David said God’s Testimonies and Statutes are wonderful (Ps.119:129). He also said they are for all time (Ps.119:152). God’s Testimonies contain the very hope and way of life for the future. Together with God’s Statutes, they form an integral part of the foundation of the Gospel (Good News) of the soon coming Kingdom of God. Paul said that Israel had the Good News preached to them by Moses (Heb.3:16 – Heb.4:2) – as he referenced the laws and Testimonies God gave Israel in the Pentateuch! Learning how to honor and love God and fellow man, and learning the truth of God’s hope and future for us IS GOODNEWS!

God’s Testimonies are wonderfully encouraging and instructional as they teach us the honorable and Holy character and nature of God, and tell of His enduring love for us and of things to come. By studying and keeping them, we gain knowledge and insight into God’s character, His loving way of dealing with Israel and all of mankind, His mercy, His laws and corrections – making us wiser than our “teachers” who do not really keep or study God’s Statutes and Testimonies (Ps.119:99)!

God’s Testimonies are AWESOME. However, not all of the Testimonies of God are filled with positive encouragement. Some are warnings to repent in the hope of helping us avoid God’s coming punishments. Many promises of God – both warnings and inspiring promises – are Testimonies; i.e., they are God “testifying” to us of future consequences and promises. God’s Testimonies detail the consequences for unrepeated of sins, and they “testify” of God’s future healings, forgiveness and blessings. Like God’s Statutes, God’s Testimonies are part of the heritage of God’s true people (Ps.119:111), and they are for all time! Further, they are crucial in order for us to understand what God expects of us today and for us to understand the future as foretold in the Holy Scriptures. Yet they remain mostly unheeded and flagrantly ignored by those who profess to be teachers of God’s Word. Many misguided and uninformed teachers and professing “ministers” of Christ have “stolen” away from people, many of the important and timely precious words of God – just as Jesus Christ said they would. They substituted for Christ’s true Gospel a different Gospel which is based upon traditions and teachings from men (Mark 7:9 & Matt.24:5). What a shame! What a diabolical scam the Devil has conjured up to keep us from God’s truth.

Teachers and students alike have been blinded by the false idea that somehow God’s Statutes and Testimonies have been done away with – EVEN THOUGH CHRIST SAID HE DID NOT COME TO CHANGE EVEN THE SLIGHTEST PART OF THE LAW (Matt.5:17-19). Jesus said those who teach others that any part of God’s Laws have been done away with or altered – including God’s Testimonies and Statutes – will be called “least” in God’s Kingdom (Matt.5:19).

To be spoken of as “the least” does not state that those who teach either an abrogation or minimalist approach toward any part of God’s laws will be in His Kingdom – just that the memories or conversations of them will be with the lowest esteem. Such will be the case for the greatest false teacher of them all – Satan the deceiver (Rev.12:9). Indeed, many times God warned false prophets (by implication this includes “ministers”) who would falsely steal God’s Words away from the people. Notice one such warning:

Jer 23:30 "Therefore behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who steal My words every one from his neighbor.

31 Behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who use their tongues and say, 'He says.'

32 Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," says the LORD, "and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all," says the LORD. [NKJV] (Emphasis ours throughout.)

Have you allowed men to STEAL God’s Words from you? Does your church or minister “think” for you by telling you which of God’s Words they think are applicable and important for you and which ones are not?

Most churches – in so many words – essentially teach their followers to disregard God’s Testimonies through their doctrine, ignorance or lack of knowledge of God’s Testimonies. Does yours? Most churches teach and believe that God’s Testimonies were for “Old Covenant Israel,” and are therefore not applicable for God’s people today. Does yours? Most churches, even the Churches of God, mostly ignore and thereby minimize, God’s Testimonies in their teachings – only mentioning them as they read a verse that unavoidably has the word “Testimony” or “Statute” in it. Does yours?

Many have asked what the Testimonies are. A testimony is a witness, wherein one testifies to something. God’s Testimonies are God’s witnessing or His testifying to us. God’s Testimonies differ from His Statutes, in that Statutes are generally more SPECIFIC in nature, being God’s commands of what to do and what not to do – i.e., they regulate human conduct and interaction between God and man, and man and man, in SPECIFIC ways. They are God teaching His children how to live, since He is a loving responsible Father guiding and setting the standards for His family. God’s Testimonies are God giving us witness, often in principle, of what to expect based on how we respond to His love, His mercy and His laws. Often a Testimony can have in it elements of both law and of prophecy. Some Testimonies are prophetic in nature, but often a prophecy is different from a Testimony in that prophecy is usually more specific in detail than God’s Testimonies. Testimonies deal more in general principles and consequences, and may not contain in them the specific details of fulfillment that prophecy will – but they are just as sure.

For example in Deut 4, God reminds us (gives testimony) of His nature and way of dealing with His faithful people as compared to His unfaithful people.

Deut 4:3 “Your eyes have seen what the LORD did at Baal Peor; for the LORD your God has destroyed from among you all the men who followed Baal of Peor.

