Deuteronomy 22 "Do What Is Right"

"Thou shalt not see thy brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them; you shall certainly bring them back to your countrymen.” (v.1)

Among the instructions God gave His people were ones regarding the possessions of others. Straying animals were not to be ignored but returned. At times wandering livestock was to be kept until the owner came to claim it. Even fallen animals were to be assisted.
 Simply put, when something is lost, a finder cannot claim it as theirs without taking all due diligence to restore it to the owner. If the owner seeks the missing object, it must be restored to him.

God here condemned the sin of doing nothing. To see your brother in need, and to do nothing, is to do evil. When one has the opportunity to do good, you must not "hide yourself" (ignore it). "Do not hide thyself" is a twice-repeated instruction in the opening verses of Deuteronomy 22. It is easier to ignore than get involved. These instructions though remind us that God is not concerned just with issues of wrongdoing, but with relationships. His people are not to just look out for themselves, but also for the needs and well-being of others. 

Once again we are encouraged to get involved in the plights others face. God is concerned that His people help others.

The Truth: “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” (1 John 3:17-18)

Deuteronomy 21 "The Curse Upon One Who Hangs On A Tree"

"If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.” (vv.22-23)

Deuteronomy 21 lays out various laws; The law of unsolved murders (vv.1-9), Laws regarding the taking of a wife from conquered peoples (vv.10-14), Laws regarding the protection of inheritance rights (vv.15-16), The penalty for a rebellious son (vv.18-21), and the law if a man has committed a sin deserving of death (vv.22-23). Our text is very clear here that such a man, if you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain on the tree overnight.

In the thinking of ancient Israel there was something worse than being put to death, having your corpse left exposed to shame, humiliation, and scavenging animals and birds. Hang him on a tree does not have the idea of being executed by strangulation; but of having the corpse mounted on a tree or other prominent place, to expose the executed one to disgrace and the elements. 

However God's grace dictated that, His body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day: Therefore, if anyone was executed and deemed worthy of such disgrace (and you hang him on a tree), the humiliation to his memory and his family must not be excessive. This was a way of tempering even the most severe judgment with mercy.

The punishment of being hanged on a tree, and left to open exposure, was thought to be so severe, that it was reserved only for those for which is was to be declared: “this one is accursed of God.” Paul expounds on Deuteronomy 21:23 in Galatians 3:13-14: Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Jesus not only died in our place; but He also took the place as the accursed of God, being hung on a “tree” in open shame and degradation. He received this curse, which we deserved, and He did not, so that we could receive the blessing of Abraham, which He deserved, and we did not.

Therefore, we are redeemed from the curse of the law by the work of Jesus on the cross for us. We no longer have to fear that God wants to curse us; He wants to bless us, not because of who we are, or what we have done, but because of what Jesus Christ has done on our behalf.

The Truth: "For God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus." (2 Corinthians 5:21) 

Deuteronomy 20 "Principles Governing Warfare"

“When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you. So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people. And he shall say to them, “Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” (vv.1-4)

Israel, a small nation surrounded by great empires, was rarely in a strategically superior position. In battle, they usually saw horses and chariots and people more numerous than they were. Despite the clear danger, they also had a clear command from God, do not fear. Israel was commanded to not fear what any logical military man would fear: superior numbers, superior technology, and superior equipment. Yet, Israel was given a reason not to fear, For the LORD your God is with you. 

Israel was also given evidence for faith. God didn’t ask Israel to have a “blind” trust in Him. They could trust Him as they went into battle because He had proven Himself mighty and faithful before - Who brought you up from the land of Egypt: He had a track record which could be trusted. 

When you are on the verge of battle: At this critical time, it was the job of the priest to encourage the soldiers to trust in God. Though the priests were not normally to go into battle themselves (they were not numbered among the fighting men of Israel, Numbers 1:47-53), the priests still had an important job when Israel went to war – to spiritually teach and encourage the soldiers, to help them find their courage. 

The LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you: This was the reason for courage. When Israel was obedient, and trusting in God, they could never lose. But when they were disobedient, or not trusting, they could never win – even if they had superior forces.

