Tag Archives: Bible Christianity

Moral Dilemmas: Divorce, Debt, and Human Trafficking (Deuteronomy 24; Deuteronomy 25)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 24-25

Our Scripture reading continues with Moses setting forward various laws that would guide Israel in matters of marriage, family, societal civility, business, and government.

Deuteronomy 24

Principles Regarding Marriage and Divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-5)

Divorce is addressed, sadly indicative of man’s sinful heart. We understand that God’s desire for man and wife is: “A man…shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Yet, because man’s nature is bent away from God, the Lord allowed (through Moses) for a writing of divorcement when there was a valid reason.

Moses allowed for divorce in this passage; however, I remind you that was never God’s plan or will. What is the will of the LORD? The sum of God’s will for marriage is this: “A man…shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).

The Pharisees questioned Christ on this subject and asked, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife [divorce]for every cause?” (Matthew 19:3) The LORD answered, citing the “one flesh” principle and added, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6).

Displeased with His answer, the Pharisees pressed Him, saying, “Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?” (Matthew 19:7). Christ answered and diagnosed the deplorable basis for Moses permitting divorce (Deuteronomy 24).

Matthew 19:8–9 – ⁸He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered [allowed] you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. ⁹And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

A Moral Guideline for the Borrower and Lender (Deuteronomy 24:6)

Taking an upper millstone is foreign to most until we understand Moses referred to the stones used to grind grain into flour. So, a lender was warned he could not take for a surety the “upper millstone,” for by it, a family could grind grain into flour and bake bread for the family.

A Solution to Human Trafficking (Deuteronomy 24:7)

One of the great abominations of the 21^st century is human trafficking (in essence, modern slavery). Forcefully taking children, women, and men and subjecting them to the darkness of moral depravity has been and continues to be an appalling wickedness. In the words of the Scripture, anyone found guilty of “[making] merchandise…or selleth [selling] him” shall be put to death (24:7).

If the judgment of the Scriptures were practiced in our day, victims of human trafficking would receive justice and human traffickers would be dispatched to a swift judgment: “Thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (Deuteronomy 19:21).

Charitable Obligations (Deuteronomy 24:10-22)

Today’s false teachers and preachers have led many to believe the laws of the Old Testament were lacking in grace. They support their reason and boast that we live in an “Age of Grace.” Indeed, we do, but grace has been a part of every age because God is a part of every age. He has been and continues to be immutable – the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, characterizing the Law and Commandments as “graceless” suggests the LORD was graceless, which is heresy.

Deuteronomy 24:10-22 proved that God was sensitive and compassionate concerning the condition of the poor, the weak, the orphan, and the widow. For example, in ancient times, the poor often had nothing more than the “clothes on their backs.” Robes were the attire for those times, and men generally wore inner and outer robes. The inner robe afforded modesty, while the outer robe protected against the elements and provided warmth at night.

Should a man of little means borrow, his outer robe might serve as the surety or pledge for his debt (24:10-11). However, the lender was not to humiliate a debtor and take by force the robe of a poor man while he was in his house (24:10-11). Also, in the evening, the lender was to return the outer robe so that the man “may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee” (24:13).

Admonitions Against Injustices (Deuteronomy 24:14-18)

Day laborers were paid their wages at the end of a workday (24:14). Also, everyone was to bear the consequences and punishment for their sins. Therefore, a father was not to be punished for the sins of his children, nor were his children to be punished for the sins of their father (24:16).

Charity Was the Law (Deuteronomy 24:19-22)

In ancient times there was no welfare system, and the impoverished were a perpetual presence on the earth. Tragically, widows were sometimes forsaken by their children, orphans were neglected, and foreigners often found themselves homeless. Moses reminded the congregation how Israel suffered bondage in Egypt. He urged the people to remember the poor and let them glean the leftovers from their fields, olive trees, and grapevines.

Deuteronomy 25

Time and space prevent a thorough commentary on Deuteronomy 25; however, I suggest the following outline of principles for your study.

I. Capital Punishment and Civil Justice (Deuteronomy 25:1-4)

II. Family Posterity (Deuteronomy 25:5-12)

III. Business and Commerce (Deuteronomy 25:13-16)

IV. The Offence of an Enemy (Deuteronomy 25:17-19)

Closing thoughts:

Once again, I trust you have seen the grace of God evidenced throughout His Laws and Commandments. Although some invite believers to ignore the Old Testament altogether, they do so at their peril and that of their followers. But, of course, the greatest expression of God’s Law and grace is identified in Christ’s sacrifice for our sins (1 Peter 2:21-24).

