Pastor Billington's Blog

Deuteronomy 27

The nation was called to participate in one last significant reminder of their covenant relationship with God. After they cross the Jordan, they are supposed to set up a monument and then engage in a ceremony. That ceremony was to remind them that obeying God brings blessing and that refusing to obey brings trouble!

Thought for the day: God promises us blessings too, but we won’t experience those blessings if we don’t follow.

Galatians 5:22-23 (WEB) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control.”

Ephesians 4:30 (WEB) “Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Deuteronomy 26

The law for Israel is pretty much the same for us here. Giving is a sign of obedience and gratitude. When we recognize everything that God has done for us, we respond by giving to His kingdom and His causes, which includes both the church and the poor.

Thought for the day: As God’s special people, we should realize that it is a joy and a privilege to obey Him.

John 15:10-11 (WEB) “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

Deuteronomy 25

Additional laws to remember:

• Corporal discipline of criminals has a limit.
• Make sure you reward work.
• Progeny and carrying on the family name are important.
• There are certain things you don’t do or touch!
• Ethical selling and trading practices are a must.
• Be wary of others who have treated you badly.

Thought for the day: Forgiveness entails both a heart inclined to forgive and the possible restoration of relationship. The first part is something we should always practice, while the second part requires something from the offending party (which is why wariness sometimes continues to be a thing).

Luke 17:3-4 (WEB) “Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

Deuteronomy 24

Granting a certificate of divorce was actually merciful. It allowed the woman to leave and granted her legal standing. In fact, many of these laws are merciful. You can stay away from war for a year if you are newly married (perhaps to have a child). You can’t take away something that someone uses to make a living. You shouldn’t oppress the poor legally or economically. You need to make sure that you leave something from your harvest for those who are less fortunate than you are. It’s even a mercy that you can’t be judged for someone else’s sin! And to receive mercy from God, you needed to make sure that you followed His commands.

Thought for the day: Showing mercy is an essential part of our walk and witness.

Matthew 5:7 (WEB) “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

Matthew 23:13 (WEB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.”

James 1:27 (WEB) “Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

Deuteronomy 23

When the congregation came together for worship, there were certain safeguards in place. Those emasculated as a result of a pagan worship practice were excluded. Children who came about as a result of a “forbidden” union (perhaps an idolatrous one) were excluded. Those who were a part of cultures that hated Israel were excluded. However, those from nations who helped or were related in some way to Israel were allowed.

Ritual purity and cleanliness were also important, and the next few verses reflect that. But holiness is more than just keeping the body clean. It’s displaying grace (to slaves), not engaging in prostitution, not charging interest to countrymen, being truthful with vows, and not stealing from your neighbor.

Thought for the day: We tend to have a more open attitude to corporate worship, hoping to draw people to God/Christ. However, fellowship, or even church membership, could be seen in a different light.

1 Corinthians 5:11 (WEB) “But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortionist. Don’t even eat with such a person.”

Deuteronomy 22

The call to holiness continues:

• Don’t steal from your neighbor.
• In fact, you should even help save his livestock when possible.
• There is a fundamental difference between men and women that should be recognized and preserved.
• Take care of your resources, whether it be land or birds!
• Try to make your property as safe as possible.
• Keep things in their place, whether seeds, livestock, or fabric.
• Make your garments distinct from the heathen nations around you.
• Sexual purity is important.
• Sex is for marriage.
• Rape is afforded the death penalty if a woman is betrothed. If she isn’t, then the man must take her as his wife forever.

Thought for the day: Much of what we read here is just common sense. Unfortunately, our society is much more cavalier with sexual purity, but Christians shouldn’t be.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (WEB) “For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor, not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God, that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified. For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. Therefore he who rejects this doesn’t reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.”

Deuteronomy 21

The recap of the law continues:

• Unsolved murder leaves a stain on the land that must be recognized.
• War brides are warranted respect and rights, rather than treated simply as slaves.
• A husband is not to show favoritism with inheritance rights.
• Rebellious sons are not tolerated.
• Dead bodies of convicted criminals are not to be left hanging on the tree where they were killed.

Thought for the day: Similar to an unsolved murder, letting a body stay on display also defiled the land. Paul uses this to show that Jesus took our defilement away when He willingly died on a cross for our sin!

Galatians 3:13 (WEB) “Christ 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.’ “

Deuteronomy 20

Can there be mercy in war? Here we see God allowing certain Israelites to avoid war, and even allowing the residents of the cities they were coming against to escape death. Why were some of their own allowed to avoid battle? The common denominator is desire. If you are distracted by hearth, home, or even fear, then you would be of no use in the coming battle, because the battle was going to be harsh. Some cities could surrender, but others would be taken by bloodshed. And then came the executions. It seems so harsh to us today, separated by millennia. However, the deeds of the cultures they were defeating were deemed so horrible that God didn’t want those deeds (many connected with their idolatry) to infect His people.

Thought for the day: There is a balance in the Christian life. While we do want to reach people, we also don’t want their deeds and ideas to become our deeds and ideas.

James 4:4 (WEB) “You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”