Hi folks,
Yes, it's been months, but I'm determined to continue this for as long as it takes for us to finish reading the Bible. Was chatting with Emily a few weeks back, and she seems ready to get back on it too. Are you all with me??
:)
In these next few chapters we really see God emphasizing holiness and justice in so many different ways.
1. Sacrifices Must be Without Defect
It would be "detestable" to bring a lamb or goat that has a defect.
2. Purge the Evil Among You
God specifically instructs the Israelites to STONE to death anyone among them who is doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. God sets up a system to make sure that this is done as fairly as possible. One can only be stoned based on the testimony of 2-3 witnesses, not just one.
Furthermore, issues that are too difficult to determine will be handled by the Levitical priest and the judge. Anyone who shows contempt for the priest or the judge will ALSO be stoned.
3. The Appointed King Must be "from among you."
God instructed them to choose an Israelite as a king (not foreigner!). Not only that, the king MUST work with the priests and follow all of God's laws and commandments.
4. Do Not Mix with the Foreigners!
The foreigners that the Israelites would replace practiced detestable acts, such as sorcery, divination, witchcraft, child sacrifice, etc. God specifically commanded them not to engage in such practices. Instead, God told the Israelites he would provide them with a prophet, through whom God would speak.
5. Take Care of Your Priests
God specifically gave instructions for the Israelites to support their priests, since the priests serve the people and do not receive their own inheritance. "The LORD is their inheritance."
6. Provide a Refuge
Though God provided many laws to maintain holiness, He understood human nature and provided ways to protect those that might be harmed unnecessarily. He understood the desire that humans have for revenge. He knew that if a person accidentally hurt another, that person's family would want revenge, even if it wasn't his fault.
God asked the Israelites to set aside a few cities that would act as refuge areas for these people.
Of course, if a person murdered with malice aforethought, the rules were completely different. In that case, God instructed them to bring him back to his avengers. "Show no pity."
7. Fairness Is Important
At the end of it all, God reminds them that you can never convict anyone based on the testimony of one witness. God emphasizes how important it is for the judge to listen to all the facts, evidence, before he makes his impartial decision.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Deuteronomy 14-16
What you May or May Not Eat
This looks similar to (if not exactly) what Jews practice to this day - what's kosher and what's not? There are many rules, such as:
animals that have a split hoof divided in two and that chew the cud are CLEAN
OK: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep
NOT OK: camel, the rabbit or the coney
sea animals with fins and scales are CLEAN
all birds are CLEAN except the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, the red kite, the black kite, any kind of falcon, any kind of raven, the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, the little owl, the great owl, the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant, the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.
All insects are unclean and you can't cook a goat in its mother's milk
Tithes
Give 10% of your field produce back to God. How? (I found this interesting) by eating it in the presence of God so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. Every three years you bring your tithe to store in the town so the Levites can have their fill.
Although there seems to be no yearly requirement to give 10% to support the Levites, it does specifically say in verse 27 "And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own." So I think it is implied that we should still monetarily support our pastors/ministers/etc. ;)
The Year for Canceling Debts
This is tough - every 7 years you must cancel all the debts to and from "brothers" (not foreigners). God clearly says "there should be no poor among you." He warns against sinful thoughts of withholding lending because "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near."
I found this statement powerful:
Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
Such a good reminder, and something I don't do enough of . . . .
Freeing Servants
If a Hebrew sells himself to you as a servant, you should let him go free after 6 years of service (7th year) and send him with flocks, etc. so he "does not leave emptyhanded." God continually reminds the Israelite they too were once slaves, and this they should understand.
But if a servant wants to stay, then he becomes a servant for life.
Passover
God then gives the Israelites instructions for how to celebrate the Passover, including specific instructions about various feasts to celebrate, and how to celebrate them.
Finally, he tells them to appoint judges to help them arbitrate matters, and most importantly . . .
Do Not Worship Other Gods . . . .
