Category Archives: Family

Fear, and Obey the LORD, and He Will Prosper You (Deuteronomy 6; Deuteronomy 7)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 6-7

Our chronological Scripture reading brings us to Deuteronomy 6-7, where we find Moses continuing his second oration before the congregation of Israel (which he began in Deuteronomy 5). After stating the Ten Commandments to the people (5:7-21), Moses charged them to keep the covenant by “[walking] in all the ways which the Lord [their] God [had] commanded [them]” (5:33).

Deuteronomy 6

A Sacred Duty: The Perpetual Responsibility to Instruct Sons and Daughters

The Reward for Obedience (Deuteronomy 6:1-3)

Israel was not only to obey “the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments” which the LORD had given Moses to teach the people (6:1), but they were to “fear the LORD” and teach their “son, and [their] son’s son, all the days of [their] life; and that [their] days may be prolonged” (6:2).

Take a moment and ponder not only the command but also the promise. There was a direct correlation between the quality and length of one’s life and whether or not they have faithfully obeyed the LORD’S commands, feared Him, and instructed their children and grandchildren in His statutes and commandments. One wonders about the number of potentially premature deaths of those who have lived apart from the Lord’s commandments.

Moses continued his appeal to the people and said, “Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey” (6:3). Once again, prosperity was the reward for fearing and revering the LORD.

Principles for Obedience (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

Known as The Shema among Hebrew people, Deuteronomy 6:4-5 is prayed twice daily by many Jewish people for it summarizes the essence of Israel’s God and that nation’s unique relationship with Him.

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 – ⁴Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: ⁵And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

In the New Testament, when a lawyer asked Jesus, “³⁶Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” (Matthew 22:36). Jesus quoted “The Shema” and said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ³⁸This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).

The Means of Obedience (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

Without exception, each generation was to obey the commandments out of a heart of love and to communicate the commands, statutes, and laws of the LORD “diligently” to their children (6:7-9). The Word of God was to be persistently considered in every household. Its commands, statutes, and laws were the spiritual guide for every area of life and were to be taught when sitting down, walking, lying down at night, or rising at dawn. Even the entrance to one’s home was to be graced with the Law of God (6:9).

An Admonition (Deuteronomy 6:10-18)

Moses then warned the people not to forget the LORD amid their prosperity (6:10-11). They were reminded that “the LORD thy God is a jealous God” (6:15). Also, they were not to “tempt” or test the LORD by failing to obey Him (6:16). The LORD promised if the people would keep His commandments, He would prosper them (6:17). If they would do “right and good in the sight of the LORD,” it would be well with them (6:18).

A Directive for Parental Instructions (Deuteronomy 6:20-24)

Deuteronomy 6:20-23 returned to the privilege and responsibility the people had for instructing their children. Fathers and mothers were to remind their sons and daughters of all the LORD had done for them and to “do all these statutes, to fear the LORD” (6:24). Obey the LORD, and He promised to preserve them as a nation (6:24).

Deuteronomy 7 – Why did the LORD Choose Israel?

After challenging Israel to remember the providences and promises of the LORD, to obey His commandments, and teach them to their sons and daughters: Moses challenged Israel to utterly destroy the nations in the land He had promised them for an inheritance (Deuteronomy 7).

A Call for Separation (Deuteronomy 7:2-11)

The nation was to make no covenant of peace with the heathen, nor allow their sons and daughters to intermarry with them (7:2-4). Every idol and every place of idolatry was to be cut down (7:5).

Then Moses reminded the people that the LORD had chosen Israel to be a “holy people” (7:6). Israel was not chosen because the nation was significant in number nor a powerful people (7:7). God chose Israel because He “loved [them], and because He would keep the oath [covenant] which He had sworn unto [their] fathers [i.e., Abraham, Issac, and Jacob]” (7:8).

A Promise of Blessings for Obedience (Deuteronomy 7:12-26)

Deuteronomy 7 revealed much concerning the nature of God and His relationship with Israel. I look forward to considering those verses in a future devotion. But, for now, read the balance of chapter 7 and meditate on God’s grace, longsuffering, and holiness. After all, the LORD is “immutable,” and He has not changed!

Questions to consider:

1) What was Moses commanded to teach Israel? (Deuteronomy 6:1)

2) What did God promise if Israel kept His commandments and taught their children? (Deuteronomy 6:2-3)

3) How were parents to teach their children? (Deuteronomy 6:7)

4) Why were the sons and daughters of Israel forbidden to marry heathen spouses? (Deuteronomy 7:3-4)

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Corporate Identity and Conditional Blessings (Deuteronomy 5)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 5

Moses’ first oration to Israel concluded in Deuteronomy 4:43. After a brief introduction to the content of his second speech (4:44–49), we read, “Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them” (5:1).

The Principle of Corporate Identity (Deuteronomy 5:2-5)

Moses then reminded the people they were bound to the LORD by a Covenant (5:2), one the previous generation affirmed “in Horeb” (Horeb being the same as Mount Sinai). Now, lest anyone object and suppose the covenant did not bind them, Moses stated the principle of Corporate Solidarity:

“The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day” (5:3). How did the LORD establish His covenant with Israel as a nation? “[He] talked with [them] face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire” (5:4). Moses then related how he had served as Israel’s mediator and received the Law and Commandments from the LORD (5:5).

