Deuteronomy 23 Devotional by Pastor Lawrence This is not one of those chapters that most Christians turn to for their devotional readings; nevertheless, it is the very Word of God, and like all Scripture it is profitable for us today. There are three main sections in the chapter: the first deals with those who may not enter the assembly of the Lord, the second discusses a couple of rules for soldiers while encamped in battle,…

Deuteronomy 22 Devotional by Pastor Mark Hudson We come to another section of the Bible that will be difficult to understand why certain things are prohibited.  So, where we find sections that are not clear why God prohibits certain practices, we should proceed with a measure of caution and humility. These verses are hard to understand and therefore difficult to apply.  Here are some of the ways you will hear them explained. 1) Loan word. …

Deuteronomy 21 by Pastor David Groendyk This chapter continues to elaborate on the sixth commandment (“You shall not murder”) with some laws that transition us into the seventh commandment (“You shall not commit adultery”). One of the themes in these laws is the emphasis on kindness and mercy, especially in verses 10–17. Even in the midst of great evils like war and polygamy (remember from Deut. 20:10–11 that war was to be avoided, if at…

Deuteronomy 19 Devotional by Pastor Mark Hudson   Justice is a major theme in the Bible.  Justice could be a one word description for this chapter.  God is a God of Justice.  Psalm 37:28 says, “The Lord loves justice.”  Ps. 89:14, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne.”  Ps. 103:6 proclaims, “The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.”  And we are to be just.  “You shall not pervert justice…

Deuteronomy 18 Devotional by Pastor Lawrence Every portion of God’s law that is described in this chapter deals with the importance of seeking the Lord’s will and listening to his hoy word. The reason that the Israelites are commanded to support the priests and Levites throughout the land is so that they can devote themselves entirely to seeking God’s face in worship and teaching God’s people his holy laws. Similar to the support of pastors…

Deuteronomy 17 Devotional by Pastor Mark Hudson Worship in the life of Israel centered the individual and the community.  What may sound absurd to most people in the U.S., spirituality was not something that an individual could decide on their own.  Spirituality was a response to God.  Worship was never intended to be something where one expresses themselves in any way they desired.  That was not worship; that was paganism.  Worship was an obedient response…

Deuteronomy 16 by Pastor David Groendyk This section of Deuteronomy serves as a commentary of sorts on the fourth commandment: “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Deut. 5:12). Of course, there was the one main weekly Sabbath which was Saturday for the Israelites, but there were also other types of “sabbaths” they had to keep. Chapter 15 told about the year of release where all debts and slaves were released after seven years,…

Deuteronomy 15 Devotional by Pastor Lawrence This chapter serves as a commentary on the second greatest commandment regarding the duty to love your neighbor as yourself, particularly a poorer neighbor. The first section deals with giving mercy to one’s neighbor in terms of what they owe you. If after the seventh year, the year of release, transpires and they are still indebted to you, you ought to release them of all obligation that they might…

Deuteronomy 14 Devotional by Pastor Mark Hudson In Deuteronomy 14, we hear the reminder of what is clean and unclean; what they may and may not eat.  This might be a good time to use this chapter as a reminder of the concepts of holy and common and the category of clean and unclean.  I am summarizing from Gordon Wenham’s discussion of these categories in his commentary on Leviticus (pp. 14-29).  This chapter is like…

Deuteronomy 13 Devotional by Pastor Lawrence This chapter serves as another commentary upon the first of the Ten Commandments when the Lord says to Israel, “You shall have no other gods before me.” In each of the examples given, whether in the prophet, or the close relative or friend or even the worthless fellows in another city in Israel, their abominable sin is in seeking to lead Israel astray to serve others gods, and the…

Deuteronomy 12 Devotional by Pastor Mark Hudson Here is an outline for a rather easy to understand chapter. 12:1                 superscription 12:2-4              Destroy Canaanite religious sites 12:5-14            Worship Yahweh at His chosen site 12:15-28          Permission to slaughter  non-sacrificially 12:29-32          No adoption of Canaanites worship   (McConville p. 213) We start with the theme that have read often: destroy the Canaanites and anything related to their worship.  God wanted no mixing of a little Canaanite worship and a…