This looks similar to (if not exactly) what Jews practice to this day - what's kosher and what's not? There are many rules, such as:
animals that have a split hoof divided in two and that chew the cud are CLEAN
OK: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep
NOT OK: camel, the rabbit or the coney
sea animals with fins and scales are CLEAN
all birds are CLEAN except the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, the red kite, the black kite, any kind of falcon, any kind of raven, the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, the little owl, the great owl, the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant, the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.
All insects are unclean and you can't cook a goat in its mother's milk
Tithes
Give 10% of your field produce back to God. How? (I found this interesting) by eating it in the presence of God so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. Every three years you bring your tithe to store in the town so the Levites can have their fill.
Although there seems to be no yearly requirement to give 10% to support the Levites, it does specifically say in verse 27 "And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own." So I think it is implied that we should still monetarily support our pastors/ministers/etc. ;)
The Year for Canceling Debts
This is tough - every 7 years you must cancel all the debts to and from "brothers" (not foreigners). God clearly says "there should be no poor among you." He warns against sinful thoughts of withholding lending because "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near."
I found this statement powerful:
Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
Such a good reminder, and something I don't do enough of . . . .
Freeing Servants
If a Hebrew sells himself to you as a servant, you should let him go free after 6 years of service (7th year) and send him with flocks, etc. so he "does not leave emptyhanded." God continually reminds the Israelite they too were once slaves, and this they should understand.
But if a servant wants to stay, then he becomes a servant for life.
Passover
God then gives the Israelites instructions for how to celebrate the Passover, including specific instructions about various feasts to celebrate, and how to celebrate them.
Finally, he tells them to appoint judges to help them arbitrate matters, and most importantly . . .
Do Not Worship Other Gods . . . .
Monday, August 30, 2010
Deuteronomy 11-13
Love the Lord Your God . . .
God reminds the Iraelites that it was not their children, but they who saw all the blessings that God gave them (deliverance from Egypt, etc.) God tells them that they must continue to "love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." If they do that, he will bless their promised land and bring TONS of rain . . the land will not be like Egypt, which was difficult to farm and required tons of irrigation. No, this land will DRINK UP the rainwater and produce bountiful crops.
Worshipping Other Gods
God warns them to be careful because they will be tempted to turn to other gods. He tells them to remind their children in many different ways of how faithful God was to the Israelites.
Essentially, God tells them He will bless them if they obey his commmands (to love the LORD), but if they turn to other gods, He will curse them.
God them gives further instructions about how they should remove all the places on the high mountains where their conquerees worship. They really MUST NOT worship other gods. God then gives some instructions about how the Israelites are to sacrifice and worship, including instructions on when they can or cannot eat meat and how to eat it.
Finally, God gives some REALLY STRICT instructions about what to do if others Israelites are worshipping other gods. This just continues to demonstrate how strongly God feels about this. Essentially, if you are enticed by a prophet, your own family members, your own spouse, or "wicked men" in the next town over, you must put the enticer to death. God has no room for people who worship other gods and try to entice others to do the same.
God reminds the Iraelites that it was not their children, but they who saw all the blessings that God gave them (deliverance from Egypt, etc.) God tells them that they must continue to "love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." If they do that, he will bless their promised land and bring TONS of rain . . the land will not be like Egypt, which was difficult to farm and required tons of irrigation. No, this land will DRINK UP the rainwater and produce bountiful crops.
Worshipping Other Gods
God warns them to be careful because they will be tempted to turn to other gods. He tells them to remind their children in many different ways of how faithful God was to the Israelites.
Essentially, God tells them He will bless them if they obey his commmands (to love the LORD), but if they turn to other gods, He will curse them.
God them gives further instructions about how they should remove all the places on the high mountains where their conquerees worship. They really MUST NOT worship other gods. God then gives some instructions about how the Israelites are to sacrifice and worship, including instructions on when they can or cannot eat meat and how to eat it.
