Deuteronomy 20  What do I know about war?  It is not something I have dealt with directly or have any real knowledge of.. except that it is a horrible thing in so many ways.. 

The Lord gave Moses words to instruct and encourage the people of Israel as they were about to enter the land of promise. They were definitely going to battle.  

The Lord instructed that the priest would come before the army before they engaged in battle, "And he shall say to them,  'Hear O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.' "

Then the Lord gave some unexpected instructions.. He excused from battle those who had just built a house, planted a vineyard, was about to get married, and even those who were afraid. He wanted the willing and able to fight in His army. 

  He allowed the people to make peace agreements with those nations that were far from the new land.. but they had to destroy all the people that He was removing from His chosen land. 

Then one other interesting command.. don't destroy the fruit trees.  Use the other trees as needed for seigeworks.. but keep the trees that they could eat from. A word of hope for a future in the land. God had already provided what they would need. 

This war was going to be extensive.. but it was the Lord's battle and He would bring victory. The Israelites just needed to trust and obey.  

We know that we have an enemy.  This war has been waged since the beginning of time, starting in the Garden and continuing until the Day when Christ returns and the enemy is defeated for eternity.  We are part of God's army and we are given the same instructions that Israel received.. Don't be afraid, don't panic, don't tremble.. remember that the Lord fights for us.. to save us!  We have been given armor for this battle that is "not against flesh and blood.. but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."

Let us trust in the Lord, putting on truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. Let us stand firm and not be fainthearted.  Our God is on our side and He is fighting for us. Praise You Father, Son and Holy Spirit!  Amen. 

 Deuteronomy 19  This chapter deals with justice.  The Lord commanded Israel to set us cities of refuge so that someone who accidentally kills his neighbor would be able to go there and be safe from anyone wishing to avenge that death.  This also addresses the intentional murder of an innocent person and the killer in this case would be removed from the city of refuge and brought to justice. 

The Lord desires that innocent blood would not be shed in the land that He was giving to Israel. He also addresses other actions that are evil in His sight: 

To move a boundary mark.. taking someone's inheritance. 

Being a "malicious" witness against someone.  Every accusation should have two or three witnesses to be confirmed. 

Or not taking appropriate action against those who do evil because of pity. 

The Lord wanted the land to remain pure and for evil to be "purged" .

So, how do we think about these commands in the light of our day?  We know the Word tells us to "Do justice.. to love kindness.. and to walk humbly with [our] God."  (Micah 6:8)  This is God's way for His people to live righteously. 

 Can we agree with the Lord's commands that the innocent are kept from false accusations and the guilty are judged rightly?  

Can we agree that those who would defraud or cheat a neighbor in any way should be found guilty? 

Can we agree that a false witness should be put to shame and that the guilty should receive judgement that is deserved? 

We want our own land to be freed from evil.. Our problem is that we don't always agree on the definition of what is evil and what is not. How we need to look to the Word of God and pray that the Spirit of God would lead us into all Truth.  How we need to pray for our leaders, our judges, and our nation as a whole!

Father in heaven, may our nation turn to You and join herself with You to be Your people... that Your will be done and Your Name honored. " Let the evil of the wicked come to an end but establish the righteous" (Psalm 7:9)...   we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.

 Deuteronomy 18  There are three sections in this chapter: 

Verses 1-8 emphasize the place of the Levites in the nation.  They did not receive a portion of land like the other tribes, but they had a promise much greater.. "the Lord is their inheritance".  They were given portions of the sacrifices brought to the Lord and they were able to "stand and serve in the name of the Lord forever." 

Verses 9-14 firmly condemn the detestable practices of the nations that God was removing from the land - divination; sorcery; witchcraft; mediums and spiritists; etc.  Israel was forbidden to take up any of these practices.  God called them to be "blameless" before Him. 

Verses 15-22 give the promise from the Lord for another prophet that would come.. " I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him." the Lord told Moses.   Jesus told His listeners time after time that He spoke only what the Father told Him.. John 12:49-50 is one example, "For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say and what to speak. And I know His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father told Me."  Jesus, Himself ultimately fulfilled this promise to Israel. 

Yet there were other prophets of God throughout the history of Israel. Some were true prophets who spoke the words that God gave them.  But, there were also men who were false prophets, who spoke "presumptuously" - arrogantly, rebelliously, insolently.  These men should have been put to death for they turned the people from the Truth.  God told the people to watch for the fulfilling of the prophecies given. This was the test of a true prophet. 

What can we learn here?

