Today’s passage: Deuteronomy 24

Helpful thoughts:

• The law concerning divorce and remarriage was written to protect women from being used by a man to obtain a greater dowry.
  • If a man received a dowry through marrying a woman, then divorced her and she remarried, her second husband could have received a second dowry.  If the first husband sought to marry her again, he could only be seeking that second dowry in addition to the first.
  • When man is looking for how “far he can go” or “how much he can get away with” without violating rules, God’s law will not be read or interpreted correctly.  God gives His people laws for their well-being, to protect the vulnerable, for the life and health of His people.
  • Jesus spoke to the interpretations of this law and what God’s true plan for marriage is (Matthew 5:31-32, Matthew 9:7-8).
• As you read through this chapter, you will find many laws that were written to protect the vulnerable.  For example:
  • The husband was to spend a year with his wife before going to war so that they could have a child.  The birth of a child would ensure the woman had someone to help her in her old age.
  • The mill and millstone were used for food preparation.  If the poor lost their means of preparing food, they would go hungry.
  • The cloak was used as a blanket in the colder nights for sleeping.  They were to be returned to their owners.
  • Wages were to be paid on time so that those who lived day by day (paycheck to paycheck) would have what they needed.

Questions to consider:

1. What is God’s heart for the poor?  How do we maintain a balanced view of our care for the poor with what is commanded in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12?  If a person is poor because he/she is able but not willing to work, what would be the more loving thing to do?
2. If a person is poor because of other factors outside of their control, how can a heart of compassion and generosity be shown in a fruitful way?
3. Why does mankind typically look at laws to see what we can do for ourselves as opposed to seeing what we can do for others?  How does God’s love for us through the gospel help us have eyes to see laws or rules differently?

Today’s passage: Deuteronomy 23

Helpful thoughts:

• The Lord had set Israel apart unto Himself and gave them a relationship with Him.  They were to have no other gods.  Some of the laws in today’s chapter pertain to this command and heart of God for the well-being of His people.
  • Verse 1 would prevent Israelites from assimilating pagan practices (e.g. temple eunuchs) into their worship of God.
  • The use of “dog” in verse 18 could represent male temple prostitutes.  That would make sense in the context.
  • The “cleanness” of the camp on military campaigns was just as necessary as any other time because God was their champion and would be in their midst.
• People who were not of the physical lineage of Israel could become part of God’s people.  Abraham’s descendants are those who share his faith (Romans 4:16-18, Romans 9:6-7, Galatians 3:7-9).  This idea of the inclusion of the Gentiles was not entirely new when the church began, it simply flourished (by the grace of God) when the church began.
• The laws toward the end of the chapter can fall into the category of the general command, “You shall not steal.”

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways can we see how God is setting out to protect His people in these laws?  What would keeping them do for the benefit of Israel?
2. In what ways do we see the destructive nature of the paganism of the surrounding peoples?  Why does it make sense that the practices of so many false religions bring death and destruction, but following the Lord brings life?
3. Who is welcomed to enter the “assembly of the Lord?”  Based on whose righteousness are we welcomed?

Today’s passage: Deuteronomy 22

Helpful thoughts:

• Verses 1-12 contain laws in which most refer to the command to love your neighbor as yourself and reminded Israel that they were a people distinct and separate from the rest of the world.
• Laws are also given concerning sexual morality.  In these laws, God further defines marriage as a life-long covenant relationship between one man and one woman.
• Many of these laws are also written to protect women in a time where little regard was had for them.

Questions to consider:

1. Which laws stuck out to you?  Which of them are particularly interesting given the characteristics of our culture today?
2. What do we see God values pertaining to manhood and womanhood?  To sexual purity?  To the value of the covenant of marriage?
3. How can the principles of all these laws help us to better love our neighbor as ourselves?  How can we see in these laws further evidence that sin comes from selfish desires and righteousness out of love for God and others?  What is our hope in finding forgiveness from our sin and then growing in righteousness through Christ?

Today’s passage: Deuteronomy 21

Helpful thoughts:

• At first glance, it seems as though the laws written in this chapter are miscellaneous.  However, there is a pattern.  In this chapter there is a shift from laws that refer to the commandments, “You shall not murder” to “You shall not commit adultery.”
  • These various laws discuss what should be done in situations where the greater (big picture) commandments are not kept.
• These subsequent laws give evidence that there are always consequences to sin.  When people choose not to follow the law, they (and others whom the sinner may never have considered in their actions) always have further consequences.  People can choose to sin, but they cannot choose the consequences.
• All this helps us to better understand these laws.  In these laws, God is not condoning actions. He is protecting others who are negatively impacted by the actions of others.

