The Bible by David Alley

In this video listen to Joshua 13 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Joshua 13 the land began to be divided, despite the fact that it was not totally conquered. This is also the Lord’s method for us. He doesn’t just give us what we want without having to work for it, but rather we inherit through working and serving. Just as some famous billionaires do not hand their children wealth on a platter, but make them work to learn its value, so God does the same with our inheritance.So we are given work to do in God’s kingdom and as we pray and serve, we come into our inheritance. Joshua set them up, but it was to be a generational thing that others carried on. But sadly the next generation did not take up where the initial generation stopped. As a footnote, we learn the fate of Balaam in verse 22.Previously when they attacked Sihon king of the Amorites East of the Jordan, Balaam was there and killed as recorded here. This was how they knew the inside story of what happened, as recorded back in Numbers. Moses was a part of the defeat of the two eastern Kings, and this was recorded by Moses. Three of the tribes inheritance is described, and then finally the Levites are said to not be given any because the Lord is there inheritance.While this sounds disappointing, this is the most exciting of all. THat God is their inheritance is what should motivate us too. Earlier in Genesis, the Lord spoke to Abraham saying “I am your shield and your very great reward.” More than money, wealth, legacy or anything, God is the prize above all others. Nothing else can satisfy.

In this video listen to Joshua 12 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Joshua 12 it lists all the defeated king. It lists 31 kings west of the Jordan, but there were the two (Sihon and Og) east of the Jordan too making it 33 in total. This list is a tally of the victories of Joshua which took at least about 7 years to complete, based on an understanding of Joshua 14:10. There are a number of atonement models for Jesus death at Calvary.One of them, the Christus Victor model focuses on Christ’s defeat of Satan and his obtaining ofo good things for us. Here we see the demonstration of Joshua as the Christus Victor, the one who overcome evil and opened up the good things for God’s people. Scripture tells us in Colossians 2:15 that “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Christ is our Joshua having conquered all the kings that fought against us.

In this video listen to Joshua 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Joshua 11 there is now a battle with the northern cities. Jabin (a title) king of Hazor was the leader. Hazor was the third city that the bible verifies was burnt by fire, and the archaeology verifies this showing a burn layer. In Judges 5 is another King Jabin - which some thought was confusing because they thought the bible was mixing narratives.The Associates for Biblical Research have discovered that Jabin was not a name but a title given to all the kings of Hazor, just as Pharaoh was given to all kings of Egypt. Joshua once again employs a surprise attack at Merom. Merom is about ten miles north of Galilee. The alliance of northern kings is defeated and Joshua now has control over the entire land, although not every enemy is yet defeated.Previously the land was a conglomeration of city states, but now it is under the control of one entity, being Israel and its tribes. So despite loose pockets that were not controlled, Israel had control over the area, the trade routes, travel, language and more. In our lives once we have overcome all the major strongholds of the evil one we will have rest too, and yet there will always be pockets of resistance that remain, while we are in the flesh.Our tendency is to become lazy once the major part of the work has been done.

In this video listen to Joshua 10 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Joshua 10 the sun stands still during the famous battle at Gibeon. Joshua marches his army about 30 kilometres through the night for a surprise attack against an alliance of five kings. Unlike Rahab and the Gibeonites who chose humility, nobody else does, and this southern alliance is defeated here at Gibeon, speeding up the campaign for Canaan.In Sunday school pictures we see the sun standing still, but in reality the battle was fought during an almighty hailstorm which killed many of the enemy combatants. The sun, despite standing still, was not visible. And of course God would have stopped the earth’s rotation to make the sun stand still, but if that happened normally, the coriolis effect would destroy all life on earth instantly.So this was a supernatural event of the highest order, effectively freezing not just the earth, or the sun, but everything in an instant which time continued for a day. God is the author and sustainer of life, so this is not a challenge for him, because he sustains life every single day.The chapter finishes with victory, and then Joshua systematically conquering a number of cities one by one. This symbolises our spiritual life where we are to overcome strongholds of the evil one in our lives one by one.

In this video listen to Joshua 9 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Joshua 9 we find the third of the mistakes made by the Israelites. First was the taking of the dedicated thing at Jericho, second was presumption in the battle at Ai, and now is the failing to enquire of the Lord, resulting in the deception of the Gibeonites.The Gibeonites are close to Joshua, yet send a delegation pretending to be from afar, and make a treaty with the Israelites. This treaty ends up saving their lives, and the Israelites grumble against their leaders for having made this deal. This is the only time we see grumbling in Joshua, unlike the previous generation who grumbled regularly against Moses, and in this case the grumbling is justified.In today’s litigious worlds, the treaty with the Gibeonites would be overturned on the basis of their lies, but Joshua is a man of integrity. Despite having made the mistake he honors his word. These type of mistakes are typical of Christian believers who allow the world into their lives and accept it willingly and live with it.

In this video listen to Joshua 8 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Joshua 8 Ai is conquered and the city destroyed. The city of Ai is one of three cities destroyed by fire in the Canaanite conquest. The first Jericho, and the last Hazor. Many of the other cities were probably not destroyed but preserved for use as is the normal way in battle. Joshua hid a second force in the Wadi Sheben between Ai and Bethel and lured the army of ai out of the city with an initial preliminary force, then sacked the city.It was a strategic move that Joshua obtained from the Lord. At this point we see how simple the victory was, when done the Lord’s way. It is not only that the instructions came from the Lord as to how to fight, but that the Lord was also fighting for them as commander of the Lord’s army. We have often talked about the battle in the heavenlies.When the Lord makes it possible in the spiritual realm, it looks like we are conquering on earth, but the reality is that without God’s help there isn’t progress. We must never be proud of our own abilities, or we may soon find that everything we do starts to turn to dust. On the other hand, for the humble hearted person who trusts God, it is amazing how his feeblest sincere effort for Christ produces fruit that lasts.

In this video listen to Joshua 7 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Joshua 7 we consider some of the spiritual lessons of the book of Joshua. The book of Joshua teaches us about the importance of overcoming in our own lives. We are called to be overcomers, and there are strongholds in each of us that must be torn down.The last chapter contained the first major stronghold in Canaan, that of Jericho. Each of us have strongholds that seem so invincible that only the Lord can tear them down, and we must wait on the Lord for his method. But if we don’t follow the Lord’s plan we can be led to defeat as happened in this chapter.People presumed that God was with them, as they went up to attack in their own strength. We cannot defeat strongholds in our own lives, even small ones with presumption, or trusting in our own abilities. Even the smallest sin in our own lives render us entirely powerless.In Chapter 7 the Israelites were defeated at the city of Ai because of their own presumption, and failing to hear and obey the Lord. This chapter also outlines the sin of Achan, who touched the devoted thing, and removing the Lord’s help in battle. His greed cost the lives of many people.What is the devoted thing? Is this a danger to us today Finally this video will briefly consider the archaeology of Ai.

In this video listen to Joshua 6 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Joshua 6 the first siege in the conquest happens, at Jericho. Twentieth century excavations of Tell es Sultan (Tel Jericho) show us that Jericho was well fortified. Multiple cities were built on top of each other, and the city of the Joshua period is called city 4.It had an outer wall of stone, with a wall of bricks on top of the stone wall extending its height further. The stone wall was also found to have had dwellings build into it, so that people also lived in the wall. Joshua gave instructions to march around the city daily for six days, and then seven times on the seventh day. The strange instructions that Joshua gave also made little sense.They were in some ways also a step of faith, just as the stepping into the Jordan was while it was in flood stage. As the army marched around the city it would have produced a lot of speculation within the city as to what was happening, and no doubt a lot of anxiety. Rahab’s testimony in chapter two gives an insight into the feeling inside. Interestingly, because they marched for seven straight days, one of these days coincided with a Sabbath.However the entire seven days seems to have happened during the week of the feast of unleavened bread. The removal of Jericho from Canaan as a devoted object seems to match the theme of removing leaven from bread, that is removing the evil from among them. The city was the firstfruits of the land, and considered devoted. They Israelites were to completely give the city and all of the spoils to the Lord by utter destruction.This was not the pattern typical of ancient warfare where all the spoils were kept to pay the army, or for the benefit of the occupying force/nation. This would have especially been so for the grain which was a source of food. In the archaeological record there is a burn layer several feet thick, including the burning of grain. This matches the complete devotion to the city to the Lord.In Hebrew it says the walls fell beneath themselves. Interestingly of the four major excavations in the 20th century, the most biblically sceptical of them all was Kenyon, a british archaeologist. She noted that the mud brick wall had collapsed down in front of the stone wall creating a ramp. Thus the Israelites could have easily “gone up” into the city.

