Read Deuteronomy 17 -- 20
Highlights:
Even a king must obey the Laws of God in His Word (the Books of Moses) all the days of his life (Deut. 17:19). Learn how to know a true or false prophet (18:22).
God directed Israel to overthrow all the kingdoms in Canaan because of their sinful conduct. No Canaanite was to be spared.
In war, Israelite soldiers often faced Canaanite armies far greater in numbers. Feeling powerless when Canaanite soldiers came charging at them in speeding iron chariots, the Israelite soldiers fled to the mountains where chariots could not follow. However, all the miracles of their past should have caused them to remember that God said: When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid. . . . For the Lord your God is He that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you (Deut. 20:1,4).
A Christian can be confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6).
Israel's Canaanite enemies illustrate our spiritual warfare against our own human nature which enslaved us before we were saved. We are cautioned: Love not the world (the desires of our fleshly human nature which would keep us from living as we should) . . . . the lust of the flesh . . . is of the world (I John 2:15-17). The Christian life is a life of warfare (Eph. 6:16-18). But we can be assured that God will not fail us nor forsake us when we are obedient and remain faithful to His Word. The God who saved us will empower us to overcome all evil as we determine to be all that He created us to be. If God was to give the Israelites the promised land, God told Joshua: This Book of the Law shall not depart out thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Josh. 1:8). When soldiers followed the direction from God, the same enemies were defeated and totally destroyed with not one Israelite death. God gave them victory over their enemies (7:3-4; 8:1,25-26). This illustrates our spiritual battles that can be won daily when we follow His directions on how to have good success.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (II Tim. 3:16-17).
Thought for Today:
It shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this Law and these statutes, to do them (Deut. 17:19).
Christ Revealed:
Through the Old Testament animal (without blemish) sacrifices which were made (Deut. 17:1). Christ was perfectly pure from all sin. Christ . . . without blemish and without spot (I Pet. 1:19). As the Prophet (Deut. 18:18-19).
Word Studies:
17:2 transgressing His Covenant sinful conduct, disregard; 17:4 wrought bone; 17:12 presumptuously arrogantly, haughtily; hearken unto listen to and obey; 17:5 stranger foreigner; 18:3 due right; 18:6 sojourned has been residing; 18:8 patrimony father's estate; 18:10 maketh . . . to pass through the fire burns his child alive as an offering to an idol; divination enchantment, witchcraft; 18:11 familiar spirits, wizard, necromancer various activities of fortunetelling, consulting the dead, etc.; 18:13 perfect wholehearted in your love and service to God, blameless; 19:4 ignorantly unintentionally; 19:5 helve handle; lighteth strikes; 19:18 make diligent inquisition investigate thoroughly; 20:11 tributaries forced laborers
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Government Officials: Rep. Jason Altmire (PA), Rep. Brian Baird (WA), and Rep. Elton Gallegly (CA) • Staff: Linda Kennon • Country: Vietnam (78.5 million) in Southeast Asia • Major languages: Vietnamese and French • Very strict control of Christians in the North; the South has been more lenient but is getting tighter • 60% Buddhist; 8% Catholic; 1% Protestant; 3% Cao Dai; 2% Hoa Hao; 3% Islam; 13% Other; 10% None • Prayer Suggestion: During times of trouble, pray constantly and ask for patience (Rom. 12:12).
Optional Reading: Luke 22
Memory Verse for the Week: I Peter 1:22