God then told Moses to thin the ranks (v.5-8), to make sure every man of war was strongly committed to the fight. To God, the size of the army wasn’t important; the heart of the army was far more important. He didn’t want people who might be distracted from the real battle by worrying about the cares of everyday life (their home, their vineyard, their fiancée’); nor did He want people who were not really trusting Him. God could do more through a smaller army that was really committed to Him than through a bigger army that was full of compromise.

The story of Gideon (Judges 7) is a powerful illustration of this; Gideon started with an army of 32,000, but it was too big – so he sent home those who were afraid, and 22,000 left! But it was still too big, so God had him send home 7,700 more, so he only had an army of 300 to fight against a Midianite army of 135,000! Yet God gave him the victory.

You see, for Israel the secret to success in taking possession of the land that God had promised to them, didn’t lie in human strategy or military might, it was a matter of faith - believing that God would deliver them. If this was true for God’s people in a time of literal warfare, it is even more important in the spiritual warfare we all as believers encounter today, for we face a powerful spiritual enemy, one who can not be defeated in our own strength.

The Truth: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:12-13) 

Deuteronomy 19 “Cities Of Refuge”

“When the Lord your God has cut off the nations whose land the Lord your God is giving you, and you dispossess them and dwell in their cities and in their houses, 2you shall separate three cities for yourself in the midst of your land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess. 3You shall prepare roads for yourself, and divide into three parts the territory of your land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, that any manslayer may flee there.” (vv.1-3)

Here in chapter 19 Moses is instructing the children of Israel upon entering the promise land to, establish three cities as a refuge for the person who committed second-degree (accidental) murder. These cities were designed as a place of protection against the avenger of blood who would seek to take innocent life.

Similarly Jesus Christ is a refuge to all who, by faith, flee to Him from their sins by protecting them from death in their sin. However, just as there was no protection in the cities of refuge for premeditated murder, there is no protection in Jesus from presumptuous sin. 

Does that mean we need to live sinless lives? No, absolutely not. We all struggle with sin, but there is a difference between a person who struggles with sin or even succumbs to sin, and one who practices sin. One may backslide, become convicted, repent and find refuge in Jesus. But, one who practices sin, continues in it and does not turn from it, he will eventually be lost to it.

The Truth: For Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10)

Deuteronomy 18 "The Command to Reject Occult Practices"

When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. (vv.9-11)

God knows that many people have a natural curiosity regarding the occult, and that curiosity often leads them to gain knowledge God commands them to leave alone. In out text we can see a list of those practices God deemed "abominations.

Anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire: This refers to the debased worship of the Canaanite god Molech, to whom children were sacrificed by burning. 

Or one who practices witchcraft: The word witchcraft here seems to be a broad word, describing a variety of occult activities. Basically, anything that makes contact with the demonic or dark spiritual world was prohibited.  

Or a soothsayer: This has reference to astrological-type divination, predicting the future or seeking guidance through the stars, planets, clouds, or weather - predicting the future by means of physical signs (astrology).

Or one who interprets omens: The word comes from the root “to hiss” or “to whisper” and refers to psychics and fortune-tellers who use “aids” other than naturally created things to gain knowledge, tell the future, and cast spells (tarot card readers, crystal ball seers, tea-leaf readers, palm readers, Ouija board users, and the like). 

Or a sorcerer: This has reference to those who use drugs or potions to cast spells, gain spiritual knowledge, or enter into altered states of consciousness. Modern drug abuse easily falls into this category, and the use of drugs has a definite occult connection that the drug taker may not want but is exposed to nonetheless.

Or one who conjures up spells: This is literally, “A charmer of charms” and refers to those who cast spells or charms for good or evil upon others with spiritual powers apart from God.

Or a medium: The idea is of someone who “stands between” the physical world and the psychic world; they channel knowledge from the psychic world into the physical world. Those who practiced this art called up the departed from the realm of the dead, or rather, professed to do so.

Or a spiritist: Literally, this word refers to the “knowing ones” – those who claim unique occult or psychic knowledge and powers – such as those on the many psychic hotlines that one can pay to call. Again, a Christian has no business participating or approving of any of these practices, because either they are money-grubbing frauds (at best!), or worse, they gain their knowledge from satanic, demonic, spiritual sources.