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways could we see these laws protecting those who would be viewed as the victims in the actions portrayed?
2. In what ways would these actions be seen as ridiculous in our culture today, but seem to have been more commonplace at the time?  What actions do we see around us often today which people from back then would think we are crazy to be doing now?
3. In what ways do we see the mercy of God on display through these laws, as unusual as they seem?  Who is God protecting?  To whom does He continue to be a shield?  How is His justice shown?

Today’s passage: Deuteronomy 20

Helpful thoughts:

• The first command of warfare for Israel is this: Don’t be afraid because God is with you!
  • One lone man can defeat the world’s greatest army when God is on his side.
• Three reasons are given for exemption from military duty:
  • Someone moving into a new home.
  • Someone harvesting crops.
  • Someone newly married.
    • Israel had no reason to bring every living, breathing male to the battle field.  God had promised them victory.
• Laws were also given concerning what to do with those who had been defeated, whether through surrender or military victory.
  • The people groups within the Promised Land were being judged for their sin by God through the nation of Israel.  The people groups outside the Promised Land were to be treated differently.
• Even the fruit bearing trees were to be spared in battle.  As if God was saying to Israel, “Don’t cut down the fruit trees, you’re going to enjoy those when I give you the victory!”

Questions to consider:

1. How would these commands have given Israel confidence to proceed to the battles that were ahead of them?  In whom was their confidence to reside?
2. If their confidence was in the Lord, how would that have impacted other areas of their lives?  If God is your protector and champion, how will you respond to Him and love in relation to Him?
3. What clear consequence of sin was depicted in this passage?  What was Israel not to do with the nations God had given over to judgment and destruction?  What judgment is coming on this world and how therefore should the people of God live today?

Today’s passage: Deuteronomy 19

Helpful thoughts:

• Moses again gives instruction for the cities of refuge.  Cities where those who committed manslaughter (Accidental death) could flee for safety and await a proper trial.
  • There were six cities of refuge in total.  Moses only speaks of the three because there had been three cities set up east of the Jordan in the land already possessed.  Israel then had three more cities to set up west of the Jordan.
• The inheritance of land was to be a permanent agreement among the tribes and families of Israel.  Even if land changed hands over the years, the Jubilee year would return it to the original inheritors (Leviticus 25:8-34).  Therefore, the boundary markers were never to be moved.
• When people were accused of breaking the law, there was a requirement for more than one witness.
  • If someone lied in order to see another person suffer unjust consequences, those consequences would be rendered to the false witness!  Imagine falsely accusing someone of a capital offense!  This would certainly give people reason to pause before taking someone to the judges.
• “Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth” is an idiom which represents this principle, “the punishment should fit the crime.”

Questions to consider:

1. How would these commands have encouraged justice in Israel?  How must a God who is just want His people to live?
2. What was God preventing by giving the command, “Your eye shall not pity?”  What happens when a government does not enforce the laws it writes?  How can this be applied in the workplace, home, schools, etc.?  Why is justice a good thing in society?
3. Why are we able to freed from the punishment of our sin, and yet God remain just?  Did God pity our sin or was in judged?  How did God accomplish this? – Isaiah 53:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24

Today’s passage: Deuteronomy 18

Helpful thoughts:

• The Levites did not share in the land inheritance of Israel.  The Lord was their inheritance.
  • The Levites were to live off of the Lord’s work and the sale of their own possessions.
    • “The sale of his patrimony” refers to possession inherited from one’s father.  The Levites were not to inherit land, but this did not prevent them from owning other possessions.
• The people groups Israel was about to drive out of the Promised Land were being judged by God for their sin.  It would have been (and was) foolish for Israel to assimilate their sinful practices into their own culture and life!
• Laws and a promise are given concerning prophets.
  • False prophets (once their prophecies proved false) were to be executed.
  • It is possible to be right about a “prophecy” and yet not have been sent by the Lord (verse 20).
  • The promise of a prophet, like Moses, who would come in the future was believed to be referring to a final prophet.  The Apostles declared this prophet was Jesus (John 1:19-23, Acts 3:22-24, 7:37).
• The pagan nations would often use child sacrifice as a way to seek help and answers/revelation from their false gods.  This is why, immediately after forbidding such practices, the Lord promises Israel there will be those (and the One) who would come and tell them what God wanted to reveal.  God is saying they must not sacrifice their children, and they shouldn’t ever feel like they need to, because He will send them prophets.

Questions to consider:

1. How are these laws for the Levites very practical in nature?  How was God going to care of those who were called to serve Him and the nation in these ways? How would the faithfulness of the nation be necessary to provide for the Levites?  How would the failure of the people to worship provide temptation for the Levites to seek their provision in other things than the Lord?
2. What kinds of things might we be tempted to do when we want to know what is happening (or what will happen) in our lives?  To whom or what do we turn?  How has God revealed to us everything we need (2 Peter 1:3-4, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)?
3. How is Jesus the ultimate prophet?  What (and how) did He perfectly reveal God to His people?