Deuteronomy 11  by Pastor David Groendyk   In a sense, this chapter is a preview of what’s to come at the end of the book when Moses describes in detail that obedience to these laws will lead to blessings and disobedience will lead to curses. At least four times we see Moses simply say, “Keep these commandments!” Each time he provides a reason or consequence of their choice to obey or disobey. “Keep my commandments…

Deuteronomy 10 Devotional by Pastor Lawrence Reminding Israel once again of their rebellion at the foot of Mt. Sinai in worshipping the golden calf and of their many stubborn ways manifested throughout the forty years in the wilderness, Moses exhorts this new generation to fear the Lord, to walk in his ways, to love and serve him with all their heart by keeping his commands. Even though there are many laws that are given unto…

Deuteronomy 9 Devotional by Pastor Mark Hudson We cannot escape the command that God gave His people to displace the indigenous people.  God is the one leading the charge.  “Know therefore today that He goes over before you as a consuming fire . . . He will destroy them and subdue them before you. So, you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised.”  We see a promise from…

Deuteronomy 8 Devotional by Pastor Lawrence After repeating the Ten Commandments and reminding Israel of how the Lord had led them out of slavery in Egypt and through the barren wilderness for forty years, Moses gives God’s people a very serious warning not to forget the Lord their God and to be very careful in keeping His commands.  Because they would be tempted toward pride and forgetfulness in the Promised Land, Moses shares with them…

Deuteronomy 7 Devotional by Pastor Mark Hudson   The easiest outline is offered by McConville in his commentary: 1-6       Destroy false worship 7-11     Israel as holy people 12-16   Blessing 17-26   Destroy false worship This not the first time we have seen Moses address herem.  This is God’s command to kill every living thing in a town or regions.  It was a brutal, violent act that a holy God commanded.  This is, and should be, a…

Deuteronomy 6 by Pastor David Groendyk We are right at the beginning of a very large section in Deuteronomy where Moses reiterates the laws, commandments, and stipulations that the people must follow in order to keep the covenant (chs. 5–26). The famous Ten Commandments appeared in chapter 5, and some scholars have noticed that the rest of this section of laws appears to be arranged like a commentary on those Ten Commandments (i.e., chs. 6–11…

Deuteronomy 5 Devotional by Pastor Lawrence As part of the covenant renewal ceremony between God and his people, Moses has recounted for Israel all that has taken place since the time of the exodus and their first entering into a covenant with God at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Now, beginning in this chapter, there is a retelling of the Law of God as it is summarized in the Ten Commandments. Unlike all the other…

Deuteronomy 3 Devotional by Pastor Lawrence After recounting Israel’s refusal to take the land of Canaan by faith and their forty years of wandering in the wilderness in chapter one, Moses retells Israel’s victory over Sihon one the kings of the Amorites in the southern region of the Transjordan in chapter two. In chapter three he describes Israel’s victory over another king of the Amorites in the northern region of the Transjordan and how two…

Deuteronomy 4 Devotional by Pastor Mark Hudson Chapter 4 ends the first section of Deuteronomy.  Chapter 5-26 is the next section.  Here is one way to see changes in topics in this chapter.  What follows is the outline in J.G. McConville’s commentary. 1-8       Commands, God’s nearness, Egypt and People 9-14     The encounter: vision and the word 15-24   Worship God alone; no idols 25-31   Curse and blessing: idolatry 32-40   God is near – on earth;…

Deuteronomy 2 Devotional by Pastor Lawrence As Moses leads the next generation of Israel in this covenant renewal ceremony with the Lord, he continues to recount for them what happened to the previous generation from the time they left Mt. Horeb (Sinai) till that very moment in which they were standing in the Transjordan area waiting to cross over the Jordan River to take their land. After recounting their initial rebellion in refusing to invade…