God’s judgment was upon the Canaanites because of these occult practices, and if Israel took up the same occult practices, they could also expect the judgment of God. Therefore He called them to be 'blameless before the LORD your God" and reject these sinful practices or suffer His judgement. This was more than a general call to walk holy, this is a solemn warning to keep from any involvement with these detestable practices of the occult. The LORD your God has not appointed such for you!

We too are to be blameless in regard to such things, even as the Ephesian Christians, who destroyed all things that marked the occult in their lives (Acts 19:19-20). This is why it is dangerous for people to seek or approve of the occult, even if they don’t really believe it – even if they just kind of think it is “cool” for it can swallow you up and take you down the dark path from which it is difficult to break free.

The Truth: For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything He tells you. Anyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from their people.' (Acts 3:22-23)

Deuteronomy 17 "Laws For Kings"

"When you come to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, “I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,” you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, “You shall not return that way again.” Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself." (vv.1417)

I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me: Here God looked forward – some 400 years forward – into Israel’s future, to the time when they would demand a king. God warned them to set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses, and that person had to be an Israelite and not a foreigner. 

I will set a king over me: It is interesting to consider whether or not God wanted an earthly king over Israel. 1 Samuel 8:6-9, the record of Israel’s demand for king, puts the request for a king in a negative light. One might ask if God really did want Israel to never have an earthly king, and if He wanted them to recognize Him alone as king.  It is a debatable issue; but consider that Israel’s history without a king (the time of the book of Judges) was not a period of national glory. Perhaps we can say that God wanted Israel to have a king, but of His choosing, and at His timing. Saul is a perfect example of a king out of God’s will, chosen by the nation and at their timing; and David is a perfect example of a king chosen by God and in His timing.

However, it is very clear what the future kings (which God knew would exist) were not to do. He shall not multiply horses for himself: The future king of Israel must not put undue trust in military might. Neither shall he multiply wives for himself: The future king of Israel must not put undue emphasis on physical indulgence and personal status. Nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself: The future king of Israel must not put undue emphasis on personal wealth. Lest His heart turn away: Each of these issues is a matter of balance. The king had to have some military power, but not too much; one wife and certain comforts, but not too much; some personal wealth, but not too much. Such balances are often the hardest to keep.

Solomon was a notorious breaker of these commands. He had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots (1 Kings 4:26), and Solomon had horses imported from Egypt (1 Kings 10:28). He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart (1 Kings 11:3). He surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches (1 Kings 10:23). He knew the commands of  Deuteronomy 17, but he was self deceived into thinking he could handle it, which did not work out to well in the end, “all is folly.” 

Each of these three areas reflects the places where many modern Christian leaders fall: In regard to power, pleasure, or money. God’s commands for leaders have not changed; and neither has the need to be on guard against the self-deception in these things which felled Solomon. Staying in the word of God would have kept the king properly humble and helped him to not think of himself as above God’s Laws. 

As Christians we would save ourselves much of the same deception by staying in His Word daily.

The Truth: "Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee." (Psalm 119:11) 

Deuteronomy 16 "The Three Sacred Festivals"

"The Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete. Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed. Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you." (vv.15-17)

In today’s reading, the people of Israel received instructions to joyfully celebrate God’s blessings to them in three sacred festivals: Passover (vv. 1-8), the Feast of Weeks (vv. 9-12), and the Feast of Tabernacles (vv. 13-17). 

Passover commemorated the night that the angel of the Lord “passed over” the Israelite houses in Egypt. In the last of the ten plagues, he killed the firstborn son wherever there was no blood on the doorposts (see Ex 12:1-28). Passover was immediately followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, named for the bread without yeast that the people carried in their hasty departure from slavery (cf. 1Cor. 5:6, 7, 8). This festival took place in the month of Abib (March or April on our calendars), the first month of the Jewish year. Passover is “New Year’s Day,” a fresh start for God’s people.

The Feast of Weeks was a harvest festival. At the wheat harvest, the people celebrated it to show joy and thankfulness for God’s blessing. This event took place in May or June, and was also called “Pentecost.” In the history of the church, Pentecost is the day the Holy Spirit first descended on the believers. Jewish tradition also links this festival with the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai. 

