Richvale Community Church
Sunday, January 25 2026
- Good morning.How many lefties do we have here today?If you are, you know being left-handed has its struggles.For me, it was always those three-ring binders. I’d start writing somewhere in the middle of the page just to avoid the rings… and then smudge the ink as my hand dragged across it.Now, I always assumed margins were for teachers to write notes.But in medieval times, they were actually there to protect the words.Paper was valuable, and rats would chew up the edges. So they left blank space—margins—to keep what mattered from being eaten away. They also protected the text from hands and fingerprints, and later became space for notes and commentary.The point is: margins have a purposeMargins are boundaries that preserve what matters,give space for reflection, and keep life from being chewed up at the edges.Without margins, everything runs right up to the edge — and things get lost.In the same way, God builds margin into our lives. Not just to protect us, but to create space for learning, reflecting, and growing.We are in our series Starting Well in the book of Deuteronomy, and today we’re going to see how God’s grace operates in the margins.In Deuteronomy, Israel is standing at the edge of the promised land.Moses is preaching a series of sermons to a new generation before God gives them the inheritance He promised.Moses is giving them spiritual counsel — how to avoid the pitfalls and failures of the previous generation.One key verse is in chapter 8, where Moses commands Israel to be careful to follow the whole Law and to walk in obedience, so that they may live and multiply in the land.T/s Moses is dealing with margins — things that would preserve Israel in the land. First we see…I. GRACE IN THE STORY OF ISRAELOne of the most beautiful words in the Bible is the word grace.Grace means unmerited favor —It is kindness that is not earned, deserved, or owed.We often think grace is something that only shows up in the New Testament, but grace runs straight through the Old Testament as well.In fact, the Law itself was an act of grace, because through it Israel could know God, live with God, and walk in fellowship with Him.We see this in God electing Israel— From the very beginning, God chose Israel not because of any prior accomplishments or achievements,not because they were stronger or more righteous or more impressive than the other nations, but simply because of His love.Moses reminds them of this fact in Deut chapter 7 — Mose says..
Deuteronomy 7:7–8 ESV 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.God didn’t save Israel because of anything they did or deserved — there was no inherent value in Israel that made them better than anyone else.The Message Bible says it so well:“God wasn’t attracted to you and didn’t choose you because you were big and important — the fact is, there was almost nothing to you.” .God chose Israel simply based on His love and His mercy…It was His covenantal love that kept Israel ..Here is the thing: God owes no one grace - God is not obligate offer any one of us grace or mercy…If God was obligated to give us grace…. it would cease being grace and become justice…BUT GOD IS FULL OF GRACE.. IT IS WHO HE IS..Because of love is at then core of who he is..Ephesians 2:4 ESV 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,GOD operates in GRACE.. AND THAT HOW HE DEALS WITH US ..BOTH-corporately and individuallyDR BARNHOUSE SAID..Every day we are objects of the grace of God.Donald Grey Barnhouse (American Minister)This is what we find in our text…Deuteronomy 10,Moses starts with Grace… the second time He goes up Mt Horeb to receive the law..lets read..Deuteronomy 10:1–5 ESV 1 “At that time the Lord said to me, ‘Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to me on the mountain and make an ark of wood. 2 And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets that you broke, and you shall put them in the ark.’ 3 So I made an ark of acacia wood, and cut two tablets of stone like the first, and went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hand. 4 And he wrote on the tablets, in the same writing as before, the Ten Commandments that the Lord had spoken to you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly. And the Lord gave them to me.This is the second giving of the Law… IF you remember …The first time God gave Israel the law..if was when Moses went up Mt Horeb and was gone for 40 days…And during this time Israel became impatient… and gathered together (complain to Aaron )—And began to question —-Whether Moses had abandoned them - ..People began ask?is he coming back ..if not.. who was going to guide Israel?So the people put pressure on