February 25 A READ DEUTERONOMY 17–20
Civil Laws for Canaan
OVERVIEW
Because Israel was both a civil society and a religious community, laws governing national affairs were as vital as religious statutes. In today’s reading, Moses delivers a set of regulations providing for justice and impartiality in the settling of a wide variety of situations that might arise in the life of the nation. Included are laws governing kings, priests, and prophets; the guilty and the innocent; national and international affairs; peacetime and war.
MY DAILY WALK
“Now, I don’t know if this is true or not, but did you hear . . . ?”
If you’ve ever been the subject of such talk, you know the pain and destructiveness of hearsay. God hates rumor, hearsay, and gossip. That’s why he designated a system of justice whereby no action could be taken against an accused person until two or three witnesses had testified to the truthfulness of the accusation (17:6-7).
The Old Testament system was so effective that it became standard practice in the New Testament for handling church discipline (2 Corinthians 13:1). Jesus reaffirmed the Old Testament law when he said, “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. . . . But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses” (Matthew 18:15-16).
The purpose of such confrontation—first private, then with other believers present—is to restore and build up the offending believer. Gossip and rumors only tear down. Next time you’re faced with the temptation to gossip about another believer, use it as an opportunity to live out God’s vision for justice and restoration instead.
ENVY IS USUALLY THE MOTHER OF GOSSIP.
INSIGHT
The Motive behind the Monarch | Deut. 17:14
Although Israel’s desire for a king (17:14) might seem harmless enough, 1 Samuel 8:4-9 reveals that this longing for a human monarch was indicative of Israel’s refusal to retain God as their true King.
INSIGHT
A National Report Card | Deut. 18:9-14
“Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). Consider these ways in which God judges a nation:
• Dealing with idolatry (objects of worship other than God, 17:2-5)
• Promoting justice (impartiality, fairness, 17:8-11)
• Prohibiting occult practices (18:9-14)
• Practicing truthfulness (in government, in the courts, 19:15-19)
1“Never sacrifice sick or defective cattle, sheep, or goats to the LORD your God, for he detests such gifts.
2“When you begin living in the towns the LORD your God is giving you, a man or woman among you might do evil in the sight of the LORD your God and violate the covenant. 3For instance, they might serve other gods or worship the sun, the moon, or any of the stars—the forces of heaven—which I have strictly forbidden. 4When you hear about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, 5then the man or woman who has committed such an evil act must be taken to the gates of the town and stoned to death. 6But never put a person to death on the testimony of only one witness. There must always be two or three witnesses. 7The witnesses must throw the first stones, and then all the people may join in. In this way, you will purge the evil from among you.
8“Suppose a case arises in a local court that is too hard for you to decide—for instance, whether someone is guilty of murder or only of manslaughter, or a difficult lawsuit, or a case involving different kinds of assault. Take such legal cases to the place the LORD your God will choose, 9and present them to the Levitical priests or the judge on duty at that time. They will hear the case and declare the verdict. 10You must carry out the verdict they announce and the sentence they prescribe at the place the LORD chooses. You must do exactly what they say. 11After they have interpreted the law and declared their verdict, the sentence they impose must be fully executed; do not modify it in any way. 12Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must die. In this way you will purge the evil from Israel. 13Then everyone else will hear about it and be afraid to act so arrogantly.
Guidelines for a King
14“You are about to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you. When you take it over and settle there, you may think, ‘We should select a king to rule over us like the other nations around us.’ 15If this happens, be sure to select as king the man the LORD your God chooses. You must appoint a fellow Israelite; he may not be a foreigner.
16“The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the LORD has told you, ‘You must never return to Egypt.’ 17The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the LORD. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.
18“When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19He must always keep that copy 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 these instructions and decrees. 20This 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. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.