Journal Through the Bible: Week 28 Friday

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Deuteronomy 17:1-18:22

Does God issue any commands in this passage?

• They were not to sacrifice blemished animals to God.
• Anyone who worshiped the sun, moon, or stars was to be put to death.
• Capital offenses were not to be carried out unless there were at least 2 or 3 witnesses to the offense. The witnesses were to be the first to carry out the punishment.
• Hard to judge situations were to be taken to the priests, Levites, and judges. Whatever sentence the judge declared would stand. Those who refused to follow the sentence would die.
• Knowing that they would one day decide to set a king over their government God gave them standards for choosing one. A king was to be one of the Hebrews. He was not to possess a large amount of horses nor cause the people to return to Egypt. He was not to have a harem nor was he to desire large riches. He was to write out a copy of the Pentateuch for himself and read it every day so that he would learn to fear the LORD and follow His statutes.
• The Levites were to have no inheritance of land but were to receive their upkeep through the offerings of the people. The LORD was their inheritance.
• The people were forbidden to take part in the religious rites of the Canaanites. This included sacrificing children, or using divination, or astrology, or witchcraft, or consulting spirits. This is why God was removing the Canaanites from the land!
• False prophets were to be put to death. The test of a prophet was 100% accuracy.

Does God make any promises?

• Obedient kings would prolong their rule in Israel.
• God promised to raise up a Prophet from the Hebrew people who would speak the words given Him. (18:15)

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus meets all the standards for the King of Israel. He was not a foreigner, but was of the seed of Abraham. He never amassed wealth in any way while on the earth, including that of large stables of horses, nor wives, nor money. He was the son that was called out of Egypt but He did not lead the people back to Egypt and into slavery. As a matter of fact, Egypt represented bondage and Jesus went into bondage for sinners but will not allow those who have been redeemed to go back into it. He also wrote the Pentateuch (it is His Word!) and He follows the commands of God. 
• Jesus is the obedient King whose rule will be prolonged in Israel. Actually, it will last forever!
• Jesus was the Prophet God promised to send who would speak His words to the people and would lead them.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Someday the obedient King Jesus will take the throne of Israel and will reign forever.
• Like the Levites, we have no inheritance in this world now because the LORD is our inheritance. We are citizens of God's Kingdom.