The Feast of Tabernacles or Booths, took place in September or October, and was also a harvest festival, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt to Canaan. The people lived in booths made of tree branches and foliage in order to remember the journey.

And every man shall give as he is able: These were also times for worship and offerings, not just pleasure or leisure (though those were included). No work was permitted to be done, as that would have been a distraction. Celebrating was intended to draw the community’s attention to their blessings and the Giver of all good things. Therefore, every man must appear with a gift as he is able, according to the blessing the LORD his God has given him. 

These were only three (four, actually, counting the feast of unleavened bread as a separate feast) of the seven feasts of Israel. Not mentioned in this chapter are the feasts of trumpets, of firstfruits, and of the Day of Atonement. Yet, the feasts mentioned in this chapter were the most important feasts in Israel – and every Jewish man, to the best of His ability, was to go to the place of the tabernacle (or later, the temple) and celebrate this feast with the whole nation of Israel. Even Jesus was obedient to this command; He made the trip from Galilee to Jerusalem to be at these feasts (Luke 2:41, John 7:2, 10).

What an amazing testimony these feast represent in the Jewish culture handed down from generation to generation. 

 

Deuteronomy 15 "The Release Of Debts"

"At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts. And this is the form of the release: Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the LORD’s release. Of a foreigner you may require it; but you shall give up your claim to what is owed by your brother, except when there may be no poor among you; for the LORD will greatly bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance; only if you carefully obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today. For the LORD your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you." (vv.1-6)

In Israel, money was always loaned with the understanding that every seventh year, debts would be canceled: "You shall grant a release of debts." So there was no long-term debt in this sense – money could never be borrowed, or owed, for more than six years. This was an important matter to God; the release was said to be the LORD’s release. As Israel obeyed this command, there would never be a permanent under-class in Israel. Some might go through a bad period but would have the opportunity to rebuild their lives financially on a regular basis.

God established an economic system wherein no one had to be chronically poor. If people would obey the LORD, He would bless (both sovereignly and as the natural result of the obedience), and they would not be poor. However, Deuteronomy 15:11 – just a few verses down – states: For the poor will never cease from the land. Is God contradicting Himself? Not at all. He knows that He has established a system where no one must be chronically poor, yet He knew that because of disobedience, some would, and there would always be the poor in Israel. So, God did not guarantee prosperity for any one in Israel; but He did guarantee opportunity for prosperity for an obedient Israel. Therefore, if Israel obeyed and the individual citizens of Israel enjoyed the blessing of God’s prosperity, then they would (as a nation) be prosperous, and blessed above other nations.

“God loves a cheerful giver” because that's exactly what He is! God gives freely and beyond all we can imagine. This is true first and foremost in the gift of His Son, but it's also true every day we live and breathe. Take time this weekend to reflect on God's generosity in your life.

The Truth: As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:10)

Deuteronomy 14 "Clean And Unclean"

"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth." (v.2)

The idea here in our text behind Israel's identity as "a holy people" is that they were "separate" unto the LORD, chosen by God, to be His own special people. In Jesus, we too are a chosen people, special to God: as Peter wrote, "But you are a chosen generation… His own special people (1 Peter 2:9). 

We also see in out text that Israel was, a special treasure to God. Each of these glorious privileges carried with it a special responsibility. If God regarded Israel as something special among the nations, then they had to conduct themselves as something special, different from all the peoples on the face of the earth.

Therefore, beginning in v.3, we see God's command to His people to separate themselves form other people and nations in regard to foods. Moses then goes on to reiterate these dietary laws for the people of Israel in vv.3-21 in regards to which meats were considered clean and which were unclean. These laws, given to Moses by God, severed the people well not only in Moses’ day, but for centuries to come. During the Middle Ages when plagues and disease devastated the continent of Europe, the Jewish people were singularly protected from many of them because of their adherence to the dietary laws found here in the book of Deuteronomy.

These dietary laws may seem strange to us but, they were medically correct and profoundly healthy for that time period. Jesus later used this idea of diet to speak metaphorically of spiritual defilement saying, “It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.” (Mark 7:15) With this in mind, we as Christians today need to be on guard against what goes into our hearts that is unclean, rather than what goes into our bodies. 

