Deuteronomy 4:1-9    OT p. 157 or 222

[1] So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.

[2] You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God with which I am charging you.

[3] You have seen for yourselves what the Lord did with regard to the Baal of Peor--how the Lord your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed the Baal of Peor,

[4] while those of you who held fast to the Lord your God are all alive today.

[5] See, just as the Lord my God has charged me, I now teach you statutes and ordinances for you to observe in the land that you are about to enter and occupy.

[6] You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!"

[7] For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is whenever we call to him?

[8] And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today?

[9] But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children's children-- [NRSV]

INTRODUCTION:

A little girl was asked to name the books of the Old Testament in order. She grinned real big and said: "Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Detour-Around-Me, Joshua, Judges, Ruth..." (1)

I think that's what a lot of us try to do. We try to Detour Around the commandments and promises of God. We try to choose only those which don't cramp our style or cause us too much discomfort. At least that's how it appears as you read the daily paper and listen to the news. And even if you avoid those and only read the Scripture, you find out real quickly that we all try to Detour Around the commandments and promises of God.

We see it in this week's readings. Even after everything they have been through, the Israelites still disobey. They still can't seem to do what's right and the will of God. There are two major instances in our readings. The first of course is Balaam, who spoke with God and realized the awesome power of God but thought he could get a better deal somewhere else. And the second is their defeat of the Midianites and the eventual worship of idols.

Have you ever seen anything like this outside of the Bible? God sets them free from slavery. God cares for them and helps them prosper throughout their journey. God leads them to the promised land. They cross over and defeat the Midianites hands down. When the generals all come back together to count their losses, they find that God has so blessed them that not a single Israeli soldier died in the conquest. That has to be the Grace of God at work.

But for some reason, this doesn't seem to make much of an impression on them at all. Because it's not very long before the soldiers have brought home war brides captured from the prostitute cults and have begun worshipping their idols. Which we all know is a "Corky No-No" in God's book. It's one of the top ten No-Nos. It's the Number One and Number Two of the top No-Nos. But they did it anyway.

They tried to Detour Around the commandments and promises of God. And what's even worse is they tried to Detour Around the commandments while continuing to expect the promises to be fulfilled.

They just didn't get it. All God wanted was Obedience born of a grateful heart and love for Him.

John Wesley was the founder of Methodism. You can tell where some of depth of his faith came from because his mother, Susanna once said: "There are two things to do about the gospel - believe it and behave it." (2)

That's Obedience. And that's what Moses is talking about here. Obeying God and not trying to Detour Around the commandments and promises of God. As we look at the theme of this passage, let's look at THE CALL, THE CAUSE AND THE CURE.

I. THE CALL: TO OBEY:

A. THE CALL of course is a CALL TO OBEY.

How many of you have ever had the privilege of experiencing the joys of military boot camp? I hated boot camp. Growing up, my Dad expected strict obedience. He used to tell us boys: "When I say jump, the only thing I want you to ask is "How high?"

Well, in boot camp, they didn't even want us to ask "How high?" They just wanted us to jump.

I hated boot camp. We were up every morning at 5:00 am and we literally hit the ground running. I was in the Honor Guard and it was drilled into us from day one, that we were the cream of the crop, the best of the best. And we were expected to act like it. None of this simple military etiquette or just barely doing it right. No we had to be better than ship shape. We had to be spit and polished every moment of every day.

At 5:00 o'clock in the morning, reveille sounded and we had to be the first ones to hit the deck. We had to be the first ones out the door and the first company to the grinder. That's what they called the exercise field. It was a half mile run and then twice around before falling in. The distance equaled about two miles.

As the Honor Guard, we had to be first. We had to be the best. No slackers, no laggers, no drop outs. Not only was it the law. It was a matter of pride. And our company commander expected it. The Honor Guard was the best of the best in boot camp and it was a privilege to be a part of the Honor Guard. If you couldn't cut it you were cut. And we had to be first.

Consequently, we were always first. Folks accused us of sleeping in our uniforms. Another company commander even tried to force his way into the barracks to prove that's what we were doing. We were just well trained and quick. We laid out our uniforms in a certain way so they were easy to get into. We practiced getting out of the building fast.