The Precepts of the Covenant (Deuteronomy 5:6-22)

Notice that God’s covenant with Israel began with a preamble:

“I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage” (5:6). After he stated the preamble, Moses rehearsed the Decalogue (ten words or statements) and thus restated the Ten Commandments (5:7-21) that were first recorded in Exodus 20. (* I will refer you to earlier studies of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. Take a few minutes and review the earlier devotion of the same. The spiritual and historical significance of the Law and Commandments cannot be exaggerated.)

Where and How the Ten Commandments were Delivered (Deuteronomy 5:22-33)

The LORD’s Spirit descended upon Horeb (also known as Mount Sinai), and He spoke “unto all [the] assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me” (5:22).

The people were terrified at the sight, “for the mountain (Horeb, i.e., Sinai) did burn with fire” (5:25). The voice of the LORD was like the rumble of thunder (5:26). Then, fearing the LORD, the people intreated Moses to serve as their mediator saying, “Go thou near, and hear all that the Lord our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it” (5:27).

The LORD agreed to the people’s request (5:28), commended them, and said, “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” (5:28) What a wonderful aspiration! The God of Israel, whose presence and voice terrified them, longed for His people to fear [revere] Him and keep His commandments (5:28a). The LORD desired that it would be “well with them, and with their children for ever” (5:28b). He promised if Israel would keep His commandments, “it [would] be well with [them]” (5:33).

Closing thoughts: Do you know the LORD wants to bless you and your loved ones?

Yet, His blessings are promised to those who, in the words of Moses, “observe to do…as the Lord your God hath commanded…[and neither turn] aside to the right hand or to the left” (5:32). Sadly, some choose to take detours from the way and path of righteousness and wonder why things go badly for them and their loved ones. In the words of Solomon, “The way of transgressors is hard” (Proverbs 13:15).

Are you taking the path that leads you closer to the LORD and His promise of blessings?

Questions to consider:

1) Can you identify the “corporate identity” principle in Deuteronomy 5:3-4?

2) What did the LORD promise to those who honor their parents? (Deuteronomy 5:16)

3) What does God promise to those who obey His commandments? (Deuteronomy 5:33)

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Keep and Teach the Commandments of the Lord! (Deuteronomy 3; Deuteronomy 4)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 3-4

The address to Israel that Moses began in Deuteronomy 1 continued in today’s Scripture reading. It is good to pause our studies and remember that Moses was 120 years old. He stood before a new generation, most of whom were born in the wilderness during that nation’s forty-year sojourn.

Four-hundred years of Egyptian slavery was a historical fact but not something the second generation had experienced. Also, many were not living when their fathers rebelled and refused to enter Canaan. Nevertheless, the consequences of their forefather’s faithlessness and rebellion had befallen them. Therefore, that generation needed to know their history as a people, the character of their God, and the nation’s covenant relationship with Him.

Deuteronomy 3 – God is Gracious, but Choices Have Consequences

The Defeat of Og, King of Bashan (Deuteronomy 3:1-11)

With the urgency of a man who knows death is imminent, Moses reviewed the LORD’s care and compassion for Israel. He reminded the people how God had delivered Og, Bashan’s king, into their hands. With the LORD on their side, Israel conquered sixty walled cities (3:4-5) and utterly destroyed the “men, women, and children, of every city” (3:6). The LORD had enriched His people and given them “all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities” (3:7).

The Boundaries and Distribution of the Land on the East Side of Jordan (Deuteronomy 3:12-20)

Moses reviewed that the tribe of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had requested the lands on the east side of the Jordan River (3:12-20). However, the men of those tribes were reminded and charged with their pledge to go to war with the other tribes on the west side of the Jordan River (3:18-20).

An Exhortation to Joshua (Deuteronomy 3:21-22)

Moses reminded the nation that the LORD had chosen Joshua as his successor (3:21a). He encouraged the people to remember God’s promise to “fight” for Israel and drive out the inhabitants in Canaan (3:21-22). As He had defeated the two kings on the east side (Sihon, the Amorite, 2:24-36, and Og, the king of Bashan, 3:1-11), He would do the same to the Canaanite kings.

God Denied Moses’ Request to Enter Canaan (Deuteronomy 3:23-27)

For a second time in the Book of Deuteronomy (1:37), Moses recalled how He had fervently asked the LORD to permit him to enter Canaan. The LORD, provoked by Moses’ request, cautioned him, saying, “Speak no more unto me of this matter” (3:26). Because he violated the LORD’s command, Moses would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land. Nevertheless, in His grace, Moses was promised he would have an opportunity to gaze upon Canaan from the top of Pisgah (3:27; 34:1-5).

Deuteronomy 4 – Moses’ Charge to Israel

Keep the Commandments of God (Deuteronomy 4:1-2)

Unlike other nations, Israel was chosen by the LORD and privileged to know Him personally (4:1-6). By His statutes and judgments, the LORD revealed His person and character to Israel and warned the nation, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (4:2).

An Exhortation to Keep and Teach God’s Law (Deuteronomy 4:3-9)

Moses reminded the people how he taught them the “statutes and judgments” of the LORD and that they were to “Keep…and do them” (4:6). Like no other nation, Israel knew the LORD and were the custodians of His Laws and Commandments (4:7-14). Therefore, it was their covenant responsibility to not only “heed… [and] keep” the statutes and judgment of the LORD, but they were also to “teach them [unto] thy sons, and thy sons’ sons” (4:8-9).