Questions to consider:

1) Could a divorced man remarry his wife after she had been married to another man? (Deuteronomy 24:4)

2) What was God’s judgment concerning human traffickers? (Deuteronomy 24:7)

3) Rather than long terms of imprisonment, how was an offense settled in Israel? (Deuteronomy 25:1-3)

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Feminization, Sanitation, and Compassion (Deuteronomy 23)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 23

We continue our study of Moses’ challenge to Israel as he prepared that nation to go forward without him as its leader. Some of the principles in today’s Scripture may seem mundane; however, such was not the case for a nation that had suffered the humiliation of bondage for four centuries.

Moses taught the children of Israel how to conduct themselves in the sight of the LORD and preserve their sanctity as His people. In today’s devotion, we will consider the right of citizenship in ancient Israel and the exclusion of some from “the congregation of the LORD” (23:1).

The Feminization and Castration of Men Was Forbidden (23:1)

The topic of mutilation or castration is one in which we must use discretion; however, the LORD was clear in His instruction concerning honoring one’s vessel (i.e., body). There was to be no mutualization of a man’s private parts, for such was unnatural and against God’s created order.

Illegitimate Sons (23:2)

Sons born of adultery, or incest, were to be excluded in Israel unto the “tenth generation” (23:2). Also, sons borne of extra-marital relationships were excluded, for their conception was contrary to the will and design of God’s order.

Ammonites and Moabites Were Not Permitted in Israel (23:3-6)

These nations were the offspring of Lot’s incestuous relationship with his daughters (Genesis 19:30-38). While the Ammonites and Moabites might live in the land, they were not accepted as part of the congregation of Israel (the exception could be if one became a proselyte of the God of Israel, as was the case with Ruth the Moabitess, who became the wife of Boaz, Ruth 1:4; 4:13). Also, the Ammonites and Moabites had made themselves adversaries of Israel by hiring Balaam to curse the people (23:4-6).

Edomites and Egyptians (23:7-8)

Edom and Egypt were not friends of Israel; however, both had a history that prevented their complete exclusion. The Edomites were of the lineage of Esau and, therefore, distant kin of Israel through Isaac (for Esau was Jacob’s brother, 23:7). Egypt was also an exception, for that nation had been the host of Israel during their sojourn in that land.

Cleanness and Purity in Times of War (23:9-11)

Remembering the presence of the LORD was represented by the Tabernacle amid the encampment; the people were reminded to keep themselves clean (23:9-10). A man who was not clean was to remain outside the camp until the evening and “wash himself with water” before entering the camp (23:11).

A Lesson in Sanitation (23:12-14)

The sanitation guidelines given by Moses to Israel placed that nation centuries ahead of other countries. The tribes were instructed to practice cleanliness and basic sanitation. They were not to answer nature’s call (i.e., to relieve themselves) within the camp. Instead, they were instructed to go outside the camp’s borders, “have a paddle” (a spade or shovel), and cover their excrement.

We understand much about sanitation and disease today; however, only in the past two centuries has proper hygiene been fully appreciated. The sanitation commanded by the LORD was not only because He dwelt amid His people but also because it was right and good for the health and well-being of the people (23:14).

Compassion for a Fleeing Slave (23:15-16)

A slave that had fled from his heathen master and sought refuge in Israel was not to be returned to his master (23:15). Instead, he was given shelter in the land and allowed to dwell where he chose (23:16).

Prostitution and Sodomy Condemned (23:17-18)

All manner of gross immorality accompanied the worship of idols in ancient times. Whoredom, and sodomy were ever present among the heathen nations. No daughter of Israel was to fall into whoredom, and no son was to be a homosexual (described as “the price of a dog,” thus graphically describing the debasement of sodomy, 23:18).

Usury: Charging Interest on Debts (23:19-20)

Israelite men were not to charge their fellow man (“thy brother”) interest for borrowing money (23:19). A “stranger,” however, a non-Hebrew, was lawfully charged interest on debts (23:20).

To Vow, Or Not to Vow (23:21-23)

Swearing an oath, or vowing a vow, was a serious matter with the LORD and was not to be taken lightly (23:21). No man was to “vow a vow unto the LORD” and fail to fulfill it without delay (23:21b). Indeed, it would be better not to have committed oneself to a vow, than to do so and fail to fulfill it (23:22-23).

To Eat, or Not to Eat (23:24-25)

Suppose a man is hungry and lacks the means to feed himself. Should that man be permitted to take from another’s field or vineyard and satisfy his hunger? The answer was recorded in Deuteronomy 23:24-25 which reminds us that the God of Israel was compassionate and merciful.

A hungry man was allowed to eat grapes from his neighbor’s vineyard and take wheat kernels from his neighbor’s field. He could not, however, go into his neighbor’s field with a vessel and fill it. So, instead, he was allowed to take only what he needed to quench his hunger.

