were above everyone else though, the Lord can and did bring them down.  Nothing is too high for God.  What dangerous heights of your pride are you on?  When has the Lord or someone else brought you down from high pride?

James 5

"Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." v.16

Read chapter 5
Prayer is powerful!  Yet sometimes it can seem empty.  Why is that?  Prayer is communication with God.  In any relationship you need to communicate both sharing and listening.  Prayer is the time when we talk and let God do the listening.  Do you talk to God like you talk to your best friend or to someone who has a lot of power and authority?  Or do you talk to God like you'd talk to a stranger or a grin in a lamp or a police officer?
I've also found healing power of prayer when I've prayed with friends- it's intimate and real.  The Lord hears all our prayers, not just of the "good" christians.  The prayer of the righteous man is the one that prays in faith (.v15).  The cool thing today is that through prayer we can go straight to God and not have a mediator, like prophet or a priest.  How have you felt the power of prayer of others?  How would you describe your faith in your prayers?  How would you describe your prayer relationship time?

James 4

"Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?" v.1

Read chapter 4
James does a really good job of giving you direct, applicable ways to live as a believer.  This chapter seems full of them- almost like the Proverbs of every verse being a teachable concept, just not as ambiguous.  This chapter starts off with a hard but good one- calling out our true inner self.  When there's fights or quarrels among others do you understand or stop to think the root cause?  Sometimes it's not always obvious and that's where we have to pray and assess ourselves to know what our insecurities are and how they play out into other situation or what pride looks like differently than someone else.  Are there anterior movies to your words and actions?  This is something we constantly need to check and ask ourselves- and not do it for others.  We need to realize that they battles iwhin our hearts cause battles with others.  The desires within us aren't necessarily bad desires but it's when we don't get what we wan tit starts or feeds a war within. 

 "A desire for even a good thing becomes a bad thing when that desire becomes a ruling thing."  Nancy DeMoss

Do you need to challenge your heart in a current situation that's quarreling around you?

James 3

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.  Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.  Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?  My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water." vv.9-12

Read chapter 3
The tongue.  Crazy the power it has for such a small part of our body.  Power that can be good and bad.  Yet the tongue is the one beast that man cannot tame.  I mean man has been able to tame the most furious of beasts but the tongue is that much more ferocious. It's also hypcritical: speaking cursing and praises to God.  We see the dumb down comparison in nature.  Salt and sweet water don't come from the same spring source, a fig tree doesn't bear olives, a grapevine doesn't bear figs.  Nature teaches us that opposites aren't produced by the same thing so neither should our tongue.  Yet God can make something bitter sweet as we see in Exodus 15:22-25

So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.  Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. 

Only the work of God can make something go against nature, and only the Holy Spirit in us can tame our tongue if we choose.
The childhood song "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is a false statement, or at least one that is an encouraging statement to strive for, as words can hurt longer than any physical pain.  The tongue can bring comfort and encouragement or it can bring hurt and destruction.  We have to choose how we're going to control our own tongue.  Like in the chapter one we should be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."

James 2

"My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality." v.1

Read chapter 2
Shekinah glory
Shekinah is a Hebrew word not found in scripture but in later Jewish writings referring to the manifesting of God resting on something.  Like the pillar of cloud by which God made Himself manifest to the Israelites of His presence and power on the earth (see Exodus 24).  

"The Lord Jesus Christ is the divine glory...Jesus is the very embodiment of the divine glory made present in the world.  Like the SHEKINAH to the people of god in the Old Testament and the Immanuel who is Jesus, the very glory of God is embodied in the person of Christ. An interchangeability between Christ and glory is observable here." Beth Moore

"When two sit and there are between the words of Torah, the SHEKINAH rests between them."  Dr. C.H Dodd

Now when we allow God's glory to be manifested in our life there should be no partiality or favoritism.  We are to love our neighbor as ourself (v.8) and to do that we are to have a healthy and balanced view of ourselves as scripture assumes.  How has an unbalanced view of yourself made you show partiality.  How can you allow the shekinah of the Lord in you midst?  Don't just let it touch you, let it change you!

