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January 1 - Deuteronomy 30 - "Hoping for a New Heart"

MPC 5^th June 2017.

Phil Campbell

There was a fascinating article in last week's Australian. Reflecting on the way mainstream media so badly misread the mood of ordinary Americans in the election campaign. And particularly the way the media misread the place of religion.

The article's by Tim Montgomery; and he says by and large the media is illiterate when it comes to matters of faith. That the media just doesn't get it. Whether it's Islam or Christianity; he quotes the editor of the New York Times who admits it straight out, "We don't get religion."

Montgomery says, In the media, we think religions are all the same. When he says even just a little bit of Googling can establish that Jesus and Mohammad were very different characters.

And yet he says, we keep missing the profound differences. Between Islam and Christianity.

Like this one. Which he calls one of the biggest. That he says...

... Muslims do not have the equivalent of the Bible's narrative and its replacement of Old Testament laws with New Testament grace.

Which, he says, makes the two religions profoundly different.

Now I've got to say I think it's the first time I've ever seen that simple point expressed in print in a major newspaper. So my heart gave a little leap for joy. The fact that Christianity at it's heart is built on the fact that the bible has a narrative.

That there's an Old Testament.

Which is followed by a New Testament.

That there's an old contract.

That's followed by a new contract.

That there was the Nation of Israel ruled over by a line of kings and shaped by laws and regulations.

Followed by a kingdom for all the nations. Ruled by king Jesus and shaped from the heart by the spirit.

And we, we're the Jesus people. That there's an unfolding story; and we're a part of the end bit. And understanding that Christianity has a narrative like that. Changes everything.

And by the way gives very easy answers to snide questions from the sort of people who say dumb stuff like, "Hey, you Christians are inconsistent because you eat prawns and the book of Leviticus says you can't eat shellfish."

There's a narrative. There's a storyline. That starts with Israel and Israel's laws and their promised land. And runs all the way to Jesus. And then to us.

Which in itself, as Montgomery says in his article, is enough to make Christianity profoundly different to Islam.

But look, I suspect it's not just the media that's missed that. It's generations of Christians as well. Maybe you're one of them.

Christians who read the bible like a phone book or a dictionary; which if you can remember in the time before Google you could just dip into at random for answers. Without any sense there's a story line.

Christians who read the bible like a law book. And miss the point that the law for ancient Israel was never meant to be the law for Gentile Christians. That the priests and temple and sacrifices were designed to be dispensable. That they were shadows.

That there's a development; there's a storyline.

From the moment of creation; everything good.

To the point we call the fall; where humanity represented by adam and eve outright rejects the word of the creator. And grasps for autonomy. Self rule.

There's the disaster the flows from that point in Genesis chapter 3. That grows like a huge black snowball and paints a picture of exactly the kind of world we've got now.

People are saying 2016 was a bad year for celebrity deaths. Just in the last week, George Michael, Carrie Fischer, Debbie Reynolds.

But look, it's been the same way since Genesis 3. Everybody. Dies. Celebrity or not.

And everybody. Does what's right in their own eyes.

And it's every man for himself.

Genesis 3 to Genesis 11, death reigns.

Until God steps in with the offer of a new start in Genesis chapter 12. Not so much an offer. As a promise.

And chooses Abraham as the start of a new humanity. A new start. A family, then a nation; that was going to live under God's rule in their God given land; and in due course follow the laws that he gives them through Moses.

And through them, says God, all the world will one day be blessed again.

A long term project with all kinds of twists and turns to put back together what was broken in the garden. God's people. Living gladly under his rule. In the perfect place that he's prepared for them.

Over these next few weeks we're going to be dipping into that story at a number of key points along the way.

Because here's the one place in all of broken humanity where hope lies. God's plan. For a new hope.

God's plan for a people with new hearts.

We're going to notice the bible uses that term the heart a lot to talk about the core of who we are. The thing that makes us tick not so much physically as our actual being. The place where I really am who I really am.

And we're going to see there's a heart problem... that's going to plague the nation of Israel right through their history.

A problem that as hundreds of years later they're crossing the river Jordan to take the land God promised Abraham, as God hands them the title deeds, is a problem their leader Moses knows is almost sure to bring them down. Until it's ultimately resolved with a change of heart.

We're focusing this morning in our lightning tour of the Bible's grand narrative on six key verses in Deuteronomy chapter 30; the story's hardly got going. But they're key verses because in the way narratives like the bible work, in the way you tell a story, there's usually a point that maps out everything that lies ahead. And this is it.

They're words of Moses. And they're words of warning.

At this point the nation God promised to Abraham is well on the way. From one man, now thousands of descendants. And they're right on the edge of the promised land God's giving them as their home.