Closing thoughts:

The growth of incivility we observe today is attributable to society rejecting the spiritual principles and precepts of God’s Word. I trust you are developing an appreciation for the judicious nature of the LORD and His grace and compassion expressed in His Law and Commandments. The LORD requires that we exercise grace and common decency toward others.

Questions to consider:

1) Who was excluded from entering the congregation of Israel? (23:1-6)

2) What was the law concerning a slave who had escaped his harsh master? (23:15-16)

3) How serious were vows made to the LORD? (23:21-23)

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“WOKE,” Civility, Women’s Rights, and Sexual Perversity (Deuteronomy 21; Deuteronomy 22)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 21-22

Warning: You may find the content of today’s devotion inflammatory; however, its immediate relevance is undeniable.

Moses continued his charge to Israel in our Scripture reading. In Deuteronomy 21-22, fundamental principles establish the sanctity of human life, the basics of civil decency and human kindness, and the practical application of the command, “love thy neighbor.”

Deuteronomy 21 – Fundamentals of Civil Duty

“Thou Shalt Not Kill” (Deuteronomy 21:1-9)

In our study of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible), we have considered several passages of Scripture that explain the sanctity of human life and the sixth commandment that reads, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). Capital punishment, a “life for a life,” was God’s judgment upon the man who willfully, and deliberately took the life of another (19:11-13, 21). In addition, Deuteronomy 21:1-9 addressed the loss of human life, should a victim’s body be discovered, but there are no witnesses to the murder.

Concerning Women Taken as Spoil of Wartimes (21:10-14)

Ancient cultures considered women taken as prisoners in war to be nothing more than a possession, a spoil of battle. The God of Israel, however, established laws to protect women. Should a man desire to take a female prisoner as his wife, he was to allow her head to be shaved, an outward symbol of her purification, and give her thirty days to mourn her parents’ deaths before taking her as his wife (21:12-13). Should the man later decide to reject her, he was to set her at liberty and was commanded to neither sell nor humiliate her (21:14).

The Inheritance Rights of a Firstborn Son (21:15-17)

Some propose that the reference to “two wives” (21:15) suggested polygamy; however, I believe it is not. From our study of the Book of Genesis, we know that God defined marriage as “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24), meaning the union of one man and one woman. Therefore, polygamy cannot be the intent of Deuteronomy 21:15, for the Mosaic Law did not redefine what God Himself had designed and established.

In my opinion, the explanation for the reference to “two wives” (one being described as “beloved” and the other “hated”) implied that the first wife was dead. In this example, the first wife had given birth to a son; as the firstborn son, he was the husband’s heir (21:15-16). The second wife, the stepmother of the firstborn son, would perhaps be tempted to influence her husband to disown his firstborn; thereby choosing her son to be his heir (21:16). The LORD condemned that practice. He declared that the firstborn son would be given “a double portion” of all that was his father’s (21:17).

Capital Punishment of a Rebellious Son (21:18-21)

A disobedient son, defined as “stubborn and rebellious” (21:18), refused to hear and obey his father and mother. Such a son (described as “a glutton, and a drunkard”) would be brought before the city elders, who would sit in judgment of his character (21:19-20).

I understand that stoning a rebellious son is undoubtedly offensive to our 21st-century sensibilities. Yet, given the severity of the punishment, we can conclude that it was a rare event. Indeed, such a judgment required the consent of both the father and mother (21:19-20). Yet, should the city’s elders find the son guilty, he would have been stoned to death by the “men of his city” (21:21).

Deuteronomy 22 – Having a Good Conscience

Compassion for a Neighbor’s Livestock (22:1-4)

We are reminded that God’s people were to love their neighbors. That command applied to his person and was demonstrated practically in one’s duty to his neighbor’s livestock, clothes, and possessions (22:1-3). Should a man’s ox, sheep, or donkey be astray, his neighbor was to restore them to their owner. Should the owner not be readily known, an Israelite was commanded to take the animal to his home until its rightful owner was established (22:2). Once again, we are reminded that God is benevolent. He required compassion for the animals of His creation (22:4).

An Abomination: TransgenderTransexuals (22:5)

There is much ado about the “rights” of self-declared “Queers, “Transexuals,” and “Asexuals” in 21st-century society. Such people aspire to blend and distort the natural differences between males and females in their dress and manner. It may surprise you to learn that blurring the distinctiveness in the sexes is not a “new woke” (as some would have you believe). Indeed, it was declared an “abomination unto the LORD” in the Scriptures and condemned as a practice among ancient heathen societies (22:5).

Compassion and Affection for Nature (22:6-7)

From the beginning, humanity was commanded to be the “keeper” of God’s creation (Genesis 2:15). It follows, therefore, that even the smallest of creatures should arouse in man a natural affection and compassion (22:7).

