Hey Gang,
Well, let's begin with ...
This week’s lesson says that if you want to “Make Your Life Count” there is going to be a time in which you must decide what is most important to you. You will have to ask yourself, do I really have the right perspective on life? And if I don’t then at this stage of life, how can I turn things around?
Think About This
If you had to nail it down to just one thing, what would you say was most important to you…
In your teens _______________________
In your 20s _______________________
In your 30s ________________________
In your 40s ________________________
In your 50s ________________________
In your 60s ________________________
At the end of Moses’ life, he told all the Israelites what he had discovered was really important and worthwhile. At the end of your life, what will people think was most important to you?
Center your life under the gracious and loving rule of God.
This week's lesson says that if you want to "Make Your Life Count" there is going to be a time in which you must decide what is most important to you. You will have to ask yourself, do I have the right perspective on life? And if I don't, then at this stage of life, how can I turn things around? When we take the time to step back and see the big picture, we will understand what really matters for time and eternity.
At the end of Moses' life, he told the Israelites what he had discovered was really important and worthwhile. At the end of your life, what will people think was most important to you?
I. GOD IS WORTHY – DEUTERONOMY 32:1-4
Song of Moses
1 Pay attention, heavens, and I will speak; listen, earth, to the words of my mouth. 2 Let my teaching fall like rain and my word settle like dew, like gentle rain on new grass and showers on tender plants. 3 For I will proclaim the LORD's name. Declare the greatness of our God! 4 The Rock—His work is perfect; all His ways are entirely just. A faithful God, without prejudice, He is righteous and true.
Moses declares that God is great, good, perfect, faithful, true and just. Take note of God's other attributes found in the Bible.
Why do you think Moses declared the greatness of God even after God had punished him (Num. 20:12-13) and even after the long and arduous wilderness journey?
How do you think Moses’ song would have been different had he focused on his sin and guilt instead of on the worthiness of God? Why does were we focus matter? When has God used a failure in your past to give you right perspective? How did it change the way you speak? Treat people? Make decisions?
II. HUMANITY IS WILLFUL – DEUTERONOMY 32:5-9
5 His people have acted corruptly toward Him; this is their defect —they are not His children but a devious and crooked generation. 6 Is this how you repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Isn't He your Father and Creator? Didn't He make you and sustain you? 7 Remember the days of old; consider the years long past. Ask your father, and he will tell you, your elders, and they will teach you. 8 When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance and divided the human race, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the people of Israel. 9 But the LORD's portion is His people, Jacob, His own inheritance.
The next part of the song wasn’t such a happy tune. Rather than respond with delightful togetherness, people stubbornly ignored God or rebelled against Him outright. The tone of the song changes in verse 5. Moses had been speaking about God’s faithfulness; now he spoke of the unfaithfulness of the people.
What words describe the people’s sins? Why is sin foolish? Why is sinning against love so serious?
Why, then, do believers so often go their own way and not follow God? In what ways do believers today have even more reason to readily confess sins and live redeemed?
Last thoughts in Deut. 32:5-9
III. GOD’S WAY ARE WONDERFUL – DEUTERONOMY 32:36-39, 43
36 The LORD will indeed vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants when He sees that [their] strength is gone and no one is left—slave or free. 37 He will say: "Where are their gods, the 'rock' they found refuge in? 38 Who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you; let it be a shelter for you. 39 See now that I alone am He; there is no God but Me. I bring death and I give life; I wound and I heal. No one can rescue [anyone] from My hand.
43 Rejoice, you nations, over His people, for He will avenge the blood of His servants. He will take vengeance on His adversaries; He will purify His land and His people.
If the only truths we had were that God is worthy and people are willful, we’d be in a big mess. In that case, our perspective might be “Oh well, there’s nothing I can do about it, so I might as well do whatever I want.” And we’d stay miserable since we don’t have the wisdom or will to find our way to happiness.
What does God say about idols and idolatry? Despite the waywardness of His people, what would God do? Does this apply only to the Hebrews or to all people? How does God’s compassion impact your perspective? Your living of life?
God’s great love allows us to choose our own way. This is exactly why we should return to Him! He has our best interests at heart. When we live with the right perspective – that God and God’s ways are wonderful – we chase God instead of fruitless idols. Instead of spinning our wheels, we actually build a whole and contented life. Instead of perpetuating despair, we spread security in Christ.
A precocious eleven-year-old girl, Akeelah Anderson, from south Los Angeles, is discovered to have a talent for words. In spite of the objections of her mother, Akeelah enters a spelling contest. Her gift takes her to compete in the National Spelling Bee, the most famous competition of its kind in the world. On the way, she is helped by a forthright, mysterious teacher, Dr. Larabee, and other members of her community.
