Happy St. Patrick's day...are you wearing green?
Remember that Deuteronomy means "second law" and Moses is preparing the new generation for entrance into the Holy Land. Moses repeatedly talks about "purging the evil" from among you. The Isrealites aren't to have evil around them, because even the smallest bit has a chance to grow and corrupt them. Perhaps we are getting the start of the "Holy Wars".....In God they are justified....but they must be FROM GOD.....God specifically names tribes that he knows their hearts....he knows they are not going to give up their evil ways and idols...this is why they are getting purged with His permission from the Promised Land. We have Holy Wars (so to speak) now......think of the Islamic extremists....they say they are warring "in the name of the Lord"? Do we ever do this? How do we know if those messages are from God? Deuteronomy 18:21-22 tells us....if what a prophet proclaims in the name ofthe Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously.." So from the early days to today people claim to have messages from God. God still speaks to his people, so we must be cautious before saying that someone is God's spokesman.
Moses prepares them for a king and what characteristics a king should have. Note that in 17: 16-17, he gives 4 characteristics of what a king should not do, and in 17: 18, it tells what he should not do......Jesus is the only King that meets all these characteristics......the Isrealites wanted a king like the other nations had.....God is truly the only King, but He gives them what they want, as you will see in future readings.
Chapter 18 talks about a prophet...who is this prophet? Stephen used this verse to support his claim that Jesus Christ is God's Son, the Messiah (Acts 7:37)......My study Bible points out that the coming of Jesus Christ to earth was not an afterthought but part of God's original plan.
Finally, in chapter 20, Moses gives instructions about the war the Isrealites must prepare for to gain entrance into the Holy Land......after all 3 "purge the evil" from among you messages we have read (17: 7, 17: 12, 19: 19) we move to 20: 16:
However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them-the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites-as the Lord your God has commanded you. Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord.
When the Lord repeats things, we are to take notice. It is important. It is worth underlining in your Bible!!!! And it would be great if we didn't leave it in our Bible and we applied it....(whew, I am exhausted......LOL)
Look what comes up from the depths of the sea.
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