Aaron to make a god like the other nations..Exodus 32:1 ESV 1 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”They began to believe that Moses was never coming back…and the y put so much pressure thatAaron caved in , and instructed the people to remove all their gold from their earings and bring to him and he made a golden Calf…Think about that — How much Gold did they have?? wellIs makes sense..There are over million people in Israel… they must had gold from the Egyptians — and other battles… there was enough gold to mold and make a golden calf…When the golden calf was completed.. the people worshiped it.When Moses comes down the Mountain -he sees Israel worshiping the golden calf.. -drops the law and literslly breaks in .. half..At this point..You would expect God judge Israel for apostasy… but instead God deal with them with Mercy and grace..God instructs Moses to climb back up the mountain with two new tablets—just like the first and he rewrites the Law.That is grace..Israel’s impatience reminds us of our own impatience..When God delays, we often take matters into our own hands.We create quick fixes. Israel did that with the golden calf.Yet God’s response was not just judgment—it was grace.A.. the lesson is that Grace moves towards the Margins —He restores what sin had broken.Even in failure, grace restores, renews, and redeems.a. Grace Provides a solution.After Aaron dies, Eleazar his son becomes the new priest. God sets up the Levitical priesthood. They have no land inheritance, because the Lord is their inheritance…Deuteronomy 10:8 ESV 8 At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day.The priesthood serves two purposes:Represent God before the people.Represent the people before God.They are responsible for Israel’s wholeness, holiness, and sanctification through sacrifices and worship.—God providing a way for His people to draw near to Him and to care for the spiritual needs of the whole community.We see God Grace in providing not only the law but the means to keep…b. Grace Provides an Advocate..Moses stays on the mountain another forty days, interceding for the people. He pleads with God on their behalf, and the Lord listens.Deuteronomy 10:10–11 ESV 10 “I myself stayed on the mountain, as at the first time, forty days and forty nights, and the Lord listened to me that time also. The Lord was unwilling to destroy you.What is amazing is..Even though Moses will not enter the land himself…Moses made intercession for the people…Moses saysThe Lord listen to his… and was unwilling to destroy them..Here is the thing..In the NT we have Christ as our intercessor… ‘=Heb 3.1 — tells us to consider Jesus the apostle and high priest of our confession… He was faithful — just as Moses was faithful over the house of Israel….’” the difference is Jesus is a better intercessor .. first because Moses served in the house, while Christ is Lord over the house…,T/s Moses is dealing with Margins — (things that would preseve and keep Israel… first we see..I. GRACE IN THE STORY OF ISRAELII. GRACE THAT FORMS A PEOPLEA number of years ago the a group of churches got in Boise Idaho put on an event called — Paid in full…they had raised 10 000 together for this project… then they gathered and outside City Hall and they wrote out checks to those with unpaid parking tickets…until the money ran out.One of the pastors Monte Ralstin —said that“they wanted to help people understand in a practical way -that even though we have all made mistakes — God’s grace and forgiveness is received, just by asking..They had their critics… that using money to pay peoples poor decisions was a waste of Money…But is that the point of Grace…It for those who have messed up…That is the point of Grace.. where his mercy meets our failure..In the OT He provide — Salvation through the law.In the NT grace comes through Christ— who gave himself for us…. who became sin for you and I….God had given is every blessing in Christ,.How do we respond to Grace…this is the question Moses asks the New Generation..what is Required?Deuteronomy 10:12–13 ESV 12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you,This is rhetorical question .. Moses provides an answersDeuteronomy 10:12–13 ESV but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?Moses gives the response to grace…and they connected..to out walkMoses says,A. Fear the Lord — ReverenceFear of the Lord is where Faith begins..Proverbs 1:7 ESV 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.Fear of the Lord speaks of orientation — where we are in relationship to God..Fearing the Lord… means to acknowledge God’s sovereignty—Fear Acknowledges our need for God.. it recognizes sin our failure — we have all fallen short of the glory God… there none righteous…And he can save us…Fear impacts our Walk..B. Walk Humbly — Action from ReverenceWhen we reverence God— it impacts our walk… we want to follow him —-If changes our walk … we are no longer living for our self…Is literally can change our steps.. where we would normally go..,things we avoid…Fear leads to Humility -Walking humbly moves us naturally toward mercy and service.Moses towards God then others..C. Love and Serveserve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,If grace that motivates is to service..Deuteronomy 10:14–15 ESV 14 Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. 