Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 12-13; 18:9-22
6. Honoring God’s Word – Continued
Please read Deuteronomy 18:9-22 for the background to this section.
The revelation of the true God (verses 14–19). Israel didn’t need to experiment with new religions because the Lord had revealed Himself and His Word to them through Moses His chosen prophet. Once you have the real thing, why go in search of substitutes? Israel could have said to the nations in Canaan what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). In this statement, Jesus rejected all other religions except Old Testament Judaism and New Testament Christianity, and Christianity came out of Judaism and fulfilled it.
Moses promised the people that God would raise up other prophets as the nation needed them, and the people were to give heed to their message and obey it, for their message would be the Word of God. Moses reminded the people that at Sinai they had requested that he give them God’s message, because they were afraid to hear God’s voice (Exodus 20:18–21). Not all the prophets wrote down their messages for future generations to read and study, but Moses did and so did Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the twelve men we call “the minor prophets.” These prophets not only rebuked Israel for sin and encouraged them in holy living, but they pointed to the coming of the Messiah who would be the Savior of the world. During His walk with the two Emmaus disciples, Jesus began at “Moses and all the Prophets” and “expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27).
Over the centuries, Jewish scholars interpreted Deuteronomy 18:15 to refer to a special prophet who would appear before Messiah came to establish His kingdom. From Malachi 4:5, the Jews knew that Elijah would return at the end of the age, and they wondered if it was John the Baptist, who dressed and ministered so much like Elijah (Luke 3:1–9; Matthew 3:4). John denied it and also denied that he was the prophet that Moses promised (John 1:19–21). In one sense, John was an “Elijah” who prepared the way for Christ (Matthew 11:14; 17:12; Luke 1:13–17), but John did not identify himself as the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5. (On Moses’ writing about the Christ, see John 1:19–28, 45; 5:46; 6:14; 7:40).
Moses was doing more than promise the whole line of prophets that the Lord would send; he was also announcing the coming of the Prophet, the Lord Jesus Christ. At least that’s the way Peter explained it in Acts 3:22–26. Our Lord has three offices, that of Prophet, Priest, and King. When He ministered here on earth, He declared God’s Word as Prophet, and by the inspiration of His Spirit has caused it to be written down for our learning. He intercedes for His people as the High Priest in heaven, and He also sits on the throne and reigns as King, working out His purposes in this world (1 Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians 1:18–23). One day He will return and reign on earth as King of kings (Revelation 19:11-16).
It’s a serious thing to hear God’s Word and not respect it and obey it, for it is the Word of the living God, the God of truth. The written Scriptures are a priceless treasure; they teach us what we need to know about God, the way of salvation, and how to live godly lives and please Him. There is no substitute for the Word of God. Peter was right: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
To Be Continued
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
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