Akeelah needed a change in perspective before she could really make her mark. What are your fears? how do these fears keep you from adopting the right perspective? from making your life count?
Is it ever too late to gain perspective in life? Is it ever too late to begin to make your life count?
This is the final study in the study theme “Make Your Life Count,” and has dealt with the topic “Adopt the Right Perspective.” The right perspective puts God at the center of your life.
II. HUMANITY IS WILLFUL – DEUTERONOMY 32:5-9
5 His people have acted corruptly toward Him; this is their defect —they are not His children but a devious and crooked generation. 6 Is this how you repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Isn't He your Father and Creator? Didn't He make you and sustain you? 7 Remember the days of old; consider the years long past. Ask your father, and he will tell you, your elders, and they will teach you. 8 When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance and divided the human race, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the people of Israel. 9 But the LORD's portion is His people, Jacob, His own inheritance.
The next part of the song wasn’t such a happy tune. Rather than respond with delightful togetherness, people stubbornly ignored God or rebelled against Him outright. The tone of the song changes in verse 5. Moses had been speaking about God’s faithfulness; now he spoke of the unfaithfulness of the people.
What words describe the people’s sins? Why is sin foolish? Why is sinning against love so serious?
Why, then, do believers so often go their own way and not follow God? In what ways do believers today have even more reason to readily confess sins and live redeemed?
Last thoughts in Deut. 32:5-9
- If we are less than what God expects us to be, it is because we have chosen to be so, not because He made us that way.
- We can learn about the greatness and graciousness of God from those who have gone before us.
- We are God's people by His gracious choice, not because we have earned or deserve the right.
- It is said that those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it, and with that sentiment in mind Moses urged the people to remember bygone days in order to be informed and inspired by them.
- Israel and all of humanity chose to be willful, disobedient children. If we were wise, we "would figure it out" (v. 29). Humanity is willful. Romans 3:10-12, 23
III. GOD’S WAY ARE WONDERFUL – DEUTERONOMY 32:36-39, 43
36 The LORD will indeed vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants when He sees that [their] strength is gone and no one is left—slave or free. 37 He will say: "Where are their gods, the 'rock' they found refuge in? 38 Who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you; let it be a shelter for you. 39 See now that I alone am He; there is no God but Me. I bring death and I give life; I wound and I heal. No one can rescue [anyone] from My hand.
…………………………………………………………………
43 Rejoice, you nations, over His people, for He will avenge the blood of His servants. He will take vengeance on His adversaries; He will purify His land and His people.
If the only truths we had were that God is worthy and people are willful, we’d be in a big mess. In that case, our perspective might be “Oh well, there’s nothing I can do about it, so I might as well do whatever I want.” And we’d stay miserable since we don’t have the wisdom or will to find our way to happiness.
What does God say about idols and idolatry? Despite the waywardness of His people, what would God do? Does this apply only to the Hebrews or to all people? How does God’s compassion impact your perspective? Your living of life?
God’s great love allows us to choose our own way. This is exactly why we should return to Him! He has our best interests at heart. When we live with the right perspective – that God and God’s ways are wonderful – we chase God instead of fruitless idols. Instead of spinning our wheels, we actually build a whole and contented life. Instead of perpetuating despair, we spread security in Christ.
Fear can keep us in an Emotional Prison for Life
A precocious eleven-year-old girl, Akeelah Anderson, from south Los Angeles, is discovered to have a talent for words. In spite of the objections of her mother, Akeelah enters a spelling contest. Her gift takes her to compete in the National Spelling Bee, the most famous competition of its kind in the world. On the way, she is helped by a forthright, mysterious teacher, Dr. Larabee, and other members of her community.
Akeelah needed a change in perspective before she could really make her mark. What are your fears? how do these fears keep you from adopting the right perspective? from making your life count?
Is it ever too late to gain perspective in life? Is it ever too late to begin to make your life count?
This is the final study in the study theme “Make Your Life Count,” and has dealt with the topic “Adopt the Right Perspective.” The right perspective puts God at the center of your life.
Our objective for this four-week study of events in the life of Moses was to help you all, as believer, to deepen your relationship with God and discover a more meaningful and significant purpose for daily living.
What are the implications of these truths for your life? THE CHOICE IS YOURS, ISN’T IT!
REMEMBER, the safest place for a believer is in the center of God’s will.
Remember to give thanks this week for the unending blessings that God has given to each of us and may we prepare to express our thanks this Sunday as we listen as witnesses to the truth of the Song of Moses.
See you on Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
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