James 1

"James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings." v.1

Read chapter 1

Kai-reign!  Greetings!  This Greek phrase means "joy to you" and such a wonderful way to start of any greeting in a letter or even face to face.

Did you know that James is the half brother of Jesus?!?!  He's also thought to have written the first book of the New Testament (the four gospels are chronologically first).  Just think, Jesus' little half brother broke the 400 years of silence.   A little bit about James: his name in the Greek is Jacobus and Hebrew Ya'aqov which shows his name in English is actually Jacob.  This blew my mind the first time I realized that, I started thinking that King James who was ruling when the first English bible came in to play and wanted his name in the Bible. Turns out there are two derivatives of this name in Greek to mean Jacob and James. So the man we know as James was probably named after the famous patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel: Jacob.  And sure enough he is writing to the twelve tribes of Israel- he's writing to Jews!  And these specific Jews that were scattered abroad at the Acts 8 scattering right after Stephen was martyred (see Acts 8:1-4).

James took a while to believe in his big brother, but when he did he ministered for Christ with his all and to his death.  Our brothers or sisters aren't Jesus, but how can you believe in them and support them without letting that natural tendency of jealousy or selfish pride get in the way?

Deuteronomy 34

"So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.  And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day." vv.5-6

Read chapter 34
Our beloved Moses now dies.  It's been such an adventure and growing experience as we've walked through the wilderness with them in scripture.  Moses was 120 years old when he died, not because he was too old and in a hospice type state for he probably just as strong as he was when they first set out from Egypt forty years prior (v.7).  He wasn't allowed by God to enter the Promised Land but God let him see it; he was probably about six miles from the boarder.  Verse five says he "died according to the word of the Lord," oh that be the goal of every believer to finish their race set before us.  Moses died in peace and honor and what a great honor to be buried by God.  God created Him out of the dust of the earth and now was digging up the earth to bury him in return.  Moses was not like Enoch or Eijah that didn't see death and were taken straight up to heaven, Moses died and was buried as it plainly says here.  We do know he will be raised in the resurrection as we read in Matthew 17 of the transfiguration with Elijah and Moses,  Perhaps his hidden grave was a good thing so that no one would try to worship him or some kind of superstitious use of his grave as the Israelites were prone to such things.
When a righteous man dies how can you carry on God's ministry to not let it just end in the next generation?  As you get older, can you say your endurance for God is just as strong if not stronger when you first began your walk with the Lord?

Deuteronomy 33

“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,
Who rides the heavens to help you,
And in His excellency on the clouds." v.26

Read chapter 33
This chapter are the last words of Moses.  He blesses the tribes of Israel, yet not the same way the Jacob did in Genesis 49 that revealed their character and sin and was mixed of blessings and curses.  Moses mentions all the tribes except Simeon; this is because of the words by Jacob that the tribes of Simeon and Levi would be scattered among their brothers.  Levi we know doesn't receive an inheritance of land plot but some cities in each tribes territory as priests.  Simeon became smaller and smaller and eventually mixed in with the tribe of Judah.
The name Jeshurun here (also seen in chapter 32) is another name for Israel.  It is said to be a term of endearment meaning "child of the upright."  Surely there is no one like the God of Israel.  He rides on the clouds!  (Well the heavens which are the exalted places.)  This shows He has dominion over everything and He does all this to help you.  What an amazing scene to see Jesus riding on the clouds!  This is what we wait for and will see when His Kingdom comes.  
Moses with his last words to the people are blessings and praises of God.  What would want your last words be before you die?  