Closing thoughts:

Several other laws and guidelines are given in Deuteronomy 22, but I conclude this devotion by inviting you to notice the LORD’s protection of womankind (22:13-29).

Unlike their heathen neighbors, Israelite women were protected and shielded from abuses that are even prevalent today. For example, a woman had the right to due process should her purity and testimony be questioned. Also, should a woman be forcefully taken and raped, the severity of the law would fall upon the man, and he would forfeit his life for his sin (22:25-27).

Tragically, our nation and world have rejected the authority of God’s Word and removed itself from the divine guiding principles for life and civil society. We have become a people with laws divorced from unalterable principles. As a result, we are governed by the whims of wicked, unprincipled men and women. Indeed, the prophet Isaiah’s condemnation of the wicked is applicable and relevant when we read:

Isaiah 5:20-21 – “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! ²¹ Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”

Questions to consider:

1) How were captive, enslaved women to be treated in Israel? (21:10-14)

2) What might become of a rebellious son? (21:19-19)

3) Why would the adage “finders, keepers” not apply to God’s people? (22:1-3)

4) What was the law concerning a man dressing like a woman or a woman dressing like a man? (22:5)

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The LORD Demands Justice (Deuteronomy 19; Deuteronomy 20)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 19-20

Deuteronomy 19

Moses’ challenge to Israel returned to the subject of cities designated as cities of refuge (19:1-13). After defining the boundaries of the tribes, Israel established three cities of refuge on each side of the Jordan, “that every slayer may flee thither” (19:3).

There would be a total of six cities of refuge in Israel. (Deuteronomy 19:2-13)

The law recognized a distinction between an accidental killing, described as one who “killeth his neighbor ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past” (19:4), and murder, an intentional killing provoked by hate and committed by lying in wait (19:11).

An example of an accidental killing was given (19:5) and proved the necessity for the cities of refuge to be far from one another in the land. The elders of the cities of refuge were to allow a slayer to prove that a killing was an accident and that he was innocent of murder (19:6, 10). A city of refuge was not to give sanctuary to a murderer (19:11-13).

Remove Not the Ancient Landmarks (Deuteronomy 19:14)

Once land ownership was established, its borders were marked by natural boundaries or by a column of rock and stone. Because a man’s land was how he supported his family, it was a severe offense for a thief to move a landmark and thereby encroach upon the land of another.

Two or Three Witnesses Were Required to Convict (Deuteronomy 19:15-19)

The LORD required Israel to take any allegations of wrongdoing seriously. No man might be convicted of an offense without his sin being established by “two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses” (19:15). It was a serious matter when a man brought a “false witness” against another (19:16). The priests and the judges would weigh the testimony. After diligently inquiring, should a man be guilty of bearing a false witness, he would suffer the punishment of the crime for which he had “testified falsely against his brother” (19:18-19).

The law was summed up in this: “Life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (19:21).

Deuteronomy 20

Instructions for Going to War (Deuteronomy 20:1-4)

Israel’s invasion into Canaan would necessitate years of battles; however, they were not to be afraid of their enemies (20:1a). The men of Israel were to go to war, finding their courage from the LORD, and believing the God who “brought [them] up out of the land of Egypt” would be with them (20:1). When they prepared themselves for battle, the priest was to speak to the people, and remind them:

“Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; ⁴For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you” (20:3-4).

Exemptions from Enlistment (Deuteronomy 20:5-9)

To go to war required a man to be fully committed to the cause because distractions in the heat of battle could be disastrous to the man and his fellow soldiers. Therefore, four groups of men were exempted from military service in Israel: A man who had “built a new house, but not dedicated it” was allowed to return to his house (20:5). A man who had “planted a vineyard,” but “not yet eaten of it,” would return home (20:6). Should a man be “betrothed,” but not yet taken her to wife, he could return to his house (20:7). Recognizing the disastrous influence of fear amid battle, a man who was “fearful and fainthearted,” would be allowed to “go and return unto his house, lest his brethren’s heart faint as well as his heart” (20:8).

Laying Siege to a City (Deuteronomy 20:10-20)

If the people of a city “were very far off” and willing to pay tribute, Israel was to offer terms of peace (20:11). Should terms for peace be rejected, every man of the city was to be slain, “but the women, and the little ones, and the cattle,” and all other spoil would be taken by Israel (20:14).

The nations that dwelled in Canaan, the land the LORD had promised Israel for an inheritance, were to be destroyed. “The Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites,” were to be destroyed, lest the heathen teach God’s people “to do after all their abominations” (20:18).

The land was the inheritance of God’s people. Therefore, the LORD required the army to spare the fruit trees when laying siege to a city. The trees that were not fruit-bearing, Israel was to “build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued” (20:20).