How do we do that? The eyes are the gateway to our minds and to our souls. Therefore, we need to filter what we see through the spiritual lens of, "clean vs unclean" - as spiritual defilement has serious consequences. Therefore, “Be careful little eyes what you see.”

The Truth: “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)

Deuteronomy 13 "Hold Fast"

If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, “Let us go after other gods”; which you have not known; “and let us serve them,” you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (vv.1-3)

This chapter asks an important question: What would it take to lead you away from God? Would signs and wonders do it? What if your mate forsook God, or all of your friends? What if culture, or nationalism, or ethnic ties called you away from Jesus? We must never allow such ties to come before our bond to Jesus. We must decide, as the song says, “Though none go with me, still I will follow.”

For every thing that is true, genuine, and real in this world, there is also a fake. Counterfeit prophets have arisen in each and every generation. Some are so obvious as to be ridiculous and almost laughable. However, there are many who are more subtle and dangerous, and must be taken very seriously. These are the false prophets that at first brush seem to be speaking about the Kingdom of God we know and love. But be careful; it may be a test. 

This verse clearly says, “God is testing you.” The test is of course not for God to find out something about you that He doesn’t already know, but for you to know, in your own heart, “whether you love the LORD your God.” The testing of our hearts can be very revealing. We often don’t even know what’s truly in us until it’s tested. And when it is we can see if we really love the God of truth, or if we are only looking for some new religious experience. It is all part of God’s plan to grow and conform us into the image of His Son.

How can we know today if a person claiming to be a prophet or miracle worker is in fact from God? We simply ask ourselves, “Does what they say line up with what God has already said in His word?” We need to exercise care and ask God for discernment as we examine the message of a spiritual leader. We must look at the message instead of any spiritual experience present. God is saying quite clearly that signs and wonders can never be the final evidence of truth. 

This can be frustrating for us because we want to see, we long to sense, the moving of God in our lives. We would all like to have a supernatural experience each time we fellowship with Him, and God does want us to have a spiritual experience but not necessarily one filled with signs and wonders. When we seek the gift more diligently than the face of the Giver, we open ourselves up to spiritual deception.

Therefore, hold fast to the truth of God's Word which will allow you to stand firm when deception comes. Then, through none go with you, you will be strong enough to follow Jesus.

The Truth: "If you hold fast to My teachings, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)

Deuteronomy 12 "Worship"

“Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.” (v.32)

Many scriptures like Deuteronomy 4:2 tells us, "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it." Similar warnings are found in Proverbs 30:5-6, Revelation 22:18 and again right here in Deuteronomy 12:32. It is indeed a precarious position any person puts themselves into, by adding to God’s Holy Word. Revelation 22 tells us that, “if anyone adds to the book, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book (v.18).Yikes!

Chapter 12 deals with God's commands concerning worship. Differences over worship styles are the basis for many church conflicts today. In most instances people disagree over music. Although these conflicts are never desirable, they can have the benefit of forcing us to ask some fundamental questions about worship. What is God looking for? Does He accept all forms of worship? Or does He want us to worship Him in a specific way?

As far as worship under the Law of Moses was concerned, God was indeed looking for a particular “style” of worship. The Law of Moses described how Israel was to worship in great detail, specifying when, where, and how God’s people were to approach Him. It even regulated the kind of clothing that priests were to wear when they approached the altar! The Lord also warned His people not to adopt the religious practices of the nations they were about to displace as they took possession of the land of promise. In fact, they were commanded to take extreme measures to ensure that the idolatrous worship of those people didn’t spread.

These commands raise an inevitable question. Is God as specific when it comes to the church’s worship? The answer is “yes”–but with a significant difference. The commands given to Israel dealt primarily with methods and rituals. The church, on the other hand, is to approach God in worship through the person of Jesus Christ - "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24)

All that the Old Testament law specified merely anticipated what Christ would accomplish by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. As important as the Law was, it could not do for the worshiper what Jesus Christ would eventually do: “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming–not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship” (Heb. 10:1).

