MObedience MOmentum - Part 6, Two Mo Witnesses

This week, Pastor Miles continued MObedience Momentum, our study through Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Bible and the book that basically made a treaty between God and the Jews.

This week, Pastor Miles covered specifically how God set up the treaty to work.

In the Prologue we find that God reminds us that he has been a good God to us. Deuteronomy 1-3 God instructs us to obey him. Deuteronomy 4-26 And in Deuteronomy 27 God tells us to study the rules that He has set down for us. In Deuteronomy 28 God covers the blessings when we follow His rules. In these "What if" scenarios God also points out the curses and consequences should we not obey Him. In Deuteronomy 29-30 God gives us a Summary and warning of this contract.

What Makes a Good Witness

And as with any good contract God has witnesses to all of it, and some rather impressive witnesses at that, but first Miles showed us the qualities of a good witness:

1. A good witness guarantees the accuracy of an event.
2. A good witness adds value to the fact finding process of the case.
3. A good witness can not be discredited.
4. A good witness is willing to suffer for the sake of the cause.

Now these items are important to bring up not just so that we are aware what a good witness is, but to determine if we are good witnesses and if the answer is no, to see how we can be to glorify God.

The Importance of Having Two Good Witnesses

The first issue about a good witness is that there should be no less than two as is instructed in Deuteronomy 17:6 and again later in 1 Timothy 5:19. Miles points out that one person can say anything but two good witness will have their story match and therefore all who hear it know it is true.

And who is witness to God? Deuteronomy 30:19 says, I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.

Heaven and Earth as God's Witnesses

Now heaven and earth are witness to this entire contract and therefore these two entities have seen us day and night and know all our deeds; good and bad. But they also know the first part of the contract and show us everyday how God has been good to us.

Miles explained this fact by illustrating some very simply yet astonishing facts about the universe, such as: the sun is just at the right distance to heat the earth comfortably yet if it were a bit closer our sphere would burn; if we were a bit farther we would freeze.

So we can have confidence in God's powers and therefore confront our own obstacles allowing us to be good witnesses ourselves and trust in God and follow God to what we perceive to be impossible but is not for our heavenly father. This also shows how God has provided for us.

Miles went on to tell how birds sing in the morning and we should keep in mind that the birds do not have food when they wake up (unlike some of us with our frosted flakes) but they sing anyways knowing that God will provide. So not only should we not worry about Him providing for us but we should also be generous with what we have as well.

Finally the heaven and earth are mere witnesses to God's constant presence, so we can trust we will never be alone, even though we may feel like we are sometimes.