Finally, God gives some REALLY STRICT instructions about what to do if others Israelites are worshipping other gods. This just continues to demonstrate how strongly God feels about this. Essentially, if you are enticed by a prophet, your own family members, your own spouse, or "wicked men" in the next town over, you must put the enticer to death. God has no room for people who worship other gods and try to entice others to do the same.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Deuteronomy 7-10
"God will deliver them over to you" (chapter 7)
Moses next describes to the Israelites how they are to drive out the nations on their quest for the promised land. He tells them that they must DESTROY THEM COMPLETELY. He warns against intermarrying with these people, or getting involved with their gods. Instead the Israelites must destroy their gods.
Moses reminds the Israelites again that it was because of God's promise to their forefathers that he loves them and favors them. Moses also warns them that God will keep his covenant of love "to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. But those who hate him he will repay to their face by destruction; he will not be slow to repay to their face those who hate him."
Moses reminds the Israelites that they MUST FOLLOW & OBEY God's commandments. He tells them to have faith that God will carry them through in defeating all these foreign peoples.
"Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God" (chapter 8)
Moses warms the Israelites not to forget about how good God has been to them. He reminds them of how God brought them out of slavery. Moses tells them they must remember and praise God once they have become comfortable in the promised land. "Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."
Moses ends with an ominous warning:
"If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the LORD destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD your God."
"For you are a stiff-necked people" (chapter 9)
Moses tells the Israelites that they will soon attack Anakites (HUGE GIANTS) and yet the Lord will make the Israelites victorious. He warns them not to think that it was because of their righteousness that they were victorious, but because of God's promise. In fact, he tells them they are a "stiff-necked people."
Moses then goes into describing various instances in history where God wanted to destroy them due to their sinful nature but Moses interceded and plead with God to save them. This was the golden calf incident, and other incidences at Taberah, at Massah Kibroth Hattaavah, and Kadesh Barnea. In all the cases, the Israelites did not trust & obey God and Moses had to intercede for them, praying "forty days and forty nights."
"Do not be stiff-necked any longer" (chapter 10)
Moses finishes off this section by describing how God decided he was not going to destroy the Israelites. He made a new set of stone tablets with the commandments on them. Instead, he told Moses to go and lead the people into the promised land.
I love this last part, so I've pasted it in its entirety. Such a good reminder of who God is, highlighting so many different aspects of his personality.
"And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you 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, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the LORD set his affection on your forefathers and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations, as it is today.
Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.
Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. Your forefathers who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Moses next describes to the Israelites how they are to drive out the nations on their quest for the promised land. He tells them that they must DESTROY THEM COMPLETELY. He warns against intermarrying with these people, or getting involved with their gods. Instead the Israelites must destroy their gods.
Moses reminds the Israelites again that it was because of God's promise to their forefathers that he loves them and favors them. Moses also warns them that God will keep his covenant of love "to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. But those who hate him he will repay to their face by destruction; he will not be slow to repay to their face those who hate him."
Moses reminds the Israelites that they MUST FOLLOW & OBEY God's commandments. He tells them to have faith that God will carry them through in defeating all these foreign peoples.
"Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God" (chapter 8)
Moses warms the Israelites not to forget about how good God has been to them. He reminds them of how God brought them out of slavery. Moses tells them they must remember and praise God once they have become comfortable in the promised land. "Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."
Moses ends with an ominous warning:
"If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the LORD destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD your God."
"For you are a stiff-necked people" (chapter 9)
Moses tells the Israelites that they will soon attack Anakites (HUGE GIANTS) and yet the Lord will make the Israelites victorious. He warns them not to think that it was because of their righteousness that they were victorious, but because of God's promise. In fact, he tells them they are a "stiff-necked people."
