Deuteronomy 29

I remember being on a soccer team and sitting down after everyone game with the team while the coach talked with us. Even if we won our game we still needed to have a talk. If we won he usually congratulated us on a job well done but then also told us in some areas we needed improvement.  If we lost the game, well let’s just say it was all about needed improvement. It is nice to get the encouragement when needed and it is not that fun to get the discipline when you messed up, both served as important reminders of the task at hand. Looking back at it, my coach did it so we knew that there was always areas needed of improvement.

In this chapter God renews or restates his covenant that he made with Israel, just like on Mt. Horeb, Moses had the stone that was cut with God’s law, this law was written on stone in Moab. They are in Moab, a place that is right before they cross over the Jordan into the promise land. This covenant or oath that is given is for Israel to say and participate in.

God Led

As Moses gathered the people, God is the one speaking. He says, “I” am the one that has led you for 40 years. Their clothes did not wear out, neither did their sandals. God had provided for them all the 40 years with food, clothes, water, and safety. God provided deliverance from the surrounding nations. God retells the story of King Sihon which we read in Numbers 20:14-21. God is giving the land to Israel as an inheritance like he promised. He has been there even when they were in Egypt as slaves. God’s hand was in their release and the destruction of Pharaoh.

God provided and provides still. I am not a typical guy who will not ask for directions. Ok, I just lied, I hate having to ask for directions because I want to prove that I know the way, which I totally do not. We are lost in this life, yeah we can follow after different things and people, they may get it somewhere but more than anything they make us worse off than before. God needs to be your leader and your guide. Will you let God lead you in the wilderness? He provides for us every step of the way. He fights for us. 

The Break-Up

As God is giving the oath for the relationship he is also giving a warning for those who would break the relationship. Israel’s big test would be idolatry. They came from a land where they worshiped idols and they are going into a land where they worshiped idols. God gave them the warning and the biggest fear is when one does not care about God. In verse 19 it talks about someone who hears the words of the covenant but yet thinks he is safe even though he disregards and rebels from the covenant. It is like someone thinking they could run across the 6 lanes on the freeway without getting hurt. God says to watch out because he cares and tells them this will be a trouble to them. 

God gives us warnings all the time. He may not be so specific with us like Israel, but he gives us warning signs. He tells us to watch out for the Devil because he is roaring lion ready to devour us (1st Peter 5:8) To be pure, and to honor the Lord and we know that sin is crouching at the door. Watch out and strive for the Lord, Romans 12:1-2. One of the warning signs that God gives us is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is who convicts us of sin (John 16:8). We do get conviction when we do sin, may we listen to the Holy Spirit.  

Deuteronomy 27

The people of Israel are about to enter into the land and the past few chapters have been the reiteration of the law to the people so they will not forget everything that God has commanded to them. They are to pass it to generation to generation. As we stop from the laws we move onto an event which Israel was to do. When they come to the place, Mount Ebal, which was right before they cross the Jordan into the promise land, they were to establish a altar in remembrance of what God has done for them. This altar would be different than any other altar as it would be made uncut stones and on the stones the law would be written. It would stand for all of Israel to remember everything that God has done and will continue to do for them as they obey his commands. On this altar they will offer up sacrifices, peace offerings and they will rejoice in the Lord for who and what he has done.

 The curse 

 Moses also then gave them instruction on some other last minute advice. On Mount Ebal there was some warning given to Israel. It was sharing to everyone if you do any of these things than you will be cursed. The 12 curses given in verses 16–26 are sins that can be done in secret and it could go undetected. God reminds Israel here that sin is sin and even if it is done in secret it is still sin and wretched. 

We were cursed as we have broken the law. James 2:10 tells us that even if we have kept most of the law but broke it a little bit, we still broke all of it and because of that we are cursed. Romans 3:23 tells us that all fall short and all have sinned against God. The curse upon all men is death, not just a physical death but the spiritual death and separation from God. When we look at it this way, there seems to be no hope. Nothing on our own can save us. We can try to be good and do good but honestly once we sinned, we fall short. There is hope and that is in Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:13 tells us that Jesus has redeemed us from the curse because he became the curse for us. Jesus who was sinless and perfect, who did not break the law, became broken and cursed so we can be redeemed. Thank you Jesus. If you have not asked Jesus Christ into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior, please do. There is hope in Christ who has set us free from sin. Romans 10:13 tells us if you call on the name of the Lord you will be saved. We must ask for forgiveness and God will forgive us of our sins (1st John 1:9). We know when we do, we are a new creation (2nd Corinthians 5:17).  