Deuteronomy 32

“He found him in a desert land
And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness;
He encircled him, He instructed him,
He kept him as the apple of His eye.
11 As an eagle stirs up its nest,
Hovers over its young,
Spreading out its wings, taking them up,
Carrying them on its wings,
12 So the Lord alone led him,
And there was no foreign god with him." vv.10-12

Read chapter 32

This chapter is a song.  A song that would help Israel remember their past of what they learned in the forty years wandering in the wilderness and the characteristics of God.  This was not to forget His goodness and also His justices.  God here is compared to an eagle.  He's compared to an eagle not in the way of laying eggs, nesting on them to keep them warm but about how it destroys its nest so that her young can learn to fly; removing the comfort zone so that they can develop in to what they were created to do- fly. The mother eagle doesn't just abandon them but stays near and often carries their young in their claws till they get it.  So God was with the Israelites and is with us today.  He doesn't leave us but He allows things to happen in our lives to push us out of our comfort zone to become the person He created us to be and go.

Deuteronomy 31

“I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in...Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Behold, the days approach when you must die; call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of meeting, that I may inaugurate him.'” vv.2,14

Read chapter 31
Moses was 80 years old when he was appointed by the Lord to lead Israel out of Egypt and now is 120 years old when the baton is being passed on for Joshua to lead.  40 years of leadership to the millions of Israelites and all that time spent in the desert wilderness.  Usually people at age 80 plus are far retired, but not Moses he was only just beginning and the Lord sustained and preserved him for forty years.  It wasn't that Moses was getting to old for the job, but that he was not to enter the Promised Land by crossing over the Jordan which they were about to do.  In Deuteronomy 34:7 we read, "Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished." 
This isn't the first time we hear of Joshua(Ex.33), but he was there since the beginning when Israel left Egypt.  He followed under Moses' leadership for forty years, learning the ways of the Lord.  He wasn't just someone Moses chose to succeed him or a vote by the people to who would lead next, but appointed by God.  Moses passed the baton well to Joshua teaching him over all those years, writing down the words of the Lord and encouraging him in seeking the Lord as he leads the people.  Man I wish sometimes I had someone that taught me for 40 years before I became a leader, leading is hard.  Why is godly leadership so important?

Deuteronomy 30

“For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off." v.11

Read chapter 30
Many people say that the Law of Moses was impossible and that no one could really keep it.  But that is so not true!  They're the same people that say God will never give us more than we can handle.  Doesn't that contradict?!?!  Also, though, we see Moses say in this chapter that the commandments from the Lord are not "too mysterious" or "far off." In other translations it's translated "too difficult" or "too hard" or "too wonderful."  The Hebrew is that it's not too surpassing or extraordinary.  Other nations didn't know God or His ways, but it was made plain and clear to the Israelites how to live by God's commands.  It wasn't far off where they would have to travel to hear God's words as they were given it directly to them.  Same for us today in that we have the written word of God.  It may seem overwhelming the whole Bible but it is made for us to learn and understand, not give up or not even try because of the mysteriously wonderfulness of it.  
What is it that makes the Bible intimidating to you?  

Deuteronomy 29

"These are the words of the covenant which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which He made with them in Horeb." v.1

Read chapter 29
This chapter is like the miniture version of the book of Deuteronomy as a whole.  It quickly reviews their past and covenant with God.  The word covenant is found seven times in this chapter all of what we have read before.  It may seem tedious to read or hear this again but was very much needed for how soon and quick the Israelites would forget (and us too).  I remember learning in English class the rule of threes in that, "the rule of three or power of three is a writing principle that suggests that things that come in threes are funnier, more satisfying, or more effective than other numbers of things. The reader or audience of this form of text is also thereby more likely to remember the information. This is because having three entities combines both brevity and rhythm with having the smallest amount of information to create a pattern. It makes the author or speaker appear knowledgeable while being both simple and catchy" (Wikipedia.com).   Also, back then not everyone had a bible or even easy access to a copy of the Law, so the common people had to rely on their memories and the Levites and other leaders to teach and remind them.  Paul even says to the Philippians, "for to me to write the same thing to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe" (Phil. 3:1).   There are not two covenants spoken of hear for then there would be sacrifices, but a renewal and reminder to this new generation.  How have you seen the rule of three help remind or engrain something in you?

