From the beginning: what we think and act on is our key. Ch01 Session 2
If we keep and do God's word, God will honor His promises to us.
Read: 30min.
Speak: 70min
1: From the beginning: what we think and act on is our key
Many times, when working a specific word or phrase from the Greek or Hebrew concordances I will find different topics, or categories that I can list as separate divisions of understanding and still maintain the integrity of the base definition of the word or phrase. As we investigate some of these places where “from the beginning” is used, I will note the different categories that the remoter context suggests. Right now, the exact meaning of the phrase is not a part of this study, because I will bring to your attention the categories that are introduced as a part of this study. My chapter titles will reflect one of the categories that this phrase is used in while studying it in the New Testament.
In the first use of this phrase, in the Old Testament, God is letting his people know that the land they are about to possess is not like Egypt but is a land of hills and valleys. Despite this, God tells them that if they hearken unto His Word, and Love Him, and serve Him, He will provide rain for the crops at the right seasons and provide grass for the cattle from the beginning of the year to the end of the year (i.e., all year round). So, God will provide what is needed so they can have food. Chapter 10 reminds Israel of the exodus with Moses and how God provided for them as they moved towards the promised land. This is still true today for any individual or community that decides to live by the teachings of God’s Word.
Deuteronomy 11:10-15 KJV
10 For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs:
11 But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven:
12 A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, “from the beginning” of the year even unto the end of the year.
13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
14 »That I will give«(H5414) you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.
15 »And I will send«(H5414) grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.
In verse 13 God gives the conditions that they need to meet so God can bless them with rain and grass to grow their crops and feed their cattle. These conditions are nothing new, but indeed they are conditions from the beginning, and finally written down and taught by Moses. These conditions are still valid today, and still hold true, and God will still honor His promise to provide our farmers with the right conditions to have a good harvest and to provide for the cattle also.
Deuteronomy 11:13 conditions
1. Harken diligently unto God’s Word
2. Love the Lord your God
3. Serve God with all your heart and all your soul (i.e., with all your being)
CATEGORIES: (Promise)
· God will provide food for His people
In verses 14 and 15 God gives them His promise if the conditions are met. There is a repetition that is worth mentioning at the beginning of verses 14 and 15, [1] the phrases “That I will give” and “And I will send” are the same Hebrew word: “nâthan” (H5414) and means to give, to send, to deliver.[2] But because in this section God is talking in the first person, the added words “…I will” are properly supplied. The repetition puts the emphasis on the repeated phrase: I will give, or I will send, that is, God will supply their need, so they can have food to eat. Which does not contradict His promise, but it establishes His promise. This section of Deuteronomy is about reminding His people of all the great things that He has done for them and how important it is to keep His Word burning in their hearts, and not to be deceived from other gods, that will cause them not to walk in His Word.
Repetitions tell us what the main topic is in a section. And the check on that is that the surrounding context (you may need to go backward and/or forward a chapter or two) corresponds with what the emphasized topics the repetitions are bringing to our attention.
Between Chapter 10 and 11 there are 6 verses that repeat the same gist or meaning, just put differently. Then there are 3 verses that tell us how to implement the 6 verses of similar meaning. I brought this to our attention because when we see this many similar phrases in a small section, God is showing us that this is an important concept. It would only make sense that there would be a few verses that show us how to implement this precept in our daily lives.
That brings me to the direction I am going with this chapter. How does God provide for mankind? This chapter provides us with the answers, God is not “The Lone Ranger” in this case but shows us that there are things that we can do on our part so God can provide what he has promised us on His part. Therefore, I am bringing out the principles of the renewed mind that are explained in the New Testament. If we want God to supply our need then we’re going to, by necessity, change the way we see things and act according to God's Word in our lifestyles. Let's look at those 6 verses that have a similar concept.
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 KJV
12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but “to fear (respect)” 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,
13 “To keep the commandments” of the LORD, “and his statutes,” which I command thee this day for thy good?
Deuteronomy 10:20 KJV
20 Thou shalt “fear (respect)” the LORD thy God; him shalt thou “serve,” and to him shalt thou “cleave,” and “swear (take an oath)” by his name.
Deuteronomy 11:1 KJV
1 Therefore thou shalt “love” the LORD thy God, and “keep” his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.
Deuteronomy 11:8 KJV
8 Therefore shall ye “keep” all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it;
Deuteronomy 11:16 KJV
16 “Take heed” to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;
Deuteronomy 11:32 KJV
32 And ye shall “observe to do” all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day.
Let's look at the things that I have underlined in the previous verses and take a look at this list of things that are mentioned for us as guidance on keeping God's Word in our hearts. What is fascinating is that when you start looking at a section closely you start to see things like a list or several verses that say the same thing just in a separate way. Then when you notice a list you can write those down one after the other and get a great summary of what is mentioned. If there is a duplicate, I will not list it a second time, unless a different context is mentioned.