4 But you who held fast to the LORD your God are alive today, every one of you.

5 Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess.

6 Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'” [NKJV]

Notice the Testimonies in these verses. In verses three and four, God first gives Testimony of the clear difference between how He protects and blesses His faithful sons and daughters as compared to the correction or downfall of unfaithful ungodly people. Then again, in verse six, there is Testimony of God’s declaration of the wisdom and understanding that will be evident to all when we keep God’s Statutes and Judgments – which are given out of God’s love for us as our HERITAGE (Deut.10:13). They represent our Father’s way of life for His family, and give evidence of our being God’s children when we follow them (Deut.32:4-6)!

One of the more obvious Testimonies is when God gave witness of the incredible national and personal blessings obedience will bring, and what the results will be for persistent sin in what is commonly called the “blessing and cursing chapters” of Leviticus 26, and (the parallel accounts) of Deuteronomy. Several other passages are also very obvious. For example:

Deut 8:19 Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.

Like the clearly evident Testimonies contained in the “blessing and cursing” chapters mentioned above, this verse also teaches us the PRINCIPLE of what individuals and society can expect according to the lifestyles we or they choose. But many of God’s Testimonies do not carry the word “testimony,” “testify,” or “witness” in them, any more than each of God’s Statutes has in it the word “statute.” For example the Statutes that teach us to not put a stumbling block before the blind (Lev.19:14), and to love our neighbor as ourselves – do not contain the word “statute” in them. So also, many Testimonies of God will not contain the word “testimony” or “witness” etc, such as the Testimonies found in Deut. 4:3-6. Students of God’s Word can easily learn how to recognize Statutes and Testimonies in both the Old and New Testaments, once they realize the value in them and begin to study them.

Whenever God is giving witness in principle as to consequences for sin or righteousness – it is likely to be a Testimony. For example: The story of Lot and His wife became a Testimony of God’s faithfulness to the righteous, of His mercy in delivering Lot and those in his family who were willing to leave Sodom, and of the fact that God’s faithfulness exceeded His promises to righteous Abraham (given in Genesis 18).

The record of Lot also contains the Testimony that Luke later referred to when he reminded us to “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32). Students of God’s Word will find God’s Testimonies being referred to throughout the New Testament. God’s Word is chock full of wonderful Testimonies that serve as reminders of God’s nature, His Love, His Mercy, His Judgments and of how it is true that the way we live will affect our lives – bringing blessings or punshment and curses! These were not done away with by Jesus, since He did not come to do away with His Father’s teachings, principles and way of life. Jesus came to further enlighten God’s Words – fulfilling the prophecies about Himself, and fleshing out or expounding God’s Words to their fullest by teaching the spirit or principle that the letter points to (Matt. 5:17-19). That’s why Jesus taught that we should not only avoid adultery, but that we should also avoid adultery of the heart by lusting for another man’s wife – which lusting furthers the sin by leading towards the breaking of the commandment physically in the letter (Matt.5:27-28). James explained this process well in James 1:14-15.

When God is giving witness in principle to His plan for mankind, or of His or Jesus’ Love – this, too, is a Testimony. For example, God gave Testimony to Israel: “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer 29:11). [NKJV]

This is not like a prophecy, which often foretells a specific event. Testimonies are usually more general in nature – but just as sure! Many of God’s Testimonies give witness of His loving intentions that are kindly sprinkled with a positive future of peace and hope for Israel. As a good Father – God must correct – however as a loving Father His correction is always given to SAVE and TEACH His children, leading them to Godly repentance (Heb.12:5-9).

God’s Testimonies often reveal God’s thoughts, purposes and love in a general way – similar to the ways God reveals the general nature of His just and balanced character through His Judgments tempered with mercy or the principles of how He blesses us for keeping His Statutes.

Many deceived or false teachers who either ignore God’s Testimonies, or teach that they are done away with, would do well to study their New Testaments more closely and with OPEN EYES. In doing so, we will find MANY of God’s Testimonies being referred to by Jesus and the apostles which explain current or future events. Here are only a couple of many examples:

• Peter used the examples of Noah’s flood, of Lot and of the judgment of the sinning angels as a Testimony that God will not tolerate unrepented sin (2 Pet.2:4-9). His use of these examples in the New Testament shows further Testimony that God does not and has not changed (Heb.13:8 & Mal.3:6).
  
• The example of Sodom and Gomorrah – used by both Paul and Jude – gives further New Testament Testimony that God does not tolerate sodomy – instead punishes those who practice or approve of sodomy (Rom.1:24-32 & Jude 7).

