Justin Houtz

Deut. 6, Psalm 89, Isaiah 34, Revelation 4

DateVersionReading Plan
@June 2, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

Deut. 6

Deuteronomy 6:4–7 (ESV) 4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 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.

In some of the most well-known verses of the Bible, Moses instructs the Israelites to love God with all their heart, soul and might and to know and do His commandments. Deut. 6:4 is traditionally known as the “Shema”, representing the greatest commandment of Judaism and Christianity to be exclusively loyal to God. However, what was particularly striking in today’s reading was Deut. 6:7 and how God’s commandments were to be taught and spoken by His people. Their whole lives were to be so permeated with God’s commands that they were to constantly speak of them and reference them. How wonderful it would be to diligently keep this command, that every conversation within our households would be grounded in Jesus and the gospel.

Psalm 89

Psalm 89:14–16 (ESV) 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. 15 Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face, 16 who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted.

The psalmist speaks of God’s righteousness and justice as the foundation of His throne and pairs also His steadfast love and faithfulness as going before Him. As I read through the psalms, these pairings of God’s attributes seem to emerge often. Carson referenced them in his commentary on Ps. 85 in which God’s love and faithfulness are paired along with His righteousness and peace. What seems important to draw from this is how the attributes relate to each other and how they are perfectly expressed in God.

Isaiah 34

Isaiah 34:16 (ESV) 16 Seek and read from the book of the LORD: Not one of these shall be missing; none shall be without her mate. For the mouth of the LORD has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them.

This chapter largely deals with God’s judgment against the nations and in these verses we see how His decrees are perfect down to the last detail. There is nothing missing and this can be verified by reading from the book of the LORD. Important to see in this is how wholly truthful and comprehensive is God’s Word. We have all that is required in His special revelation, where nothing is included that need not be nor anything omitted that should be present.

Revelation 4

Revelation 4:10–11 (ESV) 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

When I hear of the casting of crowns, it is difficult to not think of the band name, but the meaning behind it is profound. It this context, the twenty four elders described had crowns which they laid down in full submission to God as the Great King. Every earthly ruler, whether now or on their final day, will bow down to Him, because God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

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