No matter who we are.. according to the ways of the world.. we who have come to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, Lord, and King have been given and inheritance like the Levites.. for the Lord Himself is our inheritance.  He has given to us the privilege of standing before Him and serving Him.  He has also called us, like He did Israel, to be blameless before Him.. not imitating the detestable things of this world. And, He has exhorted us to speak Truth.. to humbly speak the words of God.. and to be careful to refuse those who speak falsehoods and heresy. We must know His Word and be alert and diligent in obeying His word.  

Father, fill us again with Your Spirit that we might always walk in faith, in truth, and in the power of Your might as we follow Jesus Christ our King. We desire to be blameless before You and we know that You, the God of peace will sanctify us entirely that we may be without blame at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, for You are faithful and You will do it.  ( I Thes. 5)  We look to You for help.. for perfect hearts and willing minds.. that we might seek You and find You.. every day and every hour.  Bring glory and honor to the Lord Jesus as He lives in us and accomplishes Your will in us. We ask this in His Name. Amen. 

 Deuteronomy 17  "You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep which has a blemish or any defect, for that is a detestable thing to the Lord your God."   The KJV calls it an abomination.. disgusting.. an abhorrence... evil.   The Lord will judge that kind of disrespect and "evilfavoredness" . 

Malachi spoke against this very sin:  "A son honors his father and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name... You are presenting defiled food upon My altar.. when you present the blind for sacrifice is it not evil? and when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil?" ( Malachi 1:6-8)

Moses was speaking about justice in 16:20.. stopped to speak about detestable sacrifices.. and then went back to the subject of justice. .. speaking of another "detestable" sin... idol worship..  "If there is found in your midst, in any of your towns, which the Lord your God is giving you, a man or a woman who does what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, by transgressing His covenant and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the heavenly host... if it is true and the thing is certain that this detestable thing has been done in Israel.. " then the sentence is death.. but. there must be at least 2-3 witnesses, who must be the first to cast their stones. 

If "any case is too difficult for you to decide.." the matter would be taken to a higher authority... Jerusalem. The decision would then be made by the Levitical priest or the judge "who is in office in those days."  Or.. the king that they would eventually demand.  What was and is most important is that every decision would be based on the "words of this law and these statutes.." 

The Lord is clear in His word about what is acceptable and good in His sight.. mercy, justice, and the fear of the Lord... He is also clear about what is detestable - anything that is not according to His Word, anything that does not bring glory to His Name.. anything that is false or evil.  ".. you shall not turn aside from the word.. to the right or the left.."  And do not act "presumptuously by not listening.. to the priest who stand there to serve the Lord your God."  This is also evil in His sight.. arrogance and pride.. rebellion against the Lord or His representative.

Father in heaven, we honor Your Holy Name, bringing our sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving.. o may we not bring anything detestable.. anything false or arrogant or prideful.. but only sincere worship in the name of Jesus Christ, who is the perfect Lamb.  Remove every unclean thing from us.. any thoughts or motives, any selfish or self-centeredness.. any pride or arrogance.  May our lives be washed clean and kept pure by the blood of the Savior who covers us and fills us with Himself.  Help us to be people who do justice, show mercy and love others in sincerity and truth. We come to You in the name of Jesus Christ our King.. desiring to do Your will in all things. amen. 

 Deuteronomy 14-16  These chapters are reminders about what it meant for Israel to be "sons of the Lord your God.."  He calls them "a holy people." ... a chosen people.. "a people for His own possession.. "  Therefore their lives would be set apart from the nations by what they ate; what they tithed; what they did;  and what they celebrated. 

Chapter 14 gives the details about what was clean or unclean in God's sight regarding meat. God's commands were meant for Israel's good.  We may not understand them or practice them.. but they were vital to God's people for His purposes.  This chapter also touches on tithing from the grain, wine, and oil, the first-born cattle and sheep.. "in order that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always."  Obeying God's commands would bring rejoicing to His people.. all the people, rich and poor alike ... for this would provide for "the Levite.. the alien, the orphan, and the widow" so that all would be "satisfied".  

Chapter 15 reminded the people of keeping the sabbath year.. when debts were to be forgiven  and kinsman would release their brothers from service. It was a time to be generous and not prideful or greedy. 

Chapter 16 restated the laws for the feasts of Passover, Weeks, and Booths.  They were to "remember all the days of your life the day when you came out of the land of Egypt.."  The Lord didn't want Israel to forget that they had been slaves and that He had brought them out to this Promised Land and blessed them with all that He provided.  The harvest was because of His grace. The work of their hands that brought about produce..was because of God's blessing.  God wanted and still wants His people to remember Him.. He holds everything in His hands and without Him.. we can do nothing.  Come and rejoice in the goodness of God!