15 Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.Moses marvels at the love of God…through creation...God is Creator, sovereign over all things. Yet He sets His heart on His people and their descendants.The ultimate test of our spirituality is the measure of our amazement at the grace of God.David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)We are the apple of His eye.How do we respond?To service…God calls for wholehearted service, because love flows naturally from a heart transformed by mercy. And when hearts are transformedTT/s Moses is dealing with Margins — (things that would preseve and keep Israel… first we see..I. GRACE IN THE STORY OF ISRAELII. GRACE THAT FORMS A PEOPLEIII. GRACE THAT REFLECTS GOD’S HEARTWHEN we lived in Africa — the unemployment rate was somewhere around 80% — Poverty was all around us growing up…When Pam and I first got married - I was invited to preach a district event… for our church..and we were in the rural areas.. And the pastors wanted to give us a wedding gift… they took up an offering for us… it was humbling to see people give out of there need,,They joyful in giving… they songs as they came up with gift..… if was their was of blessing us..it was humbling..Moses teaches…Us that..Grace moves towards those in the margins—The Margins are- those who are often overlooked, forgotten, or powerless in society—the fatherless, widows, immigrants, the poor, and the stranger.Why because..A. God’s Character (v. 17)(Deut. 10:17Deuteronomy 10:17 ESV 17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.pin Africa every thing was a bribe..Police..Drivers licience.God’s mercy is grounded in His unchanging character. He cannot be swayed by wealth or influence.Grace is reliable and impartial.B. God actions flow from his characterGod sees the plight of those on the Margin… Because of his character …(Deut. 10:18Deuteronomy 10:18 ESV 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.Moses then gives us a list of those whom are in the Margins..The Fatherless: without protectionThe Widow: without provisionThe Sojourner: without place or inheritanceGod sees those on the edges and loves them.Moses ask the Question — What is required?The answer to show mercy and love those in the Margins…It’s Mic 6.8Micah 6:8 ESV 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?God desires that Our Heart reflects his heart….Means doing Justice .. loving mercy.. walking with God..this is what Moses says to Israel.Deuteronomy 10:19 ESV 19 Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.Moses is saying to Israel., Remember that where you come from…Because God moved toward Israel, they must move toward others.Service flows from God’s heart to ours. Love produces action.Conclusion..God has called us a church to be about his mission in the world..This year our theme is Walking with God and walking towards others…It s… a call to personal and spiritual growth… and action.. walking towards others —Is about reaching out to others with love and acceptance… making it a point…Jesus exemplified this in his ministry…When Jesus began his ministry he stood up in Synagogue and declared his mission he said..Luke 4:18–19Luke 4:18–19 ESV 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”Jesus came for those in the Margins,He did Justice say this he live fit..He defended the oppresed the poor, the hungry - the lowly - the gentile ..women and children… the sick the leppers — demon possesd — tax collectors and sinnersNothing disqualified them from grace..— Today — Moses lesson is practical —lesson — What are we going to with Grace… we have receives..There two responses… Acknowledge our need of God… and then let God spirit lead in to the Margins.. of our lives… Deuteronomy 7:7–8CSB
Ephesians 2:4CSB
Deuteronomy 10:1–5CSB
Exodus 32:1CSB
Deuteronomy 10:8CSB
Deuteronomy 10:10–11CSB
Deuteronomy 10:12–13CSB
Deuteronomy 10:12–13CSB
Proverbs 1:7CSB
Deuteronomy 10:14–15CSB
Deuteronomy 10:17CSB
Deuteronomy 10:18CSB
Micah 6:8CSB
Deuteronomy 10:19CSB
Luke 4:18–19CSB
Richvale Community Church
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