HAPPY ARE YOU!!!
Introduction:
1. The closing chapter of the book of Deuteronomy gives us
Moses' blessing of God's people.
2. He is to leave them; but, he give them his farewell
admonition and blessing.
3. Can you not visualize the aged Moses; 40 years in Egypt as
the son of Pharoah's daughter; 40 years in Midian, as a
shepherd; now 40 years in the wilderness, taking care of
God's business. 120 years of service, but now he is to go.
4. In the closing verse of his blessings, (Deut. 33:29), he
speaks, "Happy art thou, O Israel: Who is like unto thee, a
people saved by Jehovah, The shield of thy help. And the
sword of thy excellency; And thine enemies shall submit
themselves unto thee; And thou shalt tread upon their high
places."
5. What an encouragement this must have been to these nomad
people. They were completing 40 years of wilderness
wanderings, trials, tribulations, hardships, etc.
I. WHERE WOULD YOU BE WITHOUT THE LORD?
1. Think, O Israel!!
2. Where would you be without the Lord?
3. You were no match for the armies of Egypt. Escape from that
land was hopeless.
4. You would have still been slaves in Egypt. (400 years)
5. On the bank of the Red Sea, you watched as Pharoah's army
was bearing down on you, ready to annihilate them and their
children. You had no defense. What stood between Pharoah
and Israel?
6. Only the Lord in a cloudy pillar!!!
7. Under His canopy, all Israel marched through the sea and
the army of Pharoah perished.
8. Israel was free!!
9. Happy are you, O Israel, A people saved by the Lord.
1. Like Israel, where would WE be without the Lord?
2. Eph. 2:1-3 -- "dead in trespasses and sins....."
3. We were powerless to escape Satan's dominion. We were at
his mercy; under his control.
4. But, then the Lord "delivered us..." -- Col. 1:13.
5. We were made ready for His kingdom.
6. HAPPY ARE YOU, O CHURCH OF THE LORD. A people saved by the
Lord. Sure we are!! And how rejoiceful we should be.
II. GOD'S DELIVERANCE:
1. Israel, what would you be doing without God's deliverance?
2. Israel, slaves making bricks, bricks of mortar and straw.
3. You would still be there, except for God.
4. Every Jew in every tribe knew this. No doubt the scars were
still on their hands, a reminder of their toils.
5. HAPPY ARE YOU, O ISRAEL. A people saved by the Lord!!!
1. Like Israel, what would we be doing without Jesus. Without
his sacrificial offering upon the cross.
2. Do you remember what you were doing before you heeded the
call of the Gospel?
3. Paul never forgot his former life. 2 Tim. 1:12-14.How often
those vile deeds must have haunted him memory.
4. 1 Cor. 6:9-11 -- The Corinthians were reminded of their
former life before they were washed, sanctified, justified.
5. Each one of us needs to remember that we were all sinners
delivered from a life of sin.
6. And, we would still be engaged in those sinful acts, except
by the grace of God.
7. HAPPY ARE YOU, O CHURCH OF THE LORD. A people saved by the
Lord. By His blood. Sure we are.
III. ISRAEL KNOWS THEIR FUTURE:
1. Israel's prospects were dismal before God intervened.
2. How could they have any future; all they could look forward
to was making bricks tomorrow, and the day after, and the
day after, etc. What could they do against Pharoah?
3. But, Jehovah stepped in and changed their destiny.
4. Ex. 3:8 -- "I have come down to deliver...to bring you to a
land flowing with milk and honey...."
5. Though they faltered at times, Israel knew where their
journey ended.
6. HAPPY ARE YOU, O ISRAEL. Your future is secure. A people
saved by the Lord.
1. Like Israel, we, as God's people, know what the future
holds for us.
2. Heb. 4:9 -- "There remaineth therefore a sabbath rest for
the people of God."
3. Ask Paul, "What about the future." His answer, 2 Tim. 4:6-
8. A crown awaiting the faithful of God.
4. Jesus, Himself, promised to return and take us home with
Him. John 14:1-3.
5. HAPPY ARE YOU, O CHURCH OF THE LORD. A people saved by the
Lord. Redeemed, prepared to meet him.
IV. ISRAEL ATE OF THE MANNA:
1. For forty years Israel ate of the manna in the desert. God
provided their food and water. They drank from the springs
opened from a rock.
2. 1 Cor 10:4 -- Paul states they drank of that spiritual rock
that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
3. Their clothes and shows did not wear out. God was with
them.
4. HAPPY ARE YOU, O ISRAEL!!
1. With Israel, we drink from that same rock.
2. Jesus is our Rock!!
3. We live in a world that is provided by God's grace: we
breathe His air; we eat of his food; we use His wealth;
4. We are in His world; so enriched that we really have need
of nothing. Though how often we grumble!!! and murmur!!!
5. Then add to these things the spiritual blessing received in
Christ Jesus. Forgiveness, hope, fellowship, etc. 2 Cor.
5:17, New Creatures. Eph. 1:3.
6. Even those who have lost loved houses, loved ones, brother
or sister, for the Lord's sake; shall be blessed. Mk 10:29.
7. HAPPY ARE YOU, O CHURCH OF THE LORD. A people saved by the
Lord.
V. RECIPIENT OF GOD'S MERCY:
1. Israel was the recipient of God's great mercy.
2. If it were not so, they would have perished in His wrath.
3. Over and over again, Israel slaps God in the face, turn
their backs upon Him; but, He extends mercy UPON mercy to
them.
4. Truly, the mercy of the Lord endures forever.
5. Without doubt, HAPPY ARE YOU, O ISRAEL. A people saved by
the Lord.
1. Like Israel, we, too, enjoy His mercy.
2. All of God's people have been forgiven of their sins.
3. Past sins have been wiped away, erased forever.
4. 1 John 1:7 -- Continues to cleanse, as long as we walk in
the light, Never stray from it.
5. We can stand before our God without sin!! Washed,
Sanctified, Justified.
6. HAPPY ARE YOU; O CHURCH OF THE LORD. A people saved by the
Lord.
Conclusion:
1. Moses cried out: "Happy art thou, O Israel; Who is like unto
thee, a people saved by Jehovah, The shield of thy help."
2. Are you Happy in the Lord? You can be. You should be.
3. But, true happiness can come only by our being the friend of
the Lord, by complying with His every command.
4. Are you a child of God now? If not, you can become such.
(Taken from an article by Joe Fitch)
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