It is possible that our many conflicts about worship style have caused us to lose sight of the real focus of our worship? Jesus told the woman of Samaria that God is seeking a certain kind of worshiper, "those who worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:21-24). The heart of worship is all about Jesus, not us, not about our feelings, it's all about Him. 

The Truth: "For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh." (Philippians 3:3) 

Deuteronomy 11 "The Choice"

"Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known." (vv.26-28)

The three great elements to the Old Covenant were the law, the sacrifice, and the choice. Israel had a choice – to obey and be blessed, or to disobey and be cursed. It was a cause and effect relationship for them with God. 

However, it is important to recognize that we as believers in Jesus Christ, do not have an Old Covenant relationship with God. The curse we deserved was laid upon Him (Galatians 3:10-14). Though there may be an inherent curse of consequences in our disobedience, under the New Covenant, He does not punish us or curse us – because all that we deserved (past, present, and future), was poured out upon Jesus. We then expect to be blessed, not because of our obedience, but because of our position in Jesus.

This choice was up to Israel too. If they wanted to be blessed, then they should walk in obedience (as they were in the days of David and Solomon), but if they disobeyed, they would be cursed (as they were in most of the days of the later kings). 

Inherent in Israel’s disobedience was idolatry (turning aside from the way to go after other gods). And like them, whenever we walk in disobedience, we exalt ourselves against God – and declare that our rules, our standards, our desires, are all more important than His. Thus, turning aside to our own ways. This is idolatry in its most basic and common form today. 

Indeed, the culture of the last days has a problem with the idea of “true truth” altogether, because it believes that we each are the center of our own universe and we each create our own truth. According to the spirit of the last days there is no truth outside of ourselves. So we can learn and learn and learn - but they will never come to God’s eternal truth.

So the choice remains the same today blessing or cursing, life or death. His ways or our ways.

The Truth: "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call upon heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your offspring may live." (Deuteronomy 30:19)

 

 

Romans 16 “Be Wise In What Is Good”

“For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple in what is evil.” (v.19)

Here Paul concludes his letter to the saints in Rome by commending their obedience to the principles of the Gospel, and declaring to them that it is well known to all, which gives him great joy (As it would any shepherd). He is speaking here of an obedience that is motivated by love, that flows from a new heart, which now desires and is empowered to be obedient to the Master’s voice, and to follow His statutes.

Then, at the end of our text, Paul cautions them to, “be wise in what is good, and simple in what is evil.” Great advise here. Understand what is good, and what the LORD requires of His children, but be simple minded, have a lack of knowledge, when it comes to evil and do not become wise in it.

In other words, what you don’t know concerning evil, won’t hurt you. But do not go looking for it, for if you play with Fire you’re going to get burned. 

Help us Lord to be obedient to your voice, to be wise when it comes to doing good, and be ignorant in the things that are evil. Amen.

The Truth: “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.” (1 Peter 1:14)

Romans 15 "The Scriptures Provide Comfort"

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (v.4)

I have found tremendous comfort in the scriptures. It never seems to matter what I’m going through, in time, God provides His comfort through His WORD to my heart. Patience is the key though and more often than not, His timing is far longer than we might desire to wait. But as scripture tells us, “let patience have it’s perfect work, that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4).

The scriptures also fill us with comfort through the many examples of recorded patience, grace and forgiveness extended to others who were sinners just like us. The prodigal son, the women at the well, the thief on the cross, Paul’s conversion, Peter’s denial, etc. As Matthew West wrote in his song Grace Wins, “There's a war between guilt and grace, and they're fighting for a sacred space, but I'm living proof, Grace wins every time.” 

Therefore, as we wait for our prayers for others to be answered, be encouraged by His grace in your life and in the life of those around you, and know that He is working, that He is faithful, and take comfort in the scriptures which are examples for us for our learning, our comfort, and our encouragement. For we serve a mighty God and nothing is impossible with Him. 

Have a great day!

