Good morning, I hope today finds you in good health. Today we will read Deuteronomy 14-17.
There is much to discuss within these four chapters, beginning with the opening verse.
Children of God
Moses tells the Israelites they are God’s children. Matthew Henry claims this is a sign of election. We cannot choose to be born, or even adopted. It is the choice of the Father to adopt us as His children. Without this choice, we are orphans with nothing to offer. (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary)
Benson emphasizes God adopts into His family those who were pious and followed Him. (Benson Commentary)
John 1:12-13 would agree with both, “12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (NIV).
When we place our faith in Jesus, He gives us the right to become His children. But, it is not our decision, but that of God’s.
It was not I who was seeking God when He found me. Being dead in my sins, I was comfortable as an atheist. I had to humble myself and admit I was wrong and a sinner, which was difficult to do. This was not my nature. He found me when I was hiding from Him.
For this, I worship Him.
Do not harm ourselves
Then, in the same verse, we are told not to cut ourselves or shave the front of our heads.
The idolaters in that time would do this during the ceremonies for their dead. They would cut themselves, or scratch deep gouges in their faces, through their eyebrows, as a sign of hopelessness during the burial ceremonies of their loved ones.
God wants us to have assurance and hope. In Him, we have eternal life and death is not the end, but only the beginning. The moment we leave this body, we are in His presence for eternity. (see 2 Cor 5:6-8) John Piper covers this well in Desiring God. (Piper, John, 1986. Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist.)
First fruits
We could talk about the dietary laws then given in Deuteronomy, but we must compare those with Act 10:9-16 and realize that God has permitted us to enjoy eating all the animals. It is not what goes into the stomach that defiles us, but what is inside our hearts.
If there was something wrong with consuming these other animals, and even roadkill and animals found dead. He would have permitted no one to eat them, but 14:21 says they can give or even sell that meat to foreigners.
The Bible reminds us to tithe the Lord with the first fruits of all He gives us. I believe this should include our labor as well. Seek God first, then everything else afterward (see Matt 6:33).
Not all people can serve in the same ways, however, so in 14:25 we see that exchanging our tithe for currency and giving the money is acceptable.
Financial responsibility
In chapter 15, we read about cancelling debt and not being debtors. It is alright to lend, but we should not borrow. When we lend, it should not be for the gain of interest. We should benefit those whose needs we can help meet.
God’s will is there should be no poor people in the land. He has blessed us with plenty and when we share those blessings, it would be more than sufficient. We choose not to do this and so there are poor people and God chooses not to bless us. So all suffer because of this greed.
When we lend to someone, and then forgive that debt, we are told to give them more. To supply them from our flocks, and threshing floors. (see verse 15:14).
I owed money on the GMC Jimmy that rolled and broke my neck and back. Because of my disability, I contacted GMC, and they forgave my debt. All of this seemed awesome until I tried to borrow money years later and discovered their action had destroyed my credit. This doesn’t match what these passages say.
Chapters 16 reminds them they were once slaves. None of us deserves the blessings we have received from God. We have earned His wrath. Our wages should be death (Rom 6:23), but He took that punishment for us and gives us eternal life.
Proper guidance
Then Moses describes the appointing of judges and even kings. These stages of Jewish tradition will come later as we read through the history books, but until now it had been Levites and priests who provided the governance.
Although Moses had given them divorce because of their hard hearts (see Matt 19:7-12), we are told in Chapter 17 today that we are not to take many wives. Those women will bring with them new idols and traditions which the husband will follow.
Men will do what pleases their wives and that will lead them away from seeking God.
I was fortunate in while I was an atheist, God gave to me a Christian woman who led me to her Lord. Jesus Christ saved my life. I am now a child of God.
Though this worked well for me, the Bible directs us to marry within the faith (see 2 Cor. 6:14). Therefore, if you are not married, seek for yourself a believer.