Moses then goes into describing various instances in history where God wanted to destroy them due to their sinful nature but Moses interceded and plead with God to save them. This was the golden calf incident, and other incidences at Taberah, at Massah Kibroth Hattaavah, and Kadesh Barnea. In all the cases, the Israelites did not trust & obey God and Moses had to intercede for them, praying "forty days and forty nights."
"Do not be stiff-necked any longer" (chapter 10)
Moses finishes off this section by describing how God decided he was not going to destroy the Israelites. He made a new set of stone tablets with the commandments on them. Instead, he told Moses to go and lead the people into the promised land.
I love this last part, so I've pasted it in its entirety. Such a good reminder of who God is, highlighting so many different aspects of his personality.
"And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you 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, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the LORD set his affection on your forefathers and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations, as it is today.
Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.
Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. Your forefathers who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Deuteronomy 5-6
Moses reminds the Israelites of the 10 commandments he received at the top of the mountain. He reminds them that God made this covenant with them not just their forefathers.
1. No other gods
2. No idols
3. No misuse of God's name
4. Observe the Sabbath
5. Honor your parents
6. No murder
7. No adultery
8. No stealing
9. No false testimony against your neighbor
10. Don't covet your neighbor's wife or his stuff
After seeing God's power on the mountain, the Israelites were amazed at God's glory. They said to Moses "go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then tell us whatever the LORD our God tells you. We will listen and obey."
God was quite pleased with them. Moses said "So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. 33 Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess."
Moses continues to give the Israelites more guidance on how to honor and obey God.
1. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and strength
2. Don't forget the Lord, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt
3. Fear the Lord, and serve him ONLY
4. Do not test the Lord
5. Keep the commands of the Lord
The moral of the story?
"And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness."
1. No other gods
2. No idols
3. No misuse of God's name
4. Observe the Sabbath
5. Honor your parents
6. No murder
7. No adultery
8. No stealing
9. No false testimony against your neighbor
10. Don't covet your neighbor's wife or his stuff
After seeing God's power on the mountain, the Israelites were amazed at God's glory. They said to Moses "go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then tell us whatever the LORD our God tells you. We will listen and obey."
God was quite pleased with them. Moses said "So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. 33 Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess."
Moses continues to give the Israelites more guidance on how to honor and obey God.
1. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and strength
2. Don't forget the Lord, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt
3. Fear the Lord, and serve him ONLY
4. Do not test the Lord
5. Keep the commands of the Lord
The moral of the story?
"And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness."
Friday, July 16, 2010
Deuteronomy 4
Akkkkk!! It has been nearly a month! Time to get back on the train. Help, anyone???
----------------------
Moses continues to speak to the Israelites, reminding them to obey God's commands. Why?
1. So you may live & take possession of the land
He reminds them of how many that did not follow God died at Horeb.
2. Shows their wisdom & strength to the surrounding nations
Other nations will be amazed at Isralites' god
Moses finally reminds the Israelites not to forget what God has done, and to tell their children about it too.
Moses tells idolatry of any kind is forbidden, and reminds them of the golden calf incident. He warns them - if you don't follow God, you will be mostly destroyed or scattered. Then if you are in distress and seek out God, you will find him, for God is merciful and has not forgotten his covenant with his people.
Moses reminds them to think back in history - nothing like this has ever happened before, where God clearly made himself known to a nation and took them out of oppression with so many wonders and miracles. Why? So that they would know that the Lord is God.
Moses then sets aside some cities as Refuge Cities and begins to lay out the law.
Moses continues to speak to the Israelites, reminding them to obey God's commands. Why?
1. So you may live & take possession of the land
He reminds them of how many that did not follow God died at Horeb.
2. Shows their wisdom & strength to the surrounding nations
Other nations will be amazed at Isralites' god
Moses finally reminds the Israelites not to forget what God has done, and to tell their children about it too.
Moses tells idolatry of any kind is forbidden, and reminds them of the golden calf incident. He warns them - if you don't follow God, you will be mostly destroyed or scattered. Then if you are in distress and seek out God, you will find him, for God is merciful and has not forgotten his covenant with his people.