Closing thoughts:

In closing, notice the LORD’s grace and favor when He gave His Law and Commandments. His judicial system for Israel was just, and no one was to rush to judgment (19:15-19). But, desiring truth, any witness that dared distort law and justice with a false testimony would face the punishment of the crime for which they had falsely accused another (Deuteronomy 19:19, 21).

Micah 6:8b – “What doth the Lord require of thee, But to do justly, and to love mercy, And to walk humbly with thy God?”

Questions to consider:

1) What was an example of an accidental killing? (Deuteronomy 19:4-5)

2) To whom did the cities of refuge offer sanctuary? (Deuteronomy 19:6)

3) What was the judgment for lying witnesses? (Deuteronomy 19:18-19)

4) What message was the priest to deliver to Israel’s soldiers? (Deuteronomy 20:3-4)

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The Support of Ministers and the Character of Unfaithful Ministers (Deuteronomy 18)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 18

Moses’ speech to the congregation continued in Deuteronomy 18, focusing on five concerns.

Provision for Those Who Minister (18:1-5)

Unlike other tribes, the Tribe of Levi had no physical inheritance in Canaan (18:1-2; Numbers 18:20, 23-24). Instead, the birthright of the Levites was a portion of the “offerings of the LORD made by fire” (18:1). The other tribes of Israel toiled in their fields, cared for their flocks and herds, and were enriched by the spoils of war. However, that was not the case with the Levitical tribe. It was the duty of the Levites to labor for the LORD as ministers and representatives of His people.

Therefore, the tribes of Israel were under obligation to not begrudge the Levites their portion of the offerings given to the LORD. It was “the priest’s due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice” (18:3). Those who labored in ministry were to receive “the first-fruit” (18:4), for the Levite was “chosen…to stand to minister in the name of the Lord” (18:5).

Giving Ministers Their Due (18:6-8)

While the Twelve Tribes were assigned their portion of lands in Canaan, the Levites were allocated forty-eight towns and villages (Numbers 35:1-8; Joshua 21). Though a Levite owned his home and land for the care of his household, his zeal and calling was to minister for the LORD. Thus, a rotation of Levites ministered at the sanctuary and caused them to journey from their homes to the Tabernacle (18:6).

So, what became of a Levite’s home and land when he sojourned to minister at the Tabernacle? First, he was allowed “the sale [literally the leasing] of his patrimony [birthright, meaning his house and land]” (18:8). While the Levites would “have like portions to eat” of the offerings brought by the people to the sanctuary, he was also allowed revenue from leasing his properties to others in his absence.

All Occult Practices Were Condemned (18:9-14)

Idolatry, and practices of the occult observed by the Canaanites, were admonished and forbidden. God’s people were “not to learn to do after the abominations of those nations” (18:9). Moses warned there would be no tolerance of wicked practices, and named among them were human sacrifices (18:10a), divination (soothsaying), fortune telling (“observer of times”), witchcraft (sorcery), casting spells (“charmer”), medium (consulting with spirits), wizardry, and necromancy (seeking to contact the dead, 18:10-11).

Tragically, there is a growing tolerance and embrace of those evil practices in the 21^st century. The abortion of the unborn is touted as a right, while witchcraft, black magic, and wizardry have a growing following. Of course, this comes as no surprise, for the Book of Revelation warned that the occult would increase in the last days (Revelation 9:20-21; 18:2), and all who practice such will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8; 22:14-15).

The Promise of a Coming Prophet (18:15-19)

Israel did not need soothsayers or fortune tellers, for the LORD had promised to put His Word in the mouth of His Prophet. So, Moses prophesied of the coming of a Prophet, One whom the “Lord thy God [would] raise up” (18:15). This Prophet was to be of Hebrew stock, for He would come “from the midst of thee (Israel), of thy brethren” (18:15).

Who was this Prophet (18:15-19)?

Some supposed it was Elijah. Others thought John the Baptist was the Prophet to come. The Scriptures, however, declare that the long-awaited Prophet was Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist said of Christ, “He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose” (John 1:27). After Jesus performed the miracle of feeding the five thousand, some said of Him, “This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world” (John 6:14). We read again in John 7:40, “Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet” (7:40).

Prophets: True and False (18:20-22)

It was a serious matter when a man proposed to speak as the LORD’s prophet. Should a man prophesy, apart from the revelation of the LORD, we read, “that prophet shall die” (18:20). Some asked, “How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?” (18:21)

The answer: “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him” (18:22).

The real test for a prophet was: Did every word of his prophecy come to pass? Because the word of a false prophet would fail, Israel had no reason to fear such a prophet (18:22).

Closing thoughts:

Believers are responsible for discerning whether or not the things taught are from the LORD. So many today propose teaching the Scriptures, but how many believers and ministries take the time and obligation to examine what is spoken?

