Hello and Welcome back...I am so glad you are here :o)Today we are reading through Deuteronomy 17:1-20 I am using the NIV version of the bible today but you may change it if you like by clicking here.
Deuteronomy 17
1 Do not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep that has any defect or flaw in it, for that would be detestable to him.
2 If a man or woman living among you in one of the towns the LORD gives you is found doing evil in the eyes of the LORD your God in violation of his covenant, 3 and contrary to my command has worshiped other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or the moon or the stars of the sky, 4 and this has been brought to your attention, then you must investigate it thoroughly. If it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, 5 take the man or woman who has done this evil deed to your city gate and stone that person to death.
6 On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. 7 The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from among you.
Law Courts
8 If cases come before your courts that are too difficult for you to judge—whether bloodshed, lawsuits or assaults—take them to the place the LORD your God will choose. 9 Go to the priests, who are Levites, and to the judge who is in office at that time. Inquire of them and they will give you the verdict. 10 You must act according to the decisions they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they direct you to do.
11 Act according to the law they teach you and the decisions they give you. Do not turn aside from what they tell you, to the right or to the left. 12 The man who shows contempt for the judge or for the priest who stands ministering there to the LORD your God must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel. 13 All the people will hear and be afraid, and will not be contemptuous again.
The King
14 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, "Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us," 15 be sure to appoint over you the king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite. 16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, "You are not to go back that way again." 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.
18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. 19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees 20 and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.
~~ oh there is so much here I can glean from...I find it fascinating that they used to purge out those who fell into idol worship...today we call that "freedom" and "melting pot" when really some people according to scripture should be taken out and stoned...We are seeing in verse 18 that one should write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law and not to consider himself better than his brothers and not to turn from it...(did you see that...not to consider himself better than his brothers...) how many times have you found a child saying..."how come he gets that and I don't?" Are we teaching our children the "worldly views" of " I deserve that or I need a break" I know I have found myself saying that one often...I think that the Lord does not want us to be saying those things to our children or ourselves...Where have the phrases gone..."how can I serve you today?" and "May I help you?" and actually being happy for someone when something good happens to them and it's something you have always wanted. Are you being called to change your view on things like I am? hmmmmm. Are we reaching a stage in our lives where it's ok to reject God. The All giving... All knowing...All loving...God.
Please join me in reading Deuteronomy 18:1-22