A Reminder Concerning God’s Covenant and Commandments (Deuteronomy 4:10-40)

Moses continued and reminded the people of Israel’s unique covenant relationship with the LORD. The new generation was told how their forefathers had gathered at Mount Horeb, and out of the “midst of the fire,” they had heard the LORD’s commandments and accepted His covenant with them as a nation (4:10-13; Exodus 20:1-23:33). Moses then warned them to abstain from all forms of idolatry (4:14-40), and not to worship objects of God’s creation, as was the way of the heathen (4:16-19).

Remembering God is sovereign, Moses retold how Israel was delivered from Egypt when that nation was the most powerful in its day (4:20). He recalled that he disobeyed the LORD when he struck the rock in anger, and the LORD declared he “must die in this land, and not go over Jordan” (4:22; 1:37). Yet, following his death, the nation would “go over, and possess” Canaan (4:22).

A Threat of Dispersion and A Conditional Promise of Blessings (Deuteronomy 4:23-43)

Moses then warned the people that the LORD is a righteous Judge and jealous God (4:23-24). He called upon heaven and earth to be his witness and warned: Should they corrupt themselves and turn to idols, many would perish (4:25-26), and the nation would be dispersed and scattered among the heathen and serve them (4:27-28). Nevertheless, should Israel keep His statutes and commandments, the LORD promised it would “go well” for that generation and their children (4:29-40).

Today’s devotion concludes with the cities of refuge being appointed, three on the east and three on the west side of the Jordan River (4:41-43).

Closing thoughts: Who is the God of the Scriptures?

He is the Creator and the God of heaven (4:21). He is God alone, and “there is none else beside Him” (4:35). He is the Sovereign of heaven and earth (4:39). He is just, and His blessings are conditioned upon His people keeping “His statutes, and His commandments” (4:40).

Friend, the God who revealed His law and commandments to Israel is your Creator (John 1:3). Have you acknowledged Him as your God? You can know Him by the revelation of His Law, Commandments, and His Son, Jesus Christ (John 1:14).

Questions to consider:

1) What did the LORD promise that gave Israel confidence when they battled against Og, the king of Bashan? (3:2)

2) What were the names of the three tribes requesting land on the Jordan River’s east side? (3:12-13)

3) What promise did Moses give Joshua to encourage him as Israel’s new leader? (3:21-22)

4) What did Moses warn would become of Israel if the people worshipped idols and committed “evil in the sight of the LORD”? (4:25-28)

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A Foolish Nation Eradicates Its History (Deuteronomy 1)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 1

* This is the second devotion of two for today’s Scripture reading.

An Introduction to the Book of Deuteronomy

Our chronological study of the Scriptures brings us to the Book of Deuteronomy. It is the fifth of the first five books of the Bible, known as the Pentateuch. Briefly, remember that Genesis revealed the God of Creation. In that book, we had explained the origin of all things, the entrance of sin, and God’s covenant with Abraham that promised the LORD would through him bless “all families of the earth” (Genesis 12:3). Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers chronicled Israel’s journey in the wilderness and gave us a record of God’s Law and Commandments.

Deuteronomy picked up the history of Israel at the journey’s end. With the nation encamped at the threshold of the Promised Land and knowing his death was imminent, Moses remembered and recorded the previous forty years of wanderings in the wilderness. Except for Moses, Joshua, and Caleb, the generation that departed Egypt and was twenty years old at the time had perished along the way. Therefore, Deuteronomy recorded Israel’s history, God’s laws, and Moses’ final instructions and exhortations to the people he had shepherded for forty years.

Deuteronomy 1 – Moses’ Final Words to Israel

The Assembly of the Congregation (Deuteronomy 1:1-5)

We read: “It came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them” (Deuteronomy 1:3). The Book of Deuteronomy was so important that a king of Israel was to have a copy of the book written in his hand and to be read every day of his life.

God’s Promise of the Land (Deuteronomy 1:6-8)

It was important for Moses to rehearse with the new generation who they were, from whence they came, and God’s plan for Israel. So Moses challenged the people, “⁸Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them” (1:8).

Much as a man might research his ancestral tree to know the history of his lineage, Moses passed to the new generation knowledge of their physical ancestry and, more importantly, their spiritual heritage as God’s chosen people. Think about it: The men and women who stood before Moses were 19 years old and younger when Israel refused to enter the Promised Land. They were now in their forties and late fifties. Many were too young to know the hardships of Egypt or remember when the people rebelled against the LORD. Therefore, Moses feared some might follow the faithlessness of the prior generation and be tempted to turn back from the new land.

The Appointment of Judges (Deuteronomy 1:9-18)

Because Israel was a large population (1:9-10), and Moses’ departure was imminent, it was essential for the nation to have a form of government that would judge matters according to God’s law and commandments. Therefore, the LORD directed Moses, “Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you” (1:13). Those men were to judge the people and settle causes that would arise (1:16). Moses admonished the men to be fair in their judgments and “not respect persons” (1:17).

The Prior Generation’s Failure to Trust God (Deuteronomy 1:19-46)

Then, Moses recapped Israel’s forty years in the wilderness and the previous generation’s refusal to trust the LORD. Finally, for any who might question why the generation before them perished, Moses reminded them:

Deuteronomy 1:32–33 – ³²Yet in this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God, ³³Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.

Moses was concerned that the youth did not understand what faithlessness had cost their parents and grandparents. Therefore, he rehearsed the tragic consequences of their parents’ disobedience and ensured they understood the nation’s challenges.