Deuteronomy 10 "What God Requires of Israel"

And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good? (vv.12-13)

Through Moses, God gave Israel 5 basic requirements that were expected of them as the people of God. They were: Fear the LORD your God: God requires from us a reverential honor towards Him; not a fear that would make us shrink back, but a heart that so honors God that we would be hesitant to offend Him. To walk in all His ways: He requires us to live our lives after the pattern He has set for us; to walk on His road not on our own. To love Him: This means the love He expects isn’t a love that just happens, but it is a love that comes from a decision to set our affection upon Him. To serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul: This requires us to serve Him, to see all that we do as service unto Him, and to do all that we do as if doing it unto Him. To keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes: He requires us to not only know His word, but to keep it – in the sense of possessing it in ourselves, and in the sense of protecting it. 

Why? For your good: every command of God is given for our good. They are never given so He can exercise His power, or so He can feel important. Every command He makes is with our best interest in mind, even if we cannot sense it or understand it.

God required this conduct from His people because they were/are His special possession. Though heaven and earth belong to God, He set His focus and attention on Israel beginning with their fathers. Being chosen – having the special attention of God focused upon you – is a place of great privilege, but also a place of great responsibility. And Israel had a special responsibility to obey. 

Therefore, because of God’s greatness and His choice of Israel, the people were to "circumcise their hearts" (10:16). Meaning, the work of taking their/our hearts (inclined after the flesh), and giving their hearts over to pursuing the spirit. Circumcision was a physical sign of the covenant; as a metaphor, it also signified submission and consecration in the cutting away of the flesh. But here it signifies a change of heart, from one of seeking after the flesh to one of seeking after the Spirit spirit.  

The Truth: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8) 

Deuteronomy 9 "God's Unmerited Favor"

Therefore understand today that the LORD your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the LORD has said to you. (v.3)

Here in chapter 9 Moses is telling the people it’s time to crossover the Jordan River and to possess the land promised to their fathers. He describes the land as; having nations greater and mightier than they, great cities with high walls and a people strong and tall like giants. (v.1-2) However in our key verse, he also reminds the people that, God will go before them as a consuming fire and destroy each nation and bring them down so they (Israel) can drive them out. (v.3) 

It was a battle too big for Israel, but not too big for the LORD. By themselves, the job was impossible (without Me you can do nothing, John 15:5), but in God the battle could not be lost (I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, Philippians 4;13). God was calling Israel then to a partnership in winning the battles. He will destroy them does not contradict you shall quickly drive them out and destroy them quickly. 

So, was God going to do it, or was Israel going to do it? Both, really – God was calling Israel to be workers together with Him (2 Corinthians 6:1). Why would God do this, because of Israel’s righteousness? Absolutely not! As David wrote in the Psalms, “There is non righteous, no not one.” (Psalm 53:1-3) In fact in verse 4, Moses cautions them not to have the least thought of their own righteousness, as if that were the reason for God’s favor. It was for the wickedness of these nations that God drove them out - not wanting the Israelites to show mercy to the Canaanites. He wanted Israel to be a unique army of judgment against the Canaanites and their culture, which was so depraved that it deserved this kind of judgment.

Archaeologist William F. Albright, in his book From the Stone Age to Christianity, describes what the primary focus of Canaanite religion was: sex. The featured idols recovered by archaeologists are hundreds of nude female forms in sexually suggestive forms, as well as male idols associated with homosexual cults. Thus the Canaanites were replaced by Israel. 

Scripture tells us, all whom God rejects, are rejected for their own wickedness (Romans 2:8); but none whom he accepts are accepted for their own righteousness (Romans 3:20). Thus boasting is forever done away with through His grace and unmerited favor. For if not for Jesus Christ we all would be rejected. Thank God for His Son and His unmerited favor.

The Truth: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Romans 12 "Overcome Evil With Good"

From the archives:

 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (v.21)

How many times have we all thought of getting revenge, make someone pay, returning evil for evil? It truly is our nature to lash out rather than show leniency or to take the higher road. However, Paul is telling us here, we must rise to that God-like point as Christians and overcome evil with good. 

CH Spurgeon put it this way, “The text appears to give us a choice between two things, and bids us to choose the better one. You must either be overcome by evil, or you must yourself overcome evil. One of the two. You cannot let evil alone, and evil will not let you alone. You must fight, and in the battle you must either con­quer or be conquered. It (the text) inculcates not merely passive non-resistance, but it teaches us active benevo­lence to enemies. "Overcome evil with good," with direct and overt acts of kindness. If any man has done you a wrong, do not only forgive it, but also avenge it by doing him a favor.”