In this video listen to Joshua 5 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Joshua 5 describes how the Amorites melted in fear in the face of the impending invasion. As Hitler swept across Europe in WW2 the people in the nations before him were afraid. They sensed the inevitability of what was ahead, and so too the Amorites. So why continue to resist? This is sadly what people do, continuing to resist Christ. The smart Amorite would have realised something different was called for, and we find in coming chapters that the Gibeonites did endeavor to do something different.As people it is repentance which is called for. Psalm 76:7 says, “who can stand before the Lord?” We realise that repentance is our only hope. Next a surprising thing happens. The men of Israel are all circumcised at Gilgal. Verse two describes a hill of foreskins. The circumcision of 600000 men would have indeed created a hill of foreskins. The timing of such an event was also not something any sensible human would have chosen.We saw in Genesis 34 the story of Dinah and the Shechemites and how the circumcision of the men of Shechem rendered them unable to fight, and they were defeated. However God sees spiritual rightness with God as more important than military preparedness. God is no doubt teaching them to trust him through this. The men of Jericho could have attacked at this point, it was their opportunity, but because of fear they never took it, and most likely did not know to take it.In verse 9, the Lord told Joshua that after the circumcision, the reproach of Israel was now removed. There is something about being uncircumcised which brings reproach. We are of course talking of spiritual circumcision, not the physical as the book of Galatians makes clear, yet the physical as in this story is where we learn about the significance of genuine circumcision.This is the Lord of hosts, none other than Jesus. It is clear that Jesus is not on our side, but rather that we choose to join his side. Even though he is the servant of all, it is us who are called to lay down our lives and serve Him. He was the Lord of hosts here, and remains the Lord of hosts today. He leads the army of God, which is not Joshua’s army, but rather His army.The Lord was fighting with, for and before Joshua.

In this video listen to Joshua 4 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Joshua 4 After they had crossed over, the water still hadn’t gone back yet, they were able to go in and take twelve big stones and build a monument. Once the blockage upstream was removed it would have still taken a significant time for the water to flow down, giving them ample time to collect the stones.And, they also built a second twelve stone monument in the river, which ended up being covered over. Some commentators think that the double monument is a picture of the believers' experience in Baptism, both being buried in Christ, and being risen in Christ. That’s probably right because the monument in the water makes no sense at all as nobody would see it.The book of Joshua notes that these monuments are “there to this day” which is the day that Joshua wrote these words, being within living memory of the event. Today (the year 2021) the monument outside the water no longer seems to be there, but there is no doubt it happened.Other monuments such as the one on Mt Ebal which is large and harder to remove are still there, so this much smaller, easily moved monument could have had any number of things happen to it over time. Interestingly this chapter mentions the number of fighting men from Rebuen, Gad and Manasseh who crossover, which is about 97000 less than was counted in the second census in Numbers 32. This video explains why.They finally get across the Jordan and have their first day in the promised land on the 10th day of the month of Nisan, which is four days before Passover, and the day on which the Passover lamb is selected. This video talks about how selecting Christ leads you into promise.

In this video listen to Joshua 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Joshua 3 they spend the last three days on the banks of the Jordan, which at this point was swollen due to being Spring. The river was impassable by normal methods at this time of year, for people with cattle, and goods. The spies in the previous chapter would have swum across, but this wasn’t possible for 2 million people and all they owned.God then declares he is going to magnify Joshua just as Moses was elevated in their minds. He does this announcing in advance what the miracle will be. That it is not a surprise to Joshua shows his communication and standing with God. A step of faith is required here because it was completely unlike the Red Sea where there was a clear passage before, and a pursuing enemy behind.Here there is neither, and they have to step into the water first before anything happens. But this group is also a different group to the others, who were completely helpless. So the priests carrying the ark went in front, and the waters miraculously stop. If God goes before us, nothing can resist us, but our problem is that we tend to go ahead of God doing what we want.The stopping of the Jordan isn’t unprecedented and in this video we will talk about a similar incident in 1927 where the Jordan stopped for over a day after a landslide upstream, as recorded by Columbia Climate School.

In this video listen to Joshua 2 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Joshua 2 the military campaign begins with spies visiting the house of a prostitute. This was not just them jumping at human opportunity to be immoral, but a military smart move to gather information. A prostitute was the ideal person for the spies to visit, because she was someone who was connected with many others. Interestingly, Rahab ends up marrying Salmon, who is the father of Boaz who features in the book of Ruth later.Rahab is also one of 4 women mentioned in the genealogy of Christ by Matthew. The four are in order, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bath-Sheba. All four of the women had something that would disqualify them, and each of them are a picture of grace given to God’s people, who are his wife.These spies were secretly sent out, so that the Israelites were not told they had been sent, unlike the 12 spies earlier who had been sent out, one from each tribe in a much more public manner. Joshua not only followed everything the Lord told him to do in terms of conquest, he also seems to have been militarily quite smart doing things like this so as to be prepared. Rahab helps the spies and hides them under flax on the roof of her home.The time was Pentecost, during the Barley harvest, and this passage indicates the treatment of the harvest. Archaeological records from several of Jericho’s four major excavations (Tel es Sultan) have shown grain burned in a massive fire event. The burn layer is often 3 to 4 feet in thickness in the excavations, indicating a major destruction.This was the grain just harvested, which could have sustained the city in a prolonged siege, but was unused because the siege was so short. It also indicates the word of God to Joshua to destroy everything was obeyed because normally you would save the harvest in the event of a conquest. The key thing in this chapter is the scarlet thread in the window of Rahab's house.The Scarlet thread here is the symbol of salvation in the blood of Christ. In the same way that the blood of the passover lamb was over a home to save those inside, here this scarlet thread is a symbol of salvation for those in Rahab’s home.