Today’s passage: Deuteronomy 17

Helpful thoughts:

• The final two verses from chapter 16 are included in the link due to the continuity of information leading into chapter 17.
• Those who were guilty of idolatry (worship of false gods) were to be executed.  The laws God gave concerning idolatry in this passage prevented temptations on either side of the legal process.
  • Not wanting to upset relationships or the apparent peacefulness of a community, the Lord required that people inquire diligently if they hear of idolatry.  They were not to overlook it or try to ignore it.
  • If some (On the other end of the spectrum) were quick to point the finger and even eager to get someone in trouble, it would be their task to cast the first stone in the execution.  The weightiness of that responsibility would cause someone to think first before they accuse.
    • No one was to be executed without at least two witnesses giving testimony (a trial).
• If anyone felt there was an injustice that needed to be appealed to the courts (priests or judges), they could make an official appeal. But, they had to abide by the decision of the authority.  To refuse to abide by the ruling was punishable by death.
  • This punishment seems severe from our cultural perspective, but it certainly would have been effective in preventing people from trying to use the courts to twist justice in their own favor repeatedly.
• God wrote laws concerning kings over Israel, knowing what they would do in the future (1 Samuel 8:4-9)!
  • Every king over Israel was to write his own copy of the Law under the supervision of the Levitical priests.  They were to have and to know and to follow the law.
  • The kings were not to have multiple wives or multitudes of wealth, as kings often did.

Questions to consider:

1. Why were these laws necessary?  What would following them accomplish for Israel?  What would violating them accomplish in Israel?  How does God’s knowledge Israel would not keep His laws remind us of His eternal plan for the cross of Christ?
2. How can you see the wisdom of God in the laws?  How can you see His pursuit of the joy, life and health of the people?  How can you see Him protecting them from darkness and death?
3. How did Israel’s kings do at keeping these laws?  How did that continue to impact the nation?

Today’s passage: Deuteronomy 16

Helpful thoughts:

• In today’s passage, Moses recounts the three major feasts for Israel.
  • Passover (The Feast of Unleavened Bread – vs. 16)
    • The month of Abib coincides with March/April.
    • Christ would later be crucified at Passover.
  • The Feast of Weeks (The Feast of Harvest – Exodus 23:16)
    • This feast later was called in the Greek, “Pentecost” (Acts 2)
  • The Feast of Booths (or, The Feast of Tabernacles)
    • This feast would occur in September/October.
• The people were commanded to appoint judges who would judge justly.
  • Justice was not to be perverted, it was not to be partial, and it was never to be tainted through purchase.

Questions to consider:

1. How did God later use these feasts in the death of Christ and the birth of the Church?  How did the gathering of all Israel for these feasts promote what God was doing in the time of Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension, and the beginning of the Church?
2. What promise did the command to appoint judges in each town confirm?  What will be filling all of these towns across Israel that would require so many judges?  What was going to happen for the people of Israel?
3. Why did/does God demand justice?  What brings about injustice?  How can Christians pursue justice in ways that glorify God and love our neighbor as ourselves?

Today’s passage: Deuteronomy 15

Helpful thoughts:

• In today’s passage, Moses gives the details of sabbatical year (Every seven years) laws.
• There seems to be a contradiction between verse 4 (“But there will be no poor among you”) and verse 11 (“For there will never cease to be poor in the land.”)
  • There are two options to explain this apparent contradiction:
    • (1) If Israel had obeyed God’s prescribed economic policies/laws, there would have been no poor people in the land.  But God knew there would be failure to do so, which would produce poverty for some.
    • (2) Verse 11 contained the reality of what was expected (There would always be the poor), but the command was for the heart of every Israelite to be striving to lift people out of poverty.
• The slavery described in this passage is much different than the chattel slavery that existed in American history.  The slaves described in Deuteronomy 15 were also Israelites who had been impoverished were given a place to work and provide a roof over their heads and food to eat.
  • Those who became slaves were lifted out of worse conditions.
  • Those who became slaves could not remain slaves longer than six years without their own approval (Verses 16-17).
  • When they were released from their service they were sent away with what they needed to make a fresh start.

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways do we see God commanding Israel to treat these “slaves” as human beings, as their equals?  What modern day practice seems closer to what is being described in this chapter?
2. What principles do you see in this passage that would have been a blessing to Israel if they had faithfully kept them?  What would have been the fear of loaning money out in the sixth year?   What would have been the benefit of generosity and even this form of “slavery” for the poor in that day and age?
3. What did sacrificing the first-born animal communicate concerning the trust of the people for God’s provision?  How is this similar to the idea of tithing from the “first fruits?”  How did the sacrifice itself provide for their need?