We should be wary of any who propose a new “word of prophecy” or claim to have received a new revelation. Also, we dare not patronize a man or support a ministry that fails to speak and teach the whole counsel of God. Be forewarned: “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: ¹⁹And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18–19).

Believers should demand absolute fidelity to the Scriptures, for the LORD speaks to us through the teaching and preaching of His Word.

Questions to consider:

1) How did Israel support the priests and Levites? (18:3-5)

2) What practices did the LORD forbid in the new land? (18:9-12)

3) What were the obligations of a prophet? (18:20)

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The Law and Commandments of the LORD are Gracious (Deuteronomy 15)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 15

Some in our churches suggest the Laws and Commandments of the Old Testament were cold, oppressive, and lacking in grace. They are wrong! In their historical context and with an understanding of their application, you will find that the Law and Commandments of the LORD are fair and judicious. For example, consider the guidelines for the borrower and lender recorded in Deuteronomy 15.

Debtors, Lenders, and the Sabbatical Year (15:1-6)

The Sabbath Year occurred every seven years on the Hebrew calendar, and it was the year the LORD commanded the land to rest. Fields were not worked, seeds were not planted, and any vegetation that volunteered and gave fruit was committed to the poor and grazing animals.

Consider how a man would pay his debt if he could not plant crops during the Sabbath Year. If unable to plant seeds and harvest crops, what became of a man who acquired debt? Because there was no harvest in the seventh year, the law did not permit lenders to press the poor for payment. Instead, in the Sabbath Year, the lender suspended the debt payment for the year (although a non-Hebrew was not released of his obligation to pay his debt in the seventh year, 15:3). Furthermore, God promised that if lenders showed their debtors grace, He would bless the nation (15:4). Indeed, Israel would become a lender, not a borrower, to other countries (15:5-6).

Lending to the Poor (15:7-11)

Concerning the poor, we read, “The poor shall never cease out of the land” (15:11). Regardless of the wealth and prosperity of a nation, the poor are a perpetual presence in the world (15:11). Once again, as a testimony of God’s grace and mercy, the LORD required His people to be charitable, especially to those who were “one of the brethren” (meaning a Hebrew, 15:7). God’s people were commanded to open their hand and heart when they looked upon another in need (15:7). Not only was a lender commanded to not be miserly in charitable giving, he was to “lend him [the poor] sufficient for his need” (15:8).

Because some might seek to take advantage of the immediacy of a Sabbath Year (knowing the repayment of a debt was suspended that year), it was reasonable to suspect lenders might refuse to give to those in need. Such reasoning was a sin in the eyes of the LORD (15:9b). Therefore, lenders were exhorted to give and trust “the Lordthy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto” (15:10).

Slavery, and the Release of Slaves (15:12-18)

Slavery was a cultural reality in the ancient world, and poverty was often the catalyst for enslavement. For example, should a Hebrew (man or woman) be unable to pay their debt, he or she would become a slave to the lender (15:12). Now, the practice of the heathen was to afflict debtors with perpetual enslavement. The LORD, however, provided that His people would not become an endless enslaved people (15:12). Therefore, an indebted Hebrew might serve a master for six years; however, in the seventh year, they were released of their debt and set free (15:12b).

As another evidence of the grace and mercy expressed in God’s Law, a master was to ensure a freedman would not “go away empty” (15:13). Therefore, a master was required to honor the one set free and give “him liberally out of [his] flock, and out of [his] floor, and out of [his] winepress: of that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed [him] thou shalt give unto him [the freeman]” (15:14). Yet, there were masters who were so kind and gracious, that a slave might elect to continue as an enslaved person for life. Such a one would have a hole pierced through his ear, thus marking him as a servant forever (15:17).

Dedication and Consecration of the Firstborn (15:19-23)

The concluding verses of Deuteronomy 15 served as a reminder that the firstborn of Hebrew households was dedicated to the LORD. The precedence for this requirement was set when the tenth plague struck down the firstborn of Egyptian families (Exodus 13:2, 15). Because the Hebrews had applied the blood of a lamb to the doorposts of their households, the LORD had spared the firstborn of Israel. That deliverance was forever memorialized by the Hebrews dedicating every firstborn male to the LORD (Exodus 13:2, 15).

Thus, the firstborn of cattle and sheep were to be unblemished and offered as a sacrificial meal (15:19-20). Also, firstborn oxen were not to be worked in the fields, nor were firstborn sheep to be sheared, for they were the LORD’s. Should a firstborn be blemished, it was not a worthy sacrifice to the LORD and would therefore be eaten like ordinary meat (15:21-23; 12:15).

Closing thoughts:

In closing, I invite you to consider how the Law and Commandments of the LORD were gracious. We have seen that the LORD protected the poor from harsh lenders and slaves from cruel taskmasters, and He extended seasons and reasons for hope and relief.

