Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 4: The LORD alone is God

Begin in prayer

Before listening to the God who spoke from the fire, let us put aside the rivals we cherish. Ask Him to make His holiness and mercy known to our family through His Word.

For who is God, except Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God, the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect?

Psalm 18:31-32

Father in heaven, open our eyes to know that You alone are God. Help us see Your holiness and mercy in Jesus Christ. Turn us from every false hope and make us more like Him. Please bless our family as we hear and remember Your Word. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Moses calls Israel to obey the LORD's words without adding to them or taking anything away. At Horeb they heard His voice from the fire and saw no form, so they must never make an image of Him. The God who rescued them from Egypt will destroy idolaters and scatter His people among the nations. Yet He will remember His covenant when scattered Israel seeks Him with all their heart and soul. Moses sets apart three eastern cities where someone who kills unintentionally may flee and live. In the land taken from Sihon and Og, he prepares to set the law before Israel again.

As you read Deuteronomy 4, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD alone is God, holy in judgment and faithful in mercy.

Israel heard a voice at Horeb and saw no form, so an image could never show what God is like. His nearness came through His words, which they must keep whole and teach to their children. Egypt had been an iron furnace, a place of fierce affliction from which the LORD brought His own inheritance. Such rescue made their worship of lifeless wood and stone a betrayal. His jealousy means He claims the worship that belongs to Him alone. Even Moses must die outside the land under God’s judgment. Idolatry would bring destruction from the land and scattering among the nations. Yet He would remember His covenant and receive Israel when they sought Him with their whole heart. His holiness and covenant mercy belong to the same living God.

How does Deuteronomy 4 show us that the LORD alone is God, holy in judgment and faithful in mercy?

God spoke, so Israel must hear and remember.

The LORD's righteous laws were Israel's wisdom before the nations. They must neither add to His word nor take anything away. Passing on what they had heard meant teaching their children and grandchildren to fear Him.

God will judge the worship of idols.

Israel saw no form when God spoke from the fire. Images of people, animals or heavenly bodies would corrupt their worship. The LORD had destroyed the followers of Baal Peor, and He would scatter an idolatrous Israel.

God remembers His covenant and shows mercy.

Moses speaks of Israel seeking the LORD from the nations where they would be scattered. The promise keeps its condition of searching with all their heart and soul. God's covenant faithfulness gives repentant exiles reason to return to Him.

Memorise

Know therefore today, and take it to heart, that Yahweh himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath. There is no one else.

Deuteronomy 4:39

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what rival to God must I leave behind as I come to Jesus?

“Yahweh your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God,” Moses says. The idols Israel could carve would never answer them. The living God had spoken, and treating His worship lightly would bring judgment.

We too have given created things the place that belongs to God. Jesus bore God's anger against His people's sin at the cross. The Father raised Him alive from the tomb, and His offering never needs to be repeated. Through that finished sacrifice, holy judgment and covenant mercy meet.

Come to Him and turn from the false gods you have served. Trust Jesus alone for forgiveness, which He grants to all who repent and believe. Worship the living God through His Son, whose mercy does not fail.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God's mercy never makes idolatry safe, and that Christ bore judgment to save His people. 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 holy mercy, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so please welcome a short prayer from each who wants to speak.

who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Colossians 1:15

Living God, thank You that You speak and hear, while idols can do neither. Please expose every rival in our hearts and bring each of us to repent and trust Jesus. Teach our family to remember Your Word and worship You with reverence in the days ahead. Amen.