In this video listen to Joshua 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.The title of the book is none other than the name of the Lord, Jesus. Only two books in the Bible have such clearly defined qualities in the self-descriptions as to be all about the Lord.First here is this book named after the Lord, and second is the Revelation in the NT, which describes itself as a revelation of Jesus Christ. Both books which reveal Christ are in the context of the judgement and destruction of his enemies. Joshua is a book about the conquest of Canaan in which God fulfils his promises to Abraham, and symbolically shows how we are to walk with God, overcoming evil, defeating strongholds, obeying Christ, and putting every weight aside. Is it any wonder that the sword and the cross are the same shape?Both are methods of death, but through them both we have victory and salvation too in the name of Jesus. The book starts with “Now,” showing that in the mind of Joshua this is connected to the previous books. Scripture tells us that Moses was faithful in all of God’s house (see Hebrews) even though he didn’t enter the land because of his one example of disobedience.We are all aware of Moses’ flaws despite his faithfulness. Yet Joshua is also faithful in all he is given, but we are not told of any flaws. This is in my opinion because he is a picture of the perfect Christ, who does everything the Father gives him. Both Jesus and Joshua here begin their missions on the banks of the Jordan river. Jesus is said to have been baptised in the same area where the Israelites are about to cross over to inherit the land.The Jordan is highly symbolic, not of salvation, but of coming into the promises of God, and into the indwelling of the Spirit. The conquest begins with Joshua commanding them to prepare, because in three days they were to cross the river. Three days is the time period of Christ in the ground, and the biblical number of completion.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 34 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 34 is the last of the chapters in the Law. Although the first five books are written by Moses, this last chapter is probably written by Joshua, who also wrote the next book of Joshua. Moses died on Mt Nebo, and the Lord buried Moses. In Jude 1:9 there is an interesting additional piece of information.The devil disputed with the angel Michael over Moses’ body, and the angel said “the Lord rebuke you” to Satan. According to the church father Origen, this information came from a document called the Ascension of Moses. Verse 10 says “Since then, there has not arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom Yahweh knew face to face.”This was true when Joshua wrote it, and remains true to this day. Though no-one since Moses, except Christ, has known God in such a personal way, the opportunity to truly know God remains for all who are hungry.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 33 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 33 contains the benediction of Moses. It is the last words of a very great man. In the ancient near east it was customary on a death bed for patriarchs to say important things, just as we saw with Jacob in Genesis 49. This death bed blessing however doesn’t have some of the obvious nasty “blessings” that Jacob spoke and is much more positive.I call this a true blessing, because it is a passage of grace, with redemption being extended by God to every tribe, regardless of their past, or what God knows their future will be. For example in verse 6 Moses says of Reuben. “Let Reuben live, and not die;” This is a great example of the redemptive blessing given here by Moses. While the blessing of Jacob was true, here God’s mercy is extended despite the failure of Reuben.This is the way of grace, and the message of the gospel for those who accept it. All of the tribes are treated like this. Another great example is to compare and contrast Jacob’s words over Levi in Genesis 49and Moses’ words over Levi. Another example is Dan. In Jacob’s blessing Dan was a snake that bit the rider. While in overall history Dan was such a thing, being the location of one of the two golden calves that helped bring down Israel, here Moses redeems Dan.Dan is no longer a snake, but a lion. In verse 26 it says “There is no one like God... who rides on the heavens for your help.” The meaning of these blessings is clear. No matter who you are, or what you have done, or what has been spoken about you in the past, it does not define your future. The Lord himself speaks life and blessing over you, knowing both your past and future, and he holds out life. All that remains is for you to respond.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 32 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 32 contains the song of Moses, which the Lord gave him in the previous chapter, just days before his death. According to Coffman’s commentary there are three divisions in this song: the faithfulness of God and the faithlessness of Israel, verses 4-18.The punishment and the need of its execution by God, verse 9-33 God's compassion upon the low and humbled state of his people, verses 34-42 Strikingly in the above three points, God cannot really bring people into true grace until they are humbled. While Israel was truly humiliated when in slavery, they were not contrite because their humiliation seemed to have been caused by an external source.But as time progressed it became clear that they were the cause of their own terrible state. This leads to internal humility, allowing God to give true grace and lift them up. While God is always compassionate, he cannot extend compassion to lawbreakers, but once the heart has seen its own evil state, now it is in position to receive from God.This song is called a didactic poem - or a teaching song. It was designed to teach the Israelites and it still teaches us today. The song covers the future of Israel after it enters the land, then the corruption of the nation, then its punishment, God’s final redemption and surprisingly the inclusion of the Gentiles.Paul uses a quote from this song to make his point in Romans 10 about the Jews becoming jealous of the Gentiles. After this song it outlines what would happen to Moses and how he was to die on Mt Nebo at the age of 120.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 31 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 31 Moses is probably just a few days from death, and Joshua who has been hugely faithful (a picture of Christ in name and life) is about to lead them. The language in this chapter has changed and no longer sounds like a speech. It's back to narrative like in the earlier books.In verse 2 Moses says he cannot go in or come out. Some people think Moses is old and frail, but later in chapter 34:7 he says his eye wasn’t dim and his vigor unabated. It just means God wouldn’t allow him to go on - he wasn’t limited by ability but by permission. In verses 9-13 it outlines how the Israelites were to read the book of the law every seven years.God thus established a system where everyone would hear the words of the Lord regularly, and learn to obey. Bible reading is crucial for everyone. Earlier in Deuteronomy it said that “man would live by every word that came from the mouth of God.” We must not think of living in earthly terms like food and drink, but in terms of real living.The realities of God are much more real. We too must establish a system in our lives to constantly consider the words of the Lord. In verses 14-15 there is a kind of handing over ceremony from Moses to Joshua. Both go into the tent of meeting with God. So now Joshua, just like Moses is standing in the visible presence of the Lord. While with God…. God prophecies what will happen and predicts that Israel will play the harlot. It's a sad view into the future.The problems begin when we are satisfied with what this world has, and we stop being hungry for the Lord. This isn’t an ancient problem, but a human problem. Finally God gives Moses a song to teach Israel, which is covered in the next chapter. Strikingly in Psalm 90 we also have a psalm of Moses.Following that is Psalm 91, one of the most famous of all psalms, a prayer for protection, which although is anonymously written, sounds amazingly like Moses. Jewish tradition says it was written by Moses. Thus we have three songs in the scripture by Moses.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 30 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 30 the speech of Moses is starting to wind down, even though there are still 4 chapters after this one. It now continues prophetically as the last few chapters have been. In verse 1-3 Moses talks about a future moment when in captivity, their thoughts turn back to God.Much later the people that returned from the Babylonian exile were a different people to those just a hundred years prior. They had learned their lessons, and seemed to have been cured from their idolatry. Yet they were still tempted away from God by other things, and their hearts became proud in other ways, as Jesus would point out in Matthew 17 and other places.Verse 6 is one of my favourite verses. “Yahweh your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your offspring, to love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul…” It is a wonderful promise to us of what God will do for the penitent.The Lord told a parable in Luke 18 about two people in prayer, the Pharisee and the tax collector. The former was proud and his prayer was not heard, but the latter humble and heard. This promise is for those who seek God with a humble and repentant heart. THe Lord hears and responds with grace. Verse 14 talks about having God’s word in our hearts.The key is always to have God’s law in our hearts. Romans 10 also shows us that it is the person who ‘believes in his heart’ who is saved. This generation that Moses addressed did so and were greatly successful as the book of Joshua shows, but sadly they failed to pass on these things to their children as the book of Judges shows.The chapter closes with Moses outlining their choice between life and death. Choices always seem simple when spelled out in this manner, but the heart so easily leads us away.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 29 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 29 Moses makes a distinction between the law given at Horeb and the law here on the plains of Moab. There are not two laws, but one. The naming of the book Deutero Nomah in greek doesn’t mean there were two laws, but rather the second time the law was reiterated. Here the people have agreed to its terms in a binding way.In verse 4 Moses observed that even though they saw God’s wonders, they did not have a heart to see, or ears to hear. Their hearts were not enlightened. It's possible to be in church for a lifetime and not see the wonders of God. In Ephesians 1:18 Paul told the church that he always prayed that their hearts would be enlightened. This is the need of every believer.In verse 15 Moses comments that this covenant is also for some who are not present as he spoke. This is a covenant made with their descendants too, even though they are not present. This is the nature of God, being a generational God. He was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, even when it was just Abraham. And so are the Lord’s dealings with us, they are for our children too, both natural and spiritual, and we are to walk with them as we also do with the Lord.The consequences of our lives go far beyond us. In verse 22-24 it compares the future judgement with Sodom and Gomorrah. In Genesis the land of Sodom and Gomorrah was so desirable for sheep and goats that Lot wanted it for his flocks. He looked up and saw the green pastures. Today it is pure desert. Thus Sodom and Gomorrah are a great illustration of the dryness that comes on those who turn their backs on the Lord. Verse 29 is a very memorable verse, often quoted by preachers. It states that the secret things belong to God.There is a lot about God we do not understand, and there must be many secrets. This is what eternity with God is all about. Getting to know God requires an eternity because of the nature of who He is. Meanwhile on the earth, we trust Him while we seek to Know Him.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 28 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 28 we now come to the second longest chapter in the Bible, and the longest chapter (just) in the Pentateuch, the five books of the law. Here the specifics of the curses and the blessings of the covenant are going to be outlined. God seems to think long-term, so while the first generation may not have seen all the blessings or curses, it builds over time.God thinks of a corporate “you.” This was true of them as we see historically, but also true of us too. Up to verse 14 are the blessings. These blessings are incredible, any one of them a great promise to the believer, but of course these are in a context of the one who obeys and walks with the Lord. It is easy to be tempted to take the good parts of scripture for ourselves and throw out the other parts, such as all the verses that are about to follow in this chapter.And naturally we often have an elevated view of our own righteousness, so we would never dream that we are not always wholehearted toward the Lord, but sadly we are often misled. From verse 15 are the curses. The curses get increasingly worse and it goes on, and they are gruesomely detailed. If the curses stopped at verse 44, we might easily think that these things were fulfilled in the invasions of the Assyrians and the Babylonians.However the continued disobedience of Israel and Judah meant that these things were to ultimately culminate in the Roman Invasion and the complete destruction of not just the Jewish nation, but also the Jewish system which Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24. John the Baptist was aware of it when he said “the axe is at the root of the tree.” (Matt 3:10) In verse 49 it speaks of a nation from far away, swooping down as an eagle.This was none other than the Roman Empire with the eagle as its insignia. Italy is as far away, and as foreign a nation as you could get in ancient times. Josephus’ remariable book “Wars of the Jews” outlines the three and a half year campaign the Roman armies fought in Palestine and the terrible sieges, especially that against Jerusalem. Verse 53-57 outline the terrible cannibalism that would happen under siege warfare.Josehpus in his writings later outlined the most horrible examples of cannibalism during the siege of Jerusalem. As sad as it is to recall here, what Moses prophesied, and what the Israelites agreed to by saying Amen came to pass about 1510 years later. (1440 BC + 70AD) In verse 63 God says he will take the land off them. The land which was promised to them, was also promised to be removed from them if they failed to obey, which they did, and which happened.The nation that is there now, also called Israel, is a secular nation with a democatic government, nothing at all like the biblical nation of Israel. We are now the people of God, said Peter in 1 Peter 2:10. Paul also said the Jews and the Gentiles have now been joined with no distinction. (Romans 10:12)

