Verse: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deu 6:4-5

Background: Deuteronomy 6 is set in Moab, 40 days before the Israelites reach the Promised Land. In this chapter, Moses, who is 120 years old and aware of his approaching death, reminds the Israelites of God’s covenant with them and exhorts them to obey God’s laws. 

Moses tells the Israelites that if they obey God, he will bless them, allow them to live in Canaan, and multiply them. He also instructs them to teach God’s laws to their children so that they are not forgotten, and to live as if God’s laws are always on their minds. 

Deuteronomy 6:1-11:32 continues the subject of the commandments, which are also the subject of chapter 5. Many commentators believe that Deuteronomy 6 is an extended exhortation or sermon based on the first commandment.

Summary of Deuteronomy 6

1. The Commandment: The essence of God’s law.

• (1-3) Remember the commandment before entering Canaan.
• (4-5) The great commandment: Love the LORD your God.
• (6-9) The continual reminder of the law.

2. The danger of disobedience.

• 10-12) The danger of leaving God in times of prosperity.
• (13-19) Honoring the LORD in everything we do.
• (20-25) Teach your children to understand and honor the LORD.

Lesson:

Remember: Always intentionally remember to be taught of the ways of the Lord, fear the Lord, and keep what we learn. –

“Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules —that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long.  Deu 6:1-2

Careful: There is seriousness, very careful, and sincere effort to keep the word of God. –

Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. Deu 6:3

Commitment: Constant reminder that Jesus is our King, the Lord is our Father and the Holy Spirit is our companion and helper. –

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deu 6:4-5

Teach Planned training Bible-based foundational study, lifelong teaching with family and kids. –

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  Deu 6:6-7

Reminder: Place it in places that will always remind you of who you are. –

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deu 6:8-9

Verse: The word of God “Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner”. Moses named an altar after a great victory as “Jehovah Nissi” meaning Lord is my Banner. Exodus 17:15

Lord naming: When God changed a person’s name and gave him a new name, it was usually to establish a new identity. God changed Abram’s “high father” name to “Abraham,” “father of a multitude” (Genesis 17:5) and his wife’s name from “Sarai,” “my princess,” to “Sarah,” “mother of nations” (Genesis 17:15). God changed Jacob’s “supplanter” name to “Israel,” “having power with God” (Genesis 32:28). He changed Simon’s “God has heard” name to “Peter,” “rock” (John 1:42).

Lord’s People Naming: When Jacob talked to God he named the place “Bethel” (house of God) – Gen 35:15, When Jacob met the Lord, he named the place Peniel (which means “face of God) – Gen 32:30, When the Lord provided the Lamb, Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the LORD will provide”).

We can see many other examples also in the Bible, naming can be done by a person who has authority over the thing that is being named. It also shows it belongs to you and under your power. So let us stop fearing our situations, now take authority and name it.

What should we do? Lord prompted me to name a tough situation in life as Jericho, he asked me to be silent and shout praise when the Lord asked, Lord promised the Jericho Wall would fall inwards. This is not like the naming and claiming works, this has to be from the unction of the Holy Spirit. There are situations we need to endure with patience too.

Final Thought: Let Lord, give us the wisdom to take authority over our situations. Lord helps us to name our tough times and take control.

Verse: the word of God “Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back.”  1 Sam 30:19

Background:

• 1 Samuel 30 illustrates that even in the most hopeless circumstances, faith and seeking God’s guidance can lead to restoration and victory. It demonstrates David’s exceptional leadership, fair-mindedness, and generosity, as he not only recovers all but also shares the spoils equally and sends gifts to his allies.
• Verses 1-6: Ziklag’s Devastation and David’s Distress David and his men return to Ziklag, only to find it burned to the ground and their families taken captive by the Amalekites. Overcome with grief, David and his men weep. The men, in their distress, consider stoning David, but David finds strength in the LORD his God.
• Verses 7-10: Seeking God’s Guidance David calls for Abiathar the priest and seeks God’s will about pursuing the Amalekites. Assured by God’s promise of victory, David and his six hundred men set out. At Brook Besor, two hundred men too exhausted to cross remain behind.
• Verses 11-15: An Unexpected Ally They find an abandoned Egyptian servant of the Amalekites, who, after being revived and promised safety, agrees to lead David’s forces to the Amalekites.
• Verses 16-20: David’s Victory David surprises the Amalekites in their revelry and battles them for a day and a night. Every captive is recovered, and all their possessions are reclaimed, including David’s two wives.
• Verses 21-25: Distribution of Spoils On returning to the two hundred men, some among David’s troops don’t want to share the spoils with those who didn’t fight. David, however, insists that everyone gets an equal share, as it was the LORD who granted them victory.

Thought: This is an amazing result of a very tough situation. How come nothing was missing?

Have you been cheated by someone? Are hurt by someone’s behavior? Are you in a desperate situation? David went through the same problem. He went to help the Philistines fight a battle while he was running away from Saul, they did not trust him, and they sent him away. When he came back to his camp; Amalekites had come and taken everything from the camp, their full families, and all goods. Seeing this, people with Him deserted David and even they talked of stoning David

In that situation, 1 Sam 30:6 “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” 1 Sam 30:8 David inquired of the Lord. Ask the Lord, what I should do. David went. On the way David found an Egyptian servant who Amalekites left behind, David found the camp through him defeated the enemies, and got back everything.

The lessons, David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. When every hope is gone. get your strength from God by trusting him. Please pour out your pain to God and take His peace in turn. David inquired of the Lord. Ask the Lord, what I should do. Paul at Damascus asked What do you want me to do? Jehosaphat asked Oh Lord my eyes are on you, what should we do, we do not know what to do. Listen to God’s voice and obey. Take an action at the order of the Almighty. Stop sitting and crying, Start doing what the Lord has commanded.

Final thought: Be strengthened, inquire, and Act

Verse: “And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”  Rev 21:5

It is the great plan of the Almighty to change our sinful and painful past and present to a beautiful future. Lord is making everything new. Yes, every area of our life needs to go to the next level of God’s plans.

Background: From the time described midway through Genesis chapter 3 until the events of Revelation 20, the earth experienced—is experiencing—the presence of sin and death. At the end of chapter 20, John sees God delivering the final and ultimate judgment on Satan, casting all evil into the lake of fire. At that point, creation will finally be free from everything wicked, and what follows is a description of a remade, restored earth.

Following the great white throne judgment of chapter 20, John sees a new heaven and a new earth. John hears the voice from the throne declare an end to suffering, pain, and death for all of eternity. At the same time, John hears a reminder that sin, and those who chose it over God, are condemned to the “second death” of hell (Rev 21:1–8).

Lesson: So let us meditate on a few of His promises of making everything new. – Want to learn of the Lord’s Care, Comfort, and Control

Lord Cares: And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God Rev 21:3 Wow! Lord calls us His people, in the midst of us, and our precious Father promises to live in the midst of us. Why worry?

Lord Comforts: ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Rev 21:4 Lord sees our pain, He is our deliverer and Lord promises that our older order will pass away. Hold to the Lord, His time for deliverance is at the door. Why Fear?

Lord Controls.: Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”  He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End Rev 21:5,6 When things are not going as planned, Lord is telling, Lord is in control and He knows the end. Why doubt?

Final Thought: We need, I desperately need a new beginning, let us cry out to the Lord our Father, who cares, comforts, and controls.