Deut. 7, Psalm 90, Isaiah 35, Revelation 5

Date	Version	Reading Plan
@June 3, 2024	ESV (2016)	M’Cheyne Plan 2024

Deut. 7

Deuteronomy 7:22–23 (ESV) 22 The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you. 23 But the LORD your God will give them over to you and throw them into great confusion, until they are destroyed.

Moses gives the people the LORD’s commands to clear away the many nations inhabiting the land they were to possess and devote all to destruction. There was not to be anything left of them nor any covenant made with them lest they draw their sons away from following the true God. The speed at which this would happen was “little by little” so as not to the allow wild animals to grow too numerous. As the Believer’s Bible Commentary states, “Unpopulated areas become breeding grounds for wild animals, whereas urban areas serve to control their numbers.” The Commentary also elaborates on another reason for the gradual clearing of the land related to Judges 2:21-23 in which “God would use the remaining heathen to test Israel.”

Psalm 90

Psalm 90:2–3 (ESV) 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!”

The contrast between God and man demonstrated in these verses is enormous. God’s immensity and majesty are showcased by His creation, bringing the mountains forth, forming the earth and the world and revealing that He from everlasting to everlasting. We then see the brevity of man’s existence by comparison, short and fleeting, entirely under God’s dominion who only has but to speak to return man to dust. If there be any vestige of self-aggrandizement remaining within us, such verses would surely destroy it.

Isaiah 35

Isaiah 35:3–4 (ESV) 3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

God through Isaiah gives encouragement to the people that He will save them from the godless nations who oppress them. The words express a swiftness and strength of deliverance from adversity that only God can deliver. As we find ourselves in difficult situations with weak hands and feeble knees, we should take heart and proceed in fearlessness knowing that we rest in the God of all strength, the One who is both able and willing to save.

Revelation 5

Revelation 5:9–10 (ESV) 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

John was mournful that no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was worthy to open the scroll, but elders told him to weep no more because the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, was able to open it with its seven seals. The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures then broke out in song that He is worthy to open the scroll with its seals, that He was slain and by His blood ransomed people for God. This song, when properly captured, can nearly stop the heart in gratitude that we have been given the Lamb who is worthy and by whose blood every tribe, language, people are nation have been made a kingdom of priests to our God and shall reign on the earth.

Carson on Deuteronomy 7

God gives his people [encouragement] not to fear the people they will have to fight as they take over the Promised Land (Deut. 7:17-22). The reason is the Exodus. Any God that could produce the plagues, divide the Red Sea, and free his people from a regional superpower like Egypt is not the kind of God who is going to have trouble with a few pagan and immoral Canaanites. Fear is the opposite of faith. The Israelites are encouraged not to be afraid, not because they are stronger or better, but because they are the people of God, and God is unbeatable.

Carson points to the fearlessness with which the people were told by God to take possession of the Promised Land. This type of courage is one that all believers in Christ should adopt and embrace; a courage that stems not from any innate inability of our own but one that reflects a steadfast dependence and confidence in His.

Justin Houtz