Keeping DEATH as a REALITY in our daily living

 

March 3 Bible Reading: Deuteronomy Chapters 31-34

Keeping DEATH as a REALITY in our daily living

As we come to the closing chapters of Deuteronomy, God clarifies what will happen to Moses now: Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, the days approach when you must die; call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of meeting, that I may inaugurate him" (Deut 31:14). Moses was to “rest with his fathers” in a short time (v. 16a). However, there were certain things that Moses was to accomplish on earth before he died:

1. Moses had to write down the law and deliver it to the priests so that they will safeguard it in the Ark of the Covenant. This law was to be read to the Israelites once in every seven years at the Feast of the Tabernacles (Deut 31:9-13)
2. Moses was to hand over the leadership to Joshua and inaugurate him in the sight of the Israelites (Deut 31:7-8, 14)
3. Moses was to write down a song and teach it to the children of Israel so that this song would be a witness for God against the children of Israel. “Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel” (Deut 31:19). This ‘Song of Moses’ is recorded for our benefit in Deut 32:1-43.
4. Moses had to give his final blessings to the children of Israel according to their tribes, which is recorded in Deut 33:1-29.
5. Finally, Moses had to view the land of Israel from a distance standing on top of Mount Nebo and see for himself The Promised Land that he had lead the Israelites the past forty years to inherit (Deut 32:48-52; 34:1-5).

When Moses saw death as a reality in his life, he could accomplish a lot of things in a short time. This is what God requires from us as well, which is explicitly mentioned as part of the ‘Song of Moses’: “Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!” (Deut 32:29). We need to understand the brevity of our life, and keep death as a reality in our daily living. When we are aware of our own death in the near future will allow us to have the right perspective towards life, and prioritize the things that really have eternal value, significance and lasting rewards.

Let us join with Moses in praying the following: "So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalms 90:12). Let us live as if today was the last day of our lives!