Pastor Billington's Blog

Deuteronomy 19

Additional reminders to the nation:

• There is a difference between manslaughter and murder.
• Those guilty of manslaughter are punished, but protected.
• (As long as they follow the rules!)
• Property lines are protected.
• One person is not enough to accuse someone of a crime.
• False witnesses are punished by what they wanted to do to someone else!

Thought for the day: Many of these rules echo laws in other civilizations, and even form the basis for what we have in society today. Even though we are part of a heavenly kingdom, we are still subject to the civil laws we find ourselves living under.

Romans 12:1-2 (WEB) “Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.”

Deuteronomy 18

The reminders continue:

• The priests are God’s and are taken care of from the offerings.
• Don’t engage in the awful practices of the people who used to live in the land.
• God will provide a special prophet, and that prophet will only speak the truth!
• Any other prophets who presume to speak for God must speak the truth, or they will die.

Thought for the day: Of course, the prophet like Moses that was foretold is Jesus!

John 6:14 (WEB) “When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, ‘This is truly the prophet who comes into the world.’ “

Acts 3:22-23 (WEB) “For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him in all things whatever he says to you. It will be that every soul that will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ “

Deuteronomy 17

Here we have more reminders for the community of faith:

• Idolatry is abhorrent to God.
• Don’t shirk your required offerings.
• A lack of holiness also affects the community.
• Judgment is absolute, but not arbitrary.
• If something is too hard to judge, take it to a higher court!
• Select a king that God wants.
• A king needs to be more concerned about God’s law than his own wealth.

Thought for the day: All of this is still true today, even though there needs to be some discernment regarding how to apply these principles. For example, some are much more applicable to a national context than a personal, and vice versa. However, greed, whether for money, possessions, or relationships, is wrong and destructive in all areas of life.

Luke 12:14 (WEB) “[Jesus] said to them, ‘Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.’ “

Deuteronomy 16

There were three feasts that males were required to attend in Israel, and each one commemorated something special. Passover commemorated the Israelites deliverance from slavery in Egypt, Weeks commemorated and celebrated the joy of the harvest, and Tabernacles commemorated the 40 years the Israelites spent wandering in the wilderness and God’s care of them.

Much of the rest of Deuteronomy is a review of the law, and the end of chapter 16 is a reminder of the need for honest judges and an admonition to refrain from idolatry.

Thought for the day: Even in lives that should be filled with worship, there are special times to worship God.

Hebrews 10:25 (WEB) “not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Deuteronomy 15

There is a deep recognition of community in God’s people. Debts against one another were forgiven every seven years. Even Hebrews that had become indentured servants were set free (unless they wanted to remain). And when they went, they were supposed to go with gifts! The poor weren’t to be discriminated against but instead cared for. If not, you risked God’s displeasure. Obedience was a way of giving God your best, and that is reflected in the sacrifices they brought.

Thought for the day: Do we feel the same community today? Do we desire to help others? Do we want to give God our best?

Romans 12:10 (WEB) “In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor prefer one another.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 (WEB) “whatever you do, do all for the glory of God.”

Deuteronomy 14

The Israelites were to be different than the world around them. This was expressed by the way they mourned, ate, and gave.

Thought for the day: We are to be different too!

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (WEB) “But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”

Romans 12:2 (WEB) “Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

Matthew 6:19-21 (WEB) “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Deuteronomy 13

Here Moses reminds them that they’re going to be surrounded by nations that don’t follow God. They need to guard against being enticed to idolatry. If a prophet encourages them to turn away, or says something that isn’t true or doesn’t come to pass, then they need to stone that prophet. And even if a whole city turns away, the punishment is the same. Any and all things that could turn people to idolatry or be used for false worship need to be destroyed. They are that weak!

Modern day paraphrase: “Don’t listen if someone comes along and tells you to stop worshipping God or to follow another God. Don’t pay attention if they say that God’s Word has changed, or that it means something other than what people have understood for thousands of years. Flee from all things and people that can tear you away from God!”

Thought for the day: Don’t just believe what anyone says. Hold them up to a higher standard – God’s Word!

1 John 4:1 (WEB) “Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

1 Thessalonians 5:21 (WEB) “Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.”

Acts 17:11 (WEB) “Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”

Deuteronomy 12

Here we have a checklist for worship once they enter into the promised land. First, they need to destroy all the pagan places of worship. Second, they need to make a place to worship God – not just anywhere, but where God tells them to put it! Third, they need to remember that blood is sacred and shouldn’t be consumed. Fourth, they need to dedicate the first ten percent of the field and the firstborn of the livestock to God. One reason for that is to take care of the Levites who lead them in worship (12:19). Fifth, they need to make sure that they don’t engage in any idolatrous practices themselves. And finally, they need to make sure that they don’t add to or take away from any of the laws that God has given them.

Thought for the day: Although the Israelites only had one sanctuary and one place to bring offerings, we aren’t restricted in that way. We can worship anywhere, because the offering that was given is a once and for all time offering!

John 4:23-24 (WEB) “But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Hebrews 7:27 (WEB) “[Jesus] doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself.”

Deuteronomy 11

Throughout this passage we have the reminder that we are a repository of truth for our children and grandchildren. God reminded the Israelites that they had seen and experienced His mighty works during their journey, but their children hadn’t. They were responsible for passing their knowledge on!

Deuteronomy 11:18-20 (WEB) “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul. You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates.”

Our children need to hear about the truthfulness of the Bible from us. They need to know that God has worked in the past, and that He is still working now. They need to see the truth of God modeled in our lives. They need to understand that following God brings blessing, and that disobedience brings consequences!

Deuteronomy 11:26 (WEB) “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse…“

Thought for the day: God promises us the blessings of His presence and His Spirit when we believe, but sin can bring negative consequences instead.

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