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 27 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 27 we now come to the sanctions of the covenant, and one of the saddest sections of the entire bible. Briefly Moses is now talking about himself in the third person. This isn’t a problem as some think, but done this way because of the formality of the covenant terms and sanctions in line with ancient treaties. It then outlines the building of an altar on Mt Ebal. Mt Ebal is still there naturally, but so is the altar.A simple flyover on Google Earth reveals a quite large non natural pile of rocks, left from this time. There are also many pictures on Google Images of this, even though the mountain is now off limits courtesy of the Israeli government. Mt Gerizim and Mt Ebal are amazingly close together. They are perhaps only 4-500 feet apart at the base, but are substantial enough for a good amount of people to stand on each mountain. The view of these is worth a flyover on Google Earth.The city of Nablus is in between. Mt Gerizim is the mountain referred to in John 4 by the Samaritan woman. Samaritans only held to the Law, but not the rest of the Old Testament, so for her, “this mountain” was Mt Gerizim. God sends 6 tribes up the mountain of curse, and six up the mountain of blessing.This prompts a question. Did God curse 6 tribes and bless 6 tribes? No, the blessing and cursing of the covenant was by obedience, not by birth. This is always the way in God’s system. Nevertheless it is interesting that on Gerizim only tribes of Jacob’s wives are chosen, and on Ebal, tribes of Jacob’s servants, plus the oldest and youngest of the wives’ children are chosen.There is a pattern there, but what does it mean? And now we begin the sanctions proper, with the worst of them to come in the next chapter. Here the people agree to the terms by saying Amen repeatedly offering proof that amen isn't always used as you think.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 26 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 26 we have a key turning point in Moses' speech. The entire thing is a suzerainty treaty and we transition from the end of the terms, to the beginning of the outcomes for obedience/disobedience. Before the transition it refers to Abraham as “a wandering syrian” or in other translations “a wondering aramean” which is how this is commonly remembered.However Abraham came from Ur of the Chaldees which to modern ears is neither Syrian or Aramean, but Chaldean. The answer here is simple - his family was from Aram as was seen in Genesis when Isaac was sent there to get a wife. But Terah had moved the family, including Abram to Ur of Chaldea, but was not ethnically Chaldean.Also before the key transition, it outlines how the tithe was to be spent every third year. It was to be given to the Levites, foreigners, fatherless, widows and the poor. Imagine a society where 10% of all revenue of an entire nation given every three years to the poor. Social care and concern in history began in the Law with the Lord our God.Now in 16-19 we start into the nitty gritty of a Suzerainty treaty, the arrangement a sovereign makes with a people who are becoming a part of his rule. This was something customary in ancient times, and God was making use of this as something many people would have been familiar with, to have a people whose monarch was God.Up until now we have had the terms, and in the following chapters we have the outcomes that will result from following these terms. It is very important to understand that the consequences of disobedience are what happens to people who do not follow God, even outside of a covenant. The implications of rejecting God are always catastrophic, but here it is formalised, and as we will see in chapters 27-28, it is also very prophetic.One key difference is that this treaty/covenant is relational in nature, whereas those of ancient near east treaties were not relational but power based.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 25 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 25 we find an interesting verse about oxen that is quoted several times by Paul in the NT. This was a verse Paul quoted in 1 Timothy 5:18 and in 1 Corinthians 9 which he used to say that a preacher should get paid for his work, and not be expected to work without being fed. People wouldn't typically muzzle their own ox because they have to feed it anyway, and a healthy ox performs better than a starved one.Justin Taylor of the gospel coalition writes that this rule cuts in when an ox is borrowed or leased. The user has no regard for the ox, but wants to harvest as much of his own grain as possible, so muzzles the ox. In this example no care is given to the beast doing all the hard work. In the case of those laboring in God’s field, they should not be taken advantage of says Paul.God cares more about people than oxen. But most interesting to me in this example is seeing how Paul has understood Moses. This was obviously a practical rule for then, but a spiritual rule for all time. This is a demonstration of why the OT books are important for us now, and why even the most obscure rules have things in them for us to discover and learn.We have been doing this to some extent in our videos. Then there is a strange verse about what to do when a woman grabs a man’s private area. This video discusses some of the thoughts behind that. Finally a discussion of Amalek, The Amalekites were long gone by this point, so why invent something like this if it was written later? (It wasn’t) The Amalekites are symbolic of the ultimate evil, and of the complete absence of the fear of God.If Egypt is a symbol of the flesh and the world, Amalek is a symbol of the devil. The Israelites were to completely remove Amalek from their midst, and as believers we are to remove things which cause us to love the world, rather we are to fear God. When the Israelites left Egypt (symbolising the flesh and the world) they were unexpectedly attacked by Amalek in the desert.When someone is liberated from sin and comes into the kingdom of God, the evil one seeks to attack them. We fight by coming into the fullness of our fear of God.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 23 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 23 there are various laws, concerning eunuchs, illegitimate children, foreigners and more. Concerning Eunuchs, it sounds here like God doesn’t approve of eunuchs. Eunuchs were typically men who removed their testicles through either of the above methods, often for the purpose of serving a king with his trusted female escorts, or for priestly purposes on false religious practices.This command had the effect so far as I understand, to stop the Israelites from copying their surrounding neighbours in using eunuchs, and there are no biblical examples of them in use in Israel or Judah. Essentially those who had devoted their life to idolatry or sexual immorality were not welcome.Later in the Bible there are much more welcoming things said about Eunuchs, such as Isaiah’s prophecy in 56:6 where they are promised a name better than children and promised they would not be cut off. This is a play on meaning because a eunuch would have no posterity, or children, and has in fact had part of his body cut off, plus his future. But to the repentant eunuch, or the repentant anyone, there is always a place in God's heart.And in Acts 8 we have the perfect example of this in the Ethiopian Eunuch. However when Babylon took away the exiles, a number of them were made eunuchs without their permission. There were no finer Israelites than Daniel, Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego who were in this category. This video also goes into details concerning illegitimate children, foreigners and more.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 23 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 23 there are various laws, concerning eunuchs, illegitimate children, foreigners and more. Concerning Eunuchs, it sounds here like God doesn’t approve of eunuchs. Eunuchs were typically men who removed their testicles through either of the above methods, often for the purpose of serving a king with his trusted female escorts, or for priestly purposes on false religious practices.This command had the effect so far as I understand, to stop the Israelites from copying their surrounding neighbours in using eunuchs, and there are no biblical examples of them in use in Israel or Judah. Essentially those who had devoted their life to idolatry or sexual immorality were not welcome.Later in the Bible there are much more welcoming things said about Eunuchs, such as Isaiah’s prophecy in 56:6 where they are promised a name better than children and promised they would not be cut off. This is a play on meaning because a eunuch would have no posterity, or children, and has in fact had part of his body cut off, plus his future. But to the repentant eunuch, or the repentant anyone, there is always a place in God's heart.And in Acts 8 we have the perfect example of this in the Ethiopian Eunuch. However when Babylon took away the exiles, a number of them were made eunuchs without their permission. There were no finer Israelites than Daniel, Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego who were in this category. This video also goes into details concerning illegitimate children, foreigners and more.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 22 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 22 there are various random rules, which seem strange connected her like this, but in a spoken speech as it was given, they fit fine. Taking responsibility for another's property is a thing, such as watching out for another’s animals.There is a law against cross-dressing and this video discusses why that would be important. There is a law about preserving the mother bird when the eggs are taken. This is similar to the fishing laws in Queensland which require the preserving of the female of certain species, for their long term preservation. Among other laws, there is a discussion about the proof of virginity.Here we see how important virginity was. If a woman was a virgin when married, she was able to prove it during her consumanation. But once a woman was no longer a virgin, even if she was violated, now she had lost something very precious. The sheet was her protection and honor. In the same way, the Church, being the bride of Christ, is protected by the blood that flowed when we were first drawn to Christ at Calvary. If not for this blood, we would be shamed, dishonoured and put away.Our virginity however is found after Christ has worked on his people to redeem them and bring them to himself.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 21 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 21 the way that a murder is handled is discussed, and in particualr the implications of innocent blood crying out. The idea that innocent blood cries out from the ground goes right back to the story of Cain and Abel. There is no logical reason why blood should do this, but these ideas, plus other comments about blood are right through the entire Bible.Bllood must be shed in the place of blood to atone. So the blood of the innocent Christ was shed to atone for the sins of all. The blood of Christ cries out… it speaks a better word, says Hebrews 12:24 than the blood of Abel. Other rules are discussed including how to handle a woman taken captive in war and married.In the mind of God, taking a woman to have sex with her IS equated with marriage. It was not acceptable to treat sex as something casual, and a man has an obligation to a woman that he takes in this fashion. It also discusses favouratism in a polygamous situation, which is not a unusual today as one would think. This passage is worth contemplating in light of Jacob’s two wives, one of whom was loved and other not, although she did come to be loved in time.We see the great pain for everyone in that family caused by such pain. Jacob was tricked into this position, but the truth of these words is just as true. In today’s world there are just as many complicated family situations, especially once you take into account multiple marriages, step children, de facto relationships, casual acquaintances and liaisons outside of marriage, including those that produce children.The Lord treats each of these as seriously as marriage. Grace must be sought and obtained so that God’s people can live in a way that is not natural. Also this chapter discussed the curse that is one anyone hung on a tree…. A sneak peak into Christ on the cross.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 20 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 20 are instructions for battle, which have parallels with spiritual warfare for God’s NT people. Those who had their heart set on other things, or were afraid were excused.The army of the Lord, so to speak, were to have their mind and heart focused on the battle. Such is the case for the church who goes to war spiritually.Those who have other interests, or loves, are not found in the Lord’s army. God’s church is for the willing. The message of the gospel is always peace first. In Christ, when we surrender to Him and to the gospel, we all become His servants.We serve each other, and in serving we become great. But if one does not submit to the gospel, then we fight, but not with the weapons of this world, but with prayer, truth, love and service.We fight to make our enemies our friends. Just as Paul influenced Sosthenes into the kingdom, so we are with our enemies.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 19 the three (or six) cities of refuge are again discussed. These are for cases of second degree murder, or what we call manslaughter in Australia. This is killing without intention or planning, through negligence.In this chapter, the intention to murder is a big deal, and hatred is here mentioned. Jews always made a big deal out of action, but a key difference between first and second degree murder is the intention. Jesus took this whole topic to its logical end saying that when you hate someone, that alone is murder.He made the intention itself the sin. This must be purely correct because if an “innocent blood” must be protected as in verse ten, then a pure intention is innocent, but conversely an evil intention even without the corresponding action is guilty.This chapter also discusses the importance of boundary stones - which related to the dividing of the land initially, and how it was not to be changed. We are not to desire that which God gives to another as his inheritance, but to serve God and obtain our own.Finally, witnesses are discussed. A witness who harms another is to be repaid in like, at least according to the Levitical system here. What is not accounted for is intention, which was also a theme in this chapter. However, in this system, we find forgiveness works in like as in the new testament.This is why showing grace and patience to others is a big priority as believers. How can we expect God’s grace if we are not ourselves gracious. This passage is a guide for judges, but we are not to be the judges according to Christ.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 18 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 18 we cover the paying of priests, seeking council from false gods, and the Prophet. First praying priests. Levites and priests ended up living all throughout the land, not just in the Jerusalem area, and so they had to travel to minister when it was their turn.We see this in Luke’s gospel with the father of John the Baptist who was rostered on to take his turn at the temple. This passage is making sure that they are able to benefit from both their work for the Lord and their work for themselves. In reality this is how it happens as NT believers. We find the Lord propers and blesses what we do in both our own house and in his, as long as our heart and priorities are correct.Second on divination. This chapter lists nine different types of discernment by another spirit, all of them displeasing to the Lord. One wonders why he would be so bothered?They represent faith in another besides him, or consulting another besides him. It must be a real offence to the Lord for him to be all knowing, and all compassionate and all loving, and to have people turn to demons for advice. Imagine knowing that your wife knew the answer to a problem, but then deliberately consulting someone else.Additionally, demons are not only limited knowledge wise, but they deceive because they intend to harm, even if they pretend to help. Essentially consulting a demon instead of the Lord is a huge insult to Him.Thirdly, the Prophet. This person called the Prophet, so briefly mentioned here is none other than the Messiah or Jesus Christ. Moses said God would raise up a prophet “like me.” Of all the great people in the OT, none is more like Jesus than Moses. And Moses said it was crucial that they “listen to Him.” This is nothing other than paying attention to Jesus. The Israelites struggled to listen to God at Mt Sinai, so the Lord sent a person directly among them being none other than Christ.Thus the failure to listen to Christ carries a great weight. This person called the Prophet, so briefly mentioned here is none other than the Messiah or Jesus Christ. Moses said God would raise up a prophet “like me.” Of all the great people in the OT, none is more like Jesus than Moses.The Samaritans who know nothing of the prophets, but only the first five books knew of the Messiah. The woman in John 4 said the Messiah would explain everything. She was thinking of a Moses-like prophet. Jews try to explain this passage by saying that “in each generation” a prophet arises, but this is an attempt to avoid the obvious comparison with Jesus. So Moses warning to “listen to him” is ignored.Moses and Christ are very much alike - according to the Coffman commentary:Both were objects of Divine intervention to save their lives in infancy.Both were sons of virgins.Both were called to deliver God's people.Both were rejected by Israel.Both were the greatest miracle-workers that the world ever saw.Both left a palace (Jesus left heaven, Moses left Pharaoh's) to do their work. Both gave themselves up for God's people.Both were mediators, Moses of the Old Covenant, Jesus of the New Covenant.Both were both prophet and king to the people.Both have their words enshrined in the Bible.Both accomplished their missions.Both delivered God's law to men.Both were transfigured.Both had God's people baptized "unto them."Both gave bread to Israel, the manna and "the bread of life."Both received special treatment in death.Both lead God's people - Moses in the wilderness; Christ during our lives.Both Moses and Jesus were faithful.Both were full of compassion and love for the people whom they led.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 17 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 17 it starts by telling the Israelites not to offer second rate sacrifices. There was a real temptation to offer blemished sacrifices, because they were cheaper. Upon arrival at a festival it was a way of saving money, but God is reminding them to make himself a priority.The sin of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 was like this in that they pretend they were giving a better sacrifice than they were. In this case the amount of their offering was at thei discretion but they lied.When it comes to service, we need to give God our best effort, from a good heart. When it comes to money or giving, we endeavor to put the Lord first. Later is goes to give instructions for kings, when inevitably they would ask for one. It said not to have many horses. King Solomon, for all his wisdom, seems to not have been aware, or chose not to follow this advice.Horses were a sign of trust in one’s own strength, just as today people might trust in the dollar, or in technology. The law also said not to have many wives. Solomon also had many wives, who in fact did lead him astray. For a man with such wisdom, this was a highly foolish thing to do. He discovered this to his own shame, what he could easily have avoided by following what was written in the law in advance.His own words in Ecclesiastes 2:10-11: “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;”Finally the king was required to write out a copy of the law, which presumably was either this book of Deuteronomy, or the entire law, being the first 5 books.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 16 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 16 in Moses’ great speech he recounts the three great feasts. These three are pilgrimage feasts which meant people were meant to travel to the place, which was Jerusalem later, for them. While the 12 tribes were in the land, none was really more than a few days' journey from Jerusalem, as we see later in the life of Christ, he regularly travelled to Jerusalem for feasts,This is seen most clearly in John’s gospel where he is present for multiple passover, plus other feasts. We have often heard that Jesus had a three year ministry, but if you read Matthew, Mark or Luke we only see one passover there, the final one. But in John’s gospel is where we get the multiple feasts that Jesus attends in Jerusalem. Plus in Luke we also see Jesus' parents take him to the temple for passover as a twelve year old boy, so we see that pilgrimage was his family habit.Each of the pilgrimage feasts is a seven day feast - a symbolic number for God. And there are three, of them, the number of the trinity, also a number of God. In verse 14 he says “you shall rejoice”. It’s funny that God commands them to keep feasts and then commands them to celebrate the feasts.This is because for humans the reason for joy is not obvious. Of course we cannot fake enthusiasm, (en theos) but we can through obedience grow to see the things that bring joy. So we always start with obedience to God. For the Israelites they were obliged to celebrate these three times per year as a way of remembering all that God had done for them.As believers we participate not only in annual events like Christmas and Easter, but other regular practices like communion/eucharist, and weekly church attendance, which we should be joyful about too. IMagine if God said we had to attend church, and we had to celebrate. Many would not see the reason for doing so, but in time their eyes might be opened if they persist.Ultimately the feasts are Christ, and we are celebrating Him. It is plainly stated by Paul in Colossians 2:16-17.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 15 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 15 Moses talks about debt, slavery and defective sacrifices. First on Debt: Imagine a country which cancelled debt every 7 years. Debt and credit would be low. God put in place a number of things to make sure there were no poor among them, including this debt management strategy, and elsewhere things like Jubilee, and the gleaning during harvest.But we do see poverty in scripture… why? Simply that people didn’t follow the laws of the Lord. Much later the Lord exiled his people for 70 years, to Babylon because of the 70 sabbath years which were not observed. Effectively, lending was to be approached like giving.We are told in NT terms to give to the poor, and we don’t expect to be repaid. This was effectively the same, but the poor were given a time frame within which they could repay and regain their dignity. Second on Slaves: We talked about bond slaves already in Exodus 21. These are love slaves, and Christ is the door.We are to put our ear to Christ and be pierced into the door, permanently listening to him. Paul called himself a bondslave of Christ. Thirdly, on perfect sacrifices, Christ is the perfect sacrifice, and our sacrifices to him should also be perfect. Cain offered a sacrifice that may have been good in quality, but from a non-perfect heart.That sadly constituted a sacrifice not accepted. Paul writes in Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge your brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.” Here our attitude to God is part of making the sacrifice pleasing and true, and our lives, rather than the life of a sheep, are to be given to God.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 14 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 14 the speech of Moses continues, now relating specific things they should and should not do much of which has already been discussed in earlier books, such as in Leviticus 11. We then discuss practical matters relating to travel and sacrifices.If the distance from where a worshiper lived ws too far to go to the temple, to conveniently take the sacrifices, they could instead buy the sacrifice on location. This is exactly what happened at the temple, with an industry booming supplying lambs for sacrifices at the temple. It is almost certain that the shepherds in the fields at Bethlehem, just ten miles or so from Jerusalem, who saw the glorious Christmas angels, were raising sheep that would be used in temple sacrifices, and ultimately as food for worshippers and priests.We are familiar with the story of Jesus cleansing the temple and from that we get the idea that buying and selling in a house of worship is wrong, but it isn’t, because it is advocated right here. So what was Jesus doing? He was greatly bothered by price-gouging.What was happening at festival times was the prices were rising when people had no other choice but to pay the price on offer. People who had travelled a long way with money, had to buy at highly inflated rates or risk wasting their trip to the temple.This bothered Christ a lot, because it was turning the purpose of the feasts into a commercial opportunity. So we have the story in John 2 of Jesus cleansing the temple with a whip. There is nothing wrong with commercial opportunities in their own right, and there is nothing wrong with buying and selling as part of spiritual life as needed, but to deliberately turn something spiritual into something commercial is to change its purpose, the motivation for having it and more.So it is ok to have a Christian bookshop in your church, which sells resources to God’s people? Certainly because its purpose is to resource people and help them spiritually.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 13 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 13 this whole chapter is about things which try to lead the Israelites away from God. Firstly a false prophet giving signs. It's not remarkable that a false prophet performs a sign. This is not just an OT thing, because we see it in the NT too, as part of the warnings in Matt 24 and elsewhere.The truth is the truth regardless of signs. THen relatives who try to lead you astray. It was the death penalty in all these situations. Clearly this is serious. From an eternal perspective, this is exactly what happens to those who advocate turning away from God. As shocking as it seems to some today, it's a window into reality.Finally on a more corporate level, if a city has turned away, the entire city had to be removed. The entire chapter is very strong about destroying the source that tries to lead you away from Christ. Jesus figuratively said as much in the NT when he said, “if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.” If there is an obvious source of apostasy in our lives, we need to remove ourselves from it.Is this chapter advice to attack our enemies? No Christ taught us to love them? How do we reconcile these differences? These types of chapters were in a context of an entire nation where God was the king. These were instructions as to the rule in a country. But it was also to teach us how seriously we must treat things which cause apostasy.Without this very firm boundary in place, we could never have come to the positions of grace and kindness which we have now. The truth is that without a firm commitment to God which is unshaking, we would never be able to love our enemies anyway.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 12 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 12 we discuss Asherah Poles and the Place that God would choose, which was firstly Shiloh, and ultimately Jerusalem. Asherah poles were probably not actually poles, but idols. Some people think they are trees, but archaeology has discovered many idols of Asherah but nothing that is recognised as an Asherah Pole. This video explains what these are.Today we are not tempted by Asherah, but the things that Asherah represents are still tempting, wealth, success, advancement, prosperity, and of course physical intimacy. Imagine a way of life where these things would guarantee you success. How hard would it be for people to resist that?Then, we discuss the place, which of course was Jerusalem, where the temple would ultimately be built, in the midst of the tribal land of Benjamin. Prior to that the temple was at Shiloh, in the tribal hill country of Ephraim - see Judges 21:19.Practically a form of worship which required you to go to a certain place is difficult to sustain, but in this case the Lord was building a type to teach the human race something. Its hard enough for us to get spiritual concepts as it is, even with a physical example to lean on.We know now that we must go to Christ, and he is our temple and our sacrifice, but imagine trying to lean on these invisible things without the redemption history we have. The problem facing the ISraelites was the choice between easy worship of Asherah anywhere they wanted, or the difficulty of travel to worship God in one place, with his rules. In the NT, Jesus tells a parable of the easy road and the hard road. This is located in Matt 7:13-14. The Israelites chose the easy road.The warning was in advance for them, as it also is for us.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 11 Moses continues his speech using words which seem so very similar here to in many previous places in the book of Deuteronomy. He is repeating himself as a parent does when talking with a teenager.Moses knows full well how the Israelites are going to end up and is trying to reinforce key ideas, such as obedience. This is also God's method too, trying to make abundantly sure we have received the message. Sadly we often do not hear, despite many repetitions. In verse 16 he advises care lest the heart be deceived.The deceiving of the heart is the problem. Jeremiah said in 17:9 that the heart is deceitful above all else. We fool ourselves and justify our behaviour, and rationalise all sorts of things. We must be so careful not to assume we are better than we are, or that we deserve what good we have.In verse 24 Moses said what God had promised to Abraham, that everywhere they set their feet would be theirs. Spiritually it is important to set our feet in many places, as we will inherit them. If you see another with graces and anointings, these are also potentially ours by faith if we seek to walk in that place too.Then in verses 26-7 God gives them a choice between blessings and curses. The doctrine of Calvinism denies such a choice, but the truth is that God in his complete sovereignty has sovereignly chosen to give people choices.He is also sovereignly capable of removing our ability to choose, but has not done so, because true love and fellowship is only possible when one has the ability to respond. There is going to be more about the curses and blessings in the second half of Deuteronomy