It's just across the river. And this, from Moses, is the final word of warning. As well as the final promise. And it's all got to do with their hearts.

Deuteronomy chapter 29, Moses spells out the terms of the covenant. God's promise to Israel. That the God of all creation will be Israel's God. And Israel will be his people. And serve him only.

But the problem is, when you've got a promise like that from God, when he's giving you the promised land... it's going to be very easy to get complacent.

And turn to the other gods of the people around them. Which so far in the story has been a constant temptation.

So there's a warning about it in Deuteronomy 29 verse 18.

We'll put it on the screen. Because it's all about their hearts. Moses says,

Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the Lord our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.

No room for complacency. Here's what he says next...

¹⁹ When such a person hears the words of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself and therefore thinks, "I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way." This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry.

Moses says, you're about to be given the promised land. So watch your hearts. Don't let your hearts turn away to worship the Gods of the land you're going to take over. When you take over the land... don't let the land take over you.

Or else one day, says Moses, it's all going to be a smoking ruin. And you'll be refugees. You'll be exiles in a far off land.

Now here we are in the Old Testament's grand story of the nation of Israel, they're about to walk into their promised land. Where they'll settle and build and prosper.

And yet in another way it's not sounding promising at all, is it. Because this is a warning. Like walking through the glassware section at David Jones store the other day with two of our little grand daughters. It was funny, because I was just in the middle of telling Rosie and Stella how if they break anything we'd have to pay for it, and a mum came past the Wedgwood in the other direction saying exactly the same thing to her kid at the same time. Warnings in stereo.

Here's the warning from Moses. You're coming into the land God is giving you.

But he says if one day it's all a smoking ruin and if one day in the future archeologists are digging around it and saying wow what happened here... the answer will be, Deuteronomy 29 verse 25:

It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the Lord, the God of their fathers, the covenant he made with them when he brought them out of Egypt. ²⁶ They went off and worshiped other gods and bowed down to them, gods they did not know, gods he had not given them. ²⁷ Therefore the Lord's anger burned against this land, so that he brought on it all the curses written in this book. ²⁸ In furious anger and in great wrath the Lord uprooted them from their land and thrust them into another, as it is now.

Moses at this point puts it as a choice.

Two futures. Faithful to the covenant of the Lord in the promised land... and live under blessing.

Or ignore the covenant. And be thrown out.

Israel's choice.

And that's the tension that hangs over every chapter of Israel's history. And makes it such a riveting story.

Which way's it going to go?

And look, if you've read any of the bible, you'll know Israel's hearts just aren't in it. Just take everything Moses warns them about in Deuteronomy 29, and watch the worst case scenario play out, one step at a time.

The book of Joshua, God gives them the land. By Samuel and kings. A couple of books later. The disappointing outcome. As ultimately there's no king; who'll be a King after God's own heart. And lead them in faithfulness.

Just the opposite.

And so by the end of the second book of Kings, the land of Israel is smashed and scattered. The Israelites are in exile in Babylon. Exactly as Moses warned from the start. And it seems like the story's over.

Except, of course, if you come back for a moment to Deuteronomy chapter 30, there's more to the story.

I mean, Moses nailed all the consequences of what was going to happen. But if you keep reading into Deuteronomy 30, there's a note of new hope there as well.

Because even as they stand on the edge of the promised land about to go into it, Moses is looking further forward. To an even better covenant. And a new Israel. With new hearts.

He knows the bad choices they're going to make.

And so he tells them from the start. In case of emergency. Here's what you do.

He says, It'll be like the story of the prodigal son that one day Jesus will tell. That no matter how far you've gone, no matter how wide you're scattered. When you come to your senses, and you turn around... God will take you back. It's in verses 1 to 6 of Deuteronomy chapter 30. And I want you to notice how many times Moses points out that it's all about their hearts.

Because it's going to take a change of heart. a change from the very centre of their being. That's going to bring about a change of the very centre of their being.

Pick up in Deuteronomy 30 verse 1... remember, he's just said that the risk is they'll be unfaithful in their hearts to God, and he'll thrown them out of the promised land... but now this:

When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and all your soul according to everything I command you today... then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.

Even if you've been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, it's not too far. God will gather you up, and bring you back.

And things, verse 5, will be even better than before. When you have a change of heart. And truly repent.

That's what the future holds for the story of Israel.

That's how the Bible's narrative is going to unfold.

Israel, these descendants of Abraham who have been living in slavery in Egypt - they're going to be a great nation. They're going to come into the land of promise.

Guaranteed.

And if they turn their backs on the God who gave them everything they're going to be smashed and scattered. Guaranteed.

And when and if they turn back with all their hearts they'll come home again. Guaranteed.

And there's one more thing. It's the big one.