Finally, remember that all offerings were a picture (i.e., type) of God’s final and perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Mary’s firstborn was the perfect, sinless, unblemished sacrificial Lamb of God (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19).

Is He your Savior?

Questions to consider:

1) How often were the Israelites required to cancel the debts of their brethren? (15:1-2)

2) What were the conditions for Israel to avoid being a debtor to other nations? (15:5-6)

3) What people are a perpetual presence in the world? (15:11)

4) What were the Israelites forbidden to eat? (15:23)

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“In the Sovereignty of God, Dreams Do Come True” (Genesis 41-43)

Dear Heart of A Shepherd Readers,

I invite you to watch or listen to a message I preached at Hillsdale Baptist Church, Tampa, FL, on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Much of the sermon is narrative in style, but the content and applications are powerful.

Joseph’s brothers’ hatred brought him to Egypt, but God’s providence guided him from slavery and prison to serve as the ruler of Egypt and second only to Pharaoh. Two decades passed, and like many, Joseph’s brothers lived a lie and never confessed to their father that they had sold Joseph into slavery (left him believing a wild beast had killed his son). Yet, in the sovereignty of the LORD, Jacob’s sons would come face to face with their brother. (Genesis 42)

Text – Genesis 41-43
Topic – God’s Sovereignty and Providential Care
Series – “Logos: A Journey of Faith, Hope, and Love”

With the heart of a shepherd,

Travis D. Smith
Senior Pastor

The God of Creation and Heaven has Revealed Himself (Deuteronomy 10)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 10

Deuteronomy 10

Moses’ second oration to Israel continued in Deuteronomy 10 when he described how the LORD showed the people mercy following their idolatry at Sinai. Again, Moses reminded the people what they already knew; nevertheless, it was essential for them to recollect all that had befallen their forefathers and remember the LORD’s Covenant with them as a nation.

Israel’s Covenant: A Testimony of God’s Favor (Deuteronomy 10:1-5)

Moses recalled how, in anger because of their idolatry, he had broken the first tables of stone upon which were written the Ten Commandments. The LORD then commanded him to hew out two additional tables of stone (10:1), upon which the LORD engraved “the words [the Commandments] that were in the first tables” (10:2). The Commandments were then placed in the Ark, and served as a lasting memorial of God’s covenant with Israel (10:2b-5; Exodus 40:20).

Memorial to Aaron’s Death (Deuteronomy 10:6-7)

Continuing his remembrance of the events that had brought the nation to the edge of the Promised Land, Moses rehearsed how his brother Aaron, the first high priest, had died short of Canaan, and “Eleazar his son ministered in the priest’s office in his stead” (10:6).

The Tribe of Levi (Deuteronomy 10:8-9)

Lest any forget, the people were reminded that the LORD had chosen and “separated the tribe of Levi” to serve Him and “to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD” (10:8). Unlike the other tribes, the Levites would have no inheritance of land assigned to them. Instead, their inheritance was a portion of that which was due the LORD, in the people’s tithes, offerings, and sacrifices (10:8-9).

Five Imperatives (Deuteronomy 10:10-13)

With the urgency of a father who loves his sons and daughters, Moses challenged the people to obey the LORDwith five imperatives (10:12-13).

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 – “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear [revere]the LORD thy God, to walk [behave] in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, ¹³To keep [keep watch; guard] the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?”

Who Is God? (Deuteronomy 10:14-22)

Who is this God who revealed Himself as Creator, chose Israel, and covenanted with them by giving them His Law, Commandments, and Statutes?

He is the Creator and Sovereign of “the heaven of heavens…and the earth also, with all that therein is” (10:14). He is the “God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible [i.e., to be feared].” He is justand not a respecter of persons (10:17). He is merciful and the protector “of the fatherless and widow [the defenseless]” (10:18a). He is tender, and “loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment” (10:18b).

Closing thoughts: What effect should the revelation of God’s nature have had on Israel and you?

The answer to that question is found in the closing verses of Deuteronomy 10 (10:19-22). The children of Israel were to love strangers, for they could identify with the hardships of being a stranger in Egypt (10:19). They were to fear, serve, and cleave to the LORD (10:20). They were to be a people whose word, was their bond (“swear by His name,” 10:20). The hearts, thoughts, and affections of Israel were to be solely directed to the LORD (10:21). God had fulfilled His promises. Israel had increased from seventy souls (the number of Jacob’s family in Egypt, Genesis 46:27), and “the LORD [had] made [them] as the stars of heaven for multitude” (10:22).

Believer, my God is great and mighty. He is the LORD of the Scriptures, the Sovereign of Creation, and the King of heaven and earth!

Is He your God?