Something that my minister has taught me is that when lists are mentioned in sections of scripture, they help define that section and give you the practical application that God wants you to understand. Lists are also a failsafe to rightly dividing that section without interjecting your own personal opinions, or private interpretation.
1. D10:12: fear: respect, honor, in the Hebrew
2. D10:12: walk: a manner of life, used figuratively
3. D10:12: love: love towards God
4. D10:12: serve: to do work, or to do the work of God
a. How? D10:12: with all thy heart, and all thy soul: With all your mind and with all your life.
5. D10:13: keep: 1st usage (H8104) (His commandments) to guard, to watch, to protect, to give heed
6. D10:20: cleave: to cling, stay close, stick with or to
7. D10:20: swear: to take an oath, to be obliged or compelled to respect and served God, in the Hebrew
8. D11:1: keep: 2nd usage (H8104) (your service or obligation) to guard, to watch, to protect, to give heed to
9. D11:8: keep: 3rd usage (H8104) (all of God’s commandments) to guard, to watch, to protect, to give heed to:
a. Why? D11:8 …that ye may be strong, (prevail) and go in and possess (take ownership of) the land…
10. D11:16: take heed: 4th usage (H8104) - keep – (to yourselves) to guard, to watch, to protect, to give heed to
a. Why? …that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside… and serve other gods…
11. D11:32: observe: 5th usage (H8104) …to do all the statutes (ordinances) and judgments (litigation)…
You will notice I have marked 5 uses of the same word used in the 6 verses that are similar in meaning. I would conclude that this word is very important to understand as the main concept God is instructing us in.
So, a quick list of the detailed list above from Deuteronomy.
· Respect (2 times: 10:12, 20)
· Walk (1 time: 10:12)
· Love (2 times: 10:13, 11)
· Serve (3 times: 10:12, 20, 11:16)
· Keep (various translations H8104) (5 times: 10:13, 11:1, 8, 16, 32)
· Cleave - to stay close or cling to something (1 time: 10:20)
· Swear – as an oath to be loyal (1 time: 10:20)
These are seven concepts that God wants from us as His children, so He can provide for us in all categories of life. It has always been this way from the beginning.
When you read Deuteronomy 10ff you will notice that chapter 11 starts with the word “Therefore,” and tells me that the chapter heading is wrong.
In the original and available texts, there are no capitals, periods, commas, chapter headings, no spaces between words. These are all added by the translators, so it might be easier to read in the language they are translating into. And many times, the translators will add punctuation and words to support their theology. But these additions can be discovered by the knowledge of “repetitions,” the grammar and syntax of other words in the phrase/sentence/context, and by studies of key words and how they are used in other places.
Chapter 11 not only continues the discourse from chapter 10, chapter 11 also concludes all the conditions mentioned in chapter 10 that God gave to His people to keep walking in His Word. Chapter 11 gives more instructions to keep His Word along with the blessings they will receive for being obedient. In this section, God promises that He will do what is needed for the land, so they can grow their crops, and feed their animals, just as He did in Egypt (chapter 10). That is, God will make sure His people will have enough food for all.
Just an observation, but when we as believers are in harmony living God’s Word, God will cause the natural world around us to give us what we need so our land can also bless us. This is not only a promise to God’s people in the past as a matter of record, but the principle that God will cause the Earth to respond favorably to us as we are faithful and honestly living His Word in our daily lives is still an ongoing promise for all believers, in any era. The following verses serve as a warning from God not to serve other gods or to worship them.
Deuteronomy 11:16-17 KJV
16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;
17 And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.
In Deuteronomy 11:18-22 God gives specific things the families are to do so they can teach and remind themselves of the promises that God has made to them. This would be how they can carry out “taking heed to yourselves” in Deuteronomy 11:16 above. As you read the instructions on how the family is to keep God’s Word in the forefront of their minds, you will notice a few local customs mentioned. Here is a list of what they were told to do.
1. V18a: “… lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, …” or remember God’s Word in your mind and lifestyle.
2. V18b: “… bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes” or write them on your palms so they will be always in front of you.
3. V19: “… teach them to 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.” Or teach them in your house, out on a walk, when you put them to sleep, when they wake up.
4. V20a: “… write them upon the door posts of thine house,” Just what is says, when they enter their house, they see God’s Word. Maybe a psalm or similar short verse of encouragement.
5. V20b: “… and write them upon thy gates:” When they entered their house gate, they see God’s Word, maybe a promise or short verse of encouragement.