Here's the game changer. When and if Israel does that... when and if Israel turns back to God with all their hearts, when they recognise the problem; here's the biggest promise of all.

Now keep in mind, circumcision is the physical mark of being an Israelite man. Baby boy, 8 days old; routine procedure.

But being marked out as an Israelite physically, the problem is, it doesn't fix the heart problem that's going to send them into exile.

But the hope is, one day, God's going to.

Here's the promise.

When things get so bad that you turn back to me with all your heart and soul; when things get so bad and you're in exile and you know things are a mess and you're ready to do things my way again. God says to Israel, turn back to me with all your heart and soul... and I'll do the rest.

Verse 6, when you do that... The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants... so that you may love him with all your heart and soul... and live.

So that God's going to step in and make it possible... for these Israelites to really love him. From the heart.

So that God's going to step in an change them on the inside so their obedience isn't a matter of unwilling duty any more. But a matter of love.

Remember Tim Montgomery's comment that I started with? About how the bible has a narrative of the replacement of Old Testament laws with new testament grace?

That narrative starts right here. Even as Moses is dishing out those Old Testament laws... he's looking forward. To the time they'll be replaced. With changed hearts. What Moses is actually saying - though he doesn't realise it - is that one day, there are going to be Christians.

And as that narrative unfolds, you can watch it play out. God gives Israel their promised land.

And instead of being faithful, they'll bow down and worship anything else. They'll compromise everything. They'll fit in anywhere. And be just like everybody else.

Their hearts. Just aren't in it.

And yet the new hope remains.

Which the prophets keep repeating. Time after time.

Over the next few weeks we're going to dip in and look at key points of their messages.

The Prophet Jeremiah years later, as disaster is about to fall, after he's warned Israel that they're about to go into exile... he makes the same promise Moses did. About a new covenant. We'll see it with Pete next week. "I'll put my law in their minds... and write it on their hearts."

Couple of weeks time, Ryan's going to take us to the Prophet Ezekiel who puts it this way.

I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

The new heart. Coming from a new spirit.

Which will mean righteousness is second nature. Because there's an actual heartfelt desire to do right. a change of motives.

Week four, we're going to dip in on the prophet Isaiah, with Jeremy.

That's the hope of the Old Testament all the way through; longing for the day God's going to step in and change motivations. Looking forward to the day when God's people get to have love and joy and peace at the core of their being. Along with patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

A day that's come, as I hope you'll realise if at this point you've been a Christian a while; a day that's come; when you flip past that page in your bible that divides the Old Testament and the new.

And we meet Jesus. Who says to his disciples, no more waiting. I'm here. To bring the new covenant of the new heart.

I'm here to pour our the living water of the holy spirit. To anyone who's thirsty.

I'm here; the one Israelite ready to be fully obedient to the father.

And in the gospel accounts, he's there calling for anyone else from Israel who's been longing for a new heart by the spirit to join him; because he's the one who's going to unleash it.

In fact when you get to the book of Acts, there's so much holy spirit poured out, that even people like you and me get to be included. The New Testament calls us the Gentiles. The non Jews. Even we can have new hearts.

But look, we're getting ahead of ourselves. That's where the story's heading over the next few weeks.

Though I just want to finish this morning by saying, what I'm talking about isn't the change that comes by just taking on a few new year's resolutions and trying harder.

If your new to church, if you're new to Christianity; if you've been around for ages and you haven't quite put the pieces together yet, this isn't about trying harder. It's about getting to the turning point. That Israel had to get to through their long story. Of saying I've done it my way, and it's a mess. I need to turn back. And then calling on Jesus. Who's still in the business of pouring out his spirit. And changing hearts.

And I can tell you this morning countless generations of Christians who have come to faith in Jesus Christ, that's the sort of life change that follows. And you can meet people here in our church who'll tell you that's been exactly their experience. That God's Spirit has changed them to the point where they love what is right. And love what's good. And love what's true. In a way that didn't come naturally before.

Jonathan Nolan, the creator of the TV series Westworld; said recently of all the new technologies that are emerging. AI. Artificial intelligence. VR. Virtual reality. He says, they're

allowing us to lose ourselves in an acid bath of experience that will soon be indistinguishable from reality (and only because reality will be the most boring level); and that, despite all of that, we remain, as a species, frustratingly broken, seemingly barrelling towards disaster.

True? I reckon that's exactly what Moses would have said about Israel. Frustratingly broken. Barrelling towards disaster. That's our world, every time you turn on the news. Isn't it?

But the new hope God's promising from right back at the start - from Deuteronomy chapter 30 and right through the big story of the bible - is the promise of putting the brokenness back together. Me and you. One piece at a time. Starting... with his Spirit at work in our hearts. As we trust in Jesus. Which is way better than any new year's resolution!