Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 30: God promises to change hearts

Begin in prayer

Before hearing the promise of return after judgment, let us ask God for hearts that love Him. Pray that our family would receive His near and plain word, turn from sin, and cling to Christ for life.

Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When Yahweh restores the fortunes of his people, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Psalm 14:7

Father in heaven, Your mercy gives hope to people who have wandered into ruin. Help us understand Your promise to gather and renew those who return. Show us the life found in Christ and teach us to hear Your word. Please open our eyes as we read Your Word, make us more like Christ, and bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

After blessing and curse have come, Israel may remember and return to the LORD with their whole heart and soul. He will have compassion and gather them, and He will change their hearts so that they love Him and live. The curses will fall on their persecutors, while obedient return brings renewed abundance. God’s command is near enough to hear and do, with no journey to heaven or across the sea required. Moses sets life and good against death and evil, commanding love and obedience. Turning to other gods brings certain destruction. He calls heaven and earth to witness and urges Israel to choose life by clinging to the LORD.

As you read Deuteronomy 30, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God promises to change His people's hearts, so that they love Him and live.

The warning of exile does not end God’s dealings with His people. When they remember and return with heart and soul, He promises compassion and a gathering that reaches the farthest outcasts. He will restore their land and do good to them, while placing the curses on their persecutors. His promise to circumcise their hearts describes an inward renewal that enables love for Him and life before Him. The returning people must obey His voice, keeping the conditions that accompany renewed abundance. They cannot blame distance or inaccessible teaching, because God has brought His command near to their mouths and hearts. Choosing life means loving the LORD, hearing His voice, and clinging to Him, because He is their life. Turning away to other gods brings destruction and loss of their days in the land. Paul draws on the near word when preaching faith in the risen Lord Jesus (Romans 10 verses 6 to 13).

How does Deuteronomy 30 show us that God promises to change His people's hearts, so that they love Him and live?

God promises compassion to returning sinners.

Israel will be scattered among the nations because of their sin (verse 1). Yet the LORD promises to gather them again and to change their hearts Himself (verses 3 and 6). Only a heart God has changed can return to Him and love Him.

God gives His word to be heard.

His command does not require someone to ascend to heaven or cross the sea. The word is near, in the people’s mouth and heart. They must receive it and do what He commands. Paul says this near word is the good news of Christ.

God calls His people to choose life.

Moses sets blessing and curse before the gathered nation. Choosing life means loving the LORD, obeying His voice, and clinging to Him. Turning to other gods will bring certain destruction.

Memorise

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

Deuteronomy 30:6

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, will I ask God to give me a new heart?

Moses says, “the word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.” Israel has no excuse to treat God’s command as unreachable. His promised mercy calls for a wholehearted return.

Paul says no one needs to climb to heaven, because Christ came down, died and rose again (Romans 10 verses 6 to 9). At the cross Christ took the death His people deserved. His saving work for His people is finished, and it is enough to cover all their sin.

Turn from sin and call on Him. Those who trust Jesus are forgiven. Ask God to renew your heart, for only He can do it, and cling to the Savior who gives His people life.

Parent's note

Tell your children that only God can change a heart, and that He promises to do it (verse 6). Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His promised mercy, and bring what keeps you from returning in the heart question before Him. Every child can pray, so welcome each one’s request for a new heart.

But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul.

Hebrews 10:38-39

Father in heaven, have mercy on our wandering hearts and draw us to Your Son. Bring us to trust His completed and sufficient sacrifice. Give new hearts that love You, and help those who believe to hear Your word, leave their idols, and cling to the Savior for life. In Jesus' name, Amen.