Today’s Chapters: Deuteronomy 13-17
Pete’s Thoughts:
Deuteronomy 13
Serving the Lord is the most important this for our lives as well as the lives of the Israelites. God did not want them to be led astray so He told them what to do when someone tries to lead them away from God. They were to not listen to the person or persons and then that person or persons was to be put to death. This may seem like a harsh punishment for what many people see today as “freedom of choice” but when you look at the history of Israel, you will see time and time again that Israel was constantly lead away from God by those people who where close to them. They should have followed the guidelines that God clearly laid down for them and there would have been much less sorrow. Now, I am not advocating the killing of people who don’t believe what you believe but we must certainly not have contact with them so they cannot lead us astray.
Deuteronomy 14
This chapter covers the tithe or 10 percent. While there are many offerings discussed in the law, the tithe was to be give regardless of anything else you gave. It is to the be base that you start at for your giving. The tithe is still applicable to Christians today because it transcends the Old Testament Law. Abraham was the first one recorded in the Bible to give a tithe in honor of the Lord. Therefore, the tithe was in place before the Law, the Law just clarified what it is in more detail.
Deuteronomy 15
There are many sections to the Law but one of the important threads that runs through out the whole Law is kindness to strangers, widows orphans, and those less fortunate that yourself. The people were to be generous to God and others because God has been generous to them. They were to show that they cared for others just as God cared for them. I think it’s time we get back to the point where we realize that everything that God has blessed us with, He owns. We need to start using His resources (our money and everything else He has given us) to His glory by helping others.
Deuteronomy 16
Just as God is a just God, the people needed to be judged by a just judge. Since these judges were an extension of God’s authority, they needed to be just, just as God is just.
Deuteronomy 17
It would be easy to give God the sick and the poor animals in a flock. It would solve the problem of having to take care of them as well as fill the purpose of sacrificing to God. But God doesn’t want the left overs. He wants our best. Why do we try to give Him just smallest portion we can? Why do we try to stay so close to the line of what we are supposed to give Him? After all He has given us, we should be overflowing with joy at the opportunity to give back to Him, not because He needs what we give, but because we love Him.