Then in Deuteronomy 11:21, 23-25 are more great promises to His people who will be living in the new land. These promises are in connection with a person or family who take an active role in renewing their thoughts to remember and live God’s Word. God’s principles are being applied in their lives, they are actively trying to live God’s Word every day. As you can see, God gives us some things we can do to live His Word. This then brings us into what Paul refers to as the “renewed mind.” Therefore, I will head in that direction also in this chapter in a moment. Since our goal is to live God’s Word in our lives also. The promises God made to His people, if they will apply them (to renew their mind) will come to pass for them. His Word living in their lives!
Deuteronomy 11:21 KJV
21 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.
Deuteronomy 11:23-25 KJV
23 Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.
24 Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.
25 There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you.
CATEGORIES: (Promise)
· V14-15: God will provide food for His people and their animals.
· V21: They will live longer.
· V23: God shall drive out other nations from their land, and they shall conquer countries and own their land even if they have a stronger military.
· V24: They can claim the land as theirs to possess as God has promised them to have.
· V25: Other nations will not be able to stand against them, they will be afraid of them because they see how their God protects them.
Look at these great promises how God will give everything they need to be healthy, live a long life, and have a strong military force, when they love God and keep His Word and apply it daily by renewing their minds. God had given them a choice, and God has given us the same choice also; it is by our freedom of will. No one is forcing you to live by the ethics of God’s Word. No one is changing your mind for you, including God. That is all on your shoulders to change your attitudes and actions to apply God’s Word.
His promises are eternal, and we can get the same results as promised in this record by applying the same principles in our lives. From the beginning God has always had the same stipulations to receive His promises that will bless us in all categories of life when we live His Word with the heart of love, not only in the letter of God’s Word, BUT ALSO IN THE SPIRIT OF GOD’S WORD.
The opening of The Sermon on the Mount has the heart of a believer under the Law but still applies today to receive the blessings from God. These are called by many, the “Beatitudes.” These are moral attitudes, that is, issues of the heart, of decency and that which is right in a moral way within yourself and towards others. You will notice each Beatitude starts with the word “Blessed” and then mentions one moral quality and the result of applying that quality in your life. This repetition at the beginning of each Beatitude is a type of figure of speech that brings our attention that we will be “blessed” or have an inside joy from God’s blessings on us as we have these qualities in our lives.
Matthew 5:2-12 KJV
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
God has set before us a choice to live His Word with a right heart and soul, so we can receive His blessings, or to decide that His Word is not for us and receive the cursing of disobedience. This choice has never changed from the beginning regardless of what day and time we live in, whether under the Law, or under Grace.
Deuteronomy 11:26-28 KJV
26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; (two choices, you must choose only one with any situation)
27 A blessing, if ye obey (one choice) the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:
28 And a curse, if ye will not obey (the other choice) the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
Jeremiah 7:23 KJV
23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
The next relevant verse with the phrase “from the beginning” is in Psalm 119:160, and verifies that God’s Word is from the beginning, and is true and that His judgments are righteous forever. So, His promises, which are a part of His Word, are also true and righteous by genuine logic. And His principles of learning and applying His Word are also true in all day and times, yes, including our day and time.
Psalms 119:160 KJV
160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
What are some of the parallel guidelines in the New Testament that we have read in the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 11:18-20 above? You will see that serving God with a pure heart was always what God wanted, and the way to that was to learn God’s Word and then change your mind (thoughts) to live (act on) God’s Word. That principle has not changed from the beginning.
God is not asking you to live a perfect life, but to honestly undertake renewing your thoughts to have the right attitude and motivation and love for God the best you can do daily. Only Jesus Christ lived a perfect life without disobedience, so you could be forgiven for any past and future disobedience. That allows you to do the best you can when you are renewing your thoughts to do the right thing and to live righteously by applying God’s Word.
Hebrews 8:10 KJV
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
How will God do that? By the person’s freedom of will, to renew (change) their thoughts to apply God’s Word. This is one level of understanding; another level though from the context is that after the return of Christ, which has several stages, God will give us new knowledge, and we will not need to renew our minds as before. This is true for Israel and other believers in the Old Testament and the believers that were born-again after the Day of Pentecost.
Acts 20:19 KJV
19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, …
Mark 12:30-31 KJV
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Do those commandments in Acts 20:19 and Mark 12:30-31 sound familiar as being from Deuteronomy 10:12-11:28? What Acts 20:19 and Mark 12:30-31 summarize, Deuteronomy 10:12-11:28 give us the detail.
Romans 12:2 KJV
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
This is a choice (via a command) to the believers to make a conscious decision to not be conformed to the world, but to be transformed (in their thoughts) to live God’s Word so they can prove God’s Word to be good, acceptable, and perfect. How do they do that? Well, Deuteronomy 11:18-20 gives a few principles of learning that can be applied to help with changing your thoughts in any day and time to live God’s Word.