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 10 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 10 we surprisingly find out that Moses made an ark to put the tablets in, but is it the ark of the covenant, or another box? This video explains an answer. Next in verse 6 it say Aaron died at Moserah, but elsewhere the Bible says that Aaron died at Mt Hor causing some critics to jump on this as an apparent discrepancy.We should always trust the Bible because these types of things have a way of clearing up in time, but if not, there is usually a good reason. Moserah may have been a broader area, and Mt Hor the more specific part of the broader area, or the other way around.There are many examples of perceived contradictions that turn out to have good reasons, such as the example with Moses' wife in Numbers 12. See https://peace.org.au/numbers-12.html In verse 12 Moses asks “What does your God require of you?” and it echoes Micah 6:8.This indicates that Deuteronomy is far older than the minor prophets (848-844 B.C.), and at the time of their writing, already well known throughout Israel. In verse 16 Moses tells them to circumcise their hearts. Circumcision of the heart is an old idea, but the concept of it wouldn't have existed without actual circumcision.This demonstrates the power of real life practices established as examples. We also consider how God can be just when poverty seems rampant. And we contemplate the symbolism of the number 70 at the end of this chapter.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 9 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 9 Moses continues his speech and mentions the giants in the land who previously scared the Israelites. Later in the book of Joshua 14 and 15, Caleb personally defeats three of these giants, and displays the same boldness that he showed when he was one of the original 12 spies sent into the promised land 39 years earlier.There are genuine obstacles in our lives that are insurmountable, but Caleb is an example to us that our attitude should be confidence in Christ’s work. In v4-5 Moses reminds them that it is not their righteousness that is the reason for inheriting the land. It can be very easy to think that when we have good things in life it is a sign of the Lord’s approval of us, but this passage demonstrates that they were to inherit the land because the sin of the previous occupants dispossessed them.Our response to God is never presumption, or thinking we deserve anything, but always gratitude because of grace. In the rest of the chapter Moses proceeds to recount a number of the faults of the Israelites, demonstrating how weak, and human they are. He is attempting to put them in the middle of the humility they need to have reminding them of how dependent they are on God.This whole passage and many others like it demonstrate that God has always been a god of Grace. There isn’t a dispensation of grace and a dispensation of law, rather there was an old covenant and a new covenant, but both contain grace and law.You cannot have grace without the law, but you can have law without grace. This passage demonstrates the graciousness of God