Moses reminds them to think back in history - nothing like this has ever happened before, where God clearly made himself known to a nation and took them out of oppression with so many wonders and miracles. Why? So that they would know that the Lord is God.
Moses then sets aside some cities as Refuge Cities and begins to lay out the law.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Deuteronomy 1-3 (Summary of their journey thus far)
Moses narrates a summary of the Israelites journey up to this point to the Israelites in the desert east of the Jordan . . .
God told the Israelites at Horeb, "You have stayed here long enough. Go and take possession of the land I had promised to your forefathers." [heavily paraphrased]
Moses asked each tribe to appoint a leader to be judge because he could not personally handle and arbitrate each case. They also sent spies to check out the land that they were going to enter.
The spies reported back of a rich and prosperous land that was walled, heavily fortified, and inhabited by giants. The Israelites began to grumble in fear, complaining that God had brought them out of Egypt to destroy them. They refused to go because they did not trust God. God was angry, telling them that none of them would enter (they would instead die wandering in the desert), with the exception of Joshua and Caleb.
Then the Israelites were remorseful, and changed their minds. "We have sinned against the LORD. We will go up and fight, as the LORD our God commanded us."
Bad idea. They thought it would be easy, but God told them NOT to go because he was not with them. They did not listen, and then totally got defeated.
God then guided the Israelites in a long roundabout way to the promised land. This basically killed time until all of that first generation passed. God would give them commands about how to approach each people group. If the Israelites obeyed God, then things would go their way. Here are some examples of those commands.
Moab at Ar: pass through; land is already given to descendants of Lot
Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his country: defeat, leave no survivors
Ammonites: do not take their land
Og king of Bashan: defeat, leave no survivors
Dividing Up the Land
At this point they had obtained quite a bit of land. If you remember from the end of Numbers, the Reubenites, Gadites, and Half Tribe of Manasseh wanted this to be their inheritance. Moses gave them the land here and they settled with their women and children. The men would continue to cross the river to get the Promised Land.
Moses pleaded with God to let him see the land, but God was angry and told him he would never enter. Instead, he brought him to the top of a hill and let him see it.
God told the Israelites at Horeb, "You have stayed here long enough. Go and take possession of the land I had promised to your forefathers." [heavily paraphrased]
Moses asked each tribe to appoint a leader to be judge because he could not personally handle and arbitrate each case. They also sent spies to check out the land that they were going to enter.
The spies reported back of a rich and prosperous land that was walled, heavily fortified, and inhabited by giants. The Israelites began to grumble in fear, complaining that God had brought them out of Egypt to destroy them. They refused to go because they did not trust God. God was angry, telling them that none of them would enter (they would instead die wandering in the desert), with the exception of Joshua and Caleb.
Then the Israelites were remorseful, and changed their minds. "We have sinned against the LORD. We will go up and fight, as the LORD our God commanded us."
Bad idea. They thought it would be easy, but God told them NOT to go because he was not with them. They did not listen, and then totally got defeated.
God then guided the Israelites in a long roundabout way to the promised land. This basically killed time until all of that first generation passed. God would give them commands about how to approach each people group. If the Israelites obeyed God, then things would go their way. Here are some examples of those commands.
Moab at Ar: pass through; land is already given to descendants of Lot
Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his country: defeat, leave no survivors
Ammonites: do not take their land
Og king of Bashan: defeat, leave no survivors
Dividing Up the Land
At this point they had obtained quite a bit of land. If you remember from the end of Numbers, the Reubenites, Gadites, and Half Tribe of Manasseh wanted this to be their inheritance. Moses gave them the land here and they settled with their women and children. The men would continue to cross the river to get the Promised Land.
Moses pleaded with God to let him see the land, but God was angry and told him he would never enter. Instead, he brought him to the top of a hill and let him see it.
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