There are many verses on the topic of the renewed mind in Paul’s epistles. Ephesians chapters 4-6 is a section which offers instructions about how to walk in accordance with God’s Word in light of the mystery of Christ-in-you. Here are a few examples from Ephesians 4.
Ephesians 4:23-32 KJV
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Put on what God gave you in Christ, holy spirit)
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (to grieve or make sorrowful our holy spirit is to NOT utilize the 9 manifestations you have to activate God’s power in your life)
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
All these verses show us that we are to change what we think so we can live God’s Word. These verses tell us how to do it, that is, how to teach our mind to change. They tell you “What not to do,” and “what to do” in place of it. Deuteronomy 11:18-20 also gives us “how” to put God’s Word in front of us so we can remember His Word. Here are the areas listed above in Ephesians that we need to change in our life, (if relevant). The structure will be: The number equals what we change, the second tier (small letter) equals how to change. The first on the list is the general principle, then the following list are specific areas of change. This is part of putting on the new man; Christ-in-you, some very practical steps we can all take and benefit from.
1) 4:23: Be renewed in the spirit (heart) of your mind (thoughts)
4:24: Put on the new man (Christ-in-you)
2) 4:25a: Put away lying
4:25b: Speak everyman the truth
3) 4:26a: Be angry, and sin not
4:26b: let not the sun go down upon your wrath (resolve your anger with the other person before you go to bed. Not doing this is the sin in 4:26a)
4:27: Neither give place to the devil. (This is part of being angry and resolving it the same day. If you don’t, that will give a way for the devil to provoke anger and hate towards the other person).
4) 4:28a: Let him that stole, steal no more
4:28b: but rather let labour, working with his hands (i.e., work for your things)
4:28c: Work so you can also give to those with needs.
5) 4:29a: Let no corrupt communication come out your mouth
4:29b: But speak things that are good for edifying and ministering grace to the hearers.
In point #4, we see 2 things to do: 1) you need to supply your own needs and 2) you need to help supply the needs of others.
Then, verses Ephesians 4:31-32 reiterates what we need to change, but Ephesians 4:30 reminds us to keep the operation of our gift of holy spirit active which will be needed as we change our thinking with its associated actions.
6) 4:30: And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
reminds us to keep the operation of our gift of holy spirit active.
7) 4:31: Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking,
be put away from you, (along) with all malice:
8) 4:32: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
There are many other verses and sections that tell us not to go in the way of the wicked, and many other places that tell us to keep God’s commandments. This is the same as what the Old Testament says, just in another way. The New Testament gives us how we can change our mind in a more direct way from His Word considering we now have Christ-in-us and that demonstrating this gift of holy spirit is a part of how we renew our mind (thoughts).
Here are the first 19 verses in Proverbs Chapter one, Proverbs 1:1-7 are setting up the whole book of Proverbs for the readers. Proverbs were used to teach children the ways of God and the ways of the wicked, along with the results of following each way. The book of Proverbs teaches practical ways to renew the mind, so that Israel could live God’s Word in their daily lives in Old Testament culture. Proverbs also shows us our choice in very clear terms. Teach your children Proverbs, and they will have a good understanding of good moral judgement in their lives that is godly.
Proverbs 1:1-19 KJV
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
Notice Proverbs 1:8-19 is the first lesson on combating the wicked. It deals with conspiring with criminals or enemies to steal and murder from good people. It is encouraging you to not join them or befriend them. If you were a leader of a country and you did this, you would be committing treason! This is the first lesson David shares in the opening of Proverbs, and it is fascinating that this still applies in our day and time.
In the first use of the phrase “from the beginning” we see how God tells His people that He is looking after the land they will soon occupy all year round. And He gives them many promises for their land and for their community if they will take heed to His Word and apply it in their lives. The condition was that the people had to endeavor to keep God’s Word in their thoughts and teach their children also. We found in our study a list of seven things we are to observe so God can bless us. We are not to wait around and beg or overly praise God, thinking God will bless us for our much praising. NO! We are to renew our thoughts to live His Word, and then God will bless us in our life. These are the seven things we are to observe as we renew our thoughts: This is the direction I will be taking with this book.
· Respect God
· Walk in His ways
· Love God
· Serve God
· Keep His Word
· Cleave unto His Word
· Swear – as an oath to be loyal to God
These have always been God’s requirements for His people to do, so that He could bless them from the beginning.
In the next teaching I will cover Paul’s ministry to teach the fellowship of the mystery.
[1] Bullinger, E.W. (Figures of Speech used in the Bible), Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 16th printing 1991. p. 199, ref: Anaphora; or like sentence beginnings. … it is repeating of the same word at the beginning of successive clauses: thus, adding weight and emphasis to statements and arguments by calling special attention to them.
[2] Strong, James. (The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible), Thomas Nelson Publishers. 1996. Hebrew Dictionary: p. 97, ref: 5414