Deuteronomy 1:34-46 is a history lesson. Moses reminded the people that only Caleb and Joshua would accompany them across the Jordan River. Moses, because he disobeyed the LORD, would not “go in thither” (1:37); but The LORD had appointed them Joshua, and the people were urged to “encourage him” (1:38).

Closing thoughts:

The children of Israel needed to know and understand their history as a nation. History is important, and only a doomed society dares to deny its history and fail to learn from its past. Tragically, eradicating the history and symbols of a nation’s past might pacify a few, but it invariably destines its people to repeat its failures.

In the words of twentieth-century philosopher George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

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Women’s Rights and a Question of Inheritance (Numbers 36)

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Scripture reading – Numbers 36

* Today’s Scripture reading concludes our study of the Book of Numbers and commences the Book of Deuteronomy (the final book of the first five books of the Scriptures identified as the Pentateuch). A second devotion will follow and introduce Deuteronomy.

Numbers 36

The Book of Numbers ended on an interesting note, as another concern regarding inheritance was raised. In an earlier devotion, we considered a daughter’s inheritance, should her father die without a son as his heir (Numbers 27:7-11). An actual case was referenced as a Hebrew man named Zelophehad had died without a son. His five daughters then petitioned that they were their father’s rightful heirs and should receive his portion in the Promised Land (27:4-5). Then the LORD directed Moses for Zelophehad’s daughters to be given their father’s share (27:6-11).

A Question of Tribal Lands Remaining in the Tribe (36:1-12)

Because the lands were assigned to tribes by families, there was a concern for what became of tribal lands should a man’s heirs be his daughters (Numbers 36:1-4) and then marry outside their tribe. It was therefore contended that the lands would be lost to a tribe if the daughters married outside their tribe. The quandary was settled by requiring daughters, heirs to their father’s estate, to marry within their tribe (36:5-9), thereby ensuring the land remained within the tribe.

The “daughters of Zelophehad” accepted the LORD’s command and married men within their tribe (36:10-12). Thus, the tribal lands were secured for future generations.

Closing thoughts:

The Book of Numbers concluded by reminding God’s people that the words of the LORD were commandments, not suggestions. Moses wrote, “These are the commandments and the judgments, which the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho” (36:13).

Before He brought the Twelve Tribes into their inheritance, the LORD ensured they knew and understood what He required of them as a nation and people.

Questions to consider:

1) Who had the LORD commanded should receive Zelophehad’s inheritance? (36:2)

2) What concerns did the “children of Gilead” bring to Moses? (36:3-4)

3) What was God’s command concerning whom the daughters of Zelophehad were to marry? (36:6)

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The “Axe” of God’s Judgment is Suspended Over the Heads of Fathers and Husbands (Numbers 29; Numbers 30)

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Scripture reading – Numbers 29-30

We began a study of instructions regarding the offerings required by the LORD in Numbers 28 and continued with the same through Numbers 29. Because we have considered the same sacrifices and feasts in earlier devotionals (Leviticus 16 and Leviticus 23), I will limit my study of Numbers 29 to a summary of the offerings and feast days.

Numbers 29

The Law of the Offerings (continued from Numbers 28)

The Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement (Numbers 29:1-11)

The “Feast of Trumpets” marked the beginning of a new year on the Hebrew calendar (29:1-6), and was followed by the holiest of days, the “Day of Atonement” (29:7-11). Also known as “Yom Kippur,” the Day of Atonement was the only day the high priest entered the holy of holies with the blood of sacrifice (Leviticus 16).

Of course, believers no longer need a high priest or the blood of sacrifices because Jesus Christ fulfilled the requirement of the sacrificial Passover lamb. By His death on the Cross, He is our High Priest (1 Peter 1:19; Hebrews 7:22-28; 9:11-28; 10:19-22).

The “Feast of Tabernacles” (Numbers 29:12-40)

The “Feast of Tabernacles” (29:12-34), also known as Sukkot, followed the “Day of Atonement” and was observed by Israel as a celebration of the harvest. Lasting seven days, the Feast of Tabernacles began with a Sabbath Rest (29:12) and ended with a Sabbath of Rest (29:35-38). Finally, the sacrifices were presented to the LORD for all the congregation (29:39-40).

Numbers 30

The Making and Breaking of Promises and Vows (Numbers 30:1-2)

In my lifetime, I have witnessed a shift in our society’s character from where a man’s word and a handshake were binding, compared to today when contracts are breached without so much as an apology. Therefore, it may surprise you to learn the LORD’s judgment regarding promises and vows (Leviticus 27).

King Solomon warned, “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. ⁵Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay” (Ecclesiastes 5:4–5).

Vows and covenants were not to be treated lightly, and once a man made a vow, it was binding. There was no exception for men; however, God benevolently allowed for an exception in daughters and wives who might have made hasty, ill-advised vows (30:3-8, 10-15).

Spiritual lesson – Fathers and husbands are accountable and responsible for caring for and protecting the women in their lives.

Sadly, with the demand for “women’s rights,” a man’s privilege of protecting his daughters and wife has been neglected in the 21^st century. Consider the vows, pledges, and contracts in Numbers 30 and God’s compassionate care of women (Numbers 30:3-16).

An Unmarried Daughter’s Vow (Numbers 30:3-5)

A daughter, living in her father’s household, was by law under his protection (30:3-5). Should a daughter bind herself with a vow, and upon her father hearing of it but saying nothing, she could not be released from her vow (30:4). However, should a daughter vow, and the father hear of it, he had the authority to recant her vow, and her vow would not be binding (30:5).