Deuteronomy 28

"You shall eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and your daughters whom the Lord your God has given you, in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you." vv.53

Read chapter 28
Gross I know, cannibalism.  This can be a hard and depressing chapter to not just pass over of the long list of curses and horror that happen and become of the Israelites.  We read of all this happening hundreds of years later after Moses said these words; compare verse 53 with Lamentations 4:10 for example.  This wasn't to happen no matter what but the Lord knew that their hearts would turn away from following Him.  Many innocent of Israel still suffered because of the guilty among them since they were a nation as a whole.  In verse 47 Moses says this will happen "because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything."  The people of Israel welcomed the blessings of the Lord but would not honor Him for it, which led to their destruction.  "Idolatry begins with a proud and selfish heart that loves the gifts more than it loves the Giver, and it ends by losing both the Giver and the gifts" (Be Complete, Warren Wiersbe).  You may ask how can a loving God allow this to happen?  Jesus says, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent" (Rev. 3:19).  To love is to do so in truth, which is not just allowing someone to do whatever they want which ultimately is hurtful to them than beneficial   Just as the Israelites would later learn that serving the Lord wasn't so difficult after all and would bring freedom rather than bondage.  Do you serve the Lord God with joy and gladness of heart as the great Giver of gifts?  How has loving the gifts more than the Giver cause one to not fear or honor God?

Deuteronomy 27

“And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen!’"

Read chapter 27
"So be it!"   
Amen is probably the most well know word in the world.  It means "true", "so be it", "firmness."  Often you hear amen shouted in churches, something you want to shout when you agree wholeheartedly at what was just said.  This word will often be in scripture at the end of a solemn statement (as here and Nehemiah 5).  People were to say amen as an agreement of what was being stated.  One of God's names is the Amen.  He is True, He is certain, whatever He says will happen.
While the twelve tribes stood on the two mountains here in Deuteronomy listening to the Levites declare the curses which were closely related to the Ten Commandments. Their "amen" wasn't just their agreement with the words spoken, but their acceptance of the terms if the covenant was broken.  They were saying most assuredly it would come to pass if such and such happened.  It's easy to agree with the blessings but it's hard to always agree with the curses.  Can you truly say "amen" to all things in scripture?  What are some things that you have a hard time saying amen to?  What things do you love shouting AMEN to?

Deuteronomy 26

"Today you have proclaimed the Lord to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments, and that you will obey His voice." v.17

Read chapter 26
We have three public confessions in this chapter that is given by the individual of Israel.  It's good to remember we cannot just rely on a godly leader to do the godly things but also need godly citizens to do godly things.  Confucius said, "The strength of a nation is derived from the integrity of its homes."  Each home is made up of individuals and each individual added up will have a great impact on the nation.  Presidential nominee Ben Carson said in is pulling out address that "25 million evangelicals didn't vote in the last election.  The margin of difference was only 5 million."  A lot of people don't think their one vote matters but added up it can make a huge difference.  Just think of how our country would be today just in the last four years if the president was Mitt Romney?
Well back to Deuteronomy, we see that the individual would go before the priest with his public confessions.   These confessions were of God's goodness, of honesty and generosity and of obedience.  The words "this day" and "today" were common words Moses used in his address to the people reminded and reiterated to them of God's commands.  It wasn't enough just to hear it by going in one ear and out the other, but challenge to accept it in their hearts.  "A mere casual acquaintance with he Word isn't sufficient. If God's word is to nurture us and change us so that God can bless us, we must devoter ourselves to it heart and soul" (Be Equipped, Warren Wiersbe).
How can you proclaim God's goodness, tell of your generosity and honesty, and commit to obedience today?