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 8 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 8 is a reminiscent chapter bringing out lessons from the forty desert years. It begins by reminding them of some of the difficulties they faced in the desert. God allows tough times in our lives to humble us and test us.We are told in the NT to rejoice in all things. These difficulties are worth their weight in gold, unless of course we fail the test as many did. Verse 3-4 was then quoted later by the Lord in his temptation with Satan, reminding him that man does not live by bread alone, a statement Moses made right here to teach the Israelites that they had to keep trusting the Lord. In verses 5-6 it talks about how the Lord disciplined them because he loved them.Difficulty in our lives is not always a sign that God is against us, but that God is with us. The key is to always seek him so that we grow in grace and learn the lessons that we should learn. In 11-14 Moses warns them not to forget God when life starts getting better for them. It is easy to forget God when all is well.Of course we do not forget him in the sense that we don’t know about him, but we don’t depend on Him and walk with him as we otherwise would. Humility is needing God’s help, and when we have everything under control, we no longer need him, and can easily be proud and cut off from grace. In v 18 it says “it is God who gives you the power to get wealth.”This verse so often quoted by prosperity preachers, is usually taken out of context. Here Moses uses it to remind the people that when they are doing well, it may seem as if they don’t need God, but it is actually God who has provided for them just the same. It’s not a promise of wealth, but a reminder that when you are doing well, not to forget the Lord.In Daniel 4:28 is the story of Nebuchadnezzer who took pride in what he thought was his achievements, not realising it was from the Lord. His humiliation was very great.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 7 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 7 Moses continues talking about the land they are about to enter and how they must think and act. There were seven nations that had to be destroyed and removed by God’s command. They had already destroyed the Amalekites, but not completely, and the Midianites completely and completely defeated Og of Bashan and Sihon of the Amorites.For a merciful God, these commands seem unmerciful, but they demonstrate our complete lack of understanding of the situation being dealt with. In the same way a life-taking cancer must be removed from the body, even if it takes away an organ such as one lung, or one kidney, or the breasts, there is really no option other than death. These nations had to be dealt with, because of the seriousness of their sins, and it demonstrates to each of us the high stakes there are in dealing with our own sins.They have a task in the promised land - to completely undo the idolatry that previously existed with all of its sexual practices. They had to remove them and abhor the practices of the nations before them. There are many things the world loves that we do not abhor. But it is because we cannot see it for what it is. Imagine how you would feel if you had a dream of a something you desired, such as money, or food, or a promotion, but as you sought it, suddenly you were in a pool of vomit and maggots. Such is the love of this world. May the Lord open our eyes to see the vomit and maggots that so many love. In 1 John 1:25 we are told “do not love the world.”This is NOT the same as in John 3:16 where it says that “God so loved the world…” but it was talking about how he cared for its people, but we are now learning not to love what the world loves.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 6 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 6 we have a chapter devoted to the first law of the ten commandments. In it we see a major theme of Deuteronomy, obedience. Blind obedience is to be commended, but in reality, God seeks to impart understanding, hence a speech such as this. If we do not care for God, and put his law to the side thinking we understand it, our lack of understanding results in lack of obedience.But if we seek to understand why, it results in such clarity of heart and mind, that it changes us, and it becomes our delight to obey. Chapter 6 is where we start to see more clearly the theme, although it has been there all along in the book. Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 6 a number of times in his later gospel ministry. Here are the words that Christ used in Matt 22:34-40 when debating with the Pharisees.They asked what was the greatest commandment and he quoted verse 5. The heart is the seat of desire, it is what you care about. These are not laws to be kept out of obligation, or fear of punishment, but out of it mattering to you.Many believers follow the Lord more legalistically, but it is supposed to be something that we want to keep, not feel the need to keep. Later in Jeremiah the new covenant was prophesied to be “written on your heart.” So when one is truly saved by Christ, they now desire to keep the Lord’s ways.This is where the love of God in the heart begins. In his testing in the desert with Satan, Jesus also quoted from verses 13 and 16. His second quote “do not test the Lord your God” is a clear bible statement about the divinity of Jesus.We also consider monotheism in this chapter in light of the verse 4 saying, “the Lord is one.” Why would you have to say that the Lord is one, if there is only one God, but it makes sense later when we see God is three persons.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 5 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 5 Moses recounts the ten commandments. The differences between this and the original version in Exodus 20 is in Moses’ voice retelling. Here we have Moses’ own words, where earlier we had Moses’ recording of God’s words, but the meaning is the same. In the earlier decalogue, it was said here that you would live long if you honoured your parents, but here it is now live long and go well with you.This is firstly practical, because parents love their children, and honouring them opens the door to their lifelong help and support, but also spiritual because there is a greater reality here than just practical outcomes. Going well with you is also something beyond this lifetime. These ten commandments, also called the decalogue, seem simple to keep at surface value, but in practice are nearly impossible for anyone to keep.The last about coveting now goes deeper than just what one does, to what one desires, and there we have the heart exposed. Jesus in his sermon on the mount took this point much further when he said if anyone hates his brother he has already committed murder. This is such a difficult point for people to get their heads around, but the reality is that what we love or hate is who we are. Sin is in the heart, more than outwardly.The temporary consequences of our actions affect us now, but there are eternal consequences for our desires. Verse 33 says “You shall walk in all the way which Yahweh your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.”Here the command to walk with the Lord is linked to having prolonged days, but it is spoken in a sense of not just one’s lifetimes, but of generations. When we walk with the Lord it has a future effect, as King David did on his generations.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 4 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 4 in verse 2 it says “You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God which I command you.” This is very similar to what is said in Revelation 22:19 “And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”On top of this Jesus said in Matt 5:18 that “not one smallest part of the law will disappear.” How do we as NT believers keep the commandments? The truth is that we look for Christ in the law and cling to Christ. We don’t cling to the shadows, but find the reality the shadows speak to. God spoke amazingly to these people back then, but we think that he has not spoken to us amazingly now. Yet we have the written words of God in our hands.We also have the knowledge that the word became flesh and dwelled among us. God has spoken to us “in these last days by his son.” (Hebrews 1:2) We are in a much more privileged position than these Israelites. When we walk with the Lord this is the result.We are not to understand the Law as a literal wooden thing that must be followed so strictly that we live as OT Jews. Rather the Law reveals the Lord who we follow and this is the result.How Did Jesus keep the law when he seemed to violate some parts of it? Simply, he understood it at its true level, not what it was trying to illustrate. We see this type of thing at work in Jesus own life, in his language to his own disciples, for example in John 4 when he talked of having food to eat.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Deuteronomy 3 it recounts the defeat of Og of Bashan. In the previous chapter the defeat of Sihon king of the Amorites was also recounted. The victory over both of these kings, plus the defeat of Balak and the Moabites enabled them to conquer land and obtain wealth that was not part of the allotted promised land. Going into conquest they were well endowed with resources.In the same way that God put wealth into their hands in leaving Egypt, now God is putting wealth into their hands in readiness for the conquest of Canaan. God is always providing what is required, even in abundance.The NT says that “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3) This tells us that the divine power of God which is clearly on display in Deuteronomy is also on display in our lives even if we don’t think it is explicit. As part of the recount of the conquest of Bashan, it talks of 60 cities with gates and bars.The idea of a city with gates and bars at the timing of the Exodus (1400BCE) is interesting to some who struggle with the idea of steel in the Transjordan, but archaeology in the Transjordan has already located these things in the region of Bashan at that time.https://biblearchaeology.org/research/conquest-of-canaan/3630-new-light-on-the-forgotten-conquest