Deuteronomy 26

As the last few chapters have been focused around the different commandments from God, this chapter puts a different spin at looking at coveting. It is about tithing which would be the opposite of coveting.

When you get established (1-11)

This law was given to Israel so they know when they enter into the land that God is giving them and become established then they will need to give a tithe. They will take some of the first fruits of the crops and put them in a basket and bring them to the place of worship. They were commanded to tithe annually but this was a special tithe because it was to show everyone that  they were thankful for what God has done and the land that they were in. Everything they have was given to them by God. The land that they possess, the crops that the land produces, and the family that they have, everything was given by God. 

The farmer then would bring his tithe and then give a statement that would express that God was the provider for them. They would go through the history of Israel and express how God took care of their ancestors to them now and will continue to take care of them.

3rd Year Tithe (12-15)

This was another special tithe that Israel would need to participate in. Every three years they would take their tithe and give it to the Levites, the sojourner, the widows, and the fatherless. The farmers were to take care of those who could not take care of themselves. In Deuteronomy  14:27-28 explains some of the 3rd year tithe.

Again the farmer would make a statement of confession of their faithful observance to the commands of God. Within that statement they would be honest and share that the crops were not defiled and they were not offered to the dead (a practice of the surrounding nations as cult worship).The Relationship (16-19)In this section we see the relationship being described as verses 16-17 are Israel’s declaration of their responsibility to God and verses 18-19 is God’s responsibility of his covenant with his people. Israel needed to obey God’s voice and obey his commands. There is a blessing for Israel with their obedience, God is there for them and he calls them his people and his own.

For us as believers we need to know that everything we have is from God. He is the one that has provided all the money, food, toys, the ability to go to school and learn. He has even allowed us to receive the gifts that we do not deserve. God takes care of all our needs and gives us even more on a continual basis. We need to have the same act of appreciation with the things that God has given. I remember talking to an adult one time about giving and their response was that they will give what they feel they want to give since they have worked hard for their money. That is true that they have worked hard for the money they have, but God is the one that has allowed them to work hard, God is the one that has given them the job and opportunity to work. We should be most grateful and full of appreciation for what God has given us. I challenge you to have a giving heart and take what Matthew 25:35-40 says. 

Deuteronomy 25

Chapter 24 of Deuteronomy dealt with the 8th Commandment, do not steal. This chapter is about the law of coveting, the 10th commandment. Have you ever coveted something? That is desiring something that is not yours. It is not just desiring but making it happen so you can get it. You become jealous that someone else has something that you do not and that you need that thing so badly that you will get it even if you have to sin to get it.

Justice (1-3) 

We have a court trial given as an example for Israel. There is a trial and the judges that were appointed would decide between the two people fighting. The judge then we make the decision and execute the judgment on who was guilty. God has true justice and even though we today have judges and a system established to try and have those who are guilty be punished for their crimes, God sees everything and holds everything in his ways.

Marriage (5-10)

This was not just any marriage this was for a woman who just lost her husband and they did not have a son. The brother of the husband who passed away was to take responsibility of his brothers wife and marry her. The first son that they had would be dedicated to the deceased son. He did not have to marry her but it sure would be humiliating if he did not. She would take off his sandal and spit in his face. This was so the brother who died would have a heir in his name continue. 

Miscellaneous stuff (11-19)

I was reading some of these to my wife and we chuckled a little at some but they were important during this time of life for Israel. One particular one is that they were commanded to be fair in business dealings. They were to not have two different measures and two different weights. They needed to be fair in how they traded and sold things. They should not try to cheat each other. Today we see unfair business dealings going on all the time. We need to remind ourselves that even in business God can be glorified. Yeah, it may take longer to reach that financial goal, but if you are honest, you see God’s blessing and it is his timing. As he said in verse 15- [be honest so] that all your days may be long. Also in verse 16 he says, “For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the Lord your God.

Everything we do as Christians needs to be an example of how Christ lived. That means we live honest, we do not lie about taxes, we do not cheat on a test, we do not steal which is not ours. Even if that means it hurts us a little to be honest, the gain is so much greater, Christ is exemplified in us. I pray you desire for Christ to be seen in how you live, in public and in private.

Deuteronomy 22

Do you have a close network of friends and family? This would be a network of people that help each other out and look out for one another. One of the coolest things working at a church is the family atmosphere. We look out for each other. If there is a need or a place where we can help, the position is filled and the body of Christ is working together.

In this chapter of Deuteronomy we see the community effort on how everyone should be looking out for one another and not just yourself. Some of the ways that they needed to look out for each other was confronting areas of sin in people’s lives. This chapter deals with sexual immorality as well as a lost ox (what a mix).

