127th Week, Deuteronomy Chapters 15-19 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

 

Click on Title for Video Intro

Monday, Deuteronomy Chapter 15

Deuteronomy 15

Verses 7-8

Matt Strayer

Verses 7-8:  If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the lord our God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.

THOUGHT

In the second address to the Israelites, Moses has recounted the Ten Commandments and the other laws given to the Israelites at Mount Sinai. He urges them to obey the laws and reminds them of the consequences of disobeying God’s laws. I wanted to stress here that God commanded us to look out for the poor. Moses did not read the Ten Suggestions and other ideas. These were commands and laws. I sometimes need to remind myself of the seriousness of these laws given in Deuteronomy. I find myself thinking I can give to the poor if the perfect situation comes along.

When we decide to help in any given situation our hearts need to be in the right place.  I know from personal experience I find myself asking why this person is poor. Are they lazy and just don’t want to work? I think not. I haven’t a clue as to what has happened in these people’s lives. Awhile back I had a customer come in my pharmacy and ask for money so he could buy milk. I knew him and his medication profile. I was aware that he had issues with alcohol. I gave him the money to help him buy milk, and I was glad to do so. However, I found myself in a battle over what the money would be used for, food or alcohol? I have learned that it was not my place to ask. This man needed money; he is poor and in need. I gave him the money with a good heart and prayed that God would help this man put it to good use. I’m embarrassed to admit I was asking myself the question.

PRAYER

Dear God, we thank You so much for the abundance You have given to us. Help us remember that You commanded us to give to the poor and to do so with a good heart not asking questions. Thank You for giving us the rules to live by. We know You have given these to us to make us better followers of Jesus Christ.  Amen

Tuesday, Deuteronomy Chapter 16

Deuteronomy 16

Verse 16

Matt Strayer

Verse 16:  Three times a year all your men must appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles. No man should appear before the Lord empty-handed.

THOUGHT

Instead of choosing one of the events above I decided to just briefly discuss the big picture here in chapter 16. God commanded His people to get together three times each year to celebrate, eat and give back a portion of what God had given to them. I think this is awesome. Could you fathom what it would be like if our country would close down for extended periods of time and celebrate together God’s goodness?! Periods of praise and worship, Bible study, giving and extended prayer. How often do we take the time (at any length) to celebrate as these people did? I believe these events are so powerful because they are acts of worship, not just thinking or reading. They are engaged in the act that brings our faith to life. That has to be what is great about our Sunday mornings. It is the act of worship, in conjunction with our scripture and prayer. However, these people went beyond Sunday morning, three times a year for extended periods of time.

Also, no man came empty handed. Giving is also another awesome act of worship. This made it real, and they worshiped and gave together.

I know with the way our culture is today we all can’t take vast amounts of time off to feast and celebrate. However, the next time we have a break/vacation let’s remember this scripture in Deuteronomy. Let’s reflect and honor Him in some way for a small portion of the time. We all know it will be time well spent.

PRAYER

Dear God, it is easy to see that there our times that You want us to stop and take breaks in order to honor You. Help us God to do that in some way. Give us the wisdom to focus and honor You first.  These acts of worship are true. AMEN

Wednesday, Deuteronomy Chapter 17

Deuteronomy 17

Verse 1

Matt Strayer

Verse 1:  Do not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep that has any defect or flaw in it, for that would be detestable to him.

THOUGHT

Today I’m taking the easy way out and using my study Bible. I liked its explanation of verse 1.  The explanation states that this law was probably included due to the fact that some Israelites were sacrificing imperfect or deformed animals to God. Then, as now, it is difficult and expensive to offer God our best. The first part of what we earn is to go to God.

I believe once again that our giving is an act of worship/faith. It shows us where our heart is and where our priorities are. Is He at the center of our lives or is He getting what’s left over?

Several years ago in my Bible study at church this was an issue that I was struggling with. After the study concluded, I spoke with a man about my giving and he told me to pray and ask for God to put my heart in the right place. Don’t just give to give. So I prayed, and God started me on a journey of giving. It was shortly after this that I landed my weekend job in Keosauqua, IA, a place that I love. For some reason I thought that if God is willing to give me this job in this place then part of this money is His. I began to give back. This then transferred over to my regular earnings at home.  My heart was truly in the right place at this time. What a joy it is to give today. “It is always better to give than receive.”

I have more to learn as I go forward in my journey. This verse once again shows us the importance of giving and putting God front and center in our lives.

PRAYER

Dear God, once again we come before You with thanksgiving for the great words You have given us in Your Word. Help us each day to put our hearts in the right place following You and putting You first in our lives.  AMEN

Thursday,  Deuteronomy Chapter 18

Deuteronomy 18

Verse 9

Kristen Strayer

Verse 9:  When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.

THOUGHT

I think the basic meaning of this command Moses gave the Israelites is still very relevant, which to me is to set yourselves apart from the culture that surrounds you. This verse reminds me of one of my favorite passages, Romans 12:1-2. A portion of it says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world.” This passage was the passage that had the biggest impact on me when I read it for the first time.

I first read this when I was a senior in high school. The summer before my senior year of high school is when I really starting growing in my faith and taking my spiritual life seriously. Therefore, I wanted to live my senior year differently than I had been previously. This isn’t easy to do at any point in life, but I think it was especially hard for me because it was during high school. Romans 12:1-2 became my motto for the rest of that year and really helped me survive the rest of high school.

I definitely am still very guilty of conforming to our culture, and I know it will be a struggle the rest of my life. I think all the pressures society tries to put on us make it even harder to live the life God wants us to live.

PRAYER

God, we want to live our lives in a way that pleases You, and we know that we mess this up all the time. Thank You for the grace You give us and help each of us to make wise choices today.  AMEN

Friday, Deuteronomy Chapter 19

Deuteronomy 19

Matt Strayer 

Verse 9

Verse 9:  Because you carefully follow all these laws I command you today--to love the Lord your God and to walk always in his ways--then you are to set aside three more cities.

THOUGHT

The cities of refuge are something I didn’t know much about prior to reading this chapter. We learn from Numbers 35:6 that of the 48 cities given to the Levites, six were cites of refuge. Such cites were needed because the ancient customs of justice called for revenge in the event of the death of a relative or loved one. These cities were a safe haven until the incident could be judged fairly.

I think it’s awesome to see another example of how, even in ancient times, God gave commands to seek justice, yet provided safety in the meantime. If that was the case in these days, we can rest assured that it is still the case today. We can trust in God for safety in our hardest of times. He is our refuge and our safety net. This made me think of Psalm 23.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”

God is with us always. He provided safe places in these cities when people were in need, and He will continue to do that with us in days to come.

PRAYER

Dear God, thank You for Your cities of refuge that You have put in our lives. We know when troubled times come that we can take refuge in You.  AMEN