A Young Wife’s Vow (Numbers 30:6-8)

When a woman married, she was no longer under her father’s authority but that of her husband. Should she make a vow, and her husband hears but says nothing regarding it, his wife was bound by her vow (30:6-7). A husband, however, hearing of a wife’s vow, had the authority to cancel her oath, and “the LORD [would] forgive her” (30:8).

The Vow of a Widowed or Divorced Woman (Numbers 30:9)

Women who were widowed or divorced were not under the authority of any man. Therefore, they were bound by their vows to the LORD and could not recant them (30:9). Widowed and divorced women were under obligation to fulfill their pledges.

A Wife’s Vows (Numbers 30:10-15)

The law concerning the vows of a wife served as a reminder that she was not only under her husband’s authority but was also under his protection. A husband had the authority to intervene, terminate his wife’s vow, or allow it to stand (30:10-16). Once he learned of her vow, he carried the weight of determining whether or not he would intervene.

Nevertheless, should the husband cause his wife to break her vow unadvisedly, he would do so, bearing the responsibility of “her iniquity” and, therefore, her judgment (30:15).

Closing thoughts:

A man was bound and accountable to God for caring for his wife and daughter(s) as long as they were in his household (30:16). Even so, though society has changed, godly men will love, care, and protect women in their lives. Furthermore, wives and daughters should take comfort in this:

The weight of the axe of God’s judgment hangs over their father or husband.

Questions to consider:

1) What was the law of God concerning vows made by men? (Numbers 30:1)

2) What was the will of God should a daughter make an ill-advised vow? (Numbers 30:3-5)

3) Why should widows and divorced women be especially careful when making a vow? (Numbers 30:9)

4) Who would bear the judgment should a husband cancel his wife’s vow? (Numbers 30:15)

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Abominable, Detestable Sins (Leviticus 18; Leviticus 19)

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Scripture reading – Leviticus 18-19

Our study in Leviticus moves on from clean and unclean meats (Leviticus 17), to the nation’s morality and the sanctity of the institution of marriage (Leviticus 18).

Leviticus 18

A Call to Be Holy (18:1-5)

The LORD commanded Moses, “speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the Lord your God. ³After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances” (18:2-3).

Reminding the nation, “I am the LORD your God” (18:2, 4), He commanded Israel not to follow after the ways of the heathen, for He had chosen and called them out of Egypt. If the people would keep His commandments and walk in His precepts (18:4-5), He promised He would bless them.

Leviticus 18:6-18 leaves no doubt that the ways of the heathen were not to be the ways of Israel. While the Egyptians and the Canaanites practiced immorality and ungodliness (18:3), the LORD would accept nothing less than the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:20). (Understanding the sad state of morality in both the world and the church, we dare not take the explicit nature of this passage lightly.)

The Abominable Sin of Incest (18:6-18)

The phrase “uncover their nakedness” (18:6) references the sexual act reserved for marriage and is found throughout this passage. The LORD had no tolerance for incest, and its practice was a capital offense, and its subjects would be stoned.

The following sexual relationships were forbidden and deemed incestuous. Sex with one’s parent (18:7), stepmother (18:8), sister or half-sister (18:9), grand-daughter (18:10), daughter of a stepmother (18:11), an aunt, both fraternal and maternal (18:12-14), daughter-in-law (18:15), sister-in-law (18:16), sex with a mother and her daughter (18:17), or sisters, unless the first had died (18:18) were forbidden.

Child Sacrifice, Homosexuality, and Bestiality (18:21-23)

Child sacrifice, practiced among the heathen, was an abomination to the God of Israel (18:21). The LORD declared homosexuality an abomination (18:22), and God’s judgment fell on Sodom and Gomorrah because of that sin (Genesis 19). Bestiality, the sin of a man or woman lying with a beast, was described as “confusion” (18:23) and, therefore, a perversion of God’s natural law and order.

The Wickedness of Man Calls for God’s Judgment (18:24-30)

The LORD warned Israel that He had no tolerance should His people adopt the ways of the heathen. Man’s sins not only defile himself, but also infect the land (18:24). God warned that should His people practice the evil ways of the wicked, the land would vomit out its inhabitants (18:25-28). Any who refused to “do [His] judgments, and keep [His] ordinances” (18:4), the LORD warned those souls would be excommunicated, “cut off from among their people” (18:29).

Leviticus 19

A Brief Review of the Commandments and the Law

Leviticus 19 repeated the LORD’s call for Israel to be holy as their God (19:1). His commandments served as guiding precepts for godly living, and the people were given practical applications of God’s Law for daily life. For example, charity to the poor (19:9-10), paying an honest, fair wage (19:13), showing sympathy to those less fortunate (19:14), and loving one’s neighbor in word and deed are stressed (19:15-22) as the will of God.

Principles for horticulture were given, and the people were instructed to put off harvesting the fruit of newly planted trees for three years, dedicating the fruit of the fourth year to the LORD as first fruits, and “in the fifth year [the people were permitted to] eat of the fruit” (19:23-25).

Unlike their neighbors, Hebrew men were not to “round the corners of [their] heads, neither…mar the corners of [their] beard” (19:27). There was also the prohibition of “cuttings” and “marks” (tattoos) upon the flesh, as the people were reminded this was the commandment of “the LORD” (19:28).

Honor Your Elder (19:32)

The practice of standing when in the presence of those older than yourself is found here. The people were instructed to honor their elders, saying, “Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord” (19:32).