And in all the weeks I was in boot camp, there was only one time when we weren't first. And that was the day the company across from us tied our doors shut with socks. We weren't first, but we were second. And when the Company Commander found out how we became second, he was mad. I've never heard such a chewing out in all my life. He didn't chew US out. But boy he sure chewed up and spit out the other Company Commander and his company for endangering and impeding his boys. That company high ported their rifles every night for two solid weeks.

Our Company Commander was great. There wasn't a man in the company who wouldn't have walked through fire for him. Oh, I grumbled and griped like the rest of them. But when I got out of boot camp, I was in the best shape I've ever been in. And I had learned how to obey, with pride.

Obedience is necessary. Especially in the military. It wouldn't do to have everyone in the company questioning the orders of the Commanding Officer in a critical maneuver. You obeyed. If you didn't it could cost you your life and maybe the lives of others.

One of the things they drilled into us in boot camp is one of the creeds of the Coast Guard who have always been involved in Search and Rescue: "You have to go out. But you don't have to come back." That's the essence of obedience.

And this is what God was trying to teach the Israelites in the desert. Their time in desert was sort of a spiritual boot camp. They were supposed to have learned to obey.

B. In the movie "The Empire Strikes Back," the second movie in the Star Wars Trilogy, Luke Skywalker is with Yoda, the Jedi Master and trainer, training to become a Jedi Knight. But he's having trouble. Yoda instructs Luke to try this particular feat once again. And Luke says: "I'll try."

The wise Yoda replied, "There is no try. There is only do or not do." (3)

That is exactly the way it is with Obedience. "There is only do or not do." And THE CALL for us is to do.

II. THE CAUSE: OF DISOBEDIENCE:

A. So why can't we do it? If it's that simple, why can't we obey? Well, THE CAUSE of our disobedience is this little bitty three letter word that none of us like. It's one of those words that is like getting a sand burr in your sock or a little rock under your foot when your wearing sandals. It just irritates the fool out of you. The word I'm talking about, of course, is SIN.

We don't like that word. We don't like to be called sinners. We don't like to admit that we've sinned. We don't like to be reminded that we're not perfect and that we have failed God. Or disobeyed. But there it is. Sin. The little word with a capital "I" in the middle. And if you never admit that you are a sinner then you can never repent and accept the forgiveness God offers. Because Jesus came to save sinners.

Most of us think sin is about breaking the rules. But sin is not just about breaking rules. It's about breaking God's heart and breaking covenant with God. Sin is an offense against the very nature and character of God. It breaks relationship with the one who has delivered us from captivity and lead us to freedom.

When we sin, most of us are like my dog Midnight. For those of you haven't met Midnight the Wonder Dog, she's a real piece of work. She's half black Labrador Retriever and half Coon Hound. She was supposed to be my wife, Mary's, dog, but instead, I am the object of her affection.

Midnight has a conscience. You see, I can come in and see that she's done something wrong. Or just walk into the room and say: "What did you do?" And she'll drop down in that guilty mode that all dogs get. Tail between her legs, ears limp, head drooping, sad eyes. Sometimes she'll even roll over belly up. She knows what she's not supposed to do and feels guilty about it.

All except for one thing. Midnight obeys every command except one. I don't know if she doesn't really understand the word or just doesn't want to obey. But she's seven years old and she still doesn't know how to "stay." She can whisper. She can say "I love you." She can shake hands and even give you five. But she doesn't know how to stay. She stays until I get out of sight. And then she comes looking for me.

After all of these years of working with her I've come to the conclusion that she knows what the word "Stay" means, she just chooses not to obey. Her curiosity is greater than her will to obey.

B. And that's the way it is with us sometimes. Not all the time. Sometimes we can be completely obedient. Sometimes, on our own, we are absolutely wonderful. But most of the time we are like Midnight the Wonder Dog. We know what God wants, we just choose not to do it.

We choose not to do it for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes it's simply childish rebellion. An attitude that says: "You can't tell me what to do!"

Sometimes it's ignorance. No one ever taught us what God expects.

Sometimes it's because we're so self absorbed that we can't even hear what God wants us to do. That capital "I" in our lives is so big it blocks out everything else.