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 2 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In this video on Deuteronomy 2 we start in 2 Kings 22, where it recounts the story of how the book of the law was discovered in the temple. This is either the entire 5 books of Moses, or most often believed to be this book, Deuteronomy. The teaching element of this book caused King Josiah to tear his clothes and repent, bringing the last great reform to Israel.That reform was so significant that while it didn’t stop the impending Babylonian invasion and the destruction of Jerusalem, the revival changed the hearts of many so that in exile they were faithful to God. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are examples of people who were influenced in Josiah’s reform, under the influence of Deuteronomy.Deuteronomy is also the book second most quoted by Christ after the Psalms according to Shari Abbott in her web article on the quotes of Jesus. He has quoted or referred to Deuteronomy more than 50 times in the gospels. https://reasonsforhopejesus.com/old-testament-book-jesus-quote-often/So it's not just a repeat, but a powerfully inspired book. Many so-called experts have tried to make out that Deuteronomy is a later invention made during the time of King Josiah and then supposedly discovered as the book of the law. Even though this is believed, it is complete nonsense. It is so full of things which match perfectly during the time period including archaic turns of speech, and egyptisms which come form an Egyptian trained Moses.Plus society had changed so much that it would make no sense to make up some of the things in the books, such as daughters having an inheritance, or the dividing up the land between tribes the way it did and many other practical things like that which had no purpose if it was written 700 years later than it was. In verse 7 it recounts that they lacked nothing, but on the other hand they were in the desert and life seemed bleak.Such can reflect the Christian life at times, being both mundane and supernatural simultaneously. This is worth contemplating on, for what seems to us a life with nothing much happening is profoundly important and our eyes should be opened.