Deuteronomy 25

"Forty blows he may give him and no more, lest he should exceed this and beat him with many blows above these, and your brother be humiliated in your sight." v.3

Read chapter 25
The just punishment when someone was found guilty and deserved to be beaten was to receive 40 blows.  Later Jews did 39 lashes just in case there was a miscount to no exceed the number of blows and break the law (2 Cor. 11:24). This was always done in front of the judge, not in secret to make sure that this law was adhered to.  The punishment wasn't to be too little to minimize the crime or too much as to dehumanize the man.   In the Bill of Rights of the United States Amendment VIII it says, "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel or unusual punishments inflicted."
I don't think I could even take one blow.  We don't have beatings like this today in our government but we are required to just punishment but not inhumane.  What other governments in our world do not go by this rule?

Deuteronomy 24

“When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house...When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken." vv.1,5

Read chapter 24
Marriage, divorce and honeymoon.  Let's look at the good first before the bad.  The Lord commands a yearlong honeymoon!  Thank you Jesus!  
Ok now on to the unfortunate part of marriage: divorce.  Here we don't see a command to get a divorce but a permission to, like Jesus said in Matthew 19:8, "He said to them, 'Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.'" This uncleanness for cause for divorce was not adultery because death by stoning was the command for adultery, so must have been something else that was repulsive to him yet unknown what all uncleanness entailed.  Yet it seems that the innocent spouse was free to remarry (v.2).  This certificate of divorce "protected the woman from slander and abuse and also gave her the privilege of a second marriage" (Be Equipped, Warren Wiersbe).
No one hopes to get divorced one day, yet some many people allow it to happen without fighting for their marriage.  I just watched the movie War Room and highly suggest you watch as it pertains to the power of prayer and marriage on the edge of divorce.  War Room trailer 

Deuteronomy 23

“Also you shall have a place outside the camp, where you may go out;  and you shall have an implement among your equipment, and when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it and turn and cover your refuse.  For the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp," vv.12-14

Read chapter 23
A pooper scooper!  They're not just for back packers or when your camping but something Israelites used too.  This would be when they men were away from home encamped before battle.  The tents that the Israelites lived in would be very close quarters so to not annoy others or ourselves there was an ordinance to go outside the camp.  This would promote good hygiene but more importantly because the Jehovah God walked in their midst.  It seems to mean this literally.  We see other places where the pre-incarnate Jesus appeared in times of the Old Testament, such as with Abraham in Genesis 18.  The same Jesus that was born of a woman and died on the cross, walked on the earth thousands of years early among His chosen people.  I wonder if they noticed?  
If God walked about where you daily live would change what you have in your home or work space?  Hide certain DVDs or change the radio station?  Delete pictures or certain text messages?  

Deuteronomy 22

“A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God...You shall not wear a garment of different sorts, such as wool and linen mixed together." v.5,11

Read chapter 22
Unisex clothes.  This idea first came in to the English language in a Time magazine in 1968.  Unisex clothing was described as "good fashion as well as good fun."  Yet to God in this verse meant an abomination of cross-dressing.  "Not wear anything that pertains to a man" could be a variety of sorts back then like a sword, tools, and certain clothing.  So what does that mean for us today?  This was the Mosaic Law that isn't commanded to us to uphold today, we can still learn principles from it.  Some churches use this verse to tell how men and women must dress, yet what about the changes in culture where Semitic men wore earrings and other jewelry yet is frowned upon in those same churches today?  Today we can't even determine what things are only masculine and what are only feminine and would change from culture to culture.  God made man in His image (Gen. 1:27), and man and woman were to be equal yet distinct from each other.  The principle seems to be to not confuse sexual distinction for how God created you as a man or as a woman and honor God's order and avoid confusion and sin.

Seems silly a command to not wear a garment of mixed sorts such as wool and linen.  I'm not really sure why this was, but who would want to wear a garment of wool and linen mix any way?  But maybe also Christians are not to mix with the ways of the world that bring confusion.