God’s people are people of the Word
So Moses came with Joshua son of Nun and recited all the words of this song to the people. When Moses had finished reciting all these words to the people of Israel, he added: “Take to heart all the words of warning I have given you today. Pass them on as a command to your children so they will obey every word of these instructions. These instructions are not empty words—they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life in the land you will occupy when you cross the Jordan River.” Deuteronomy 32:44-47
From the text, God used Moses to bring to the Israelites what course of action they should take as part of their covenant relationship with God. God gave them His word before they entered the Promised Land. His command was for them to “take to heart all the warnings” found in His word. The implication was that God was not just providing them neither suggestions nor inspirational words but would be the source of life. They are not idle words, superficial, or casual matters of opinion. The Israelites spent forty years in the wilderness because their parents did not obey God and trusted Him in His word. They missed the opportunity to experience the fulfillment of God’s promises because they would not believe God. Time and again, the Israelites experienced God’s blessings when they live their lives in accordance with His Word. But they were punished when they were disobedient to His command. They were even commanded by God to pass His word to their children so that they too would enjoy living their lives obeying God. The Psalmist had proven in his life that meditating upon the Word of God and applying them in one’s life provided him wisdom. He compared the wisdom God provides from His Word and the advice of ungodly person. God’s wisdom produces fruit that no matter what season of life a person would go through it will always be evident. “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do” (Psalm 1:1-3). This is why it would be difficult to imagine a person claiming to be in a covenant relationship with God and will not be living his or her life in submission to His Word. Our respect to God’s Word is manifested not only in our ability to recite them but by how we apply them in our lives. We could spend countless hours reading and studying His Word to prove that God’s Word has a big part in our lives. But if the fruit of our lives are not consistent to what God commanded in His Word this will reveal what is really important to us and the condition of our hearts. To intentionally show disdain and wanton disregard to His Word by not living out in the truth of it is rejecting life itself! When Satan was tempting the Lord Jesus Christ to show His power by turning bread into stone He responded by telling Satan, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). To avoid being influenced by the world, let His Word rule your life, for “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
Blessings,