In this video listen to Deuteronomy 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.Deuteronomy 1 starts with “These are the words of Moses.” In Hebrew,the name for this book is Debarim from the phrase,ʾēlleh haddĕbārîm, meaning ‘these are the words.’ And in Greek the name of the book is Deutero Nomos meaning the second law. Forty years earlier Moses had an encounter with God at the burning bush and argued with God five times about his suitability for service.One of his key arguments was that he could not speak, but God clearly knew what he had created. Here we see what God saw when he called Moses, and the many words that came from Moses from God. What a spiritual and personal change in his life resulted from doing what God required.The Israelites are about to enter the promised land, but two things are noteworthy. First, this is the new generation that wasn’t alive when the law was given, and they didn’t experience the setting up of the tabernacle, Mt Sinai, the crossing of the red sea and slavery itself. Only two of them, Caleb and Joshua, apart from those under 20 at the time have any memory of Egypt.So Moses is effectively speaking to a new group and informing their collective memory. But secondly, Moses is about to die, and this entire book equates to something of a deathbed speech, where the dying words of a man are more important and living in light of what is about to happen. Deuteronomy also represents the closest thing in the OT to teaching.While the NT is full of doctrine and explanation, there is really nothing in the OT like that, but here we get a little closer as Moses tries to explain reasons for some things, such as in Deuteronomy 8:3 where Moses explains why God put the people through humbling experiences to teach them.

In this video listen to Numbers 36 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Numbers 36 we have a continuation from what was previously discussed in Numbers 27. There it was realised that these daughters had to marry within their tribe or the inheritance would be lost. Sometimes to so called experts, these chapters can seem like an appendage with no meaning, but nothing is wasted in the Bible.Spiritually, if we join ourselves to things outside of our tribe, that is outside to Christ, we find that we end up losing our inheritance. Or certainly it has an effect on our children and posterity. Also, it speaks of marriage and the importance of marrying within the Body of Christ, because to marry outside risks the loss of inheritance also. Paul in the NT talks about being equally yoked and it carries the same gravity of this passage.And finally we come to the end of Numbers. The desert book (bemidbar) is over, and they are standing on the plains of Moab, across the Jordan ready to enter the promised land. It has been an incredible 40 years. But now there are still important spiritual things to do, which the book of Deuteronomy shall cover.

In this video listen to Numbers 35 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Numbers 35 six of the Levite cities were to be designated cities of refuge - not for injustice so that one would escape, but so that one would ensure that he obtained justice. If someone accidentally killed someone, they were labelled the manslayer. The protection of the manslayer was for cases of manslaughter, and not deliberate murder.The cities of refuge were intended for both Israelites and foreigners, just as the justice of Christ is for all people, regardless of background. Anyone who comes to Christ can find refuge in Him. This passage was used incredibly among the stone age tribes of Irian Jaya who had such areas or protection in their midst, and was used to relate the gospel to them and bring many to Christ.Don Richardson relates this in his book Lords of the Earth. We can come to Christ - our place of refuge.

In this video listen to Numbers 34 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Numbers 34 is outlined the boundaries of the land, and who was selected to help divide it up. The land extended from the Mediterranean on the west to the Jordan on the East, but most interestingly, three of the tribes had already selected land outside of these boundaries on the other side of the Jordan.They had chosen an “inheritance” that was “outside of God’s promise.” This is something that many people do today, choosing things they think are wonderful, but outside of Gods’ boundaries for them.Ultimately they end up with nothing, as was the case for these three tribes in the course of time. This video also discusses the names of the 12 men who helped divide up the land, all of which are hugely fascinating.