It is in the Community (1-4) 

If someone in the Israelite community saw an ox or a sheep wondering around they were to return it back to their owner. If they did not know how far or where the owner lived then they were to care for it until the owner came to get his animal. In verse 3 we read that it was not limited to an ox or sheep but even a donkey or garments of clothes. The purpose was for all of Israel to look out for each other. It could have been easy for them to say, “Loser weepers, finder keepers.” That is not what God commanded, they were to take the time to return the lost property. 

The question goes out to you, what do you do if you saw 1 dollar on the side of the road? What about 5? What about 100? We can easily justify lost property by saying, “If they wanted it so bad, they would have kept it.” The same thing like Israel, we are commanded to serve one another.  Matthew 19:30 says, “Whoever desires to be first will be last and whoever will be last will be first.” We should be looking after each other and that means when we see something that someone lost we should do the work to return it to whoever lost it.

Abstract laws (5-12)

The next few laws mentioned in these verses are about important things that we can laugh a little at but know that they serve a purpose. Verse 5 talks about someone not dressing in the opposite genders clothes. This was not merely a girl wearing a guys hat. It means someone taking on the identity of the opposite gender. Today there are people that say they have gender conflict but truth is God created females to be females and males to be males.

In verse 6-7 talks about not eating the mother bird. This was so life could continue. If someone came and killed a mother bird, the baby birds would die. Instead eat the baby birds, as what is commanded here (I personally would not do either).

Verses 8- is about building a fence or railing around the roof of your house, which is called a Parapet. This was to make sure Israel was taking care of its guests in ones house. 

Verse 9-11 is about not mixing seed in a field or fabrics in clothing. For more info read Leviticus 19:19.

Verse 12 is talking about the tassels of their garments that need to be on the four corners or the wings of the garment. Read Numbers 15:37-41. We see that the tassels served as a reminder to Israel to keep the laws of God. 

 Obey the 7th Commandment (13-30)

This was about keeping pure and keeping marriage pure. There are several laws about men and women in these verses which would be good for you to talk to your parents about if you have questions. The goal that God wanted was that the marriage place would be pure and glorify him. God created marriage to glorify him. Today especially in California we see that marriage is getting questioned with who can become married as well as what is marriage. It is important as believers we understand that marriage was set up by God for a man and woman, so they could leave the parents and become a team. Keep this in prayer for the months ahead and for the hearts of people to be moved to make a stand for truth.  

Deuteronomy 21 

Does your heart go out to those who can’t defend themselves or for the least popular person? God has compassion on people and we see that with his laws in this chapter.

Unsolved Murders (1-9)

Just like today there were unsolved murders and in this section God gives wisdom in how to handle them. Based on where it was, that city was responsible for the act that is described. They were to take a heifer that was unworked and take it by a stream to break its neck. This was not a sacrifice but was an execution. The heifer was going to take the place of the criminal and the city leaders would wash their hands as if they were saying, we are innocent of this unsolved crime. This is similar to what Pilate did with Jesus as he washed his hands with Jesus’ death.

A Female Captive (10–14)

God who knows all things knew that the woman of the land they were inhabiting will become captive and the men will want to marry. The men needed to follow a guideline. They were to allow the woman to mourn for over a month for the loss of her family and they were also supposed to have the woman shave her head and change her garments. The goal was so they were not to be treated with hostility or like a slave. They were married into the family and must be respected

A Rebellious Son (18-21) 

In this section we see the warning to a rebellious son to watch out because if they do not listen to their parents then the parents can take them to the leaders of the city and they can stone their child to death. This child would be one that would purposefully not listen to their parents. In Luke 15:11-32 Jesus gives the parable of the prodigal son, which should be titled “The Rebellious Son,” because he rebelled from the instruction of his father. The ending of the story, the father wraps his arms around the son who returned from his ways. Honestly, the father could have brought the son to the leaders and had him stoned to death but instead we see grace being given. The greater picture is that Christ paid the price and God has grace on us as a rebellious child.

The man who Dies on a Tree is Cursed (22-23)

This section of Scripture shows that usually a man that was hung on a tree was a cursed man, it was a bad thing to happen. When we turn to the Gospels we see Jesus who died by being hung on a tree. Paul says in Galatians 3:13, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law.” He became a curse for us to not become one. In Isaiah 34:11, Jesus was afflicted with our transgression for us. He fulfilled this law by being a cursed so we did not have to.  Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross so I could have eternal life. May we trod on in life and look forward to the day we see you face to face.