In chapter 17, Moses continues talking about justice for the people and the consequences of violating laws and the decisions of judges. He also outlines the guidelines for having a king.
He begins, “Suppose a man or woman among you, in one of your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, has violated the covenant by serving other gods or by worshiping the sun, the moon, or any of the forces of heaven, which I have strictly forbidden. When you hear about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, then that man or woman must be taken to the gates of the town and stoned to death. But never put a person to death on the testimony of only one witness. There must always be at least two or three witnesses. The witnesses must throw the first stones, and then all the people will join in. In this way, you will purge all evil from among you.” (Deuteronomy 17:2-7)
Moses then explains that violations and cases too hard for the local authorities must be taken to a higher authority, Levitical priests and a judge, where they will hear the case. “The decision they make at the place the Lord chooses will always stand. You must do exactly what they say. After they have interpreted the law and reached a verdict, the sentence they impose must be fully executed; do not modify it in any way. Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or the priest who represents the Lord your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel. Then everyone will hear about it and be afraid to act so arrogantly.” (Deuteronomy 17: 10-13)
Moses concludes the chapter giving details about the guidelines for selecting a king, if the Israelites choose to have one. He starts by indicating that the king must be a man that the Lord chooses, that he is a fellow Israelite, and that he is not selfish, only wanting things for himself (selfish...sounds like a recent politician).
Moses then says, “When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy these laws on a scroll for himself in the presence of the Levitical priests. He must always keep this copy of the law with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of this law. This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. This will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.” (Deuteronomy 17:18-20)
Let’s talk about this. Let’s start with talking about fear. In today’s society, we don’t seem to fear anything! This bible indicates that God ruled by fear. He made examples of people who disobeyed, by killing them. As stated above, He wanted to “purge evil” from the land by making them afraid. If, today, you’re not afraid of God’s consequences because we are a “fearless” society -- what’s holding you accountable? Like the king's requirements above, would it help to make a copy of the commands and carry them with us, so we hold ourselves accountable to God’s laws? I don’t think so, if we are not fearing the Lord.
So the question becomes...are you getting what you want out of life right now? Is what you are doing right now working for you? Are you feeling whole, complete, and at peace even with life’s struggles and demands pouncing on you? If not, maybe it’s time to do something different...something that allows you to connect with God daily, whether it be prayer, meditation, reading God’s Word, or anything else that connects you with His spirit. There is a popular phrase…”You are what you eat.” What are you feeding yourself? What things are you consuming, taking in, watching, and listening to...what are you feeding your mind, body, and soul? Poor eating habits, results in poor health. Make time for God, like we make time for hobbies and reality TV. If we want a healthy mind, body, soul, and spirit--we need to limit our “junk” intake, and increase our “spirit” intake. I believe that if WE do that, OUR best days are ahead of us, and the Lord our God will be pleased with EACH of us.
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us to fear you, to live humbly without arrogance, to consume more of you, and to read your Word daily so we can avoid becoming proud and You will be pleased with us. We love you!
“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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