April 6- Happy Days Are Here Again!

April 6, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20; Luke 11:37-12:7;
Psalm 78:1-31; Proverbs 12:19-20

Happy days are here again

The sky above is clear again

So let's sing a song of cheer again

Happy days are here again.

Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20

The song Happy Days Are Here Again was written in 1929 by Milton Ager.  It became a popular song reflecting the national approval of the repeal of Prohibition in the United States.  Eventually, Franklin D. Roosevelt adopted it as his campaign theme song in the 1930's.  It has now become the unofficial song of the Democratic Party.  The lyrics reflect optimism and joy.  It would be an appropriate theme song for the message that Moses gives to the nation of Israel in today's reading.

Moses gives God's unconditional covenant about the Promised Land in this section of Scripture.  Chapter 29:12-15 states,

"You are standing here today to enter into a covenant with the Lord your God. The Lord is making this covenant with you today, and he has sealed it with an oath. He wants to confirm you today as his people and to confirm he is your God, just as he promised you, and swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  But you are not the only ones with whom the Lord you God is making this covenant with its obligations. The Lord your God is making this covenant with you who stand in his presence today and also with all future generations of Israel." (NLT)

As we will see, this covenant includes returning the Israelites to the land, but more importantly, returning the Israelites to God, permanently.  This is an unconditional promise of future blessing.

There are seven great promises as part of this covenant:

• The nation of Israel will be dispersed throughout the world and taken out of the land- vs. 1
• There will be a future repentance by the nation of Israel. -vs. 2
• Their Messiah will return. -vs. 3
• Israel will return to the land. -vs. 4-5
• God will circumcise their hearts and there will be a national conversion to Christ. -vs.6
• Israel's enemies will be judged. vs. 7-8
• Israel will receive her full blessing and live in obedience and fellowship with God. vs. 9-10

This covenant will be confirmed to Israel in their own hearts and minds in the future.  The covenant will be fulfilled as promised and God's story will be complete.  God draws His own to Himself and seals their salvation.  The chapter ends with God's people being in a relationship with Him that reflects love and obedience.  This has been the theme of the book of Deuteronomy.

Have you heard God's call in your life?  Has He drawn you to Himself?  Do you enjoy a relationship of love and obedience with God?

Luke 11:37-12:7

Jesus sits down for a nice meal with the Pharisees, but things get ugly quickly. The Pharisees get miffed because Jesus doesn't do the ceremonial washings prior to the meal.  Remember, these washing were not in the Mosaic Law.  They were customs that had been developed by the religious leaders.  Once the Pharisees started acting like this, Jesus lets them have it.  All I can say is, watch out, when Jesus gets mad.

He starts cursing the Pharisees for lacking justice and not loving God.  He curses them for loving the places of importance, but being dead on the inside.  Jesus curses the religious leaders for killing Israel's prophets. He calls them murderers.  Jesus curses the leaders for hiding the keys of knowledge of God from the people and preventing the people from entering the Kingdom of heaven. Let's just say that the dinner ends badly and the leaders are furious.

Another crowd gathers and Jesus takes the opportunity to warn the crowd about the yeast (sin) of the Pharisees.  Jesus hates religious hypocrisy.  He warns the people that things said in the dark will be revealed in the light.  Jesus reminds them not to fear man, only fear God. This is because only God has the ability to permanently destroy a person's soul in hell.

Do you know that Jesus sees the injustices we all endure?  He knows who is fake and who is real.  Do you find comfort in that?

Psalm 78:1-31

Here is a recounting of God's mighty deeds.  Because of our Bible study, we are familiar with these stories.

Proverbs 12:19-20

"Truth stands the test of time."  This is what Jesus was saying today.

What did you notice today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal

Kathy Fullerton
© 2011