And sometimes it's none of these. Sometimes it's simply neglect of the relationship.

But whatever the reason, whatever THE CAUSE the results are the same: Disobedience and a broken relationship with God.

III.THE CAUSE: OF DISOBEDIENCE:

A. So what's THE CURE for Sin and Disobedience? Well, that's easy. Obedience. The hard part is actually living a life of Obedience. But there is help for us. A friend of mine sent me a recall notice I want to share with you.

IMPORTANT RECALL NOTICE :

The maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to the serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.

This defect has been technically termed, 'Subsequential Internal Non-Morality,' or more commonly known as S-I-N, because it's primary symptom is loss of moral judgment. Other symptoms include: (a) Loss of direction, (b) Foul vocal emissions, (c) Amnesia of origin, (d) Lack of peace and joy, (e) Selfish, or violent, behavior, (f) Depression or confusion in the mental component, (g) Fearfulness, and (h) Idolatry.

The manufacturer, who is neither liable or at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service, free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The number to call for the recall station in your area is P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN by pressing R-E-P-E-N-T-A-N-C-E.

Next, download J-E-S-U-S into the heart. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, the JESUS repair will replace it with: (a) Love, (b) Joy, (c) Peace, (d) Long-suffering, (e) Gentleness, (f) Goodness, (g) Faith, (h) Meekness, and (i) Temperance.

Please see operating manual, HOLY BIBLE, for further details on the use of these fixes.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human unit without correction, voids the manufacturer's warranty, exposing owner to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on JESUS.

DANGER: The human units not receiving this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace.

This Recall Notice Has Been Authorized by: The Creator.

I thought that was a creative way of reminding us that the answer to all of our disobedience and all of our problems is Christ Jesus, the Son of God. God doesn't want us separated from God or the Community of Faith. God wants to be in a loving relationship with us. God wants to be our God. Even though we sometimes fail to live up to the covenant, God still loves us. And God still desires for us to be in relationship with Him.

B. A few of years ago, there was a little known play titled Closed Because Of Death playing off-Broadway in New York City. In the play, history comes to an end. Everybody dies. The earth is barren and empty. And is the symbol of defeat. Everything seems hopeless. Then in the last act, the scene shifts to heaven. God is sitting there, staring off into the future. God is holding a baby in His arms.

Two angels pass by. One turns to the other and says, "He is going to start over again, is he? Doesn't he ever learn?"

The second angel answers, "Well, you see, that's precisely the difference between God and us. God always sees a chance to start all over again." (4)

And that is so true. Despite our faults and failures, despite our sin and disobedience, God still loves us. God's desire is for a relationship with us. God wants to be our God. And God wants us to be God's people. So God offers a way to be reconciled and to restore the relationship. And that way is Jesus.

That's why Jesus came. To restore our broken relationship with God. He died on the cross so that we could experience and know the forgiveness God offers. And, with His very life, He came to show us what true obedience is all about. All we have to do is trust Christ. And when we put our full trust in Christ, then we can be obedient.

CONCLUSION:

Everyday we are challenged with one simple question. Everyday we are given a simple choice that will determine how we will face the day and how we will behave. That question and that choice are the same. "Who will you serve."

It can be put in another way, one that reflects the teachings of Jesus: "Will you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength? And love your neighbor as yourself?"

When our feet hit the floor in the morning, our first thought should be of God. And we should ask: "How can I serve you today, Lord." And then offer a simple prayer asking God to be at the center of everything we do.

And then at the end of the day, take measure of how the day went. Repent where repentance is needed and seek God's forgiveness. Give thanks for those special moments and rejoice in how you were able to obey. And ask for strength for the day to come.

That's being obedient in it's simplest form. That's Obedience that doesn't try to Detour Around the commandments and promises of God. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. For to love God completely and to live that love daily, through Christ, is to be obedient.

1. Parables, Etc. (Platteville, Colorado: Saratoga Press), September 1997

2. The Autoillustrator, (Greeley, CO, 1993)

3. Parables, Etc. (Platteville, Colorado: Saratoga Press), Novemeber 1996

4. James W. Moore, The Top Ten List for Graduates, Priorities for Faithful Living. (Dimensions For Living, Nashville: 1997) p. 60.

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