The longer I live the more I realize the power behind this great truth of returning good for evil. It demonstrates true Christian love and can possibly bring about a change of heart and soul. As the prophet Micah put it, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Have a great day!

Deuteronomy 8 "The Discipline of God"

"As a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you." (v.5)

The idea of discipline for the purpose of training is quite biblical. In today's text we see the Lord's discipline of His people to prepare them for right living. In it, God describes the Promised Land in vivid detail as a rich and abundant land (vv. 1, 7-9). But between these verses comes the somewhat surprising description of God's preparation of His people for their arrival. The Lord has led them through the wilderness to “humble” and “test” them (v. 2). Verse 3 again identifies God's humbling action as He let Israel feel hunger, then fed them with manna. They wandered for forty years in the desert and yet they were never in want of food, water, or clothing. 

Why did God allow Israel to experience such hardship? The answer is provided in our key verse for today. All the hardship experienced by Israel was a demonstration of God's fatherly discipline, meant to train them to trust His goodness and provision when they entered the land. Indeed, such divine discipline was intended not as punishment for doing wrong, but as training for doing right, so that they might learn to “live and increase” in the land (v. 1). 

As with the Israelites, we too need God's training, discipline, and education - which begins with humility. Some never even make it past this first essential step. If we are not humble and not teachable, there is then no point to the rest of any of God’s education. Israel had to rely on God beyond their own knowledge (which you did not know v.3), and beyond their own ability. While that kind of discipline is never easy to accept, it makes one truly grateful for His goodness and provision along the way.

LORD, thank you for Your hand of discipline in my life, for training me up in "the way" I should go.

The Truth: "Do not take the LORD's discipline lightly or lose heart when you are reproved by Him, for the LORD disciplines the one He loves." (Proverbs 3:11-12)

Deuteronomy 7 "Command To Conquer"

"Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them." (vv.9-11)

Israel was holy in their standing before God before they were holy in their conduct. They were set apart unto God by His choosing (God has chosen you to be a people for Himself) and were then called to live as chosen people. Their election meant the LORD set His love on them which became their motivation for total obedience. It took 40 years of wondering in the desert but when they really believed God loved them, and began living with that belief as a conscious fact, they (and we) found it so much easier to obey – and to utterly destroy anything that would damage that relationship of love.

Over many generations the Canaanites had demonstrated their hatred for God. Now, using Israel as His instrument, God will repay them with judgment. Their recollection of God’s faithfulness to them in the past would give them hope for their struggles ahead. God's promised He would go before Israel and fight for them (the great and awesome God, is among you), but He would not drive all the enemies out at once.

However, the LORD their God would drive out those nations before them little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. 

Sometimes to our frustration, this is the way God often works in our life. He clears things away little by little even though we might prefer it all at once. But, just as God wanted Israel to grow spiritually in the process of taking the Promised Land, so He wants to grow spiritually as we walk in faith with Him as well.

The Truth: "We walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7) 

Deuteronomy 6 "Do What Is Right"

“You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you…” (v.18a)

Doing what is right and good seems difficult for many people today. Why, because they can’t see what’s right from what is easier, or they can’t see what is good from what is beneficial, or doing right may cost them something they are not willing to concede. Consider the following.

Many years ago, a young hotel clerk in Philadelphia explained to an older couple that no rooms were available for the night. But instead of turning the pair out into the pouring rain, the clerk insisted that they take his own room. The next morning the man thanked the clerk and told him he deserved to be the manager of the finest hotel in America. 'Maybe some day I'll build one for you.' The clerk simply smiled. Two years later, however, he found himself in New York as the first manager of the new Waldorf-Astoria Hotel! The couple he had befriended was Mr. and Mrs. William Waldorf Astor. Talk about doing right!

God's law was given to guide the moral behavior of His people, not simply to enlighten their minds but to set a standard of what is right and acceptable in the sight of the Lord. Therefore, we need to know and affirm what the Bible teaches, especially in these days when truth is defined as whatever feels right to any given person in any given situation.

The Truth: "But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good." (2 Thessalonians 3:13)