Honesty and Integrity in Business (19:35-36)

The command to “love thy neighbor as thyself” (19:18) was also to be expressed in business. Honesty and integrity are at the heart of good business, and God’s people were commanded to be “just” in measuring items by weight and volume (19:36).

Closing thoughts and applications:

There is a crisis of integrity and morality in the 21^st century, and not even the congregations of believers are free of moral failure. There was a time when the lives of God’s people were defined by His Word, Law, and Commandments, and our lives and homes set the moral high ground for a nation. Sadly, many believers have an appetite for “Egypt” (the world) and look to society, social media, politicians, judges, and liberal media for their moral judgments and practices.

Warning: Our homes, churches, schools, and nation will not be blessed until our consciences are disciplined by God’s Word, Laws, and Commandments (18:30).

Questions to consider:

1) In the Bible, Egypt was a type or symbol of the world. What did the LORD say about the “doings” of Egypt and Canaan? (Leviticus 18:12-3)

2) Immorality defiles not only one’s life and family, but also the land and nation. What is the response of the “land” to gross immorality? (Leviticus 18:24-25)

3) Who is the believer’s standard of holiness? (Leviticus 19:2)

4) How do believers honor their elders? (Leviticus 19:32)

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Justice for All, Love Your Enemy, and A Call for Separation (Exodus 23)

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Scripture reading – Exodus 23

The instructions that gave practical applications of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) continued in Exodus 23. As noted in the prior devotion (Exodus 21-22), you will recognize in today’s Scripture the foundational principles of civil society.

A Demand for Judicial Integrity: Justice for All (Exodus 23:1-3)

The ninth commandment stated, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (20:16). For justice to be fair and impartial, God’s Law demanded that Israel’s judges be above reproach and intolerant of any who would pervert justice (23:1-9). Therefore, a witness was commanded to state the truth and not bring a false accusation against an innocent man in a judicial matter, nor should a witness’ lie spare the guilty their due punishment (23:1-2). There was one law and one standard, and neither the poor nor the rich were granted a charitable judgment or spared the weight of the Law (23:3).

Blind, Compassionate Justice: “Love thy enemy.” (Exodus 23:4-5; Matthew 5:43-44; Romans 12:20)

Exodus 23:4-5 challenged man’s natural bent for vengeance when wronged and commanded God’s people to show kindness and grace even to an enemy. Understanding Israel was chiefly an agricultural nation throughout its history, the illustration of returning an ox or ass to its owner (even if he was an enemy) is practical and easily applied in our modern day. Essentially, God’s people are to offer aid and not sit by idly when they know an enemy is struggling or has suffered a loss.

Justice for All (Exodus 23:6-9)

Exodus 23:6-9 returned to judicial matters and the demand for impartial judgment. Under God’s Law, the poor were not to be denied representation or justice (23:6), and judges were to see that righteous judgment prevailed (23:7). Judges were not to be bribed (23:8), and non-Hebrews (“strangers”), were to be judged fairly (23:9).

The Sabbath Year (Exodus 23:10-12)

Emphasizing the significance of “Sabbath Rest” (20:8-11), Israel was commanded to observe a “Sabbath Year.” Every seventh year the land was to remain fallow (not to be plowed), and crops were not to be planted (23:10). The land was to rest, and if seeds volunteered and grew to bear fruit, the poor and the “beast of the field” were given liberty to eat (23:11). For both man and beast, the Sabbath was to be observed as a day to rest and “be refreshed” (23:12).

Three Feasts (or Festivals) were Observed by Israel (Exodus 23:14-19)

Israel was commanded to observe three annual festivals (23:14-19). First, there was the “feast of unleavened bread” and the Passover (23:15, 18), commemorating the Passover in Egypt when the LORD spared the firstborn of Israel. The “feast of the harvest,” known as Firstfruits and later celebrated as Pentecost, was observed at the beginning of harvest (23:16a). At that time, the first fruits of the harvest were offered to the LORD (23:19a). Finally, there was also the “feast of the ingathering,” that was observed at the end of the harvest season (23:16b), and was a time of thanksgiving.

Three Promises (Exodus 23:20-28)

The LORD made three promises to Israel, whose fulfillment was conditioned upon the people hearing and obeying His Law and Commandments (23:20-28). First, He promised to “send an Angel” before the nation to “keep [Israel] in the way, and to bring [the nation] into the place which [God had] prepared” (23:20). (I think that this “Angel” was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ.) The LORD promised that if Israel obeyed the “voice” of the Angel, He would fulfill His covenant and “be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries” (23:22).

Secondly, the LORD promised His “Angel” would protect Israel, and “go before” the nation and cut off those nations that occupied the land of Canaan (23:23). The Angel would give Israel protection (23:23), provisions (23:25), and posterity (i.e., future generations; 23:26). Unlike other nations that adopted and sacrificed to the gods of the land they conquered; Israel was to destroy the idols of the Canaanite people (23:24).

Finally, God promised to set the boundaries of the land He covenanted with Abraham (23:31). He warned Israel that the people were not to befriend or make any covenant with the Canaanites they conquered or worship their gods. Furthermore, the LORD admonished that the heathen “shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee (23:33).