For those who insist that the Testimonies are not to be taught or followed today – there is one more Testimony given as a witness by God to all scattered Israelites, by principle it is given to the whole world and it is even given as a witness to the spirits in heaven. It is found in Deuteronomy 32 in the Song of Moses. This Song of Moses was given by God AS A TESTIMONY for and to all, and it was commanded to be sung by Israel as a WITNESS. Notice:

Deut 31:19 "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.” [NKJV]

Notice this song was to be a “WITNESS.” Notice further in verse 21 this song will “TESTIFY”:

Deut 31:21 “Then it shall be, when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify against them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten in the mouths of their descendants, for I know the inclination of their behavior today, even before I have brought them to the land of which I swore to give them." [NKJV]

This song is clearly a relevant Testimony for those with eyes to see today. Notice the CURRENT RELEVENCE in light of today’s world events:

“The sword shall destroy outside; there shall be terror within… (Deut 32:25).” [NKJV]

Notice God promises “TERROR within” modern scattered Israel’s borders, and destruction by the sword (war) “without” (Deut.32:25). This Testimony is a witness for all 12 tribes of Israel – not just the little nation of Israel composed mostly of the tribe of Judah today. As a matter of fact, verse 25 it is primarily a Testimony that the latter day scattered children of Jacob will have war outside of their national borders but involving their troops, while suffering TERROR WITHIN their borders, while Judah itself will eventually be fully trodden under of the Gentiles for 42 months – just before the return of Messiah (Dan.11:41, Dan.12:11 & Rev.11:1-2). Further, this warning is for our modern times, as it is given in the context of the end times (see verse 20)!

Notice, dear reader, by whom this terror will come – by what God’s Word refers to as a foolish people – terrorist renegades whose foolish ideology and group is not nationally based. The terror comes from those who are not of a specific people or nation. Therefore, they are an enemy that an army cannot easily target and engage to prevent this hate-filled terror, for God’s Song of Testimony says “They have moved Me to jealousy by what is not God… I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation; I will move them to anger by a foolish nation” (Deut.32:21)!

Can the reader see how this is being fulfilled upon the descendants of Jacob today? Can we afford to ignore God’s end-time Testimonies?

Notice a further PRINCIPLE that this same Song of Moses testifies:

‘26 I would have said, "I will dash them in pieces, I will make the memory of them to cease from among men," 27 Had I not feared the wrath of the enemy, Lest their adversaries should misunderstand, Lest they should say,"Our hand is high; And it is not the LORD who has done all this” (Deut 32:26-28).’

What can we learn from this important principle? Much. Here God’s Testimony is that while He will punish His people through wars, and terror and scattering them – HE WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TO DESTROY THEM – lest modern day Jacob’s enemies take all the credit.

This principle can help us better understand other prophecies. It can also help us to see that the PRIMARY punishment for Joseph will come from direct acts of God that CANNOT be reasonably attributed to ANY people or nation! God’s end-time corrections here will be able to be recognized as coming from Him, and will not appear as mere bad luck or be attributed to being because of the superiority of other peoples. Knowledge is a powerful tool and aid! It is found in God’s Statutes and His Testimonies (Deut. 4 & Ps.119)!

Finally, God ends the Song of Moses with the principle that Abraham understood well, and that we should all understand – that God’s people who are seeking righteousness should feel comforted because God will take vengeance on behalf of His people and provide them with atonement and comfort (Deut.32:36, 43). God is not coming to destroy or punish the righteous with the wicked (Gen.18:25).

Most readers who despise God’s Statutes and Testimonies, or whose minds the god of this world has blinded (Rev.12:9), will have stopped reading by now. Most of those who treat as irrelevant the wisdom of studying God’s awesome and loving Statutes and Testimonies – will also have stopped reading by now. But for those who are yet reading but tend to continue doubting the current relevance of God’s Testimonies for US ALL TODAY – consider that this Song of Moses is sung again in heaven as a TESTIMONY, during the end time – while God pours out the plagues of punishment spoken of by Christ in the book of Revelation!

Remember the Song of Moses was given as a witness from God to the heavenly realm and to all mankind across the whole earth when God began the song by saying, “give ear O heavens…” and “hear O earth the words of my mouth…” (Deut.32:1)!

Notice now the NEW TESTAMENT application and reiteration of this Testimony from the Song of Moses, as given by the words of Jesus Himself to the apostle John:

Rev 15:1 “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.

2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.

3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!

4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested."

5 After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.” [NKJV]

WOW! How clear is this New Testament application of God’s Testimonies and Judgments from the Pentateuch, as in these words of our Lord and Savior!

Notice the Song of Moses is sung from Heaven during the Great Tribulation period (verse 3) of God’s pouring out His corrective Judgments (verse 4), which is stated as an opening of the Testimony in and from heaven (verse 5). Notice also, this song of Moses is also called the Song of the Lamb. Will you reject the Song of the Lamb? Do you value God’s Testimonies?

Can you accept the Words of Jesus? Can you accept and learn from the Testimonies of God – and His Statutes and His Judgments – which are given in both the Old and New Testaments and which are binding upon both heaven and earth, and which principles are eternal for all time? Or do you have eyes to see and ears to hear?

Have you allowed misguided teachers to “steal” away God’s precious Words from you? Don’t allow that to happen, for as the Lord said when He quoted from the Testimony given in Deut.8:3 “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’ (Matt.4:4).” No wonder God’s Word says “the Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev.19:10)!” We are blessed as we hear and heed His Testimonies (Rev.1:3)! Let’s do it!

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