Justin Houtz

Deuteronomy 11, Galatians 2

DateVersionReading Plan
June 13, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Deuteronomy 11

Observation & Interpretation

The LORD through Moses exhorted the people to keep His commandments and statutes always (Deut. 11:1). The LORD did not speak with their children who had not known and seen the chastening of the LORD their God (Deut. 11:2). “The people had seen and experienced the Lord’s discipline and were therefore without excuse for their waywardness. Their children, on the other hand, were not so culpable for they had not seen these things for themselves.” (CSB Notes). Details of the LORD’s greatness, mighty hand and outstretched arm in the time of the exodus from Egypt and the wilderness are described (Deut. 11:2-7). The people were therefore to keep the LORD’s commandments that they may be strong as they enter to take possession of the land.

The land they were to possess was unlike that of Egypt which they sowed seed and watered by foot (Deut. 11:10-12). The CSB Notes provides comment on the contrast of lands:

The description of Canaan is especially meaningful in comparison to Egypt, where rain was scarce and agriculture depended on the annual overflow of the Nile River and irrigation by hand. The fact that Canaan was watered by rain from the sky insinuates that the rain came from God himself so that it was he who did the backbreaking work for them. For “hand” (v. 10) the Hebrew has “foot,” which may refer to a primitive foot-operated irrigation pump called shaduf in Arabic.

If the people earnestly obeyed the LORD’s commandments and served Him with all their hearts, the LORD would give them rain in its season and they would prosper agriculturally (Deut. 11:13-15). However, they were to take heed to themselves and not succumb to idolatry, lest the LORD’s anger be roused against them and He shut up the heavens, provide no rain, yielding no produce and they perish from the land the LORD was giving them (Deut. 11:16-17). The people were to therefore be completely saturated in the words of the LORD and teach them diligently to their children (Deut. 11:18-21). If the people remained careful to keep the LORD’s commandments, He would drive out the nations from before them and no man would be able to stand against them (Deut. 11:22). By this, the LORD set before the people a blessing and a curse; the blessing if they obey His commandments and a curse if they do not (Deut. 11:26-28). The blessing is further explicated in specifying the Canaanite land of which they would take possession. The final exhortation of the chapter was for the people to be careful to observe all the statutes and judgments which the LORD set before them (Deut. 11:32).

Application

The way in which the people were to be immersed in the LORD’s words and teach them to their children is one we would do well to follow as New Testament followers of Christ. Knowing of our propensity to be driven and tossed by the wind and waves of the present age, we should be all the more cognizant to be constantly engaged in the truth and promises God has provided by His Word.

Galatians 2

Observation & Interpretation

Paul describes how his apostolic ministry was primarily Gentile while Peter’s was for the circumcised (the Jews). However, Paul addresses how Peter slipped back into adherence to the law when a group came down from James to Jerusalem for a visit. The BBC notes that, “Peter stopped having fellowship with the Gentiles, fearing that the news of his behavior would get back to the legalist faction in Jerusalem. In doing this, he was denying one of the great truths of the gospel—that all believers are one in Christ Jesus, and that national differences do not affect fellowship.”

Application

Peter’s fear of how fellowship with Gentiles would be received led him and others to hypocrisy. How often we too allow the fear of others adversely effect our ministry of the gospel. Rather than surrendering to the Spirit’s guidance in faithful ambassadorship, we permit our words and actions to be driven by a perceived anticipated reaction. This is a faith and trust issue, rooted in the sin of fear, seeking to control outcomes which are not within our domain of power. To God alone does this belong and to Him it must thus be relinquished.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the admonition You gave to Your people to lay Your words on their hearts. Father, by Your Spirit, help me to do likewise that I may be anchored to Your glorious gospel. Father, help me to trust in You fully, to be released of the fear of man that I may live in the freedom of obedience to You and Your Word.

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