Closing thoughts:

**Although it is rarely preached in the pulpit nor practiced in the pew, the principle of radical separation is found throughout the Scriptures,**

Israel was admonished to drive the heathen out of the land. Should they fail, the children of Israel would invariably adopt the sins of their neighbors (23:33). Tragically, that same truth is all too evident in today’s churches. In his first letter to believers in ancient Corinth, Paul exhorted, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). In his second letter to the same church, Paul admonished, “Wherefore come out from among them [the unsaved], and be ye separate” (2 Corinthians 6:17a).

Israel was called to separate from the heathen they conquered and to destroy their gods. So, too are believers to separate and distance themselves from the ungodly, lest we become like them! We are commanded and exhorted, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Questions to consider:

1) How did the Law illustrate God’s demand that His people have compassion for an enemy? (Exodus 23:4-5)

2) What were the Israelites not to do during the Sabbath year? (Exodus 23:10-12)

3) What were the three feasts Israel was commanded to observe yearly? (Exodus 23:14-19)

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Sometimes Saying, “I’m sorry” is Not Enough! (Exodus 21; Exodus 22)

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Scripture reading: Exodus 21-22

Having established the Ten Commandments as the foundation of God’s Covenant with Israel, today’s Scripture reading states the practical and personal application of the Commandments. We read, “Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them” (21:1).

The following verses served not only Israel but have been the foundation of democratic law and government down through the centuries. You will find here the basis of your sense of justice and fairness. Yet, tragically, I fear the principles recorded here have been forgotten and discarded by leaders, politicians, and citizens of the 21^st century.

Exodus 21

Human Rights: Precepts for Slavery, Manslaughter, Rebellion, and Injury

Slavery and indentured servitude (21:1-11) have been practiced since ancient times and continue in some form to this day. Those who object to the inclusion of this topic in the Bible must realize it was a commonly accepted practice and had to be addressed righteously. Understanding poverty might reduce a man to slavery; the LORD instituted prudent principles that forbade injustice. Here we have guidelines to impart dignity to even the lowest household servant. Unfortunately, there is an epidemic of human trafficking and “sex slaves” today, perpetuating the shameful abuses God’s Law prohibits.

Slavery and Individual Sovereignty (21:1-6)

Should a Hebrew man become impoverished and reduced to slavery to pay his debt, he would serve his master no more than six years. Upon the seventh year, he was to be freed from his indebtedness and servitude (21:1-2). Should a married man be reduced to servitude, he, his wife, and his children would be released in the seventh year.

However, should a man take a wife during his servitude, he alone would be at liberty in the seventh year (21:3-4). Although freed from obligation, should the man love his master and not want to depart alone, he was permitted to choose to continue voluntarily as a slave (21:5). Such a man would have his ear bored through (21:6) and would serve either till the death of his master, or be set free with his family in the year of jubilee (which would occur every 50 years).

The Desperate Role of Daughters (21:7-11)

Poverty might sometimes force a father to part with his daughter and sell her to another as a household servant (21:7). Because this system was fraught with abuses, the Law provided guidelines to preserve the dignity and reputation of Hebrew daughters. For example, a poor man who desired a better life for his daughter sometimes permitted a wealthy man to purchase her and take her to his wife when she came of age. When she came of age, if the man or his son refused to marry her, they would send her away with a dowry enough to provide her food and clothing and with no further obligation to the benefactor (21:8-11).

The Sanctity of Human Life (21:12-14)

The sixth commandment stated, “Thou shalt not kill” (20:13). Prudently, God’s Law recognized a difference between murder and manslaughter (taking a life without intent, 21:12-14).

The Honor to be Afforded Parents (21:15, 17).

The fifth commandment said, “Honour thy father and thy mother” (20:12). Cursing or striking one’s parents was a capital offense, and death was mandated (21:15, 17). Still, we must understand that cursing or hitting one’s father or mother carried judicial stipulations. The commandments are filled with conditions, longsuffering, and love. In addition, all offenses were brought before a judicial body that ruled over offenses. As such, we do not have a Biblical account of any being put to death for this offense.

Justice and Fair Compensation for Loss (21:18-36)

Fair and adequate compensation was required for accidental injuries that did not result in death. Should a victim of injury be unable to provide for himself or his family, he was to be fairly and adequately compensated (21:18-32). The law states, “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (21:24). Losses caused by one’s negligence were to be compensated (21:28-36). It did not require the offender to lose his eye, tooth, or life.

Exodus 22

Theft and Endangerment of One’s Livelihood were not Tolerated. (22:1-13)

The theft of ox or sheep was a serious offense (22:1-4) in an agricultural society where a man’s livelihood and his family’s well-being depended on farming and husbandry. Damage to a man’s vineyard or crops required fair compensation for the loss (22:5-6).

Personal responsibility and liability were important issues among God’s people, and fair compensation for losses, whether caused by theft or neglect, was mandated (22:7-15).

Loans and the Obligation of Debtors (22:14-15)

Exodus 22:14-15 states the obligation a borrower assumed when using another man’s property. For the sake of illustration, if a farmer borrowed another man’s ox to plow his field, and the ox was injured or died, the borrower became a debtor and was under obligation to “make it good” (22:14). In other words, one must choose to either repay or replace the ox. An exception to the law of repayment or replacement was when the owner of an ox plowed another man’s field “for his hire” (22:15). Because he was hired to plow a field, the employer (owner of the field) was not under obligation to replace the ox.

Exodus 22 concluded with various laws that addressed moral and societal issues (22:16-23:19), including rape (22:16-17), witchcraft (22:18), bestiality (22:19), and idolatry (22:20). The matter of borrowing, and indebtedness were addressed as well as charging excessive interest that imposed unnecessary hardships on the poor were condemned (22:25-27).

