Moses is continuing his last address to the nation of Israel before they enter the promised land. While Moses reviews some of the Law and includes some that had previously not been mentioned, he also covers the reasons why we should obey the commandments. We are told to surround and immerse ourselves with God’s word: put it anywhere we will see it, and carry it with us. If Israel obeyed the Lord and His commandments, they would be made strong, take possession of the promised land, live a long life there, and be blessed with the provision of rain from Heaven for their crops and livestock. We need to take inventory of our obedience to His commandments and adjust our thoughts and actions to be in agreement with His Law. How do you surround yourself with scripture?
“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above all the earth.” Deuteronomy 11:18-21 ESV
Passage:
Deuteronomy 11-25
Discovered:
- Love the Lord and keep His commandments
- Why obey the commandments?
- You will be strong
- Take possession of promised land
- Live a long life
- Rain for crops and grass for livestock
- As a reminder to obey, surround yourself with commandments: on doorposts, gates, bind them to your hand.
- The Lord will chose a place to dwell, take your offerings there.
- Do not add or take away from the Law.
- Do not chase after other gods or idols.
- Clean food: ox, sheep, goat, deer, gazelle, roebuck, wild goat, ibex, antelope, mountain sheep, fish with scales and gills, clean birds
- A tithe was to be given yearly to the Lord, if it is too far to bring, you can sell it and bring the money to purchase your offering with near the assembly. Every 3rd year, your offering will be shared with local Levites, widows and orphans.
- Every 7 years, all debts would be forgiven. You are to help the poor.
- Passover must be celebrated at the Lord’s place. Men were required to pilgrimage 3 times a year: Passover, Weeks & Booths. Women and children should participate.
- No one could be convicted without 2 to 3 witnesses testimony.
- Future kings: chosen by God, be an Israelite, shall not acquire too much wealth, and have a copy of the Law.
- Levites had no inheritance, but were to be given a portion of the offerings.
- A new prophet, like Moses will from the Israelites. Beware of false prophets.
- Remember to honor the cities of refuge for those committing manslaughter.
- When at war, do not fear, offer peace/surrender first, if they don’t accept besiege and destroy it.
- City elders must atone for unsolved murders.
- Rules regarding: marrying female captives, inheritance of firstborns, rebellious sons, hanged men, stray property, clothing requirements, building houses, sowing fields, and sexual immortality.
- Those who were eunuchs, illegitimate children, male Ammorites or Edomites could not enter the assembly of the Lord.
- While at war, those in camp were to maintain certain cleanliness standards.
- No interest on loans, loans/pledges can’t endanger someone’s livelihood, neighbors could glean from your fields but only take what they could eat.
- Each is responsible for their own sin.
- Laws describing divorce, levirate marriage, and new marriages.
- Must be fair and honest with your weights.
Help me to remember:
that while the commandments are important, it is also important to understand why we are to obey them; the blessings received.
Lord, I ask that . . .
I find valid and honoring ways to surround myself with your word. I want to immerse myself in it.
Heavenly Father, I am thankful for . . .
a written account of your story, your commandments so that I may know you better and obey your word.
