Attached to God
Introduction. (Deut.
7:6-11) The book of Deuteronomy serves as a reminder and final encouragement to
the Israelites before they enter their new life in Canaan. In the previous
chapter the Ten Commandments first recorded in Exodus 20:1-17 are restated
(Deut. 6:6-21). Some commentators suggest that the sections that follow this
restatement through much of the remainder of the book are structured in rough
correspondence to Ten Commandments as a form of expansion and commentary on
these laws. If so, the text we just read has a relationship to the fist
command: “I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out
of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me” (Deut. 6:6-7).
Notice a few things that we find in this text:
•
Statement of the special relationship God had with Israel (v.
6). They were a “holy people,” a “chosen people,” who were to God a “special
treasure.”
•
The reason God “set His love” upon them (v. 7-8).
Not because of their number, but because of His love and because of His oath.
•
Statement of His nature (v. 9-10). The behavior of
God keeping His oath and showing His love demonstrates what they were to
understand about His nature—He is their God—He is a faithful God—He
keeps His covenant and mercy “for a thousand generations.” By some estimates if
count the generations from this time to the present we are only about 100
generations from that time. This would extend not only to our time but well
beyond. To whom is God faithful? “those who love Him and keep His
commandments.”
o
The love that God has shown His people has always been intended
to move man to love Him and be obedient to Him.
•
What this was to mean to them (v. 11). He
concludes, “Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the
judgments which I command you today, to observe them.”
I. The Meaning of “Set His
Love.”
There is a beautiful picture that
is used in this text that is not readily apparent in our English translations.
The word for “love” used in verses 8-9 are forms of the ordinary word for love
used hundreds of times throughout the Bible. In verse 7, however, there is an
unusual word used less frequently—the Heb. chashaq. I would like for us
this evening to look at some things about God’s relationship to man—and thus
man’s relationship to God that are taught in the way the Holy Spirit uses a
beautiful picture here.
A.
Later in Deuteronomy. The same use of this word is found later in
Deuteronomy (Deut. 10:12-15). The common word is used second, chashaq (the
less common word) is used first, translated “delighted.” What is different
about it? It literally refers being “attached to” something.
B. Literal
Meaning. Often it is used quite literally. In Exodus it is always used literally
Ê(Exod. 27:16-17 cf. 38:17, 28). Here, in describing the courtyard of the
tabernacle it describes “bands of silver” (older translations put it “filleted”).
This is the world chashaq. A form of this word is used eight times in
Exodus of “bands” (or “fillets”)—(Exod. 27:10-11; 36:38; 38:10, 11, 12; 17,
19). We understand, it is the idea that the silver is “attached to” the
column or thing being described. What does this have to do with God’s “love”
for Israel.
II. Emotional Attachment.
There is another sense this word
can take. Often it is used metaphorically of emotional attraction, desire, or
affection.
A. Shechem
was attached to Dinah (Gen. 34:6-10).
B. The
Israelite might become attached to a captive woman taken in war (Deut.
21:10-14).
C. Solomon
desired (i.e. became attached to the idea) to build in Jerusalem (2
Chron. 8:1-6; cf. 1 Kings 9:19). A form of chashaq is used in this sense
four times in Scriputre (1 Kings 9:1, 19; 2 Chron. 8:6; Isa. 21:4).
D. This is
the sense that is used in the text where we started—Deuteronomy 7:7. God set
His love on His people in a very tender, affectionate sense—He attached Himself
to Israel.
III. Application.
A.
Israel was to have the same attachment to God. It is easy to
sometimes see the Old Testament as strict and rigid. It is easy to see the God
of the OT as an authority who commands with little tenderness, or affection for
His people. That is not the true picture of Him. He desired His people—He
was drawn to them—He was attached to them. We noted in Deuteronomy 7:9-10
that the attitude, nature, and faithfulness of God should have motivated Israel
to love and obey Him. The Old Testament was never intended as a heartless,
obedience with no emotional connection to God (cf. Psa. 91:9-16). Note: Satan
tries to use the principle here to tempt Jesus (cf. Matt. 4:6-7). This is not
strictly messianic—it teaches that God blesses those who serve and obey Him. In
vs. 14 God will bless with salvation the one who “sets his love on” (i.e. is
attached to) Him. This is the word chashaq. So what does this
have to do with us? This is the Old Law, right?
B. The
Christian is to have this attachment to God. Remember, Deut. 7:6-11—His faithfulness
and mercy to “a thousand generations” would include us.Ê He is attached to those
who are attached to Him. Notice a NT text that uses some of the same
language that describes God’s relationship with Christians (1 Pet. 2:1-10).
Note:
•
If we “taste” that God is gracious (v. 3) it calls us to faithful
behavior.
•
Christians (like Israel) are to God “chosen” and “precious” (v.
4)—He is attached to us.
•
Christ may be rejected by the world, but to believers “He is
precious” (v. 7)—we are attached to Him.
•
Only in such attachment can we be (what Israel
was—“chosen”—“special”—“His people” (vv. 9-10).
Conclusion. Am
I truly attached to God? Is this reflected in my daily life? We are attached
to what consumes our mind, time, affection, attention, and thoughts. Far
too often, we (like Israel) consider our connection to God like membership in a
club—we come from time to time—we pay our dues—but, it is only a small part of
our life. What if that is how we treated our wife or husband? Would there be
the attachment that sustains the relationship? We must fall in love with
God!
•
There are some great benefits to this attachment—ultimately
salvation (Isa. 38:15-17).