Closing thoughts:

The Law and its application to daily life necessitate honesty and integrity. Indeed, the need for spiritual principles and values is as great today as they were when they were given. Certainly, if we want the next generation to have integrity, they must be taught to be responsible. Justice and fairness demand that when one’s actions cause injury or loss, there is an obligation to make the injured party whole.

After all, sometimes saying, “I’m sorry,” is not enough!

Questions to consider:

1) To pay a debt, a man might be forced to become an indentured servant (slave). What was the maximum number of years a man might be enslaved? (Exodus 21:2)

2) What would become of a man’s wife and children should he marry while enslaved? (Exodus 21:4)

3) What physical sign identified a man as a willing, voluntary servant? (Exodus 21:5-6)

4) The penalty for intentional murder was death (Exodus 21:12). What was the consequence of manslaughter (unintentional killing of another)? (Exodus 21:13)

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Mailing Address:
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The Ten Commandments – Part 2 (Exodus 20)

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Scripture reading: Exodus 19-20

All of Israel witnessed the outward manifestation of God’s heavenly glory as smoke and fire engulfed Mount Sinai. The trumpet blasts warned man, woman, and beast that none dared approach the mount and live (19:12-13). Then, out of the midst of the mountain, the LORD was heard saying, “I am the LORD [Jehovah; Eternal, Self-Existent God] thy God [Elohim], which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (20:2).

Exodus 20

The Ten Commandments were part of the LORD’S covenant with Israel, and the people were commanded to hear, heed, and obey them (20:1-17).

The first commandment stated, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (20:3). Unlike the neighboring nations who worshipped innumerable gods, Israel was to worship one God—Yahweh, Elohim, the True, Eternal, Self-existent One.

The second commandment was, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: ⁵Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; ⁶And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments” (20:4-6). Unlike their neighbors, Israel was not to worship idols or images like Israel’s God. The people were warned that the family would bear the guilt for violating the second commandment and thereby invoke God’s judgment “upon the children” (20:5).

The third commandment reminded Israel that the essence of God’s character was summed up in His name. We read, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (20:7). God’s name was to be honored and not spoken of lightly or in vain. The name and meaning of Israel’s God was to be hallowed.

The fourth commandment served as a reminder that Israel’s God was Creator, and the Sabbath would serve as a day of rest and a memorial to His handiwork. Of the Sabbath, we read: “⁸Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: ¹¹For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (20:8-11). The Sabbath Day, the seventh day of the week, was dedicated to the LORD as a day of worship and rest (31:16-17).

The fifth commandment moved the emphasis of the Law and Commandments from man’s relationship with his Creator to his relationship with his fellow man. Israel was commanded, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” (20:12). Because fathers and mothers represented God’s authority, sons and daughters of Israel were to honor and revere their parents. Likewise, the elderly were to be honored and revered; any who failed were condemned (Deuteronomy 27:16). The fifth commandment also carried a particular promise and reward–long life (20:12b; Ephesians 6:1-3).

The sixth commandment was a reminder of the sanctity of human life: “Thou shalt not kill” (20:13). Because Adam was created in God’s image, the life of man and woman were to be valued as sacred (Genesis 1:27; 2:7, 21-22).

The seventh commandment served as a reminder of the sanctity of marriage. The LORD commanded Israel, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (20:14). From the beginning, God established the institution of marriage as a sacred covenant between Himself and the man and woman. It was ordained by their Creator that “man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). As “one flesh,” the bond between the husband and his wife is not to be broken (Genesis 2:24). So sacred is the institution of marriage, that it served in the New Testament as a picture of Christ’s enduring love for believers and the church (Ephesians 5:30-32; Matthew 5:27-29).

The eighth commandment established the right of ownership. It stated: “Thou shalt not steal” (20:15). Thus, to take that which belonged to another (whether by theft or deceit) was a sin against God and man (Ephesians 4:28).

The ninth commandment demanded that truth would prevail. We read, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (20:16). God’s people were to speak the truth (Ephesians 4:15, 25, 29), and libel, slander, or bearing false witness was a grievous sin.

The tenth commandment stated, “Thou shalt not covet,” and focused upon desires for that which belonged to another. So we read, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s” (20:17). Though manifested outwardly, covetousness is deeply-rooted within the heart of man.

The Manner of Worship Required by a Holy God (Exodus 20:18-26)

Having forbidden idols and images of Himself (20:4-6; 23-25), the LORD was also concerned about the attitude and manner of those who approached His altar to worship and offer sacrifices. Therefore, steps were forbidden at the altar to preserve a modest, respectful decorum, lest those who worshipped be perceived as immodest (20:26).

Closing thoughts:

The LORD’S expectations for Israel’s altar, and His demand for modesty, should be instructive. The priests were commanded to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the holiness of God. There were not to allow “nakedness” (immodesty) to distract those who worshipped the LORD (20:26).

Tragically, “anything goes” seems to be the mode of worshippers in the 21^st-century church. I fear there is little thought given to the manner or style of worshiping God who is holy.

Questions to consider:

1) Was Israel permitted to have and worship a physical likeness (image) of God? (Exodus 20:4)

2) What were the people promised if they kept God’s Commandments? (20:6)

3) Why was Israel commanded to consider the Sabbath a holy day? (20:11)

4) What two commandments stressed the sanctity of human life and marriage? (Exodus 20:13-14)

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Mailing Address:
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