Questions to consider:

1) What did the LORD write on the stone tablets? (Deuteronomy 10:4)

2) Where did Moses place the stone tablets? (Deuteronomy 10:5)

3) What was the Levitical tribe’s ministry? (Deuteronomy 10:8)

4) What did the LORD require of Israel as the nation settled in the new land? (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)

5) How many souls were in Jacob’s family when they settled in Egypt? (Deuteronomy 10:22)

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God’s Promise: “Do Right, and I will bless you!” (Deuteronomy 8; Deuteronomy 9)

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Scripture Reading – Deuteronomy 8-9

Deuteronomy 8 – A Call to Obedience

Moses’ second challenge to Israel continued in Deuteronomy 8. Again, it was a call to obedience: “All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers” (8:1). In other words, “Do Right, and I will bless you!”

A Memorial to God’s Providences (Deuteronomy 8:2)

As though the promises of God’s grace and faithfulness were not enough, Moses began reciting all the LORD had done for the nation in the wilderness (8:2-5). Even the adversities of “forty years in the wilderness” had a righteous purpose, for the LORD had used the trials to “humble…to prove, [and] to know what was in [Israel’s] heart” (8:2). Knowing what was in the hearts of His people, the LORD had employed trials and testing to lay bare what manner of people they were.

What had the trials proved? (Deuteronomy 8:3-5)

The LORD’s loving care of His people! When they were hungry, He “fed them with manna” (8:3) and made Israel “know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live” (8:3; Matthew 4:4).

For forty years, the LORD preserved Israel. Even their clothes “waxed not old,” and their health did not fail them. Even their feet did not “swell, these forty years” (8:4). Yet, the LORD had chastened and corrected Israel, like “a man chasteneth his son” (8:5).

The Promise of a Good Land (Deuteronomy 8:6-9)

The LORD was bringing Israel into a fertile land with water and springs (8:7). The land was all He had promised. It gave forth an abundance of grains and fruit (8:8). There was also a wealth of iron ore and copper in the land (referred to as “brass,” 8:9).

Warning: The Lure and Temptation of Prosperity (Deuteronomy 8:10-20)

Moses then warned that prosperity could tempt the people’s hearts to be lifted in pride, and they might forget the LORD and His covenant (8:10-19). Furthermore, Moses admonished, should the nation forget the LORD and boast, “My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth” (8:17), Israel would go the way of other nations and “surely perish” (8:19-20).

Deuteronomy 9 – Israel’s Unworthiness in Light of God’s Promises

A Promise of Victory (Deuteronomy 9:1-3)

Lest the hearts of the people be lifted with pride, Moses reminded the people that the nations that occupied the land were “greater and mightier” than they were (9:1). He described the Canaanites as “a people great and tall…[for others said], Who can stand before the children of Anak!” (9:1-2).

An Assurance of God’s Unmerited Favor (Deuteronomy 9:4-6)

Therefore, Israel had no cause for pride or self-reliance. The LORD had determined to give them the land, not because they were righteous or merited God’s favor (because they were “a stiffnecked [hard, stubborn] people,” 9:6).

Warning: Lest they be proud, Moses Reminded Israel of the Nation’s Faults and Failures (Deuteronomy9:7-24)

They had rebelled and provoked God to anger when Moses went up onto the mount to receive the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 9:8-14; Exodus 31:18-32:6). When the LORD threatened to destroy the nation, Moses interceded for the people (9:15-19). Even Aaron, the brother of Moses, who became the first high priest, was mercifully spared, though “the Lord was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and [Moses] prayed for Aaron” (9:20).

After citing other examples of Israel’s past sins and rebellion (9:22-24; Exodus 17:1; Numbers 11:4), Moses returned to the uprising at Sinai. He recalled how he had appealed to the LORD to spare Israel for His testimony’s sake before the Egyptians and other nations (9:25-29).

Closing thoughts: What spiritual lesson might we take from Moses memorializing Israel’s sins and unworthiness?

There are many lessons and applications, but the most prominent is a lesson in God’s GRACE. Israel’s failures serve as a reminder of our unworthiness. None of us are worthy or merit God’s favor (Titus 3:5). Apart from Christ, sinners are lost and without hope of forgiveness and salvation. Israel was saved as a nation; in the same way, any sinner comes to be saved and forgiven of sin–GRACE.

Ephesians 2:8–9 – ⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Questions to consider:

1) To what end had the LORD allowed Israel to suffer trials, hunger, and thirst in the wilderness? (Deuteronomy 8:2-3)

2) What are the dangers of prosperity? (Deuteronomy 9:12-14)

3) How strong were the enemies Israel would face in the Promised Land? (Deuteronomy 9:1-2)

4) How did Moses respond when he saw the golden calf Aaron had made for the people? (Deuteronomy 9:17-21)

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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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