The Words that Jesus spoke echo these words from the ancient message to Israel.. "Remember! " All that we have is from the hand of our Father in heaven,  He has brought us out of slavery to sin.. out of darkness.. out of hopelessness.. and blessed us with all that we need.  We are reminded that we are also a chosen people.. holy to the Lord, His own possession, because of the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins.  He reminds us that we need to distinguish between what is clean and what is unclean.. not so much in what we eat.. but in all that we take into our minds and hearts and lives.  He reminds us to practice forgiveness and generosity towards our brothers and sisters in Christ.  He reminds us to rejoice in the Lord for His many blessings - with sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. He also reminds us to practice justice and righteous judgement (16:19-20)  These things were commandments for Israel in their new land and they are important for our walk with Jesus in the land where we dwell.

 May we keep our eyes on Jesus and walk in His ways by the power of His Sprit who lives in us. Help us Father we pray.. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Deuteronomy 13  This message talks about idolatry.. following or going after any "other god".. any god "whom you  have not known" as Moses repeats here several times.  The problem introduced here is those who are "false" prophets.  Prophets who dream dreams and even do signs and wonders... but entice them to turn to other gods.   The Lord warns His people to "not listen" to any such prophet. 

Listen to the methods used by these people:  They counsel rebellion. (v5);  they "seduce you from the way" (v5); they "entice you secretly" (v6);  they seek "to seduce you from the Lord your God.." (v10); they can even "seduce" a whole city with their words and deeds. (v13)

Don't listen!  the Lord warns us. ".. if you will listen to the voice of the Lord your God, keeping all of His commandments.. and doing what is right in the sight of the Lord your God.."  then you will receive mercy and compassion and blessing.  But, failing the test and turning away from the Lord for false gods.. false promises.. seductive and rebellious promises.. will result in destruction . 

Satan still uses the same tactics in our day that he used since the garden .. seductive lies; false promises; counseling rebellion.. trying to seduce God's people to forget the voice of the Lord and listen to his own words that lead to destruction.  How many in our world, even now are dreamers of dreams.. trying to seduce men and women.. cities and countries.. away from the ways of the Lord.. to follow false gods.. false religions.. false ways.  We see whole cities.. even many states in our own country.. and whole nations.. who have been seduced by the lies of satan.. enticed to believe the lies that lead only to destruction and not to blessing and mercy and compassion which are found only in the Lord our God. 

Father in heaven, hear our prayers as we call upon You ... send forth Your Spirit of Truth to move in Your people.  May we speak up and proclaim Your Holy Name.. to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ who came to shine Your Light into this dark world. Deliver us from the evil one who seeks to blind the eyes of mankind. Let the glory of Your grace and goodness fill the earth we pray, in the name of Jesus the King of heaven and earth. Amen! 

 Deuteronomy 12 The Israelites were about to enter the promised land.  Moses gives them some new instructions for sacrifices.. a transition that will take place when the tabernacle is moved into a central location and the people are scattered into their various tribes.  At that point they would "seek the Lord at the place which the Lord your God shall choose from all your tribes to establish His name there for His dwelling and there you shall come." (v5) 

Every offering, tithe, and contribution would be brought to this place and offered no where else. "And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and daughters, your male and female servants and the Levite who is within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance with you."

The Lord gives them permission to slaughter and eat meat when they desired to.. as long as it was not the meat set apart for a holy offering before the Lord.  That could only be done at the place God chose... this would eventually be the city of Jerusalem. 

"Be careful to listen to all theses words which I command you, in order that it may be well with you.. " 

Every place where the nations before them had offered evil sacrifices was supposed to be destroyed and every practice of idolatry was meant to be forever extinguished.  How sad that Israel failed to listen and obey these commands from the Lord.  

Verses 8-9 are especially relevant for us today, "You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes; for you have not yet come to the resting place and the inheritance which the Lord your God is giving you."  What is right is that we turn away from every false way that the world promotes.  We worship our God only in the place He chooses.. which according to Jesus is not on a mountain or in Jerusalem..  "true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth"  ( John 4:23) Jesus is the place.. the person that God has chosen.  He is our resting place and our inheritance. He is where we rejoice before the Lord our God.  It is in Jesus that we are well and where we find all that is good and right in the sight of the God of gods and Lord of lords, the Great and Mighty, Awesome God that we serve. 

Father in heaven, we come to You for grace and mercy.. to find the fulness of Your love and salvation through our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Help us to do Your will and to rejoice in Your Word. May we worship You in spirit and in truth all the days of our lives.  May we live in the Light and Love that You have poured out on us through Your Spirit in the name of Jesus. We give You our thanks and our praise. Amen.